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Hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) is a common hormone disease of older cats (it's rare in dogs) that we have diagnosed with increased frequency in recent years. It is almost always caused by a benign tumor of the thyroid gland that increases the amount of thyroxine (the hormone secreted by the thyroid gland) into the bloodstream. This increase in thyroxine causes an increase in the overall metabolism of the body, leading to problems for several internal organs. Even though this disease can be diagnosed in young cats, most cats that get this problem are older. Cats 8 years of age or older should be

On occasion we are presented with a dog or a cat that has a swollen ear flap (pinna). The swelling is due to blood vessels that have ruptured inside the ear flap, between the inside and outside layer of cartilage. This causes the ear to fill up with bloody fluid, and after a period of time the blood in the ear clots and there is a firm swelling. If left untreated the ear will be painful and will eventually scar down, similar in appearance to a cauliflower ear in a prized fighter that has spent a lifetime in the boxing

Growing old is a natural process and a fact of life, for all of us, including our four-legged dog and cat family members. This is especially prevalent in dogs and cats since they age faster than us humanoids. Family members will probably be the first to notice the subtle changes of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or CDS. It may be more than just "getting old." There is a  Prescription Diet food made by Hills that is used to treat this problem. You will learn more about it later in this page. Dogs with CDS may show signs of confusion, forgetfulness,

This is almost exclusively a dog disease, and would be rare to see this problem in a cat. The upper 4th premolar (carnassial tooth) of the dog has two deep roots that must be properly removed, or the abscess will remain, and the tooth will continue to drain under the eye. The tooth and its root are large in comparison to the other teeth, and must be removed in segments. This problem can occur in any animal with deep roots, dog or cat, canine or feline, or carnivore, but it is most prevalent in the dog. We follow the

Even though lead has been banned from gasoline and pet we still see the problem on occasion, so after reading this page check around your house if you have pets and children. Lead is a heavy metal and can easily cause a toxicity (called plumbism) in birds. Other heavy metals, notably zinc, can also cause toxicity. Some birds can have both. Lead toxicity can also affect people, especially children. You can learn more about this problem in  children from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). You can also learn more about this from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cause Birds