Cushing's Syndrome is a condition caused by the excessive production of cortisol.   Cortisol is a hormone that is normally produced by the adrenal glands (two small organs located near the kidneys). The adrenal glands are under the influence of the pituitary gland which is situated near the br...

In this VetVine Pet Health Information segment, Dr. Elisabeth Zenger, a board certified veterinary specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, comments about hypothyroidism in the dog including the causes, challenges in making an accurate diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in dogs with hypothyroid...

Tracheal Collapse Contributed by:  VetVine Specialty Consulting Service and Elisabeth Zenger, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) The trachea ("windpipe") is an anatomic structure that connects the larynx to the lungs.  The trachea carries inhaled air into the lungs,...

Parvoviral enteritis (often called "Parvo") is a viral infection that affects dogs.  It is caused by the Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2).  It most commonly affects puppies - especially those that are not fully vaccinated to protect against the disease.  Although the disease can be seen any...

Trouble viewing this video? Click here   What is Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (Bloat)? Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV) is a serious disorder that can be fatal if it goes untreated. More commonly referred to as "bloat," GDV is a condition in which the dog's stomach fills with gas and subsequen...

Diabetes mellitus is a condition that occurs when the body is not capable of producing enough insulin or cannot respond to it the way it should, even if the production of insulin is sufficient. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to take in glucose for energy. It is produced by the pancreas' i...

Diabetes mellitus is a condition that develops when the body is not capable of producing enough insulin or cannot respond to it the way it should - even if the production of insulin is sufficient. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to take in glucose for energy and it is produced by the pancr...

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats. FIP is a severe form of the feline coronavirus (FCoV) and ultimately leads to death in affected cats due to the systemic immune-mediated disease that it causes. A milder form of FCoV (the enteric form of the virus) is relatively harmles...

The thyroid is a gland located in the area of the neck. It plays an important role in many body functions. The hormones that it produces and secretes (T3 and T4) affect the body's metabolism. If the gland secretes too much or too little of these hormones problems ensue. An underactive thyroid, or hy...

Diabetes melliitus (DM) is commonly seen in dogs and cats. This condition develops when the body is not capable of producing enough insulin or when the body cannot respond to insulin in a normal fashion. Insulin is a hormone that allows the cells of the body to take in glucose for energy. The m...

Watching your dog or cat go through a seizure is a very scary experience. Owners may at first think that their animal is choking or having a stroke or heart attack. The animal may merely exhibit a blank stare or the shaking / convulsions of a grand mal seizure. You may observe loss of consciousness,...

Veterinary Professionals can earn CE credit (Approved by AAVSB RACE, NY State and NJVMA) by logging into VetVine (it's free to join) and registering to view the video on this page  

Calcium is widely found throughout the body and is required for many vital functions. It plays a role in many processes including cell growth, clotting of blood, nerve function, muscle contraction, hormone secretion, and bone formation to name a few. The regulation of calcium concentration in the b...

Diarrhea is manifested as an increase in fecal mass (volume) and/or fecal fluidity (water content).As such, even an increase in the frequency of passing bulky or "normal," formed stools is - by definition - diarrhea. The problem may be intermittent and recurring or persistent in nature.&nb...

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurologic disorder of dogs and manifests as focal or generalized seizure activity. Affected dogs may also exhibit other behavioral problems (ADHD-like including anxiety, aggression, poor trainability). The condition can develop due to a genetic predispo...

Dogs that develop unusual infections or infections that are recurring or persistent and unresponsive to antimicrobial therapy likely suffer from a hereditary (primary) immunodeficiency disorder. Immunodeficiencies represent a large heterogeneous group of dysfunctions of the host's immune system whic...

What works for cats with chronic kidney disease? - A nutritionist's perspective -     Donna M. Raditic, DVM, DACVN, CVA Nutritional support is a key component of management in feline chronic kidney disease (CKD). The geriatric feline with chronic kidney disease (CKD) typically has...

  Pug Dog Encephalitis (aka Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis or NME) is an inflammatory disease of the brain that can cause a variety of signs and symptoms including behavioral changes, visual problems, pain, and seizures. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not typically noticed until there ha...