Veterinarians sometimes ask me, “Can I give a half dose of a vaccine to small breed dogs?” But more often they say, “An owner wants me to give their small dog a half dose of a vaccine because they are
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Capnocytophaga canimorsus Infection From a Cat
By Scott Weese
If I’m talking to veterinarians or veterinary students about infectious diseases and I mention Capnocytophaga canimorsus, I usually get a blank stare (or “capno-what?”). If I’m talking to physicians, it’s usually the same response, unless they’re infectious disease physicians or…
Rabies in a Dog in Winnipeg, ex-Nunavut
By Scott Weese
I’ve written a lot in general about the risks of rabies and other infectious diseases from imported dogs. However, we have to remember that borders are political, not biological, and that rabies (like certain US presidents) doesn’t respect such borders,…
ISCAID Canine Pyoderma Antimicrobial Use Guidelines Update, Part 2: Superficial Bacterial Folliculitis
By Scott Weese
Last week I wrote about the recently updated ISCAID antimicrobial use guidelines for canine pyoderma, specifically regarding surface pyoderma. The full guidelines are freely available online (Loeffler et al. Vet Derm 2025). Today I’m going to…
Rabies Titres and Imported Dogs
By Scott Weese
Most people don’t realize the massive number of dogs that are imported into Canada every year, for all kinds of reasons: from people moving with their own pet, to importation of large shipments of dogs from puppy mills or…
H5N1 Influenza in Cats (and Dogs) Webinar
By Scott Weese
Check out our new webinar about H5N1 influenza in pets that has just been posted as part of a collaboration with Trupanion’s new Pet and Public Health Early Warning and Protection System. There are actually two versions of the…
ISCAID Canine Pyoderma Antimicrobial Use Guidelines Update, Part 1: Surface Pyoderma
By Scott Weese
The updated ISCAID antimicrobial use guidelines for canine pyoderma have just been published (Loeffler et al. Vet Derm 2025). This is the first major update since the guidelines were first published in 2014. The document is a bit…
Antiviral Resistance in Cats, Part 2: GS-441524
By Scott Weese
Last week, I wrote about the use of oseltamivir in dogs and cats infected with H5N1 influenza. We have to be aware of the risk of drug resistance risks whenever we use anti-infectives, especially when the same drugs (like…
H5N1 Antivirals: Should We Use Them in Animals?
By Scott Weese
For the longer answer to this question, check out the latest podcast episode I just posted on WormsAndGermsPod. For those who prefer to read the summary, here it is:
If you ask people on the street “should we use…
Seasonal Canine Heartworm Prevention in Canada: Does Our Current Timing Still Work?
By Scott Weese
Canine heartworm (Dirofilara immitis) is a nasty parasitic infection of dogs that’s relatively rare in Canada, but it’s still a concern because of how severe it can be and because treatment isn’t easy. It’s transmitted by mosquitos (we have lots…