Chronic cough in cats can be caused by a variety of things. Coughing is in fact a reflex action of the body to clear the air passages of any irritant or blockage. A blockage in the airways may be caused by a lot of things including:

• Disorders of the respiratory tract including bacterial, viral or parasitic infections
• Aspiration pneumonia which can occur when a cat swallows food or something else which enters the respiratory tract rather than the digestive tract
• Tumors or abnormal growth on the cat’s throat 
• A foreign body stuck in the cat’s respiratory passages
• Heart disease
• Allergies

Your Katy, TX veterinarian has to conduct a thorough physical exam of your c ... Read more »

One common problem that can exist in a multi-pet household is a dog/s getting into the litter box and eating cat litter. Many dogs seem to love keeping a close eye on the box, waiting for the kitty to exit.

Some pet owners may think that dogs engaging in the behavior may be suffering from a nutritional deficiency. But experts have found out that this is not usually the case. Dogs eat cat litter because cat feces in the litter taste good. Disgusting, isn’t it? But dogs can have peculiar tastes. The taste of cat litter may be attributed to the higher amount of protein that they consume.

Coprophagia (eating poop) is very common among dogs. In fact, it has been considered a normal behavior in certain circumstances. For example, it is the instinct of mother dogs to eat their pup’s feces to keep the place clean. Puppies can also go through a phase where they explore their sur ... Read more »

Have you ever noticed your Chihuahua running at full speed and suddenly stops and appears to skip on one of his hind legs? There’s a good chance that your dog’s kneecap is dislocated, a condition known as luxating patella. It is a problem which is extremely common among miniature and toy breeds, like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, and Pomeranians. These canine breeds are born with very shallow grooves in a part of the femur which supports the kneecap, allowing it to “float” and become easily dislocated. Both knees are commonly affected but one knee tends to be more severely affected. The problem can range from a minor annoyance to a debilitating one that requires surgery to correct.

The kneecap may become dislocated several times a day, and commonly occurs during physical activity. Kicking the leg back sharply may return the knee to its proper position; holding the leg up for several minutes u ... Read more »