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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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Questions about Canine Vaccines

A couple of weeks ago "Barnyard Punch" asked some excellent questions about non-core vaccines in dogs. Canine noncore vaccines are those that will benefit some dogs but not others, and the decision about who should get them and who shouldn’t is based on such things as age, lifestyle,... READ MORE

May 14, 2012 / (8) comments

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs and Cats

My dog Apollo has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), so unfortunately, I have experience with this condition as both an owner and veterinarian.   READ MORE

May 10, 2012 / (3) comments

A New Link Between Pet and Human Health

Part of the veterinary oath states that a veterinarian does "solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the … promotion of public health," which is why diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people (called zoonoses or zoonotic... READ MORE

May 09, 2012 / (5) comments

Check Your Pet Food Bags!

The recall of pet foods manufactured at a Diamond Pet Foods plant in Gaston, S.C. just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Initially, Diamond Pet Foods recalled only particular batches of its Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dry dog food. This occurred on April 6, when the company stated that the action was... READ MORE

May 08, 2012 / (7) comments

Mad Cow ... Again

Did you hear the reports concerning a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (otherwise known as BSE or mad cow disease) in a dairy cow in California a couple of weeks ago?   READ MORE

May 07, 2012 / (9) comments

Finding a Vet for Your Exotic Pet

Some veterinarians thrive on the thrill of being faced with new situations every day — me, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy challenging cases, but I like to feel that I’m entering the fray with some level of competence. I suspect that most owners don’t want their pet to... READ MORE

May 03, 2012 / (3) comments

Questions About Heartworms in Dogs and Cats

We received some great questions in response to the two posts on heartworm disease that appeared last week. Today, I’ll do my best to answer them.   READ MORE

May 02, 2012 / (5) comments

No Excuse for Skipping Rabies Vaccination

The Carlsbad, New Mexico area just suffered through one of the worst rabies outbreaks in the state’s recent history. Over a three month period from the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2012, 32 dogs, 1 cat and 10 sheep had to be euthanized because they had been exposed to a rapid fox. During that... READ MORE

May 01, 2012 / (32) comments

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

I have no doubt that dogs dream. I’ve caught every one of my pooches "running" and "barking" in their sleep at one time or another, but what exactly are they dreaming about? Most of the time, it appears to be something good — chasing bunnies, I frequently call it. But... READ MORE

Apr 30, 2012 / (4) comments

Palliative Care ≠ Murder

I talked yesterday about compassion fatigue, which often develops when caregivers focus primarily on others while ignoring their own needs. Sometimes, however, a caregiver’s negative emotions are a direct result of the words or actions of others.   READ MORE

Apr 26, 2012 / (10) comments

About fully vetted

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Photo of Dr Coates

Image credit: Jim Piraino

...graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado. She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian. Dr. Coates also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond, and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics. Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and various species of pets.

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Most Read Fully Vetted Articles

Why Large Dogs Die Young
When Dr. Coates was on vacation a couple of months ago, she posted a link to an article...
READ MORE
It's a Boy!
Dr. Coates has a new pet member of the family. His name is Bernie, and he’s a Betta.
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Lucky Number 13: Rottweilers as Guide Dogs to...
Veterinarians at the Murphy Foundation’s Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies...
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Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law
Veterinarians need your help; many of them are currently on the lam from the DEA....
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Most Commented Articles

A Couple of Law Updates
In today’s Fully Vetted, Dr. Coates updates readers regarding developments on two...
READ MORE
Preventing Heartworm Disease
Dr. Coates has written many times about heartworm disease but today she thought she’d...
READ MORE
Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law
Veterinarians need your help; many of them are currently on the lam from the DEA....
READ MORE
An 'Intrigue' of Kittens
Dr. Jennifer Coates found herself stumped last week when trying to remember the name...
READ MORE

PETMD POLL

What do you use to prevent ticks from feeding on your pet?

Spot-on meds
60% (113 votes)
Oral meds
14% (26 votes)
Tick collars
8% (15 votes)
Other
6% (12 votes)
N/A (I do not use tick preventives)
11% (21 votes)
Total votes: 187

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