Top Veterinary Articles of the Week: Q&A with Dr. Kay, Common Causes of Sudden Death, and more ...

Dear Dr. Kay…

Dr. Nancy Kay/Spot Speaks


Dr. Nancy Kay is a veterinary internal specialist, author of two amazing books, Speaking for Spot and Your Dog's Best Health: 
A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet.

Dr. Kay is one of the best dog health advocacy voices out there. When I first read Speaking for Spot, I deemed it the most important dog book one can ever read. Interestingly, the top veterinary authors out there, whom I constantly learn so much from, are all veterinary specialists.

In this post, Dr. Kay answers questions about appropriate restraint in veterinary practice, potty accidents, and veterinary costs.


How to Protect Your Pet from Common Causes of Sudden Death

PetMD

Sudden death is the scariest of medical problems. There is no time to try and do anything; it just happens, and it's done. Is there any way to prevent that from happening?

The most common cause of sudden death is a heart-related disease. That's where regular wellness exams, including testing with regard to breed-specific issues, is so important. Internal bleeding is a close second. This can be from trauma, certain poisons, and ruptured tumors. Some of these are harder to predict and prevent than others.

Other causes of sudden death are toxins, heartworms, and bloat, though that one, unfortunately, isn't as sudden at all and can take hours of excruciating pain.

Check out the article for a detailed explanation and what you can do to prevent these things from happening to your dog.


Coronavirus Vaccine for Dogs

Dr. Jean Dodds

There are two main strains of canine coronavirus; one affecting the digestive system and one that goes after the respiratory system. The canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) is a part of the kennel cough complex.

In puppies, the gastrointestinal strain is the second leading viral cause of diarrhea, second only to parvovirus. Fortunately, coronavirus infections are rarely fatal. The infection usually causes orange diarrhea, lethargy, and decreased appetite. In itself, the disease is typically self-limiting, meaning it resolves on its own. Just like with the respiratory strain, however, it becomes a problem when it combines with a secondary infection, bacterial or parvovirus.

Should you vaccinate against coronavirus? Find out in Dr. Dodds' article.


The Flea Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) - Plain and Simple

Else-Vet

Comments