Investigating a mysterious death is a very delicate procedure. For people, the postmortem procedure involving the examination of a body is called an autopsy, but for animals the term is necropsy. Veterinarians are often asked to perform necropsies, and the results usually reveal death by natural causes. But, on occasion, the stench of foul play [...]
As I walked in to greet a new patient named Cashmere and her owner Jessica, the first thing I noticed was a large Zip-loc bag resting on the exam table. This was not a good sign. Usually smaller patients that have died are often placed in a plastic bag when brought in. As I reached [...]
Of all the questions that seem to come up, the most asked by far is, “Why does my dog eat grass?” Here are a few plausible reasons suggested by clients in their attempt to solve the grass munching. Which are true and which are urban legends? You decide. “Dogs eat grass because they feel sick.” [...]
Flatulence is the act of expelling gas from the rectum. The gas produced is a normal byproduct of the digestive system, and is usually composed of a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen. Odor varies, but everyone knows someone who is notorious for their gaseous emanations. This article is about pets and gas. [...]
The term “scurvy dog” originates from the colorful description pirates would shout at one another. The image is usually of an ill-kept, foul-smelling, splotchy skinned, rotten-toothed swash-buckler who’s been out at sea a little too long. What these pirates have gone through, however, has helped us understand and treat a medical condition in veterinary medicine. [...]
Proper nutrition is the backbone of good health for our pets. To achieve this goal, some pet owners turn to nutritional supplements. Vitamins are a good example, but people have turned to herbs, fruit extracts and other exotic enhancers. The following is a true account of a pet owner who helped her dog by incorporating [...]
Domestication is not easy. In our attempts to integrate our furry, feathered or scaly friends into our home, we often subject them to many restrictions. We ask them to urinate on a pee pad, eat a specially formulated diet, refrain from scratching the new couch and scold them for making too much noise. Living in [...]
Growing up in Hawaii, I was introduced to martial arts at an early age. Not only were friends and relatives practicing the various art forms, but television shows like Kung Fu Theater fueled my enthusiasm. Horse stance, iron fist and tiger claw were just a few of the “supernatural moves” my friends and I would [...]
When I was 8 years old, someone gave me a rabbit’s foot. It was dyed blue and emitted a peculiar odor that didn’t bother me at the time. Told that it would bring me luck, I carried it wherever I went. After a week of doing so and not experiencing one iota of fortune, I [...]
With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas fast approaching, I think of the many interesting turkey facts that meandered my way over the years. Most of them are legitimate, others half-truths and a few are urban legends. Though tainted facts become accepted truths as they pass from individual to individual in unending repetition, allow me to [...]
