Lab Tests for Cats and Dogs

What Do Those Lab Tests Mean?

The results of laboratory tests on a patient are compared to reference ranges established by measuring the laboratory parameters in a group of normal animals. The reference ranges for each laboratory test differ between …

Heartworm in Cats

Heartworm Disease in Cats

Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm that gains entry into cats via mosquito bites. There is widespread distribution of this parasite in Canada at the lower latitudes, and your local veterinary team …

Choosing a Dog Breed

Which dog breed is right for you?

WHICH BREED? By Dr. Bruce Fogle DVM

Purebreds now account for the majority of dogs in North America, Europe, and Japan. The variety of sizes, shapes, and coats available appeals to virtually all …

Dogs – Cats – Pets and Divorce – Pet tip 232

The divorce rate in Canada and the U.S. is extremely high with nearly one out of every two couples getting divorced. Many couples that are divorcing don’t think much about how the divorce can affect the family pet. This is …

Exercise for cats – Pet tip 130

Your cat is waking you up in the middle of the night, swiping everything off your dresser and onto the floor. You awake from your slumber to a needy cat meowing in your ear. Destroying your favourite sofa has become …

Cat Leukemia – Feline Leukemia

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is similar to Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in that it is caused by a retrovirus, is transmissible between cats, and results in suppression of the immune system. The end stage of both diseases is death from secondary …

Autopsies on pets

Did you know that a person can have an autopsy done on their pet? Your first reaction may be to cringe; nobody likes to think about their pet being dissected. But autopsies provide information that no other test can. While …

Distemper in Dogs – Pet tip 168

Many dog owners, especially new dog owners are likely to hear about distemper and how their dogs should be vaccinated against it because it has the potential to be a dangerous, sometimes fatal disease. Distemper is a highly contagious virus …

Cat scans and MRIs

Sometimes it is easy for a veterinarian to figure out what is wrong with your pet by simple observation. Other times blood work is used to pick up problems with the thyroid glands, kidneys, or other organs. Often though, the veterinarian will decide to do further tests such as ultrasound and x-rays to look inside the body. These forms of testing are used very routinely for everything from broken bones to cancer. But what happens if none of these tests result in a diagnosis? The testing we just talked about is used to help us determine what is happening in the body. Sometimes all of the tests are negative or the diagnosis is not specific enough. This is when the veterinarian turns to different options.

The next option might be a CT or MRI scan. Both of these options are only available at specialty practices or veterinary schools. They are very expensive, but on the other hand, they often allow veterinarians to exactly diagnose the problem. In fact, both CT and MRI are so precise that for some problems it is almost as good as looking inside the body! The CT and MRI machines are the same as those used in human hospitals. This article will give you a short introduction to the ideas and science behind these forms of testing. Then we will go through a few situations when CT and MRI are used.

Socializing your Puppy

Socialization

Until they reach 16 to 18 weeks of age, a puppy will be in a socialization period. This period is the most important and critical in its life. Every effort should be made to socialize your puppy; meaning to …