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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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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

Treadmills for Dogs - A Good Idea?

A couple of weeks ago “oh holland” posted, "I hear NYC radio ads pitching treadmills and treadwheels as indoor exercise contraptions for city dogs. Instinctively I hate them, but would really appreciate a post on the topic..." As I replied at the time, my professional experience... READ MORE

Sep 19, 2012 / (7) comments

A Haunting Case of Blastomycosis

Yesterday I talked about how a recent news report about a girl in Colorado recovering from bubonic plague reminded me of one of my veterinary success stories. Wouldn’t you know that just a few days later I saw another article, this time about dogs in the Chicago area developing the fungal disease... READ MORE

Sep 18, 2012 / (5) comments

Black Death

Earlier this month, a young Colorado girl was diagnosed with bubonic plague. Yes, plague — as in the Black Death. Thankfully, she’s recovering well, but the story reminded me of one of my favorite tales from the trenches of veterinary medicine. Staying on top of medical advances or just... READ MORE

Sep 17, 2012 / (4) comments

Phenobarbital versus Potassium Bromide

Phenobarbital and potassium bromide (KBr) are the "go to" drugs to control seizures in pets. When I was in veterinary school, I was taught to first try phenobarbital, primarily because we had more experience with that drug. If phenobarb failed to provide adequate control of a patient’s... READ MORE

Sep 13, 2012 / (6) comments

"Is Your Pet Right-Pawed, Left-Pawed, or Ambidextrous?"

I think all of my animals are left-handed (or pawed and hoofed to be precise). I read an article in my local paper last week that asked “Is your pet right-pawed, left-pawed, or ambidextrous?” and started paying closer attention to their behavior. According to the Coloradoan, a “1991... READ MORE

Sep 12, 2012 / (5) 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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Dog Panting – Normal or Not?
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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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