Bad Breath in Dogs and Cats

Bad breath in cats and dogs – Ron Hines DVM

Tooth and gum problems are the most common medical condition I see in pets. Because bad breath in dogs and cats go hand in hand with other health problems it …

Cat Communication

Cat Communication

Cats may not be able to speak English but they do have many other ways in which they can ‘talk’ to you. Cats are cognitive animals, they solve problems just like any other highly developed species. Cats can …

Blastomycosis in dogs

Perhaps you have heard of ‘blasto’ in dogs, it’s an important disease that all dog owners should be aware of.

Blastomycosis dermatitidis is the most common systemic mycosis of dogs. Systemic meaning that it can affect the whole body, and mycosis, meaning that it is caused by a fungus. It is called ‘dermatitidis’ because it affects primarily the skin, but it can also affect other body parts, such as the vascular system.

Blastomycosis is largely confined to the Ohio, St. Lawrence and Mississippi river-drained areas of North America. It is a soil organism, which can be inhaled by a dog. It is often found growing on dead leaves along a river. The classic case of a dog getting blasto is a young male hunting dog following a trail and sniffing eagerly along a river-bank. It is most common from August to October, since this is when leaves are falling off trees and the mould version of the fungus can grow upon them.

Tip 81 – Scooting – dog or cat rubs bum on the floor – anal sac problems in dogs and cats

Although more common in dogs than cats, scooting is the action of a pet that drags its bum on the floor. The cat or dog literally moves using its two front paws while its whole backside gets dragged. It may …

Pet Food – Choosing Dog and Cat Food

Shopping for your pet’s meal can sometimes be as confusing as shopping for an electronic device such as a cell phone. Which one is the best? Am I getting a good deal? Is there any fine print? How reliable is …

Top 3 Cat Skin Disorders

There are many different skin disorders that can affect cats and the reasons for them are numerous. This article hopes to briefly outline the top 3 skin disorders that affect cats and these conditions are;

Feline Alopecia: “Alopecia” is simply the technical name for bald spots. A cat suffering form this is itchy, may bite at its hair, and often has behavioural changes too. The cause of alopecia can be anything from a hypersensitivity reaction (such as an ‘allergy’ to fleas, for example), parasites (such as lice or mites), ringworm (which is a fungus) or even psychogenic, where they have a behavioural/psychological disorder and are ripping out their own hair.

Depending on what the cause is, the affected cat will show different symptoms, and thus need different treatments. One great way of finding out what is going on is by doing a skin scraping. To do this, a vet will use a blunt blade that is gently scraped against the skin, while the cat is under sedation.

Getting a Second Dog

Are two always better than one? It is often tempting to add a second dog to the family, whether for your own enjoyment or just to keep your current dog company. Two dogs will give you twice and fun and …

Dog Tails – Docking Tails

Many people don’t really understand what tail-docking is and there is actually a big debate about the practise of tail-docking. People question whether or not it is humane. Perhaps after this article, you can understand what the argument is, decide …

Myasthenia Gravis in Dogs

Perhaps it started when your dog stopped wanting to go for long walks. You thought that maybe it was just getting old. But then it started having trouble even walking around the house, and began to look exhausted and shaky …

Fat puppies – puppies on a diet

Everyone likes to see healthy, happy puppies bouncing around. How can we tell if a puppy is healthy? Usually we look at its energy level, fur, and weight. In general, people think that a healthy puppy has a round little …