I’m a burgeoning backyard vegetable farmer with a lot to learn, but a love for gardening and an appreciation for locally-grown, organic produce. I’m in awe of Zaro Bates, a farming pioneer who was recently featured in Modern Farmer. This amazing woman has converted the roof of a parking garage in Staten Island into a 4,500 square […]
Full PostWe may have domesticated cats in many ways, but we have not successfully domesticated their appetites. “Snarf and barf” is an all-too-common phenomenon, where pets inhale their food, and then regurgitate it moments later. Couple this problem with the fact that many indoor cats lack physical activity, and it’s understandable that there is a feline […]
Full PostI have a friend who is a jewelry artisan and she recently posted this article. To me, there is something really interesting about the junction of art and science. When something beautiful is made by accident, as with this gorgeous blue color, it’s even more compelling.
Full PostThis invention is inspired. I recently saw a video for the GoDogGo Fetch Machine and think it may be one of the best ideas I’ve ever seen for a ball hog dog. My previous dog Kona would obsessively play fetch, and would catch balls all day if we let him. Of course, my arm would get […]
Full Post…what would she say? According to the makers of Catterbox, if Fluffy could speak, she would primarily say “No. No. No.” Anyone who is owned by a cat shouldn’t be surprised to know that, much like a two year old toddler, a cat’s favorite word is “NO!” If I had to guess, my cat Pudge’s favorite […]
Full Post‘Tis the season! Flea and tick season, that is! Warm weather brings along with it parasites of all shapes and sizes. Pennsylvania is rife with external and internal parasites that can affect our cats and dogs. Ticks are by far the most prevalent parasite in our area, but fleas, heartworm, mange mites and intestinal parasites […]
Full PostI like to do “undercover” recon missions any time I’m at a pet store. There are so many bizarre, hysterical and downright befuddling products on the shelves at pet stores. My previous post on this topic detailed some products I’d seen recently. Just this past weekend, I found a few more goodies at our local […]
Full PostI used the same kitty litter for the past 15 years. That same clay-based, clumping litter served me well through four cats and five different homes. I had a healthy relationship with my kitty litter and no desire to change. And then came Pudge. Pudge is the cat who creates a sandstorm of kitty litter […]
Full PostWhen I say preposterous, I mean preposterous. I was recently at a few different pet supply stores, and saw several products which seemed preposterously unnecessary and a downright waste of funds. I frequent pet stores, because that’s where I stock up on kitty litter, cat food, toys and treats for my cat and dog. There are […]
Full PostA bit ago, at the AVMA Convention, I ran into a former colleague at the airport. She now works for Petplan Pet Insurance, which is a neighbor of NSVH, based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. We had a lengthy discussion about the value of pet insurance, and what Petplan offers its customers. Pet insurance is something […]
Full PostThe diagnosis of cancer in Fido or Fluffy can be devastating and overwhelming. As with people, cancer is a common diagnosis in cats and dogs. There are a variety of treatment modalities available, depending on the specific type of disease present. Some cancers in animals can be treated with surgery and/or radiation, some can be […]
Full PostMost clients know that NSVH offers microchipping for all pets. I am a huge advocate for microchips. Just last week, I had clients bring in a young, male stray cat who wandered into their yard. They intended to adopt the little guy, assuming he wasn’t owned by anyone. As is standard protocol for all lost […]
Full PostMy alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, is known for pioneering innovative medical and surgical techniques that benefit dogs, cats, horses and many other species. They are also known for medical breakthroughs that benefit humans! The physiologic similarities between dogs and humans are innumerable. One of my former oncology professors, Dr. […]
Full PostFebruary is National Pet Dental Health Month. Yay for oral hygiene! As I previously discussed, dental disease is the most prevalent illness in our domestic dogs and cats, but the good news is that it can be prevented more readily than many diseases we see. There are so many misconceptions about pet dental health, treatment […]
Full PostWe love our clients. Newtown Square Veterinary Hospital has the most caring, committed, compassionate group of animal owners I’ve ever had the privilege to know. Our clients are willing and able to provide amazing care for Fluffy and Fido, and want to make the best possible decisions for their furry friends. Often, this includes researching medical […]
Full PostOne of the most frequent presenting complaints we see on our appointment schedule is “Check lump”. Our feline and canine fuzzy friends commonly develop lumps, bumps, warts, scabs and growths of all shapes and sizes. Some of these are simple to diagnose and clearly benign (like an embedded tick) while a small percent of skin […]
Full PostHands down and far away, the most common illness we see in our patients is dental disease. I diagnose it multiple times per day in my patients. It is estimated that 80 percent of domestic dogs and 70 percent of cats develop gum disease by three years of age, and most do so silently. Our […]
Full PostThank goodness for pet groomers! They are entirely more talented, patient, capable and artistic when it comes to clipping dog and cat fur than I could ever be. Many groomers astutely notice common medical conditions such as ear and skin infections and skin tumors; I frequently see appointments that are scheduled as a result of […]
Full PostRecently, my dog Maeby and I filmed a spot with Rafferty Subaru, discussing the importance of car safety for our pets. With the advent of pet-friendly hotels everywhere, it seems more and more of us are traveling with our pets. Some dog owners like to take Fido everywhere, even while running brief errands around town, […]
Full PostIf you’ve shared your home and your heart with cats and dogs over the years, inevitably you’ve been faced with making a decision about whether your beloved, infirm pet needs to be euthanized. Most veterinarians are strong advocates for euthanasia, in lieu of protracted suffering at home with a terminal illness. We are fortunate with […]
Full PostMy name is Dr. D and yesterday, I removed a cat’s eyeball. Gruesome to think about, I know. Fortunately, enucleations (eye removal surgeries) are rare, but we do perform them on occasion. Why on earth would we ever remove an animal’s eye? There is a short list of reasons, but all are compelling since they result […]
Full PostIt seems, almost daily, I see an appointment or return a phone call about a patient who recently received vaccinations and is now acting lethargic. This issue seems to occur most frequently in young kittens and puppies, as well as adult toy breed dogs (Yorkies, toy poodles, Chihuahuas, Maltese…I’m thinking of you!) While it is […]
Full PostAt NSVH we receive a large number of phone messages daily with questions, concerns and dilemmas. Our vets also initiate calls to follow up on sick patients, discuss referrals or report lab results. Much can be accomplished via the phone: discussing what breed of dog to adopt, assuring an owner that it can be normal […]
Full PostOne question many clients ask is why indoor-only cats need to be vaccinated for rabies. It is an understandable question with a fairly straightforward answer: in the state of Pennsylvania, the rabies vaccine is required by law for all cats and dogs 12 weeks of age and older, with a booster vaccine at one year […]
Full PostThis week, I read a fascinating article in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, summarized nicely by the Huffington Post. The article was co-authored by a fantastically talented colleague, Dr. Jennifer Reetz, a board-certified veterinary radiologist who is on the staff at Penn Vet. The article details the surprising finding that dogs diagnosed with an aggressive […]
Full PostOur foster cat Mango had her kittens just over a week ago. Strawberry, Pineapple and Watermelon are thriving! Mango is an experienced mama cat, and she has been taking excellent care of her babies. Things are pretty easy for me at this point, since Mango is meeting all the kittens’ needs. Around 4 weeks of […]
Full PostA new study out of Penn Vet confirms what most of us in the veterinary industry have known for a long time: puppies purchased from pet stores have a dramatically increased likelihood of psychological problems as adults. These pet store pups, which primarily come from puppy mills, were shown to be substantially more likely to […]
Full PostSpring is in the air! After a few fits and starts, spring has come on strong in the Philadelphia area and most of us are making up for lost time by spending as much time outdoors as possible. My family attended the Malvern Spring Family Festival yesterday where we enjoyed games, great food, people (and […]
Full PostIn a few short weeks, we are moving to a new house that has an existing invisible dog fence. Our current home has a fully fenced-in backyard, which has been wonderful for keeping two dogs and a small child contained. The new property is much larger, and an irregular shape, so a wooden fence just […]
Full PostThere’s been a lot going on at the Dr. D household over the past few weeks. We sold our house, bought a new house nearby and, sadly, had to say goodbye to our dog Kona. With all this turmoil, our other dog Maeby has been quite out of sorts. Maeby was very attached to Kona, […]
Full PostJust this week, a client shared with me a wonderful tip! For a mere $10, Pet Valu, a pet store located near our veterinary hospital in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, offers a do-it-yourself dog washing station. For those of us with big dogs (I have an 80-pounder and a 40-pounder), washing dogs at home can be difficult […]
Full PostThose of us fortunate enough to work in veterinary medicine love our clients. And we love their dogs. We are thrilled to see a wiggly, happy dog burst through our front door, dragging a client behind them. We are even glad to accept slobbery dog kisses from said patients. What we don’t like to see, […]
Full PostThere are so many amazing products in veterinary medicine that make our jobs easier. Some, like digital radiography (x-rays) are literal life-savers, but can be expensive and complicated technology. Others, such as one of my favorite products, are simple, inexpensive designs. Vetwrap is a product we use every day, in a variety of situations. It’s […]
Full PostAnyone who has been owned by a cat knows that they are often difficult, if not impossible, to medicate. Liquid medications end up spit out, dripping down the furniture and pills mysteriously reappear on the floor 30 minutes after they’ve been given. Some dogs even present a challenge to “pill”, although most would happily accept […]
Full Post