Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/author/dr-john-violette-dvm/)
Gabapentin, which is sold under the brand name Neurontin, is commonly used in people for the treatment of chronic pain. Veterinarians have borrowed this prescription medication from human medicine to help dogs and cats with chronic pain.
Veterinary medicine is still one of the most popular career choices for young students. Although there can be long hours and stressful emergencies to manage, this career path can be very rewarding.
Most cats do not look forward to a trip to the veterinarian for medical care or even a pedicure. This can be quite stressful for the kitty and the owner. The car ride in a cat carrier alone can be scary.
Parasitologists are now warning us about multi-drug resistant hookworms that are spreading from dog to dog in the United States. This is mostly an issue in retired racing greyhounds. There is also a concern that these hookworms are spreading from greyhounds to the general dog population.
I was wondering if it is a myth that there was a COVID-19 effect of open kennels at animal shelters due to increased demand. So, I called the Connecticut Humane Society and spoke to Susan Wollschlager, the marketing and communications manager.
A recent New York Times article reported that 70 percent of millennials own pets. This may seem high but the pandemic created the perfect conditions for a pet boom.
Ticks are already having a banner year in Connecticut. This is especially evident with our pets as we pull off multiple ticks a day.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of technology to deliver health information, advice, and veterinary care for companion animals. Veterinarians offered curbside services to diagnose and treat pets.
Inappetence (lack of appetite) is a big problem for older cats and dogs who may suffer from chronic disease. Animals have tremendous survival skills and have evolved to have robust appetites.
Last week at our hospital we treated two dogs for heartworm disease. It seems like this year we treat a dog every other week for heartworms.