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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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Dogs and Pickup Trucks

I’ve owned pickup trucks for the last 15 years or so. Residing in some very rural parts of Virginia and Wyoming and keeping horses on my property have made them a necessity. However, my dogs have never ridden unrestrained in the bed of a truck. I always find a way to cram them into the cab or use... READ MORE

May 14, 2013 / (5) comments

Preventing Dog Bites

May 19-25 is Dog Bite Prevention Week. I’ve been bitten several times, as I’m sure most people who work with animals have, but have never seen a specific number put to the risk that veterinarians have of being bitten. The most relevant statistic I could find was in a Centers for Disease Control... READ MORE

May 13, 2013 / (6) comments

Why Large Dogs Die Young

When I was on vacation a couple of months ago, I posted a link to an article entitled “Why Small Pups Outlive Large Dog Breeds.” Fully Vetted reader 3Dogs1Cat (great handle!) asked for more information when the research was published in the April 2013 issue of American Naturalist. Here... READ MORE

May 09, 2013 / (5) comments

It's a Boy!

We have a new family member. His name is Bernie, and he’s a Betta. You may know Bettas by their old and now geographically outdated name of Siamese fighting fish.   READ MORE

May 08, 2013 / (6) comments

Preventing Heartworm Disease

As I write this post, I’m looking out the window at about eight inches of snow on the ground, and it’s still coming down hard. Ahhh, spring in Colorado. I recently told a friend who is new to town that we don’t truly have spring around here. The weather just fluctuates between summer... READ MORE

May 07, 2013 / (9) comments

A Couple of Law Updates

I want to update you all regarding developments on two topics we’ve talked about in the past. First, horse slaughter. It looks like a facility in New Mexico will soon be open again. USDA inspectors have recently reinspected the plant, and in an interview with ABC news, Agriculture Secretary... READ MORE

May 06, 2013 / (14) comments

Old Dogs with Murmurs

Degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) is very common in older, small breed dogs. The mitral valve is one of four valves in the heart that keep blood flowing in the right direction. The “lub-dub” we associated with a healthy heart is the sound of heart valves closing and should be all that... READ MORE

May 02, 2013 / (5) comments

Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law

Veterinarians need your help; many of us are currently on the lam. We’re breaking the law but have decided that it is in our patients’ best interests that we continue to do so. We’re all just hoping that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has bigger fish to fry and will leave us alone.   READ MORE

May 01, 2013 / (9) comments

Yawning – Physiology or Psychology?

Why do dog’s yawn? No, that’s not a question akin to “Why did the chicken cross the road?” It’s actually quite interesting because a definitive answer remains elusive. Scientifically speaking, the jury is still out on why any of us yawn. The trait is widespread throughout... READ MORE

Apr 30, 2013 / (6) comments

How to ... Take Care of Minor Wounds at Home

Next in our “How to” series, dealing with minor scrapes or cuts at home … emphasis on the minor! Any injury that fully penetrates the skin (e.g., a bite wound) and/or involves a large portion of the body or an especially sensitive area should receive immediate veterinary attention.   READ MORE

Apr 29, 2013 / (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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Most Read Fully Vetted Articles

Dog Panting – Normal or Not?
Dogs pant. They pant when they’re hot, they pant when they’re excited, they pant...
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The Truth About Pit Bulls: Part 1
Dr. Jennifer Coates has written before about breed specific legislation. Today she...
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How to ... Make a Dog Vomit
In today’s Fully Vetted, inducing emesis in dogs, or in laymen’s terms, making a...
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Stories from Vet School Will Keep Pride at ...
The saying “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing” can certainly apply to veterinary...
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Most Commented Articles

The Truth About Pit Bulls: Part 2
In part 2 of Dr. Jennifer Coates’s discussion on the Pit Bull breed, she discounts...
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It’s Difficult to Regulate Diabetics
Difficult to manage diabetic patients end up on unusually high doses of insulin but...
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Dogs and Cats Get Bipartisan Support
Pet owners in Colorado have reason to celebrate this month, after two new bills were...
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The Truth About Pit Bulls: Part 1
Dr. Jennifer Coates has written before about breed specific legislation. Today she...
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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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