Articles

Cleaning up vomit is a fact of life if you’re lucky enough to have a dog in your life. Although all dogs vomit from time to time, it’s important to distinguish between simple upset stomachs and more serious conditions that can cause vomiting. The Difference Between Regurgitation and Vomiting Some people use “regurgitation” and “vomiting” interchangeably, but the words don’t

Has your pet suddenly started losing hair? Mange may be to blame. The common skin condition affects dogs, cats and rabbits, causing a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Tiny Mites Cause Big Problems Mange is caused by a mite infestation. The microscopic parasites either burrow under your pet’s skin or inhabit hair follicles or oil glands in the skin. Mange can

Many dogs have thick eye discharge. Sometimes it is just in the morning; sometimes it has to do with a dog’s breed. Some breeds of dogs have eyes that sit differently in their skull, causing more discharge. And, sometimes, the goopy eye is a sign of a severe, chronic and painful condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). KCS is commonly called

Straining to urinate, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and accidents in the house are common symptoms that pet owners report to their veterinarian. Many times the signs come on suddenly, as people find urine spots on the floor, often near the door where the dog goes outside. Cat owners may notice that the urine balls in the litter box

Does your pet regard your lawn as the perfect place to snack? Eating grass may not seem very appetizing to you, but your pet doesn’t share your disdain. In fact, both dogs and cats enjoy eating a little grass from time to time. We’ll explore why pets eat grass and explain what you should do if you notice that your

Has it been awhile since you’ve seen your pet? Although your cat, dog or rabbit could just be enjoying a little nap in a quiet corner of the house, lengthy disappearances may occasionally be a sign of an illness. Familiarizing yourself with some of the more subtle symptoms your pet displays when he or she is sick can help you

When you come home to find a mess on the floor, it is easy to assume that the dog vomited. Vomiting is very common in dogs, as they often eat weird things! There are actually many other causes of vomiting, including parasites, kidney disease, liver problems, pancreatitis, and food allergies. Overall, there are probably at least 101 causes of vomiting.

If your dog has developed a tendency to pursue the same pointless activity — sucking on his flanks, chasing his own tail, barking or snapping at thin air, et cetera — he may be suffering from canine compulsive disorder, or CCD. Fortunately, treatment and training can help him overcome his obsession. Defining CCD National veterinary organizations define compulsive behavior in

Most people have heard of diabetes and associate it with needing to administer insulin. But actually there are two different kinds of diabetes: diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Their symptoms can be similar, but their causes are totally different and thus their treatments are completely different. Diabetes mellitus is the more common of the two; it is caused by a lack of insulin in

It is well known that each breed of dog tends to have certain health problems more common to that breed. This is probably due to genetics. As canine DNA is studied, it is hoped that we can eventually develop genetic tests for early detection and possible prevention of these diseases. In the meantime, when dog owners are considering adopting a