Respect the Kitty!
Syringe Feeding an Exercise in Planning and Execution
“Why Do I Have to Put Myself and My Cat Through Syringe Feeding?”
Sometimes the difference between life and death for an unwell cat is nutrition. Syringe feeding is the slow, gentle administration of soft, soupy food through a feeding syringe, into your cat’s mouth in such a way that natural swallowing is encouraged.
Labrador Retriever Puppy Falls in Pool, Panics!
Plus, Labrador “Swimmer Tail”
Max is not feeling very snappy after falling into the pool!
You would think a Lab puppy would naturally be able to swim. Like a dolphin. Of course, this is only the case sometimes.
Max fell into the family in ground pool while larking in the back yard. Even though the family’s other dog jumps in and out of the pool all day, and swims whenever he feels like it, Max had never gone into the pool before.
He came to see Doc Truli in a shivering, huddled mess of dog misery covered in beach towels.
The hip joint on the left shows the pelvic fracture
6-Month Old Kitten Versus Automobile= Fractured Pelvis
Sugar is a 6-month-old grey and white short, plush haired cat. She usually stayed indoors all the time, but when repairman came tho the house, she slipped out the door. Her family looked for hours, but she was nowhere to be found.
3 days later, she crawled up to the porch, her hind legs dragging, a pained, awful, desperate look on her face. Still, mom and dad did not rush to the emergency room. They gave her food, water, and a warm, comfortable bed, and waited until the next day to come see Doc Truli. They could find no sores, no wounds, they really couldn’t tell what had happened to Sugar.
“Why didn’t they take the kitten right to the vet’s office,” you ask. read more…
Boxer Fatty Lump Goes Bad
Boxer Puppy in Pink
The first time I saw a fatty lump was also the day I saw my first convertible Jaguar XJ8 (before they sold to Ford.) The SUV in front of the pet emergency room, behind the Jaguar, held a nervous, frightened brown Brindle Boxer on a comforter, named Manny. Manny’s dad parked by the yellow curb and opened the overhead rear door to the SUV, placed the carpeted doggy ramp at the back car gate, and Manny slowly climbed down to the sidewalk. I saw the reason for the slow walking a few moments later. The late afternoon sunlight glowed across his Brindle side and then he turned.
The Boxer’s right side, where only his ribs should be, looked like a Basketball sticking out of his ribcage, covered with brindle fur. read more…
Boxers Grow Lumps and Cancer Better Than Any Other Breed of Dog
But if you live with a Boxer, you probably already know this! Did you know Boxers used to have a predicted lifespan of 4-6 years? The breed was bogged down with genetic predisposition to cancer, and they passed on an inherited heart condition that shortened their lives.
The breeders got together and agreed to selectively breed healthy dogs so as not to pass on the traits. Now, Boxers can expect to live 8-10 years, sometimes as much as 12-14 years, or longer.
Still, if you see a new growth or lump on your Boxer, have your vet check it urgently. Here is a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly… read more…
Boxer Puppy in Pink
Boxer Puppy in Pink
Boxers Grow Lumps and Cancer Better Than Any Other Breed of Dog*
But if you live with a Boxer, you probably already know this! Did you know Boxers used to have a predicted lifespan of 4-6 years? The breed was bogged down with genetic predisposition to cancer, and they passed on an inherited heart condition that shortened their lives.
The breeders got together and agreed to selectively breed healthy dogs so as not to pass on the traits. Now, Boxers can expect to live 8-10 years, sometimes as much as 12-14 years, or longer.
Still, if you see a new growth or lump on your Boxer, have your vet check it urgently. Here is a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly… read more…
Can you spot the root fragment?
Another Good Example of Why You Need Full Mouth X-Rays Every Patient, Every Time
GiGi was a five-year-old female spayed black and tan Yorkshire Terrier. Her parents could see the tartar build-up on her teeth, so they scheduled an anesthetic dental exam the same day as her annual check up. Good thing they did!
It does not matter how many times I advise people to brush their dogs’ teeth. Most people can’t be bothered. People love the idea of their dog much more than the reality of another living being. A little accomodation and learning on your part will keep your dog’s teeth healthier and can add Years – YEARS – dog your dog’s too short lifespan. Years.
GiGi’s x-rays showed a retained incisor root overlapping an incisor that was loose and sitting in an infected tooth socket. Probably, the crown, or top enamel part, of the broken tooth snapped off, the gums healed over, and then the festering root caused the early demise of the neighboring tooth. (In the picture, the lower right middle incisor is missing, there is a gap in the teeth, and a little overlapping root fragment sticks out.)
Imagine your tooth snapping off and you never tell anyone or complain. Doesn’t seem possible, does it? Dogs suffer silently exactly like this all the time. read more…
Office Cat Calculates: You Need Pet Insurance!
Office Cat Says: 10 Instances When Pet Insurance Means the Difference Between Life and Death
or, Why the Black Swan* Accident or Illness Ruins All of Your Plans, and You Cannot Predict It!
Certain illnesses and accidents cannot be overcome without surgery and/or intensive care. If your pet comes down with any of the following, money may be the only thing standing between your cat or dog and a cure and a normal life. Only money. With pet insurance your pet probably lives, without insurance or a large savings account, you may have to decide to put your friend down only because of money, not because of lack of technology or veterinary know-how.
One Day Old Bug Puppies (Boston Terrier x Pug)
Puppies Need Doctor Check-Up at 1-2 Days of Age
Doc Truli Starts Out Happy, but Turns Melodramatic
Why Does Everything Wonderful Have to Have a Dark Side to It?
For many reasons, puppies should see the veterinarian at 1-2 days old.
First, we need our puppy “fix.” Why do you think we became vets in the first place?
What disease lurks behind those cute lips?
Progressive periodontal disease means, unless you are a super-duper toothbrush trooper, your pet’s teeth will need annual, or even twice yearly root planing, deep cleaning, and gingival and periodontal therapy. Yay!
If you do not feel like spending $600-$1,200 per year on your pet’s oral health, consider a different breed from those listed below. And hope you are lucky and do not adopt a periodontal pariah anyway.
read more…
