Dr. Anndrea Kapke's Page

A Hug to Die For
By Dr. Anndrea Kapke
Greenwood Animal Clinic

A boa constrictor is a cold blooded killer: a nonpoisonous carnivorous snake. Snakes are reptiles which can’t control their body temperature by creating heat themselves like we mammals do. They rely upon their environment for their body temperature. This must be taken into consideration when caring for one as a pet.
As the name suggests, boa constrictors squeeze their prey to death by wrapping it in their muscular coils in a fatal hu… Continue

A Heart Full of Spaghetti

By Dr. Anndrea Kapke
Greenwood Animal Clinic
In veterinary school, I had a pathology professor who told us never to describe disease processes using food terms. But I can’t help it; heartworm disease doesn’t look like anything other than a heart full of spaghetti. I hope you weren’t planning to have pasta tonight.
Heartworm disease most commonly affects dogs. Cats may also get the disease, but the disease is quite different in them. Rarely, immunocompromised humans wil… Continue

Betta: The Alpha Male Fish

By Dr. Anndrea Kapke
Greenwood Animal Clinic

I’ve always thought of Betta Vases as being a kind of Feng Shui method of bringing life into a small office. You have probably seen them: clear vases topped with a plant, containing a brightly colored fish with flowing fan-like fins. I’m great with animals: with plants, not so good. The thought of a living plant that I can’t forget to water is pretty enticing.
That lovely fish is a little deceptive. He is called a Betta, l… Continue

Hedgehogs
By Dr. Anndrea Kapke
Greenwood Animal Clinic

The renowned psychologist, Sigmund Freud, drew attention to the Hedgehog’s Dilemma. A group of hedgehogs wanted to crowd together for warmth, but they kept inadvertently poking each other with their prickly quills. Freud compared this to the perils of human interaction: that despite good intentions, intimacy may bring harm. This is similar to making the decision to own an exotic pet. They may be cute or cool, but not domesticated, therefore… Continue

Feline Leukemia: Deep Cover Spy
By Dr. Anndrea Kapke
Greenwood Animal Clinic
Feline Leukemia is a viral disease of cats. It isn’t contagious to dogs or humans.
If a cat is exposed to the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), he has three options.
1. If he’s lucky, he will clear the virus and be fine.
2. He will stay sick and have the virus in his bloodstream for the rest of his life.
3. He will become latently infected, meaning the virus will vanish from his bloodstream and hide in his bone marrow like… Continue