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817 results for “dry coat”
Why Cats Get Diabetes
Diabetes is an endocrine disease where too little insulin or poor insulin response raises blood sugar, disturbing carbs, protein and fat and causing electrolyte imbalance. Cats have three types (I insulin-dependent, II non-insulin-dependent, III secondary); type II is common and, happily, preventable. The real drivers are diet and exercise, not just 'obesity' - high-carbohydrate commercial kibble turns to fat in a short gut that needs little carbohydrate. Signs: excessive drinking and eating with weight loss, 3-5x urine, walking difficulty, and late ataxia even paralysis. Complications bring lethargy, dull coat, vomiting, dehydration, sweet breath, coma. Prevent and treat with fixed high-protein, low-carb meals, regular activity, weight and check-up monitoring; many cats live well with medicine and good management.
Hookworms in Dogs: Symptoms and Deworming
Hookworms are intestinal parasites named for their hook-like mouthparts, which anchor them to the gut wall. Only about an eighth of an inch long, they are hard to see, yet they drink large amounts of blood from tiny vessels and can inflame the gut, cause anemia, and threaten life, especially in puppies. Dogs catch them by mouth, through the skin, or from mother to pup via placenta and milk. Signs include pale gums, weakness, weight loss, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis is a fecal float, and treatment is regular deworming plus a repeat dose to kill newly matured worms.
What happens if a dog eats sausage?
A small amount of sausage is usually harmless, but sausages are high in salt and additives; frequent feeding causes coat dryness, severe tear stains, shedding, and bad breath, and can create picky-eating habits. Excess salt burdens the kidneys and may cause renal failure or salt poisoning, so dog food should be the staple.
Why Is Your Dog’s Gum Pale? Don’t Ignore It—It Could Signal These Illnesses
A healthy dog's gums are pink and refill quickly after a light press. Pale or whitish gums often mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen—usually because of anemia or an underlying chronic disease. The causes range from nutritional and blood-loss anemia to kidney or liver problems and infections. Because pale gums can point to something serious, they deserve a prompt check rather than guessing at home.
Feline Leukemia: Symptoms and Treatment
Feline AIDS and feline leukemia are topics owners avoid; clinically similar yet different. There is a separate article on feline AIDS for those interested.
Why Your Teddy Keeps Scratching and How to Help
A Teddy that won't stop scratching may just need a bath, but it can also mean mosquito bites or ringworm. Bathe and dry thoroughly for dirt; use a vet-recommended topical parasiticide for bug bites; for ringworm, clip the fur and apply an antifungal spray. Boost nutrition during treatment and check the skin often.
Diseases Cats Are Prone to in Winter
Winter weakens a cat's defenses, raising the risk of three problems: panleukopenia (distemper) — highly contagious, often fatal in kittens, prevented by vaccination; feline herpesvirus (cat flu) — carried silently, deadly when it flares in the cold; and chill-driven vomiting/diarrhea that can become gastroenteritis. Keep up vaccines and nutrition, stay warm, and limit winter baths to once every one to two months.
What Are the Large Rabbit Breeds?
Popular large rabbit breeds include the French Hotot (8–11 kg, with panda-like eye markings), the gentle Holland Lop (2–2.5 kg), the fast-growing American Angora (5.3 kg by 11 months), and the massive Belgian Giant Chinchilla (record 12.7 kg). Each differs in temperament and care needs—Holland Lops are heat-sensitive and nocturnal, while Angoras are herbivorous wool producers.
Symptoms of Hepatitis in Dogs and How to Treat It
Canine hepatitis commonly shows up as loss of appetite, lethargy, digestive upset, weight loss, and anemia. Treatment targets the underlying cause and combines medication to support bile flow with a balanced diet and steady at-home care.
Pet Vomiting (Part 3): Vomiting from Internal Parasites and Toxicity in Dogs and Cats
Internal parasites living in a dog or cat's gut irritate the intestinal lining and trigger vomiting, sometimes expelling visible worms. Food poisoning causes far more violent vomiting along with seizures and drooling, and demands immediate induced vomiting and gastric lavage. Routine deworming and keeping toxic foods — onions, grapes, chocolate, macadamia nuts — out of reach are the best defenses.