Contact Us

What the FAQ?

The frequently asked questions below will help you learn and understand information surrounding common issues with your pet’s health. While they are things to consider, they are not intended to diagnose your pet. If your pet is displaying any sign of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, broken bones, seizures, or bleeding, contact your veterinarian right away.

Q: My pet ate something that could potentially be poisonous. Who should I contact?

A: Get a hold of your vet immediately. If you still have the packaging for what the pet ate, keep it handy; you’ll want to be able to describe the contents in detail and answer your vet’s questions. Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and other symptoms, but you do not want to wait for those to show up before getting help for your pet, just in case.

Q: I think that my pet may have a skin issue. How can I tell?

A: Your pet’s skin is an indicator of their overall health. If your pet has the following symptoms or any symptoms at all, you should call your vet:

• Excessive licking, scratching, or chewing of the skin
• Irritated or inflamed red skin
• Scabs or scaly areas
• Skin discoloration
• Swollen lumps or patches

Q: My pet’s paws are swollen. What do I do?

A: Swollen paws can happen for any number of reasons. Swelling can be the result of an insect sting or a bite. It could also be from an infection, damage to the tissue, or another injury. If your pet is showing signs of discomfort or pain, contact your vet.

Q: What are the symptoms of pet allergies?

A: Pets can show symptoms of allergies when their immune systems are attempting to fight off things it comes into contact with in everyday life. It can also show symptoms when exposed to things such as mold spores, pollen, dust, or smoke from a cigarette. If your pet does have allergies, coming into contact with the substance will produce symptoms and reactions such as runny eyes, red skin, moist skin, increased scratching, vomiting, sneezing, or even an itchy base of the tail. The last symptom is often attributed to an allergy to fleas, known as flea dermatitis.

Q: What are the symptoms of asthma in dogs?

A: Dogs can get asthma just like humans. Symptoms usually include long, heavy pants, wheezing, or coughing, loss of appetite, lethargy, and pale or blue gums. If your dog has discolored gums, you need to take the dog to the vet as soon as possible as he or she may not be getting enough oxygen.

Q: What are the symptoms of mange?

A: Mange is a skin disease that is caused by different species of small mites that can be found on the skin and in hair follicles. Mange symptoms often depend on the type of mite, but the common symptoms include intense scratching, bald spots, scabs, and rashes. All mites are able to cause skin infections that can be mild to severe if they don’t get treated. It is important to talk to your vet if you see any of these signs.

Q. My pet has a dry and persistent cough. What do I do?

A: A cough that is ongoing can be a sign of what is called "kennel cough." This cough is an upper respiratory bacterial and viral infection that is highly contagious and affects your dog’s windpipe and voice box. This could ultimately be affecting their ability to breathe. Watery, nasal discharge is another symptom of kennel cough. If you think that your dog has kennel cough, it is imperative to isolate them from other dogs and to call your vet right away.

Q: How can I tell if my pet has diabetes?

A: There are a number of different symptoms to look out for. These include excessive thirst and urination, excessive hunger, weight loss, glucose in the urine, and elevated glucose levels. Contact your vet if you think your dog may suffer from diabetes.

Q. Is my pet at risk for parvovirus?

A: Parvovirus, often shortened to just "parvo," is an incredibly contagious viral disease that can be deadly. The virus not only attacks the intestinal tract, it also affects the heart muscle which can lead to death. The dogs most at risk for parvo are ones that have not been vaccinated, young dogs, and puppies.
The common symptoms of parvovirus include vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, lethargy, and bloody diarrhea. They lose the will to drink water which can result in dehydration. The heart can beat rapidly, and you may notice reddened gums. If these symptoms occur, take them to your vet. They will give them fluids and try to help them stop vomiting, which can also lead to dehydration.

Q: My pet appears to be in pain when they are running or walking. What do I do?

A: This may be a sign of a chronic condition like arthritis or a sign of injury. If your pet is displaying signs of joint pain or seems to move or stand up with difficulty, tell your vet as soon as possible.

Q: My pet has put on a lot of weight. Should I be worried?

A: It is important to talk to your vet and see if your pet could be overnourished. It could also be retaining water or not getting enough exercise. This can develop into obesity which could affect their ability to breathe easily, damage their joints, or cause other serious health issues.

Q: In what way are human cancers and pet cancers similar?

A: Cancer in pets is often a spontaneously occurring disease that is very similar to cancer in humans. Examples include prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, head and neck carcinoma, melanoma, mammary carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.

Q: In what ways is pet cancer relevant to the study of cancer in humans?

A: In 2005 at the Broad Institute, the Canine Genome Sequencing Project successfully mapped out the genome of a boxer by the of name Tasha. The map of this genome has been used to show that a lot of the same genes that are found in dog cancers can also be found in human cancers. This helps to correlate and study the two.

Q: How many pets are diagnosed with cancer every year?

A: There are 32 million cats and 65 million dogs currently in the United States. Out of this number, around 6 million new cancer diagnoses are given to cats and dogs every year. Outside of the aforementioned cancers, other common cancers that get diagnosed include mast cell tumors, bladder cancer, hemangiosarcoma, and others.

Q: How does this number of diagnoses compare to human diagnoses?

A: Reported by the American Cancer Society, around 11,028,000 people in the United States are living with cancer. Around 1,000,000 new cases show up each year. One in three women and one in two men will be diagnosed with cancer in America at some point in their lives.

Q: What are some of the factors that contribute to the relevance of cancer in pets to cancer in humans?

A: Reported by the NCI Comparative Oncology Program, there are several factors that make this relevant. Dogs and cats can share many risk factors from the environment just like humans, including water and food sources and the air that they breath.
Cat and dog cancers also behave in ways that are similar to human cancer. Cat and dog cancers occur in numbers that are sufficient enough for clinical trials and biological studies. Humans are more likely to participate in similar clinical trials because the current protocols are not as effective. The progression of cancer in companion animals is rapid and so clinical trials will also progress more rapidly than other sorts of models.

REFERENCES:

• Pet MD. Diabetes. PetMD
• CCR. Cancer diagnoses in pets. CCR.nci.nih.gov
• American Cancer Society. Cancer in the human population. Cancer.Org