Medical marijuana for pets: Should we be using it (Part II) | Dr. Justine Lee
Should I use medicinal marijuana in my veterinary patient? First, make sure to read Part 1 here to learn more about marijuana. Clinicopathologic testing With marijuana poisoning, no significant blood work findings are “classically” seen. In patients suspected of having underlying disease (e.g., metabolic, geriatric, etc.), a baseline complete blood count (CBC) and general chemistry panel can be considered. In patients suspected of hypoventilating secondary to the sedative effects...
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Diabetes mellitus in cats | Dr. Justine Lee
If your cat is showing any of these clinical signs below, get to a veterinarian immediately! Excessive urination Excessive thirst Larger clumps in the litter box Muscle wasting over the back Dilute urine Acting hungry That’s because these are classic signs of diabetes mellitus! For more information on diabetes mellitus, check out this information here. If untreated, it can result in severe...
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Medicinal marijuana for pets: Should we be using it? | Dr. Justine Lee
Should we be using medicinal marijuana in dogs and cats? With the legalization of marijuana is several states, there has been an increased prevalence of accidental exposure to dogs, cats, and children within the past few years.1-3 As a result, veterinarians need to be aware of this growing toxicant. Judicious history taking, along with rapid recognition of clinical signs, is imperative, as pet owners are often unwilling to admit to this illicit drug toxicosis in their pets. Thankfully,...
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Why you need a living will for your pets | Dr. Justine Lee
A few years ago, I was in Thailand lecturing at an Asian veterinary conference. Being that I was going to be out of the country for almost two weeks, I was paranoid about how JP, my 13-year-old pit bull with a brain tumor, would do. As my luck would have it, JP developed severe cluster seizures (multiple seizures within a 24 hour period) and aspiration pneumonia while I was away. This made for one really panicked veterinarian, who was sitting helplessly over 8,000 miles away. Thankfully, I...
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My dog has a pyometra: What should I do? | Dr. Justine Lee
As a veterinarian, I hear all the excuses for not wanting to spay or neuter a family pet. Some pet owners think it devalues or “de-sexes” their pet. Others want to breed their dog or cat to allow their children to experience the “miracle of life.” Others have had a bad experience with a previous spay, neuter, or anesthesia, making them gun-shy about an elective surgery. When it comes down to it, most veterinary professionals and animal advocates tout the benefits of spaying and...
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How to be a good pet owner and advocate for your dog | Dr. Justine Lee
A few weeks ago, I had to deal with an irate pet owner who thought I had mistreated his dog for mouse and rat poisoning. To make a long story short, this pet owner ignored my recommendations and chose to go to a different emergency veterinarian – only to spend hundreds of dollars (at least $500-700 worth) for things that didn’t need to be necessary performed (including inducing vomiting, giving activated charcoal, doing blood work, giving the antidote, and hospitalizing the dog overnight)....
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