Animal first aid
Learn more about animal first aid by exploring our site and become a true expert on the animal kingdom. You'll find content created for the best professionals with pictures, videos and opinions.
42 articles
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in dogs, affecting roughly 1 in 100. While watching your pet experience a seizure can be intensely frightening, understanding this condition can help you provide better care and reduce anxiety for both you and your dog. The good news is that...
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...
While their curiosity can be endearing, it can also lead dogs to consumer foreign bodies which can pose serious health problems. Dogs rely heavily on their senses of smell and taste to explore the world around them. Unfortunately, this means that they may find objects that pique their interest or seem particularly...
The healing process of a cat's spay incision will most likely pass without incident, as long as the precautions detailed by your veterinarian are closely observed. While some cats may react differently than others, it is important to remember it is a safe procedure which provides important benefits to...
Dogs can often eat otherwise inedible objects with relative ease and suffer no obvious ill effects. This does not mean they are incapable of choking. In many ways, dogs are more prone to choking. They use their mouths to interact with their environment and chewing is a common behavior. Whether a ball,...
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...
The convalescence period for a dog after surgery will depend on various factors which will be best determined by your veterinarian. The most routine surgical procedure for dogs is neutering, usually castration for males and spaying for females. Although invasive, it is a common operation which rarely...
Hydrogen peroxide has been used to treat wound healing in human medicine for many years. Despite conflicting reports on its efficacy, many still use it for treating various issues and wonder if they can use the same product on their pets. Hydrogen peroxide is a compound that has been used for a long time...
It is very important we take note of the color of a dog's mucous membranes. Similar to how changes in the eye can point to systemic health problems, paleness or discoloration of the mucous membranes can mean they are suffering from a medical issue. The mucous membranes are transition tissues between the dermis...
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...
Syncope in dogs is the scientific term for fainting. When a dog faints they momentarily lose consciousness and their physical faculties, specifically their muscle movement. Although they only happen for a short time, they can be very worrying, especially if the dog keeps fainting over a long period of time. To...
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...
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...
When we combine a cat's natural curiosity with an innate hunting instinct, they can get themselves into trouble. With the limited fauna of our homes and gardens, even the smallest insect can be a cat's white whale. Bees and wasps are large prey when compared with other insect species we might find near...
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...
When caring for a dog, it is very important to keep their health care in mind as accidents will occur and we must be ready. Having a first aid kit for dogs at home is a great way to be prepared for these situations, as well as knowing how to treat common dog wounds.
In this AnimalWised article we're going...
When taking our dogs on walks, they are exposed to different animals, places, people and insects. As dogs are naturally curious animals, it's not surprising that they may get a little too close to a spider.
In this AnimalWised article we're going to focus on spider bites in dogs. Therefore, if your dog...
Many people are rightly concerned about having an allergy to cats. When exposed, severe cat allergy sufferers may experience anaphylaxis, an acute allergic reaction which threatens their life. Such an emphasis on allergies to cats may make us forget that cats themselves can have allergies. The presence...
As dogs are naturally curious and active animales, they often try to discover their environment. However, how they do so sometimes leaves us a little confused. For example, why did my dog eat soap? Is soap toxic to dogs?
In this AnimalWised article, we are going to tell you what you should do if your...
Dogs are very curious animals, when we take them out on walks they want to discover their environment. Depending where you live, it's not uncommon for dogs to find themselves with a snake. Since snakes are cold blooded animals, they can adapt to almost any type of climate. If your dog gets bit by a snake that...
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...
While domestic dogs do not need to use their claws for hunting prey like their wild counterparts, they are necessary for basic movement. They keep the dog balanced, allow them to interact with their environment and grip slippery surfaces. These all help to both maintain their safety and lead their best...
Before they become so popular as companion animals, rabbits had been used by humans in various cultures for their fur. The tri-layered fur of a rabbit's coat keeps the rabbit insulated against the often freezing temperatures of their natural habitat. While they will shed when the temperatures rise, they...
Cats can act weird after flea treatment due to many reasons, including simple confusion at the application. There are some reasons why nervous, agitated or weird behavior can be a sign of a problem. The most significant is when it is a symptom of flea treatment poisoning in cats. Flea treatment is toxic...
When a cat passes out, we will understandably grow concerned. Losing consciousness, even temporarily, is a sign of a problem. Whether this is a serious or minor health problem, finding out why is my cat fainting? is imperative. If there is a serious disease, then we need to achieve a diagnosis to find...
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...
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...
When a cat has a bloody nose, they have epistaxis. This is the scientific name for a nosebleed, something which can cause understandable concern for a cat guardian. While nasal bleeding is often associated with physical trauma, it is possible the blood is generated due to other problems. These can range...
Dehydration is a condition that does not only affect humans, but animals too. Dehydration in our dogs can appear due to many different causes. Dehydration has different degrees of severity. It is incredibly important that dog owners are familiar with the signs and symptoms of dehydration in dogs. Dehydration...
No cat of any breed is invincible. While some may have good genes and be provided with a loving and safe environment, the nature of illness means it can affect anyone, even if you're a cat. As pet owners, it is our duty to keep an eye on any issues our cat may be going through so we can find the right...
It is no secret that a cat's curiosity has no limits. Exploring an unknown space, examining what you do, meddling around with anything that catches their attention is a completely normal behavior in them, but sometimes it brings negative consequences.
This curiosity can lead the cat to ingest substances...
When a dog has something stuck in their throat, it can pose a serious choking hazard. The degree of severity will depend on certain factors such as the location of the object, its size and even its shape. Sharp objects are both more likely to stick in your dog's throat and to cause a greater degree...
What dog does not like to play outdoors? Dogs are perfectly suited to family life; they enjoy running wild as much as they enjoy going out with us in our leisure time. However, going out in the warmer seasons requires special attention. We must be very careful to keep our pet hydrated, but we must also...
The body of your canine friend is very complex. In fact, it bears heavy similarities with the human body on both an anatomical and physiological level. This means it's susceptible to contracting various diseases.
Inflammation or the inflammatory process is not a serious condition, and neither is it considered...
Unfortunately, many cats are hit by cars and run over. Both stray and domestic animals perish every year on the roads. Often they are blinded by a car's headlights and are stunned so they cannot escape. It is also all too common for cats to take refuge under a car to avoid the sun. They take a nap and...
Birds are very sensitive and complex animals. Their legs are particularly fragile, and they can fracture fairly easily from a hit or a bad fall. In this AnimalWised article we will share the first aid steps you should take to help a bird that has suffered a fracture, since it is often difficult to find an...
All birds bred in captivity must wear a ring or band around their ankle. In fact, you should stay away from birds without a leg band, as it acts as an identity document for the bird and it includes lots of encrypted information such as its date of birth, origin and information about the breeder. The...
Pine processionary (Thaumetopea pityocampa) is a very particular kind of moth; its life cycle includes, of course, a caterpillar stage, which has a well-known behavior. During the process of metamorphosis, these dangerous insects walk down from the pines where they had nested in columns, creating an actual...
When a dog bites a toad, it can lead to a potentially dangerous situation. Certain species of toads, such as the cane toad or toads from the genus Bufo, secrete toxins through their skin as a defense mechanism. These toxins contain chemicals known as bufotoxins, which can be harmful to dogs if ingested....
It is a well-known fact that cats are very careful animals, but like most other living things, they are curious and likely to make mistakes or be attacked. Because of these oversights and external attacks, our whiskered friends can be accidentally poisoned.
If you're thinking about adopting a cat,...
If you have dogs or you are thinking of getting one as an addition to the family they you will be interested in this AnimalWised article where we will address a very important issue that we must be aware of to ensure the health of our dog and even save its life in the case of accident. We are talking about...