Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

“Personally I have always felt that the best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patient what is the matter…he’s just got to know.” -Will Rogers

Parasite Information

Q. What is the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC)?
A. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) is an independent group of U.S. veterinary, governmental and association leaders in the parasitology field. This 13-member council has come together to create guidelines for optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people.

Formed in 2002, CAPC is the first and only task force in the United States created for the explicit purpose of reducing the risks posed by parasites. The council has developed guidelines designed to shape protocols for parasite prevention, treatment and monitoring, as well as recommendations for staff and client education.

The CAPC guidelines are based on the premise that internal and external parasites pose a significant health risk to both pets and people, and can only be overcome if treatment and prevention protocol is universally enforced.

Q. What will CAPC do?
A. The mission of CAPC is to foster animal and human health, while preserving the human-animal bond, through recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of parasitic infections.

Through its guidelines, CAPC will promote and facilitate:
Adoption of practices and procedures to protect pets from parasitic infections;
Adoption of practices and procedures to reduce the risk of transmission of zoonotic parasites to humans;
Collaboration among pet owners, veterinarians and physicians to control parasitic infections; and
Collaboration with other groups who share the common interests of parasite control and animal and human health.

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1. Dental tartar is an accumulation of calcium salts, food debris, bacteria, and serum from irritated gums. It is soft at first but becomes hard and brittle later. The build up of tartar puts pressure on the gums and causes the gums to recede and the teeth to become loose.

2. Tartar causes infection in the gums leading to bad breath and constant release of bacteria into the blood stream that can cause heart, kidney, liver and lung disease. The sinuses may become infected leading to an abscess under the eye or sometimes to a snorting “reverse sneeze” sound.

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Your pet has had surgery…

Keeping the activity level at a minimal for the next 7 days will aid in the healing process. Sutures tend to itch, and animals will lick and chew at them if possible. Pets may spin around suddenly and chew at the incision frantically, which is common activity after surgery.

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Healthy cats can carry five members of the Bartonella bacteria family in their blood: Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella koehlerae, Bartonella elizebethae, and Bartonella weissii, which are transmitted between cats by fleas and ticks. The bacteria can be spread to people via cat scratches and bites, contact with fur, and probably rarely by infected fleas and ticks. Although most infected people do not become ill, Bartonella, transmitted from cats, can cause 22 human diseases.

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Holidays can be stressful for your pet too

All the hustle and bustle, packages, parties, and unusual comings and goings can lead to anxiety in your pets.

Be sure to spend a little extra time with them to reassure them that everything is OK. It only takes a few extra minutes.

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Cat heartworm disease was first diagnosed in Brazil in 1921. It is a clinical problem in cats worldwide and is increasing in importance. The dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, causes heartworm disease in cats. Transmission is by the mosquito. Heartworms, most commonly found in dogs, infect not only the cat but ferrets, foxes, wolves, coyotes, and even us, the human being.

Signs of cat heartworm disease vary. The most commonly recognized are: Read more …

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used in sugar-free products such as gum and candy, as well as for baking and is used in the production of certain low-carbohydrate products now on the market.

As early as the 1960’s, experiments indicated a link between the ingestion of xylitol and hypoglycemia in dogs. However, it has only been recently that the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has begun to receive reports of xylitol toxicosis in dogs. It is believed that this recent rise is likely due to the increased use of products containing xylitol in the United States. Read more …

[As seen in the Sunday Profile of The Miami Herald :: August 26, 2001]

TPLO Surgeon Dr. David WiseHe runs the biggest animal clinic in So. Fla.

At 14, the love of animals led David Wise to start helping a large-animal veterinarian in his hometown in rural Georgia. Today, Dr. David T. Wise is one of South Florida’s best known veterinarians.

“What I do is rewarding,” said Dr. Wise, Knowles Animal Clinic, 1000 NW 27th Ave. “It’s fun, and it’s frustrating. It’s a whole spectrum. You go from crying one minute to laughing the next minute. The satisfaction comes when a dog can’t walk but regains function because of what we did. It has been a great way to make a living and a worthwhile thing to do.” Read more …

Research conducted at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine suggests a link between lawn treatment chemicals and urinary bladder cancer in Scottish terriers.

The controlled study found that Scotties exposed to lawns treated with both herbicides and insecticides were significantly more at risk for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), the most common form of bladder cancer in dogs. Read more …