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• Heart Murmurs in Dogs

  This handout discusses what a heart murmur is, how it is diagnosed, what recommended tests are advised to determine the underlying cause, and potential treatments or monitoring that should be undertaken when a murmur is detected in your dog.

• Heat Stroke in Dogs

  Heatstroke is another term for hyperthermia. Dogs suffering from heatstroke can have varied signs, from high respiratory rate to coma, depending on their temperature. Prognosis depends on the extent and duration of temperature elevation. Some dogs recover normally, but more severe cases will have permanent organ damage or may die from hyperthermia.

• Helping Dogs with Severe Phobias During Storms and Fireworks

  Phobias related to thunderstorms and fireworks cause dogs to suffer and often increase in intensity over time. Behavior modification combined with medication can be used to reduce a dog's level of fear. Until therapy can be completed, it can be helpful to sit with your dog in a safe room where background music and curtains can be used to help buffer noises and flashing lights.

• Helping our Senior Cats Age Gracefully

  Your older cat requires more care and attention to make sure they have the best quality of life. If they have certain medical conditions, that will factor into what they can do and how often they may need to see your family veterinarian. It's important to spend time with your cat to keep their stress low and monitor for changes.

• Helping our Senior Dogs Age Gracefully

  Your older dog requires more care and attention to make sure they have the best quality of life. If they have certain medical conditions, that will factor into what they can do and how often they may need to see your family veterinarian. It's important to spend time with your dog not only for social interaction but to stimulate their mind.

• Helping Your Cat with Osteoarthritis

  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, degenerative disease that worsens over time. This handout discusses steps you can take to help your cat deal with osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD). In addition to medications that may be prescribed by your veterinarian, other treatment options such as weight loss, exercise, and complementary therapies such as chiropractic and physiotherapy are outlined.

• Helping Your Dog with Osteoarthritis

  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, degenerative disease that worsens over time. This handout discusses steps you can take to help your dog deal with osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD). In addition to medications that may be prescribed by your veterinarian, other treatment options such as weight loss, exercise, and complementary therapies such as chiropractic and physiotherapy are outlined.

• Hematoma of the Ear in Cats

  An aural hematoma is a collection of blood between the cartilage and skin of the ear flap. It is most likely caused by trauma but can also be due to a bleeding disorder. If an underlying cause is determined such as infection, this needs to be treated as well. Hematomas may eventually resolve on their own, but there is a risk of permanent damage and they are painful, so prompt treatment is recommended.

• Hematoma of the Ear in Dogs

  An aural hematoma is a collection of blood between the cartilage and skin of the ear flap. It is most usually caused by trauma but can also be due to a bleeding disorder. Hematomas in dogs can be treated in different ways but should be treated early to minimize pain and disfigurement. If an underlying cause is determined such as otitis externa, this needs to be treated as well. Hematomas may eventually resolve on their own, but there is a risk of cauliflower ear and they are painful, so prompt treatment is recommended.

• Hemophilia A & B in Dogs

  Hemophilia A and B are clotting disorders involving a deficiency of a specific clotting factor (A: Factor VIII, B: Factor IX) needed for appropriate homeostasis. They are caused by a sex-linked recessive genetic mutation. Affected dogs will show inappropriate hemorrhage including bruising, lameness induced by bleeding into joints and body cavity hemorrhage. It can be diagnosed with a slow APTT and demonstrating low levels of the factor involved. Hemophilia A is more common than B and is generally, more severe. Because it is sex-linked recessive, males are more likely to be affected than females but females still act as carriers, so genetic screening is important prior to breeding to prevent this disease.