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189 results for “hereditary”
How is neutering surgery performed on a male dog?
The vet removes both testicles under general anesthesia after a 6 to 8 hour fast. Cryptorchid dogs need abdominal surgery. The op takes about 10 minutes and heals in 7 to 10 days.
Springer Spaniel: Pros and Cons
Springer Spaniels are friendly, smart, energetic, alert, and loyal — great family and working dogs — but they need regular grooming, high exercise, ear care, and firm training, and can be overly exuberant, stubborn, or prone to hip dysplasia. Match the breed to your lifestyle before committing.
No Response When Called? 5 Signs of Hearing Loss in Dogs
A dog's hearing is four times sharper than a human's, so hearing loss hurts its quality of life and can put it in danger. Watch for five signs: slow response to everyday sounds (name, doorbell, treat bag, commands); deeper sleep that only breaks when touched; being easily startled because it relies more on sight and stays clingy; poor sound localization (turning the wrong way with one-sided loss); and changed bark volume. Causes range from age (often from 8–10) to ear infections, mites, wax, drug side effects, injury, tumors, or breed predisposition. See a vet early; for age-related loss, use hand signals, keep the environment stable, and try a vibration collar.
What Is Dog Cryptorchidism and Why Treat It?
Cryptorchidism is when one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum, staying in the abdomen or groin. It is strongly hereditary, an autosomal recessive trait, so affected dogs must not be bred. Because the retained testicle sits at body temperature, its cancer risk rises sharply with age and threatens the dog's life. The standard treatment is surgical removal of BOTH testicles, which also neuters the dog; recovery needs rest and limited activity for 1-2 weeks.
Why does my cat always tear up and have eye discharge?
Causes include heat, blocked tear ducts or liver disease; flat-faced breeds like Persians are prone. Clean the face with cat eye solution and switch to a lower-salt diet if diet-related.
Is a cat with bent ears definitely a Scottish Fold?
Not necessarily - some cats with Fold genes have slight bends but aren't true Folds and lack the hereditary bone disease. True Folds risk osteodystrophy of tail, ankles and knees.
Everyday Habits That Seriously Harm Your Dog’s Joints
Joint disease in dogs is on the rise, and beyond obesity many overlooked daily habits do real damage. Slippery floors force dogs to grip hard and risk falls; bad exercise — long runs, sharp stops, jumping from heights — wears joints down; frequent stairs overload the knees, especially in long-backed breeds like Corgis; standing on hind legs for attention strains the spine; and overfeeding accelerates cartilage loss, particularly in large breeds with hip-dysplasia risk. Cold, damp floors stiffen joints and worsen pain. Watch for early signs — stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump, hind-leg dragging, pain when touched — and support joints with glucosamine and chondroitin.
Care Tips for Keeping a Border Collie
The border collie is the smartest dog breed, bright enough to outthink its owner, so patience and skill matter in training. As a large, high-energy dog it needs daily exercise, such as frisbee, to burn off energy and avoid destructive behavior. Groom its dense coat twice a day in shedding seasons, train with rewards not force, watch for hereditary issues like eye and hip disease with regular checks, feed by life stage, and deworm and vaccinate while avoiding Collie-sensitive drugs.
Common Skin Problems in Dogs During Summer
If your dog is scratching more than usual, the cause may be the skin itself - parasites, allergies or underlying disease. Summer brings a spike in canine skin conditions, so every owner should know the common ones. This guide lists allergic dermatitis, yeast infection, folliculitis, impetigo, seborrhea, ringworm, mange, fleas, ticks, lupus and more, with their hallmark signs. Most skin diseases develop over time, so early detection and prompt veterinary care keep them stable and curable - watch your dog's behavior and act on anything unusual.
What Is Storage Disease in Dogs?
Storage disease is a hereditary metabolic disorder where certain substances build up abnormally in the body's tissues. The two most reported forms in veterinary medicine are lysosomal storage disease and glycogen storage disease. It strikes dogs and cats, is very rare, and appears early in puppies and kittens because it is inherited. Nerve-related signs include poor growth, ataxia, seizures, exercise intolerance, behavior changes, and vision loss. Diagnosis uses blood, urine, imaging, biopsy, and enzyme tests; care is supportive, and affected dogs should never be bred.