Animal health

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...

If you think your cat is pregnant, whether planned or unplanned, you need some basic information about what to expect and how to ensure 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...

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...

Famciclovir is a prodrug, meaning it's 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...

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...

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 canine medicine, it usually appears in individuals with Cushing's syndrome or those subjected to prolonged treatment with corticosteroids. There are...

Cramps can be difficult to detect in a dog's muscles, especially if the dog has long hair. In cases where the cramping is continuous, it is possible to see the dog's muscles twitch under the skin. Often, the dog experiences painful muscle spasms without their guardians noticing. Not only are the symptoms...

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...

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...

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...

At AnimalWised, we understand there are many sensitive issues when it comes to pet care. However, care is the operative word and we strive to provide the best information to make the world better for both individual animals and the animal community as a whole. Few topics are as sensitive as animal abortion....

Commonly sold under the brand name Zantac, ranitidine is a drug that inhibits gastric acid secretion in cats. This action is carried out by binding to the H2 receptors in the stomach which are responsible for the release of this acid. For this reason, it is used to treat problems related to stomach...

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...

Omeprazole is an active ingredient from the group of stomach proton pump inhibitors. It is responsible for reducing the production of gastric acid and controlling disorders associated with gastric hypersecretion in cats. You may be more familiar with it in human medicine as it is on the World Health Organization's...

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) is a uterine pathology that frequently affects female dogs and other female mammals. It is a hormone-dependent process which results in an over-proliferation of endometrial gland cells in the uterus occurs. Although it is not a serious disease in itself, it usually evolves...

Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD in dogs is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect different sections of a canine's intestine. While we know the inflammation is due to the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the intestinal mucosa, the underlying cause is not easy to define. We do know there...

It should not be a surprise to cat guardians that coughing up blood is a sign of a health problem. Various underlying causes can lead to blood appearing from the nose or mouth. The threat to the cat's health will depend on this underlying cause, as well as the greater context of the symptom. For example,...

When kittens are born, they are not the 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 rest of their...

Depending on the amount of fur your cat has on their paw, it can be difficult to tell if their paw is swollen. However, once the swelling is developed enough, it will soon be obvious. Even if you cannot see the swelling itself, there will be other symptoms depending on the underlying cause. This inflammatory...

Gastrointestinal disorders are commonplace with cats. Whether caused by physical or psychological stimuli, a cat can have various digestive symptoms which point to a problem with their health. These problems may pass after time or when the underlying cause has been treated. Sometimes more chronic symptoms...

Mastocytoma in cats, otherwise known as mast cell tumors, can be either subcutaneous or visceral. This refers to whether they develop under the skin or on internal tissue, respectively. Subcutaneous mast cell tumors are more common and are the second most prevalent type of malignant tumor in cats. Visceral...

Depending on their weight, length of fur and other factors, we may not initially notice a dog's lymph nodes are swollen. This symptom may only be observed when we pet them around the neck or if we see them struggle with a collar. Often this happens after the inflammation has become extensive. Before we...

There are many conditions which could cause a dog's eye to become red. Looking at the specific symptoms can help us to determine the cause. When there is inflammation, redness in the sclera (white of the eye) or the conjunctiva is red can suggest various infections and ailments. However, when blood...

Hookworms, similar to tapeworms and roundworms, are a group of blood-sucking parasites that can live in your cat's digestive system. They belong to the genus Ancylostoma. These parasites affect a wide variety of mammals, not only cats. They are known as ‘hook worms’ because of the hook-like mouth with which...

Petting and brushing our cat helps to condition their coat, strengthen our bond, and provide all-important affection. It also provides the opportunity to check their skin for any abnormalities. Sometimes inflammation and lumps can be seen when we look at the cat, others are only detectable when we feel them. As...

Ear problems are relatively common in cats. Felines may experience itching, pain, or discomfort to various degrees. As they are very hygienic animals, we should not confuse regular cleaning of their ears for scratching. When a cat has a serious problem with their ears, they will keep scratching at them,...

Eye discharge is a common phenomenon in dogs, just as it is with humans. What we might refer to as sleep, or even eye boogers, is something known scientifically as rhuem. Rhuem is present in the nostrils and mouth also, but it is particularly common in the eyes. While it is normally completely harmless...

It can be difficult to tell when a dog has a swollen throat. A dog's morphology means they have a horizontal body position with their neck and spine in alignment. They need to have strong neck muscles to support their head and to protect their throat. For this reason, when we see swelling in the throat...

Ichthyosis is a skin disease known for causing the hardening of the skin. This seborrheic condition leads to the appearance of grey scales, and it can also result in secondary infections, blisters, onychogryphosis, and hyperkeratosis. While it is a rare disease, it does affect puppies more than adult...

Cats are certainly curious, but when they see potential prey, they are not as scared as they sometimes should be. A small arachnid like a scorpion might seem no match for a looming feline, but the sting in their tail is a significant danger. Not only might a cat stalk and try to kill a scorpion, they will...

Healthy urination is a sign of a healthy rabbit. When they have trouble urinating, it implies their health is at risk. If a rabbit stops peeing altogether, it means you need to take them to a veterinarian immediately. The reasons for a lack of urination in rabbits are varied, but they can be prerenal (the...

During the heat period or postpartum period after labor, it is common for a female dog to have certain amounts of discharge. Outside of these periods, discharge from the dog's privates usually means there is a health problem. The color and consistency of this discharge will help to determine its cause,...

We need to be careful when taking care of a pregnant dog. There are some hidden considerations we need to make in terms of how we treat them. For example, even if they have been prescribed them before, there are certain medications they shouldn't take due to the potential effects on their pregnancy. Even...

Cats will try to catch anything that stimulates their curiosity. Even trying to catch the smallest of creatures can take up the best part of an afternoon. In most cases, a cat won't take on a prey they can't handle. If they have any sense of danger, they are more likely to run away and only attack if...

Is your dog vomiting yellow liquid? Vomiting in dogs is a common problem which naturally causes concern for any dog guardian. When the vomit is yellow with a foam, mucus, or watery consistency, it is particularly alarming. Dog vomiting can be linked to poisoning, indigestion, enteritis, and more. Since...

Cats have an innate hunting instinct which makes them seek out almost anything that moves. When they have access to the outside, their potential prey becomes even more varied. One potential prey for cats is the rat. Depending on their size, some rats can seem more like predators than prey. This can cause...

There are various internal diseases of dogs which can affect organs and tissues of their body. Some of these are medullary, meaning they affect the internal regions of these internal organs and tissues. Bone marrow aplasia is one such disease, affecting the marrow within their bones. The problem is related...

There is a misconception that it is OK for a dog to smell bad. Of course, their lifestyle means they will exude certain scents and there is a natural odor to a healthy dog which can be a little musky. However, the worse a dog smells, the worse their health is likely to be. The reason for a dog smelling...

Although a cat's claws can do severe damage to their prey, they can be a sensitive part of their anatomy. Strong nails imply the cat is in good health and signs of damage to them imply the opposite. Nails are used to defend themselves against threats, climb, manipulate their environment and even mark their...

Skin diseases are one of the most common health problems of guinea pigs. Of these skin diseases, sarcoptic mange is perhaps the most prevalent. Since the symptoms can be similar, many people think of mange as a bacterial infection. It is actually an infestation by parasites. Regardless, the condition causes...

When we adopt a purebred puppy, we can have some idea of what they will look like as an adult. With mixed-breed dogs, their fully developed form can be a little trickier to determine. Part of the joy of adopting a young dog is experiencing what type of animal they will grow up to be. Regardless if they...

Feline plasma cell pododermatitis is a rare disease with a characteristic symptom of swollen feet. It is for this reason it has the common name of ‘pillow paw’ or ‘pillow foot’. The origin of the disease is not completely clear, but it is believed to be immunity-mediated. This means the well-being of the...

Rectal prolapse is not a common problem in dogs. However, if it does occur, its symptoms need to be recognized. Rectal prolapse in dogs occurs more commonly when a dog is giving birth or straining to defecate and is visible to the naked eye. If your dog is suffering from a rectal prolapse, it’s very important...

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...

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,...

If you notice that your cat is bleeding from her private area, it is completely normal to feel alarmed. Generally, if your cat is bleeding from her vulva, it is a sign that she is facing a health problem. Cystitis, uterine infections, trauma or tumors, may be some of the main reasons that could explain...

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...

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...