Cruciate Ligaments A ruptured ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is every footballer/netballer/dog owner’s worst nightmare. ACL injuries are a common cause of sudden, non weight bearing, hind limb lameness in the dog and most require surgery. A functioning ACL prevents forward translocation and rotation of the tibia during weight bearing. Without one the knee joint quickly […]
Spring Has Sprung Kennel Cough Since the last school holidays the most recent kennel cough outbreak has been unfortunately rumbling along. Kennel Cough or infectious tracheitis causes a hoarse goose honk like cough often followed by a retch with white or yellowish foam produced. Owners of affected dogs can help control the outbreak by seeing […]
Fear is a Powerful Motivator Mediated by a small almond shaped structure deep within the brain called the amygdala, threatened animals have an almost instantaneous surge in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and metabolism. This so called “fight or flight reflex” is the subjective state of fear and dysregulation of this “fear pathway” […]
Hey Stinky Breath! Bad breath or halitosis can be embarrassing for both people and pets. 80-90% of halitosis comes from structures within the mouth, primarily teeth and tongue, where bacteria produce over 80 different volatile or “stinky” organic compounds. These same bacteria cause plaque which is the trigger for tartar and calculus formation which leads […]
The Dying Season The warmest 14 months in recorded history may be increasing our pets’ chances of lethal tick paralysis. We have already seen several tick affected cats and dogs and it is winter! Traditionally, locals started preventatives in September, but climate change may require “all year” prevention especially in high risk localities. Tick Guru […]
Owners of domesticated companion animals and livestock are subject to a range of legislation. Whilst it is outside the scope of this article to review these in detail [they are all available online] I found some interesting facts during my reading. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act This act requires the person in charge […]
Food Glorious Food Fat Cat Since our British Shorthair, Minnow got his own instagram page he has started acting like a supermodel EXCEPT for watching how much he eats. Fortunately a new diet, Hills Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution came to the rescue and over a few months he slimmed down to acceptable proportions. Metabolic helps […]
Proofing Polite Puppies I have been reading articles about Ethology or the study of animal behaviour and in particular an excellent new book called How Dogs Work by Coppinger and Feinstein. I am interested in the juvenile stage of maximal learning from 8 weeks to sexual maturity when so many behaviours, both acceptable and unacceptable, […]
As technically difficult as it can be, sometimes surgery feels like the easy bit. Keeping an energetic, wilful pet quiet for the time it takes for a surgical wound or fracture to heal can be a very difficult proposition. Modern analgesics, as essential as they are, can make pets feel like running and playing well […]
As the days get shorter and the nights colder, spare a thought for your older pet who may be silently suffering in pain. Unlike humans, our pets’ response to pain is general withdrawal. They become quiet and are reluctant to move or go for walks. Owners notice that their pets lie down a lot and […]
