Articles Library on Cats, Dogs, Birds, Horses, Fish, Rabbits, Reptiles, Ferrets, Exotics, Chinchillas and other pets.

Copper Storage Hepatopathy

Copper storage hepatopathy is a condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of copper in the liver, which can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver over the long term. This condition is believed to be secondary to a primary disease, usually the result of a genetically-based abnormal copper metabolism.

This disease has been found in cats, but these cases are considered rare and isolated.

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

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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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Sex Hormone Responsive Dermatosis and Alopecia

Alopecia and dermatosis are skin and hair disorders related to an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Alopecia is characterized by a loss of hair leading to baldness, and dermatosis is characterized by a diseased condition of the skin. There are a lot of reasons for why a dog would have these types of reactions, but if all indications point to an imbalance in hormones related to reproductive functioning, your veterinarian will try supplemental therapy to either lower or raise hormone levels to a normal amount. Identification of hormone related alopecia and/or dermatosis is assured when the conditions spontaneously resolve after the use of reproductive hormone therapy.

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

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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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• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Hypothermia

When a dog is exposed to cold for a long time, its body temperature falls, leading to hypothermia. Low body temperature can lead to near fatal or fatal complications for the dog. Immediate treatment is essential to prevent this.

How to Treat Hypothermia?

The first step is to warm the dog by wrapping it in a blanket, rug, jacket, etc. Place the dog in a warm place and if it is wet, dry it as much as possible. Then check the rectal temperature.

If the rectal temperature is above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius), the dog is not really hypothermic. To raise the temperature to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), keep the dog warmly wrapped, and give an oral dose of glucose solution made up of 4 teaspoons honey or sugar dissolved in 1 pint of warm water. The glucose solution will prevent the dog’s sugar levels from falling too low.

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Wound Closure

When taking care of any substantial wound, emergency closing of the wound is an important procedure. Wound closure will protect the tissue from sepsis (bacterial infection) by preventing dirt and contaminants from entering. It will also allow for quicker healing and less scar formation. As with all other wound care procedures there is a right time to close the wound, and a wrong time, and this can make all the difference between a clean or infected wound. The most common methods of wound closure are by using sutures or staples. Cuts of 1 cm. or less do not require wound closure.

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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.

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

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Gas Bubble Disease

Gas bubble disease refers to the development of gases in a fish’s bloodstream. This can occur when its aquarium or pond water is supersaturated with gases.

• Symptoms and Types
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Birds suffer from lung and airway disorders, which can be caused by a variety of respiratory parasites. One such parasitic infection in birds is caused by air sac mites, which affects the entire respiratory tract. The parasites can be present all the way from the nose of the infected bird to the tiny air sacs in the lungs.

Canaries and Gouldian finches are two types of birds that commonly suffer from air sac mites.

• Symptoms and Types
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Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome

Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS), also known as “twitch-skin syndrome” and “psychomotor epilepsy,” is an obscure cat disorder resulting in intense biting or licking of the back, tail, and pelvic limbs. The nervous and neuromuscular systems, along with the skin, are affected. Symptoms may occr any age and can develop in any breed of cat. Purebreds – especially Siamese, Abyssinians, Burmese, and Himalayans – seem to be predisposed to develop the syndrome.

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

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