The Itchy Dog

It is one of the most common health problems that we see at The Androscoggin Animal Hospital; the dog that won’t stop itching. They may be licking, biting their skin and feet, or scratching. They may have ear infections or rashes on their skin. It looks uncomfortable, it keeps us up at night, and it can be stinky!

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Hospice Care and End of Life Issues

Because attachment behaviors are the essence of the human-animal bond, owners want to return the unconditional love offered by companion animals, especially senior pets who have become long term family members. Our pets are integral parts of our family and we love them dearly. Seeing them age or develop disease can be very difficult. Continue…

What Causes Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by an infection with the Lyme bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi). The bacteria lives in infected deer ticks, and it is transmitted to the unfortunate host by the bite of the infected tick. Transmission of the bacteria from the tick to the host may only take several hours of attachment. Continue…

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Once your Dog or Cat has been diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus (Discussed further in Part I of our Diabetes Mellitus Blog), how is it treated? The short answer is with injections of insulin and with diet. Diabetes Mellitus is a generally treatable condition caused by an insulin deficiency.  Continue…

Chronic  Kidney Disease (or CKD) is diagnosed with lab tests that are performed by your Veterinarian.  CKD occurs when the kidneys are not able to do their job of removing waste products from the body as effectively as they should. These waste products accumulate in the blood and cause symptoms including increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, vomiting, and weight loss. Continue…

Difficulty urinating, frequent urination, excessive trips to the litter box, blood in the urine, and urinating outside of the litter box are all signs of bladder problems in a cat. Does this mean that your cat has a urinary tract infection? The answer might surprise you. Continue…

Toxic Products for Dogs and Cats

Do you know if you have any products  in your home that could be potential hazards for your dog or cat if the eat them? Many of us know that chocolate, ibuprofen, antifreeze and rat poison are toxic to pets if they are ingested, but what about sugar free products with xylitol, lilies, grapes and raisins, and Gorilla Glue? These are all potential hazards to your pets. Keep them out of reach of your pets, and immediately get help if any of these items are ingested; it happens! Continue…

What is Diabetes

Dogs and cats can get Diabetes just like humans. Diabetes (or Diabetes Mellitus) is a disease that is caused by an insulin deficiency or insulin resistance (the body doesn’t respond normally to insulin).  Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is necessary for the body to use sugar (glucose). The cause of diabetes is uncertain, but genetics and obesity play a role in the development of the disease. Continue…