Animal Health Topic

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus occurs due to an animal’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or use it properly. Insulin is a hormone that efficiently breaks down sugars, fats, and proteins, including the sugar glucose. Without insulin managing glucose levels, sugar accumulates in the blood and spills into the urine and can result in serious health conditions. Pets […]

Chocolate lab receiving injection.

Hyperthyroidism in cats

What is hyperthyroidism? Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid glands. Cats have two thyroid glands located in their neck. One or, more commonly, both glands can enlarge and overproduce thyroid hormone. The average age of cats with hyperthyroidism is 13; only about 5% of hyperthyroid cats are younger than 10. What […]

Close up image of British shorthair cat.

Understanding your pet’s lab tests

Blood and urine tests can help your veterinarian get crucial information about the health of your pet. Blood tests are often performed as a biochemistry profile, or chemistry panel, which is a collection of blood tests to screen several organs at one time. Some blood tests are very specific for a single organ, whereas other […]

Two blood samples being held by a lab technician.

Diarrhea

What causes diarrhea in dogs and cats? Diarrhea in dogs and cats can be caused by stress, viruses, bacteria, parasites, foreign bodies (including bones, sticks, and other objects), diet, food allergies, toxins, tumors, disease, and more. Your ability to answer questions about your pet’s diet, habits, environment, and specific details about the diarrhea can help […]

DVM student Dalen Wood with dog in exam room at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Vomiting pets

Vomiting is a common problem in dogs and cats, and there are many causes, some of which can be managed at home and others that can be quite serious and require veterinary care. A problem that can be confused with vomiting is regurgitation. Vomiting is the ejection of contents of the stomach and upper intestine; […]

Black Labrador laying down, and looking very sad.

Anal sac disease

When your dog scoots its rear end across the floor it most likely isn’t due to worms. Dogs scoot when their anal sacs are uncomfortable. Anal glands and anal sacs are part of normal canine anatomy, and every canid from wolves to Chihuahuas have them. What are anal glands and anal sacs? Anal glands are […]

Dog pooping in field.

Lyme Disease

What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease (transmitted by insects or arthropods) in people, is caused by corkscrew-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, carried by ticks that transmit the infection when they feed on animals and humans. In the United States, Lyme disease occurs predominantly on the Pacific Coast, the Midwest, and Atlantic Coast […]

Close up image on a tick on a dog's leg.