Does it hurt if my cat’s whiskers get cut? | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
If you just accidentally cut your cat’s whiskers, don’t worry too much. No, you won’t hurt your cat’s whiskers, or vibrissae, if they get accidentally cut. The whisker itself has no nerves or blood vessels but is firmly attached to a hair follicle and sinus, which has nerve innervation. (Ever accidentally yank out your nose hair? Ouch!) Your cat uses his whiskers as a sensing mechanism and air movement or vibrations allow him to “feel” where he is. You may notice your...
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Woman who sheltered dogs & cats during Hurricane Florence charged | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
Earlier this week, Tammie Hedges, the founder of Crazy’s Claws N Paws animal rescue, was arrested and charged with several counts of illegally “practicing veterinary medicine.” Animal Control Officers in North Carolina confiscated 27 dogs and cats from her, where she was attempting to provide temporary shelter during the recent Hurricane Florence affecting North Carolina. You can find the original article here. Tammie Hedges was released on a $10,000 bond and charged with...
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Sepsis in dogs and cats | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
What is sepsis? If your dog or cat was just diagnosed with sepsis, it’s a life-threatening infection that you must be aware of. Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in human – and likely veterinary – intensive care units. The term sepsis is defined as an overwhelming infection is the body, typically where bacteria has spread to the blood stream. The body responds to sepsis by triggering its inflammatory system, where inflammatory mediators and cytokines are...
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My dog was just diagnosed with gastroenteritis | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
Was your dog (or cat) just diagnosed with gastroenteritis? What is gastroenteritis in dogs and cats? Gastroenteritis is an acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and typically causes common presenting clinical signs of vomiting and diarrhea. This is a frequent cause for presentation to the emergency room in both dogs and cats. There are numerous causes of gastroenteritis including:* • Bacterial infections (e.g., Clostridium overgrowth) • Viral infections (e.g., parvovirus,...
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Connection between Grain free dog food diet and heart disease Dilated Cardiomyopathy in dogs | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
Recently, a grain-free dog food containing legumes was found to be associated with a terrible type of heart disease in dogs – called Dilated Cardiomyopathy. There are ongoing studies about this at UC Davis. Below is the press release from the FDA also. Please check with your veterinarian when feeding a new diet! FDA Investigating Potential Connection Between Diet and Cases of Canine Heart Disease July 12, 2018 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinary...
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