Educational Articles
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Mitral valve disease is often one of the earliest indicators of heart disease that could lead to heart failure. It is more common in small dogs than large breeds. This handout discusses mitral valve disease in dogs, a degeneration of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. The clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and the prognosis of this condition are outlined.
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Pets that have been diagnosed with epilepsy are usually prescribed one or more medications to prevent convulsions or seizures. Careful monitoring of epileptic pets is necessary, not only to make sure the dose of the medicine is right, but also to ensure there are no problems related to the long-term use of the medication. The most important thing to do is follow your veterinarian's instructions closely and give the medication regularly and consistently. This will ensure that the value reported on the blood test is reliable.
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Most dogs seem to take moving in stride, if they are with are with their familiar social group. Try to anticipate changes in the dog’s routine and introduce the changes prior to the move. Familiarize your dog with any novel noises that might be associated with the new home. If there will be new pets or people in the new home, arrange introductions ahead of time in a neutral location. When you arrive at your new home, give your dog plenty of time to adjust before trying to leave him alone.
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Moxidectin is an avermectin antiparasitic that is used to prevent heartworms and treat intestinal parasites. Imidacloprid treats and prevents fleas. These two drugs are combined in one topical product for use in cats, dogs, and ferrets. Use as directed. Side effects are uncommon and usually short-lived, however, if you suspect an overdose or an adverse reaction to the medication, call your veterinary office immediately.
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Moxidectin + sarolaner + pyrantel is a heartworm disease preventive for dogs that also treats and prevents internal parasites (hookworms and roundworms) and kills fleas and ticks. This medication is given by mouth as a flavored chew tablet. At regular doses, this medication is well-tolerated. Your veterinarian will advise you on the safety of moxidectin + sarolaner + pyrantel use in your dog. If you suspect an overdose or an adverse reaction to the medication, call your veterinary office immediately.
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Pain research has advanced suggesting that a more appropriate choice for managing the chronic pain of OA is multi-modal therapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are just one of the options leveraged for multi-modal OA management. These include joint supplements, nutraceuticals, nutrition, adjunctive medicines, physical medicine, and changes to the home environment. Every multi-modal treatment plan is tailored to meet the needs of the individual patient and then adjusted as treatment progresses. Once a full multi-modal pain management plan is in place, your veterinarian may be able to lower the dose of NSAID to minimize the risk of an adverse event, and to reserve a full therapeutic dose for any acute inflammatory pain event.
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Many herding breeds (most commonly Collies and Australian Shepherds) have a mutation at the MDR1 gene that makes them more sensitive to the negative effects of certain medications. These drugs include several antiparasitic agents (when given at high doses), the antidiarrheal agent loperamide (Imodium®), and several anticancer drugs. The effects of the mutation vary in severity, depending on whether the dog carries one or two copies of the mutation. There is a cheek swab or a commercially-available test that assesses blood samples for the presence of the MDR1 mutation.
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Muscle tears are direct or indirect traumatic injuries that cause damage to muscle tissue. The most common cause is an indirect injury, or strain, caused by overstretching during athletic activities, such as running or jumping. This handout discusses muscle tears in dogs and reviews the causes of these injuries, the clinical signs, diagnostic testing, therapy, and expected prognosis.
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This handout discusses muscular dystrophy (MD), primarily in dogs. The cause of the disease is a defect in the proteins found in muscle cells. It is often an inherited disease, usually affecting young dogs. Clinical signs (usually starting as muscle weakness) and diagnosis of the condition are outlined. There is no effective treatment for the condition.
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Mushroom toxicity can run the gamut from irritating illness to severe toxicity to death. The species of mushroom and amount ingested determine the severity of the toxicity. Since mushrooms are difficult to identify, it is best to discourage your pet from eating any mushrooms growing in the wild. In the event of mushroom ingestion, prompt treatment is critical to successful treatment. Pet owners need to be alert to the possibility of mushroom toxicity and work to eliminate their pet’s access to mushrooms.