Dogs - Illness and injury

All dogs will naturally scratch and lick themselves as part of their normal behaviour, however, up to 1 in 3 dogs will be affected with allergic skin disease which can result in excessive licking, scratching and discomfort for your best friend.

What is Allergy Management? Is your pet itchy? Perhaps they chew their feet or are prone to ear infections. These are often signs of allergies (or hay fever) and there are many things we can do to

Anal Sacs (or Anal Glands) are two small glands located just inside your pet’s anus (bottom). Each of these glands has a tiny duct or tube, which has an opening into the rectum.

Did you know that more than one in five dogs will be affected by arthritis, thus making it one of the most common reasons for a loss of quality of life in our senior patients? Arthritis, or

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.

If your pet has been stung by a bee or insect, here's some instructions you can follow to assist your pet.

Bladder stones are rock-like collections of minerals that form in the urinary bladder. Learn how quickly the stones can grow and about diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

What is meant by the term "bloat" in dogs? This is a term that is synonymous with the more scientific term Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus (GDV) . Dilatation means that the stomach is distended with air

An overview of the most common blood tests we perform in pets and the types of diseases and problems the results can indicate.

Brachycephalic dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Pekingese have been purposely bred to have pushed in or short faces. In the pursuit of this cosmetic appearance, a combination of compromising problems

Our pets can hear sounds at a much higher frequency than us mere humans and rely on this ability for different needs. Therefore, it is important as pet parents that we familiarise ourselves with their ears so that we can notice any changes as well as prevent any infections that may develop.

What causes cancer and why your pet may have developed cancer. How will it affect your pet, diagnosis and treatment including oncology.

In our experience informing a pet owner that their pet is blind or is going blind can be quite a daunting task. It's an overwhelming experience for most pet owners and a time often filled with emotion and doubt. That's why we have asked Sue, the owner of a blind Whippet named Pebbles, to tell her story.

Coughing is a common protective reflex for a dog, often a natural mechanism to clear the airways of harmful or unpleasant material. Whilst it may not sound like a serious problem, sometimes coughing

Just like a human medical emergency, follow the same DRSABC principles of handling an animal medical emergency including:- danger, response, send for help, airway, breathing and compressions.

There are two bands of fibrous tissue called the cruciate ligaments in each knee joint. They join the femur and tibia (the bones above and below the knee joint) together so that the knee works as a

Diabetes mellitus is more common in dogs, and is frequently diagnosed in dogs five years of age or older. This is also known as adult-onset diabetes. There is a congenital form that occurs in puppies called juvenile diabetes, but this is rare in dogs.

Diarrhoea, it's certainly not our favourite topic, but one a pet owner should never ignore. Either a consequence of a bad snack choice or a symptom of an underlying disease, it's important to observe your pet closely if you notice diarrhoea.

Ear infections are a common reason pet owners will seek advice from their vet. Recognising an ear infection and seeking advice early can be critical in achieving a quick and successful outcome.

The ear canal consists of a long slender tube, which extends downwards & then inwards to the base of the skull where the ear drum is located. The canal is lined with a delicate layer of skin that produces wax. The skin continually migrates to the outside carrying wax and any debris with it. This is the natural cleaning mechanism of the ear.

Have you ever suspected your pet may be suffering from an injury and you weren't sure what to do? Bleeding skin, broken bone, eye injury, convulsion, obstruction, choking and not sure what to do. Here's a few tips on how you can make your pet more comfortable whilst you are on the way to the vet.

Burn damage to the surface &/or deeper layers of the skin will occur immediately regardless of the source of burn. Visible signs can be seen immediately or it can take up to 12-24 hours after the accident depending on the cause or type of burn.

Let’s talk about a stinky subject that plagues doggy loving households everywhere; pet flatulence. We have all experienced that moment of shock during a snuggle with our furry family member, when suddenly a less than unpleasant smell engulfs the room.

Flea bite hypersensitivity is a common cause of a severely itchy skin disease in cats and dogs. The itch is caused by an allergic reaction to the flea's saliva which the flea injects into the skin as it feeds. Cats and dogs without this allergic response can tolerate the flea bites, so that they can have fleas and only be mildly itchy.

Both dogs and cats need to be regularly treated for worms. The most common type of worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Most of the time your pet can be infected with worms without you even knowing.

What causes food allergies? A food allergy is a reaction by an individual animal to a particular substance in their food. This occurs when the bodies' response to normal food becomes 'confused',

Most dogs that are infected with Giardia do not have diarrhoea or any other signs of illness. When the eggs (cysts) are found in the stool of a dog without diarrhoea, they are generally considered a transient, insignificant finding. However, in puppies and debilitated adult dogs ....

Gardening season? More like grass seed season for our furry family members. There is a wonderfully warm feeling we all experience when we are outside in the beautiful sunshine, smelling some freshly

The most common reason for head shaking in dogs is the one we all know - the head and coat shake after a swim at the beach or a soap-up at bath time. Regular or continuous head shaking in cats or dogs without reason is not normal and could more of an issue.

The heart has four chambers. The upper chambers are called atria (auricles) . One chamber is called an atrium , and the lower chambers are called ventricles . In addition to the upper and lower

Just like humans, a pet’s heart can also develop diseases and cause many health problems. Unfortunately, any diseases or problems with the old ticker, seem to come to light when your pet is already in heart failure as the physical symptoms become obvious.

Heartworm disease is going to be treated by your vet with a drug called Immiticide, which will kill the adult heartworms living in your dog’s heart, and the blood vessels of the lungs. Further drugs will kill any juvenile (larval) stages of heartworm that may be circulating in your dog’s body.

Heatstroke (hyperthermia) is the elevation of the body’s temperature and is a life threatening condition requiring immediate treatment. Dogs left in hot cars, pets exposed to extreme heat when left

Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip joint (coxofemoral joint) that occurs during an animal's growth period. Many large breed dog owners have heard of it, but the fact is that anyone owning a dog should become familiar with this condition.

Hotspots are an itchy, moist skin rash (otherwise known as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis). They generally occur around the head, face and neck but can also occur on the rump and occasionally on the trunk of the body

Springtime is a fine time for your pet to pick up a seasonal allergy from all the pollen, spores, grass seeds and dust that’s flying around.

Cushing's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones. The medical term for this disease is hyperadrenocorticism. The adrenal glands produce several vital substances, which regulate a variety of body functions and are necessary to sustain life.

The thyroid gland regulates the body's metabolic rate. If the thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism), the body's metabolism is elevated. If it is underactive (hypothyroidism), the metabolism slows down.

Hibernation season is upon us! As the temperature outside is dropping, all we can think about is getting cosy with our favourite winter blanket, a nice cup of tea and staying as close to the heater as possible.

A pet’s heart can develop disease just like in humans, but early detection and treatment can make a huge difference to quality of life.

Lameness refers to the disability of one or more limbs. It is most often associated with pain or injury resulting in a pet holding the injured limb up or avoiding using it. Lameness can come from various parts of the anatomy of the legs, such as joints, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments, but can also be referred pain.

Although most lumps are harmless it is impossible to tell what sort of lump you are looking at. There are many different things that can cause swellings - bruising or fluid build-up, abscesses, things attached to the skin (eg. small parasites) and, of course, cancers.

The patella, commonly referred to as the knee cap is usually located in the centre of the knee joint. A luxating patella is a knee cap that moves out of its normal location, as indicated by the term "luxating" which means out of place or dislocated.

If you know or suspect your pet has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, seek veterinary treatment immediately. Your veterinarian will be able to perform a thorough physical examination and detect potential areas of concern and check for the signs which may indicate internal injury.

Dogs feel pain for many of the same reasons as humans: dental problems, infections, arthritis, disease and cancer as well as discomfort after surgical procedures. There are certain signs and changes in behaviour that can indicate when a dog is suffering.

Dr Suzanne Libel wanted to highlight an issue that she sees regularly in clinic, which is owners having difficulty identifying pain in their pets. Most people these days agree that animals do feel physical pain.

When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the disorder is called pancreatitis. It is a disease process that is seen commonly in dogs. There is no age, sex, or breed predisposition.

Parvovirus or parvo as we sometimes refer to it as, is a highly infectious virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular systems of dogs. The main source of the virus is the faeces of infected dogs.

Pyometra is defined as an infection in the uterus. The uterus is also known as the womb and is where the developing foetus is located. It is a serious and life threatening condition that must be treated promptly and aggressively. Pyometra is often the result of hormonal changes in the reproductive tract.

A gradual loss of weight in a dog is okay and even beneficial if it is expected or there is an obvious reason for it (such as an increase in exercise or a deliberate change of diet). Unexplained

Seizures are one of the most frequently seen neurological problems in dogs. A seizure is also known as a convulsion or fit. It may have all or any combination of the following...

Yes, pets can get skin cancer. Tumours affecting the skin or subcutaneous tissue (the tissue just under the skin) are seen in pets. Many cancers are benign, meaning that they won't spread to other parts of the body, others are more life threatening. A veterinarian can diagnose a tumour in a pet with a biopsy, which involves removing a small amount of tissue.

Armed with curiosity and natural hunting instincts it is not uncommon for our favourite four legged friends to cross paths with a snake. At this time of year, even city dogs and cats can have these

Each year at your pet’s annual check-up, your vet may recommend getting a blood test. Ultimately you have the final decision if you would like the test completed and that choice should be respected.

There are many parts of being a pet parent that we cherish and enjoy above everything else. One of the most difficult parts of the being a pet parent is when we know there is something wrong with our

As pet parents we can often forget that our furry family members aren’t just small versions of ourselves when it comes to food! While they may like a piece of bacon as a tasty treat or reward for good behaviour, foods that are high in fat – like bacon – are not as easily managed by our pet’s digestive system.

There are increasingly more opportunities to take dogs to pet friendly destinations including popular holiday locations. We have a medication which actually prevents vomiting from a wide range of causes, including motion sickness. Worldwide, it has seen thousands of dogs successfully treated for vomiting.

Ultrasound scanning is a painless procedure that uses high frequency sound waves (inaudible to humans) to produce images of structures within the body.

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.

The life of a pet parent can be summed up in three simple words: messy, stressful and (above all) rewarding. We would do absolutely anything to keep our furry child safe...

If your dog vomits once and there is nothing else unusual about their behaviour or their health and they return to their normal self straight away, then chances are your dog is probably ok. On the other hand if the vomiting continues and you notice any other signs discussed in this article then you may need to act.

The excess calories are then stored as body fat. We have little control over some contributing factors; eg. Breed, sex, hereditary, and age. However, there are others which we can control, these being over-feeding and exercise.

Often your veterinarian or veterinary nurse will recommend blood testing for your pet. There are many reasons why such a blood test is important. In some cases it is essential for the diagnosis of a disease process, while in others it may be part of a routine wellbeing assessment to give your pet a ‘warrant of fitness’.

Understanding wounds and infection. How to stabilise a wound or graze and first aid tips for simple wounds and bleeding wounds. Dog and cat fights and tips on breaking up a dog fight.