Addison's disease in dogs is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It is a disease that results from the reduction in corticosteroid secretion from the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland is a small gland located near the kidney that secretes several different substances that help regulate normal body functions. When the adrenal glands do not function adequately, […]
Easter is here, slightly earlier this year however many people manage to save some of their chocolate for several weeks after the Easter long weekend. (I am not one of them!). Why should we take care with chocolate and our pets? Human chocolate contains ingredients such as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), to which all dogs and […]
Daily brushing of your pet’s teeth is recommended, but any brushing is considered beneficial. Here are some tips: Make it a daily routine. Always be calm and patient with your pet so it is a happy experience. Start by getting your pet used to brushing with your index finger. Gently lift the lips and massage […]
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease characterized by an inability of a pet to maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range. Glucose comes from the digestion of food and is used by the body as a source of energy. Glucose levels are controlled by several hormones, most importantly insulin aids the sugars to be […]
What is a seizure? A seizure is a convulsion or ‘fit’ and may be generalised or localised/partial. In a generalised or grand mal seizure, pets typically lie on their sides and are not responsive to people. They may make running movements with their legs, slobber, urinate and pass stools. When a generalised seizure begins, the […]
Many pets will have skin conditions that are allergy based. This can be an allergy to fleas (flea bite hypersensitivity), grasses or dust mites (contact allergies), foods (less common), or Atopy – a syndrome where pets are allergic to everyday things including the above due to a barrier/skin dysfunction. These pets often have chronic/multiple ear/eye/skin […]
Rabbits and guinea pigs are popular pets with kids as well as adults. However these small pets are highly susceptible to heat stroke, mosquito borne diseases and poor husbandry practices. rabbit care Diet is a big key for a healthy rabbit. A rabbit's diet should consist of 80% grass or plain hay and 20% fresh […]
There’s a popular myth that cats don’t require the same amount of veterinary care as dogs. Some owners assume these self-sufficient creatures are fine unless they show obvious signs of sickness. Cats are stoic creatures and will usually mask illness and pain. kitten care Most kittens will be desexed around six months of age, but […]
Does your pet’s breath smell? Don’t mistake this with “just ate dinner” breath, or “found something strange outside and put it in their mouth” breath. If your pet has bad breath all the time, that’s one of the first noticeable signs of dental disease. By age four years, 85% of dogs and cats show signs […]
Why does your veterinarian recommend routine testing of blood and urine, particularly in senior dogs and cats? The goal of every veterinarian is to identify any problems your pet may have very early, because sometimes, early detection can mean better treatment options or possibly slowing the progression of a disease. It is amazing what can […]
Ever wondered why your cats scratch the furniture? Cats use claw scratching mainly to mark their territory (by secretions from glands found at the nail base), basically saying “this is mine!” However it also serves to stretch the muscles and maintain the claws in good condition. They may also scratch to get their owners attention. […]
It's been great to have some rain for the garden recently, but the return of the cold rainy weather means it is time to think about osteoarthritis in our pets. You may notice that your dogs are becoming a little stiff when they get up or that your cat no longer wants to jump. Maybe […]
We all like to indulge a little over the Easter period. We stuff out bodies full of good food and chocolate, which usually also means our four legged friends may find some of this food to indulge in. However, not everything we eat over Easter is good for our pets. So what foods are the […]
Having pets in our lives is a wonderful thing. Whether fur or feathers, scales or scutes, sometimes our pets bring home extra passengers – parasites! These parasites can be internal (endoparasites) or external (ectoparasites), and include worms, insects, and flukes. Internal parasites can cause tissue and organ destruction while external parasites can cause mild to […]
As now the weather is heating up precautions are needed so our pets don’t suffer from heatstroke. Smaller pocket pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and rats are more susceptible to the heat and struggle to maintain body temperatures. Pets that are overweight, have medical conditions such as heart issues or have short faeces (brachycephalic) […]
