Fully Vetted

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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Bilious Vomiting Syndrome

One of the frustrations associated with being a veterinarian is the all-too-common request for free advice. My problem isn’t really with the "free" aspect of it; I just know that chances are I’m not going to be able to tell you anything definitive about your pet’s condition... READ MORE

Feb 09, 2012 / (11) comments

The Genetic Origin and History of Speed in the Thoroughbred Racehorse

I seem to have genetics on the brain lately. I’ve written a couple of posts about the evolution of the domestic dog, and now I just have to tell you about a paper outlining the genetic origins of Thoroughbred race horses that I came across today. READ MORE

Feb 08, 2012 / (4) comments

Is a House Call Vet Right for You?

One of the things I hear most frequently from cat owners is how much their pets hate visiting the veterinary hospital. Certainly, some dogs feel this way too (I try not to take it personally), but I’m constantly amazed by many dogs' "glass half full" approach to life. READ MORE

Feb 07, 2012 / (3) comments

When Puppy Play Goes Too Far

I took my dog to the dog park a few days ago, where he found a kindred spirit to play with. Apollo likes nothing more than to wrestle and "fight" with other dogs. Some dogs (and some owners) don’t appreciate his exuberance and strength, but when he finds a friend that does, it’s... READ MORE

Feb 06, 2012 / (3) comments

More on the Origins of Domestic Dogs

A few weeks ago I wrote a column about a 2004 Science article entitled, "Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog." The research revealed fascinating relationships between breeds and also uncovered which dogs were some of the first to split off from the main "trunk" of domestic... READ MORE

Feb 02, 2012 / (2) comments

Veterinarians Coming to a Channel Near You

Do you know anyone who is thinking about becoming a veterinarian? I can’t tell you the number of times that someone says, "Oh, how neat; my daughter, nephew, teammate, etc. wants to be a vet," when they find out what line of work I’m in. READ MORE

Feb 01, 2012 / (4) comments

DAMNIT

Yesterday, I gave you a long list of acronyms that I commonly use in veterinary practice. Today, I’m going to talk about one that I probably don’t use as often as I should — DAMN IT. Yes, it’s more than just an expletive to blurt out when something doesn’t go according to... READ MORE

Jan 31, 2012 / (5) comments

Vet-Speak

I’ve heard that one of the most useful parts of my book, Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian, is the "commonly used acronyms" appendix. One of the best medical acronyms I’ve ever run across is "FLK." Anybody out there know... READ MORE

Jan 30, 2012 / (15) comments

The Cost of Care

My daughter recently had her five year old checkup and it was a doozy – a bunch of vaccines, hemoglobin level, and of course an exam. I just got the statement for this visit from our insurance company and my jaw just about hit the floor. READ MORE

Jan 26, 2012 / (19) comments

Horse Slaughter – Coming Back to a Town Near You?

In 2007, the last plant that slaughtered horses for human consumption within the United States closed down because language was included in the annual federal appropriations bill barring funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inspect horse slaughter plants. Without inspections, the... READ MORE

Jan 25, 2012 / (37) comments

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About fully vetted

Jennifer Coates, DVM

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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