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* K-State Pet Poison Control Hotline, 785-532-5679, is available during normal 8-5 business hours. Voice messages received after hours will be answered first thing in the morning of the following business day. In the event of an emergeny, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poisoning Hotline at 888-426-4435.
SENIOR PET HEALTH PROGRAMS HELP OLDER PETS LEAD LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES: Being proactive and taking an active role in health management of your older pet will help assure your cat and dog lead a full and high-quality life as long as possible. June 2008
K-STATE VETERINARIAN OFFERS TIPS FOR CHOOSING A PET SITTER: A pet sitter can be an option when a pet owner must be away from home for work, vacation, emergency or other reasons and doesn't want to leave the pet in a boarding kennel. February 2008
K-STATE ANIMAL POISON CONTROL HOTLINE AVAILABLE 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. REGULAR BUSINESS DAYS: A pet owner comes home for lunch to discover that a beloved puppy has knocked over the kitchen trash can and rummaged through the waste. The puppy now lays on the floor swollen and breathing heavily. Help is just a phone call away with the Kansas State University Animal Poison Control Hotline service. December 2007
COLD WEATHER PET CARE TIPS OFFERED BY K-STATE VETERINARIAN: Cold weather is here, which means it's time to give special attention to your pets. Dr. Susan Nelson, veterinarian and clinical assistant professor at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, encourages pet owners to be alert to seasonal health issues, especially as the temperature drops. November 2007
TRAVELING BY CAR WITH YOUR PET? K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS PET RESTRAINTS WILL MAKE THE TRIP SAFER FOR ALL: As a practicing veterinarian, Susan Nelson has seen some pretty gruesome injuries following accidents where pets had been improperly restrained in vehicles. October 2007
K-STATE VETERINARIAN HAS TIPS FOR OWNERS OF THUNDERSTORM-PHOBIC DOGS: It's not just people, such as young children, who may find thunderstorms an anxiety-raising experience. Some dogs also are afraid of thunderstorms, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian. July 2007
K-STATE SMALL ANIMAL SURGEON SAYS SOME COMMON HUMAN INJURIES ALSO COMMON IN DOGS: Like their human owners, dogs are at risk of suffering broken bones, torn ligaments, arthritis and congenital diseases. Fortunately for both pet owner and pet, there are veterinarians who can treat these ailments and get pets back on their feet. James Roush, an orthopedic surgeon at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University, is one such veterinarian. June 2007
Sidebar: K-STATE SMALL ANIMAL SURGEON OFFERS TIPS ON PREVENTING ORTHOPEDIC INJURIES TO DOGS: James Roush, an orthopedic surgeon at Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, offers tips to help dog owners, especially those with young puppies, prevent injuries to their pets. June 2007
K-STATE VETERINARIAN OFFERS WARM WEATHER PET CARE TIPS: While warm weather is welcomed by most people, spring and summer can bring certain dangers to pets. A Kansas State University veterinarian says pet owners should be alert to seasonal health issues. April 2007
K-STATE'S VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL OFFERING UNDERWATER REHABILITATION TREATMENT: Dogs and cats may find themselves under water for rehabilitation at Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. February 2007
FOODS LIKE RAISINS AND NUTS THAT ARE GOOD FOR US CAN BE BAD FOR OUR DOGS, K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS: Many conscientious dog owners wouldn't think of giving their canine a tasty but dangerous chocolate bar. But they may not know that giving a dog a handful of fruit or nuts can be just as risky. January 2007
NEW ANTI-OBESITY MEDICATION AVAILABLE SOON FOR PAUNCHY POOCH, BUT K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO HELP SLIM PET: An anti-obesity drug for overweight dogs that recently got approval from the Food and Drug Administration may soon be on its way to your veterinarian's office. January 2007
DANGEROUS DOGS: A VIEWPOINT ON BREED BANS: Viewpoint by Ralph C. Richardson, DVM. This letter was initially prepared for publication in The Manhattan Mercury in response to letters and articles about breed bans. September 2006
K-STATE EXPERT OFFERS ADVICE ON EVACUATING WITH A PET IF DISASTER STRIKES: When New Orleans residents were forced to leave their homes after Hurricane Katrina last year, they often faced a difficult choice: Stay in harm's way with their animal companions or flee to safety and leave their pets behind. July 2006
VETERINARIANS SEE MORE CASES OF LEPTOSPIROSIS IN WARM, WET WEATHER: If your dog is in the wrong place at the wrong time, its life could be in danger from exposure to leptospirosis. July 2006
SIDEBAR: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG HAS LEPTOSPIROSIS: If your dog is infected with leptospirosis, it is important to prevent infection of other dogs and to protect yourself. Lepto is a zoonotic disease -- one that can be passed from dog to human through contact with contaminated urine. July 2006
HORSE 'BUCKS' THE ODDS TO SURVIVE AND COMPETE AFTER INJURY: Buck the horse is aptly named: he bucked the odds and survived and thrived in spite of suffering a severe injury in a training accident. June 2006
CRIME FIGHTER FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE WITH AN ASSIST FROM K-STATE VETS: Riko's life is at risk every day as a drug dog for the Wabaunsee County, Kan., Sheriff's Office. However, his life was on the line when he needed the very things he takes off the streets: drugs and money. June 2006
K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS SPECIAL SURGERY USUALLY BEST FOR DOG'S LIGAMENT TEAR: Tearing a cruciate ligament in the knee is not just something humans can do. Man's best friend also can sustain the injury. And, just like in humans, surgery may be the best option to repair the damage in dogs, according to a Kansas State University veterinary medicine professor. May 2006
K-STATE VETERINARIAN OFFERS TIPS ON BATHING DOGS: How often you need to bathe your dog may depend on whether it lives inside or outside or if it has a skin condition, according to an assistant professor at Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. April 2006
K-STATE RESEARCH TEAM IN SEARCH OF CAUSE, CURE OF MYSTERIOUS RESPIRATORY DISEASE AFFLICTING RACING GREYHOUNDS: It is a mysterious respiratory disease that thus far has scientists baffled. The illness resembles the canine flu that is spreading across the nation. This disease, which some have referred to as "kennel cough," has been afflicting racing greyhounds in Kansas and across the country, and resulting in quarantined facilities, lost revenue and even in the death of some dogs. November 2005
K-STATE VETERINARIANS HELP DOG OWNERS DIAGNOSE COUGHS: "Dogs cough occasionally, just like humans, but persistent or frequent coughing isn't normal," said Susan Nelson, assistant professor at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University. October 2005
K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS DOG'S FREQUENT ITCHING MAY BE ALLERGY: Allergies may be the culprit if your dog's scratching and rubbing have become more frequent and severe, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian. October 2005
K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS LITTER TRAINING AN OPTION FOR DOGS: When dogs have to hold in urine, it may predispose them to bladder infections, said Susan Nelson, assistant professor of clinical sciences at the Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. An alternative? Litter train your dog. August 2005
PETS NEED TO BE RESTRAINED WHILE RIDING IN CARS: Often, pets are forgotten when it comes to buckling up. However, a Kansas State University veterinarian says dogs and cats are just as susceptible to injury as young children when riding in a car. August 2005
K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS OWNERS NEED TO MONITOR HEALTH OF OLDER PETS: When beloved pets reach older ages, their owners need to become a bit more active as health care providers than when the pets were younger. That's the word from Kansas State University veterinarian Dr. William Fortney, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology. August 2005
PROTECT YOUR DOG OR CAT FROM THE SUN: Summer is a time of fun ... and sun. Most people take precautions to protect their children from the sun's rays, but many pet owners don't realize it is also important to protect their pets from the sun. June 2005
K-STATE VETERINARIAN SUGGESTS ITEMS TO HAVE IN YOUR PET'S FIRST AID KIT: Many people have a first aid kit for themselves and their children they keep around the house, but what about their pets? May 2005
OWNERS CAN HELP PETS OVERCOME FEAR OF THUNDERSTORMS: When the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes, does your pet become visibly frightened? If so, you're not alone. Many pets, especially dogs, are fearful of thunderstorms. SIDEBAR: 10 signs your dog is anxious or afraid. April 2005
YOUR STINKY PET MAY NEED TO SEE THE VETERINARIAN: A smelly cat or stinky dog may actually be a sign of a bigger problem than odor. Dr. William Fortney, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said some odors in cats and dogs aren't normal and should be checked by a veterinarian. April 2005
SPECIAL CONCERNS TO CONSIDER WHEN OWNING A LARGE DOG: Owners may love their big dogs, but they should also be aware of special health concerns for large, purebred canines. April 2005
SPECIAL CONCERNS TO CONSIDER WHEN OWNING A SMALL DOG: While you may love the size and facial features of your toy poodle, these characteristics are at the root of many health problems small, purebred dogs face. April 2005
SHOULD YOU THROW YOUR DOG A BONE?: Dr. William Fortney, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said it depends on the dog, the bone and the reasons you have for giving your dog a bone. April 2005
TRAVELING OR MOVING OUT OF THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH YOUR PET: Some pet owners vacation or even move out of the continental United States with their pets. Both traveling and moving out of the country involve extensive planning and preparation. March 2005
K-STATE PROFESSOR OFFERS TIPS ON HOW TO DEVELOP A BACKYARD SANCTUARY WITH YOU BEST FRIEND IN MIND: With the approach of spring, if there are two passions that may be most at odds, it may be being a gardener and being a dog lover. March 2005
CATS SHOULD BE TESTED EARLY FOR FELINE LEUKEMIA: As HIV does in people, the feline leukemia virus inserts a copy of its DNA into a cat's cells. These cells may later be transformed into cancer cells or cells that no longer function normally. February 2005
PETS HAVE PLAQUE ON THEIR TEETH, TOO: An assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, says pets should receive the same dental care as people. February 2005
K-STATE VETERINARIAN OFFERS 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR PET OWNERS: Now that the new year is well under way and you have your own resolutions either under control or long-forgotten, it may be time to set some goals for your pet. January 2005
Updated February 2008