by Dr. M.J. Wixsom | Jun 2, 2025 | Animal Diseases, Blog
As veterinarians, we’re often the bearers of difficult news. This Memorial Day, I experienced the heartbreak that comes with losing four dogs to a silent killer: splenic tumors. Just a day later, my mentee faced the same tragedy. These cases are devastating for...
by Dr. M.J. Wixsom | May 26, 2025 | Animal Diseases, Blog
As the days grow warmer and we spend more time outdoors with our pets, we’re reminded that our region’s natural beauty comes with a hidden danger: ticks and the diseases they carry. Over the past decade, I’ve watched as tick populations have steadily increased in our...
by Dr. M.J. Wixsom | Nov 11, 2022 | Animal Diseases, Blog
Piper, Max and Fifi were all scheduled for all day cushing’s tests Thursday. Piper and Fifi almost assuredly have cushing’s disease, but Max’s condition is a little weird. I want to make sure he doesn’t have cushing’s. Or at least, that I don’t miss it. Many of his...
by Dr. M.J. Wixsom | Jun 13, 2022 | Animal Diseases
In the exam room, Romeo looked bad. A seven-year-old large breed dog of mixed heritage, he was overweight and superficially (and to his owner) looked in good condition. But on my closer examination, he looked bad. Really bad. On my professional exam, Romeo’s heart...
by Dr. M.J. Wixsom | Mar 9, 2020 | Animal Diseases, Blog
Shhh! Don’t tell. We are having cake Tuesday. It seemed appropriate since we are celebrating. We even designed and ordered shirts: green shirts with a wiggly dog butt. The celebration is a tad bittersweet, but it is a celebration regardless. Kick Cancer’s Butt We put...
by Dr. M.J. Wixsom | Nov 11, 2019 | Animal Diseases, Blog
My yellow lab, Whiskey, eats poop. Technically is it known as coprophagia, the consuming of fecal matter. And it is a frequent complaint of dog owners. It can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset, intestinal parasitic infection, transmission of infectious disease and...
