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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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Celebrate National Pet Week

National Pet Week is May 5-11 this year. I bring it up early because the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is already seeking entries for next year’s poster and writing contests. The deadline is May 10, 2013 and the contests are open to students in kindergarten... READ MORE

Apr 15, 2013 / (1) comments

Low-Cost Veterinary Care

We talked yesterday about the externship I rotated through at the Washington Animal Rescue League as a fourth year veterinary student. Reliving that experience reminded me of the good that is being done by not-for-profit veterinary clinics like these. We have a similar organization here in Colorado called... READ MORE

Apr 11, 2013 / (2) comments

Fourth Year Veterinary Training – A Breed Apart

In most veterinary schools, the final year of a student’s training is very different from what came before. Fourth year students make their way through rotations that typically last a few weeks each. Some are held within the school’s own veterinary teaching hospitals (e.g., internal medicine,... READ MORE

Apr 10, 2013 / (7) comments

The Financial Realities of Prolonging Life

Have you thought about how far you’d go, monetarily speaking, to prolong the life of your pets? You should. I recommend you come up with a specific dollar amount for each of them. These numbers do not have to be lines in the sand, but at a difficult time can serve as warning signals that perhaps... READ MORE

Apr 09, 2013 / (12) comments

'Shelter Me: Let's Go Home' Coming this Week to Your TV

Last year I wrote about a public television program called Shelter Me. It presented an uplifting look at the role that shelter dogs play in the lives of people from many different walks of life. The first segment focused on the journey of two stray pit bulls, from the day they were picked up on the... READ MORE

Apr 08, 2013 / (1) comments

Dogs Missing in Idaho

Dogs are disappearing not too far from where I used to live in Wyoming … the Twin Falls and Magic Valley area in Idaho. According to a report in USA Today, “About 40 dogs have gone missing since November…”   READ MORE

Apr 04, 2013 / (3) comments

Do You Have a Great Vet?

Working in a referral practice, I get to learn a lot about clients’ “regular” veterinarians. I have heard a few less than stellar reports, but most people have nothing but good things to say about their pets’ doctors. It is common knowledge in the veterinary profession that... READ MORE

Apr 03, 2013 / (4) comments

Pet Food Recalls on the Rise?

Doesn’t it seem like we’re experiencing a rash of pet food recalls lately? You probably remember the massive Diamond incident from last year, but ever since then it seems like I’ve been noticing an increase in smaller, but nonetheless worrisome, recalls. According to the U.S. Food... READ MORE

Apr 02, 2013 / (2) comments

How to ... Clean a Pet's Ears

Technique matters! Simply wiping down the inside of the pinna (ear flap) is not a thorough ear cleaning. READ MORE

Apr 01, 2013 / (2) comments

The Dread FIV Infections in Cats

I dread broaching the subject of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) with the owners of sick cats. As its name suggests, FIV is closely related to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS in people. When clients make that connection, I invariably see an “Oh, Crap” expression cross their faces.   READ MORE

Mar 28, 2013 / (23) 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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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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An 'Intrigue' of Kittens
Dr. Jennifer Coates found herself stumped last week when trying to remember the name...
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Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law
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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)
12% (22 votes)
Total votes: 188
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