Vet Confidential

When you decide to get a dog, there are plenty of options. There is no shortage of dogs in this world, that’s for sure. Sometimes, a dog finds you. You’re driving along minding your own business, probably in a hurry to get someplace, and you drive by a dog who obviously needs some assistance...

What kinds of veterinary specialists are there, and what do they do?

There are many fields of veterinary specialization. To tell if a doctor is a specialist, you can look for certain letters after her name, which I list below....

Endoscopy uses fiber optics—long strands of glass or other materials that transmit light, which are bundled together and encased in rigid or flexible scopes of various sizes—to examine various body cavities...

What is feline hyperthyroidism?

This is a condition seen in middle-aged and older cats. Cats have two thyroid glands in the neck, and with hyperthyroidism, one or both develop a small tumor that makes too much thyroid hormone. In most cats, the tumor is a benign type called an adenoma, which vets often refer to as a thyroid nodule. We are not sure why some cats develop hyperthyroidism.

There seems to be a trend towards very tiny dogs. Is this healthy?

There are fads and trends in pet types, just as there are for clothes, cuisines, and which part of your body to insert jewelry in.

Currently, very tiny or so-called “teacup” dogs are in vogue. These are extremely small versions of certain small breeds of dogs, such as Chihuahuas, Maltese, Pomeranians, and others. There are health and other issues with this trend, which are helpful to know about if you are considering owning one of these dogs.