Category — pets in usa

Fleas are small, usually dark-colored, wingless insects that affect many different animals, including ferrets. Once it attaches itself to the ferret’s skin, it will bite the animal and feed of its blood, causing skin irritations and even anemia. While most ferrets are not overly sensitive to fleas, some may develop allergies. Fleas also reproduce quite quickly, laying batches of eggs on the host, which can then spread to the ferret’s habitat or anything it touches. To prevent a flea outbreak in your home or a flea infestation in your ferret, bring the animal to your veterinarian at the first sign of fleas.

• Symptoms
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Chronic Progressive Nephrosis

Sometimes referred to as glomerulonephrosis, chronic progressive nephrosis is a common kidney disease in older rats that causes inflammation of the renal blood vessels. Obesity and a high-protein diet are some other factors which can lead to glomerulonephrosis. Male rats are most susceptible to the disease than females, and contract it at a younger age. And unfortunately, this kidney disease can not be treated and is fatal in rats.

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• Causes
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• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Conjunctivitis

Sometimes referred to as “pink eye” or “red eye,” conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the eye’s outermost layer. Frequently due to bacterial infections, there are two kinds of bacteria that are most commonly involved in conjunctivitis: Bordetella and Streptococcus. Although conjunctivitis is not a very serious condition in guinea pigs, its underlying cause needs to be identified and treated promptly to prevent any further complications.

Guinea pigs are very sensitive animals and are likely to develop allergic reactions to some antibiotic medications. Therefore, it is best to consult a veterinarian before attempting to administer any eye drops or ointments at home.

• Symptoms
• Causes
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• Living and Management
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Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial urinary infection in rats. Though more common in wild rats, it is highly contagious and quickly transmitted to any pet rat that comes in contact with urine from an infected animal. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans (zoonotic) or other animals. It is therefore recommended that a rat or rat colony infected with the disease be euthanized.

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

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A true working foxhunter, the Parson Russell is alert and confident, strong and enduring. A cousing to the Jack Russell, the Parson Russell Terrier also excels at obedience and agility trials. It may be a quick-tempered scamp at times, but its cuteness is undeniable.

Physical Characteristics

The Parson Russell’s lively and free gait is complemented by its good drive and reach. The weatherproof and coarse outer coat (which is white, white with black or tan markings, or a combination of these, tri-color) may be broken or smooth, with a dense and short undercoat. In the case of a smooth outer coat, it is hard and flat, while dogs with the broken variety have straight, harsh, close-lying, and tight hair, with hardly any sculpted furnishings.

The expression of the Parson Russell is generally full of life and keen. With a medium-boned, slightly tall, and slender build, the dog can squeeze through narrow passages to chase its quarry. Its long legs, meanwhile, help it to keep up with hounds and horses during a lengthy foxhunt.

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Got a white or light-colored pet? Then you might have run across the issue of tear-stained eyes.

“Raccoon eyes,” as I call them, are the marks under the eyes and in the linear groove that runs down the bridge of the nose of both dogs and cats. If you’ve seen them on your pets, more than likely you wished them gone.

They make your pet look old … or sick … or just plain “not-so-pretty.” They’re unsightly by comparison with the pristine hair that surrounds the stain, that’s for sure. And maybe it means your pet really is sick.

So what’s a concerned pet owner to do?

First things first: See your veterinarian. The most common reason for tear staining is excess tear production or tears that aren’t being properly drained by the tear ducts. Blocked tear ducts, abnormally shaped eyes where the lids turn in or out (called entropion and ectropion, respectively), and many other diseases of the eye can do this. Food allergies can also do it.

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For the most part, I’ll answer: NO! However, as always, I have some exciting examples that make me think twice about how much dental care is appropriate — and I’m a dentistry junkie.

Let me first confess: I believe only a minority of dogs can get through life comfortably without routine dental care. Studies demonstrate that even those that may never experience oral discomfort would live longer, more disease-free lives with routine brushing and/or professional cleaning.

It’s funny, then, that I recently met some dog parents who I believe go way overboard on the dental thing. In fact, they might have Münchausen by proxy syndrome.

Have you heard of this? It’s a psychiatric disorder where people invent health conditions for their loved ones and get off on the attention and satisfaction they receive from caring for them. Famous cases usually involve children but we see this in pets, too.

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“Greenification” is well underway in the world of pets. As a consequence, pet owners are not just being urged to buy “green” products, you’re being asked to change your behavior to reflect the needs of a planet with limited resources.

To that end, I’ve put together a list of “to-do’s” that can help reduce your pet’s carbon pawprint. Here’s my top 10:

1. Eliminate all pet breeding except in the most responsible format. Ideally, that means that all dogs and cats in your care (and that means the outdoor cats you feed, too) should be spayed, neutered, or kept in a mate-free environment––unless, that is, you have a purebred pet with superior genetic qualities and the know-how to produce healthy offspring.

2. Bring your cats indoors, if at all possible. Minimizing hunting of sensitive prey species is best for the environment. If you can’t keep them in at all times, be aware of migratory seasons and keep you cats indoors more often during these times of the year. At the very least, keep a loud bell on your kitty’s collar.

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