Educational Articles
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Pneumothorax is an accumulation of air outside the lungs, but inside the chest wall. The air outside the lung prevents the lungs from inflating normally, and can lead to lung collapse. There are several variations of pneumothorax.
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This handout explains post-vaccination sarcomas (also called injection-site sarcomas) in cats. They are a rare consequence of vaccine injections (and other drugs or materials) that can cause a very aggressive form of cancer at the site of the injection. The incidence of this condition, as well as precautions you and your veterinarian can take, are highlighted.
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The American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association have established guidelines to standardize preventive health care for dogs, helping them to live longer, healthier lives. This handout provides an overview of the recommendations within these guidelines and why they are so important.
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Tumors of the prostate are relatively uncommon in dogs and extremely rare in cats. Clinical signs include bloody urine, or straining to urinate or defecate. Metastasis to the pelvic bone and/or lumbar spine is likely. Diagnosis and treatment options are discussed. Prognosis is considered poor.
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Prostatic disease can be uncomfortable for a dog, particularly if it causes compression of the urethra or colon. Because there are many diseases of the prostate, it is necessary to perform several tests to determine the exact cause of a patient's condition. This handout provides explanations of the seven most common conditions affecting the prostate and the corresponding approaches to treatment.
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Radiation is a type of energy produced naturally by the sun, earth, and rocks and artificially by machines. Although several types of tumors can be treated with radiation therapy alone (e.g., nasal tumors, brain tumors, and certain types of lymphoma), radiation therapy is most commonly used to destroy or limit the growth of cancer cells left behind (i.e., microscopic disease) after a tumor has been surgically removed. Side effects depend on the type and location of the tumor and its surrounding tissues.
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Round cell tumors are among the most common skin tumors in dogs, and they typically form just under the skin, although they may change the surface of the skin above them. It is impossible to diagnose any of them without a veterinary pathologist analyzing a tissue sample of the tumor under a microscope. If detected early, most round cell tumors can be easily removed.
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Salivary gland tumors are rare in dogs and cats. The mandibular and parotid glands are most commonly affected. Signs include swelling of the upper neck or ear base, halitosis, anorexia, weight loss, difficulty eating, pain, and lethargy. The treatment of choice is usually surgical excision. If complete excision is not possible, adjunct radiation therapy may be pursued.
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A seizure is a sudden surge in the electrical activity of the brain causing signs such as twitching, shaking, tremors, convulsions, and/or spasms. Epilepsy is used to describe repeated episodes of seizures. With epilepsy, the seizures can be single or may occur in clusters, and they can be infrequent and unpredictable or occur at regular intervals. Since many different diseases can lead to seizures, it is important to perform diagnostic tests to investigate the underlying cause of the seizures. Treatment of seizures in the cat depends on the nature of the underlying disease.
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Seizures and syncope are commonly confused with one another due to similarities in the appearance of these episodes. Both present with collapse but there are several details, explained in this handout, that can differentiate between them, which is important for determining treatment. The prognosis for each condition varies depending on the underlying causes.
