Illness and injury

From time to time pets can become ill or injured. There are many reasons for this from disease through to accidents. Find out more about pet illnesses, and injuries here and make sure you check back regularly as we will continue to add more and more topics here.

 

Urinary incontinence - involuntary urination

Urinary incontinence (an involuntary or accidental loss of urine from the bladder) is a startling and often concerning problem for pet owners. Pets can be incontinent for many different reasons. These reasons can include physical problems of the bladder, the urethra (which is the tube from the bladder to the outside) or neurological abnormalities involving parts of the brain and spinal cord for bladder function. Solving or helping an incontinence problem starts with identifying the cause.

A to B and carsick free!

With canine motion sickness being one of the leading reason pet owners are not able to take their dogs on day trips or holidays, we are very excited about a relatively new treatment option that has been very successful for many pets.

Bee stings

If your pet has been stung by a bee or insect, please follow the instructions below.

  • Carefully remove the sting and bathe the area with cool water
  • Restrict exercise to help decrease blood supply to the area and therefore pain and swelling
  • Observe your pet carefully
  • You may notice slight changes such as puffiness in the face, lips and eyes as well as "lumpy" looking skin in the bite area

Aging and your pet's brain - CDS a form of Dementia in pets

More and more dogs and cats are living well into their senior years and just like elderly humans, pets can suffer from a kind of dementia called cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CDS. CDS is a syndrome associated with brain aging. It leads to changes in a pet's responsiveness, learning, memory and can cause anxiety with age.

Anal Glands (Anal Sacs) - including Anal Sacculectomy

Anal Sacs (or Anal Glands) are two small glands located just inside your pet’s anus (bottom), at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions. Each of these glands has a tiny duct or tube, which has an opening into the rectum. The secretion that comes from these glands is very smelly, often brown in colour and is about the consistency of water or oil. Anal Glands serve no real purpose in domestic pets, just like your appendix, however in past times they were used primarily for territorial marking, as a defence mechanism (i.e. like a skunk) or as a form of communication.

Arthritis in dogs

Did you know that more than one in five dogs will be affected by arthritis! Just like humans may be affected by this disorder, dogs, and cats may too.

Aural haematomas in dogs - ears

An aural (ear) haematoma is a collection of blood or serum, and sometimes a blood clot within the pinna or ear flap. This blood collects under the skin and causes the ear flap to become thickened. The swelling may involve the entire ear flap or it may involve only a small area.

Bladder stones in dogs

Bladder stones can form in dogs just like they do in humans. The stones themselves (uroliths or calculi) can be described as rock-like collections of minerals that form in the urinary bladder. They may occur as a few large stones or as collections of multiple small stones. Some patients with bladder stones show no signs of any kind and the stones are discovered incidentally but there are some changes that might promote a search for stones. Bloody urine, straining to urinate or an increase in the frequency of urination are the main signs.

Blood tests - understanding your pet's blood work

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. A CBC gives information on hydration status, anaemia, infection, the blood's clotting ability, and the ability of the immune system to respond. This test is essential for pets with fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, pale gums, or loss of appetite. If your pet needs surgery, a CBC can detect some bleeding disorders or other unseen abnormalities.

Cancer - a starting point to understanding cancer, its causes, diagnosis and treatment

Cancer is a disorder of cell growth (uncontrolled cell division) that results in an abnormal mass of tissue (tumor) without a purpose. The growth exceeds that of normal tissue, is un-coordinated and persists after the cause has gone. There are many different types of cancers.

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