Fully Vetted

Dr. Coates is a veterinarian based in the other “Sunshine State” – that's Colorado to the rest of you – where she lives and plays with a varied range of animals. She shares her professional and personal experiences, Monday through Friday, here on petMD's blog, the Fully Vetted. Log in for your daily dose of her insight and wisdom.

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To Shampoo or Not to Shampoo Your Dog? That Is the Question

I know it's only Wednesday, but I happen to know that most of you are gearing up for a weekend love fest with your pets. I also happen to know that one of your agenda items includes washing your pets. I know this not only from my own pets' rituals, but also from the smell of moist dog that pervades... READ MORE

Sep 30, 2009 / (10) comments

On the politics of 'rabies tags' and pet licensing (Part 2: The vet police)

I’m not deputized as an officer of the law and I’m no trained tax collector. I have no desire play either role in the normal course of my veterinary life. READ MORE

Sep 30, 2009 / (10) comments

Do tax breaks for pet healthcare make you HAPPY?

Think you deserve a $3,500 annual tax deduction for "qualified pet care expenses"? Think about it. This tax deduction could effectively mean that up to $3,500 of your pet food and veterinary expenses will be 10 to 30 percent cheaper (the degree of savings would depend on your tax rate). READ MORE

Sep 29, 2009 / (9) comments

On the politics of 'rabies tags' and pet licensing (Part 1: Why we fail)

In most municipalities in the US, dogs (and sometimes cats, too) require yearly licenses. The fees from these licenses are used to fund the animal services our municipalities provide. READ MORE

Sep 29, 2009 / (10) comments

Ten easy steps to a FULL physical examination for your pet

If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know that I have a thing about physical examinations––as in, no test, no matter how sophisticated, is quite so crucial to your pet’s health as a FULL physical exam. READ MORE

Sep 28, 2009 / (2) comments

What you get with that $50 office visit at the vet's

The average price of a veterinary office visit in the US is right around $50. READ MORE

Sep 28, 2009 / (27) comments

Giving good grief: On pet bereavement online, one-on-one and in our communities

My email inbox always looks like a bomb went off in a pile of alphanumeric characters. READ MORE

Sep 26, 2009 / (35) comments

The power of pet poop (yes, really)

No, you’re not alone. We all scrutinize our pet’s poop. Well...at least our dog's poop. I mean, it’s right there in front of us (usually) so why not look? READ MORE

Sep 25, 2009 / (22) comments

When it all goes to hell, guilt gets the final word

Whatever your profession, you’ll have work days that will stay with you forever. Yesterday was one such adventure...in misery. READ MORE

Sep 25, 2009 / (20) comments

Predators, prey, and dead Maltipoos

In case you hadn’t heard, Jessica Simpson, of reality TV fame, has lost her Maltipoo, Daisy. An L.A. area coyote spirited Daisy away last week, and in spite of all efforts to locate her, she is presumed to be dead. READ MORE

Sep 24, 2009 / (0) comments

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About fully vetted

Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA

Dr. Khuly is a former petMD blogger and small animal veterinarian in Miami, Florida, where she practices medicine at Sunset Animal Clinic and serves on the board of the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and The Wharton School of Business.

As a significant sideline, she writes...a lot. She authors pet health columns for USA Today, The Miami Herald and Vetstreet. She also writes a popular monthly column for Veterinary Practice News and serves as regular contributor to Veterinary Economics, The Bark, and the Veterinary News Network.

Dr. Khuly lives in South Miami with her brood of hens, goats, dogs, cats...and humans.