The 12 Days of Holiday Pet Emergencies
December 2, 2019
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a pet emergency? The holiday season is full of opportunities for your true love (i.e., your pet) to land herself in the emergency room. Ensure your pet stays away from these potential holiday hazards, so an emergency doesn’t ruin your holidays. Day 1: Chocolate Chocolate is one of the most common toxins pets are exposed to during the holidays. Dark chocolate, or baking chocolate, has the highest concentration of theobromine and caffeine, and ingestion of small amounts of these toxins can cause illness. Milk chocolate contains a lower toxin…
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Your Pet Needs an Amputation? What You Can Expect
November 13, 2019
It can be shocking and upsetting to hear that the recommendation for your pet’s diagnosis is amputation of the affected limb. Situations where amputation is an option include the most serious of conditions, including cancer or overwhelming trauma. But surprisingly, most cats and dogs are so adaptable and resilient that they do remarkably well after an amputation. In fact, the pet owner is more likely to feel the stigma, pity, and sense of loss that accompany the procedure than the pet experiencing the amputation. Common Reasons for Amputation in Pets Amputations are typically performed when a limb cannot be salvaged…
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Your Dog’s Knees, Part 2: Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Knee Conditions
July 31, 2019
The two most common conditions to affect your dog’s knees are cranial cruciate ligament rupture and patellar luxation, which we addressed in our previous blog post. In this post, we will discuss how prompt diagnosis and treatment can have your dog back on her feet again in no time. Cranial Cruciate Rupture In a dog’s knee, there are two cruciate ligaments that form an X-shaped connection in the knee joint between the distal (lower) femur and proximal (upper) tibia. The cranial, or front, ligament is the one that is most commonly torn, often causing acute lameness, with the patient unable…
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Anesthesia and Your Pet
May 30, 2019
Just like in human medicine, if your pet needs surgery, she will be placed under anesthesia. The thought of your precious companion being anesthetized may make you nervous, so we want to explain the entire procedure. From a thorough preoperative evaluation to the safest drugs and monitoring equipment, Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center has your pet’s safety in mind from start to finish. Preoperative history and physical examination We will begin with questions about your pet’s medical history, recent illnesses, and behavior to identify information that may affect anesthesia or the surgical procedure. Our veterinarians will perform a thorough physical exam…
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Your Dog’s Knees, Part 1: Common Knee Conditions
May 29, 2019
Your dog’s knees support his weight and absorb shock from all his movements every day. When a knee injury occurs, pain and discomfort interfere with every step. The two most common knee injuries that affect dogs are cranial cruciate ligament rupture and patellar luxation, and both occur in the rear legs. Although both injuries cause lameness, the causes, clinical signs, and treatment options are different for each injury. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture What is my dog’s cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)? The cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments form an X-like connection between the distal (lower) femur and the proximal (upper)…
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