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421 results for “nutritional balance”
Pruritus (Itching) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Relief
Pruritus is a symptom rather than a disease, signaling an underlying problem such as parasites, eczema, diabetes, endocrine imbalance, or nutritional deficiency. Lasting relief comes from treating the root cause, not just suppressing the itch.
Canine and Feline Seborrheic Dermatitis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Seborrheic dermatitis is a disorder of skin lipid metabolism in dogs and cats, producing dry scales, greasy sebum buildup, or inflamed crusted skin. It may be primary (often hereditary) or secondary to parasites, infection, or endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism.
Degenerative Arthritis in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) is non-suppurative wear of joint cartilage from years of uneven load, more common in older pets. It causes pain, stiffness, limited motion, and lameness that worsens with activity and cold weather. Weight control, controlled exercise, pain relief, and surgery in severe cases manage it.
Pica in Dogs and Cats
Pica is the compulsive eating of non-food objects such as stones, plastic, grass or wall plaster. It often signals a nutritional gap, pancreatic disease or parasites, and swallowed items can obstruct or perforate the digestive tract.
Selenium Metabolism Disorders in Dogs and Cats: Deficiency (White Muscle Disease) and Toxicity
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that supports antioxidant defence and immune function in dogs and cats. Both too little and too much are harmful: deficiency causes nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease) affecting skeletal and heart muscle, while excess produces acute and chronic poisoning.
Osteomalacia in Dogs and Cats
Osteomalacia in adult dogs and cats is bone softening from calcium or vitamin D imbalance, causing stiffness, lameness, joint swelling, and easy fractures. It is managed by correcting calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D and treating underlying gut or parasite disease.
Rickets in Dogs and Cats
Rickets in dogs and cats is a growing-animal bone disease from vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus deficiency, producing soft, deformed bones, lameness, and dental problems. It is prevented and treated with corrected diet, sunlight, and veterinary-directed calcium and vitamin D.
Choline Deficiency in Dogs and Cats
Choline deficiency in dogs and cats, an anti-fatty-liver nutrient, causes fatty liver, poor growth, and a bone deformity known as perosis with joint swelling and unsteady gait. It is corrected by adding choline to a complete diet.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) Deficiency in Dogs and Cats
Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency in dogs and cats causes pellagra-like signs, oral and esophageal ulcers, black tongue in dogs, diarrhea, anemia, and symmetric dermatitis. It follows corn-heavy diets low in tryptophan, and is corrected with dietary niacin.
Folate (Folic Acid) Deficiency in Dogs and Cats
Folate deficiency in dogs and cats impairs nucleic acid synthesis, causing megaloblastic anemia, poor appetite, diarrhea, and skin or mouth inflammation. It arises from low-protein or overcooked diets, gut disease, or high demand in pregnancy, and is corrected with folate and good nutrition.