Cats and dogs can develop mild or severe allergy reactions. Hypersensitive reactions occur when the immune systems goes into overdrive in response to specific allergens that the animal is exposed to. Mild allergy cases are usually manifested by itching and redness around the eyes and/or lips. Anaphylaxis and shock may result from severe allergy reactions. In fact, some pets diet as a result of an anaphylactic reaction.

Important signs of anaphylaxis in dogs and cats that you should watch out for include vomiting, breathing problems, potty accidents due to the animal’s failure to control the movement of his bladder and bowel, seizures, and collapse. The onset of anaphylaxis can be fast, with severe reactions occurring just a few minutes after exposure to the allergen. Anaphylaxis is an emergency situation that warrants prompt veterinary attention. You should call< ... Read more »

There are a lot of things you’ll want to train your dog to do. Everyone should train their dog to sit and lay down, but can you actually train your dog to follow you without a leash?

This is a very difficult skill to train. As a matter of fact, there are some breeds that probably won’t ever learn to follow you all the time, so you’ll always want to keep a leash on your pup.

If you want to try to teach your dog this impressive skill, it starts with general training. If you can get your dog to listen to your commands, no matter what they are, he’ll start to look to you for direction all the time, which means he’ll follow you around on a walk.

Want to teach your dog this skill, but need some help? Your veterinary clinic Fox Chapel, PA can connect you with professio ... Read more »

Dealing with a neighbor’s dog isn’t always pleasant. He can cause quite a ruckus in the neighborhood by barking, but an undisciplined dog may also go potty in other people’s yards. Here’s what to do.

The best thing to do would be to bring it to the attention of your neighbor. If you live right next to each other, your neighbor may not even know that his dog is sneaking into your yard in the first place!

If your neighbor is aware of what’s happening, like he’s walking the dog and doesn’t pick up after him, taking to your neighbor may be more challenging. You can always try writing a letter about how much you’d appreciate him picking up after his dog.

Still having trouble with your neighbor’s dog and could use some more advice? Click here, or give ... Read more »

Coughing is a normal reflex which is elicited when there is something that is irritating the respiratory passages. Excess mucus, foreign particles, or microorganisms can irritate the trachea or bronchi, causing the animal to cough.

Take note that coughing is not a disease; it is primarily a symptom associated with conditions or problems that can range from hairballs, allergies, parasites, bronchial problems, heart problems, and even cancer.

It is a fact that many pet owners don’t pay so much to their cat’s coughing because they assume it’s normal because of the hairballs. However, some cases of coughing in cats can be serious and life-threatening.

A visit to your Greenwood, IN animal hospital will help ensure that your pet can be given a thorough checkup so the underlying cause can be identified. You may also be asked about your pet’s history as well as other symptoms that may be accompan ... Read more »

Broken legs are a common injury in cats like the Persian cat. However, just because your Persian is having trouble moving around, it does not mean her leg is broken. You should make it a general practice to call your vet if your cat is ill or injured in any way. If you think it’s a broken leg, your vet will be able to help determine this. Symptoms of a broken or even a sprained leg may include crying, moaning or growling especially when touched, not walking or not using a limb or tail, not eating or grooming, possible swelling or bruising. These symptoms are the result of pain caused by the injury. If your Persian cat has any of these symptoms be sure to tell your vet at the start of the exam. Never wait to call your veterinary clinic Oconomowoc, WI when an injury is involved. The sooner treatment can be received the better.

... Read more »

Did you know that exercise is an important part of every animal’s lifestyle? Even your Maine Coon cat should get some kind of exercise on a regular basis. To find out how much exercise you cat should get, simply give your vet a call. He can help you determine an exercise schedule for your Maine Coon based on the cat’s breed, weight, and age. House cats are especially in need of exercise as they don’t often get to go outside and stretch their legs like outdoor cats. You can help your Maine Coon exercise by playing different games or by playing with stimulating cat toys. In addition, some cat owners have trained their cats to walk on a leash. Although this will not give him enough exercise, taking your house cat outside on a leash will give him a chance to get a breath of fresh air. Talk with your veterinary clinic Mattoon, IL for more tips.

... Read more »

A typical “elevator butt” position is when a cat places his front paws and tummy on the ground while raising his behind. This is technically called “lordosis”, but cat parents like to call it the “elevator butt”.

This posture is often observed in intact female cats that are in season. It is actually a behavior to seek the attention of male cats. Male cats assume the elevator butt position when they are spray marking—raising their butts gives them a better aim at their target. 

When spayed or neutered cats raise their butts in their owners’ presence, they are merely showing complete trust and confidence in their humans. The stance renders them vulnerable against potential predators thus the assuming the position is often reserved for humans and other pets they are comfortable with.

Your Greensb ... Read more »

If your Golden Retriever likes to ride in the car and even likes to hang his head out of the window then you may want to consider some sort of safety gear to protect his eyes. For instance, when automobiles were first created there were no windshields and drivers typically wore eye goggles to protect their eyes from wind and road debris. Now that we have windshields there’s no need for people to wear goggles, but what about dogs? Your Golden Retriever could easily get an eye injury from hanging his head out of a moving vehicle. For this reason doggy eye goggles were developed to provide protection for dogs while hanging their heads out of a car window. If you want to allow your Golden to hang his head out of a car window then you may want to consider purchasing him protective eye goggles. For more details, give your veterinary clinic Newmarket, ON a call.

... Read more »

Joint problems are very common among senior dogs, however, dogs of any age can suffer from the problem. Joint health support should start while dogs are still very young. Regular and appropriate physical activity coupled with a lifestage-appropriate diet help promote healthy joints. Joint problems can be very painful and debilitating; and senior pets with arthritis will certainly have a miserable life before they finally cross the rainbow bridge.  

Since joint conditions can be inherited from the parents, it is a good idea to ask the breeder for official documents that show the lineage or pedigree of the puppy to be free from hereditary joint problems, such as hip dysplasia.

Keeping your pet’s weight within healthy limits throughout his life is a very important contributory factor in keeping the joints healthy. Excess weight can put unnecessary pressure on the joints, ev ... Read more »

Breeding your Orange Tabby cat can be a big undertaking so you might want to talk it over with your vet ahead of time. Knowing what to expect throughout the process can help make your Orange Tabby’s pregnancy run a lot smoother. Your vet can tell you that most Orange Tabby cats have a gestation period of about nine weeks. Many cats typically start showing physical and behavioral changes soon after they become pregnant. If you’re not sure if your cat is pregnant, please give your vet a call and schedule a routine exam. Your vet will be able to verify if your cat is pregnant and possibly identify how far along she is. It’s important to know that your female cat will most likely go into heat during the spring and summer months with warmer temperatures. If you don’t want your cat to get pregnant talk to your veterinarian Pikeville, KY about having your cat spayed. For more information about this, click on th ... Read more »

If you’re not familiar with urine scald in pocket pets, give your vet a call. Urine scald can be a painful condition for many rabbits including the Dutch rabbit. If you suspect that your rabbit has signs of urine scald, please schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Urine scald generally occurs when rabbits have been left to sit in their own urine for long periods of time. This typically happens when a rabbit’s cage is not cleaned properly or cleaned frequently. Over time, a rabbit’s body will eventually soak up the urine of his unclean bedding. This can cause severe urine burn, skin inflammation and even hair loss. It is important to keep your Dutch rabbit’s bedding clean and dry on a regular basis. If you do notice that your rabbit’s skin is red or inflamed around his private area, call your veterinary clinic Pikev ... Read more »

If you’re not familiar with urine scald in pocket pets, give your vet a call. Urine scald can be a painful condition for many rabbits including the Dutch rabbit. If you suspect that your rabbit has signs of urine scald, please schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Urine scald generally occurs when rabbits have been left to sit in their own urine for long periods of time. This typically happens when a rabbit’s cage is not cleaned properly or cleaned frequently. Over time, a rabbit’s body will eventually soak up the urine of his unclean bedding. This can cause severe urine burn, skin inflammation and even hair loss. It is important to keep your Dutch rabbit’s bedding clean and dry on a regular basis. If you do notice that your rabbit’s skin is red or inflamed around his private area, call your veterinar ... Read more »

If you’re not familiar with urine scald in pocket pets, give your vet a call. Urine scald can be a painful condition for many rabbits including the Dutch rabbit. If you suspect that your rabbit has signs of urine scald, please schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Urine scald generally occurs when rabbits have been left to sit in their own urine for long periods of time. This typically happens when a rabbit’s cage is not cleaned properly or cleaned frequently. Over time, a rabbit’s body will eventually soak up the urine of his unclean bedding. This can cause severe urine burn, skin inflammation and even hair loss. It is important to keep your Dutch rabbit’s bedding clean and dry on a regular basis. If you do notice that your rabbit’s skin is red or inflamed around his private area, call your veterinary clinic Pikeville, KY. Click on the link to know more details. http://easternkyvet.com/

... Read more »