2015

Itchy and scratchy - Does my cat have fleas?

If you are wondering if that itch your cat is scratching is just allergies, or a sign that puss has a flea infestation, here are some questions to ask.   Are these flea bites? Flea bites are small raised bumps on the animal's skin. It can be hard to identify flea bites under the skin, but you can usually see your cat over grooming in that site. In some cases, cats will over groom to the point of creating bald spots, if they suffer from flea allergic dermatitis.

Canine Periodontal Disease: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Gum disease is a serious and common problem in dogs; therefore, it is critical for you as a pet owner to understand the condition. Typically, there are no significant symptoms when the disease first attacks. However, it advances fairly quickly leading to erosion of the gums, loss of teeth and general dental bone loss. The causes of canine periodontal disease are similar to the ones identified in humans. Basically, when you feed the dog, the particles along with oral bacteria form a sticky layer on the teeth known as plaque.

Recognising And Treating Ear Mites In Dogs

An ear mite infection occurs when otodectes mites take up residence on top of or just under the surface of your dog's ears. The mites are commonly found in young dogs and can be easily passed between dogs through skin contact. These tiny parasites will cause your dog a great deal of discomfort and can lead to your dog developing a hematoma in their ear, which is mass of clotted blood, as a result of shaking their head profusely to try and get relief from the itching the mites cause.

Understanding Hair Loss in Dogs

Hair loss is a common condition in dogs and can manifest as bald circles, patches or complete shedding. If your dog is losing hair, you may also notice inflammation, scaling or crusting around the area of hair loss. The condition may not seem serious, but it is indicative of underlying health problems, so should never be ignored. Here's what you need to know about hair loss in dogs: Causes Common causes of hair loss in dogs include:

Understanding Sinusitis In Dogs

Inflammation of the nasal passages, known as sinusitis, causes a build-up of mucus in your dog's nose and can lead to bacterial infections as the mucus creates a favourable environment for bacteria to thrive. Here's an overview of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for sinusitis in dogs: Causes Causes of sinusitis include viruses, the presence of fungus, parasites, or abnormal tissue growth in the nasal passages, which can trigger inflammation.