Poinsettias: Pretty or Poisonous?

Poinsettias can make festive holiday decorations. Their reputation as a "killer plant" may be somewhat exaggerated.

Thinking of throwing out that poinsettia the florist just delivered since you have pets in the house? That is probably not necessary. Although poinsettia toxicity has gained a lot of press, they are not all that toxic. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are also known as the "Christmas flower" or "star". They are a popular plant used as decoration around the holidays from November through December. The plant is actually a shrub and has brightly colored red, white or pink terminal leaves while the lower leaves remain green in color. Read more...

Canine Perianal Fistula or Anal Furunculosis

Perianal fistulas or anal furunculosis is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by ulceration of the perianal tissue (tissue surrounding the anus) in the dog. The clinical signs of perianal fistulas may be present for years, gradually worsening over time.

Tularemia or Rabbit Fever

A disease first described in a California ground squirrel around 1913, tularemia is also known as "rabbit" or "deerfly fever". The disease is caused by a gram-negative bacterium by the name of "Francisella tularensis".

Lead Poisoning in Dogs and Cats

According to both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pets are more likely to exceed recommended levels of lead exposure through household contamination rather than by pet toys. Pets and children may be exposed to lead contained in consumer products like lead sinkers used to weigh down fishing lines, the consumption of old paint chips, linoleum, certain paints used by artists, or the inhalation of lead dust when surfaces of older homes are scraped or sanded.

Canine Ehrlichiosis or Tropical Canine Pancytopenia

Canine Ehrlichiosis is also known as tropical canine pancytopenia, canine typhus, canine hemorrhagic fever, idiopathic hemorrhagic syndrome, Nairobi bleeding disorder, canine rickettsiosis, and tracker dog disease. Ehrlichiosis is caused by obligate intracellular rickettsial organisms that parasitize thrombocytes (the precursor of platelets) of the animal affected.

Traveling with Your Pet the Holistic Way

Thinking of taking that long weekend trip to the mountains, or planning relief from the cold by soaking up some rays on the beach? Maybe you are just planning on visiting the family for a day or two. Regardless of the destination, if you are planning to include the household pet on your next trip, they may need some help in dealing with the stress of travel.

Raw Food Diets for Cats and Dogs

Most pet owners feed their pets traditionally-prepared commercial food. Due in part to the

Milk Thistle: Treating Chronic Liver Problems and Diabetes

Is your dog or cat suffering from liver failure, or have you just found out there is an elevation in their liver enzyme levels? Milk thistle, or an extract thereof, may prove to be helpful. In fact, milk thistle may help with that case of pancreatitis or diabetes.

Oleander Toxicosis

Oleander is an ornamental shrub that flowers in various colors including white, red, pink and violet. This plant is an evergreen perennial that flowers throughout the summer months.

Choosing the Right Breed of Dog For You (video)

Want to adopt a dog, but don’t know which dog breed is the best fit for your family? Dr. Susan Muller Esneault gives some guidelines and suggestions for choosing breeds on MedCall on WAAY-31 TV.

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Arthritis in Dogs, Cats, Horses, Birds, and Other Pets

Is your pet having more difficulty getting up in the morning? Does he or she walk around still legged for the first 10 to 15 minutes in the morning to get warmed up? Is your pet limping especially on those cold, wet, rainy mornings? Does your pet limp around following that Frisbee session? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then your pet is probably suffering from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease (DJD) that is characterized by the wearing out of the articular cartilage (the cartilage located at joint surfaces), hypertrophy of the bone at the margins (enlargements of the end of the bones due to periostitis), and changes in the synovial membrane (the lining of the joints).

Main Page - Dogs

Featured Article