Cat Eye Infections - Symptoms & Treatments
Eye problems can be very painful for your cat and are often contagious. Today, we discuss a variety of eye issues seen in cats, signs, and how infections and other conditions are treated.
Chronic Degenerative Valve Disease in Dogs
Chronic degenerative valve disease is a form of heart disease often seen in small dogs. Here, we look at the causes, symptoms and treatment of this serious heart condition.
Dogs & Skin Cancer
When it comes to caring for the health of our canine companions, skin cancer is something every pet parent should be on the lookout for. Today, we discuss types of skin cancers in dogs and the symptoms associated with each.
Does my pet have a neurological issue?
Pets of any age or breed can be struck by a neurological issue, so it's important for pet parents to know the signs and what to do. Today, we discuss signs that your pet could be suffering from a neurological issue.
A Review of Canine and Feline Oral Tumors
The oral cavity is a common site of malignant neoplasia in both the dog and the cat. Tumors of the oral cavity can be classified as odontogenic tumors (neoplasia arising from tooth-forming tissues), non-odontogenic tumors, or non-neoplastic lesions. In dogs, the non-odontogenic tumors include the three most common malignant oral neoplasms: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma. Odontogenic tumors, generally considered to be rare, are actually common if the odontogenic benign...
The Melanoma Vaccine
Oral melanoma is the most common malignant oral tumor in dogs. Oral melanomas are both locally aggressive and systemically aggressive (up to 80% metastatic rate). Initial work-up for oral melanomas should include a minimal data base (CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis), lymph node evaluation with cytology or biopsy, three-view chest radiographs and biopsy confirmation of the oral melanoma.
Targeted Therapy
Recently, a great deal of research has been done in both normal and cancerous cells regarding the signals involved in cell growth, differentiation and survival. Normal cells receive signals from outside the cell via molecules called growth factors. These growth factors bind to growth factor receptors on the cell membrane. The receptors become activated and start a downstream signaling cascade inside the cell which eventually reaches the nucleus where the signal exerts its influence on the c...
Mast Cell Tumor Proliferation
Mast cell tumors are the most common cutaneous malignancy in dogs. One of the most important prognostic factors when treating mast cell tumors is the histologic grade. The histologic grade is a measure of how aggressive a tumor appears on a biopsy. Mast cell tumors are commonly graded using a three tier grading system. Grade I mast cell tumors are well-differentiated, grade II mast cell tumors are moderately differentiated and grade III tumors are poorly differentiated. Post operative survi...
Metronomic Chemotherapy
Dogs frequently present with masses along the eyelid margin. Benign canine eyelid masses outnumber malignant ones at a ratio of 3 to 1. Most of these masses are tumors of the meibomian glands that line the eyelid margins and normally supply lipids (meibum) to the tear film. As dogs age and develop numerous sebaceous skin tumors, they are also more likely to develop these minimally invasive meibomian tumors.
Interventional Radiology Techniques
Since there is not an abundance of information about these procedures in the literature, the following general information will help you decide which patients may be possible candidates and allow you to adequately prepare owners prior to referral.