Educational Articles
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Picky eaters are often created by their humans offering too much variety of food. It is safe for an otherwise healthy dog to not eat for up to a week. To decrease pickiness, having food available for only 15-30 minutes 2-3 times a day can be beneficial. Human food should not be used as a diet as it will lead to nutrient deficiencies. Certain foods are okay to mix with dog food to make them more appealing but check with your veterinarian before including these in your dog’s diet. Many dogs are not programmed to eat every day.
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Mynah birds are best known for their ability to talk and mimic sounds. They are lively, social birds and have wonderfully outgoing personalities. A young, hand-raised mynah will be easier to tame and train compared to a wild, colony, or parent-raised bird. As with all pets, mynah birds require regular, routine veterinary checkups.
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Polyps are benign fleshy growths that originate from the cells lining a cat's nasal passages, leading to a variety of clinical signs such as sneezing, difficulty breathing, and recurrent ear infections. The various diagnostic tools and treatment approaches are explained in this handout.
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There are many health and behavioral benefits associated with neutering your rabbit, such as preventing unwanted pregnancies, eliminating his risk for testicular cancer, and minimizing the stress associated with sexual frustration. This handout explains the neuter procedure, post-operative care at home, and, although rare, possible complications that could occur.
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Neutering is also referred to as orchidectomy or castration. It is a surgical procedure in which the testicles are removed to sterilize or render a male animal infertile. There are many behavioral and health benefits associated with neutering your rat. Most rats are neutered between four and six months of age.
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All pets, including rodents, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs, need an initial examination by a veterinarian and at least an annual check-up to allow for early detection and treatment of potentially life-threatening diseases. During this visit, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and various diagnostic tests to determine your pet's state of health and to see if your pet might be harboring any diseases that require treatment.
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Dogs are living longer than ever meaning that they have a greater chance of developing diseases associated with advanced age. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is the name assigned to a set of symptoms associated with behavior changes in senior dogs. Diets rich in antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, flavonoids, and carotenoids have been shown to help slow the decline of brain function. Your veterinarian can help you choose a diet with a nutrient profile suitable for your dog.
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Colitis is a fairly common problem in dogs manifesting as diarrhea. Dealing with colitis may boil down to working with your veterinarian to find a nutrient profile that allows your dog's gastrointestinal system to function as normally as possible. A nutrient profile which contains a high quality, high digestibility protein, low to moderate fat content, and high digestibility carbohydrates. Fiber may also play a role to benefit the colon of dogs with chronic colitis. Work with your veterinarian to assess your dog's clinical and nutritional history, create a nutritional plan, and then evaluate the success of the plan.
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Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body can no longer appropriately manage the use of glucose for its energy requirements. It is a life changing condition that can be partly brought on by poor nutritional health. It is critical to work closely with your veterinarian to choose the most appropriate nutrient profile to achieve weight normalization. Insulin therapy in dogs with DM demands that dogs eat at or near the time of insulin injection. Once a dog is diagnosed with DM it is not realistic to expect that insulin injections can cease. The nutrient profile a diabetic dog eats plays a critical role in achieving glycemic control. There are several therapeutic foods that have been developed to facilitate this effect.
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Heart disease in general, and congestive heart failure (CHF) in particular, are fairly common diseases in dogs. Chronic valvular disease and dilated cardiomyopathy are the two most common causes of congestive heart failure. Hypertension may be a contributor to heart disease and CHF. The first step toward determining the best nutrient profile to feed your dog with CHF is to work with your veterinarian to determine what, if any, other medical conditions might be present in your dog. For heart failure patients, there are some key nutritional factors to consider. Work with your veterinarian to choose the most appropriate food for your dog.