In the News

As the allergy season is in full bloom (pun intended), many of us are struggling with itchy eyes, runny noses, and sneezing. For many severe allergy sufferers, asthma often can go hand-in-hand, which is also seen in the feline population. Like people, when a cat is exposed to an allergen, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response, resulting in irritation and constriction of the airways, which then limits the ability of air to move through the airways, causing a cat to have trouble breathing.

Thyroid disease is one of the most common metabolic diseases affecting dogs and cats. Thankfully, thyroid issues are very treat- able and sometimes curable. The types of thyroid disease that develops in dogs and cats are very different, and it is important to know what are the clinical signs (symptoms) to look for. Hyper- thyroidism, or the overproduction of the thyroid hormone, is a condition that affects a great number of middle-aged and older cats. Hypothyroidism, or the lack of appropriate thyroid hor- mone, is a common issue in middle-aged to older dogs.