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 …
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 …
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. …
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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