Anal sac disease, specifically anal sacculitis (AS), is frequently seen in dogs. Previous studies have shown the incidence of this disease in canines to be 2%–15.7%. A large study evaluating AS in the general practice setting found a prevalence of 4.4%. AS can occur with inflammation only (i.e., no infection), or it can progress to infection and even to abscessation. Although this condition is quite common, few studies have been published to determine the best treatment. Systemic antibiotics...

Gabapentin has been traditionally used in cats for managing chronic pain and seizure disorders. In the last few years gabapentin has become a commonly used medication to reduce patient stress when visiting a veterinary clinic. Most feline patients are more tractable and compliant for physical examinations as well as blood collection and cystocentesis when “pretreated” with gabapentin. Most practitioners utilize a dose of 20 mg/kg of gabapentin in young healthy cats. In humans, gabapentin is...

Watch this video as Dr. Lianna Titcombe summarizes the key points of the 2023 AAFP-IAAHPC Feline hospice and palliative care guidelines to assist veterinary teams in creating an ideal end-of-life experience for pets and their families. She explores care units, communication strategies, and care/treatment plans, providing support for pet owners as their beloved cat enters this stage of life.

Urethral catheterization in female cats and small dogs can be very challenging, though the procedure is often necessary in patients with various medical conditions. The most common techniques utilized for urethral catheterization include blind placement, using digital palpation, or use of various instruments to better allow visualization of the urethral papilla. These techniques are challenging at the best of times, but even more so in cats and small dogs. The publication reviewed in this...

Chocolate ingestion in dogs is a common cause of toxicity. The first case of chocolate toxicity was published in 1942, but overall there are few published studies evaluating the prognosis in such cases. The toxic products in chocolate are methylxanthines (theobromine and caffeine). The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Baking chocolate, dark chocolate, and bitter chocolate have the highest content of methylxanthines, while milk chocolate has much lower...

When performing fine-needle aspiration for cytology, two techniques are commonly utilized. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is performed by inserting the needle into the area to be sampled and creating negative pressure by drawing back on the syringe several times. Fine-needle non-aspiration cytology (FNNAC) is performed by inserting the needle into the area to be sampled and collecting a “core” of cells in the needle, along with cells entering the needle via capillary action. Studies...

Cats are very susceptible to stress hyperglycemia, making in-clinic blood glucose curves potentially unhelpful. Accurate curves can be obtained for calm cats either in clinic or by clients at home. Results from stressed or “spicy” cats can be difficult, or impossible, to interpret. Spot glucose checks, or assessment of urine glucose levels are rarely beneficial in managing a diabetic cat and can be very misrepresentative. Many pet parents are unable to perform at-home blood glucose curves....

Watch this video as Sydney DeWinter, a PhD student in the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College, talks about the highlights from a recent study she conducted. She presents her research and results regarding tick preferential attachment sites and differences between tick species attachment preferences.

Watch this video as Dr. Janice L. Huntingford discusses the 2023 AAHA Senior care guidelines for dogs and cats. She outlines recommendations that can help clinics develop personalized care for senior pets tailored to their specific needs, including in-clinic approaches, treatment options, and pain management with the objective of improving senior care and patient quality of life.