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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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A Little Plant Research Can Save Lives

I consider myself a relatively intelligent person, but from time to time I still wonder at my own stupidity. Okay, maybe "stupidity" is too strong of a word, but a few years ago I had an experience that made me give myself a big ol’ dope slap. I am not much of a plant person. My care-giving... READ MORE

Oct 15, 2012 / (1) comments

Wild Horses Sold Out Again

I adopted a wild mustang back in 2006. At the time, I lived on a couple of acres in Wyoming with two horses (and the rest of my family). Tragically, my mare Harper colicked and died one weekend. We were all heartbroken, but nobody suffered as much as my gelding Atticus. The two of them were best of friends.... READ MORE

Oct 11, 2012 / (5) comments

A View into an Outdoor Cat's Life

I admit it; I don’t always follow my own advice. For example, I dutifully counsel my clients to keep their cats indoors, citing health benefits for the cats themselves (and the lower veterinary fees that result) as well as the goal of protecting native wildlife. But my cat goes outside.   READ MORE

Oct 10, 2012 / (7) comments

Losing Your Cat to Brain Disease

Dogpeople, a member of our community, recently related the following sad story:   We just lost our otherwise perfectly healthy 5-year-old cat to a Brain Tumor. We are still in shock, and I am truly kicking myself for not noticing any changes prior to her pacing and head pressing that came up this... READ MORE

Oct 09, 2012 / (4) comments

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

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...
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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...
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Preventing Heartworm Disease
Dr. Coates has written many times about heartworm disease but today she thought she’d...
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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....
READ MORE
An 'Intrigue' of Kittens
Dr. Jennifer Coates found herself stumped last week when trying to remember the name...
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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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