New World screwworm has returned to Texas and the broader Southwest after decades away, and confirmed cases now include pets, not just livestock. This parasite is a fly whose larvae burrow into living tissue through any open wound, and an unnoticed infestation can turn a small scrape into a serious, fast-worsening injury. The good news [...]

Diagnosing intestinal parasites in pets comes down to choosing the right test for the situation, because a traditional fecal float, an antigen test, and a fecal PCR each find different things, and none of them finds everything. A float looks for parasite eggs under a microscope and can miss an active Giardia infection if cysts [...]

When a pet's immune system attacks its own blood cells, the result is one of two serious conditions: immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), in which the body destroys its red blood cells, or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), in which it destroys the platelets that let blood clot. In both, the immune system mistakes normal, healthy cells for [...]

If your dog has been itching, chewing, and scooting their way through allergy season, you have probably heard of at least one of these medications, maybe all of them. The allergy treatment landscape for dogs and cats has genuinely changed in the last decade. We have gone from a "steroid and good luck" approach to [...]

  Pet Gear That Can Actually Cause Injury (and What to Use Instead) Here is something nobody puts in the product description: "may injure your pet under normal use." The pet accessory market is enormous and not always well regulated, and some of the most popular items, including retractable leashes, prong collars, certain harnesses, chew [...]

Here is something most families do not realize: the number on the scale at your vet visit is only part of the story. Two dogs can weigh exactly the same and be in completely different shape. One might be lean and muscular, the other soft and carrying extra fat around the belly and hips. Body [...]

Here is something most new pet owners do not expect to hear: your adorable, freshly adopted puppy or kitten probably has intestinal parasites right now. Roundworms, hookworms, and other worms are incredibly common in young animals, and many puppies and kittens are born with them or pick them up through their mother's milk before they [...]

When Fur Loss Signals an Underlying Medical Condition Hair loss in pets is one of those diagnostic puzzles that looks straightforward until you start pulling on the threads. A symmetric bald patch on both flanks? Could be hormonal. Patchy, inflamed, itchy loss around the face and paws? Probably allergic or infectious. Diffuse thinning with otherwise [...]

A cheerful lobby and happy photos on social media do not tell the whole story of a dog daycare. Many daycares promise fun and socialization, but few explain how they keep dogs safe in the process. The right daycare is genuinely great for dogs who are good candidates: mental stimulation, social interaction, exercise, and a [...]

Aging pets hide disease remarkably well until problems become advanced. What looks like normal slowing down might actually be kidney disease, hypertension, or thyroid dysfunction in disguise. Senior screening catches these hidden problems early when treatment is most effective. Blood pressure checks detect hypertension before it damages organs. Thyroid testing identifies hormonal imbalances affecting metabolism. [...]