What is Cherry Eye? There is a gland located in the third eyelid, known as the third eyelid gland. This gland is normally hidden behind the third eyelid and kept in position by a small ligament. A Cherry Eye is when this gland prolapses and is visible with the eye. Cherry Eye is thought to be caused by a laxity or weakness of the ligament holding it in place. What breeds are predisposed to Cherry … Read More
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KCS (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca)
What is KCS? KCS is defined as a deficiency of tears that occurs commonly in dogs and infrequently in cats. It is most commonly a chronic disorder. It may affect one eye or both eyes. What are the Signs of KCS? 1. Recurring conjunctivitis: swollen membranes around the eye with minimal irritation to the surface of the eye. 2. Tacky, mucoid discharge: caused by the decrease of tear production. This discharge clings to the … Read More
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Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is an increase of pressure within the eye that causes degenerative changes in the optic nerve and retina which can lead to blindness. Glaucoma is a very painful condition for both humans and animals and treatment is required to manage the pain and possibly save the vision in the eye. What causes Glaucoma? Glaucoma is commonly seen in pure bred dogs (ex: Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Bouvier, Springer Spaniel, Beagle, Shar … Read More
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Corneal Ulcer
What is a corneal ulcer? The cornea is the transparent front layer of the eyeball. It is made up of several complex layers. An ulcer occurs when there is a disruption to one or more layers of the cornea. An ulcer can be very shallow and only effect minimal layers (ex: a scratch or abrasion). They can also be very deep and can possibly cause the eye to rupture. If the ulcer is deep there … Read More
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Elimination Problems In Cats
Urine marking outside of the litter box can occur in a crouching or standing position. When done in a standing position is called spraying. Spraying can be performed by both males and females. Causes: Cats that have been neutered at the appropriate age and who have never seen another cat may still urinate inappropriately A dirty litter box may cause a cat to avoid using the litter box Do not punish your cat in … Read More
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Crate Training
Some people have a difficult time crate training their puppy because they are uncomfortable leaving him in a cage. However, it will become your pets safe haven, much like a bedroom for a child. This is a place that can offer privacy, comfort and security to your dog. Crate training has many positive attributes: Prevents investigative behaviour (getting in to garbage, chewing up house hold objects) Aids in house-training Easy to transport your dog safely … Read More
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Litter Training Your Kitten
Digging before and after elimination is normal behaviour for a cat. Every cat has individual preferences to how deep a hole they create and how much litter they use to cover up their waste. They also have different preferences to the type of litter box and the location. The difficult part with a new kitten is discovering what type of litter, what location and which style of litter box they like better. Here are some … Read More
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Dogs Who Guard Valued Objects
Some dogs can be very possessive about certain items such as their favorite toy or bone. They may also guard objects which appear to have no value to you (such as common household objects, trash, etc). These dogs will normally carry these items to a secure area. Any attempt to remove the item from the dog may be met with aggression. Please do not ignore this warning as the dog may even try to … Read More
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Tips for Training Your Pet
Learning should be a fun experience for both you and your pet. Spend 10 minutes 2 or 3 times daily for training. Try to separate the training sessions by 4 hours for maximum effectiveness. Dogs of any age clean learn new tricks in the proper environment! Teach your dog in the following order: Start with teaching your dog to sit Then stay Then down and down-stay Lastly, heel on the leash If your … Read More
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Why Dogs and Cats Dig
Our canine and feline friends may have the urge to dig. Sometimes they dig in approved areas however, often times they don’t. Digging can become a destructive habit to our household as well as or gardens. Even though it is a natural instinct for our pets to dig, we need to determine the reasons why our furry friends do this. Why Animals Dig: Kittens and puppies may dig as a form of play. They’re … Read More
