Dogs

What is a Ringworm Infection? Ringworm is caused by a fungus, not a worm, and the lesion is not always in the shape of a ring. The scientific name for this disease is Dermatophytosis because it is caused by a dermatophyte. This circular lesion might be caused by Ringworm, then again, Ringworm might not be the cause This fungus grows on the skin, and uses the superficial layers of skin, the hair, and the nails as a source of nutrition. Since fungi are everywhere in our environment, it is difficult to determine what pets will develop the problem. The fungus

Introduction to Spleen Disease (Hemangiosarcoma, Hematoma) It is not uncommon for us to encounter problems with the spleen. Sometimes it just enlarges without any major problems, sometimes it twists on itself, sometimes it ruptures and causes internal bleeding, and sometimes it becomes cancerous. A rupturing spleen is called a hematoma. Cancer of the spleen is called hemangiosarcoma (abbreviated as HSA). What is Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs? Hemangiosarcoma in dogs is a malignant cancer of the spleen that can spread to other organs, eventually leading to death. Signs and Symptoms of Hemangiosarcoma in Dogs lethargy inappetence weight loss diarrhea vomiting collapse discolored

Sarcoptic mange commonly know as scabies, is caused by an external parasite called Sarcoptes scabei  that burrows deep into the skin. It occurs in cats, but not as commonly as in dogs, (unless is it notoedric mange), also occurs in foxes, ferrets, rabbits, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and guinea pigs. It is contagious to other pets and occurs in many different animals. It causes intense itchiness, especially affecting the ear margins, elbows, and face. People can pick up this disease from their pet and show symptoms of itching, but it goes away by itself in many cases and usually  does

Introduction Mammary tumors account for 17% of all cat tumors. Even though cats get this problem half as often as dogs, almost all of them are malignant.  Intact females are at the highest risk, although it does occur in males on rare occasions. Some tumors become so large that they can become ulcerated and painful, leading to the potential of an infection that spreads to the rest of the body (sepsis or septicemia). Why someone would wait for a tumor to get this large before seeking our medical care is beyond us.  It is an accepted fact, proven over many

The study of parasites is called parasitology. It is an important discipline because internal parasites cause death and disease worth billions of dollars in animals each year. These parasites have highly evolved life cycles that make their elimination impossible. In addition, many internal parasites affect people with the potential for serious consequences. Dogs (especially puppies) are routinely infected with internal parasites, sometimes without apparent evidence of the infestation until it is too late. This means that a pet can have internal parasites even though the fecal sample is negative. It is suspected that internal parasites predispose your pet to IBD