The Not So Sweet Truth About Artificial Sweeteners for Dogs
Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs If you’re a human, a sugar substitute may be beneficial. But if you’re a dog, it can be deadly. The substitute xylitol is potentially lethal. Two Deadly Effects Hypoglycemia In the canine body, the pancreas confuses xylitol with real sugar and releases insulin to store the sugar. The problem is that xylitol […]
Breast Cancer in Cats and Dogs
Whether female, male, human, animal adult or child, every mammal has breast tissue and all tissue runs the risk of developing cancer. Most of us know a friend or family member that has come down with breast cancer. Hard as it is to believe, so can companion animals, October is Breast Cancer awareness month. In […]
Keeping Pets Safe for July 4th Festivities
July 4th Safety Fireworks, picnics and other Fourth of July traditions can be great fun for people; but all of the festivities can be frightening and even dangerous for animals. Noisy fireworks and other celebrations can startle animals and cause them to run away; holiday foods can be unhealthy; summer heat and travel can be […]
Seeing is Believing – Clarity on Cataracts and How to Treat Them
The normal lens of the eye is used to focus. It is completely clear and is suspended inside the pupil. The pupil opens and closes to control the light entering the eye so as to project an image onto the retina in the back of the eye, the way a projector projects an image onto […]
Seizures in Dogs and Cats
Seizures and Convulsions: First Aid A seizure is any sudden and uncontrolled movement of the animal’s body caused by abnormal brain activity. Seizures may be very severe and affect all of the body, or quite mild, affecting only a portion of the pet. The pet may or may not seem conscious or responsive, and may […]
Bladder Stones (Struvite) in Cats
Struvite is a urinary mineral composed of ammonium, phosphate, and magnesium. These three substances are common in urine and if they exist in high enough concentrations, they will bind together in the form of crystals. Struvite crystals are normally found in urine and have no significance on their own. Problems occur when these crystals combine […]
Bladder Stones (Oxalate) in Cats
Common Feline Bladder Stones Are Oxalate or Struvites. Today we focus on oxalate; tomorrow struvites Discovering your Cat Has a Bladder Stone Presumably you are reading this article because your cat has been diagnosed with a calcium oxalate bladder stone, or at least some kind of bladder stone, and you seek more information. Your cat almost certainly […]
Urinary Obstruction in Cats – a Life-Threatening Emergency
When something happens to stem the flow of a cat’s urine, trouble ensues – and fast. Urine has lots of good things in it. In many cases, they are substances that cats or people can’t live without, such as potassium, sodium, and water. A body, and most specifically the kidneys, senses and adjusts the composition […]
Bacterial Causes of Diarrhea in Puppies and Kittens
Bacterial diarrheas are generally a nuisance for the adult animal but can be lethal to a small puppy, kitten, or even a human baby. Most of these problems stem from contaminated food or fecal contaminated environment. Raw food diets for pets dramatically increase the risk of human exposure. Since these conditions are also human diseases, […]
Cat Scratch Fever
It’s more than a song; it’s a disease of cats that can be transmitted to people. This is a fever spread by cat scratches. In fact, it involves infection by bacteria of the genus Bartonella. Of the 24 Bartonella species, 14 of which can infect humans and five of which are harbored by cats. The […]