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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

The Vets Says – Elbow Dysplasia

ELBOW DYSPLASIA Elbow dysplasia is another developmental problem some dogs can be prone to. German Shepherds, Labrador Retreivers,Rottweilers and Bassett Hounds are some of the breeds we see most commonly with this condition. Normal Elbow Anatomy The elbow joint is formed where the 3 long bones of the foreleg meet; namely the humerus (runs from …

An In-Depth Look at Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)

Arthritis strictly means inflammation of the joint and there are many possible causes of this. When we talk about arthritis we are usually talking about a specific type of arthritis called degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis. DJD is the commonest joint disease seen in many different breeds of dogs and cats and is often …