What is it? Toxocariasis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxocara canis or T. cati roundworms commonly found in the digestive tracts of dogs and cats. Toxocariasis is a classified zoonosis that is easily spread to humans who don’t observe good hygiene when handling their pets or fail to keep up-to-date with worming. The parasite responsible...
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It’s something that many cat owners ask – does my cat need vaccinating? And are yearly boosters necessary? Particularly if they’re talking about an indoors-only cat with no exposure to the outside world. Cat owners are supposedly 30% less likely to visit their vet than dog owners, which includes keeping up-to-date with vaccination...
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If you have a dog or cat with a skin complaint, you will know how distressing they can be and how difficult they are to treat. In fact, skin problems are often described as a vet’s ‘worst nightmare’ and are so common they account for nearly all UK vet visits. But thankfully there are products on the market that can really make a d...
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If you have birds, you are likely to be well clued-up on feather plucking – an obsessive and hugely destructive pattern of behaviour that largely affects caged birds. Not only is feather plucking detrimental to the physical appearance and health of your bird, it is hugely disconcerting for you, the owner, and especially challenging to treat....
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You might not know it, but dental disease is fairly common in rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas because of their ‘hyposodont’ dentition. This means that their teeth never stop growing, unlike dogs, cats and humans whose brachyodont teeth have true roots that grow for a limited time only. Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are adapt...
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Like any animal, domestic birds are sensitive to summer heat and need to be observed more closely at this time of year. In fact, any extremes in temperature can send birds into shock as their highly-tuned bodies are adapted for consistent and temperate conditions. In cages and aviaries, birds can succumb to heat very quickly and exhibit signs of br...
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Rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters or, as they are often referred to, ‘small animals,’ are present in roughly 2 million UK households, according to the Pet Population report. This includes hamsters and gerbils, as well as more uncommon pets like chinchillas and degus. This goes to show how popular they are and how far-reaching their appe...
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Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a condition all dog owners know about and fear. Otherwise known as bloat or gastric/stomach torsion, the condition onsets quickly and can be fatal if left untreated. While it can affect any dog, it is far more prevalent in deep-chested, large breed dogs. So, what is GDV? Full blown gastric dilatation-volvulus be...
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Fortunately for us, most kittens and cats are litter-trained when we get them because they have mimicked their mother’s behaviour. This makes life a lot easier and saves us a great deal of time. But at some point or other, your cat may show an aversion to using its litter tray and start eliminating elsewhere. Roughly 10% of all cats will deve...
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For those of us who love horses, few things compare to getting up in the saddle. But despite being incredibly popular and a great deal of fun, horse riding is one of the more dangerous sports out there. Therefore, having a riding helmet and body protector that fit correctly is essential for staying safe and surviving a fall. These days, more and mo...
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