Pet Health Articles

A tail-twitching, whisker-lickin treat that is sure to get a meow from your favorite feline! Help your cat beat the dog days of summer with this cool treat. Remember to count each serving into your four-legged friend's daily calories to help keep your pet healthy.

It's important to carefully plan ahead if you take your pet along with your family on trips. That way, no matter how far you travel, you can make a trip with a four-legged family member go smoothly.

A fractured or broken bone can occur to any bony structure in the body. For most fractures to occur, bone must be exposed to unusual pressure or trauma. Abnormal, damaged, or weakened bone may fracture with normal movement and handling.

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation or infection of the stomach and intestines in general. Gastritis is an inflammation or infection confined to the stomach. These diseases can range from mild and self-correcting to severe and rapidly fatal. A chronic form exists that causes weight loss and general ill health.

Giardia is a microscopic parasite that can infect most mammals, including humans. The parasite invades cells lining the intestinal tract, causing bowel irritation and damage. There, the parasites reproduce and shed into the stool to pass out of the body. This stage of the parasite is very hearty and can remain infective in the environment for long periods of time. Infection occurs when parasites are ingested in contaminated water, stool, plant material, or food. Even licking a few drops of contaminated water, or a few parasites off of the paws or coat, can potentially cause infection.

Hip Dysplasia is a defect of the hip joint found most often in giant and large breed dogs. The normal hip is a ball and socket type joint. The socket is part of the pelvis. The ball is at the upper end, or head, of the femur (thigh) bone. With dysplasia, the normally rounded head of the femur is flattened and fits poorly into the socket and/or the socket may be abnormally shallow.

The hookworm is a common intestinal parasite of dogs. Incidence of infection varies by region. Hookworms attach to the intestinal lining and feed by sucking significant amounts of blood from their host. Adult worms live in a pet's small intestine and deposit eggs that are passed in the stool to develop into larvae.

The thyroid gland produces essential hormones that are involved in the regulation of many vital body functions. Tumors of the thyroid gland can cause over production of these hormones, or hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism usually develops gradually and can be difficult to notice in the early stages. In cats, the thyroid tumors are usually benign and do not spread to other organs. In dogs, thyroid tumors have much more potential to be malignant and spread throughout the body.

The thyroid gland produces essential hormones that are involved in the regulation of many vital body functions. Hypothyroid pets produce too little of these important hormones.

An abrasion is a damaged or scraped area of skin. A laceration is a cut in the skin. These injuries can be mild and superficial or large and very deep with multiple areas involved. Whenever the protective outer layer of skin is damaged, bacteria can easily invade deeper tissues and cause infection.