Animal health
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Due to the recent outbreaks of monkeypox reported outside its endemic African regions, there is cause for concern over the spread of this viral disease. As a zoonotic disease, the virus can be hosted in both humans and animals. This means the welfare of both human and animal family members is potentially...
Feline atopic dermatitis is a type of allergic response. When a cat has a hypersensitivity to a particular environmental allergen, they body reacts in an exaggerated way. These allergens can include dusts, mites, pollen or other common environmental stimuli. These allergens do not affect those without...
Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic which is used in both human and veterinary medicine. It is considered safe and is commonly used for disinfection of wounds, lesions, erosions and skin disorders such as feline acne, certain infections and pododermatitis. It is also used as a complement to...
As a responsible guardian we know to take care of all our dog's basic needs. This includes feeding, walking and providing basic comfort. For too many, vaccinations are not considered part of these basic needs. While many see vaccinations as optional, they are fundamental to your dog's well-being. Not...
We think of the word cholesterol as synonymous with something bad, but it actually refers to essential fats which animals need to develop and maintain their body. It is a natural lipid which is present in almost all cells and it is used in digestion, vitamin D synthesis and hormone production. Only when...
The domestication of our dogs has given canines a special place in terms of their relationship to humans. We can co-exist in harmony thanks to training and adaptation. In this context, it is important to remember they are still an animal. They will react to certain situations and environments in ways...
Meloxicam, marketed under the brand names Metacam®, Loxicom®, OroCAM®, and Rheumocam, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat pain and inflammation associated with rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis. In some cases, it is also used to treat pain associated...
Older cats are more susceptible to various ailments due to the natural passage of time. While there are ways we can best ensure their health and well-being, no cat is immune to these changes once they reach a certain age. Deterioration of the musculoskeletal system is one of the most obvious signs of...
For many cats, it is normal to have a thinner patch of hair in the area between their eyes and the base of their ears. As with humans, it is also common for parts of their coat to become thinner as they age. Unlike humans, most cats have hair all over their body. Despite this fact, the area above the...
Selegiline, also known as L-deprenyl and marketed under the brand names Eldepryl and Emsam, among others, is a drug used in humans to treat Parkinson's disease and major depressive disorder. However, it is also approved as a veterinary drug for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction syndrome in geriatric...
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...
Azotemia is the term used to describe high levels of nitrogen-containing compounds in a cat's blood. These compounds are mainly in the form of creatinine and urea, but other nitrogen-containing waste products can cause the change in blood composition. The underlying causes which lead to higher levels...
Dogs are curious animals by nature, often accidentally eating or sniffing things that may be poisonous to them and that may seem completely harmless to you. This includes various types of plants, both indoors and outdoors, that can cause poisoning in dogs. While some plants may only cause digestive...
In most cases, all you need to expect after deworming your dog is that they won't get parasites. Worms are types of internal parasites which often cause gastrointestinal upset, but some of them can be fatal. This is the case with heartworms, lungworms and others which infest vital tissues of the body....
Pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, the space between the pleural sacs of each lung. There is some fluid naturally in this cavity, but when fluid builds up, it poses serious health risks. An abnormal build up of pleural fluid can cause the cat respiratory distress. When this...
Warts may be easier to see on human skin, but cats are also susceptible to them. As with humans, warts on cats can have various underlying causes. They are generally benign skin growths, but the types of warts cats can develop are specific to the species. Many are related to the feline papillomavirus, but...
Tumors are one of the many pathologies that can affect the liver of dogs. Although primary liver tumors are not common in dogs, the liver is one of the organs where malignant tumors arising in other parts of the body most often metastasize. Liver cancer can be a silent killer in dogs because obvious...
Cats have very distinctive eyes. They can be of varying colors, as well as appear in different sizes according to breed and other factors. While their pupils can dilate according to changes in light, they should generally have a similar appearance. When alterations to the eye occurs, it is a likely sign...
Mites are external parasites that cause scabies. In dogs, the most common mite parasites are sarcoptic mange, otodictic mange, and cheyletiellosis. They all cause severe itching and require specific antiparasitic treatment. There are a number of home remedies for the treatment of mange that can relieve the...
Tobramycin is an antibiotic drug which is a type of aminoglycoside. This means it contains amino acids as part of its structure. It is sold under various brand names, with Tobrex being one of the most common. While is is both a broad-spectrum antibiotic and on the World Health Organization's List of...
If you think your cat is pregnant, whether planned or unplanned, you need some basic information about what to expect and how to make sure your cat has a healthy pregnancy. It is also important that you learn to recognize if your cat is in labor, in case there is a problem that requires your intervention...
Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug used to treat various immune-mediated or autoimmune diseases in dogs. It is not generally used therapeutically on its own, but is administered in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs. Given the seriousness of some potential adverse reactions associated with this...
Famciclovir is a prodrug, meaning its a drug that becomes pharmacologically active once metabolized. After metabolism, famciclovir is transformed into the active metabolite penciclovir. The action of this metabolized prodrug works by inhibiting viral replication of viral nucleic acid. For this reason, it...
Gastrointestinal diseases are relatively common in felines. They can be accompanied by various symptoms, all of which need to be monitored by their caregivers. Constipation is a digestive problem which can go unnoticed by cat guardians, especially if they do not check their litter regularly. The underlying...
Selamectin is a safe antiparasitic for rabbits and very useful to kill external parasites such as fleas, lice or mites. It is very similar structurally to the more-commonly-known ivermectin. The dose will depend on the type of parasitization in our rabbit and the extent of its progress. The active ingredient of...
Mites are small-bodied arthropods that can parasitize a variety of animal species, including guinea pigs. Mites can cause serious skin problems in your guinea pig, and they can infest guinea pigs of all ages and genders. In most cases, guinea pigs infested with parasites remain asymptomatic. Clinical signs...
Over the years, many caregivers notice behavioral changes in their dogs, often referred to as "senile," for which there is no obvious reason. These behavioral changes are referred to as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome also known as Alzheimer's disease. While there is no cure, early diagnosis and...
Sometimes diarrhea may occur in dogs after deworming, whether to treat a parasitic infestation or as a preventive dewormer. The causes may be varied and may be related to both the parasites themselves causing the infection and the antiparasitic drug prescribed to prevent or treat the infectious disease....
Pregnancy can be a worrying time for dog caregivers. Even experienced dog guardians can become worried if certain physical or behavioral changes occur during gestation. One of the most common concerns is whether or not a dog is going into labor. Although most pregnant canines will appear in control of the...
Diarrhea in older or geriatric dogs is a common reason for consultation at the small animal clinic. While dogs of any age may occasionally suffer from diarrhea, diarrhea in older dogs may indicate other medical problems. This is a clinical sign that can be associated with many diseases, not just the digestive...
You may have seen some photos of cats with an atypical appearance. Differences in appearance can vary according to breed, but some cats have an appearance which imply they have a genetic disorder. In fact, the features of some atypical cats appear to be similar to certain genetic human conditions such...
The state a our cat's eyes are a good indicator of their overall health. Fortunately, most cats have large and expressive eyes which make it easier to determine their quality. However, if we see their eyes are swollen and puffy, it is an immediate cause for concern. Swelling and puffiness are due to...
High creatinine levels in cats are related to kidney disease. There are other symptoms which will usually present in the cat before a test for creatinine levels are carried out. The reason for these high levels are partly because the kidneys impaired function prevents the creatine from being reabsorbed...
Although they may make a purring sound when relaxed and happy, a healthy cat shouldn't make noises when they breathe. Unless a cat is obviously choking on something, strange noises during breathing usually mean a respiratory problem. Whether acute or chronic, the problem should be addressed so proper treatment...
Ringworm is a fungal skin infection that causes alopecic lesions with scaling and redness, usually starting on the head and later spreading to other parts of the body. Diagnosis and treatment are simple, but since it is a zoonotic disease, it must be treated carefully to prevent transmission to humans.
In...
Canine degenerative myelopathy is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the spinal cord of dogs. It affects older dogs as it requires time to develop, first affecting the hind limbs and then the forelimbs as it progresses. Unfortunately, it is a disease which is difficult to diagnose and has a poor...
Calcinosis cutis is a disorder characterized by the lesions of calcium salts in the skin. The result is the appearance of hard nodules or crusted plaques. In the canine medicine, it usually appears in individuals with Cushing's syndrome or those subjected to prolonged treatment with corticosteroids. There...
Ocular proptosis is one of the most important ophthalmological emergencies in the canine species. It consists of the forward displacement of the eyeball. This most commonly occurs as a result of trauma that causes the eye to exit its orbit, i.e. it pops out of its socket. Although it can appear in any...
Cramps can be difficult to detect in a dog's muscles. This is especially the case if the dog has long hair. In cases were the cramping is continuous, it is possible to see the dog's muscles twitch under the skin. Often, the dog experiences painful muscles spasms without their guardians being able to see. Not...
Euthanasia is a veterinary procedure in which the death of an animal is brought about by non-cruel and painless methods in order to avoid the suffering associated with an incurable disease. This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult decisions for both veterinarians and caretakers, because it means...
We don't expect our dog's breath to smell particularly nice. The dog food which is so appetizing to canines is often quite unpleasant to us, for example. However, this does not mean it should smell rotten. If you notice your dog's breath is foul, you will need to take a look inside their mouth. When...
Especially when compared to dogs, arthritis is not a condition we often associate with cats. Older dogs in particular are more prone to limping, something which is relatively rare in cats. However, degeneration of joints and its associated effects on the well-being of the animal does affect cats. At AnimalWised,...
Carprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It has the potential to inhibit cyclooxygenase I and II enzymes, with greater potential to inhibit the latter. The purpose of this inhibition is to limit the risk of kidney, gastrointestinal and liver damage by mediating inflammation, pain and fever....
The tongue is an organ made up of various muscles which belongs to the digestive system. Different animal species will use their tongues in different ways and dog have their own specific uses. For example, the tongue not only allows them to intake water and food, it is an essential element in regulating...
Control of food intake is possible thanks to the interaction of gastrointestinal, nervous, and environmental factors that work together to maintain energy levels and body weight in animals. However, when an imbalance of these control mechanisms occurs, changes in food intake occur, such as polyphagia.
The...
Ketoconazole is an antifungal used in cats to eliminate mycosis, i.e. an infection caused by fungi. Specifically, it fights mycosis which affects the skin, bones and even systemic infections. The fungi which it counteracts are numerous, including species as varied as dermatophytes responsible for ringworm,...
Cuterebra is a type of fly that requires small warm-blooded animals such as rodents and rabbits to complete its life cycle. They are known as robust botflies, a group of parasitical flies which develop in the flesh of their host. Cats are often susceptible to Cuterebra parasitization due to their own...
Sneezing is a common action in dogs. Although it is related to disease, it also happens in response to light, temperature and other factors. If we share our lives with a dog, we will notice they likely sneeze regularly, although some more than others. It is usually not a problem and will not require...
It is not always easy to see when our dog has oral health problems. Not only are cuts, lacerations, ulcers and sores on the inside of their mouth, but dogs are particularly good a hiding signs of pain. If your dog has a cut in their mouth, you may only observe it when you look inside. Too many guardians...
Famotidine is a medication from the group of drugs known as H2 receptor antagonists. H2 receptors allow the binding of histamine to induce gastric acid secretion. By blocking these receptors, histamine limits its binding and, in turn, the secretion of gastric acids. This is useful when an organism is producing...
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