December 2017
Dog with snow on face
PROTECT YOUR PETS FROM WINTER HAZARDS
Oh the weather outside is frightful, but cuddling with our animal companions is so delightful. As people and pets alike face winter weather, a number of precautions can help to keep animals safe and comfortable, from being aware of your pet's tolerance for cold temperatures to protecting animals from deicing salt, frostbite, antifreeze and other dangers.

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Pet Tips and Clinical Studies
Horse in snow
HAY, HORSE OWNERS
December 13 marked National Day of the Horse. If you're a horse owner, remember that in winter weather your horse's blanket isn't the only defense against the cold. Horses have their own personal thermostat, powered by the calories they burn. That means when the temperature drops, you may need to add extra hay to your horse's feed so they can keep the chill at bay. 

Winter is also an important time to take good care of a horse's teeth. If teeth aren't properly cared for by a veterinarian, your horse won't be able to grind up their food and get all the nutrients they need.  Our large animal specialists cover the full spectrum of equine care .
 

Yellow lab with tire toy
STUDY OF CRUCIATE RUPTURE
The cranial cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL, is a major stabilizing structure in the knee of dogs and people. Non-contact cruciate rupture is responsible for 20 percent of canine lameness and burdens U.S. pet owners with at least $1 billion in healthcare costs each year. 

The Small Animal Orthopaedic Service is working to determine genetic contributions to non-contact cruciate rupture in dogs and to develop a genetic test Two groups of dogs currently qualify for the study : Labrador retrievers and Rottweilers over 8 years of age with no history of cruciate rupture, and Labrador retrievers and Rottweilers with knee problems due to a torn ACL .

Featured Service
Neurology and Neurosurgery
Cat receives neurologic examination
At UW Veterinary Care, we understand that brain, spinal cord and other neuromuscular conditions can be scary for pet owners to navigate without support. Our neurology team is here for you every step of the way, from initial diagnosis to treatment and recovery.
 
Our board-certified specialists are experienced in the management of a number of neurologic conditions, including seizures, brain tumors, epilepsy in dogs and cats, herniated discs, dog vestibular syndrome, spinal tumors, and inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord. State-of-the-art diagnostics are located on-site, making it quick and easy for our neurologists to work with board-certified radiologists to interpret results and get your pet on the path to recovery
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A sk a UW Veterinarian
Submit Your Animal-Related Questions
Ask a UW Veterinarian
Do you have a question about your pets  for our veterinary medical experts?   We want to hear from you! Please send questions  to the  On Call  editor at  oncall@vetmed.wisc.edu  for consideration for our Ask a UW Veterinarian column, which appears in each issue of On Call magazine. I f your submission is chosen, one of our veterinary medical specialists will provide an answer, and both the question and answer will be printed in the next issue of On Call . Questions are appreciated by December 31.
UW Veterinary Care
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