Our Blog

Have you ever noticed that your dog’s feet smell like Fritos or corn chips? Often referred to as ‘Frito’ feet, its term for the corn chip smell that comes from a dog’s paws.

At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we never shy away from life’s tough questions! Read below as we tackle the strangely pleasant phenomenon of why your dog’s feet smell like Fritos.

Anemia is defined as a deficiency in the number of circulating red blood cells in the body. It is a relatively common health condition in humans – especially in women, due to low iron levels.

In pets, however, anemia is often the result of chronic disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, trauma or other medical condition. 

Understanding Anemia

Red blood cells have no nucleus, DNA, or internal structures, but they serve a vital role in the body in that they contain hemoglobin, which is a protein that carries oxygen.

Thyroid gland disorders can cause numerous health issues for pets and is a common problem that we see at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center. As in most medical conditions, the earlier thyroid disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome is for your pet. 

Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism in Pets

The thyroid gland is located in the neck, near the larynx, and is controlled by the pituitary gland in the brain. The thyroid gland is essential for regulating the body’s metabolic rate and does this by producing hormones that keep it in balance – the most important one being thyroxine. When the thyroid gland doesn’t function properly, the resulting hormone imbalance can wreak havoc with the body’s metabolism. 

As in humans, the kidneys play an important role in the overall health of our pets. Apart from making urine, kidneys are responsible for regulating the balance of electrolytes in the body, keeping blood pressure in check, and the production of hormones that aid in calcium metabolism and red blood cell production. 

While a diagnosis of kidney disease in our pet is understandably alarming, with proper care, this disease is usually manageable over the long term.

The ways in which pets and humans are alike never ceases to amaze us here at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center. Like us, dogs and cats have complex social structures, nuanced personalities, strong likes and dislikes, and the need to connect with their family members (regardless of species)! There are also other similarities between pets and people, and one of those is a respiratory condition known as asthma.

As it is with people, asthma in pets is the restriction of the airways caused by an allergic reaction to an airborne irritant or pollutant. Any age or breed of pet can develop asthma, but cats (Siamese in particular) and middle-aged or older pets are more prone to it.

If you’ve ever witnessed a seizure in a pet, you know how scary it can be. Panic may set in as you wonder what is wrong with your furry companion and what you should or shouldn’t be doing.

Seizures in pets are one of the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorders, but that doesn’t make it any less frightening. Getting to the bottom of why your pet has had a seizure is the key to treating and preventing future episodes.

What is a Seizure?

Seizures are caused by abnormal bursts of electricity in the brain function, which causes involuntary muscle activity.

Do you have an adorable, furry, four-legged stinker on your hands? While some level of ‘doggy smell’ is to be expected from our canine companions, truly stinky fur may be cause for concern.

Our team at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center doesn’t shy away from malodorous topics and can help you get to the bottom of your pup’s smelly situation!

Common Causes of Stinky Fur

Regular bathing and brushing will go a long way toward cutting down on normal doggy odors. Check with your veterinarian to see how often your dog should be bathed (we carry hypoallergenic pet shampoos for home bathing in our lobby retail store).

So you’ve taken the plunge and adopted a new kitten – congratulations! Get ready to be entertained, delighted, and perhaps a little frustrated… at times. Most of all, if you haven’t already, be prepared to fall head over heels for your adorable new friend!

These early days and weeks with your new little furball are fleeting and at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we want to help you get a great start by sharing some of our favorite kitten care tips. After all, making sure your kitten is a happy, healthy, and a well-adjusted member of your family is a top priority!

Does your dog regularly scoot its cute backside across the living room floor?

Do you occasionally notice an unpleasant, musky odor in the air or spot a brown streak on the carpet?

Have you noticed your pet obsessively licking its rear end?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, your pet’s anal sacs may be to blame.

While not the most exciting topic, knowing what the anal sacs are and how to properly care for them is an important component of your pet’s care.

Anyone who’s ever suffered from vertigo or an inner ear problem understands the unsettling dizziness, loss of coordination and nausea that can accompany these types of conditions. Dogs can experience a similar condition known as canine vestibular disease.  

There are several types of canine vestibular disease. Some may be due to serious causes, such as a brain tumor, neurological infection or other neurological disorder. However, there is a benign self-limiting type that affects mostly older dogs. Because of this, it is commonly referred to as ‘old dog vestibular disease’, which is the focus of this discussion.   

The symptoms of old dog vestibular disease can be quite bewildering for any pet owner. At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we see this problem in many of our older patients, so we’d like to shed some light on this mostly benign form of canine vestibular disease.