Animal health

Travel sickness in dogs and cats

Travel sickness in dogs and cats

For many pet owners, the holiday season is a time for anticipation – sun, beach, relaxation. But it's not uncommon for beloved pets to return with more than just pleasant memories. Travel to the Mediterranean region, in particular, carries the risk of infectious diseases, known as travel-related illnesses. These diseases primarily affect dogs, and occasionally cats, and are usually transmitted by parasites such as ticks, mosquitoes, or sandflies.

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happy Easter

happy Easter

Easter is just around the corner – a time that reminds us not only of the beginning of spring, colorful eggs, and bunnies, but also brings with it deeper values and thoughts. As a small animal veterinary group, we experience every day how important compassion, care, and new life are – and that's precisely what makes Easter so special for us.

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Hepatic lipidosis in cats

Hepatic lipidosis in cats

Cats are obligate carnivores and require a protein-rich diet with essential amino acids for their energy metabolism. Even a short period of loss of appetite or hyporexia can lead to metabolic disturbances.1,2 In a negative energy balance, lipase activity in peripheral adipose tissue is stimulated to release fatty acids into the bloodstream. These are taken up by the liver, oxidized, and either incorporated into VLDL (very-low-density lipoproteins) or stored intracellularly as triglycerides.1 In anorexic cats, most triglycerides are stored in liver vacuoles due to limited oxidative capacity and VLDL redistribution.

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Zoonoses in veterinary medicine

Zoonoses in veterinary medicine

Whether it's a dog, cat, or exotic pet – in every veterinary practice, there's a risk of coming into contact with pathogens that can also make humans sick. These so-called zoonoses range from easily treatable fungal skin infections to life-threatening infections like rabies. What many forget: Even seemingly healthy animals can shed pathogens and endanger others – unnoticed and without showing clinical symptoms.

But there is good news: If we understand the ways in which zoonotic pathogens are transmitted, we can take targeted protective measures – and significantly reduce the risk for ourselves, our team and the animal owners.

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Vaccination myths in veterinary medicine

Vaccination myths in veterinary medicine

Pet vaccinations are a crucial part of modern veterinary medicine. Nevertheless, numerous myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic lead to skepticism among pet owners. This uncertainty results in some animals not receiving the necessary protection, which can endanger their health. In this article, we clarify the most common misconceptions and explain why pet vaccinations are not only safe but also essential.

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CHOP protocol

Alternative to the CHOP protocol

Lymphomas are among the most common cancers in dogs. The standard therapy is the so-called CHOP protocol, a combination regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. While this treatment regimen is effective, it requires weekly visits for several months – a challenge for many pet owners.

A promising alternative could be a combination of rabacfosadine and doxorubicin. This therapy offers comparable treatment results but requires less frequent clinic visits. In this article, you will learn how this new treatment option works, its advantages and disadvantages, and which dogs it is suitable for.

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Surgical safety checklists

Surgical safety checklists

Surgical procedures are commonplace in veterinary medicine, but they always carry a certain risk of complications and errors. To minimize these risks, surgical safety checklists (SSCs) have proven to be a valuable tool. They provide a structured workflow that enables surgical teams to consistently implement safety-relevant measures. In human medicine, these checklists are already widely used and have demonstrably led to a reduction in complication rates and mortality. This article highlights the importance of SSCs in veterinary medicine, presents current research findings, and provides practical tips for their implementation.

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Lower urinary tract infections

Lower urinary tract infections

Bacterial urinary tract infections are frequently diagnosed in dogs and cats. Although bacterial cystitis can occur in dogs of both sexes and all ages, in cats it is observed primarily in spayed females and animals older than 10 years. The antimicrobial agents used for treatment have not changed significantly, but there is growing concern about increasing antibiotic resistance. Therefore, careful and responsible use of antimicrobial medications is essential. There are new recommendations regarding which types of bacteriuria should be treated, which antibiotics should be considered as first-line therapy, and how long treatment should last.1

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Online pharmacy for animals

Online pharmacy for animals

The increasing use of online pharmacies for veterinary medicines in the US presents both challenges and opportunities for veterinary practices. Price and convenience advantages are driving demand for online orders, while veterinary practices are experiencing revenue losses and increased administrative burdens.
Under European and German law, mail-order sales of veterinary medicines are more strictly regulated. Therefore, the question arises as to what impact a comparable development would have in Germany and what regulatory differences exist.

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Clinical examination

Clinical examination

Modern veterinary medicine increasingly utilizes sophisticated technologies and equipment for diagnosis. Nevertheless, the clinical examination remains an indispensable method. While many diseases can only be diagnosed with further testing, seeing, feeling, hearing, and palpating are essential skills that keep veterinarians at the forefront of veterinary medicine. Here are five diseases that can be detected through a careful physical examination:

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Leg amputation in dogs

Leg amputation in dogs

Hind limb amputations in dogs are palliative salvage procedures used in end-stage diseases, including complex fractures or chronic complications following previous osteosynthesis, appendicular neoplasms, extensive trauma, chronic non-healing wounds, or appendicular neuropathies (e.g., brachial plexus avulsion). Some amputations are unavoidable due to the financial constraints of pet owners. However, surgeons should always exhaust all other treatment options before performing an amputation. At the same time, it is important to fully educate pet owners about the risks, complications, and prognosis for their specific clinical case.

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Chew bones for dogs

Potential dangers of contaminated chewing bones for dogs

In recent months, veterinarians across Germany have observed an increase in neurological disorders in dogs. Many of these cases exhibit symptoms suggestive of possible poisoning. One of the prime suspects in these cases is chew bones, which are widely used as rewards and for dental care in dogs. This article examines the risks posed by contaminated chew bones and provides recommendations on how dog owners can ensure their pets' safety.

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