Barking Mad
No one would think of putting a shock collar on a canary, squirting lemon juice into a baby’s mouth or beating a husband with a rolled-up newspaper and having his vocal cords cut for ‘singing’ in the shower. However, people think nothing of doing all these things and more to barking dogs. Barking poses particular […]
Keeping Inside Cats Happy
With pressure to keep cats inside, both for the welfare of wildlife and the cats themselves, many cats nowadays are confined in flats or houses. The main problem with keeping a cat inside is behavioural problems related to boredom. How do I know if my cat is bored? If there is insufficient stimulation for cats, […]
Incontinence In Dogs
Those little puddles or wet patches left behind when your dog gets up may not be ‘bad manners’ on your dog’s part or a toilet training problem. It could be that your dog is incontinent. Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary passing of urine. It is most commonly caused by inflammation of the urinary tract, […]
Feline Toxoplasmosis and Human Health
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoon called Toxoplasma gondii. Most warm-blooded animals may be infected, although infection rarely causes disease. It’s importance in human health is when a previously unexposed woman is infected during pregnancy, the infection can damage the foetus. What are the signs of toxoplasmosis in cats? Most cats that are exposed to […]
Selecting the Purr-fect Cat!
Cats make purr-fect pets. They are clean and independent but also playful, loving, furry and cuddly. However, the personality and physical attributes of cats differ widely between breeds, and you need to consider this when choosing a cat to suit your home. Purebred cats The major breed differences involve coat type and length, and therefore […]
Feeding Horses: Just the Basics
Everybody knows horses need forage and grain…but how much? How often? What kind? What else? The answers may be slightly different for each horse depending on size, breed, use, and stage of development. Fortunately for the average horse owner, equine nutritionists have formulated feeds and diets for many types of horses. These diets and products […]
Crib-Biting in Foals
Cribbing (also called crib-biting) and wood chewing are vices or stereotypies, repetitive behaviours that seem to have no obvious purpose. Cribbers set their upper incisors (front teeth) against a stationary object, arch their neck, and pull back, frequently emitting grunt-like vocalisations when bracing against the object. What are causes of crib-biting? In foals, cribbing is […]
Housing Pet Ferrets
Ferrets make wonderful pets, provided you have the time and patience to care for them properly. They love company and are quite mischievous little creatures. Bins, lounge chairs, drawers, toilet bowls, behind fridges and washing machines, in cupboards, and air ducts are all likely places that a ferret will find, so, firstly, you will need […]
Do Dogs Get Strokes?
Vestibular Disease in Dogs Strokes are rare in dogs. A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when normal blood flow to the brain is disrupted, resulting in neurological signs that depend on the area of the brain that is affected. It occurs suddenly, and the signs produced do not worsen over time. Signs of a cerebrovascular […]
Hyperthyroidism In Cats
Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormonal illness affecting cats in Australia. It usually affects older cats and is caused by an excessive production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid glands in the neck. What causes hyperthyroidism? Hyperthyroidism in cats is caused by an overactive thyroid gland. Few cases of hyperthyroidism in cats are caused by […]
First Aid Management of Colic
There are many underlying causes of colic or abdominal pain in a horse. Over the last 20 years, the use of effective and safe worming compounds, routine planned worming intervals, the acceptance that regular teeth care is an important part of horse care, and improved knowledge and skills in feeding horses, has lead to a […]
Snail Bait Poisoning
Snail Bait poisoning occurs when pets eat snail or slug bait that contains metaldehyde. The bait may be eaten directly from the packet or from where it has been applied around plants in the garden. Pets will readily eat baits made from metaldehyde since it is often combined with food products such as soybeans, rice, […]