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 …
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The Vets Says…Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
GDV can also be known as Bloat or Gastric Torsion Introduction GDV is a life-threatening emergency. It is a common condition in large,deep chested breeds such as German Shepherds, Weimeraners, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, St Bernards and URGENT VETERINARY ATTENTION is needed. Although larger breeds are most commonly affected any size dog can suffer from …
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Hip Dysplasia Part 2 – Diagnosis and Treatment
This is Part 2 of two blogs on Hip Dysplasia in dogs, in this blog we go through the diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia. DIAGNOSIS The only definitive way to diagnose hip dysplasia is XRAY. If your dog shows any of the signs mentioned in Part 1, a veterinary examination should be carried out immediately. …
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Hip Dysplasia Part 1 – What it is and what causes it.
Hip dysplasia is a common condition in dogs. It predominantly affects larger breeds of dog and is particularly common in German Shepherds, Labrador retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Great Danes and St Bernards. However, any breed of dog and even cats can be affected. To fully understand it we must first consider the normal hip joint. …
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“The Vet Says……” – Antifreeze Poisoning in Cats and Dogs
As this glorious summer comes to an end, no doubt many of you will be making things are ready for winter. Salt for the path, carrot for the snowman’s nose and of course antifreeze for the car. But beware, antifreeze can be harmful to pets so care needs to be taken. Ethylene glycol is a …
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“The Vet Says……” – Myxomatosis in Rabbits
Perhaps one of the most well known animal diseases, it has had much publicity since it decimated the rabbit population after introduction to the UK in the early 1950’s. So virulent is the disease that 95% of rabbits in the UK had died by 1955. Since then it has gone on to be a major …
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The Vet Says…Curiosity killed the dog: Lungworm – know the facts
Unlike most worms that dogs can become infected with in the UK, lungworm is potentially fatal. Lungworm is on the increase in dogs in the UK, it has spread over large areas over the UK, including Essex. We believe this may be due to increases in the urban fox population and increases in the slug …
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Rat poison and dogs – best kept separate
Dogs and rats really are on the opposite end of the animal spectrum. While dogs are considered to be ‘man’s best friend’ and treated like a member of the family, rats, on the whole, are resigned to living in the gutter and feeding off rubbish. I know rats played a pretty big role in spreading …
