Cerebellar Hypoplasia – the cat that wobbles
A cat with cerebellar hypoplasia is abnormal from infancy, though it may not be clear that something is wrong until the kittens are toddling around with some coordination. The cat with this disease clearly has balance issues: he walks with his legs widely placed for fear of falling and places his feet clumsily. He often […]
The Little-Known Coccidia Parasite
Coccidia Infects Intestines of Cats and Dogs Coccidia are single-celled organisms that infect the intestine. They are microscopic parasites detectable on routine fecal tests in the same way that worms are, but coccidia are not worms and are not susceptible to deworming medications. They are also not visible to the naked eye. Coccidia infection causes a […]
Cervical (Neck) Disk Disease in Dogs and Cats
Cervical (neck) disk disease is an intervertebral disk pressing on the spinal cord, causing pressure and pain. It’s essentially the same condition as intervertebral disk disease, except it occurs in the neck instead of in the back. Intervertebral disks are located between the vertebrae (bones of the spine). Each disk has two parts, a fibrous outer […]
Decreased and loss of Appetite in Cats and Dogs
Anorexia, or Lack of Appetite, in Dogs and Cats Appetite loss (anorexia) and appetite reduction are two symptoms in illness assessment and they must be noticed and acted on quickly. It’s fair to wait 24-48 hours so long as the pet maintains hydration one way or another and recovers promptly, but if poor appetite or […]
Separation Anxiety in Dogs Could be a Disaster
The worst cases of separation anxiety present an unlivable disaster for the pet owner. The animal becomes destructive, soils the house, and vocalizes loudly and unabashedly. Since the behavior occurs almost exclusively when the pet is alone, there is nothing to stop him from creating a spectacular mess and annoying the neighbors every time the […]
Liver Disease in Cats
Cholangitis and Cholangiohepatitis in Cats Cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts) and cholangiohepatitis (inflammation of the bile ducts and the liver) are common problems in cats. Cats with cholangitis do not usually appear ill; cats with cholangiohepatitis usually appear ill. Cause The two main causes of cholangitis and cholangiohepatitis are a bacterial infection (pancreatitis, enteritis) […]
Chronic Bronchitis in Dogs
What is Bronchitis? Most of us have heard of bronchitis and most of us have probably suffered from it at some point. The bronchi are the larger airways through which air is moved throughout the lungs. The trachea (windpipe) brings air from the throat down into the chest and branches into two mainstem bronchi, one […]
Things for the Outdoor Cat
When thinking about the health needs and risks faced by cats, outdoor cats require slightly different care. For instance, indoor/outdoor cats come in contact with fatal infectious diseases transmitted cat-to-cat. Diseases like: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Feline Leukemia Virus Because of this, annual testing for these viruses is imperative. Vaccinations Indoor cats typically need core […]
Bones are Bad for Dogs
There are no bones about it, bones are bad for dogs. Even the FDA felt strongly enough on the topic and recently posted an article about the ill-effects of bones on dogs, pet owners should take heed; it’s something general practitioners, emergency veterinarians and veterinary dentists have said for years. Below are some of the problems: Pet Illnesses […]
Heart Disease in Cats
Cardiomyopathy in Cats Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats today. Cardiomyopathy means heart (cardio) muscle (myo) disease (pathy). Other cardiomyopathies in cats that you may hear your veterinarian discuss are: Dilated cardiomyopathy Restrictive cardiomyopathy Unclassified cardiomyopathy Dilated Cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) used to be a much more common disease in cats […]