Veterinary clinic

Antibiotics in a critically ill dog

Antibiotics in a critically ill dog

A seriously ill dog often requires rapid and intensive treatment. If a bacterial infection is suspected, antibiotics can play a crucial role in this treatment. However, it's not simply a matter of administering any antibiotic as early as possible. The key factors are whether the chosen medication reaches the suspected pathogen, whether that pathogen is susceptible, and whether sufficiently high concentrations of the active ingredient are achieved in the patient's body.

A study published in 2025 on the intravenous administration of ampicillin/sulbactam in critically ill dogs demonstrates how differently an antibiotic can behave in critically ill patients. The study provides important insights into why antibiotics for critically ill dogs must be individually selected and regularly reviewed throughout the course of treatment.

This article is aimed at pet owners and explains the results from a veterinary perspective. It does not replace an examination or an individual treatment decision. A critically ill dog always requires the immediate care of a veterinarian or a suitably equipped veterinary clinic.

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Chemotherapy in dogs

Chemotherapy in dogs

Chemotherapy in dogs, cancer in dogs, quality of life in dogs, canine oncology, tumors in dogs, chemotherapy side effects, cancer treatment in dogs, lymphoma in dogs, hemangiosarcoma in dogs, osteosarcoma in dogs, palliative treatment in dogs, tumor diagnostics, chemotherapy safety, cancer diagnosis in dogs, veterinary consultation

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Electrochemotherapy for cats

Electrochemotherapy for cats

Electrochemotherapy for Cats: Targeted Tumor Treatment for Selected Tumors. Modern Tumor Therapy for Cats from a Veterinary Perspective. Electrochemotherapy for cats is a modern local tumor therapy that can be an important treatment option for selected feline tumors. From a veterinary perspective, electrochemotherapy for cats is particularly interesting when a tumor is easily accessible, or when surgery would only be possible with significant invasiveness.

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Congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats

Congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats

A congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve in cats is a heart defect present from birth. The tricuspid valve lies between the right atrium and the right ventricle. Its function is to regulate blood flow in the right side of the heart: blood should flow from the right atrium into the right ventricle and not flow back when the ventricle contracts. If this valve is malformed, it cannot close properly or, less commonly, is narrowed. This often leads to blood flowing back into the right atrium with each heartbeat. In international veterinary literature, this is often described as "tricuspid valve dysplasia." The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that it is a congenital malformation of the valve leaflets or other components of the tricuspid valve complex.

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Diarrhea in rabbits

Diarrhea in rabbits

Diarrhea in rabbits is a symptom that should always be taken seriously. From a veterinary perspective, it's important to remember: rabbits are not small dogs or cats. Their digestive system is highly specialized, very sensitive, and relies on a continuous intake of high-fiber food. While diarrhea in rabbits can be a harmless reaction to food, it can also indicate a serious disruption of the intestinal flora, parasite infestation, pain, dental problems, or a life-threatening intestinal disease.

As a veterinarian, I often see pet owners wait and see in practice because their rabbit "only has slightly softer stools." This is precisely where the risk lies. Rabbits often show symptoms of illness late. An animal that sits quietly in a corner, eats less, or is no longer moving as usual may already be experiencing severe abdominal pain. The MSD Veterinary Manual describes diarrhea in rabbits, regardless of its duration, as a cause for concern and recommends a prompt veterinary examination. Particularly severe intestinal diseases can very quickly become life-threatening in young rabbits.

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Intervertebral disc surgery on dog

When pet owners search for information about intervertebral disc surgery for their dog, it's often due to an acute and emotionally stressful situation. The dog suddenly experiences severe back pain, walks unsteadily, drags a hind leg, buckles at the knees, is unable to stand, or even shows signs of paralysis. From a veterinary perspective, this combination of pain, impaired movement, and potential spinal cord compression is a reason to act immediately and carefully. Intervertebral disc surgery for dogs is not a minor, routine procedure, but a neurosurgical intervention that, if indicated, can relieve pressure on the spinal cord and thus improve the chances of pain relief, nerve decompression, and functional recovery.

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Cat wheezing

Cat wheezing

When a cat wheezes, many pet owners are initially alarmed because the noise can be sudden, unusual, and difficult to identify. Some cats snore softly in their sleep, while others make brief breathing noises after grooming, after excitement, or in very dry air.

A cat doesn't simply wheeze for no reason. If the noise is new, recurring, intensifies, or occurs alongside coughing, sneezing, open-mouth breathing, lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, or visible respiratory distress, it's crucial from a veterinary perspective to consider not only the noise itself but also the overall picture: How is the cat breathing? How is it behaving? Is it eating? Is it grooming itself? Is it hiding? Does it seem stressed?

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Osteoarthritis after cruciate ligament surgery in dogs

Osteoarthritis after cruciate ligament surgery in dogs

Osteoarthritis following cruciate ligament surgery in dogs is a very common issue in small animal orthopedics. Many dog owners initially assume that their dog's knee will be completely healthy again after cruciate ligament surgery. This hope is understandable. However, from a veterinary perspective, it is important to explain that cruciate ligament surgery can improve the stability of the knee joint, reduce pain, and normalize stress. However, it does not completely reverse existing osteoarthritis.

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Buy veterinary medicines online

Buy veterinary medicines online

Many pet owners first search the internet when their dog is limping, their cat suddenly eats less, their animal is in pain after surgery, or they need to refill a familiar medication. Search terms like "Traumeel dog dosage," "Tramueel dog," "Onsior dog dosage," "Onsior cat dosage," "Inflacam dog dosage," "Inflacam cat," "Metacam dog dosage," "Novalgin dog dosage," "pain reliever for dogs without a prescription," "pain reliever for cats dosage," "buy veterinary medicines online," or "buy Onsior without a prescription" are particularly common.

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Dog health Karlsruhe

Dog health Karlsruhe

Dog health Karlsruhe, veterinarian Karlsruhe, emergency veterinary service, veterinarian Durlach, ticks on dogs, awn removal, blue-green algae poisoning, heatstroke in dogs, antifreeze for dogs, dental health in dogs, dental care for dogs, cruciate ligament rupture in dogs, TPLO Karlsruhe, poisoned bait Karlsruhe, first aid for dogs, Arndt Small Animal Clinic, doc4pets

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Shock lung in cats

Shock lung in cats

Acute respiratory distress in cats is always an emergency. If a cat suddenly starts breathing heavily, with its mouth open, stretches its neck forward, spreads its elbows, shows pale or bluish mucous membranes, collapses, or appears extremely lethargic, you must not wait. In such situations, every minute counts. Cats often show signs of respiratory distress late and may only appear quieter, more withdrawn, or less resilient for a long time. By the time the owner clearly recognizes the respiratory distress, the cat is often already critically ill.

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Dog otitis externa

Dog otitis externa

Otitis externa in dogs is one of the most common reasons why dogs are presented to veterinary practice with ear problems. This refers to an inflammation of the external ear canal. Many owners first notice head shaking, scratching at the ear, an unpleasant odor, brown or yellowish discharge, redness, pain when touched, or a change in head posture. In my daily work as a veterinarian, it becomes clear time and again that otitis externa in dogs is rarely just a superficial hygiene problem. It is usually a visible sign that there is an inflammatory, microbial, or allergic problem in the ear canal.

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Bloody gastroenteritis in dogs

Bloody gastroenteritis in dogs

Bloody gastroenteritis in dogs should always be taken seriously. From my perspective as a veterinarian who advises pet owners, a dog with bloody diarrhea must be seen by a veterinarian within 24 hours at the latest, but often much sooner. If the bloody gastroenteritis is accompanied by vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, pale mucous membranes, rapid pulse, dehydration, or even collapse, it is not a case to be ignored, but rather an emergency requiring immediate attention at the veterinary practice or clinic. International veterinary sources explicitly classify acute hemorrhagic diarrhea in dogs as a serious condition, sometimes requiring immediate treatment, because fluid loss can very quickly become life-threatening.

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Vacuum therapy for dogs and cats

Vacuum therapy for dogs and cats

If a wound on a dog or cat isn't healing as expected, a regular bandage is sometimes insufficient. In such cases, vacuum therapy for dogs and cats can be a valuable addition to modern wound care. This method is also known as negative pressure wound therapy, VAC therapy, or NPWT. The principle is always the same: controlled negative pressure is applied to the wound to draw out wound exudate, relieve pressure on the tissue, and stimulate the formation of healthy granulation tissue. This procedure has been established in human medicine for many years, and vacuum therapy is also being used increasingly in small animal medicine for dogs and cats.

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acute liver failure in cats

Acute liver failure in cats

Acute liver failure in cats is an emergency. If your cat suddenly appears severely weak, stops eating, vomits repeatedly, has yellowish mucous membranes, develops bleeding, seems disoriented, or has seizures, you should immediately seek veterinary care. Cats with severe liver disease often deteriorate rapidly within a few hours. Liver and gallbladder diseases in cats must therefore be investigated early because the causes are very diverse and some cases can quickly become critical.

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