Animal health

As with all mammals, a dog's liver is a vital organ and as such carries out functions necessary to maintaining life. Specifically, the liver removes toxins in the blood and passes them out as part of various biological cycles. For example, ammonia is converted to urea which is then exited the body via...

Anaphylactic shock in dogs is a veterinary emergency that requires rapid action in order to prevent it from having fatal consequences for an animal. This life-threatening allergic reaction can be avoided and making sure that you as a dog owner can recognize the symptoms is vital! In this AnimalWised...

The ‘E’ in E-collar stands for Elizabethan. Wrapping round the cat's neck, it provides a similar look to the late English queen and her penchant for wearing soft fabric ruffs. Unfortunately, if a cat is wearing an Elizabethan collar, it is not because they are looking for vintage style points. The E-collar...

Gastrointestinal issues in cats are fairly normal. Many will happily eat various items in their environment, whether inside or out, much of which can lead to problems with digestion. They may feel unwell for a while or even become a little bloated, but it is often nothing to be concerned about. However,...

Have you observed that your dog has been struggling to breathe? When faced with such a situation, it is essential to act quickly. When it comes to dogs and breathing difficulties, they are often related to pathologies that need to be diagnosed and treated as fast as possible. Respiratory difficulties in...

The syndrome of sensory deprivation in dogs and other animals consists of the development of fears and phobias that cause an instability in the dog. This instability this leads the dog to perform unwanted or irrational behaviors. These behaviors may include; excessive barking in certain situations,...

Testicles are one of the most sensitive areas on a dog's body. Especially outside where there are many obstacles and interactions, there are many possible instances where they can be injured. This could be trauma of contact with shrubbery or something else in their environment. Equally, it could be irritation...

A dog's eyes are a very sensitive part of their anatomy. As with all mammals, their eyes have adapted to their environment over time. This means they are not as good at discerning detail as human eyes, but they are much better at seeing in the dark. Better vision in the dark is likely due to their wild ancestor's...

A dog's penis health is not always apparent. We may not pay much attention to that area of their body unless we are giving them a bath or if they lie down to expose their belly. This is why it is so important to observe any behavioral changes in our pet. If they are excessively licking their genital...

Warts on dogs can appear relatively frequently, especially as the dog ages. Warts are characterized as benign superficial tumors which usually do not have any serious ramifications for the canine health. However, we do need to be careful as there can be complications if the dog's wart starts bleeding....

Here at AnimalWised we often stress the importance of preventative action for the animals in our care. Vaccination schedules, deworming programs and proper socialization are some of the key aspects of this type of care. However, there are some occasions when, despite our best efforts, something happens we...

Beagles are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. However, like any other dog breed, they can suffer from common diseases specific to their physiology. Beagles commonly suffer from ear, eye and skin problems. Beagles, despite being lovely, active and friendly pets, have an insatiable appetite...

With advancements in veterinary medicine and a greater general knowledge about canine health, dogs have a better chance than ever to live a long life. Unfortunately, with an older dog population come more diagnoses of certain diseases exacerbated by age. Lymphoma is one such disease. Lymphoma is the...

Although human beings can contract various diseases through birds, that does not mean that they cannot be kept as pets. The probability of contracting a zoonotic disease varies according to a space’s hygiene, our own body hygiene or the animal’s state of health. It is important to remember that regular visits...

It is relatively common that cats, especially if they are young, experience eye infections. Eye infections in cats should receive veterinary treatment as soon as possible. Although they can be treated easily, if left untreated for too long it can result in a perforated cornea, resulting in: blindness....

Dogs can be very adventurous when it comes to what they eat. Some of the most unpleasant looking things to us, seem to be irresistible to our canine friends. When it is our slippers from under our bed or a piece of relatively harmless garbage, we might not be too concerned. However, if we see our dog...

Epilepsy in dogs is a pathology which manifests as recurrent epileptic seizures. As caregivers, if we live with a dog that suffers from this disease, we must know how to act in order to avoid this aggravating and dangerous situation. In addition, one must be able to distinguish epilepsy from other causes...

Urinary incontinence in dogs is defined as an involuntary evacuation of urine. Urinary incontinence highlights that of a dog losing control over their bladder. In such cases it is normal for a dog to experience, for example, nocturnal enuresis, that is, when a dog urinates in their sleep. You may also...

Obesity is a common problem in cats, especially as they get older. Caregivers should know that this is not only an aesthetic problem, but can result in serious health problems. If you cat is overweight or obese, you should be able to identify this, in order to treat and tackle the problem accordingly. If...

Ragdoll cats are one of the largest breeds of domestic cat (they still don't quite rival the heft of a tiger) with males being larger than females. They originated in the United States of America from different breeds such as the Persian, Siamese and Birmese. In recent decades, these felines have become very...

Nowadays, Hamsters have become a popular domestic pet. Although they require little space and relatively simple care, these rodents need special attention when it comes to their behavior and animal welfare. This is due to the fact that in the wild they serve as prey to many predators. This gives them a very...

There are many diseases unique to the animal world which are not zoonotic, i.e. they can't be passed on to human beings. Your dog is able to carry certain diseases in this way. Sometimes, they may have a disease which both humans and dogs can contract, such as influenza. Although both canines and humans...

Rabbits are great companion animals. Rabbits are not however like dogs and cats, and therefore need specialized care. If you have a rabbit, you have to make sure you take it for regular veterinary checkups and offer it a quality diet. Knowing whether your rabbit is ill is incredibly important in making...

It's not that Basset Hounds aren't capable of expending a lot of energy. They are a French dog breed which was originally employed for hunting, so they are capable of chasing and tracking when they want to. It's just that most families with a Basset Hound know that they are their own dog. This is represented...

We might think that ligament injury is something reserved for those who engage in athletic activities on a regular basis. The unfortunate fact is that anyone with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can tear or rupture it, with many different factors contributing to the likelihood of it occurring. Our...

Ticks are one of the most common ectoparasites that can affect the health of our dogs, especially if our furry friends enjoy the outdoors and nature. Ticks are hematophagous, which means that feed attached to a host (living being) on blood. It is during this exchange in which ticks can transmit various...

Our understand of a cat's well-being is sometimes too closely associated with that of a human's well-being. If we do this, we underestimate the differences people and felines have in terms of both physiology and psychology. This means we may look at certain symptoms in our cats and then make assumptions...

It's not hard to understand why cats like curling up in a spot of sunshine or even chasing after their favorite toy. When they chase around a spider and happily pop them into their mouths, we may not see the same appeal. As cats are obligate carnivores, they need at least 20% of their diet to consist...

As with many edibles designed to improve our health, medications can often taste unpleasant. If your cat has already experienced ingesting medicine, they may begin to shake if they think you are going to administer them. It can be a very stressful situation for both pet and caregiver. For this reason it is very...

Considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds, the Belgian Shepherd Malinois also stand out for their excellent health and great physical endurance. It is a working dog which stands out particularly for their high activity levels and need for sufficient exercise. If this is provided along with adequate...

When giving a general medical examination, a doctor will look into our eyes to see signs of health problems. The veterinarian will also do the same for our cats. The reason is that eyes can show signs of brain damage, hemorrhaging or, of course, eye problems, among others. This doesn't mean the doctor...

Some of the wounds we see on a cat's skin might be superficial and not cause much concern. They could be from being scratched on a fence or something else relatively innocuous. However, different wounds have different causes and they may not seem to heal as well as we think they should. The multiple...

Have you recently noticed that your fish are covered with small white dots? What in principle may seem like dirt or small specks, is actually a protozoan capable of making your fish seriously ill. Although it is rare in home aquariums, white spot disease in fish should not be neglected. In the long run,...

Every animal has characteristics that naturally develop in order to aid it in living comfortably. Along with their great sense of vision, cats also have an acute sense of hearing. These senses help a cat manoeuver through their respective environments and communicate between each other and other beings....

Usually the precursor to feline infectious anemia (FIA), feline mycoplasma are parasitic cells which often go unnoticed in the individuals which carry them. They are bacteria which go under the classification Mycoplasma haemofelis and, despite their hidden nature, can manifest in severe anemia symptoms in...

In this AnimalWised article we’re going to discuss something which can strike understandable fear in the heart of any cat lover. If we see blood coming from the nose of our cat, then it is easy to think the worst may have happened. However, there are many possible causes of nasal bleeding in cats, scientifically...

Ticks are only trying to survive in their own way. Unfortunately, this way is often to attach themselves to the skin of animals and feed off the blood of other animals. This includes dogs as well as us humans. While any loss of blood is minimal, the tick themselves are vectors for certain diseases. One...

Unlike dogs, most cats do not like having their belly rubbed. This is because their underside feels vulnerable. Only cats with high levels of trust in their guardians will let this happen. For this reason, it can be difficult to determine the condition of their belly. However, even if it may be difficult,...

External and internal deworming is incredibly important for the health of our dogs. Many dog owners are however, still unaware of the importance antiparasitics. Owners who do not deworm their dogs, leave their animals exposed to infestations that can cause: discomfort, diseases and even death. Some of these...

Have you recently adopted a guinea pig and are wondering how to care for it? If you have a guinea pig it is very important to make sure that you maintain its health accordingly. If you believe that your guinea pig may be ill, we suggest consulting your veterinarian as soon as possible. If they are suffering...