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From Kitten to Cat
Kitten Behaviour
Tiny fuzz-balls of cuteness - the perfect description for every kitten. We cannot resist them creeping into our hearts.
You have brought your new kitten home and realise it is dependent on you for its every need. For the kitten, the world is huge, brand new and can be a bit scary. Every sight, sound, smell, person and animal are a new experience. These first experiences are likely to influence their future behaviour.
My cat has suddenly gone lame in her hindquarters and seems to be in a lot of pain
Feline Aortic Thromboembolism
What is Feline Aortic Thromboembolism?
Feline Aortic Thromboembolism (ATE) is a condition in cats where a big blood clot settles and blocks the main artery (the aorta) running from the heart to the cat’s hind legs. The clot typically settles near the pelvis, where the aorta divides into the two main arteries that extend into the legs.
My dog has what looks like a red cherry stuck in the corner of its eye
Cherry eyes in pets
My dog's nose seems to be all clogged up and hard and he is not well at all
Distemper in dogs
Following recent outbreaks of Distemper (Hondesiekte in Afrikaans) in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng, it is important to have an understanding of this disease which is fatal in half of all cases of dogs that contract the disease.
My pet injured its eye!
Trauma to the eye- eyelids and cornea
Just like in people, the eye of a dog or cat is a delicate structure that can be affected by a huge number of different conditions. This article will cover trauma to the eyelids, third eyelid and cornea.
The vet could not cure my pet!
Owner Compliance and the Role you as an Owner Play
First things first, there are always 3 parties to any veterinary consultation: The vet, the pet and the one often overlooked, the owner. For any veterinary treatment to be successful at least two of the three parties, namely the vet and the owner, are pivotal to the success of any intervention. As an owner, you are the eyes and ears of the vet in the home environment and most importantly no one knows your pet the way you do. The truth is we the vet cannot do their job without you. I am sure many have heard the saying that
My dog is really getting old
Geriatric dogs - The senior years
Taking your elderly dog to the vet for an annual check-up can sometimes feel like a waste of time and a big inconvenience to the pet involved. The stress involved and the difficulty of transporting a big elderly dog, which is not so mobile anymore, may make you wonder if it is really necessary. The answer is a very big YES!
My cat is really getting old
Geriatric Cats - The senior years
Due to improvements in nutrition, veterinary and home care, cats are living a lot longer than they did twenty to thirty years ago. In the past when a cat reached the age of 13 years old, we believed them to be really old. This is definitely no longer the case. We see several cats that are now reaching ages in excess of twenty years. Cats also tend to age a lot more gracefully than dogs and so it is not always easy to tell when they are starting to struggle or are showing signs of illness.
My pet is vomiting
Is vomiting a sign of an upset tummy?
Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms of disease seen in pets. It can be quite alarming to see your pet vomit up all his or her food or alternatively continuously wretch and only bring slime or bile. So should you rush your dog or cat to the vet immediately when you see them vomit, or is it safe to wait and see? Because there are so many causes of vomiting, we recommend that if you are ever in doubt, it is always better to visit the vet and have it seen to, even if it is just to
My dog is ravenously hungry all the time and eats like a beast but is as thin as a rake.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs
Why is the pancreas important?
The pancreas is a small, light pink, glandular organ that is situated between the stomach and the duodenum (part of the small intestines). It has many important functions, all of which can be classified into two main categories namely endocrine and exocrine.