Issue 9: November 2003

Welcome to our ninth issue of the Pets.ca newsletter. This issue starts off the Christmas season (yes it has started) with a story on buying a new puppy. Thousands of people get pets as gifts for Christmas, and within a …

Common Ferret Diseases

Ferrets are sweet, intelligent little animals that many of us love. Before introducing one to your family however, there are a few things to know about ferrets, namely the common diseases they may suffer from. Here is a list of some of the diseases that ferrets commonly get, along with how they are diagnosed and treated.

Pyoderma: Pyoderma literally means pus (pyo-) in the skin (derm-). This is due to a bacterial infection; usually secondary to trauma or self-inflicted wounds from having itchy skin. Clinical signs are variable, either from mild superficial lesions to areas of furunculosis, which means the hair follicle itself is completely damaged from all the bacteria hiding in and around the hair shaft.

Lead Poisoning in Cats, Dogs and Birds

Lead poisoning in cats and dogs

Unlike the dramatic onset of clinical signs seen with most small animal poisonings, lead poisoning often has an insidious onset. The potential sources of lead for domestic animals are numerous and widespread. Ingestion of …

Dogs eating grass – Pet tip 18

Dogs eating grass? Some people will have never heard of this before as their dog has never exhibited this behaviour, but others may be wondering why their dog sometimes acts like a lawnmower. The reasons are not clearly known, but …

Dog Noses – Tip 92

Has your dog ever sniffed the air or ground and then seemed to follow some predetermined path you can’t see? Your dog’s sense of smell is one of the primary senses he/she uses. The anatomy of the nose and the …

Calming Signals from Dogs

Calming signals are a natural way for your dog to communicate. They are used among dogs as well as most other animal species as a conflict solving method when faced with unpleasant things such as aggression, stress and fear, or …

Siamese Cats – Pet tip 108

Although many people will say that they cannot tell different cat breeds apart as easily as dog breeds, there are a few cat breeds that are easy to spot and one of them is the Siamese cat. Siamese cats originated …

Surgery in Cats and Dogs

In North America, every household pet is likely to undergo at least one surgery throughout its lifetime. Surgery, in veterinary medicine, refers to more invasive procedures usually performed under general anesthesia. The most common surgery performed is the spaying or …

Hypothyroid Problems in Pets

If your pet has a problem with excessive shedding or seems too tired to play catch, it may be a sign of a thyroid problem. Dr. Ian explains what causes this disease and how it is treated.

Hypothyroidism usually caused …

Stolen Dogs and Cats- Pet tip 235

You take your dog on a walk and decide to do a quick errand at the same time. So you tie your dog to a parking sign and go into the grocery store for fifteen minutes. Your dog is well …