I'm asked this question every week, usually by well-meaning guardians trying to make sound medical decisions in behalf of their older dog or cat. The good news is that our animal companions are living longer than ever before. Let's discuss the reasons:

1) Preventive veterinary care: Veterinarians have far greater resources to discover and treat …

I'm frequently asked this question outside the office. There are lots of reasons that lead people to neglect their animal companions by not visiting the vet, including cost and the refusal to take time off work, and let's face it, it can …

I hate having to pick a new doctor, particularly if it is because my health-care plan changed, but picking a new veterinarian is even more troubling. I want somebody who cares about animals and is highly skilled. What would you tell somebody who is inquiring about how best to select a veterinarian?

In my professional and volunteer activities, I've had …

One of the most difficult parts of my job as a veterinarian is communicating to you, the guardian, that your animal companion has a serious illness. My goal is to be empathetic, informative, and clear and to provide you with as many humane options for care as …

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If you're like most people, the turkey probably wasn't the only thing that got stuffed on Thanksgiving. The average person consumes an extra 600 calories per day between Thanksgiving and New Year's and gains 1 pound during the holiday season. That doesn't sound like much until you remember that most of us never …

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I've discussed in previous posts why it's important to see your veterinarian on a regular basis and what we look for during an examination. An equally valuable part of the visit is what we refer to as "history-taking." I rely on your observations and descriptions in lieu of being able to ask your dog or …

One of the foundations that vets rely on is a hands-on examination of your animal companion. The following is a checklist of what we are looking for and thinking about during a complete examination:

• Bodyweight: I never cease to be amazed at the dramatic changes in weight that …