Category: Pet health

TICKS!!! FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PET’S HEALTH, AND OUR HUMAN HEALTH: IT’S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE CRITTERS AND NOT FREAK OUT!!!

Dear readers, even though we’ve talked about ticks many times before, I feel it is necessary once again to go over this stuff for three reasons. First (and most important), at least in our little area of the world here in central New York State, the business of ticks has now officially become life or death serious for both our pets and ourselves. Secondly, … Read More TICKS!!! FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PET’S HEALTH, AND OUR HUMAN HEALTH: IT’S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE CRITTERS AND NOT FREAK OUT!!!

Vomiting in Dogs and Cats

Of all the illnesses I have to deal with in my humble little practice, the one that gives me the most challenge is that of cats and dogs vomiting. Just for fun this morning, I typed in to the Google search engine the words “vomiting in dogs” and got 276,000 replies. I got 767,000 hits for “vomiting in cats! My point is, that with … Read More Vomiting in Dogs and Cats

Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs

Sarcoptic mange! Yuck!!! The very word sends creepy crawling shivers up the backs of many people. I’m getting the “itchies” just sitting here typing the word!!! Mange, specifically sarcoptic mange (there are a couple of other varieties), is nothing more than an infection by a tiny mite called Sarcoptic scabiei. These mites are so small, you could put a hundred of them on the … Read More Sarcoptic Mange in Dogs

SOME THOUGHTS ON PET LOSS AND GRIEF

On the extreme southeast corner of the island of Aruba, there is a wind-swept patch of grass and vine covered sand dunes, about an acre in size, known simply as The Animal Cemetery. It is here on this beautiful little plot of oceanside beach that loving pet owners who live on this happy island come to lay to eternal rest their cherished pets. Inscribed … Read More SOME THOUGHTS ON PET LOSS AND GRIEF

OF PIGEONS, HORSES, CATS, AND WAR DOGS: THE DICKEN MEDAL

“They protected us on the field of battle. They watch over our eternal rest. We are grateful.” — on the War Dog Memorial, Ft. Benning, Georgia Dominating the great city of Edinburgh, Scotland is magnificent Edinburgh Castle. Built on the highest mountain crag for as far as the eye can see, the castle is the most-visited sight in all of Scotland. At the very … Read More OF PIGEONS, HORSES, CATS, AND WAR DOGS: THE DICKEN MEDAL

SEVEN THINGS THAT CAN KILL (OR SEVERELY SICKEN) YOUR PET THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

     With the holiday season rapidly approaching, one of the last things a person or a family needs to do is to make an emergency visit to their veterinarian because of a sick pet. Even though it is impossible to list all of the thousands of things that can cause harm to our cats and dogs in this short report, my hope is that … Read More SEVEN THINGS THAT CAN KILL (OR SEVERELY SICKEN) YOUR PET THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

FOR WHATEVER THEY’RE WORTH: THE SAYINGS OF DR. ORZECK.

One of the constant fears that we who work with the public have is the sudden realization that people (sometimes) are actually listening to what we have to say. I’ve even recently had a client tell me that he finds my humble quotations and witty sayings so profound, that he actually writes them down for future reference! With all this in mind, and with … Read More FOR WHATEVER THEY’RE WORTH: THE SAYINGS OF DR. ORZECK.

CONSTIPATION IN OUR PETS: A REALLY HARD [Sorry!] SUBJECT TO DISCUSS

I was talking with my friend Stanley the other day about a small problem I was having. *For new readers to this humble column, Stanley, is my garbage man/philosopher friend who is a profound observer of the human condition and one of the greatest thinkers I’ve ever met. My problem was about how to tastefully (perhaps that’s not the right word to use) discuss … Read More CONSTIPATION IN OUR PETS: A REALLY HARD [Sorry!] SUBJECT TO DISCUSS

THEY HAVE MUCH IN COMMON: CATS IN HEAT AND YOUNG SAILORS

It was just past eleven o’clock when the phone rang. I’d been asleep for about an hour. Before I could even speak a word, the client on the other end screamed, “Dr. Oz, you gotta help me! My poor little Fluffy (her seven-month-old kitten) is having seizures. She’s thrashing around the kitchen floor and shrieking at the top of her lungs in agony. Doctor, … Read More THEY HAVE MUCH IN COMMON: CATS IN HEAT AND YOUNG SAILORS

TAPEWORMS IN OUR CATS AND DOGS: A SLIMY SUBJECT

At the busiest moment of my Friday-afternoon’s office hours, an emergency phone call came in from a dear client who I’ll call Miss Jones. Normally soft-spoken and always very reserved, the elderly Miss Jones was now on the other end of the line screaming uncontrollably in what seemed to me a state of mortal terror. When finally I could ask her what was wrong, … Read More TAPEWORMS IN OUR CATS AND DOGS: A SLIMY SUBJECT

Being Blocked: Urethral Obstruction in Tomcats.

***My wish is that everyone in the world who owns a male cat reads this article. You can help by showing it to your cat-owner friends who in turn can send it to their cat-owner friends, who can then send it on to their cat-owner friends.*** Treasured readers, urethral obstruction is such an important topic that—HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS—I’m gonna get right to … Read More Being Blocked: Urethral Obstruction in Tomcats.

CONSTIPATION IN OUR PETS: A REALLY HARD [Sorry!] SUBJECT TO DISCUSS.

I was talking with my friend Stanley the other day about a small problem I was having. *For new readers to this humble column, Stanley, is my garbage man/philosopher friend who is a profound observer of the human condition and one of the greatest thinkers I’ve ever met. My problem was about how to tastefully (perhaps that’s not the right word to use) discuss … Read More CONSTIPATION IN OUR PETS: A REALLY HARD [Sorry!] SUBJECT TO DISCUSS.