Peer Reviewed

Leptospirosis should be recognized as a significant infectious disease in dogs, with variable incidence that is dependent on unpredictable short- and long-term weather patterns and influenced by anthropogenic factors that may affect exposure of dogs to wildlife vectors.

Developing a standardized approach to patients with DMVD can help the clinician concentrate on the most important diagnostic aspects of disease as well as provide useful information about monitoring and prognosis.

Developing a standardized approach to patients with DMVD can help the clinician concentrate on the most important diagnostic aspects of disease as well as provide useful information about monitoring and prognosis.

Upper respiratory tract (URT) diseases are remarkably common in cats and can be both challenging in the acute state and frustrating in the chronic state.

Upper respiratory tract (URT) diseases are remarkably common in cats and can be both challenging in the acute state and frustrating in the chronic state. The objective of this review article is to discuss the approach to evaluating a cat with clinical signs attributable to the URT.

Behavior problems may seem daunting, but primary care veterinarians can provide critical interventions by diagnosing and managing the behavior problems they frequently face in clinical practice. Implementing behavior-related questions into a routine examination and training team members to note owners’ behavior-related questions opens the door for behavior assessment in clients’ pets.

Heather Lynch, RVT, LVT Pet nutrition is big business. In a competitive market, veterinary practices need to maximize their influence as pet care experts to help owners make appropriate, well-informed decisions. In 2012, it is estimated that pet owners will spend 52 billion dollars on their pets; approximately half of this will be spent on …

Christine M. Meredith, VMD, and Travis B. Meredith, DVM, MBA, Diplomate ACT It’s summer again and most practices are in the swing of the preventive medicine push. As the bugs come out, much of our time is spent communicating with clients about preventing the clinical diseases associated with fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other vectors. The …

Brook A. Niemiec, DVM, FAVD, Diplomate AVDC The oral cavity is a very common place to encounter neoplastic growths, which may range from benign to malignant.1-3 The key to successful therapy of oral masses is early detection and definitive diagnosis. The best therapy for oral masses is complete surgical resection.1,4-5 If surgery is performed early, the procedure …

This is the sixth article in our Imaging Essentials series, which is focused on providing comprehensive information on radiography of different anatomic areas of dogs and cats. The following articles are available at todaysveterinarypractice.com: Small Animal Thoracic Radiography (September/October 2011) Small Animal Abdominal Radiography (November/December 2011) Small Animal Pelvic Radiography (January/February 2012) Small Animal Radiography: …

Adam Moeser, DVM, and Charles Vite, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology) Acute spinal cord injury is a major cause of neurologic dysfunction in dogs and somewhat less so in cats. ACUTE SPINAL CORD INJURIES: STEP BY STEP History: When a dog or cat presents with evidence of acute spinal cord injury, obtain a detailed history …