My dog just ate an asthma inhaler! Is it poisonous? | Dr. Justine Lee
Asthma, which can be seen in humans, horses, and cats, can be life threatening without treatment. In cats, clinical signs of asthma include: coughing (which sounds like “hacking up a hairball” in cats) shortness of breath open-mouth breathing exercise intolerance difficulty breathing blue gums acute death In veterinary medicine, an acute asthmatic attack requires a visit to the emergency veterinarian for oxygen therapy and medications to alleviate the bronchoconstriction (e.g.,...
Read More
Is it ok to let your dog sleep with you? | Dr. Justine Lee
Did you know that an estimated 14 to 62 percent of pet owners let their dogs or cats sleep on their beds? In my book It’s a Dog’s Life … but It’s Your Carpet, I explain why this is OK. Don’t worry — you’re not the only one out there who lets that muddy-pawed monstrosity jump on your bed. Over thirty-one million people in the US do it, too. That’s almost 56% of pet owners! So why do so many otherwise sane and clear-headed adults let their hound-dogs have their way? Well,...
Read More
Why your dog doesn’t want to be your Valentine this year! | Dr. Justine Lee
Ah, the Hallmark holiday of romance. While I’m all for receiving flowers and chocolates on Valentine’s Day, I actually never really celebrate this day. Why? Because I’m a neurotic pet-owner and vigilant pet-proofer. Since I have pets in my house, I don’t want to risk accidental poisoning to my dog and cats. So, men: for once, you can skip the flowers and sweets! So why is Valentine’s Day potentially poisonous to your pets? It’s the time of the year when the following poisons are in...
Read More
Should I vaccinate my dog for parvovirus? | Dr. Justine Lee
Here, an amazing infographic from Pawcurious, Dr. Jessica V, on whether or not you should vaccinate your dog for the deadly virus parvovirus or not! Pit bull, rottweiler, and Doberman owners, pay heed! Find Dr. Jessica V here on...
Read More
Chocolate poisoning: My dog ate chocolate! | Dr. Justine Lee
OK, I admit it. Once in a while, I throw my dog a chocolate chip cookie. Is it a big deal? When it comes to chocolate poisoning, it’s the dose that makes the poison. One little chocolate chip isn’t going to cause a problem, but keep in mind that when it comes to chocolate, the darker and the more bitter the chocolate, the bigger the poisoning problem. According to ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, chocolate is the #1 toxin that dogs get into! (Cats apparently have too discriminating of a...
Read More
Diabetes in dogs and cats | Dr. Justine Lee
Was your dog or cat just diagnosed with diabetes mellitus? Did you know that 1 in 250 cats and 1 in 500 dogs are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus? Well, get some help here! A new Diabetes Pet Care Alliance created between Abbott Animal Health (now acquired by Zoetis), Merck Animal Health and Nestle Purina PetCare was designed to help raise awareness about diabetes in pets and educate people on this potentially life-long, deadly disease. Veterinary hospitals can enroll in the program at...
Read More
Recent Comments