Pets can’t describe pain, so how do vets treat for it?
Vets continue to be vexed by measuring pain in pets, and which medications work best to alleviate it.
For Martha’s Vineyard vets, diagnosing is like solving a puzzle
Some diagnoses are easy, some vexing. Either way a strict protocol and process makes the work more accurate.
Holiday flowers pose limited threats for pets
Some lilies can make some pets very sick, but most plants and flowers are can coexist with pets just fine.
Dog parks suit some canines, others not so much
Some dogs thrive in dog parks, whether on Martha's Vineyard or anywhere else. For others it's trickier.
Feline hyperthyroidism cures, on Martha’s Vineyard and worldwide
Several cures are available, including one that's expensive (and very effective) and one that's new to the market.
Ear mites can torment cats, on Martha’s Vineyard and worldwide
Sometimes, traditional remedies won't help dogs that are plagued by especially persistent ear mites.
A vaccination refresher course
I thought pet owners could probably use a vaccination refresher course. So the first thing I want to say is vaccines are good.
Overeating can make dogs very sick, even kill them
Some dogs don't know when they've had enough, and the results can be devastating.
When diabetes sneaks up on healthy Martha’s Vineyard pets
Dramatic weight loss in pets can indicate a number of conditions, including diabetes.
On Martha’s Vineyard and everywhere else, vets covet certainty
How often can any doctor be 100 percent certain about a diagnosis, whether for a four- or two-legged patient?
Guinea pigs can suffer as much as most other pets
A guinea pig seems like an innocent, low-maintenance pet, but potential trouble lurks with even the most basic pet.
Even on Martha’s Vineyard, dogs eat things they shouldn’t
Leave a pet to its own devices, and you never know what they'll eat. And some taste treats can kill them.
Summertime on Martha’s Vineyard: don’t bake pets
Pets don't fare well in extreme heat, so be careful where you restrain and/or contain them.
In dogs, too much saliva can lead to trouble
Yes, in dogs, too much saliva can lead to trouble.
Treating creaky knees on dogs, cats
Like the rest of us who are no longer as lithe as we once were, dogs and cats have aches and pains too. How to help?
When pet owners face life-and-death decisions
Some pet owners will do almost anything to keep their favorite companion alive, but letting go may be the best option at times.
Reading the sounds of breathing
"In 1816, I was consulted by a young woman presenting with general symptoms of disease of the heart.
When a dog “chokes,” check out its mouth
"Our dog is choking!" the voice shouted frantically.
The things pets carry, even on Martha’s Vineyard
In a poetic confluence of events, I recently found myself reading Geraldine Brooks's book "Year of Wonders, A Novel of the Plague" during the same week I was preparing for our Passover seder, collecting items to represent the ten plagues enumerated in the book of Exodus.