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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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Time for Another Jerky Treat Update

Okay, this is the fifth post I’ve written on the canine and feline illnesses that appear to be associated with jerky-style treats imported from China. I didn’t intend to create a timeline for this incident, but if you’re interested in seeing how things have progressed over the last... READ MORE

Oct 08, 2012 / (18) comments

Gack! Hairballs

Ahhh, the feeling of a slimy wad of hair between the toes first thing in the morning. Does cat ownership get any better than that? Despite how common hairballs are, they really are not normal. Cats are not owls; they’re not supposed to bring up pellets of indigestible material. Yes, cats ingest... READ MORE

Oct 04, 2012 / (10) comments

Take Your Dog to Work

I used to have a job where the bosses encouraged all employees to bring their dogs to work. It was an animal welfare organization, so this policy shouldn’t be too surprising. The office was located in the basement of an old house with access to a huge back yard. It really was doggy nirvana. My... READ MORE

Oct 03, 2012 / (1) comments

Deciding When Enough is Enough

I have a terrible job — at least that’s what many of my clients say after I’ve arrived at their doors. When I’m not writing about all things veterinary, I make house calls as an in-home euthanasia and hospice care provider. I wouldn’t call the job "terrible." Emotional... READ MORE

Oct 02, 2012 / (13) comments

Could We Be on The Cusp of Something Big?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the leading cause of death in older cats. It’s so prevalent that I’ve come to believe that basically every cat over a certain age (I’m not sure what that age is … maybe 10ish or so) suffers from at least a touch of CKD. Just because we can’t... READ MORE

Oct 01, 2012 / (12) comments

International Volunteer Opportunities for Animal Lovers

A friend of mine just returned from six weeks in Haiti. She went in association with her MBA program as part of a project focused on helping Haitians develop sustainable work to support themselves and their communities. She came home with some great stories and is determined to continue to find ways... READ MORE

Sep 27, 2012 / (3) comments

Leptospirosis: Part 2

Yesterday, we talked about how dogs contract leptospirosis, how vaccination may or may not help prevent it, and what the bacteria do to a dog’s body. Today, let’s touch upon how the disease is diagnosed and treated and how we can prevent dogs from being a source of infection for people. The... READ MORE

Sep 26, 2012 / (3) comments

Leptospirosis: Part 1

Last week, "dogpeople" commented, "I wonder if you could talk about another zoonotic disease … leptospirosis." Happy to oblige. Leptospirosis is the name of the disease caused by infection with bacteria from the genus Leptospira. We know of several species of Leptospira;... READ MORE

Sep 25, 2012 / (1) comments

A Pet Care Dilemma

I am starting to think about next year’s summer vacation. I know ... it seems (and is) a long way off, but my family is hoping to make it a big adventure. We’ve saved up some money, and I’m eager to experience a dramatically different culture with my soon to be six-year-old daughter.... READ MORE

Sep 24, 2012 / (8) comments

Standard of Care - What Does it Mean?

Last week I mentioned the term "standard of care" in my post about urinary tract infections (UTI) in dogs. After I submitted it, I got to thinking, “Will everyone know what a standard of care is?” It’s not as straightforward as you might think. There is no universally accepted... READ MORE

Sep 20, 2012 / (7) 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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PETMD POLL

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

Spot-on meds
60% (132 votes)
Oral meds
15% (32 votes)
Tick collars
7% (16 votes)
Other
6% (13 votes)
N/A (I do not use tick preventives)
12% (27 votes)
Total votes: 220
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