Rottweilers originate from Germany and Italy & were originally used for herding and as guard dogs. The Roman army had dogs to protect the soldiers & herds and in Rottweil in Germany they interbred with more local dogs to form a larger dog. They continued to be used for herding & breeding but numbers went …
German Shepherd Dogs
German Shepherd Dogs have been around since the 1890’s. They were the result of cross breeding of rural sheep dogs from rural Germany by Max von Stephanitz who was aiming to produce a herding dog that could trot for long periods. The first breed show was in 1899 and since then, it has gone on …
The Siamese Cat
The Siamese is one of the most popular domestic cat breeds across the world. Their distinctive head shape, striking eyes & slender body make them easily recognisable. They are thought to be one of the oldest existing breeds of cat and to have come from Thailand (formerly Siam). The Siamese was much revered and for …
The Urban Fox & the Lexi Reeves Story
There has been a lot of interest in the urban fox attack story of the Chihuahua Lexi Reeves being attacked by a fox in Basildon, Essex on 5th March. Some see the fox as vermin that should be destroyed, others as part of the natural landscape whose land we are invading with our housing. Whatever your view, urban …
Breed Related Diseases in Dogs – Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniels are not troubled in general by serious health problems, other than some of the usual illnesses and infectious diseases that can affect the canine population. The following have been reported…………. Glaucoma – a disease of increased pressure within the eye that can lead to Blindness Hypothyroidism – when the thyroid organ does …
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Rabbits – Diet and Husbandry
RABBITS – Diet and husbandry Water should always be available. Avoid muesli based diets – it makes rabbits more likely to become selective feeders and not to obtain the full nutrition needed. Pellets such as Excel should be fed but should make up no more than 10% of the rabbits total diet. 70% of a …
Distemper in Ferrets
Distemper in Ferrets Distemper is a contagious disease of dogs & ferrets caused by a virus. It is very serious and can be fatal. Most dogs are protected from distemper by their annual inoculation, and it is now a very rare condition in the UK, simply because of the availability of reliable vaccines. Recently there …
Breed related diseases in Dogs – Boxer
Did you know that dogs are affected by the greatest number of naturally occuring genetic disorders of any non-human species. Many of these conditions seem to appear in specific breeds. This is the second of our series of breed related diseases in dogs, and this time we feature Boxers Below we discuss the commoner diseases …
Breed related diseases in Dogs – Labrador
Breed related diseases in Dogs. Welcome to our new series of blogs on breed related disease in pedigree dogs. Unfortunately, certain pedigree dogs are prone to certain diseases. We thought these guides would be helpful for people who own the breeds so that they can be more aware of some of the diseases their pet …
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The Vets Says – Dry Eye
Introduction The medical term for Dry Eye is Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, usually abbreviated to KCS and is where insufficient tears are produced leaving the eye drier than is usual. It is also seen in cats, but is more common in dogs. Imagine getting grit in your eye & not having tears to help wash it away. …