7
04, 2025
Spleen Diseases in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Introduction It is not uncommon for us to encounter problems with the spleen. Sometimes it just enlarges without any major problems, sometimes it twists on itself, sometimes it causes internal bleeding, and oftentimes it becomes cancerous. This page will emphasize cancer of the spleen, called hemangiosarcoma. A rupturing spleen is a medical emergency requiring immediate veterinary care. These dogs can collapse and go into life-threatening shock. The Long Beach Animal Hospital, staffed with emergency vets, is available until the evenings 7 days per week to help if your pet is having any problems, especially shock, seizures, pain, difficulty breathing, or
26
03, 2025
Worms (Internal Parasites)
The study of parasites is called parasitology. It is an important discipline because internal parasites cause death and disease worth billions of dollars in animals each year. These parasites have highly evolved life cycles that make their elimination impossible. In addition, many internal parasites affect people with the potential for serious consequences. Cats and kittens are routinely infected with internal parasites, sometimes without apparent evidence of the infestation until it is too late. This means that a pet can have internal parasites even though the fecal sample is negative. It is suspected that internal parasites predispose your pet to IBD
15
02, 2025
Dog Skin Allergies: Everything You Need to Know
Introduction Allergies are a common cause of skin conditions in dogs, along with other species. This type of allergy goes by several names; the most common are atopy, allergic skin disease, or allergic inhalant dermatitis (AID). The main difference between us and dogs is that allergies in pets tend to cause skin conditions and ear problems, as opposed to the runny eyes, runny noses, and sneezing we encounter in people. Symptoms typically include scratching and itching, although many other skin conditions can cause itching. This itching is called pruritus. Allergies can be hard to control and are chronic in
2
08, 2024
Home Care of the Surgical Patient
Introduction When you pick up your pet after surgery you will be given a chance to talk with our staff, and you will be given post operative instructions specifically for your pet and the surgery performed. These are the instructions to follow. The information on this page is good general information on other things to do at home, as long as they don't contradict your post operative instructions. Preparing the Home Environment Set up an area with no noise, no drafts, and where there will be no other animals or children. Set it up for warmth in the cooler months,
2
08, 2024
Laser Surgery in Animals
Introduction We have been using the laser for surgery in animals at the Long Beach Animal Hospital for over 30 years on a wide variety of surgery. Our laser is a carbon dioxide laser, not the Lasik laser used for eye surgery of the cornea. We are one of only a handful of animal hospitals in California that have this capability. It is a highly advanced and technical piece of equipment that we never dreamed about having while we were training to be veterinarians. Its one of the ways we offer state-of-the-art care at the Long Beach Animal Hospital. This