ARTICLES
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Tue, May 7th, 2013On May 4th , CVS participated in the San Diego Humane Society’s 19th Annual Walk for Animals at NTC Park at Liberty Station. The event was a huge success with over 70 vendors and over 4,000 walk participants.
Tue, May 7th, 2013Did you know that sago palms are toxic to pets and that ingestion can be fatal? While all parts of the plant are toxic, including the roots, the seeds (nuts) are the most toxic. The toxic principle is called cycasin and this causes symptoms ofvomiting and drooling as early as 15 minutes after ingestion.
Wed, April 17th, 2013We are in a process developing a new therapy for dogs with lymphoma that harnesses the immune system to destroy its own cancer. With appropriate therapy we are able to not only enhance and improve their quality of life but also extend that life and reduce the need for chemotherapy. This non-invasive, fully-funded study is one in which we take animals that have lymphoma and willing families who are
Mon, February 11th, 2013One of the best parts of my internship year at California Veterinary Specialists is being able to immerse myself in a different learning experience every few weeks while rotating from specialty to specialty. While the long hours and steep learning curve have certainly increased my daily coffee intake, I still feel incredibly fortunate every day to have the opportunity to learn from a diverse and..
Sun, January 20th, 2013CVS has recently donated 33 oxygen masks designed for use on pets to the Murrieta Fire Department. As stated by Chief Matt Shobert, "This equipment has the potential to save the life of a four-legged family member in the event of a fire. Read more and watch the video on Press Enterprise!
Wed, January 9th, 2013We had a great Christmas at our house on Christmas Eve. Evelyn had her two sons and their families visiting. Was pleased to see Marty, Evelyn's youngest son, his girl friend, Kim, and Klyde, their dog. Several years ago Klyde was a mal-treated, abandoned dog that Marty learned about and agreed to take in to his home. They have become inseparable. Mutual love and admiration. Marty is a quiet guy, n
Mon, October 8th, 2012As you get ready to celebrate this evening of costumes and candy, please remember that chocolate can be very dangerous for our furry and feathered friends. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, and even seizures. With large amounts, chocolate can be fatal. The best medicine is prevention. Keep the chocolate out of the animals reach (remember they can jump!). If y
Tue, July 3rd, 2012July 4th activities can cause a large number of pets to become very distressed. They may escape and be hit by cars, or be destructive to themselves or their environment. Some pets’ anxiety worsens each year, and they may need sedation. If possible pets should not be left alone during the peak activities. If you think sedation is needed for your pet, plan ahead and make sure you see your...
Tue, July 3rd, 2012Unfortunately rattlesnake bites are common during the warmmonths in many regions of California. Approximately 10 to 25%of all bites are “dry” bites in which no venom is released. Inthe remainder, a lethal amount of venom may be transmitted.But there is no way of telling ahead of time into which categorythe patient falls. The severity of envenomation depends onseveral factors, including the...
Mon, April 2nd, 2012As Easter weekend approaches, remember to keep chocolate out of your pet's reach. Chocolate can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and more seriously tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms and possibly death. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. If your pet has ingested chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately.
If you are a cat owner, be cautious of plants bought this
Wed, November 9th, 2011Most dog owners have been there. Their dog – usually so sweet and social, the apple of their eye – goes over to sniff another dog on their walk and it turns ugly. A sniff. Then, a low growl. Before long, it’s a full-fledged fight with the owner left embarrassed and apologizing, “I’m so sorry. He never does this.”
Well, it turns out, he does and so do a lot of his friends.
Mon, November 7th, 2011Category: •
CVS Lifelines Rattlesnakes, Skunks, Spiders and Porcupines, Oh My! Dogs are often repeat offenders in their contact with dangerous creatures. One would think, from our human perspective anyway, that contact with something so painful and frightening would leave an indelible mark in a dog’s memory. The old adage of “curiosity killed the cat” seems to apply to dogs, too. From the dog’s perspective, the...
Fri, November 4th, 2011Ideally, every dog should be walked on a leash at least twice daily for a minimum of 20 minutes, rain or shine. This is only a guideline, of course, because your dog’s need for and tolerance of exercise will be determined by its age, breed, and health status. Some dogs may need more exercise than this, others may need less. Walks can provide essential social interaction with playmates, positive...
Tue, October 11th, 2011Total Knee Replacements (TKR) have long since been considered the standard of care for the treatment of stifle joint Osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. In veterinary medicine, we have not been able to follow this model primarily due to the lack of long-term follow up data. GREAT NEWS!! We are pleased to report that we now have five-year follow-up on canine total knee joint replacements. Although
Tue, September 27th, 2011Almost every illness affecting animals causes a change in normal behavior patterns. In fact, many diseases such as urinary disease, hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels), dental disease, or neurological disorders go unnoticed until an animal shows behavior changes. Decreased activity, decreased grooming, withdrawal from social interaction, a sudden or gradual change in temperament, and hiding are co
Mon, June 27th, 2011Behavior Bytes is a popular column published on San Diego Pets Magazine, where readers can submit questions and have them answered by our very own Veterinary Behaviorist, Dr. Schwartz. We will publish these Q&A's 2 at a time - stay tuned for further updates!
Tue, May 10th, 2011It is not unusual to find some degree of fear or anxiety in most pets even after a single uneventful visit to a veterinary hospital. They may have been transported for the first time in a carrier and then a car. The reception area is filled with the scents of unfamiliar pets, people and other odors. They are then taken into an examination room to be handled by a stranger who may cause them unavoid
Mon, April 18th, 2011Roxy is normally a very happy, energetic, bouncy little 5 month old girl, so when her owner noticed Roxy acting dazed at home she knew something was seriously wrong. The only significant thing she could think of was that Roxy had eaten some horse poop a few hours earlier in the day.
On presentation to the ER, Roxy was disoriented and uncoordinated and her condition was rapidly deteriorating....
Mon, March 28th, 2011SAN DIEGO – The latest San Diego Pet Expo, reportedly the area's largest pet adoption and education event, has come and gone–last January's installment, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, featured several seminars and more than 100 exhibits centering on pet food, toys and health. A Vegas-style bird exhibit, a petting zoo (at which kids got a chance to meet zebras face to face) and San Diego's...
Tue, March 15th, 2011Pet owners need to be vigilant about removing foxtails by checking between your pet’s toes each day and brushing out the coat. Signs of a foxtail invasion depend on the location, but you should have your pet checked immediately if he or she is sneezing, shaking their head, scratching the ears, squinting or licking their feet.
Tue, February 22nd, 2011We can’t change coyote behavior, but we can change our own habits. There are many simple things that we can do to avoid attracting coyotes to approach us, and to make their approach less rewarding. If your pet is fed outdoors, closely supervise during meals and promptly remove food dishes. Keep small pets (all cats, rabbits, small or aging dogs) inside. Never let small or aging dogs out in your...
Thu, December 30th, 2010Tail chasing is a common playful behavior in normal puppies and kittens. A tail is an entertaining distraction when no other playmate is nearby or in moments of excitement. Tail chasing can also indicate itchiness or inflammation near the tail base, lower back, genitals, or anus. Physical discomfort associated with these areas may be traced to many problems such as external parasites, internal par
Wed, December 22nd, 2010Coyotes have increased in numbers and range in the past fifty years, primarily because of human impact on the environment. They are now found almost everywhere in North America. Coyotes have been demonized by cartoons and the media; however, they are just another example of wildlife trying to survive in an ever-shrinking habitat and against the odds. They are highly intelligent, social, adaptable
Thu, December 2nd, 2010Category: •
HolidaysCan you believe the holidays are already here? Seems like we look forward to this season for so long and then it flies by in a flash. That’s why it’s so important to make the best of every moment.This year, don’t let your pet turn your celebrations into ruined memories. It’s easy to take preventative steps to keep your pet safe and happy and to avoid disasters. Here are some simple holiday...
Wed, December 1st, 2010Category: •
HolidaysThe Holidays are often a time of year that new pets are added to the household. A few things should be kept in mind once the decision has been made to adopt a puppy or kitten. They are often coming from situations in which they are housed with a large number of other pets, e.g. a pet store or animal shelter. They are often exposed to contagious diseases at a time that their immune system is not ma
Wed, May 12th, 2010Dystocia is difficulty giving birth. We see it most commonly in miniature and small breeds of dogs (e.g., chihuahuas, pomeranians, etc.) who have a tendency to have puppies too large to pass through the birth canal, as well as breeds which have a poor design for giving birth (e.g., English bulldogs) who have a broad head but narrow pelvis. Dystocia can, however, occur in any breed of dog, and
Wed, May 12th, 2010Heat stroke occurs most commonly when animals are left in a car in warm weather, are outside without access to shade in hot weather, or are exercised strenuously (e.g., jogging when the weather is warm or hot). We have seen heat strokes when dogs are exercised in even 70-degree weather. Dogs are more prone to heat stroke than humans as they are essentially wearing a fur coat. And dogs do not have
"Thank you from the bottom of my family's heart, for your hard work, attention to detail, and...
"'Nina' came to your hospital a very sick little dog, and because of you she was able to pull...
Thank you CVS!!
"We are working with Hudson and he is doing very, very well … Thank you so much for your...
"It's very comforting to know that such compassionate and knowledgeable doctors and staff are...
