Dr. Donna Solomon Archive

Selecting a Veterinarian

For the last six months I’ve been searching for the perfect part-time veterinarian to join my current three doctor veterinary practice at Animal Medical Center of Chicago. During this time period, I’ve read over 50 resumes, personally interviewed over a dozen, and it was only yesterday that I found the right veterinarian to join my

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Raw Confusion in the Pet Food Industry

Once again I’m frustrated by the confusing terminology found on pet food labels. I frequently find pet food labels covered with meaningless words written by advertisers trying to entice you to buy their product without sharing with you their true merit. In particular, “what does the word ‘raw’ mean on the pet food labeled bag

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Listerine and Pets: Not Veterinarian Recommended

On November 11, 2015, while browsing the Chicago Tribune, a headline “Listerine Restored Luster to Dog’s Once-Thinning Coat” caught my attention. Unaware of the magical power of Listerine, with curiosity, I read the article. Although this article was written in a Q&A format, the implied questioner asked no question. What did follow, however, was a

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Indoor Cats Are Not Disease-Free

This past week I saw three different new clients with three elderly cats with the same history of gradual weight-loss and decreased appetite. Each of these clients, I discovered shortly, had not taken their pet to a veterinarian in over eight years. Two of the three cats had not seen a veterinarian since they were

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Dog Friendly Areas of Chicago Frequently Asked Questions

What is the permit and tag fee? The permit and tag fee is a total of $5.00. How long is the permit and tag good for? Any permit and registration tag will be valid only for a single season no matter when purchased. A single season is defined as the period running from January 1st

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month at AMC!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This dreadful cancer has tragically touched all of us at Animal Medical Center of Chicago – whether it is a family member, friend, colleague or client. Our hearts and well wishes go out to all affected. Breast cancer is not limited to women and men. Regrettably, it also affects

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Winter Holiday Hazard from the ASPCA Poison Control Center

Here are some tips for keeping your pets out of danger during the holiday season. Avoid Holiday Food Items That Could Cause Problems For Your Pet Alcoholic beverages Chocolate (baker’s, semi-sweet, milk chocolate) Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans) Moldy or spoiled foods Onions, onion powder Fatty foods Salt Yeast dough Plants Lilies that

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Pet Obesity Is OUR Decision

This weekend I was driving on the Indiana Toll Road to Michigan and saw a large billboard with the following message: “Obesity is a disease. Obesity is not a decision.” And I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could get all my medical information off billboards with catchy sayings. Unfortunately, life is

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Get Ready for the Dog Days

I went for a walk with my Golden Retriever today, and he could barely walk around the block in this Chicago 90 degree weather. This made me wonder, how many dogs have suffered from hyperthermia or heat exhaustion today, given the almost 100 degree temperatures? Here are my top 10 interesting facts or suggestions regarding

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Canine Influenza: New H3N2 Vaccine for Dogs

Last spring, thousands of dogs in the Chicagoland area were innocently exposed to a newly arrived Canine Influenza Virus from South Korea, called H3N2. Daycare and boarding facilities were voluntarily closed for weeks to minimize viral spread. Dog owners avoided taking their pets to dog parks and grooming parlors. Many ill dogs presented to their

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