About Lee Pickett

Lee Pickett

Lee Pickett

Veterinarian Lee Pickett, VMD, practices companion animal medicine in North Carolina and writes “Ask the Vet,” a weekly veterinary advice column. In addition, she writes magazine articles on pet health care and volunteers with animal shelters, rescue groups, agricultural organizations and emergency response teams.

Dr. Pickett developed and taught a course on Veterinary Medicine for Pet People and co-founded PetNet to provide foster care for animals affected by domestic violence. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Dr. A. Wayne Mountan Memorial Media Award from the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, the Maxwell Medal from the Dog Writers Association of America, and the University of Pennsylvania Mikus Prize for “proficiency in the practice of veterinary medicine and upholding the principles of veterinary medical ethics.” She was profiled in a Philadelphia magazine cover story on Great Vets and has appeared on television news segments and animal shows.

She graduated from Hartwick College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

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Tail Docking Causes Communication Challenges and Pain Feb 19, 2026

Q: Our Rottweiler has a docked tail, as do many dogs in the U.S. While watching a British dog show on television, I noticed that all the show dogs had natural, undocked tails. Why? A: Many countries ban cosmetic tail docking, or amputation of the tai... Read More

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Cats and Dogs Don't Interbreed, But Other Species Do Feb 12, 2026

Q: Can cats and dogs breed with each other? A: No. Their anatomy, physiology and breeding behaviors are too different. However, interspecies breeding does occur in some other animals. Surprisingly, there are more than 40 examples of crosses involving... Read More

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Cats Especially Sensitive to Black Widow Spider Venom Feb 05, 2026

Q: Our indoor-outdoor cats are fascinated by the spiders and spider webs around our house. I am concerned that some of the black, shiny spiders may be black widows. Are black widow spiders dangerous to cats? A: Cats are especially sensitive to the to... Read More

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Mammary Tumors Common in Unsterilized Female Dogs Jan 29, 2026

Q: I recently adopted Missy, my mother's middle-aged, mixed-breed dog. She was never spayed, and she has two small masses in her mammary glands. Are these masses likely to be cancer? If not, should I have her spayed? A: Mammary tumors develop in one ... Read More