Educational Articles
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Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency that occurs when there is not enough insulin, or the available insulin isn’t effective enough to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Your veterinarian needs to perform appropriate tests to diagnose this disease, as similar signs can occur with other medical conditions. Treatment involves hospitalization with IV fluids, short-acting insulin and electrolyte replacement. The most important step in prevention is ensuring careful insulin dosing and disease monitoring.
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Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency that occurs when there is not enough insulin in the body to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. It is important for your veterinarian to perform appropriate tests in order to diagnose this disease as similar signs can occur with other medical conditions. Treatment involves hospitalization with IV fluids, short acting insulin and electrolyte replacement. The most important step in prevention is ensuring proper insulin dosing is being administered.
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Cats with diabetes have the potential to go into remission where they may no longer need to receive insulin. Factors that can affect the likelihood of remission include the type of insulin given, your cat's diet, and how long your cat has been diabetic. It is important to recognize the signs of hypoglycemia, as they may be your first indication of remission.
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The diaphragm is the muscular partition that separates the abdomen and the chest. Tearing or disruption of this thin muscle is called a diaphragmatic hernia or diaphragmatic rupture. The most common cause of diaphragmatic hernia is blunt force trauma. Clinical signs are dependent on the severity of herniation. There is often respiratory distress, an abnormal heart rhythm, muffled heart and lung sounds, and other signs of systemic shock. The abdomen may feel empty when palpated. Once the patient is stable, the hernia must be corrected surgically.
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Diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying problem that may be minor or very serious. Some cases may resolve on their own or with minimal treatment, while other cases require in-depth diagnostic testing and more aggressive treatment to address the underlying condition. The possible causes, diagnostic tests, and treatment protocols for diarrhea in cats are numerous and they are explained in this handout.
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Diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying problem that may be minor or very serious. Some cases may resolve on their own or with minimal treatment, while other cases require in-depth diagnostic testing and more aggressive treatment to address the underlying condition. The possible causes, diagnostic tests, and treatment protocols for diarrhea in dogs are numerous and are explained in this handout.
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If your cat is having diarrhea, please complete this questionnaire as accurately as possible before your appointment. This information will be very helpful to your veterinarian in determining the cause of diarrhea.
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If your dog is having diarrhea, please complete this questionnaire as accurately as possible before your appointment. This information will be very helpful to your veterinarian in determining the cause of diarrhea.
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Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious and often fatal condition in medium to larger breed dogs. Signs may be sudden or progressive in onset. Some signs include rapid breathing, increased effort with breathing, restless sleeping, coughing, or gagging, among others. Early and proper diagnosis is key, followed by treatment to give the best quality of life.
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Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune condition that causes skin sloughing particularly around the nose causing scabbing and erosions that can become infected with bacteria. It can also affect the ear flaps, genitals and rarely spread through the entire body. DLE is diagnosed by submitting skin biopsies of affected areas for histopathological analysis. As well as antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections, treatment involves suppression of the immune system including tacrolimus or steroid ointments/creams applied to the affected area. Some dogs will need tetracycline and niacinamide or stronger anti-inflammatories such as cyclosporine or corticosteroids. These treatments can be weaned once lesions resolve but flare-ups will likely occur, needing rechecks and repeat therapy. Sun exposure must be minimized as UV light can worsen the disease. If untreated, lesions can develop into squamous cell carcinoma.