Possible Causes of Seizures in Golden Hamsters

 

Over the course of its lifetime, some hamsters like the Golden hamster may experience seizure activity. If you own a Golden hamster you may want to talk to your vet about the possibility of seizures. Most hamsters will not present abrupt or strong outward symptoms like convulsions or fits. Instead, you may see your hamster tilting his head, walking in circles, having trouble walking, or falling on his back. If this occurs, call your vet right away. In most cases, a hamster may go into seizures of minor convulsions as a result of diabetes, brain injury, brain defects, poisoning, stroke, or even an inner ear infection. The inner ear, especially, is what helps control your hamster’s balance. If the inner ear is infected you will notice your hamster having extreme difficulty walking around. Click here to contact your animal hospital Marion, IA and learn more about possible seizure causes in hamsters like the Golden hamster.

Important Reasons Why Your Pets Need A Good Dental Regimen

 

Dental problems are common among pet cats and dogs.  Proper dental hygiene and frequent visits to the vet clinic prevent these problems. There most common dental condition is periodontal disease.  It causes pain and discomfort and affects the appetite and behavior of pets. Also, the bacteria in the plaque and tartar can enter the bloodstream, especially if your dog has irritated gums. This bacteria makes its way through the bloodstream and reaches the heart, kidneys, liver, and even sometimes the brain that can cause serious complications. Dental care is an important part of routine pet care.  Daily brushing is one of the best ways to prevent dental problems. Start as early as possible to your pets to accustom them to the brushing process. Pets should learn how to tolerate tooth brushing and mouth examination. Use toothpaste and toothbrush that is made especially for pets. Human toothpaste is not advisable because it may contain toxic ingredients. 

Your pet will benefit from regular dental checks and professional cleaning at your animal care hospital Marion IA area.

What To Do If Your Cat Eats String

Cats can develop a condition called pica which is characterized by eating non-edible things. The behavior can be triggered by a variety of reasons such as boredom, stress, or it can be an attention-seeking behavior. It can also be a play behavior or the cat simply finds the object tasty or smelling good.

When a cat eats a string or any similar to it, it is referred to as a linear foreign body. In most cases, the cat passes the string with the feces within 10-24 hours. However, there are instances when the string bunches up and binds as a result of the muscular contractions (called peristalsis) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This can eventually lead to the intestines becoming blocked, pulled, or torn.

A cat that has ingested string that gets stuck in the GIT may exhibit the following symptoms:

l  Vomiting which can increase a cat’s risk to dehydration

l  Decreased or loss of appetite

l  Straining in an attempt to defecate or the cat may have diarrhea

l  Pain in the abdomen or belly

l  Depression or lethargy

l  Fever

If you saw your cat eating string, call your animal hospital Marion, IA to find out what course of action your should take.

Keeping Your Dog Safe During Football Season - Keep These Foods Away From Your Pet

Many people love throwing a party during a big game. With so much food around, make sure your dog does not have any access to these foods that can pose a risk to their health and well-being.

l  Cocktail sausages and other tupes of food that are placed in toothpicks or skewers. Meat that is left on the toothpick or skewers is very appealing to dogs and ingestion can cause injuries and/or puncture wounds to the mouth or any part of the gastrointestinal tract. A toothpick or skewer can also get stuck in the mouth or cause obstruction.

l  Any food that contain grapes and raisins can be potentially toxic to dogs. In fact, consumption has been linked to kidney failure.

l  Any type of chocolate – white, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, baker’s chocolate—is potentially harmful to dogs.  The severity of the reaction generally depends on several factors including the type of chocolate and the amount consumed in relation to the dog’s weight.

Take your pet to your Marion, IA if you know or think that he has ingested something that is potentially toxic. Don’t wait for your pet to show any signs of toxicity.