When You Should—And Shouldn’t—Give Your Cat A Bath
Bath time is usually a stressful occasion for both pets and their owners, leading many to wonder—is bathing cats really necessary? To the relief of many a cat owner, the answer is typically “no,” according to Dr. Alison Diesel, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “In […]
VMTH Completes Wellness Challenge, Logs 26,000 Miles
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) recently wrapped up a nine-week wellness challenge that had teams of staff, faculty, residents, and interns competing to log the most miles by walking, running, swimming, rowing, biking, elliptical, or any combination thereof. The Miles for Wellness initiative was created by Dr. Alison Diesel, a clinical associate […]
A Thin Line: Normal Shedding vs. Feline Alopecia
As any cat owner who has tried to wear a black shirt knows…well, shedding is a normal aspect of cat ownership. However, there are times when the hair just keeps coming and an owner may become concerned that their pet’s hair loss is abnormal and indicative of a larger issue. Dr. Alison Diesel, a clinical […]
Finding Crouton: A Curious Twist of Feline Fate
Dr. Alison Diesel, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), was not looking to adopt a cat when she first met Crouton. “We had just lost the best cat in the world, Piddy, who had grabbed onto a piece of my heart and never let […]
Scratching Beneath the Surface of Allergic Skin Disease
Spring is coming, and it’s bringing allergy season with it. While you may suffer from all of the excess pollen in the air, your pets may also be affected by seasonal allergies, or they could be allergic to a more permanent feature of their environment. There are several causes of allergic skin disease in pets, […]
Don’t let ringworm put you through the wringer
Ringworm, or dermatophytosis, is one of the more common skin conditions affecting pets of all shapes and sizes. Despite its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm but by protein-eating fungi that invade the hair shaft and the surface of the skin. While there are many species of ringworm, Dr. Alison Diesel, a clinical […]
Does your pet have a hot spot?
Have you ever noticed your pet excessively licking, biting, or scratching a specific area on their body? This behavior can lead to an infection in the upper layer of the skin otherwise known as pyotraumatic dermatitis, or a “hot spot.” Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & […]
Proper Pet Hygiene
Like humans, pets can experience skin conditions that may cause redness, itchiness, odor, and even wounds. Fortunately, many skin conditions can be prevented with routine bathing and grooming. Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained the importance of pet hygiene for both dogs and […]
Common Canine Skin Conditions
Familiarizing yourself with common canine skin irritations and conditions is important to your pet’s health. Certain skin problems could be sign of a more serious underlying issue, such as physical pain, discomfort, or infection. “There are many different types of skin conditions in dogs. As we try to figure out what type of condition may […]
Common Feline Skin Conditions
Being familiar with the signs of common skin irritations and conditions in your feline companion is important for your cat’s health. Certain skin problems could be sign of a more complicated underlying issue, such as physical pain, discomfort, or infection. According to Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary […]