Educational Articles
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Benzoic acid + malic acid + salicylic acid (brand name Derma-Clens®) is an acidic cleansing agent used on burns, wounds, and other skin conditions in cats and dogs. Benzoic acid + malic acid + salicylic acid comes in a topical cream.
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Benzonatate is an antitussive (cough suppressant) medication used to treat coughing in dogs. It is used off label (extra label) in veterinary medicine. Benzonatate comes in capsules that must be given whole. Use with caution as there is a high potential for toxicity and overdose.
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Benzoyl peroxide topical products (2%, 5%) are used in cats and dogs to treat bacterial infections of the skin. They are available as over-the-counter veterinary products in the form of shampoos, gels, and cream rinses.
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Betamethasone + gentamicin topical, also known as gentamicin/betamethasone topical (brand names GenOne Otic, Betagen, Vet Beta-gen, Gentacalm), is a combination antibiotic and steroid used to treat superficial skin infections and ear infections. It is labeled for use in cats and dogs to treat infections of the anal glands, ears, and skin. This medication comes in liquid drop solution, spray, and ointment forms. Avoid use in pets with ruptured ear drums.
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Betaxolol ophthalmic is a topical eye medication prescribed off-label in veterinary medicine to treat glaucoma in dogs, cats, and horses. It comes as a liquid eye drop to be administered on the surface of the eye.
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Bexagliflozin (brand name Bexacat®, Brenzavvy®) is an oral glycemic control medication used in cats with diabetes mellitus. It is used to lower blood sugar levels in cats with diabetes mellitus not previously treated with insulin. Bexagliflozin comes in tablet form.
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Bimatoprost ophthalmic is a topical eye medication prescribed off label to treat high fluid pressure and primary glaucoma in the eyes of dogs. It comes as a liquid eye drop to be administered on the surface of the eye. Bimatoprost ophthalmic is a prostaglandin. Pregnant women may wish to avoid the use of this drug in their households.
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Some behaviors natural to birds can be problematic for their owners, who often inadvertently reinforce them. The first step is understanding the cause behind your bird's biting or screaming. If your bird is otherwise healthy and his environmental needs are met, positive reinforcement training is the most effective method for managing undesirable behaviors.
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Rabbits and guinea pigs commonly present symptoms related to the urinary system. At home, the owner may notice urine collecting in the hair on the inside of the rear legs, a more pungent smell to the urine, the pet straining to urinate, or hematuria (bloody urine). After a proper physical exam and a thorough palpation of the urinary bladder, the veterinarian may identify bladder stones (a firm, oval hard mass in the bladder) or "bladder sludge" in rabbits (a bladder filled with a grainy, sand-like material). X-rays of the abdomen allow the veterinarian to identify the type of bladder disease and/or the number of stones.
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A blood feather or pin feather is a new feather growing on a bird. Blood feathers are a normal part of feather maturation. When feathers first erupt from the skin, they contain blood. Injury to the feather as it grows may cause the blood feather to become broken, causing blood loss that may require emergency treatment.