Aural Hematoma

“Aural” (not “oral”) means “pertaining to the ear.” The aural hematoma results when an animal breaks a blood vessel in the flap of the ear. The ear flap fills with blood and becomes like a heavy water balloon hanging from the pet’s head. Click here to find out what conditions lead to this and about treatment.

The Bite Wound Abscess

A week doesn’t go by around here without seeing a cat or two in this condition. Cats fight, bite, and get infected. What do you need to know? Click here to find out.

Cherry Eye

Your dog has a red lump that suddenly appeared in the corner of his or her eye? What does it mean and what should you do? Click here to go to find out.

Declawing and its Alternatives

Having a hard time deciding between keeping your beloved cat or having your sofa ripped to shreds? Here’s some factual information of the details of declawing, as well as a discussion of some non-surgical alternatives.

Ectopic Ureters

Sometimes the difficult to house-train puppy has a bigger problem: an anatomical defect that alters the basic plumbing of her urinary tract. This condition is rare but if you are reading this, we can guess you may have a suspect case at home. Here are more details on this condition.

Elbow Hygroma

The usual patient for this condition is a short-haired large breed dog, usually of an adolescent age, brought to the veterinarian for assessment of a fluid-filled swelling at the point of one or both elbows.

Enucleation

Enucleation means “removal of the eye.” If this is an option that may benefit your pet, this site will answer some questions concerning common reasons this procedure may be necessary, what to expect after surgery and what complications to be wary of.

Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy

There are many conditions involving the hip joint for which a femoral head and neck ostectomy might be recommended: hip dysplasia, hip dislocation, femoral neck fractures etc. For the right patient, return to near normal mobility is expected but there are important rehabilitation concerns. Click here for more details.

Hemangiopericytoma

The hemangiopericytoma is a common tumor in the dog generally arising on the limbs and appearing as a round nodule. It derives from pericytes associated with blood vessels and, at least in some cases, involves a chromosome abnormality (usually an extra or an absent chromosome). If this information is completely unfamiliar, you may want to check out this page for more information.

Histiocytoma

The histiocytoma is a common benign tumor of younger dogs (and the occasional cat). While it eventually goes away by itself, it can be itchy while it lasts and usually has a moist or even slightly bloody surface. It must be distinguished from some of its more malignant cousins so some kind of diagnostic testing is generally recommended. Visit this page for some additional information.

Kidney Transplants in Pets

It is possible for a cat to have a kidney transplant from a healthy donor cat. This is not a simple procedure by any means and requires not only adoption of the donor cat but immune-suppressive medications for the life of the recipient cat. The undertaking is expensive (several thousand dollars) but for the right patient it can mean the gift of life.

Lateral Ear Resection

Recurring ear infection is a plague to many dogs and to their owners who must treat them. The on-going infection simply continues and never goes away. The Lateral Ear Resection is a surgery that changes the conformation of the pet's "J-shaped" ear canal to a canal that is horizontal-only, like the human ear canal. This improves ventilation to the ear and facilitates cleaning. Is this surgery for your pet? Read on to find out.

Mammary Cancer in Cats

Breast cancer is an important disease for women and it should not be too surprising that it is also an important disease for female cats. Early detection and surgery are the key to long survival. Putting off removal of even a very small growth can make the difference between cancer and cure. If you have a female cat and she was spayed as an adult cat, then you need to be very aware of this disease.

Mammary Tumors in Dogs

We all know the importance of breast cancer and its prevention in our own species but it may be a surprise to find that breast (mammary) cancer is important for our pets, too. Here we explore the information pertinent to the dog.

Medial Luxating Patella

Medial Luxating Patella is a common condition of toy breed dogs. The kneecap slips out of place leading to a short skip in the gait and if that is all that happens then no treatment is required. If the kneecap cannot slip back in place, though, the entire leg can come to be deformed from the abnormal weight-bearing that results. Surgery is required to set things right.

Canine Neuter

Neutering a dog will help prevent or curtail a number of unpleasant behavioral problems and can also prevent prostate disease. This simple surgery is an important part of responsible pet ownership. Click here for an FAQ.

Neutering the Male Cat

This is probably the simplest surgical procedure your veterinarian will do. Click here to find out what exactly is done, how it helps, and what to expect about recovery.

Ovarian Remnant Syndrome

The spayed female pet has no ovaries and should not display any signs of a heat cycle but what happens if she does anyway? Where might these hormones be coming from? Click here to find out more.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

These are big words for a very small abnormal blood vessel but, in fact, the PDA is the most common congenital heart defect of the dog. The beauty of this condition is that unlike most heart diseases, this one can be cured, provided it is detected early enough.

Pyometra

"Pyometra" is the life-threatening infection of the uterus which generally occurs in middle-aged to older female dogs in the six weeks following heat. The uterus with pyometra swells dramatically and is filled with pus, bacteria, dying tissue, and toxins. Without treatment, the pet is expected to die. Click here to learn more.

Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (RACL)

This is the most common rear leg injury of the dog and usually requires surgery. We get a lot of questions about how to tell if a dog has this injury and what to do about surgery. For an explanation of the condition and its treatment, click here.

Sebaceous Gland Tumors

This is not a Viral Papilloma! If you have an older dog and the “warts” are not confined to the face or mouth, then these may be sebaceous gland tumors. This page has more information.

The Canine Spay

Spaying your pet dog is very important, not only to keep down pet overpopulation, but for the health of your pet, as well. Click here to learn more.

The Feline Spay

Spaying your pet cat is also very important, not only to keep down pet overpopulation, but for your personal mental health, as well! It’s also good for the cat... Here’s a list of Frequently Asked Questions about this procedure.

Splenectomy

The spleen is an organ that helps store red blood cells and helps with immune function by acting like a lymph node, but when it grows even a benign growth a life-threatening spleen rupture can occur. Fortunately, we can live quite happily without a spleen. Sometimes, though, removing the spleen is only the beginning. Read the rest of the story here.

Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA)

Sometimes an ear infection is hopeless. When an ear reaches its "end stage" a surgical solution is necessary to put an end to the on-going ear cleanings and treatments once and for all. Is this surgery for your pet? This page will help you decide.