Animal health

Dogs can contract Salmonella by ingesting contaminated food or water, as well as by contact with contaminated objects, raw food (especially meat) or infected animals. When this occurs, the dog may suffer gastroenteritis, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. In the most severe cases, it can be fatal....

When we see our dog is having trouble urinating, it is common for many dog guardians to ask can my dog get a UTI (urinary tract infection)? Dogs can indeed suffer from UTIs and do so in a similar way to humans. In fact, urinary and bladder infections in dogs are relatively common. Both male and female...

Checking the perianal area of our dog may not be the most pleasant aspect of basic dog care, but it is a vital one. A lump forming in this area can be fairly common, especially in older dogs. This is often due to impacted anal glands which may need expressed periodically. However, if there is a lump near...

Rickets in dogs is a bone condition triggered by a deficit or alteration in the levels of vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus in our dogs. This skeletal disorder is characterized by a loss of strength or a change in the aspect and consistency of the bones. If left untreated, the result is often deformities...

Being a lover of pet fish has many rewards. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they have calming and stress-releasing effects on humans. Unfortunately, many fish species do not have very long life cycles. This means one of the disadvantages is that many will die under our care. However, a fish reaching...

Feline rickets is a bone disorder characterized by the loss of consistency, strength and normal structures of the bone. It is caused by nutritional disorders or imbalances in the levels of phosphorus, calcium or vitamin D. There are many different possible causes, from feeding disorders or lactation problems,...

For dogs, loose stools mean there is a problem. As with humans, the quality of a dog's feces will reveal something about their overall health. Smell, consistency and color of dog stool can point us in the right direction if we suspect they have a health problem. A healthy dog should have firm stool, not...

For first time dog guardians, the amount a dog will defecate each day can seem to be a lot. Especially when they are a puppy, needing to go up to 5 times a day is considered normal. Once we have trained our dog to defecate and urinate outside the home, we are able to both able to monitor the state of...

Dogs are animals which love to expend energy. Of course, some dogs are more energetic than others, but a healthy dog will need to exercise and move about to some degree. This is why witnessing our dog having trouble standing up after lying down can be a worrying sight. If this instability continues when...

When a dog begins to walk abnormally, it means there is a problem. Whether this is temporary or chronic depends on the cause. Some guardians might see their dog walking as if they are drunk and find it funny. However, it is important to know that this is a serious issue which needs to be resolved. The...

Lower back pain is a painful condition experienced by dogs in the lumbosacral area. This is the area between the last 3 lumbar vertebrae (L5, L6 and L7) and the sacrum bone (which connects the pelvis with the spine). It may be caused by different conditions or diseases, so accurate diagnosis requires...

It is common for caregivers to panic when they detect a lump on any part of a cat's body. Some ignore it for fear that it is some kind of skin cancer, but the truth is that not all lumps are synonymous with cancer. In any case, lumps can be curable so the soonest possible detection and treatment is essential. In...

A diaphragmatic hernia can occur when a dog has suffered a traumatic event such as being in a road collision or fall. When the trauma is strong enough to cause a defect in the diaphragm, it allows abdominal viscera to pass into the chest cavity. However, there is also a congenital link to diaphragmatic...

Arthritis in dogs, specifically in its most common form osteoarthritis, is a degenerative condition affecting their joints. While there are many different reasons why a dog can develop arthritis, age is the largest contributing factor. Genetic predisposition is also important to recognize and it can...

A dog’s stool can provide us with a lot of information about their health. It is recommended that we monitor the appearance, consistency and also the odor, on a daily basis. In this article we will cover in detail the importance of odor, in particular. Generally speaking, a particularly unusual and...

Pyoderma in cats is an infectious skin disease caused by an increase in the multiplication of certain bacteria, especially Staphylococcus intermedius. This is a group of cocci found on the skin of our felines. This multiplication can be due to various causes and will result in lesions on the cat's skin such as...

Like all vitamins, B group vitamins are essential micronutrients for a dog’s organism. A good quality diet is the best way to ensure the correct supply of vitamin B for dogs, but there are situations in which deficiencies can occur, causing different symptoms, depending on which B vitamin is missing. In...

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The virus can affect both domestic and wild rabbits of the species Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit). The virus affects the blood vessels after it...

Feline Malassezia dermatitis occurs as a secondary effect of some pathological diseases, but can also be due to immunosuppressives, alterations to the skin or certain environmental conditions. This is a yeast-type fungus which occurs naturally as commensal flora in the skin and ear canals of cats. It also...

Prazosin is a drug that can be used on cats as part of treatment recommended by a veterinarian for urinary problems such as feline idiopathic cystitis, a type of feline lower urinary tract disease. It is suitable for these cases because of its relaxing and antispasmodic effects. In this AnimalWised article,...

Just like people, dogs can also become the victims of mosquito bites. The problem is not so much the bite itself, which does not usually have major consequences, but the diseases that these insects can potentially transmit. That is why it is so important to protect dogs from mosquito bites. In this article...

Diazepam, commonly known as Valium, is a drug we often associated with mental health issues, something we might not apply to cats in the same way as humans. However, it is actually used for various different ailments, many of which cats can also experience. It is a strong drug which needs careful consideration...

Feline cryptococcosis is the most common systemic fungal disease in cats. However, its infection incidence in the feline population is low, a seeming contradiction we will explain further. Cryptococcus fungi most frequently affect the nasal area, often resulting in an inflamed nose. Swelling of the...

In this AnimalWised article, we will talk about cyclosporine for cats, a drug known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It is used to combat different pathologies which cause inflammation as a symptom. Since it will act on the immune system in various ways, it is essential that we only administer it...

Seromas are an accumulation of serous fluid in the subdermal area under the skin, although sometimes they can also develop between the musculature. They are one possible complication of various surgeries, especially after ventral midline surgery. Although many are naturally reabsorbed into the dog's body, in...

There are many different words used to describe health issues in dogs, but few are as terror inducing as the word ‘collapse’. Since the trachea is another word for the windpipe, when this collapses, we fear our dog will be unable to breed. A tracheal collapse is a serious condition in dogs and a threat...

Hypoglycemia is another term for low blood sugar. This refers to the levels of glucose in the blood, a carbohydrate which is vital in providing the cat with the energy they need to survive. While having too much glucose in the bloodstream is dangerous, so too is having too low blood glucose levels. Although...

When kittens are born, they are not the exact same color they will be when they become adult. Even their eyes are not usually the same since all cats are born with blue eyes. Only later will different pigments develop. However, after 12 to 18 months most cats should be the color they will be for the...

We may not feel our dog's paws very often. Not only do we prefer to pet them on their fur, but generally dog's do not like their paws to be touched. However, it is very important we check on them regularly as injuries to their paws can cause pain, mobility issues and other problems. The skin on our...

When we see our dog has a lump anywhere on their body, we will start to get worried. While there are many different types of lumps and neoplasms on our dog, some of them can be cancerous. In these cases, the life of our dog is threatened. However, we shouldn't jump to conclusions. It is also possible our...

Can dogs have dwarfism? Yes, dogs can experience dwarfism like other animals. This occurs when there is a lack of hormone production in our dog, leading them to experience dwarfism. In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain what dwarfism in dogs is, how to detect it and its treatment. Keep...

Just like dogs, cats can also suffer from hypothyroidism, a disease caused by low thyroid function. It can be due to different causes, but the main problem is the decrease in the secretion of thyroid hormones. These hormones, when scarce, will cause an imbalance in different functions of our cat's organism. In...

There are many reasons we should sterilize our dog, whether male or female. The average life expectancy of neutered and spayed dogs is greater than those which are unsterilized. Not only does it reduce the possibility of developing certain diseases, but it helps to reduce behavioral problems. However,...

The type of care you provide a rabbit will depend on many factors relating to the individual bunny. Age and health status are two of the most important. However, there are also important environmental factors which affect rabbit care, one of the most important being the changing of the seasons. Although...

Cats are animals of routine, something which is very helpful for cat guardians. This is because changes in their routine can help us to know that something is wrong, even if there aren't any other obvious symptoms. Whether your cat has concurrent symptoms or is otherwise the same as usual, not pooping...

Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a highly contagious viral disease in cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Kittens are most severely affected by this virus. It's also important to keep in mind that humans are not affected by this virus, only cats. In this AnimalWised article we're going to talk about panleukopenia...

If you have had a dog in the home with fleas, you will know the importance of preventive flea medication. Fleas not only infest the dog, but they can travel and getting rid of them is a major hassle. Flea medicine can come in various forms, but is most effective when used in a pipette and administered...

Uveitis in dogs is an eye disorder usually caused by trauma to the eye. When left untreated it can cause serious irreversible damage to our dog. This is why it's so important to be aware of the symptoms of uveitis in dogs and take our to the veterinarian as soon as possible if we observe them suffering...

Uveitis in cats is an ophthalmological disorder that can affect the uvea of felines of all ages. However, it is more common in stray cats. Among its most frequent causes are certain systemic pathologies, traumas, contusions, and penetrating wounds due to fights or accidents. To learn more about feline uveitis,...

Gastroesophageal reflux, more commonly known as acid reflux, occurs when the contents of the stomach and the duodenum rise above the esophagus. This is because they have passed the esophageal sphincter, the valves which normally prevent food from return back from lower in the digestive tract. The ‘acid’...