Did you know that dogs like
the English Mastiff and other breeds can develop epilepsy over the course of
their lifetime? Like humans, epilepsy can affect dogs by causing sporadic
seizures in the form of sudden fits and convulsions. The seizures are either
caused by a genetic disorder that causes miscommunications in the brain or the
seizures are caused by another underlying medical condition. Seizures with undetermined causes are called idiopathic seizures. Symptomatic
seizures are those that have a cause that can be treated. Your vet will need to
discover the cause in order to best treat the seizures. Common signs or
symptoms of seizures include fits and convulsions sometimes accompanied by howling or whimpering, excessive salivating, chomping, chewing,
involuntary urination and involuntary defecation. Even if you don’t see the
actual seizure, call your veterinarians Oconomowoc, WI when
you see any of the accompanying symptoms.
Ferrets are
small rodent looking animals that are kept as pets in the U.S. and around the
world. Despite their rodent resemblance, the ferret is not part of the rodent
family. Instead, the ferret is part of the weasel family. Unlike the weasel,
ferrets are small creatures. They are also furry and they love to play and run
around. Ferrets often find themselves in tight situations where they either
become stuck or find themselves face to face with larger animals or larger
household pets. Injuries are common in ferrets because of their size. Eye
injuries in particular are common. Signs of an eye injury include watery eyes,
crusty eyes, discharge of the eyes, cloudy eyes and even excessive scratching
of the eyes. If your ferret has any of these symptoms, call your Tipp City, Oh
veterinarian and schedule a checkup right away. It’s better to have the eye
looked at then let it go and possibly become infected.
If you own a
Korat or other breed feline, make sure you take him to the vet for routine
visits. Cats like the Korat should be tested for FeLV annually. Cats that test
positive should receive a vaccination. If a cat tests positive, he will need to
start immediate care. Signs of FeLV may include pale gums, yellow coloring of
the mouth and whites of the eyes, enlarged lymph nodes, bladder infections,
skin infections, upper respiratory infections, weight loss, loss of appetite,
poor coat condition, weakness, lethargy, fever, diarrhea, etc. FeLV can cause
anemia, lymphoma and even a suppressed immune system. In order to test for
FeLV, your vet can administer a blood test called ELISA which is capable of identifying
FeLV proteins. Cats that test positive can undergo a second test called IFA to determine the progression of
the illness. For more information, consult with your Des Moines, IA veterinary
clinic.
Did you know
that one of the ways to provide treatment for an FeLV positive Korat or other
FeLV positive cat is to make changes to his daily diet. FeLV stands for the
Feline Leukemia Virus and it can develop anemia, lymphoma or other cancers, and
even put your cat at risk for contracting other illnesses due to its
suppression of the immune system. The best thing you can do for your FeLV cat
is to protect him from secondary illnesses that can arise because of the
weakened immune system. For instance, keep your cat away from other cats since
they could be carrying other illnesses. Make sure your cat is on a healthy diet
free of raw meat, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products. These products may
harbor bacteria or parasites that could harm your cat since he is already ill.
In addition, take your cat in for routine checkups with your Wake Forest,
NC veterinary clinic team.
Absolutely! A
guinea pig or cavy as they are sometimes referred to can definitely be trained
to walk on a leash. Of course it all depends on whether or not your guinea pig
wants to learn. Some cavies can be quite opinionated and refuse to learn while
others may be eager to please. Start with picking out a harness for your guinea
pig. Make sure it’s the right fit. Not too big that he’ll come out of it, but not
so small that it hurts or leaves marks in the fur. Allow your cavy to walk
around in his harness for a time or even a day or two before trying the leash.
Reward your cavy every step of the way with a treat. When you’re ready for the
leash, attach it to your guinea pig and gently nudge him to walk. This may take
several attempts. If you need assistance, consult with your McHenry, IL vet clinic.
If your dog skips a meal, don’t
panic. Keep an eye on him and see if he shows any signs of an illness. For
instance, is he lethargic? Does he want to go out for walks? Is his stool and
urine normal? Is he shaking, hunching over like he’s in pain, have a hunched
back which also signals pain, vomiting, drooling, etc.? If he has any of those
symptoms call your vet to schedule an exam right away. If your dog doesn’t
appear to be acting any different than usual then wait him out and see if he
will eat his next meal. Sometimes dogs will eat a lot one day and skip a meal
the next day. If your dog gets a lot of treats in between meals then he may not
be hungry. Offer your dog his meal at a later time and see if that makes a
difference. Consult
with your Marion, IA veterinary
clinic as well.
