The emergency room docs I work with are busy pulling foxtails out of eyes, ears, noses, and throats as well as from in between toes. Such activity reminds me that it is once again time to blog about these pesky bristly plant awns that grow in abundance where I live in California. [More]

A “normal abnormality” is the term I use to describe something that is worthy of note within my patient’s medical record, yet is an anticipated abnormality (given the animal’s age, breed, or circumstances) that is highly unlikely to ever become a significant health issue. [More]

I use the term Advocacy Aids to describe a set of health forms I’ve created to help you excel as your pet’s medical advocate. Where can you find them? It’s easy. Simply go to www.speakingforspot.com and look for “Resources” in the red horizontal main menu. [More]

While in the midst of my post-surgery “down time” I’ve been chuckling a bit about what my own physicians have endured as a result of my medical background. How commonly is a surgeon interrogated about what type of suture pattern and material he intends to use? How often does an anesthesiologist need to provide a detailed pharmacologic rundown of the anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) drugs that will be used to keep the patient with a queasy stomach from puking post-operatively?

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Following a brief medical leave of absence I’m thankfully back at the keyboard. I’d like to draw your attention to a PetConnection blog post I wrote in which I discuss a study that examined the causes of death in more than 70,000 purebred dogs (82 breeds represented). [More]