Tag: finding a vet

Bloat, or gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), is a serious, life-threatening condition seen in dogs. GDV mainly affects large deep-chested dogs, but it can affect any size of dog. It happens when distention of the stomach with food and/or air together with the momentum of this now heavy organ by movement (walking or running) causes the stomach to “flip” upon itself, closing both the in-flow and out-flow passages. The stomach then becomes more and more distended, causing pressure on the large blood vessels of the abdomen, cardiac irregularities, difficulty breathing, tissue death and toxin release.

Parasites can present a big challenge when it comes to your dog’s or cat’s overall health. They can affect your animal’s skin, digestive tract, heart — almost any organ, for that matter.

A dog develops a cataract when the lens of the eye clouds, which is caused by changes in the water balance in the lens or changes to the proteins within the lens. When the lens becomes cloudy, light can’t reach the retina, causing blindness. A mature cataract looks like a white disk behind your dog’s iris. The part of the eye that usually looks black will now look white.

Following is a comprehensive list of resources that offer financial assistance for pet guardians who are struggling, as well as senior citizens, people with disabilities and people who are seriously ill.

Whether or not to vaccinate pets and how often to vaccinate are among the most debated questions in veterinary medicine in recent years. It used to be so easy: You took your dog or cat to your veterinarian once a year, your pet received the recommended vaccinations and whatever other things he or she might need, and you went on your way. Now, the standard of care in veterinary medicine has changed. No longer are we vaccinating every animal every year with every vaccine available.

Do you have a dog who’s constantly scratching? The itchy dog is one of the most difficult problems to assess in veterinary medicine. It is often hard to find the underlying cause and even when found, it often involves lifelong therapy for the dog.