What’s a veterinary specialist? | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
I often get asked what that “alphabet soup” behind my name is. More importantly, as a pet owner, why should you care? Those extra letters behind a veterinarian’s name means that they are a veterinary specialist (e.g., Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT). These letters stand for something – for me, it’s “Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care” (DACVECC) and “Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology” (DABT). So, what does that mean? It means we...
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How to feed your cat | Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist
Are you feeding your cat correctly? Believe it or not, there are specific ways you are supposed to be feeding your cat. A recent Consensus Statement, “Feline Feeding Programs: Addressing Behavioral Needs to Improve Feline Health and Wellbeing” just came out from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). In this statement, the authors focuses on “how to feed” while addressing behavioral needs. This statement was written by the experts in the feline world:...
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Why does cat pee stink worse than dog pee? | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified Veterinary Specialist
For those of you who have ever fostered a tomcat or had an alley cat in your backyard, you can attest to the fact that cat pee reeks way more than dog pee! But why? Cats have much stronger concentrated urine than dogs. The normal concentration of urine is based on specific gravity (often abbreviated “sp. gr.” or “spgr,” for those really lazy vets, such as myself), which measures the density of a liquid (i.e., how concentrated that liquid is). Using a simple tool called a refractometer,...
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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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