Halitosis, or bad breath, in dogs and cats is a common complaint from many pet owners. It can be caused by a myriad of underlying conditions, the most common being dental disease. Good dog dental care can help prevent this.

Bad breath itself is very easily identified. A malodorous smell emanating from the oral cavity is very obvious to most people. However the diagnosis of the underlying cause/s may require the assistance of a veterinarian.

Many owners become aware of their ageing dog’s development of osteoarthritis slowly over time. Whilst some animals will suffer an acute injury which will result in arthritic changes in a specific joint, many cases of osteoarthritis are a result of chronic wear-and-tear and are age-related changes in the dog’s joints. Dog arthritis has common presenting symptoms which include lameness which is often worse in the mornings or after a rest, reluctance to exercise, or reduced exercise capacity due to lameness, stiffening gait, difficulty rising or walking up stairs and pain.

Dermatophytosis, or ringworm as it is commonly known, is a fungal skin infection which in cats is primarily caused by the agent Microsporum canis. The infection occurs in the keratinized tissues of the animal – ie.the hair, nails and stratum corneum (outermost layer of the skin). Ringworm is contagious between animals and is also considered a zoonosis, meaning that infection can be transferred between animals and humans.

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Some cats are extremely active, especially young outdoor cats, whereas others will lounge around all day following the warmth of the sun. What can be done to encourage these lay-about cats to exercise, and does it really matter if they don't exercise?

Young kittens are full of energy and will play with just about anything, investigating and expending copious amounts of energy daily. While we don't recommend this at home, this fun video shows just how entertaining a kitten can be when it is entertaining itself!

Does your dog get to the Easter egg hunt before your kids do? Easter is a wonderful time involving numerous religious and family celebrations. In many households there is an abundance of chocolate eggs and other various treats along with traditional baked buns and breads. These delicious Easter treats are an integral part of the celebrations in many families but pet owners are often unaware that these treats lurk as an underlying threat to the safety and health of their pet dogs at this time of year.
 

What dog treats are you planning to give this Easter? We all love to give dog treats, but here's a word of warning for which dog treats are best for your pet's health.

Pancreatitis in dogs is a disease of the exocrine pancreas. It involves inflammation of the pancreas, resulting in acute pain, vomiting and dehydration. Ongoing disease can result in further clinical signs. Pancreatitis can be an idiopathic disease (a disease without apparent cause) but dietary indiscretion is seen as a risk factor in dogs - i.e. giving the wrong dog treats.

Meet Spike, the rockstar dog featured in the latest US IAMS Naturals Dog Food commercial. Spike is a beautiful Shar-pei, a Chinese breed commonly as the "Roly Dog" from the toilet paper commercial. Shar-Pei's are known for their wrinkles and usually live 10-12 years and can be any solid colour except white. It is as tall as a Boxer, but more stocky in appearance, weighing about 25 kgs.

Regular intestinal worming should be an integral part of the regular health care routine for your dog. Dog wormers are available for different types of worms.

Intestinal worms are gastrointestinal parasites. They are readily spread between dogs and some have important human health implications. Implementing a sustained, regular wormer program can help prevent your dog from developing a significant worm burden and also reduce the risks to your family and others.

You may think cats and water do not mix, but as these videos highlight every cat is different! Some even enjoy the sensation of "water" cat grooming, believe it or not! The thought of bathing your cat as part of a regular cat grooming routine can seem quite daunting to most cat owners. Thankfully cats are excellent self-groomers so the prospect of bathing your cat may not arise too often....

Effective flea control requires an integrated approach.

To get effective flea control, the fleas need to be targeted at each and every stage of their life-cycle. The flea life-cycle has 4 components. Adult fleas on the animal lay eggs which then fall into the environment and hatch into larvae. The larvae then develop into pupae, which ultimately emerges as an adult flea. Adult fleas live on the animal and grow by feeding on the animal’s blood. This stage is the stage most people readily see. However, only about 5% of the flea population is in the adult stage. This means that up to 95% of the flea problem lies in the other unseen stages. These stages are not developing on the animal, but rather in the environment in which the animal resides.