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Lovely breed, the Siamese, if you please
By Dr. Ellen Friedman While we spend a lot of time thinking about health problems that pertain specifically to certain dog breeds, the so-called “fancy” cat doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself. There are fewer specialty breeds of cats, and mostly we think of the “domestic short hair” as the representative of [...]
Pet people: It pays to be a worrywart
By Dr. Ellen Friedman Yes, I’m a worrywart. But why wouldn’t I be? I’m a veterinarian, and I’m a pet owner. So I see pets who have inadvertently been put in harm’s way, and have been guilty of causing harm to my own pets. So this week, let me make you stop and think. [...]
Why urine sample is important to your pets health
By Dr. Ellen Friedman Dear Dr. Friedman: When I take my pet to the vet for a medical problem, they always want to check a urine sample, even if my dog (or cat) is vomiting. Don’t you just check urine when there’s a urinary tract problem? — A Curious Pet Owner Dear Curious: There is [...]
Pet People: The luckiest People in the World!
By Dr. Ellen Friedman If you have a pet, chances are the new year will be bright. Pet owners, you know who you are. You know what I mean when I remind you that the source of love and companionship in your house will never wane if you have a pet. From the tiniest [...]
Coping with Intestinal disease in your Puppy
By Dr. Ellen Friedman Coccidiosis? What’s that? How do you even pronounce it? (CAHK-sid-i-osis). This is an intestinal tract disease caused by a tiny, one-celled organism called coccidia. This parasite spends part of its life in cells that line the intestine. How did my puppy get infected? Immmature forms (oocysts) are passed in the stool of [...]
Veterinarians empathize when their pets need a vet
By Dr. Ellen Friedman It’s a humbling experience: The veterinarian’s dog needs a vet. It’s true that to understand another man, you have to walk a mile in his shoes. Last week, my husband Dr. Dasaro and I took our dog Victor to a specialty hospital in New Jersey to see an endocrinologist veterinarian. We [...]
How to introduce a kitten into your household
By Dr. Ellen Friedman How do you introduce a new kitten to a household with cats who didn’t feel any real need for kittens? Safety is a must First off, safety is key. The kitten must be protected from himself. In a new environment, dangers lurk. Keeping roaming space limited in the first weeks is critical; [...]
Ear Infections are Common in Dogs
By Dr. Ellen Friedman My vet says my dog has “otitis externa.” What does this mean? Otitis is Latin for inflammation of the ear. Ear infections and inflammations are very common in dogs. We used to think that floppy-eared dogs were more prone to this problem (cocker spaniels stand out in this group), but more [...]
Heed Pet’s back-end troubles (Anal sac problems)
By Dr. Ellen Friedman Keeping the back end of your pooch comfy is important for him — and for you! Anal sac problems are common and can cause tremendous pain for your animal companion. Popularly called anal glands, these are two small pouches located just outside the dog’s rectum at four and eight o’clock. These sacs [...]