For Referring Veterinarians

Careful consideration should be made as to the antibiotic used in dogs with severe soft tissue infections with subcutaneous cellulitis, pyrexia, +/- signs of severe sepsis or septic shock.  Some dogs have a history of injury but others may not. Approximately 60% of these dogs have strep or staph as the causative agent.  Strep in particular is good at causing septic shock.  Fluroquinolones are contraindicated in severe soft tissue/necrotizing infections because they have limited activity against…

Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener used in chewing gum, baked goods, and many other products created for human consumption. It is commonly used by people with Diabetes Mellitus due to its low glycemic index and low-calorie content. Xylitol can be highly toxic to dogs, causing low blood sugar and liver failure.  The hypoglycemia is caused by insulin release stimulated by xylitol.  This effect generally lasts 12-24 hours but can be delayed.  The liver failure…

Take the IDEXX Diagnostic Challenge: Lethargy & Skin Nodules Porter, a 6-year-old male mixed breed dog, presented with a history of lethargy, inappetance, and coughing. On physical examination, skin nodules were noted on the pinna and head. Below are Porter’s diagnostic test results. Review the slides and diagnose Porter’s disease. Porter’s Diagnostic Tests Tracheobronchial lymphadenopathy was identified on thoracic radiographs Abdominal ultrasonography revealed abdominal lymphadenopathy Fine needle aspirate cytology of an abdominal lymph node (Figure…