Diabetes What is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which your pet’s pancreas can no longer produce enough of the hormone insulin and/or for some reason their body has become resistant to the effects of insulin.What does insulin do? Every time your pet eats a meal, glucose is absorbed from the intestines and enters …
Monthly Archives: May 2015
Osteoarthritis – Dogs
Osteoarthritis If your dog doesn’t jump to greet you on your return home each evening, there may be a good reason – osteoarthritis. A chronic, degenerative joint disease that makes movement difficult and painful, osteoarthritis mainly strikes pets in their middle and senior years. However, younger animals can also be affected. In fact, studies show …
Bereavement
Bereavement Dealing with the Loss of a Pet The death of a beloved pet can be very distressing. Our pets are not only members of the family, they are our faithful friends, our children’s devoted playmates and reliable, affectionate companions for the elderly or disabled. They enrich our day-to-day lives and their passing makes for …
Allergies in Dogs
Allergies Like people, dogs can suffer from allergies. As in the human population, the incidence of allergies in pets seems to be increasing. While allergic humans may often sneeze, wheeze or even have serious respiratory difficulties, allergic reactions in pets are characterized by skin problems, exacerbated by their primary symptom—itching and scratching. Cat and dog …
Your Senior Dog
Your Senior Dog Old age is not a disease As a result of advances in veterinary medicine, more knowledgeable care and improved nutrition, dogs are now living much longer, healthier lives. But, just as for humans, the passage of time has its effects, and you may begin to notice that your once-frisky pet seems to …
Behavior – Dogs
Behavior Good communication builds good relationships Just as between people, good relationships between dogs and their owners are based on good communication. Dogs communicate between themselves by means of body signals. It’s only natural, then, that they’ll use the same method to communicate with people. Your responsibility as a pet owner is to learn to …
Pre/Post Operation
Pre/Post Operation Cutting through all the information Due to illness, disease or trauma, your pet may one day require surgery. While potentially stressful (for both you and your pet) there are a few basic guidelines that you can follow that will make the process as complication-free as possible and put your pet on the fast …
Household Dangers
Household Dangers Pet Proofing your Home Just as parents ‘childproof’ their home, so should pet owners ‘petproof’ theirs. Four-legged members of the family, like infants and small children, are naturally curious and love to explore their environment with their paws, claws and mouths. But they can’t know what is dangerous and what is not… so …
Travelling with your Pet
Travelling with your Pet Before you go Ask yourself: will my cat or dog be comfortable and happy on a trip? Some animals simply prefer to stay at home and a “homesick”, possibly motion-sick pet will ruin everyone’s trip. In such a case it’s probably wiser to leave your pet with a friend, relative or …
Ear Care – Dogs
Ear Care Clean, odour-free, pale pink colour and a minimal accumulation of wax are indications of healthy ears. Check your pet’s ears regularly.Signs of Ear Disease Unpleasant odour Excessive scratching and pawing of the ear and head Sensitivity to touch, often resulting in pain Constant tilting/shaking of the head to one side Black or yellowish …