Bloat in Dogs: Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV)
Bloat, or gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), is a serious, life-threatening condition seen in dogs. GDV mainly affects large deep-chested dogs, but it can affect any size of dog. It happens when distention of the stomach with food and/or air together with the momentum of this now heavy organ by movement (walking or running) causes the stomach to “flip” upon itself, closing both the in-flow and out-flow passages. The stomach then becomes more and more distended, causing pressure on the large blood vessels of the abdomen, cardiac irregularities, difficulty breathing, tissue death and toxin release.
Bought a Sick Pet Store Puppy: What Can You Do?
Many people unknowingly buy sick puppies from America’s pet stores. It’s extremely unfortunate and happens to too many people. We want you to know that there are things you can do if you find yourself in this situation. The first and most important thing is to report your experience to the proper entities to help prevent it from happening to other customers — and to other puppies. Here are some suggestions:
Cat and Dog Parasites: Fleas, Ticks and Worms
Parasites can present a big challenge when it comes to your dog’s or cat’s overall health. They can affect your animal’s skin, digestive tract, heart — almost any organ, for that matter.
Cataracts in Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
A dog develops a cataract when the lens of the eye clouds, which is caused by changes in the water balance in the lens or changes to the proteins within the lens. When the lens becomes cloudy, light can’t reach the retina, causing blindness. A mature cataract looks like a white disk behind your dog’s iris. The part of the eye that usually looks black will now look white.
Choosing a Pet
Sharing your life with an animal has great benefits and can bring you great joy. If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, it’s best to learn about the needs of different types of pets to find one that will best suit your lifestyle.
Christmas Holiday Dangers for Pets
Though the holidays can be an exciting and enjoyable time for people, they can be problematic for some of our pets, and may involve some unexpected hazards. Here are some tips for keeping dogs, cats and other pets safe at Christmas time:
