FIP Is Not Contagious the Way Many People Think
From time to time, posts appear online from worried cat owners who fear that one cat with suspected FIP will automatically infect all the other cats in the household. The concern is understandable. Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a frightening diagnosis, and when several cats live together, the instinct is to assume the disease spreads directly […]
When Melarsomine Is Not Available: Choosing Between Simparica Trio and NexGard Spectra for Heartworm Prevention and Management
Heartworm disease remains one of the most serious parasitic threats to dogs in the Philippines. Transmitted by mosquitoes and caused by Dirofilaria immitis, this disease can silently progress for months before clinical signs appear. In many countries, the gold standard treatment for heartworm infection is melarsomine, an adulticide that kills mature worms in the pulmonary […]
National Rabies Awareness Month in the Philippines The Emotional, Mental, and Financial Cost of Treating a Rabid Patient
March is National Rabies Awareness Month in the Philippines. For the public, it is a reminder to vaccinate. For government, it is a campaign. For pet owners, it is a responsibility. For veterinarians, it is something heavier. Because rabies is not just a disease. It is an occupational hazard that carries emotional weight, mental burden, […]
When a Vaccine Injection Site Develops Pus: Is the Vaccination Still Effective?
Injection site swelling is a familiar concern after vaccination in dogs and cats. Most post-vaccine lumps are mild inflammatory reactions that resolve on their own. Occasionally, though, the swelling progresses into an abscess, producing pus that may need aspiration or drainage. This raises an important question: does the vaccine remain effective if an abscess develops, […]
The Practical Mentation Scale in Small Animal Practice
One of the very first things we evaluate during a physical exam is mentation. Before blood tests, radiographs, or ultrasound, a patient’s level of awareness and responsiveness already tells us a great deal about the severity of disease. Mentation is simple, but it’s powerful. A dog or cat’s mental status often reflects systemic illness, neurologic […]
Aural Hematoma Aspiration: Relief First, Cure Later
Aural hematoma is one of the most dramatic and uncomfortable conditions we see in small animal practice. The ear pinna swells with blood trapped between the skin and cartilage, becoming heavy, tense, warm, and painful. Patients shake their heads constantly and scratch because the pressure is unbearable. This leads to a common question: is aspiration […]