Have you ever taken your pet in for a surgery…even a seemingly minor one…and your veterinarian requested “pre-anesthetic bloodwork” first? Some pet owners are leery of this and the extra cost that typically accompanies it; but before you decline it, you should know how important it is.

Many people outside the veterinary world are not aware that fluid therapy is actually one of the most common therapies provided in small animal medicine. Patients can be given fluids by several different methods and for many different reasons.

GDV (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus, aka "Bloat") can be fatal in dogs. It occurs quickly and it is important for owners to be aware of signs and symptoms related to this condition.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect both cats and dogs, as well as other small animals. So that’s the bad news. Now are you ready for the worst part? Ringworm is not only contagious between pets, but it also highly contagious to humans too!

Are you aware that your pet can have heart problems just like you? Know the symptoms of congestive heart failure so you can get your companion the help they need before it’s too late.

So you know that funny little thing you’ve seen your dog doing where he’s scooting his butt across the grass...or heaven forbid, your white carpet in the living room? This is actually an indication that his anal glands are full or impacted.

We all know that a visit to the veterinary clinic can be expensive. It’s completely understandable to want to try to save money wherever and however you can. Unfortunately, when it comes to your pet and their medications, that is not a good idea.

Giardia is a parasite that can live in the intestines of mammals, birds, and amphibians. Not all dogs show signs of this parasite, but when they do, it is unpleasant. The most common symptom is diarrhea.

Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world but only causes symptoms in a small percentage of the dogs that are affected. Bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi are transmitted through the bite of the Ixodes tick (deer tick).

Clotting, or coagulation, takes place when blood transforms from a liquid to a thickened gel-like state. Once in this state, the gelled blood is called a clot. It is through the clotting process that a wound begins to heal. If a dog continues to bleed uncontrollably through a wound, this may be a sign of a clotting disorder. The failure of blood to clot can also result in internal hemorrhaging.

Otitis is the inflammation of the external ear canal and the middle ear. Otitis externa refers to inflammation that occurs in the external ear canal and otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear.

These 4, often fatal, viruses can be easily prevented by the administration of the DHPP vaccine.  The vaccine should be given to puppies at 8 weeks of age, and then again as boosters at 12 and 16 weeks of age.  The vaccine should then be administered annually or tri-annually depending on the brand of vaccine given and the recommendations of your veterinarian. 

Veterinary Technicians are the cornerstone of every veterinary hospital. They walk into work in the morning never quite knowing what the day will look like, and that’s part of the challenge and joy of the job.