Animal health

Unless they have eaten something which is yellow in color, the yellow liquid a cat vomits is likely to be bile. This is a yellowish or greenish liquid which is produced in the liver. Bile is important for healthy digestion in cats and its production is essential in breaking down certain lipids. While bile...

Many dogs are prone to vomiting. They do it when they eat something disagreeable, when they have overindulged or if they exercise too soon after eating. However, there is always a reason for it, whether relatively benign or a symptom of something more serious. Sometimes dogs may make the same retching sounds,...

Nosebleeds in dogs can be very worrying, especially if we are not around to see the cause. Scientifically known as ‘epistaxis’, nosebleeds occur when blood drips from the nostrils. This could be due to blunt trauma or due to some internal issue such as inflammation. Most people will have experienced a nosebleed...

Canine babesiosis or Babesia Canisis a severe parasitic disease transmitted through bites by infected an tick. Babesiosis can affect dogs of all breeds and ages. However, it is more common in dogs that have not received adequate preventive medicine. When not treated quickly, babesiosis in dogs can cause...

Are you looking for the best dog arthritis treatment? If so, this is the article for you! Have you ever heard of chondroprotector for dogs? To understand what chondroprotectors for dogs are, it is necessary, first, to define the concept of 'chondroprotection'. Chondroprotection is the set of measures...

Some caregivers have the bad habit of going to their own kit every time their dog has some symptomatology that resemble human illnesses, such as a cold or vomiting. Thus, they medicate their dogs with common drugs for human use, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen) or aspirin, without being...

When your dog experiences their first heat cycle, this is synonymous with having reached sexual maturity. In general, dogs experience two cycles per year. During these periods, they undergo various physiological and hormonal changes which can reflect in their behavior. Some dogs may appear sadder during...

A runny nose for a dog does not necessarily mean they have a health problem. It could mean something as small as a humid room or even being excited to see you. However, a runny nose accompanied by mucus that is thick, green, yellow or smelly can mean a serious health problem. It could be a sign of infection,...

Any bloody discharge from a dog's vagina can cause concern in their guardian. It is important to note that a sexually intact female dog will bleed from her privates curing her heat cycle, although it should not be profuse. This should not be the case if they have been spayed. It is much less likely for...

Eye problems in our dogs can be difficult to notice or examine because it is normal for a dog to close their eyes when we want to look at them, making it difficult for us to spot the problem. Therefore if if you notice excess scratching, discharge or any other discomfort it is very important to take your...

Gastritis is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases among domestic felines. It is characterized by an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which can be acute or chronic. Gastritis can affect cats of all ages, whether they are mestizos or of a defined breed. However it is more common in felines...

Unfortunately, oral diseases in cats are more common than we'd like to be. This is especially so in older adult cats. The threat to their oral health can mean potential discomfort and infection, affecting their overall health more than we may think. While the food cats eat can give them a somewhat odorous...

Blueberries are fruits born through vines or perennial dwarf shrubs belonging to the genus Vaccinium. These plants are grown in the colder regions of both hemispheres. Historically, blueberries have been used as a natural remedy for urinary infections and also for the preparation of jams, juices and delicious...

If your dog bleeds from anywhere, we need to ensure we discover the reason. While a thorn in a paw needs attention, it is not as concerning a symptom as throwing up blood. Although it is possible for a dog to throw up blood and act normal, it is usually concurrent with other symptoms which can help...

The reason your cat has patches of hair missing from their coat is that something is wrong physically or mentally. A cat's hair is a signifier of their well-being. A healthy cat will have a thick and lustrous coat (excluding naturally hairless cats), an unhealthy cat will lose not only their shine, but...

Is your dog struggling to keep balanced or appears to be uncoordinated? Is your dog showing symptoms of head tilting, tremors or vomiting? If so, your pup is most likely suffering from what is known as Ataxia. Ataxia in dogs is a vestibular disease caused by injuries of the proprioceptive sensibility...

Kidney failure in cats is an unfortunately common disorder. This is especially the case with older cats. Another term for this condition is renal failure and, while it may have different causes, they all amount to the same thing. Your kidneys no longer function properly. This can be a chronic disease...

The gurgling sound we hear from our stomach is often simply the sound of our digestion. It has the medical name of borborygmus and it is not unique to our species. We may hear similar gurgling sounds from our cat's stomach, sometimes more often than others. They can even be so loud they are funny, especially...

Seeing someone limp could mean many things. Perhaps they have had a minor injury, did not stretch before exercise or are simply feeling the effects of age. In most cases, a person will be able to shine some light on the reason for their hobble. With dogs, providing an explanation may be somewhat harder....

After eating too much or too quickly, it is common to see our dog with a swollen belly. Perhaps they have even been putting on the pounds recently and they are simply in a need of a little diet and exercise. However, your dog’s belly is swollen and hard, then these are disconcerting symptoms. The cause of...

Cats might engage in limitless mating if the opportunities arose. This is especially so with males as they can reach sexual maturity as young as 6 months of age. Although they may reach their sexual peak at around 7 years old, this does not mean they lose the inability to father kittens after this time....

The normal body temperature in cats fluctuates between 38ºC and 39.5ºC (100.4ºF and 103.1ºF). When the internal body temperature of a cat exceeds this top parameter they have a fever. A cat will have a fever due to their health being impaired, usually due to their body fighting an infection of some sort....

If your dog is pregnant, then it is vital you learn how to ensure they are well looked after. They will need more care and protection during this vulnerable time. Ideally you would have a vet on hand as soon as they start to go into labor. Unfortunately, the relatively short labor period in dogs means...

Scabies can affect a cat of any age or gender and they don't need to have bad personal hygiene to become infected. It is a very unpleasant and frustrating disease which is caused by an infestation of mites known as Notoedris Cati. This mite penetrates the skin tissue deeply and leads to itchiness, irritation,...

No cat of any breed is invincible. While some may have good genes and be provided with a loving and safe environment, the nature of illness means it can affect anyone, even if you're a cat. As pet owners, it is our duty to keep an eye on any issues our cat may be going through so we can find the right...

Vinegar is an effective method of eliminating fleas from dogs with mild to moderate infestations. If your dog has a serious infestation, then the fastest and most effective way to eliminate them is go to a vet immediately. They will provide you with the best type of antiparasitic product to work quickly...

Especially when temperatures rise, fungal infections in dogs can become more prevalent. This is because environmental conditions for a fungus can become more hospitable when there is more heat, humidity and other factors. This doesn't mean environment is the only factor. Hygiene, parasites, allergies...

Congestive heart failure is a big concern for humans as it is one of the biggest killers. We may not think the relatively tiny hearts of cats will suffer the same issues, but this is unfortunately not the case. Congestive heart failure is quite a self-explanatory term. The arteries and blood vessels of...

Dogs can be bathed after vaccination. Perhaps they have gotten dirty on the way home from the vet and you don't want the carpet becoming the same way. However, it is usually advised to wait at least a few days before doing so. This is something recommended by veterinarians. To explain, we'll show you...

While it is an invasive procedure, spaying your dog has a range of benefits. Their lack of ability to become pregnant prohibits the birth of puppies we don't have the resources to care for and thus reducing the cases of abandoned pets which need shelter care. Neutering also helps with their psychological...

If your cat is losing teeth, the first thing we need to know is whether they are a kitten or adult cat. When a kitten develops into an adult cat, they will go through many changes. As they reach maturity, they will develop a set of adult teeth, but will have to lose their milk teeth first. When an adult...

While it is biologically possible to breed a mother dog with her son, it is a process of dog inbreeding which should be avoided at all costs. Breeding such close relations can cause serious harm to the litter. Although they may appear healthy when they are born, they can develop serious congenital problems...

Dogs are a type of mammal, a group of animals distinguished by having mammary glands. These glands are used by females to feed their young. For this reason, it is common for a swollen dog nipple to occur before, during or after lactation because the breasts are engorged with milk. They can even become...

Blood in a dog's urine can be a worrying sign. It's called hematuria and is usually a symptom that your dog's health is impaired, possibly seriously. The most common causes can range from urinary tract infections (UTIs) to tumors, kidney stones to infectious diseases like parvovirus. Therefore, if you see drops...

When a female dog or cat is receptive to a male for mating, she is in heat. This is a stage of her estrus cycle when she is fertile and can become pregnant. Although they have an estrus cycle, rabbits do not go into heat like a cat or dog. This is because they mate thanks to a process known as induced...

Have you ever wondered why dogs go blind? It is common to see blindness in elderly dogs, but it can be disheartening to see it happen. It is perhaps even sadder when it occurs with younger dogs or puppies. However, it is important to remember that the inability to see doesn't mean they can't have fulfilling...

It is common for older cats to develop a range of diseases, often with lumps and deposits forming on different parts of their body. Unfortunately, just as in humans, one of the worst case scenarios is our cat developing cancer. Cancer is a disease which causes an uncontrolled division of cells in the body,...

Eye boogers is a crass description, but this doesn't stop it from being pretty accurate. Rheum is a discharge of mucus which is washed away by blinking. This means when they sleep, cats don't wash away this discharge and it collects in the corner of their eyes. The same thing happens in humans. It can...

There is no simple answer to the question how long does a dog live with parvovirus? The reason is due to the many mitigating factors. Parvovirus is one of the most feared illnesses of dog guardians, especially those with puppies. It is the young which are usually most at risk. If untreated, this disease...

How long it takes to deworm a dog depends on a few factors, mainly the type of deworming product your use, the age of your dog and how it is administered. What is not under question is how vital is this process for your pet. Getting an infection from a parasite such as tapeworm, roundworm, heartworm...

Cats can be very sensitive animals. They can be prone to anxiety and are often wary of their environment, usually more so than dogs. Despite such sensitivity, felines are often able to overcome stressful episodes and adapt to new situations. If the negative stimulus is one they have to contend with on...

Dapple is marking on a Dachshund dog similar to the Merle on other breeds. It is a spotting which can be very beautiful, causing almost mystical looking patterns on the dog's fur. Even one spot on a Dachshund's fur makes it a dapple. When one dapple Dachshund dog is bred with another, you get a dog known...

Occasionally, owners might hear some grumbling or gurgling noises coming from our dogs. This is, of course, unless you have a very gassy dog. This ‘occasionally’ might be more like ‘repeatedly’. The problem is, these internal sounds make it difficult to diagnose what problem, if any, might be affecting...

In general, a cat drinking more water than usual is not normal and is usually a symptom that something is wrong. An average cat weighing 4 kilos (8.8 lbs) should take approximately 180 ml/day, if they are overweight and also urinate a lot, it means that something is happening and we should go to the vet....

Sporotrichosis is zoonotic, or a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people.The agent of this disease is a fungus, which usually uses a wound on the skin as the perfect means to enter a body. This terrible disease can affect several animals, including dogs and cats! As it can be transmitted...

Leukemia in cats is one of the most frequent and severe viral diseases that affects the immune system, mainly in young cats. It is not transmissible to humans, but it is usually easily transmitted among cats living in feline collectives and feral cat colonies. In order to demystify feline leukemia and know...

Like us, cats can drool for different reasons and in response to different stimuli. Salivation is a normal and healthy phenomenon in their body, although it can be worrisome when it occurs excessively or suddenly. Did you ever indulge your cat with pampering in their favorite body parts and observe how...

Feline miliary dermatitis is a disease complex that manifests itself in cats through the appearance of inflammation and rashes with crust around different areas of the cat's body such as the neck, head, back and other places. If you notice that your cat has recently been scratching and has several patches...

Feline infectious rhinotracheitis is a very serious and highly contagious disease that affects a cat's respiratory system. This infection is caused by the Herpesvirus Feline 1 (HVF-1) virus and generally affects cats with a low immunity. When the infection is acute, the prognosis is rather reserved....

Also known as pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy, phantom pregnancy in dogs is a relatively common disorder in this species. It appears at the end of the diestrus cycle and is characterized by the manifestation of clinical, physical and behavioral signs. These are symptoms typical of motherhood, which...