Featured Articles
Joint Care Diets for Dogs – Pet tip 237
Joint care diets are designed to help manage a variety of conditions, and can be a great adjunct to treatment plans that target joint-related injuries and diseases in dogs. These diets are commonly used to manage pre-existing diseases such as …
Pet Rats and Tumors
As pets, rats can be a great alternative to owning dogs or cats. However, they are not without their own set of health problems, one of the most common of which is tumors.
Before we start talking about the different …
Cataract Surgery in Dogs
Have you ever wondered how cataract surgery is actually performed? If so, read on as it really is a very interesting procedure! Cataract surgery is formally known as phacoemulsification. “Phaco” stands for lens, and to ‘emulsify’ means to break down. This is a great name for this procedure, because this is exactly what it is!
Normally the lens in the eye is a clear soft structure that allows light to easily pass through it. If there is any opacity on the lens, it is known as a cataract. A cataract occurs when proteins in the eye leak into the lens, and start to harden. A general rule of thumb is that if you cannot see into an animal’s eyes clearly, then it can’t see out at you clearly! Thus in a cataract, if the entire lens is opaque due to the protein that has leaked out, then the animal’s vision is reduced.
Cataract surgery involves two main tools; one to break up the cataract into smaller pieces, and the other to vacuum the pieces out of the eye. To begin, the animal is placed under general anesthesia so that it is completely unconscious during the procedure.
Mouthing, Nipping, Biting in Puppies
Why is my puppy nipping and biting? Mouthy biting behaviour in puppies
Although often thought to be a teething behavior, nipping, mouthing and biting in young dogs is generally a form of social play. Teething is more likely to involve …
Dogs in their golden years – elderly dogs – pet tip 141
Congratulations! Your dog has reached its golden years! After all those years of romping around, giving you love and giving you a hard time, it is now time for your dog to slow down the pace a little bit. This …
Veterinary Homeopathy
Veterinary Homeopathy “Homeopathy for pets, you say? I thought that was just for people!” That’s a common misperception among a growing number of clients I see that are involved with alternatives for their own health. With today’s growing demands on …
Pet Degus
Degus have not been on the pet scene for long, but people are falling in love with these affectionate, sociable little animals. Degus come from the foothills of the Andes in South America and were imported into North America in …
Deaf Dogs
How to determine if your dog is deaf – what a deaf dog needs from you
The story of Jacob, the deaf Boston Terrier, might make you second guess your own dog’s hearing ability. But how can you determine if …
Therapy Dogs – Canine Therapy
The human-animal bond is strong. Dogs were amongst the first animals to be domesticated, and as they proved their worth as hunters, guards and companions, the bond has continued to grow stronger. Many people will agree that animals can make …
