Animal Medical Center – New York CityThe Elmer and Mamdouha Bobst Hospital
Appointments & 24 HR Emergency Service
September 13, 2010
For those of us growing up with a passion for cats and late night TV, the highlight of the weekend was the newest episode of “Toonces, The Driving Cat” on Saturday Night Live. Toonces was just a family pet, who drove the family car. The skit was pure fantasy and very silly. Riding with Toonces … Continue reading Driving with Pets
August 31, 2010
To celebrate or, more accurately, say a fond farewell to the end of summer, there will be millions of backyard barbecues over Labor Day weekend. Since our pets are members of the family, we want them to participate in this end of summer ritual, but picnics pose some dangers for the family pet. If you … Continue reading Labor Day is No Picnic for Your Pet
August 24, 2010
Because of the recent pet food recalls, I’ve been talking to pet owners more than usual about what they are feeding their pets. Some are nervous, worried their pet’s food will be the next one recalled. Some are angry, feeling their pet’s health may have been jeopardized by a carefully chosen food, and others want … Continue reading Give a Dog a Bone…Maybe Not!
August 16, 2010
Parvovirus has been in the news recently. In Rhode Island, the state veterinarian alerted dog owners to an increased number of parvovirus cases in the state. Parvovirus is a serious contagious viral disease of dogs. The virus infects rapidly dividing cells, predominantly those of the gastrointestinal tract and the bone marrow. Clinical signs of parvovirus … Continue reading Parvovirus in Dogs
August 10, 2010
Last week the news out of Florida reported fatal human infections with a virus typically found in horses, and pet owners were worried. Many asked the question, can my dog or cat contract these diseases too? The viruses causing horse sleeping sickness are common infections in horses, but infection of humans with the sleeping sickness … Continue reading Mosquito Borne Illness and Pets
August 3, 2010
Late last week, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to women who use the drug Evamist®, made by Ther-Rx Corporation to treat the symptoms of menopause. Exposure to this medication can have negative affects on both children and pets. Evamist is sprayed on a woman’s arms to reduce hot flashes. Two … Continue reading Medication Toxicity
July 26, 2010
Last week one of my senior patients had a bad week. He developed bloat and needed emergency surgery. The surgical team pulled him through, but now he isn’t eating very well AND he needs to take lots of pills. Every pet owner who has ever had a sick pet knows what a tribulation it is … Continue reading Tricks of the Trade
July 19, 2010
The June issue of Pediatrics contained an article on the hazards of button battery ingestion in children. Button batteries are found in remote controls, battery operated toys and even greeting cards. Because battery operated devices have shrunken, so have batteries, making them easy for children to swallow. As the number of battery operated devices increases … Continue reading Battery Ingestion
July 12, 2010
If you live in the northern portion of the Mississippi River Valley or in the northeast as I do, June, July and August are peak months of incidence for Lyme disease in humans. These are the peak months for Lyme disease because the young Ixodes ticks (nymphs) carrying the Lyme disease organism (Borrelia burgdorferi) are … Continue reading Preventing Lyme Disease
July 6, 2010
Salmonella is a bacteria we associate with food poisoning from consumption of undercooked chicken or poorly refrigerated picnic food. It is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it is a disease that affects both animals and humans. You may have heard something about Salmonella in the news recently. Late in May, Salmonella caused the nationwide recall … Continue reading Salmonella Poisoning in Pets