Category: Disease
Urolithiasis
My pet has begun to pee a lot more frequently, but in smaller amounts. Even though she's house-trained, she still pees in the house and sometimes there is blood in her urine.
What is urolithiasis?
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View Article Common Rabies Questions
I've heard on the news that there's a new outbreak of rabies in dogs. What are the symptoms and what should I do?
Towards the end of June 2021, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) informed the public of an outbreak of Rabies in the Cradle of Humankind area. Near the end of August 2021, the Western Cape g...
View Article Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and cats
My pet tires quickly when playing or exercising and sometimes has a soft cough like trying to clear their throat
What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy is a disease condition of the heart muscle that inhibits its ability to function properly. In the case of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the heart muscle is stretched and the muscle is thin and flabby, affecting its pumping ability. Dilated ...
View Article COVID-19 and Your Pets: Update
The SARS-CoV-2 Virus
It has been more than a year since COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has been declared a worldwide pandemic. Much research has been done regarding many aspects of the virus, the disease process it causes as we...
View Article Coughing
My pet seems to have a persistent cough. What caused it and what can I do about it?
Coughing is one of the most common syndromes veterinarians all around the world encounter during consultations. Coughing in itself is not a disease, but a symptom of something else in your pet. The onset, type of cough, duration and production will help the vet to get to the bottom of what’...
View Article PERIANAL FISTULA
My dog has sores around his anus, which he is constantly licking. He also gets aggressive if I touch his tail and he seems uncomfortable and is just not himself. What's wrong?
Perianal fistulas are an extremely painful medical condition of the anal region of dogs. As the name describes, this condition involves infection in the skin and surrounding tissue of the anus. ‘Peri’ means around, the anus, while a fistula is a tunnel in the skin that connects an are...
View Article Chronic diarrhoea in dogs and cats
My pet has recurring episodes of loose stools
What is chronic diarrhoea?
Chronic refers to a disease that has been ongoing, either persistently or intermi...
View Article Acute Abdomen
My pet won't eat, has a distended belly, is retching, and appears restless and in pain. She seemed fine yesterday, what could be the cause?
Now and again pet owners are faced with emergency situations when their pets are suddenly in severe belly pain. Unexpectedly, both the owner and the pet are in a moment of anxiety and distress. So what could possibly be going on? This sudden severe belly pain is what veterinarian...
View Article My pet lost a patch of fur and developed a massive sore overnight. It looks like a burn wound.
Hotspots (Acute moist dermatitis or moist eczema)
Acute moist dermatitis is a skin ailment in pets that’s caused by ...
View Article Acral lick granuloma
My pet does not stop licking his leg and has a huge sore where he licks
When a pet owner brings their animal in to the vet with a firm, raised, angry red bump on the pet’s leg or ankle, complaining that the ani...
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