Archive for the .. By Dr. Dunn category
Cat Nutritional Needs Are Different Than Dog Nutritional Needs
by T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM
Find Out How A Cat’s Nutritional Needs Are Different From A Dog’s
Our wonderful life-supporting planet is home to a remarkably diverse and complex spectrum of living organisms. And although all living things do share some common traits and similar biochemical pathways and cellular functions, there are many notable differences that make each creature stand out from the crowd. So even with the thread of sameness joining all the planets’ life forms, diversity and difference makes us take Dedicated veterinary assistants make feline health care a priority.note of each creature’s uniqueness. Maybe that’s why the cat is America’s favorite housepet . . .cats are different!
This extraordinary four-legged feline has, for all of recorded time, evoked wonder and surprise, superstition and affection, damnation and deification. From pharaohs to philosophers to paupers, the companionship of and affection for cats has been a result of the cat’s unique ability to make us humans gaze in awe and admiration.
All About Puppies
Puppy Health Care Information - Written By Veterinarians
By Dr. T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM
Puppy vaccinations, diseases and health care are important topics for any new puppy owner. There’s lots to learn so let’s get started!
GETTING A NEW PUPPY
GLUCOSAMINE and CHONDROITIN Supplements
What They Are and What They Do
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate supplements are fast becoming the most widely used supplements in dogs’ diets. The reason is this: Arthritis in dogs is one of the most common health problems seen by veterinarians. And quite unfortunately dog owners and veterinarians rarely notice the early warning signs of arthritis in dogs because these animals have the character to ignore soreness and discomfort until the arthritic changes in the joints have progressed significantly. Recent widespread availability of nutraceuticals such as GLUCOSAMINE and CHONDROITIN SULFATE Athletic dogs need super strong bones and joints. have proven to be significant contributors to easing the discomfort of arthritis in dogs. Plus these substances actually promote healing and tissue repair. (Take a look at a portion of a memo at AAFCO regarding Nutraceuticals.)
What Is Arthritis?
ACL Repair In The Dog: An Inside Look At a Knee Surgery
ACL Surgery and Information About Anterior Cruciate Surgery In The Dog
ACL surgery in a dog is commonly done in veterinary practice. Surgical repair of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a dog actually does nothing to the actual ligament. An artificial suture or cord is placed alongside the joint as if to “fool” the knee joint and permit it to move in a normal fashion. There are a number of methods and materials used to repair a knee after a torn ACL injury. Presented here is one such case.
This patient is an eight year old, slightly overweight retriever named Buster who began limping on a rear leg one month ago. Recently, while chasing a Frisbee, he cried out in pain and began to hold the leg up and didn’t get much better after three days. When the owners finally brought him in to be examined the doctor noted a slipping motion in the right knee. Instead of moving like a hinge, the leg just below the knee would actually slide forward and backward. This abnormal motion is typical of a torn ACL, anterior cruciate ligament. Another new procedure is called the TIBEAL PLATEAU LEVELING OSTEOTOMY or TPLO surgery. There will be more about this procedure presented here soon.
Slentrol (dirlotapide)… the First Drug for Obese Dogs
PRESS RELEASE
FDA Approves the First Drug for Obese Dogs
The FDA announced the approval of Slentrol (dirlotapide), a prescription drug for the management of obesity in dogs. Slentrol is manufactured by Pfizer Inc., New York, NY. Below is the FDA New Release and web sites for additional information. // FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P07-01 // January 5, 2007
Choosing the Right Breed of Dog .. The Perfect Match? .. or Is It?
How To Choose The Right Breed Of Dog For Your Lifestyle
So…you’re going to get a dog, eh? You’ve been thinking about this for some time now and the moment is right. There’s room for a dog in your life and you’re committed. But before you get in your car and go select that lucky dog, may I suggest that you think about something you may NOT have considered…
How do you and the dog match up? I don’t mean temperament or behavioral characteristics of the new dog; I mean what KIND of a dog are you about to bring in to your daily life for the next twelve to eighteen years? I can’t tell you how many times veterinarians have been involved with scenes like this one…
Lick Granuloma Skin Lesions, Treatments and Management In Dogs
Acral Lick Granuloma… A Dermatology Nightmare
ac·ral adj. Of, relating to, or affecting peripheral parts, such as limbs, fingers, or ears
The photos below are classic examples of an Acral Lick Granuloma (Lick Granuloma). Click on the photo to see the full sized photo. There is a good case history on this page below about Lick Granulomas.
Dogs, Cats and Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus
DIABETES MELLITUS IN DOGS AND CATS
Diabetes in the dog and cat and the treatment for diabetes mellitus are interesting and challenging topics. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disorder where the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels. (There is another dissimilar disease called Diabetes Insipidus that is associated with the pituitary gland.) Each case seems to be different, and regulating the diabetic dog or cat so that their blood glucose levels are as normal as possible is vitally important. The real problem with a diabetic dog or cat is that even in the presence of sugar (glucose) in the blood stream, something interferes with the entry of that sugar into the body’s cells where it is required for the life sustaining energy of those cells. With no sugar in the cells, the cell dies in a very short period of time.
A highly complicated disease entity, diabetes has been classified according to what pathway of energy metabolism has been disrupted. Fortunately with Diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats most cases can be treated successfully with Insulin injections.
All About Chronic Dermatitis in Dogs
THE CHALLENGE OF CHRONIC DERMATITIS IN DOGS
by T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM
This article appeared in Dog World Magazine
What you should know…
Understanding that there are over 160 different skin disorders of dogs, some of which create chronic difficulties, will lead you to a patient and cooperative relationship with your veterinarian. As a team, you and the veterinarian should be proactive in defining the problem accurately and in a timely manner. Satisfactory results will require the doctor’s expertise and perseverance coupled with your permission and financial commitment.
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