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Basic Tips on Heartworm and Flea Prevention for Dogs

As a responsible pet owner, one of your top priorities should be to seek out the right heartworm and flea preventative. Many people do not realize this, but fleas and heartworms can be extremely dangerous to your pup. If left untreated, these pests can end up being costly for you, the pet owner, and deadly to your beloved four-legged friend.

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Signs of Urinary Cat Health Problems to Watch Out For

Among the most stressful and frustrating cat health problems are those affecting your cat’s bladder or urethra. Sometimes referred to as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), it is one of the most common reasons for vet visits, affecting 1-3% of cats each year.

The good news is, there are warning signs you can watch out for, which we will go over below. You just need to be vigilant and prudent in monitoring your cat’s litter box so they can get prompt and proper veterinary care.

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What You Need to Know about Old Dog Skin Problems

Constant exposure to a wide range of environmental factors usually leaves dogs vulnerable to many types of skin diseases. These problems affect dogs of all breeds and ages, but senior dogs are more prone to old dog skin problems because of their advanced age as well as their weakened immune response.

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Rabbit Illnesses: The Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

As with humans, prevention is key when it comes to rabbit illnesses. In fact, most diseases in rabbits can be avoided through appropriate care, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, a proper diet, and clean living quarters. But sometimes, your pet bunny can still get sick. Here are signs to watch out for:

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Is Chemotherapy the Right Choice for My Cat?

It is never easy to hear that your beloved cat has cancer. As your feline friend is undoubtedly an important member of your family, it can be absolutely heartbreaking to learn that he or she has developed a life-threatening disease like cancer. However, a cancer diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road. In fact, just like with humans, chemotherapy is a viable option that will allow your kitty to live comfortably for many years to come.

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Canine Kennel Cough: How to Diagnose and Treat It

Canine kennel cough is perhaps one of the most widely recognized terms for pet owners. It is loosely used to describe a range of infections, both viral and bacterial. These infections cause inflammation of a dog’s voice box and windpipe and are essentially a form of bronchitis that is comparable to a common chest cold in humans.

In most cases, kennel cough clears up on its own. However, it is highly contagious to other dogs and it is therefore important that it is treated as soon as possible. There are numerous ways dogs can catch kennel cough, including aerosols in the air, transfers from dog to dog and germs on contaminated objects.

Kennel cough is most commonly spread in small, enclosed areas that do not have great air circulation, such as an animal shelter or boarding center. Your dog can also catch it from simply sitting in a vaccination clinic, training class or grooming facility.

In order to better understand this disease and how you can protect your dog, it may be helpful to take a look at some of the most common symptoms as well as treatment options. If you have any questions about the listed information, please do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

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Diabetes Mellitus in Pets: Recognition and Treatment

Diabetes is a chronic disorder that typically occurs in middle-aged dogs and middle-aged to older cats. Diabetes mellitus, in particular, affects the pancreas and is characterized by some level of insulin deficiency. Thankfully, this disorder can be managed successfully through insulin therapy and paying extra special attention to your pet’s diet.

As a disease of the pancreas, diabetes mellitus is caused by the failure of the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. Research shows that this type of diabetes is related to elevated concentrations of blood glucose and the inability of an animal’s body to use glucose as a source of energy. As a pet owner, it is important for you to be aware of this disease and to understand the signs of it so that you can get your pet the care he or she needs.

We thought it would be helpful to go over what exactly diabetes mellitus is, what the signs of it are and what your treatment options will be. Having a grasp of common ailments that affect older dogs and cats as well as brushing up on some tips will help you provide better care for your animal and ensure they live a long happy and healthy life.

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These Senior Dog Care Tips Will Help Identify Illnesses

Pet owners can benefit by senior dog care tips that will help them recognize illnesses in their pets so that problems can be treated right away. Like humans, dogs experience a gradual decline in health with age, and are more prone to sickness and general health problems as they become older. It’s important to recognize signs and symptoms before it’s too late for successful treatment, and to ensure that your beloved pet’s last years are happy and pain free.

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Recognition of Illness Symptoms Ensures Better Cat Health Care

Cat health care problems can be avoided, or at least minimized, by detecting the signs of an illness early. It is important for owners to learn which symptoms are cause for concern, which can be ignored and which indicate a particular illness for which immediate help is needed.

Symptoms vary with each condition and you must be alert. Complicating matters is that, in some cases, the symptoms are not physical but are behavior-related instead. Such signs tend to be subtle, which is why you should note behavioral changes in case treatment is needed for a health problem.

To guide you through the potentially overwhelming process of determining if your cat needs to be taken to a vet and how quickly you need to act, here is a rundown of red flags for some of the most common feline health problems.   

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“Old Dog” Vestibular Syndrome Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

“Old dog” vestibular syndrome is a fairly common ailment that affects the balance system in older dogs. The vestibular system (the system of balance) is responsible for helping the body to maintain balance in movement and the senses. When a dog suffers a stroke or this system is in some other way compromised, it creates a sudden onset of loss of balance, disorientation, head tilting and irregular jerking eye movements.

Understanding the symptoms, causes and treatment options for vestibular syndrome will allow you to ensure your beloved dog gets the care he or she needs and is able to live as comfortable as possible. This disease can be traumatic for both you and your pet, which is why it is helpful to educate yourself on what to look for and what can be done about it.

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