Articles by Dr. Alycia Washington, DVM, MS
Dr. Alycia Washington, DVM, MS
Alycia Washington, DVM, is a small animal emergency veterinarian based in North Carolina. She works as a relief veterinarian and provides services to numerous emergency and specialty hospitals. Dr. Washington is also a children’s book author and freelance writer with a focus on veterinary medicine. She has a special fondness for turtles, honey bees, and penguins — none of which she treats. In her free time, Dr. Washington enjoys travel, good food, and good enough coffee.
- nutrition | Can My Dog Eat This?
Can Your Dog Eat Watermelon?
Yep, you can share watermelon with your pup — but there are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
Yep, you can share watermelon with your pup — but there are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
- health
Are Snake Plants Toxic to My Dog?
Just get a new dog? Might be time to find a new home for your snake plant.
Just get a new dog? Might be time to find a new home for your snake plant.
![Young Man With Retriever Puppy]()
The research is confusing — here are some guidelines.
![Ginger adult cat sits in flowering summer garden on pavement.]()
healthWhat to Do If Your Cat Gets Stung By a Bee
It’s not always as simple as scraping out the stinger. Find out everything you need to know.
It’s not always as simple as scraping out the stinger. Find out everything you need to know.
![Woman taking temperature of her brown dog.]()
healthWhat Should Your Dog’s Temperature Be? A Step-by-Step Guide on Taking Your Dog’s Temperature at Home
Don’t be scared. Follow these steps.
Don’t be scared. Follow these steps.
![Dog standing in the bathtub covered with a green towel after a bath.]()
healthStep-by-Step Guide: Expressing Dog Anal Glands Safely and Effectively at Home
Yeah, it’s super gross — but your pup will thank you.
Yeah, it’s super gross — but your pup will thank you.
![Owner pets senior ginger cat.]()
How to spot and how to treat them.
![Woman taking care of her sick dog at home.]()
healthCan Dogs Take Aspirin? A Guide to Dog Pain Medication
There are safer alternatives, and you should always, always check with a vet before giving your pup anything.
There are safer alternatives, and you should always, always check with a vet before giving your pup anything.
![Happy woman at home cuddling on bed with cute jack russell dog.]()
healthGabapentin for Dog Seizures: Treatment, Dosage, and Side Effects
Everything you need to know about the anti-seizure medication.
Everything you need to know about the anti-seizure medication.
![Woman gardener with cat in garden.]()
healthIt’s All a Little Poopy: Toxoplasmosis in Cats
Scoop cat poop early and often — and keep their poop away from your garden.
Scoop cat poop early and often — and keep their poop away from your garden.
![Happy stylish latino queer person looking comfortable on porch steps with gray cat.]()
healthCats Lifespan: How Long Do Cats Live? And What to Expect
They are the absolute light of your life. Here’s how you can help them live as close to forever as possible.
They are the absolute light of your life. Here’s how you can help them live as close to forever as possible.
![Beautiful playful tabby cat lying on the living room floor, playing with a ball of string.]()
healthHow to Treat Intestinal Blockages in Cats
If you see a string sticking out from, uh, behind, never, ever, ever pull on it.
If you see a string sticking out from, uh, behind, never, ever, ever pull on it.
![Siberian cat licking her paw outdoors.]()
healthWhat to Know About Tapeworms in Cats
What to look for and how to treat this (and be able to eat rice again).
What to look for and how to treat this (and be able to eat rice again).
![woman draped in an orange blanket holds a black-and-white puppy]()
healthPuppy Developmental Stages and Milestones
It’s like What to Expect When You’re Expecting, except add “four little paws to run around your house” to the title.
It’s like What to Expect When You’re Expecting, except add “four little paws to run around your house” to the title.
![Cat napping on a yellow couch against a yellow background]()
healthDoes My Cat Have Zits?
Paging Dr. Pimple Popper, DVM. Until then, a vet has tips on how to treat your cat’s acne.
Paging Dr. Pimple Popper, DVM. Until then, a vet has tips on how to treat your cat’s acne.
- health
What to Know About Runny Noses in Cats
Nasal discharge doesn’t sound cute, but you need to know what to look out for.
Nasal discharge doesn’t sound cute, but you need to know what to look out for.
![Tabby cat leaning into a porcelain sink, tail curled in the air, as it sticks its tongue out to drink water from the faucet.]()
healthWhy Is My Cat So Damn Thirsty?
No, not like that. They’re literally drinking a lot of water. Here’s when you should be worried.
No, not like that. They’re literally drinking a lot of water. Here’s when you should be worried.
![Unrecognizable woman petting an ill cat]()
healthNow, Something No One Wants to Talk About: Cat Cancer
Veterinarian Dr. Alycia Washington breaks down the four most common types of cancer in cats, from how to spot the early signs to how to treat them.
Veterinarian Dr. Alycia Washington breaks down the four most common types of cancer in cats, from how to spot the early signs to how to treat them.
![Cat sticking its tongue out in motion]()
Here’s why that’s happening to your kitty.
![Uncomfortable looking gray cat sitting on a window sill]()
Here are six good reasons to haul tail to the emergency room.
![Brown Gray Cat Lounging on Red Arm Chair Near Green Plant]()
healthCat Jumping Off the Literal Walls? They Could Have Hyperthyroidism
Everything you need to know about the common disease.
Everything you need to know about the common disease.
![Cat sitting by its litter box]()
Seriously, though — here’s how to deal with cat constipation.
![grey and white cat with tongue sticking out]()
healthWhy Is Your Cat Puking Like They Partied All Night?
Here’s when you should worry if your cat is throwing up.
Here’s when you should worry if your cat is throwing up.
![White-and-brown cat sitting on a side table by a lamp with their mouth open, gagging]()
It’s not always an emergency — but it could be.
![A happy woman is lying on a bed, her dog smelling her face.]()
health9 Diseases You Can (and Definitely Can’t) Catch From Your Dog
Here’s what you can scratch off your “Worry About This” list.
Here’s what you can scratch off your “Worry About This” list.
![Siamese cat coughing]()
You thought it was a hairball, but nothing’s coming up…
![Two dog chasing each other playfully in a prairie field outside]()
healthDon’t Worry, But Dogs Can Get Cancer From Sniffing Other Dogs’ Nether-Regions
The gnarly scoop on canine transmissible venereal tumors.
The gnarly scoop on canine transmissible venereal tumors.
![Two women, one with dark curly hair and deep skin and one with pink-blonde hair and lighter skin petting their grey cat]()
healthYes, You Should Spay/Neuter Your Cat. Here’s Why
A veterinarian breaks down how it keeps your pet healthy and curbs kitten overpopulation.
A veterinarian breaks down how it keeps your pet healthy and curbs kitten overpopulation.
![Kitten sitting on a blanket]()
lifestyle7 Steps to Keep Your New Kitten Happy and Healthy
With great cuteness comes great responsibility. A vet breaks down everything you need to know when you bring home a new kitten.
With great cuteness comes great responsibility. A vet breaks down everything you need to know when you bring home a new kitten.
![A woman lovingly petting a dog.]()
healthRocky Mountain Spotted Fever Cases Are on the Rise
Yikes! A new strain of tick-borne disease Rickettsia could infect pets and their people.
Yikes! A new strain of tick-borne disease Rickettsia could infect pets and their people.
![A senior cat is held in their owner's lap]()
health5 Ways to Care For Your Senior Cat
From taking them to the vet more often to giving them a hand with grooming, older kitties need a little extra TLC.
From taking them to the vet more often to giving them a hand with grooming, older kitties need a little extra TLC.
![Constipated German Shepherd being comforted by its owner]()
What to do when your pup can’t poop.
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