Although there is no cure for DM or Degenerative Myelopathy, owners of various dog breeds prone to DM development have found several treatments prior to a DM diagnosis to be effective in prolonging their dog’s mobility once DM has developed. Talk to your vet to learn ways to help prepare your Dachshund should he develop DM. For instance, some German Shepherd and Boxer owners have found that exercise, diet, medication and other supportive means beginning at an early age can help prolong mobility for their dog in his later years whether he develops DM or not. Because DM is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system, some vets have recommended (if possible in your region) to avoid standard heartworm and flea prevention as these increase immune responsiveness. Talk to your veterinarians Westlake Village CA to learn more about DM and what you can do for your pup.

Has your Japanese Bobtail recently been diagnosed with epilepsy? If so then you should talk with your vet about medications, treatment plans, and long-term care. Feline epilepsy generally occurs when your Japanese Bobtail is overcome with sudden or periodic seizures. Like human seizures, feline seizures are believed to be related to the miscommunication of neurons in the cerebrum of the brain. The cause for these miscommunication; however, is unknown. Once your vet has diagnosed your Japanese Bobtail’s epilepsy through a variety of tests and scans, he will be able to prescribe a treatment plan. For instance, if an underlying cause is determined then the cause will be treated. It is important to note that treatment for epilepsy is not a cure. Treatment is given in hopes of decreasing the frequency, severity, and duration of the seizures in your Japanese Bobtail. For more information visit website http://vetthous ... Read more »

If your Japanese Bobtail is having trouble moving around then he might have a mobility health issue going on. One of the best things to do is talk to your vet and schedules an exam for your bobtail. Your Japanese Bobtail may be developing arthritis, degenerative joint disease or some other type of disease related to joints. One such disease possibility is Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon. This condition occurs when the spinal cord is severed or cut across by a small lesion on the cat’s lower back. The lesion can occur due to trauma to the spine or even intervertebral disk disease, which is more common. Symptoms of Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon include an unusual gait, inability to walk, inability to stand, rigidly extended forelimbs, and possible paralysis of the hind limbs. If your Japanese Bobtail is displaying any of these symptoms call your vet right away. Only your pet clinic Westlake Village CA can make ... Read more »

Having a rabbit can be extremely rewarding, but only if you take care of him properly. Here are a few things your rabbit wants you to know.

Your rabbit definitely wants to tell you all about how he likes to stay clean. Rabbits clean themselves regularly and they can even be potty trained. If your rabbit had things his way, his litter box and cage would be cleaned every day.

Your rabbit wants you to know that he loves to snack! Although he would definitely prefer to snack on high-sugar treats like bananas and raspberries, make sure you don’t go overboard.

Your bunny wants to come out and play more! Make sure you spend plenty of time playing with your pet outside the cage.

Your bunny wants to stay in good health too, which means scheduling regular appointments with your vet clinic Tigard OR.

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If you own an Alpine goat then you probably know a few ways to help keep your goat warm during the rainy seasons as well as the colder months of fall and winter. If you’re not sure, just give your vet a call and ask about ways to keep your goat warm. For instance, if the temperature drops overnight in the spring or summer due to rain then you may want to add extra straw or even alfalfa to your goat’s stall. Alfalfa tends to create extra warmth and heat. Some goat owners will give their goats an extra scoop of grain late at night. Continuous grazing and eating also helps. If your Alpine goat has a nice somewhat thick coat then you probably don’t have to worry about him getting too cold. You can always ask your veterinarian Marquette, MI if you should blanket your goat. To know more, visit this link.

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It’s a good idea to do a general inspection of your dog at least once a week, but some areas are likely to get overlooked. Here’s what to look for when you inspect your dog’s ears.

First, make sure there are no foreign objects stuck inside your dog’s ears. Burs are common culprits, but even bits of grass and small twigs can end up in the ears. It is especially important that you take a close look if your dog has floppy ears as they can trap debris inside the ear canal.

You should also be looking to see how clean your dog’s ears are. If they seem a little dirty, you can use a cotton ball and a gentle dog-friendly cleanser to clean out the inside of each ear.

If you think something may be wrong with your dog’s ears, schedule an appointment with your veterinarians Habersham County GA.

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There are so many activities that pet owners and their pets enjoy during summer. Almost all of these festivities and merriment are held outdoors and people like to wear glow-in-the-dark accessories or play with glow sticks. Some people even place a glow necklace on their pet’s neck, leash, or collar. Many of these accessories are also left lying around the house.

Cats can be easily fascinated by these items that glow in the dark and will play with them –batting, nipping, swiping them around and even bite into the “toy”. Almost 90% of cases to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center are ingestion of glow accessories by cats.

Glow-in-the-dark accessories or sticks are filled with dibutyl phthalate, an oily liquid that is generally more of an irritant than a poisonous one. It has an extremely bitter taste and since pets are unable to spit it out, they start to drool uncontrollably. Some even vomit and become agitated or aggressive, and even hide u ... Read more »

Fatty liver disease is a common illness in a variety of chickens including the Black Australorp. This particular disease is most often caused by nutritional and metabolic issues such as a lack of biotin (or a water soluble B vitamin). A type of fatty liver disease is the Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS), which is caused by many related factors including hormonal, nutritional and toxicological causes. This disease can affect a single Black Australorp or the entire flock no matter their ages. It can occur when large amounts of fat are deposited into the liver. The liver cannot break down such large amounts and may become enlarged and quit functioning. When this happens the chicken can hemorrhage from the swollen liver and even die. FLHS is known to occur in laying hens that are straining to lay an egg. For additional information, contact your veterinarian Marquette, MI.

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Did you know that chickens, like the Albino chicken, do not sweat in order to stay cool? Albino chickens don’t even have sweat glands to allow them to sweat if they wanted to. However, Albino chickens do pant. Like dogs, the Albino chicken cools himself by panting. Chickens are able to keep cool through ridding their bodies of heat through panting. Panting actually evaporates water located on the surface tissue of the lungs. For example, an Albino chicken draws air into his lungs where a “heat exchange” takes place. When he exhales, he sends out most of the warm air and is therefore able to lower his body temperature. If the outside temperature is extremely warm and it doesn’t appear that your chicken is panting to keep cool then you should call your vet. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke can happen rapidly if not caught and treated by your veterinarian Marquette, MI immediately.

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Are the temperatures a little cold outside? Are you trying to decide if your Alpine goat needs a blanket or not? In general, most goats do not need blankets in the winter season or in the rainy season. If your Alpine doesn’t have much of a coat before winter, don’t worry. Many goats will start to grow their coat as soon as they feel a temperature drop. If your Alpine is an elderly goat with a thin coat then your vet may recommend a thin blanket even if the temperatures outside aren’t that cold. Blankets designed for Alpines and other goats can usually be found online or possibly where you buy you horse’s winter blankets. However, some goat owners have used large canine jackets and even thermal shirts as makeshift blankets. In addition to blanketing an elderly Alpine, you may also need to blanket a baby. Talk with your vet Ishpeming, MI to find out the best solution.

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Are you looking for a different type of treat to feed your Basset Hound? Contact your vet for a list of helpful suggestions. If your currently feeding your Basset treats, check the ingredients label and nutrition label to make sure your not giving your dog a large amount of calories or sugars. Again, your vet can help you figure out if what your currently feeding is healthy or not. Sometimes shopping for all natural treats is better although you still need to read the labels. If you’re looking for treat alternatives, check out your local farmers market or produce store for fresh fruits and vegetables. Carrots, cucumbers, apples, water melon and other fruits and veggies can make great treats. Just make sure you don’t feed your Basset any cores or seeds from fruit. You can find many helpful lists of dog friendly veggie options online. You can also ask your vet Ishpeming, MI for a list of safe produce. Visit this ... Read more »

Looking for ways to reward or train your Corriedale sheep? Try giving him treats on occasion. Offering your Corriedale a treat can help you when training him to come when called or to stay still when told not to move. If you’re not sure what kind of treats to offer your Corriedale, just give your vet a call. Some sheep owners recommend sticking with commercial treats that are specifically made for sheep as other treats such as horse treats are made with high levels of copper which could hurt sheep. There are some sheep owners who feed their sheep animal crackers while others prefer to add a little corn or even alfalfa cubes every now and again. What you feed your sheep is a matter of personal preference. Just make sure you talk to your vet clinic Ishpeming, MI before giving your sheep a new treat or food.

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When iguanas lack the exposure to sunlight or an artificial light source, they are unable to maintain an ideal body temperature that can help them have an efficient digestion. Moreover, the lack of natural sunlight, specifically vitamin D3, can affect the iguana’s ability to absorb calcium. In captivity, installing UVB artificial lights may be sufficient for the purpose. Lack of natural sunlight can pave the way for the development of metabolic bone disease (MBD) in iguanas. There are important factors which have been identified in the development of MBD in pet iguanas even when artificial lighting has been provided. These factors include the following:

• Artificial lights may not be able to provide sufficient amounts and/or spectrum width that are present in natural sunlight.
• There is a need to replace artificial UV lights at frequent intervals because some lose their UV spectrum even while still radiating visible light.
• Pet iguanas in larger ... Read more »

Dogs like to itch and scratch, and they have a lot of reasons to! Is it possible for a dog to scratch too much?

Dogs can definitely get carried away when it comes to itching and scratching. Fleas are the most common reason why dogs scratch too much, but dogs can also develop an allergy that causes itchy skin. Mites and even psychological problems can also cause excessive scratching.

If your dog scratches too much, he can end up tearing out his own hair. With no hair to protect the skin, your dog will likely create sores that can easily become infected if not properly treated.

In order to keep your dog from scratching too much, you have to figure out exactly what’s wrong with him. To get to the root of your dog’s scratching problem, schedule an appointment with your vet Pinecrest, FL.

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Do you own goats like the Alpine goat on your farm? If so, do your goats have horns? Some farmers believe the horns should be trimmed or removed in order to protect other goats and people that are working with the goats. This can be a sensitive subject. The more you know the better equipped you will be when you make the decision for your goats. Some Alpine goat owners “disbud” their goats to prevent the horns from growing. Some goats are born “polled” or naturally without horns. Most goats do not have to have their horns trimmed or removed and it is imply the choice of the owner. In rare instances, an Alpine goat will need his horns removed for his own health. For instance, the goat’s horns may grow straight back and eventually cut into the goat’s neck or body. For more information about your goat’s horns give your vet Ishpeming, MI a call.

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Ferrets suffering from adrenal disease commonly experience hair loss that usually starts at or near the animal’s tail and progressing toward the head. Female ferrets with adrenal disease seem to be in heat, with their vulva prominently enlarged. On other hand, affected male ferret have find it difficult to urinate as a result of an enlarged prostrate. Some males may also exhibit increased aggressive and/or sexual behavior. Some ferrets will become weak and lethargic; and some lose their muscle tone. For the most part, these symptoms are brought by sexual hormones produced by the adrenal glands. These hormones include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Normally, the adrenal glands don’t produce sexual hormones in disease-free ferrets. Over 50% of ferrets in the US will manifest symptoms of adrenal disease as adults, most between 3-6 weeks of age. A genetic factor is likely to be involved. Your ... Read more »

Guinea pigs are highly social and very vocal. Understanding your pig’s sounds can help you know your pig better. Guinea pigs are known for their ubiquitous squealing and wheeking. Sometimes it’s a cry for attention or to make you alert to something he notices. You can also anticipate a very animated and urgent series of squealing and wheeking when it’s mealtime, starting as soon as you start gathering your pig’s food together. Pigs also make a purring sound to indicate that they are comfortable and content. Your pig may also make a little murmuring or clucking kind of sound when he is busy or preoccupied in the cage. He is happy exploring. All of these are good sounds. However if you hear a loud shriek, your guinea pig may be in pain or very frightened. Check on him immediately. Contact your Fayetteville, NC vet to learn more.

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Taking care of a gerbil is similar to other pocket pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters or mice. Gerbils are about the size of a hamster. They often stand on their hind legs. Like mice, they are very fast so you need to protect them from escaping during their daily exercise time outside the cage. Never use a hamster wheel with your gerbil since their tail could get caught in it and injured. Hamsters will fight if kept together but gerbils prefer to live in a group so consider keeping a pair or more together. They are very social and will play with each other and cuddle to keep warm. Commercially available gerbil food provides a good mix of seeds and grain to keep your gerbil healthy. Fruits and vegetables can be given as a treat. Gerbils need fresh, clean water at all times. Learn more from your veterinary clinic Hendersonville NC.

Your bird is a wonderful friend, and you want to make sure he is able to entertain himself even when you are otherwise occupied. This can be done by providing him with a variety of toys to keep his attention while he is in his cage.

To choose the best toys, you will want to make an effort to get a few different options for him. These toys should vary in a few different ways, like in use, visual appeal, and where they can be placed within your bird’s cage. This will help to keep your pet engaged, as he will be able to move onto another activity that is entirely different should he become bored with one option. Also, be sure that everything is made for your feathery friend to use, so you can be sure it’s safe for him. Your local Coronado CA veterinarian can help you care for your pet. Click here for additional information.

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