The Ultimate Guide To Buying Cat Toys
In This Article Why Are Toys Important for Cats? View 3 More +
Rabbit Adoption: Everything to Know About Adopting a Rabbit
Thinking about rabbit adoption? Rabbits can make wonderful pets—but before you adopt a bunny rabbit, it’s important to know how to care for them. “Rabbits have a lot of personality,” says Barbara B. Tomaras, DVM, owner of Exoticare Veterinary Services in Miami, Florida. “You can find cuddly rabbits, and rabbits that are fun and entertaining. They’re very easy to keep.” They also are “not an expensive pet,” Dr. Tomaras says. Compared to the annual expenses for dogs and cats, which are upwards of $1,000 dollars, caring for a bunny averages around $500 a year, not including rabbit adoption fees. Read on to discover important information about rabbit care and the rabbit supplies you need before adopting a rabbit.
Rhinitis and Sinus Infections in Dogs
Recovery and Management of Sinus Infections in Dogs Medical Therapy Bacterial infections in the nose and sinus may be cleared by one course of antibiotics. But recurrence is common due to the anatomy of the nose, which allows for pockets of infection to persist. These infections typically are not life-threatening but may be bothersome to the dog and pet parent. Dogs with ciliary dyskinesia have a very guarded to poor long-term prognosis, as they have difficulty clearing infections with poorly functioning respiratory cilia. Chronic idiopathic rhinosinusitis is a recurrent disease. Some dogs have episodes of the disease with relief for long periods between episodes, while other dogs are persistently affected. If the episodes are persistent, a full diagnostic work-up including CT scan and rhinoscopy is recommended to rule out an underlying infection or nasal mass that could be complicating the disease. Dogs with aspergillus sp. infections in the nose have a better chance of cure if they are young, if more plaques were able to be removed before treatment, and if the dog was not sick for a long time before diagnosis. Brain infections have a more guarded prognosis. Similarly, cryptococcus sp. infections of the brain have a more guarded prognosis than nasal infections. Sinus infections are more difficult to clear, have a longer treatment time, and may require surgery. Surgery Recovery from surgery to repair fractures, trauma, or mass in the nose/sinus may take several weeks, depending on the extent of the wounds and the complexity of the repair. The long-term prognosis is generally good after a fracture repair, although some dogs are more susceptible to bacterial infections due to loss of the normal bony structures inside of their nose. Dogs that had a tooth root abscess removed generally need to eat soft food for 7-10 days and will go home on antibiotics and a pain reliever. Once the area has healed, the prognosis is excellent. Brachycephalic dogs that have surgery to widen their nostrils and/or remove extra soft palate tissue and their everted laryngeal saccules to ease their breathing will have hospital stay and a recovery lasting about 10 days. Afterward, their prognosis for breathing better is very good. The surgery cannot change the size of the sinuses (due to the shape of the skull), but by improving airflow, nasal and sinus infection occurrences should decrease. Featured Image: iStock.com/Gorica Poturak,References Cappello ZJ, Minutello K, Dublin AB. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Nose Paranasal Sinuses. StatPearls. Online site. Updated February 11, 2023. Billen F, Peeters D. Canine Aspergillosis. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, ebook. 8th Edition. Elsevier; 2017. Clercx C. Disease of the Trachea and Small Airways. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, ebook. 8th Edition. Elsevier; 2017. Clercx C, Billen F. Sinusitis and Other Sinus Disorders. Cote’s Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats, ebook. 4th Edition. Elsevier; 2019. Merveille AC, Battaille G, Billen F, Deleuze S, Fredholm M, Thomas A, Clercx C, Lequarré AS. Clinical findings and prevalence of the mutation associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia in Old English Sheepdogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2014;28(3):771-778. Oechtering, GU. Diseases of the Nose, Sinuses, and Nasopharynx. Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, Cote E. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, ebook. 8th Edition. Elsevier; 2017. Kaczmar, E., Rychlik, A. Szweda, M. The evaluation of three treatment protocols using oral prednisone and oral meloxicam for therapy of canine idiopathic lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis: a pilot study. Irish Veterinary Journal. 2018;71(19).,What Is a Sinus Infection in Dogs? When you think about a dog’s nose, you might imagine a wide-open space inside. But actually, the nose also contains tiny, bony curlicues of specialized skin cells covered with tiny hairs called cilia that help the dog smell and filter debris. These curlicues are very important filters that block dust, pollens, and other particles from getting into your dog’s airways. The sinuses, however, are open spaces where infections can occur. The frontal sinuses are in the back of the nose, near the forehead. The sphenoid sinus is near the middle of the head. In dogs, the maxillary recess in the cheek is so small that it is often empty. In brachycephalic dogs (short-nosed dogs, such as the Pug or French Bulldog), the frontal sinuses are very small or nonexistent. Sinuses have several important functions: They decrease the weight of the skull They improve the sound of the voice They buffer the nose from outside temperature changes They humidify the air the dog breathes in The mucosal lining of the sinuses helps fight infection Since sinuses are surrounded by skull bones, sinuses have little escape from infection when there is infection or a mass in the nose. Sinus infections can also be difficult to treat because there is little blood supply in the sinuses to deliver antibiotics.
5 Signs You May Have a Stressed Cat—and How You Can Help
Think you might have a stressed cat? Is cat stress even a thing? Sadly, the answer to the latter is yes: Cats can feel real and chronic stress, even beyond the fleeting “I won’t get in the carrier because you’ll take me to the vet” variety that most cats feel. But don’t worry; there are ways you can help your kitty out. We enlisted the help of a certified animal behaviorist and a cat behavior expert to break down all things cat stress, including the signs and symptoms of stress, how to alleviate the stressors in your cat’s environment and more.
The Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs, According to Dog Parents
Does your canine companion have a sensitive stomach? You’re not alone. Many dogs suffer from digestive issues throughout their lives. While some pets only experience the occasional episode of constipation or diarrhea, other pups with frequent gastrointestinal upset benefit from specially formulated diets that are gentle on troublesome tummies. Ready for a mealtime makeover? Read on for everything you need to know about how to select the best dog food for sensitive stomachs.
Hypersalivation (Drooling) in Horses
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5 Reasons to Vacation With Your Dog in Los Angeles, California
The days are longer and the temperatures are warmer, which means one thing—summer is in full swing! Summer is a great time to hit the road with your family and take a much-needed (and well-deserved) vacation. And for pup parents, it’s the ideal time to vacation with your dog. If you’re taking a vacation with your dog this summer, there are few better destinations than the City of Angels—Los Angeles, California. Dog-friendly Los Angeles is a must-visit for travelers and their pups; the weather is perfect, there’s plenty to explore and there are a ton of cool places in LA and its surrounding areas to take your dog. “Los Angeles is the ultimate pet-friendly destination offering memorable experiences for every member of the family, including our furry companions,” says Jamie Foley, vice president of global communications for Discover Los Angeles. “Whether looking for dog-friendly hotels … alfresco dining options, trails … or beaches, LA has it all.” Here are five reasons to make your next vacation with your dog a trip to Los Angeles.
Are Guinea Pigs Good Pets for Kids? Here’s What Parents Should Know
While every piggy is different, these small animals check a lot of boxes when it comes to being kid-friendly pets. Here are a few common traits that make them a good option for families with children. Gentle personalities: Unlike some small pets, guinea pigs are usually calm and not prone to biting. Social animals: They love attention from humans and enjoy being held and petted. Many even recognize their caregivers’ voices and faces. Entertaining: Guinea pigs have more than 10 different vocalizations, from excited squeaks to soft purrs, each with its own meaning. These sounds can keep kids amused and curious about what their pet is trying to say. Additionally, Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP (Avian), owner and medical director at Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics, in Bedford Hills, New York, explains that caring for a pet, such as a guinea pig, teaches children empathy and responsibility by helping them understand that another living being depends on them to stay healthy and happy. ,Bringing a pet into the family can be a great way to teach kids responsibility and the joy of animal companionship. Guinea pigs are often seen as a kid-friendly choice due to their small size, but are they really the right fit for children? Before bringing one home, here’s what parents should know about caring for these squeaky little companions.
How Long Do Fish Live?
By Adam Denish, DVM You may be searching for the answer to the ultimate question, “How long will my fish live?” Scientists around the globe have dedicated their careers to studying lifespans of people and animals to determine why some animals, like Galapagos tortoises, can live well over 100 years while a field mouse only lives two or three years. An animal’s life span is affected by a number of genetic factors including physical size, heart efficiency, metabolism, age of reproductive maturity and length of reproductive viability. Environmental factors including disease, predation, drought and starvation are also at play in determining the lifespan of an animal. When we pose the question of how long our fish will live, we need to consider how well the fish is fit for life genetically and then assess the environmental risks. While determining the life expectancy for individual fish can be more of a guessing game, we can use some indicators about size, reproduction and the environment to give some broad determinations. Size Indicators that Determine How Long Fish Live Physicist Dr. Geoffrey West has made a correlation between size and cell efficiency and applies methods he uses to determine the energy needs of different-sized cities to the way living organisms use energy. West puts cells of organisms on an even playing field and then scales their needs by a factor related to their physical size. West explains that if a mouse and an elephant both have the same number of heart beats in their respective lifetimes, the difference in life expectancy would be determined by the rate of their metabolism. The elephant lives a more efficient and longer life due to slower metabolism. We can take this assertion and apply it to tropical fish as well. It is true that larger fish like plecos, Oscars and clown loach have a longer life expectancy than small fish like bettas or killifish. These large fish are the elephants in the aquarium.
11 Injuries That Can Send Your Rabbit To The Vet
Rabbits are amazing creatures that provide companionship and joy for many families. Part of our job as caretakers is keeping our rabbits safe from harm. Traumatic injuries are fairly common in pet rabbits, and in many cases may be avoidable. Make sure to do your homework so you know how to keep your rabbit safe and what to do in the unfortunate situation that your rabbit suffers an injury. This article will review some common injuries and how to address them, as well as some helpful tips on rabbit first aid and rabbit-proofing your home.
