Blog

Hearing that your pet may need an echocardiogram can feel overwhelming. Is it serious? Is it urgent? What does it actually show?

A pet emergency is never planned. It may be the middle of the night, on a holiday weekend, or during a snowstorm. It’s often a sudden change you didn’t see coming. When that moment happens, knowing what to expect can bring a small measure of calm.

When you bring your pet to an emergency hospital, you want help right away. That is completely understandable. Emergency medicine works differently than routine veterinary visits. Patients are not seen in the order they arrive. They are seen based on medical urgency.

When evaluating heart disease, still images are not always enough. Some cardiac conditions require us to observe movement in real time. We need to see how structures shift, how blood flows, and how devices interact within the chest. That is where fluoroscopy becomes an important tool.

A heart diagnosis can feel overwhelming at first. Many pet owners immediately wonder: Is this life-threatening? How long will my pet feel well? What happens next?

When something feels “off” with your pet, it can be hard to know what to do next. Should you wait until morning? Call your primary veterinarian? Head to the emergency hospital right away?

Heart-related diagnoses can feel overwhelming. Whether your pet is referred by your veterinarian or arrives through Emergency, our cardiology team provides calm, detailed evaluation and clear recommendations.

Some forms of heart disease affect the heart structurally, while other forms of heart disease can affect the heart’s electrical system. In some cases, both structure and electrical activity are affected.

No one plans for a pet emergency. It may happen late at night, during a holiday, or in the middle of a winter storm. When you are rushing out the door, it can be hard to think clearly.

Watching your pet experience a seizure can be one of the most frightening moments for any owner. Understanding what’s happening and what to do can make all the difference in getting them the care they need.

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of our specialty team here at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, Dr. Elizabeth Parsley, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)!

Heart disease in pets often develops silently, without obvious symptoms. In many cases, a heart murmur or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) discovered during a routine veterinary exam is the first sign of an underlying cardiac condition. Early evaluation by a veterinary cardiologist can make a significant difference in the long-term health and quality of life of your pet.

An allergic reaction can occur in response to many things in our daily environment.

When your dog shakes or trembles, you may become concerned about their health or mental wellbeing (especially if they are shivering in 80-degree weather!).

With Mother’s Day around the corner and spring in full swing, you may gift a bouquet of flowers for mom, a loved one, or of course, yourself! 

Lymphoma is a cancer of a specific white blood cell called the lymphocyte. 

The term ‘hot spot’ is often used when people outside the veterinary profession talk about dog skin problems. However, most of the skin issues clients think are ‘hot spots’, really aren’t.

My poor Callie has had a rough start at domestic life.

Cats and dogs can have a variety of symptoms that may or may not need immediate evaluation and treatment by a veterinarian.

The German Shepherd Dog, originating in Germany in the 1880s, was bred to be a multipurpose working dog. 

Intestinal parasites (worms) are common in kittens. While they are a cause for concern, effective, safe treatments are available to keep your kitten and family safe.

Eye issues are taken very seriously in veterinary medicine. 

Dogs are good at finding trouble, and their mischief may result in an injury.

Iliopsoas (pronounced: ilio-so-as) or hip flexor strains are common injuries both in professional (human) athletes and in dogs.

Canine and feline spleens may distend and contract to help increase circulating blood volume and this can be influenced by anesthetic medications.

Cushing’s Disease in dogs, otherwise known as hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), is a condition of increased circulating cortisol in the body.

Chocolate toxicity is a very common case we see in dogs. In fact, chocolate ingestion is the most common call the Pet Poison Helpline receives.

Your pet just got skunked! Don’t panic … and don’t let them run loose in the house either (if you can help it), they’ll rub up against every bit of furniture you own (personal experience).

The Pet Poison Helpline line has experienced a 448% increase in marijuana toxicity cases over the past 6 years.

If your pet needs to have an MRI, your primary care veterinarian will likely refer you to a local veterinary neurologist or radiologist for evaluation and subsequent imaging if indicated.

When your pet presents with nasal-related symptoms, your Internal Medicine Specialist may recommend a CT scan and rhinoscopy to try to determine the cause for your pet’s signs.

Cats, like people and other animals, sneeze to clear irritating substances from their nasal passages.

There are many factors that determine how much water a dog drinks in a given day but if you notice that your dog is drinking bowl after bowl there may be a cause that warrants investigation.

Increased drinking and urinating can be the first sign of a significant health issue. Noticing an increase in either drinking, urinating, or both is a good reason to consult with your veterinarian.

Over the past decade, ultrasound has been slowly integrated into the veterinary industry. As a result, ultrasonography has allowed veterinarians to detect other soft tissue changes and free fluid that would otherwise be missed.

Corneal calcific degeneration (CCD) is a common condition in geriatric (older) pets. CCD is an area of abnormal corneal metabolism, in which calcium can accumulate in the surface of the cornea (the clear dome of the eye).

Osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint is a common cause of lameness in dogs. Fortunately the outcome with surgical treatment is generally excellent when arthroscopy is performed early in life.

Liver lobectomy refers to removal of a liver lobe.  In dogs and cats, the liver is made up of six separate lobes.

Urinary blockages are caused by the accumulation of minerals in the urinary tract, which can cause a formation of an obstruction by crystals or stones.

With essential oils becoming more popular in health, natural cleaning products, and relaxation it is good to know how this affects your furry house mates. 

Computed Tomography (CT), commonly referred to as a Cat Scan or CT, uses x-rays and a computer to generate cross-sectional images of a region of interest.

What are the benefits of cold therapy (ice packs) and how should it be applied?

If you’re a pet owner, chances are, you’ve heard of the “Cone of Shame” made famous by a certain amusing Golden Retriever in the movie Up.

Due to an increase in veterinary visits, scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian can take a few more days than it used to.

When you arrive with your pet as an emergency or urgent care case, you may find yourself waiting a while before your pet is seen.

Determining if your pet has an emergency can be challenging.

Veterinary urgent care services are for pet owners with a pet in non-life threatening condition, seeking urgent medical attention.

Integrative Veterinary Medicine is a broad discipline that includes and combines several different aspects of whole-pet care.