With complex physiological issues, veterinarians may recommend treatments to alleviate symptoms. The horse benefits greatly when the health care team works together, combining knowledge to understand underlying factors. This series discusses concepts to assist professionals in the diagnostic process. Tree points are either forward facing, straight (perpendicular to the ground) or rear facing.
• Forward facing tree points cause proven...
You know chocolate is toxic to dogs, but did you know cocoa mulch is too? It’s made from the shells of cocoa beans, and is a by-product of chocolate production. While cocoa mulch doesn’t contain as much theobromine as unprocessed cocoa beans – 0.19% to 2.98% versus 1% to 4%, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center --...
Horses receive more vaccinations on a more frequent schedule than any other domesticated animal. Based on a protocol of fear, not fact, this practice has horse people from all walks of life asking questions. To explain this controversial issue so you can make informed decisions for your patients, we turned to one of the foremost authorities on vaccination in...
Thermal imaging finds its niche in diagnosing mystery lamenesses, scanning horses at pre-purchase evaluations, aiding farriers with hoof pathology and imbalances, addressing common saddle-fitting problems, and providing both baselines and serial documentation of equine health and lameness. A case-based approach to the technology provides evidence of its vast uses and tremendous sensitivity in equine medicine, and numerous publications evaluate...
Hundreds of different ingredients are used in commercial pet foods, so it’s no surprise that some of them are not well received by the animals eating them.
Food allergies may cause vomiting, diarrhea, pruritis or skin eruptions. However, a reaction to food doesn’t necessarily indicate an allergy. Many pets have a food sensitivity or intolerance, but relatively few are truly...
It’s 7:30 AM on the small tropical Island of San Andres, Colombia. Myself and 11 other animal health professionals walk towards the government building we recently converted into a makeshift veterinary clinic. The exterior hallway is already lined with local residents waiting patiently with their cats and dogs. Over the next three days, our goal is to sterilize and...
Exposure to toxins, stress, poor diet and other external influences can play a major role in the development of many disease states. Here's how environmental medicine can help.
Environmental medicine evaluates and identifies potential environmental exposures that may lead to a disease condition. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the cause or reducing exposure, and resolving symptoms through nutritional support and...
Post traumatic stress disorder is well known in people, but dogs can also develop it. Treatment can be challenging and depends on the needs of the individual patient.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been recognized in military personnel, firemen and policemen for a number of years.1 Recently, however, it has been found that horrific experiences can cause dogs to...
Interest in naturally occurring substances for medical applications is growing rapidly. One of these substances is curcumin, a major active ingredient found naturally in turmeric. Turmeric is a bright yellow-orange spice prepared from the rhizomes (spreading roots) of the south Asian plant Curcuma longa. It is commonly used to make curries and color mustard.
Curcumin’s use as a natural medicine...
A piece of kidney sits on a plate. Would you eat it? Would you offer it to your dog or cat? While most of us would recoil in horror, most pets would eat that slab of kidney with relish.
Dogs and cats are predators. For millennia, they’ve survived by eating other animals. The first parts eaten by wild carnivores are...
