Animal health

Summer brings sunshine, barbeques, and plenty of outdoor fun for us humans. But for our dogs, the hot weather can pose a serious threat, heat stroke. This life-threatening condition can strike quickly, leaving dog owners scrambling to know what to do. By understanding heat stroke and taking the necessary...

It might take a while for us to notice a sore mouth in our dog. Generally speaking, dogs are good at hiding their pain. The cause of their sore mouth may have originated a long time before we observe any symptoms. If we see the dog pawing their face or refusing to eat due to the discomfort present in their...

When we think of an abscess, it is common for many to first think of a dental problem. If a cat tooth abscess occurs, it might be difficult to tell until the symptoms become acute. But a cat can get an abscess in various places, including their neck, head, tail, or anywhere fluid can accumulate. These...

Malassezia is a genus of fungi, a yeast that is usually found on human and animal skin surfaces. Malassezia pachydermatitis is the most common type of malassezia found on both dogs and cats. Normally, these yeasts do not cause any harm. However, malassezia infections can occur when the number of malassezia...

Asthma in dogs is a common respiratory disease which is often more prominent in smaller dog breeds. Knowing how to recognize symptoms of asthma in dogs is key in treating it correctly. Symptoms of asthma may include wheezing in dogs and constant coughing. Does your dog have asthma? Find out here at AnimalWised,...

External otitis in dogs is a relatively common canine disorder. External otitis in dogs is defined as an inflammation of the external auditory canal and may or may not affect the tympanic membrane and be accompanied by a dog ear infection. Common symptoms of otitis externa include pain and itching. If...

Inguinal hernia in dogs is a protrusion which can be observed in the groin area. This condition is more common in female dogs and can be caused by various factors including trauma, pregnancy, and/or obesity. If you notice any inguinal hernia in dogs symptoms, make sure to consult your veterinarian as soon...

Bacteria are single-celled microscopic organisms that live in the environment, on the skin, in the respiratory tract, and/or digestive and urinary tract of animals and people. Some bacteria are capable of causing diseases and reaching the blood, but this is normally done so in a small number and can be killed...

Lactulose is a type of laxative which can be used in both human and veterinary medicine. As a laxative, it is used to counteract the retention of stool or slow intestinal transit, i.e., constipation. Constipation itself has many causes, but it can be exacerbated if it affects the dilation of the large...

Is your beloved senior dog panting more than usual? While panting is a normal way for dogs to regulate their body temperature, excessive panting in older dogs can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health issue. In any case, early detection and treatment of underlying health issues can significantly improve...

When a dog's penis sticks out, it is very noticeable. After emerging from the penile sheath (or foreskin), the hairless penis is striking due to its color. It is usually a bright red color due to the large amount of blood entering the penile tissue. Some dog guardians liken this to a lipstick emerging...

By definition of the procedure, spayed cats should not be able to go into heat. Spaying females and castrating males means their reproductive organs are removed which produce sex hormones. For females, this means their ovaries and uterus in the most common procedures. Their removal should stop the heat...

Dogs will often want to lick their owner's face, a behavior with an origin in their wild heritage. Puppies of wild canids would lick the snouts of adults as a way to stimulate regurgitation of food. Domestic dogs see us as their point of reference. Even if it is not for regurgitation, licking our face is...

Pulmonary edema in cats consists of the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstices and alveoli of the lungs, making it difficult for oxygen to circulate through them. This can obstruct normal breathing and endanger the life of the cat. There are various causes which can present either acutely...

We can tell a lot about our dog's health by the state of their urine. If a dog's urine is dark yellow and smells, it means there is less water in it and it may contain compounds which can indicate disease. Unfortunately, color and odor alone will not confirm the presence of a specific problem, but they...

Open wounds in dogs are a serious concern, especially due to the risk of secondary infection. Exposed tissues are very vulnerable to bacteria and other pathogens which can spread through their organism. This means even small wounds can develop into something more serious. Generally speaking, the deeper...

We may not notice our cat has a bloated and hard belly until the problem has progressed. This is because cats do not often like their bellies being touched. Their undersides are sensitive since many of their vital organs are located in this vulnerable region. Such vulnerability is also the reason why...

Beyond just a bathroom break, cat pee plays a big role in feline communication. They mark territory and send messages with their urine. But what happens when your cat's bathroom habits change? Strong odors, frequent urination, or blood in the pee can be cause for concern. Is cat pee dangerous? This...

Parasites are a significant threat to our cat's well-being. Unfortunately, there are many different types which can affect them both internally and externally. This is why it is important to protect our cats as best we can. Even in the home, cats can become infested with parasites such as tapeworms and...

While swelling and redness of a dog's paws can be observed at almost any stage, it is common for guardians to first become aware of this problem when we notice our dog keeps licking their paws. Whatever the underlying cause, swelling and redness is likely irritating for the dog. Licking their paws is a way...

Our dogs can experience various health issues which require surgery. Common surgical procedures in dogs are castration in males and spaying in females. When these procedures take place, the veterinary professionals will explain what their postoperative care requires. Invasive surgery requires the stitching...

Worms are a relatively common problem in cats, especially in younger specimens. There are different types of worm infestations, but tapeworms are some of the most noticeable. The risk of contracting a worm infestation is much greater for outdoor cats as their environment provides more opportunities. However,...

When spring ends and summer begins, high temperatures cause baby birds to jump out of their nests, even if they are not ready to fly yet. There are also other reasons why a bird can jump from their nest, such as a predator's attack. This is why, unfortunately it is fairly common to find an injured bird...

The vast majority of species in the animal kingdom can be affected by parasites. Even parasites can have their own parasites, the latter known as hyperparasites. For an animal as large as a horse, there are various types of parasite which can cause infestation. Since a parasite is an organism which survives...

Sterilizing a dog has many benefits. Whether spaying a female dog or castrating a male dog, it is a procedure recommended by veterinarians as it helps reduce dog abandonment, prevents certain diseases and reduces the risk of behavioral problems. Complications from the procedures are rare. However, as...

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic widely used in human medicine. While we should always take the prescribed dosage, some people either do not or for whatever reason have some extra in their medicine cabinet. If we see that our cat is suffering from an infection, we will want to do anything we can to help...

It's common for middle-aged to senior dogs to develop a bluish transparent haze in the lens of their eye. This is considered a normal change in the lens associated with aging. The medical term for this occurrence is nuclear sclerosis. In this AnimalWised article we're going to talk about nuclear sclerosis...

Dogs have all sorts of strange behaviour, such as sniffing each other's butt to greet and learn more about another dog. However, if our dog keeps licking their own butt, it can be a sign that something is wrong. More so if they are releasing smelly odors. In this AnimalWised article, we're going to...

Petting our horses is not only a way to improve our bond, it is a vital responsibility to look after their health. We may run our hand under their jaw because they enjoy it, but we also do so to check for any swelling in the lymph nodes. There are various causes of swollen lymph nodes in horses, but...

We can expect some blood to be present when a cat delivers her kittens during labor, a process also known as queening in cats. Born in amniotic sacs, the kittens will also be birthed with placental fluid, some of which may contain blood. Often this blood is the result of ruptured blood vessels, something...

Priapism in dogs is a medical problem that results in their penis being erect for a long period, extending past the time of sexual arousal. Specifically, the dog will get hard for longer than four hours. Such a prolonged period of erection chronically exposes the penis to the elements, something that...

Anesthesia for cats is a necessary medical procedure which protects the animal from harm. Local anesthesia can prevent the cat from experiencing pain and other negative sensations by numbing nerve sensations in a localized area. General anesthesia helps avoid these problems by immobilizing the feline completely....

Stinky dog poop comes with the territory as a dog guardian. A healthy dog will still pass stool that has a far-from-pleasant aroma. However, our dog's stool is a helpful indicator of their overall health. Whether they have diarrhea, blood in their stool or even if they do not poop at their normal rate,...

Some guardians wonder if it is possible for dogs to get dandruff. Although its exact cause is poorly understood, dandruff is a condition whereby dead skin cells accumulate on and around hair. Humans get dandruff on their scalp due to the greater number of sebaceous glands which mix with the dead skin cells...

If we can see a bump or lumps on our female dog's privates, we may grow concerned. The first thing that likely drew our attention is observing that our dog is licking their genitals more than usual. Unfortunately, this action can aggravate the problem further, even if the dog is only trying to relieve...

When a pregnant dog is in labor, she will pant as she strains and pushes for the birth of her babies. While different dogs will pant more or less depending on their circumstances, it is a concern if they are panting, but not pushing. Not pushing means the dog might not actually be in labor, with the...

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 returning from lower in the digestive tract. The ‘acid’ is...

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...

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...

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...

When your dog drags their butt against the floor, it can often be a very humorous sight. They sit down, raise their back legs, and pull themselves along with their front paws. The pose they create and the often-strained face they make when doing so add to the picture. If this is a one-off experience, then...

Cockroaches are arthropods which are capable of transmitting diseases. Unlike ticks and mosquitoes, which transmit pathogens directly through their bites, cockroaches spread diseases indirectly due to their unhygienic habits. They contaminate surfaces with bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites which...

Cats like to press their head against their guardians as a sign of affection. Often when this happens, we might notice they leave a little trail of wetness behind where their nose had been. Many cat caregivers see this as a sign of good health, but it is important to know this is not always the case. The...

Breed standards are created to provide descriptions of an ideal example of a given dog breed. These break down the dog's physical characteristics into various criteria, including their ear size and shape. For the Chihuahua, the generally accepted breed standard (there are some variations) states the ears...

The diaphragm in cats functions in the same way as the human diaphragm. It is a layer of abdominal muscle which contracts to cause the lungs to expand. Doing so helps with respiration as the lungs inhale and exhale air. A cat diaphragm is susceptible to the same pathologies and trauma, although a diaphragmatic...

Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides), also known as Jesuit's tea or Mexican-tea, is an aromatic herb widely used in South and Central America. Its usage dates back to the Pre-Hispanic era and its name derives from the Aztec language “epaztl”, which translates as “skunk”. In addition to being used in many Mexican...

There are a variety of external parasites that can infest chickens, including lice, a very common parasitic infection. Just like mites or fleas, these parasites feed externally on their host. If not detected in time, they can spread quickly and infest the entire flock. The damage they cause to the bird's...

Corticosteroids are drugs used to treat a wide variety of pathologies in veterinary medicine. They have powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive action. This action makes them highly effective drugs for treating allergic and inflammatory processes, autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases, and other pathologies....

Any changes to your dog's well-being are a cause for concern. If we see certain symptoms, they can make it obvious something is seriously wrong. However, some of the deadliest diseases in dogs are slow to progress. For this reason, we need to be observant to even small changes and remember to take our dog...

Permethrin is a type of insecticide which can be used in medical applications as a deworming agent. It is found as an active ingredient in numerous antiparasitic and insecticide products. Its use is safe and effective for use on canines, but it is highly toxic to cats. Due to the high levels of permethrin toxicity...