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.

JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC

The 'Natural Approach Black Hole' and How Not to Fall Into It

Let me preface this post by saying that I have an open mind on the subject of complementary and alternative medicine. However, I am not as well-versed in it as I would like. After all, I was educated within the Western medical tradition … READ MORE

Jun 30, 2010 / (20) comments

Quieting Fireworks Phobia With Music Therapy, Among Other Tricks

Last week I received another one of Lisa Spector’s e-mails on the subject of dog-calming music. Ms. Spector is a Juilliard-trained concert pianist, agility enthusiast and co-creator of "Through a Dog’s Ear," an impressive collection of music designed to soothe the canine brain. READ MORE

Jun 29, 2010 / (9) comments

The Truth About 'Titering' Instead of Vaccination

Thanks to the veterinary profession’s small animal contingent, the world has some new verbs: To "titer" or "titering," as in the act of submitting a blood sample to determine whether an animal has enough antibodies to ensure immunity against a particular disease. READ MORE

Jun 28, 2010 / (19) comments

Vets 'Don’t Know Nothin' 'Bout Birthin' No Babies!'

Ah, Prissy’s immortal line from Gone With the Wind … preceding Melanie’s fateful night at the hands of an inexperienced and rivalrous midwife (Miss Scarlet). That’s when she utters the speech I so often mimic when I have no earthly idea what I’m doing. Which in my profession... READ MORE

Jun 25, 2010 / (30) comments

Denial in Vet Medicine: My Clients’ Top Ten Excuse Zones

If "denial" is a long river (I know, bad pun), then veterinary medicine offers a zillion ports of call. Unfortunately, I deal in denial daily when it comes to my clients’ take on their pets’ well-being. READ MORE

Jun 24, 2010 / (22) comments

Shocking Behavior: The Trouble With E-collars, Invisible Fences and 'Zapped' Dogs

As most of you already know, I’ve got this new pup named Pinky. She’s adorable and I’m seriously thinking about keeping her around for a while, given the medical needs of her diseased skin condition and her wonderfully sweet disposition. Problem is, she’s got a thing for freaking... READ MORE

Jun 23, 2010 / (41) comments

How Good is That 'Expired' Drug in Your Pet's Medicine Cabinet?

Yesterday's Morning Edition on NPR featured Joanne Silberner's report on human drugs and their expiration dates. Though I'd never heard of this law, it seems pharmacists are required to attach a one-year expiration date to all of the drugs they dispense. READ MORE

Jun 22, 2010 / (7) comments

Confessions of a Fledgeling Milkmaid

Tulip’s my goat. To be exact, she’s a doe, as in "doe, a deer, a female deer." As are most cloven-hooved, XX creatures called. Tulip’s great ... mostly. But lately, she’s making me want to wade into a river with rocks in my pocket. READ MORE

Jun 21, 2010 / (9) comments

Hurricane Pet Preparedness, Redux

Every year I do a post on this. Water safety, heat hazards, and storm phobia, too. Though it may bore some of you, I can’t help but feel I learn a little more every time I write one of these hurricane preparedness posts. So it’s probably the case that you’re learning something new too.... READ MORE

Jun 18, 2010 / (7) comments

Marmaduke Madness: Here We Go Again

Here we go again. That’s all I have to say after hearing about another brainless summer blockbuster movie titled — of course — Marmaduke. It’s predictable. Cross Beverly Hills Chihuahua with Marley and Me and you’ve got one sorry, derivative dog movie well-poised to... READ MORE

Jun 17, 2010 / (54) comments

< PREV PAGE

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.