posted by Tess on Apr 8
Dog aggression can have various causes. The various kinds of aggression observed in dogs are categorized based on what causes it – fear aggression, dominance aggression, territorial aggression and others. Aggressive dog behavior can be induced by fear.
Fear is an emotion that we generally do not associate with dogs. However, it is a reality that some dogs can feel threatened or fearful due to certain specific objects, people or actions. If somebody, regardless of it being a human being or another animal, approaches a dog that is otherwise cringing in a corner with fear, the dog is likely to respond with aggression.
Such dog aggression can be understood in comparison with normal human behavior. Consider this - if you find yourself in a fearful condition and some one is approaching you without clarifying his intention, you are most likely to hit back in defense.
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posted by Tess on Apr 6
Diabetes in cats is the second most common endocrinal disease after hyperthyroidism. It is a condition in which blood sugar levels are high due to the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating storage of glycogen in the liver. In another type of diabetes, the cells become resistant to the effect of insulin leading to a high blodd sugar level in the body.
Symptoms of diabetes in cats are usually subdued, such as increased urination and thirst, and the condition, more often than not, is diagnosed after blood tests reveal high levels of sugar in the blood. Although administering insulin is only about half the treatment, the selection of the appropriate insulin for your cat involves a large amount of hard work and experience. Generally there are three types of insulin - human recombinant DNA insulin, animal based insulin (sourced from beef or pork) and synthetic insulin.
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posted by Tess on Apr 4
Cholangitis, and Hepatic Lipidosis, the two most common types of feline liver diseases, can lead to liver failure if they are not treated in time.
Cholangitis is an inflammation of the bile ducts and is associated with the feline leukemia virus as well as feline infectious peritonitis. The conventional treatment regime includes antibiotics, appetite stimulants, corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs.
Hepatic lipidosis, or Fatty Liver Disease is abnormal levels of certain fats that accumulate near the liver. It is an idiopathic disease (a disease whose exact cause is not known) that is mostly associated with loss of appetite and obesity. Stress, too is known to be one of the factors that leads to loss of appetite.
Cats usually find it difficult to adjust to a changed environment like shifting to a new home, arrival of a new kitten. They get stressed even when the owner is stressed. There are chances of Fatty Liver Disease occurring due to Cholangitis, inflammation of the pancreas as well as a hepatic tumor.
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posted by Tess on Apr 3
When you bring a cat home, your responsibility is to take care of the animal. Cat owners, who are busy, normally leave their pets alone at home free to eat whatever they like. By not taking enough care of what their pet eats and not exercising them properly they are actually doing them a disservice.
The liver processes fats, proteins and other nutrients to convert them to the relevant substances that the body requires to function properly. The liver also filters toxins that the cat may have consumed through food or drugs or paint scrapings.
The problem with a cat’s liver is that it is not very efficient and cannot process fats as it should. Too much of fat in a cat’s diet leads to accumulation of fats around the liver causing a common feline liver disease, hepatic lipidosis, commonly known as fatty liver disease.
Obese cats are more susceptible to fatty liver disease. Obesity in cats is dependent on various factors:
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posted by Tess on Apr 2
Its multifunctional nature and its unusually large size with six lobes, makes the liver a complex organ. It is equally affected by primary diseases that originate from it and secondary problems that start from other organs but reflect upon liver functions. Veterinarians usually perceive liver disease in dogs on the basis of the age of the animal. In young dogs, a liver disease is normally caused by toxicity, diversion of blood from normal channels or viruses. In older dogs inflammation and cancer are the usual suspects.
A specific diagnosis of liver disease is not possible as there are too many causes of liver disease in pets and feline liver disease and canine liver disease cannot be diagnosed too easily. Moreover the symptoms of liver disease in dogs are subtle and tend to overlap with other conditions. Feeling the abdomen usually lets the veterinarian know whether there is an enlargement of the liver. Yellow coloration of the gums, teeth and mucous membrane are indicative of jaundice, a type of liver disease that is caused by excessive retention of bilirubin. Beyond that a series of laboratory blood tests need to be done to confirm a diagnosis.
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posted by Tess on Apr 1
While inefficient or over active immune systems can cause diseases, other diseases can also compromise the immune system’s ability to combat diseases. Many times a certain drug used during the course of a treatment negatively affects the immune system, which in turn can be a cause behind the occurrence of another condition.
A dog’s body is capable of fighting minor diseases on its own. Frequent occurrences of skin disorders, allergies, respiratory and eye disorders and other general problems are sure signs of dysfunction of the immune system in pets. It is important to be on guard rather than letting the situation go out of hand. Maintaining the health of the immune system of your pet will not only restrict frequent occurrences of disease but also help in improving chances of survival in the event of a serious disease.
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