Full-Service Veterinary Clinic
in Summerville, SC

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that causes multiple organ failure resulting in a high incidence of mortality. "Lepto" usually presents in the dog with a high fever, jaundice, dark-colored urine, vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe lethargy. Leptospirosis is completely preventable by vaccination. For more information.

Why Ear Medicines Sometimes Don't Work - The video above is of a patient we'll call Sheila. Sheila has been suffering from chronic ear disease most, if not all, of her life. She had been previously treated over and over and over by her veterinarian with ear ointments and drops. The video shows our irrigation of the ear canal under general anesthesia. Her ear was very painful. We always rinse the ears with warmed sterile saline. Towards the end of the video, the ear drum (tympanic membrane - TM) is visible. Actually, there is no TM, just scar tissue with two tiny holes. This is why Sheila had ear disease for many years. Ultimately she has had a middle ear infection that would "spill" out through those holes into the external canal. We removed the scar tissue and treated the middle ear disease. She is doing well at this juncture. If your pet is treated more than once for a recurring ear infection, it is vitally important that the cause be determined. In this case, Sheila had lived for 10 years with a chronic and painful ear infection. Please be your pet's patient advocate and seek out the reasons for chronic ear diseae.

Novel Approach to the Treatment of Lower Urinary Disease in Cats: the use of Low Dose Substance P (sP) - Lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) in cats accounts for 1.5 - 2.5% of all visits to veterinary clinics in North America, costing the cat owners $24,000,000 each year. LUTD in the cat is a frustrating, often misdiagnosed entity.

Laryngeal Paralysis - a common disease of the aging large breed dog (Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes, etc) that starts, initially, as only a change in your pet's voice character. As the disease progresses, there can be significant interference with your pet's ability to take in sufficient air into their lungs. Breathing becomes much more "noisy" and, in some instances, is quite loud.

Otic (ear) Polyps - Polyps in the ear canals of dogs and cats can originate from a variety of sources and tissues. These polyps can grow quite large causing obstruction and trapping of the normal waxy secretions of the ear canals. Obstruction or interference with normal wax migration generally leads to secondary infections, both bacterial and yeast.