Related Articles to How to Get Rid of Fleas
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With so many different anti-flea products for sale in shops and online, it is difficult to know which one suits you and your cat best. Here we have assimilated the leading products on the market into a comparison table for your convenience. Read more...
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Demodecosis is an inflammatory parasitic disease of dogs characterized by the presence of a high number of demodex mites in the hair follicles, which often leads to inflammation and infection. The cigar-shaped mites are normally present in small numbers, but certain conditions allow them to proliferate. Read more...
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With so many different anti-flea products out there on the market, it is difficult to know which one suits you and your dog best. Here we have assimilated the leading products on the market into a comparison table for your convenience. Read more...
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Highly contagious, ear mites are a common cause of many ear problems in cats and, less commonly, in dogs. Ear mites are found in cats of all ages, but kittens tend to be infected more commonly. These mites can cause intense itching. Read more...
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Also known as Acute Moist Dermatitis or Moist Eczema, Hot Spots can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dogs body and the area involved can rapidly spread. This raw, unsightly skin disorder has a variety of causes but the most consistent factor is a bacterial infection. Read more...
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Dogs, cats and small mammals such as rabbits or guinea pigs are popular companions for many people, often sharing their home environment. Being in such close contact, it is perhaps inevitable that sometimes disease is transmitted from pets to their owners. Here we look specifically at skin diseases. Read more...
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Cheyletiella dermatitis is caused by a small mite that lives in the outer layers of the skin of dogs, cats, rabbits and people. Infected animals have an accumulation of dandruff on their backs and occasionally on their necks and heads. Most infested animals scratch and shed hair excessively. Read more...
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Sarcoptic mange is one of the most uncomfortable skin diseases that a dog can contract. It is caused by the mites Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrow into a host animal's skin, causing scaling, yellowish crust, hair matting and loss, and severe itching. Read more...
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Although a food allergy is non curable, the good news is that with proper diagnosis and management it can be well controlled in virtually 100% of cases. Read more...
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Skin allergies are relatively common in dogs. However, before wondering whether your dog could have an allergy, you must first rule out parasites and other infections. Read more...
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Everyone knows of acne as a human condition suffered by unfortunate teenagers during adolescence, but it is in fact quite common in certain breeds of dog too. The most susceptible breeds are young adult boxers, English bulldogs, Doberman pinschers, Great Danes and Rottweilers. Read more...
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Ticks are unpleasant creatures. Not only are they unsightly, they can also transmit nasty diseases such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis. Here we offer advice on what to do if you spot a tick on your dog, i.e. how to remove it safely and prevent others attaching. Read more...
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Ringworm is not caused by a worm, but a type of fungal infection called dermatophytosis. It is called ringworm because of the appearance of the skin lesion that characteristically occurs with this disorder: a circular area of hair loss with a red, raised outer rim. Read more...
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Dogs and humans are susceptible to a variety of water-borne parasites. Luckily for dogs, most of these parasites cannot readily invade a dog’s body unless it eats an aquatic animal such as a fish, frog, or crustacean. Read more...
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Worms in pets are rarely fatal, but they are one of the most unpleasant ailments from an owners perspective. They can cause weight loss, vomiting & diarrhea, and some can even be transmitted to humans. Read more...
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With pet obesity on the rise, the approval of a new drug called Slentrol to combat canine obesity has been hailed by some as a new breakthrough, while others are more sceptical. Here we look at the indications for using the drug and how it works. Read more...
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Aggression is one of the main reason dogs are euthanised or rehomed. At least 30% of all dogs in rescue centres are there because of aggression in one form or another. Many dogs will have more than one of the following types of behaviour. Read more...
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I cannot tell you how many times people have said to me that their dog thinks it is human and I always give the same answer "No it doesn't it probably thinks you're a dog". Though not strictly true, it serves to emphasise that dogs are not little human beings in fur coats. Read more...
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Dogs are social animals, they have rules that dictate how they behave around each other. Left to themselves, most canines easily slip into their roles. The pyrotechnics erupt when they disagree about their place in the pack or family unit. Read more...
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There are a huge number of dogs out there with severe dental disease that desperately need treatment. Most owners are unaware of their dogs teeth problem until either a vet checks the dogs mouth, or the mouth becomes so sore and breath so foul that the owners attention is drawn to it. Read more...
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The highest incidence of dominance aggression occurs in intact males, followed, in decreasing order of frequency, by castrated males, spayed females and unspayed females. Certain breeds have been reported to have a higher incidence of this type of aggression, but it can occur in any breed of dog. Read more...
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Socialisation is so vitally important that it almost outweighs all other considerations. The fear of infections has led breeders and owners alike to make the tragic mistake of keeping their puppies isolated until they have completed their vaccinations. Read more...
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Hypoallergenic dog breeds are those touted as being hypoallergenic; that is, provoking fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. These could be, for instance, asthmatics, or people with other allergic reactions causing rashes and other symptoms. Read more...
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Mast cell tumors in dogs occur primarily as either a skin or subcutaneous mass. It is important to remember that mast cell tumors are extremely variable in their clinical presentation. They can resemble any other type of skin or subcutaneous tumor, both benign (i.e. lipoma) and malignant. Read more...
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Does your dog suffer from arthritis or any other painful condition? If so, chances are your veterinarian will have prescribed NSAID painkillers to make your beloved pet more comfortable. However, many owners are starting to realise that they can buy the exact same drugs online, for far cheaper. Read more...
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For most people, exercising a dog consists of a trip to the park for a run around. In some cases this might suffice, but responsible owners should be aware of the quantity and quality of exercise that their dog needs to maintain optimum health. Ask yourself the following questions. Read more...
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Skin lumps are very common in dogs. There are a whole range of possible scenarios that can present as a lump on the skin. Tumors are probably the most common of these, but two thirds of them are benign and therefore merely cosmetic. Read more...
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Canine Acral Lick Dermatitis, more commonly known as ‘Lick Granuloma’, is one of the most frustrating skin problems there is. What often seems like a simple problem is in fact multifactorial, and therefore attempting to treat it with a single approach is usually doomed to failure. Read more...
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Ear infections can be extremely uncomfortable for dogs. Many, if not most dogs will suffer from an ear infection at some point in their lives. The majority of these will clear up with some basic veterinary treatment such as an antibacterial ointment, but some are extremely difficult to treat. Read more...
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Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by a deficiency of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produce by a certain cell in the pancreas, and is necessary for the body tissues to use to absorb blood sugar. Imagine insulin as the key that unlocks the door to each cell that allows glucose to enter the cell. Read more...
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Just like humans, dogs produce ear wax. If there are factors present which increase production of wax, or if the normal clearance mechanism is compromised, then manual removal might be needed. Cleaning your dogs ears regularly to prevent infections forming is an essential part of responsible ownership. Read more...
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Cats are are so easy to live with most of the time, which is why their appeal as pets is so widely accepted. Cats are quiet, clean, affectionate and best of all are very self-sufficient. But when things go wrong . . . it can be a turbulent relationship. Read more...
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Hyperthyroidism (also called thyrotoxicosis) is one of the most common diseases of the middle-aged and older cat. It is a multi-system disorder caused by an increase in the amount of thyroid hormones (called T3 and T4) produced by an enlarged thyroid gland. Read more...
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease of cats, whether they are random bred or pedigreed. It is a heart muscle disease in which the papillary muscles (the muscles in the left ventricle that anchor the mitral valve) and the walls of the left ventricle become abnormally thickened. Read more...
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One of the most poorly understood and enigmatic feline viruses is the feline coronavirus - the virus responsible for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most feared diseases in catteries. Read more...
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Many studies have proven the value of companion animals for immunocompromised people and have shown a decreased prevalence of depression among these owners. However, there are several important guidelines to pet ownership in these situations to protect the health and well-being of the people involved. Read more...
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The thyroid gland is located in the neck and plays an important role in regulating the body’s rate of metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is a disorder characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and a subsequent increase in the metabolic rate. Read more...
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Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was first discovered in 1986 in a California cattery where some cats appeared to have an illness similar to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in people. Since then, FIV has been discovered in every country that has tested cats for its presence. Read more...
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Most cats are considered geriatric by the age of 12 years. This is highly variable depending upon the lifestyle of the cat. For example, neutered/spayed indoor cats tend to live longer than sexually intact outdoor cats. Read more...
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Veterinary researchers have recently discovered the key factors linking the effects of second hand cigarette smoke to cats developing feline lymphoma. Read more...
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Cats are known to be fussier eaters, in general, than dogs. Is this really true? In this article we examine the concept of taste with regard to feeding your cat, and consider the factors involved in a cat's decision to 'like' a certain food. Read more...
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Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. Learn more about feeding your cat the proper way in the second part of our article. Read more...
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With an obesity epidemic sweeping through our nations pets, an online pet Q&A service have launched a campaign to educate owners about their cats lifestyle. Here we look at what a cats diet should be to keep it healthy and minimise those vet visits. Read more...
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Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. Learn more about feeding your cat healthily in part 1 of our article. Read more...
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There are a huge number of cats out there with severe dental disease that desperately need treatment. Most owners are unaware of their cats teeth problem until either a vet checks the cats mouth, or the mouth becomes so sore and breath so foul that the owners attention is drawn to it. Read more...
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Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus, a family of viruses which has many members that infect cats and cause disease and death in cats around the world. Another well-known feline retrovirus is the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Read more...
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It is quite common for cats to present to veterinary clinics with a chronic cough or wheeze. The problem may be constant or just recur from time to time, and can range from mild to severe. Read more...
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Bladder stones can be present without causing any symptoms in the cat, but they are very often associated with hematuria (blood in the urine), pollakuria (increased frequency of urination) and dysuria (difficulty passing urine). Read more...
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Unless you are using your cat deliberately for breeding purposes, then whether male or female, most vets will advise neutering at the earliest opportunity. Here we explain why, when and how this is achieved. Read more...
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Aural hematoma is an accumulation of blood between the cartilage and skin of the ear flap. It is caused by damage to the cartilage from vigorous repeated head shaking or scratching at the ears with the back feet. Though it is quite easily fixed, no home treatment will resolve this condition. Read more...
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Diabetes is a problem primarily of middle-aged and older cats. Male cats get the disease about twice as frequently as females, and the typical feline diabetes patient is overweight - although unchecked diabetes will cause weight loss over time. One of the first symptoms noticed is often excessive drinking. Read more...
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Popular Articles
Cheyletiella dermatitis is caused by a small mite that lives in the outer layers of the skin of dogs, cats, rabbits and people. Infected animals have an accumulation of dandruff... Read More »
It is sometimes difficult to make decisions about what is right for your pet, especially with many pet professionals having at times conflicting views on the pros and cons of... Read More »
Gingivitis and Stomatitis in Cats
Cats with gingivitis and/or stomatitis often have a rancid odor in their mouth, salivate excessively and have difficulty eating. The chronic mouth pain results in a decreased... Read More »
Many dogs develop the unpleasant habit of eating feces (coprophagy). In some animals, it becomes almost compulsive behavior. These pets eat not only their feces, but... Read More »
Dogs and humans are susceptible to a variety of water-borne parasites. Luckily for dogs, most of these parasites cannot readily invade a dog’s body unless it eats an aquatic... Read More »
