Category — Pet Health Articles

Dystocia

Female egg-laying reptiles can produce eggs even when a male is not present, so all females are at risk of being unable to pass an egg that has formed, a condition known as egg binding. Species that produce live young can also have difficulty giving birth, also known as dystocia.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Hyperlipemia

Hyperlipemia is a blood disorder that occurs in overweight horses, as well as some donkeys. Horses with this condition have an abnormally high amount of fat in their blood. And although it only affects a small percentage of the world’s equine population, Hyperlipemia is a very serious disorder that has a high rate of mortality among those affected. For this reason, it is important to know the symptoms of this condition, so that you may seek immediate veterinary care for your horse if it is suspected of having Hyperlipemia.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Prevention

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Rhinitis And Sinusitis

Rhinitis in rabbits is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane. Sinusitis is quite similar; it is an inflammation of the air-filled spaces surrounding the rabbit’s sinus or nasal cavity. Both of these conditions can cause respiratory problems and are often noticed because of the rabbit’s excessive sneezing and nasal discharge.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Anemia

Anemia in horses is defined as the shortage of hemoglobin – a protein that transports oxygen from the lungs through the blood – in their blood. There are different reasons for anemia, and it always occurs secondary to some other health issue the horse may be experiencing.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Many different types of viruses can cause disease in reptiles, but the adenovirus is of particular concern to owners of bearded dragons. Other reptiles, including some snake and lizard species, can also be infected, but young bearded dragons are the most susceptible.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Abscess

An abscess is a lump or growth that you may find anywhere on your horse. It occurs as a result of an infection your horse’s body is combating. This lump is usually rather painful and as time passes it is likely to rupture, releasing nasty pus. The process may take up to a week to complete, and can be extremely uncomfortable for the horse.

• Symptoms and Types
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Beak Overgrowth in Turtles and Tortoises

Turtles and tortoises do not have teeth, but instead grab and chew their food using the sharp edges of their beaks. If an animal’s beak becomes overgrown or does not wear properly, it may have difficulty eating.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Ticks, Mites, and Fly Larvae

External parasites not only annoy pet reptiles, but they can also transmit disease and be very debilitating, even causing death in extreme cases. Preventing and/or dealing with their introduction and spread through a reptile collection is a very important aspect of keeping reptiles healthy and happy.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Some animal experts have asserted that pets intuitively eat plants according to their specific medicinal value — that is, as long as they have several plants to choose from. The problem, however, is that we choose our plants for beauty rather than edibility. So when a pet has only household plants or landscaping to choose from, it can lead to something more serious than a bellyache, especially if the plants are toxic or sprayed with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. But, given the right plants to choose from, your pet will be able to treat itself and you won’t need to worry about potential side effects.

Whether you have a large yard space, a small four-foot by four-foot plot, or a windowsill, you can grow a healing garden for your cat or dog. Most of these plants are simple to grow and inexpensive to boot. Even better, many double as home remedies for you and your family.

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Here’s another contentious topic: psychoactive drugs for pets. They’re used for all kinds of disorders and in my experience they’ve saved lives.

There’s no doubt on this point: Veterinary behaviorists and general practitioners have been using these drugs now for decades with significant benefits to dogs, cats, horses, and birds.

The problem? This arises every time veterinarians and pet owners employ these drugs as the sole approach to the complex issue of “mental health” in pets (a.k.a., behavior problems).

“Pets displaying unwanted behaviors do not deserve to be medicated,” many trainers, natural health proponents, and others argue. Nor, they say, does it help much beyond the sedating, mind-numbing capabilities these drugs offer. What these pets really need, in their estimation, is a healthy dose of exercise, basic training, and behavior modification.

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