Giardia is a protozoan parasite that can cause significant diarrhea and gastrointestinal signs in several species. Giardia duodenalis can infect cats, dogs, and other animals and is highly contagious. Giardia duodenalis 1 is further classified into different assemblages, with assemblage F most often infecting cats. Giardia can be abundant in the environment, so the chances of […]
Category: Ask the Vet
Ear Mites in Cats: Signs, Causes & Care (Vet Answer)
Have you ever noticed how some things can make your skin crawl and itch just by hearing about them? Flea infestations, mosquito swarms, bedbugs, or head lice…and if you’re a cat, you might want to add ear mites to that list. These tiny little beasts are a real pain in the neck, so to speak, […]
Mouth Disease in Cats: Signs, Causes & Treatments (Vet Answer)
Cats can suffer from numerous diseases of the mouth. It’s impossible to discuss all of the mouth diseases we see in cats in one article so we will just focus on stomatitis. It’s important to note that different mouth diseases in cats can appear similar, especially when the problem is just starting. Therefore, after reading […]
Why Is My Dog Eating Grass & Throwing Up? 5 Common Reasons (Vet Answer)
Yuck! Your dog comes in from outside and vomits grass all over your floor. They might be sick, and now you might be sick at the thought of cleaning it up. Why on earth is your dog eating grass, and do you need to worry about it? Why Do Dogs Eat Grass and Vomit Afterwards? […]
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD): Our Vet Explains the Signs, Causes & Care
Cats are creatures of contradiction, capable of being aloof and affectionate, independent and needy, and robust and sensitive. Cats have been known to soldier on with broken limbs or power through a case of severe pneumonia, but when something is amiss with the urinary tract, you better believe you’re going to know about it. Even […]
How Many Eggs Do Parakeets Lay? Facts & FAQ (Vet Answer)
Parakeets make great pets. They’re lively, friendly, intelligent birds. While most owners avoid breeding their birds because of the commitment required to raise the chicks and keep the birds, they can be quite easy to successfully breed given the right conditions. Typically, it takes around 2 weeks for the female to start laying eggs after […]
Are Turtles Smart? 4 Interesting Displays of Intelligence (Vet Answer)
Have you ever found yourself wondering how smart turtles really are? The most important thing to remember when analyzing the intelligence of turtles is that the things we measure our intelligence by won’t necessarily be relevant in the world of a turtle. Turtles have a finely tuned set of skills that enable them to survive […]
Pyrantel Pamoate for Cats: Our Vet Explains Uses, Deworming Tips & FAQ
Pyrantel is an anthelmintic/dewormer medicine used to treat intestinal worms. It’s important to know that products containing only pyrantel aren’t FDA approved for cats, however, there are many combination products that are. Pyrantel alone can also be prescribed off label by a veterinarian when needed. Because of this, it’s important to always follow your veterinarian’s […]
Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide on Dogs for Cleaning Wounds? (Vet Answer)
Hydrogen peroxide is considered one of the most common disinfectants in the world. This solution has been used by people to clean superficial wounds due to its antibacterial properties. However, most veterinarians do not recommend using hydrogen peroxide on dogs due to potential skin irritation, inflammation, or risk of chemical burns. Some dogs may lick […]
What Pet Frogs Can Be Handled: 6 Vet-Approved Species (With Pictures
Frogs make popular and great pets, but if you’re looking for something you can be a little more hands-on with, frogs aren’t for you. Instead, frogs are more meant for looking at, and sometimes listening to. They aren’t for handling. However, there seems to come a time in nearly every pet’s life where a little […]
Amitriptyline for Cats: Our Vet Explains Usage, Safety & FAQ
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that is prescribed in veterinary medicine to treat behavioral disorders in cats and dogs. Amitriptyline works by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine. These are neurotransmitters that have important roles in the body. Serotonin moderates mood and behavior. If levels are low, this is thought to contribute to anxiety […]
Can Dogs Take Zofran? Our Vet Explain Uses, Risks & FAQ
Zofran is the brand name for the medication ondansetron. Ondansetron is a drug that is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by surgery, cancer chemotherapy, and radiation therapy in humans. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiemetics and comes in many different formations. It can be used to treat severe cases of […]
Claritin for Dogs: Our Vet Explains Usage, Info & FAQ
Claritin is the brand name of a type of antihistamine that can typically be found and purchased over-the-counter (OTC). There are many different types of formulations of Claritin, some of which can be extremely harmful to your dog. However, regular Claritin may be recommended by your veterinarian to help with mild allergies. Continue reading to […]
Wet Tail in Hamsters: Our Vet Explains Signs, Causes & Treatment
Hamsters have always been popular pets, especially with children. More recently, their popularity has increased across the globe, as is the case with many pocket pets. They are social, intelligent, and peaceful creatures with compact bodies and soft fur. At some point, you may have noticed that the fur around your hamster’s tail is looking […]
Ear Mites in Ferrets: Our Vet Explains Signs, Causes, Care Tips & FAQ
Your ferret is spending more time lately scratching at their ears than getting into mischief, so you decide to take them to the vet. You’ve noticed a lot of dark ear wax but thought it was normal, so when your vet takes a sample to analyze and proclaims that it is ear mites, you’re bewildered. […]