2016

If you have a female dog, particularly a thoroughbred, you might be tempted to breed from her. This can come with several fantastic benefits; you get to see your dog become a mother and play with new puppies, and the whole process can be extremely rewarding. However, while many people do enjoy breeding their dogs, there are several drawbacks that owners can sometimes fail to consider. Before you make your decision to breed your dog, make sure you carefully consider the following points.

The oral cavity accounts for around 10% of all feline tumours, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common. SCC is an extremely aggressive cancer, and the estimated 1-year survival rate rests at less than 10%, a disturbing statistic indeed. Of course, being able to spot the condition early can help save your cat's life; even if it is too late for death to be avoided, your pet can be spared the pain of going through the disease without treatment.

Parasitic ear mites are highly contagious, and once they colonise your rabbit's ears, they can spread to other areas of their body, including their neck and abdomen. If left untreated, ear mite infestations can cause lesions to develop in the inner ear, and when these lesions get infected with bacteria, your rabbit could develop hearing loss. Rabbits can pick up ear mites from straw bedding, grass, woodchip and other rabbits, and all breeds of rabbit are susceptible to ear mites.

Many dogs benefit from spending part of their day outdoors and providing a kennel or enclosed run is a good way of allowing your dog to enjoy the fresh air.  However, dogs have a habit of getting into scrapes so it's important that your pet's kennel is safe, warm and dry, especially if your pet has recently had surgery or is recovering from an illness. Here are some simple dog kennel safety tips to make sure that your pet stays safe whilst enjoying his time outside.

Your cat can develop blepharitis for a number of reasons, including a bacterial or viral infection, eye disease or a food allergy. Blepharitis causes inflammation of the eyelid margins and irritation around the outer eyelids and is a long-term condition. Here's an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment approach: Symptoms A common symptom of blepharitis in cats is crusts that form along the eyelid margin, and the skin around the eyelids can also flake and appear inflamed.

Vomiting can be a sign of a range of mild and more serious medical conditions for a cat. However, it's also a normal reaction to eating bad food, poisons or even having too much fur in their digestive system. If you are unsure of whether your cat needs to go to the vet after vomiting here are some other indications.  Was it a once off? If your cat has done a once off vomit but is otherwise healthy and happy, and hasn't kept vomiting, this can be a sign that they had something that they need to purge.

Iron-deficiency anaemia impairs the functioning of your dog's red blood cells and leaves them unable to transport enough oxygen around your dog's body. This can weaken their immune system and leave them vulnerable to developing health conditions related to their lungs and heart, such as tachycardia. This type of anaemia in dogs is typically caused by intestinal bleeding or parasites. Here's an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment approach for iron-deficiency anaemia in dogs:

Cats have a long lifespan, and as they age, their dietary requirements begin to change. In fact, most cats become finicky eaters as they grow older, and you will be lucky if you get them to eat anything at all. If your cat is past the middle-age years, you should consider making some dietary changes to boost their health and prolong their life. Read on to find out the importance of making dietary changes to your aging cat and some of the best foods that you should start giving them.

Annual booster vaccinations are a key part of keeping your dog healthy and safe from dangerous, preventable diseases.  However, not all dogs are comfortable with this procedure and their anxiety can manifest itself as aggressive or unpredictable behaviour when attending the veterinary clinic.  Small breeds of dog can be particuarly feisty and tricky to control when attending the vet for their jabs. Here are some top tips on how to safely restrain your small dog when you take him to the vet for his vaccinations.