Pet Talk
Veterans and Their Dogs
Decorated Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor of a 2005 mission in Afghanistan. He is considered the “Lone Survivor” because the mission was the largest loss of life in Seal history. Upon returning from combat, Luttrell received a Labrador retriever named D.A.S.Y. to help him cope with the loss of his teammates. D.A.S.Y., […]
Tips for Buying Dog Toys
Tennis balls, Frisbees, rawhides, and Kongs. Dog toys line the shelves of multiple aisles at pet stores. With all of the choices, which toys should or shouldn’t you buy for man’s best friend? Dr. Mark Stickney, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of General Surgery Services at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical […]
Dangers of Pet Halloween Costumes
With Halloween less than a week away, many pet owners have already purchased their animal’s costume. While these outfits can be fun and festive, the wrong outfit can pose dangers to your animal. Although costumes are a fun way to interact with your pet, Dr. Mark Stickney, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of General Surgery […]
Exotic Pets: What To Know Before You Buy
We all have that friend, the one that sees a picture or video of a cute exotic animal and instantly thinks that it would be a perfect companion for them. Although owning an exotic pet can be a rewarding experience, most people are not prepared for the responsibilities or expenses that are tied with these […]
Feline Hyperthyroidism: Symptoms and Treatments
Is your middle-aged cat experiencing increased thirst, appetite, and urination? Is your furry friend losing weight or has a change in behavior? If so, your family cat may have hyperthyroidism. This common disease is caused by an overproduction of thyroid hormones, called T3 and T4, due to dysfunction of the thyroid glands in the cat’s […]
Eliminating Rabies Across the World
World Rabies Day is September 28, 2012. It is a day to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies. More than 55,000 people die from rabies worldwide every year, a rate of one person every 10 minutes. This is an astonishing number, especially because rabies in humans in 100 per cent preventable. […]
Assisting Service Dogs
Although most people have pets strictly for companionship, those with disabilities often use animals to help perform every day functions. These “service animals” are trained to provide specific assistance tailored to their owner’s disability. Just like any animal, however, service animals can develop disabilities and need rehabilitation as well. There are multiple types of service animals. […]
Staph infections and Methicillin Resistance in Companion Animals
Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria are all around us in an intimate way since it normally lives on the skin and mucous membranes of both people and animals alike. It usually is not of a concern to the individual if the skin is functioning normally and there is not a risk for infection (e.g., systemic illness and […]
How to Protect Horses with the Recent Increase in West Nile Virus Cases
The West Nile Virus cases in humans and horses have been on the rise in 2012, and, according to the CDC, human cases are at their highest levels since West Nile Virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. Dr. Tracy Norman, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary […]
Poisonous to Pets: Common Household Toxins
For the past two weeks, Pet Talks have addressed poisonous foods and medications common in most homes. This week the focus is on miscellaneous poisonous items around the house including plants, pennies, and insecticides. Plants There are several plants that can be poisonous to pets. Lilies, for example, are toxic to cats. The ingestion of […]
