Diseases & conditions

The Bow Wow team has compiled a library of useful articles about the various diseases and conditions that commonly affect dogs and cats in Australia.

You can search for articles below by selecting a category or enter a relevant keyword.

Search Diseases & conditions articles

Showing 1 - 104 of 104 articles
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March 29, 2024

Kennel Cough in dogs

Find out more information about Kennel Cough. Get Symptoms , Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Tips & more.

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March 16, 2024

Allergies in cats – What you need to know

Learn more about allergies in cats, symptoms, causes and treatment options.

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January 21, 2024

Understanding your dog’s hip surgery

Find out more about treatment options for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs & similar conditions, including total hip replacement surgery. Learn about costs & recovery.

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September 6, 2023

Arthritis in dogs and cats

Arthritis in dogs & cats is common as they age. Read up on the types, symptoms, treatment & cost of arthritis in dogs & cats.

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September 6, 2023

Cruciate disease in dogs and cats

Cruciate ligament injury is a condition more common in dogs than cats. Learn more about cruciate disease, cost of treatment, causes, pain management & more.

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September 5, 2023

Skin allergies in dogs & cats

Looking after a pet with a skin allergy can require a lot of time, effort and money. Find the common types of skin allergies in pets & what can cause them.

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September 5, 2023

Vomiting in dogs and cats

Pets vomit for many reasons including eating something wrong or eating too fast. Read up on the symptoms, treatment & cost of vomiting in dogs & cats.

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September 4, 2023

What are the different types of intestinal worms in dogs?

Worms can not only make your dog sick, but some of them can also infect humans too. Here are the things you need to know about worms in dogs and tip how to prevent them.

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September 4, 2023

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

FLUTD is the most common lower urinary tract disorder of domestic cats. Learn more about the disease including treatment for your cat, causes and more.

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August 31, 2023

The top 5 health problems for cats

There are some common health conditions that can affect cats. We share what these are, how much they could cost & give advice to prevent them.

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August 30, 2023

The top 5 health problems for dogs

There are some common health conditions that can affect dogs. We share what these are, how much they could cost & share tips & tricks to prevent them.

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August 30, 2023

Constipation in cats

Although uncomfortable, constipation is one of the most common digestive problems associated with cats. Learn more about cat constipation, signs & causes.

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August 29, 2023

Osteoarthritis in dogs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in dogs and often develops slowly. Learn about symptoms, contributing factors in dogs & diagnosis.

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August 29, 2023

Cardiac disease in cats

Cardiac or heart disease is the silent killer of felines. Learn about cardiac disease in cats, what to look out for, life expectancy and treatment.

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August 29, 2023

Urolithiasis in dogs and cats

Urolithiasis or Kidney Stones in dogs and cats can cause irritation, infection, pain, obstruction of the flow of urine and even a fatal blockage.

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August 19, 2023

Hypothyroidism in dogs and cats

Hypothyroidism in dogs is a common condition. Read more about underactive thyroid in dogs and cats, symptoms to look for, causes and treatment options.

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August 18, 2023

Cataracts in dogs and cats

A cataract is an opacity of the lens that prevents light from reaching the retina. They can develop in one or both eyes, leading to vision impairment and/or blindness.

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August 14, 2023

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in dogs

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in dogs is a serious health condition. Learn more about IVDD, cost of treatment, causes, pain management & more.

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August 14, 2023

Maintaining your pets’ dental hygiene

70-80% of dogs and cats develop a dental disease by age 3, but dental issues often remain undiagnosed. Learn how to identify these & tips to prevent them.

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August 8, 2023

The top 5 health problems for puppies

There are some common health conditions that can affect puppies. We share what these are & share tips & tricks to keep your puppy safe & healthy.

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August 5, 2023

Dermatitis in dogs and cats

Dermatitis is a condition that can affect both dogs and cats. Learn more about atopic and contact dermatitis and know the best treatment for your pet.

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July 29, 2023

Symptoms, causes and treatment for hair loss in dogs

Some hair loss in dogs is common but large amounts of dog hair loss may be a concern. Read more on common causes of hair loss in dogs, symptoms & treatment.

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July 29, 2023

Ear infections in dogs and cats

Otitis externa is a common ear condition in dogs & cats, where the external ear canal becomes inflamed. Learn the causes, symptoms, diagnosis & cost.

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July 29, 2023

Diarrhoea in dogs and cats

Pets can get diarrhoea from a virus, bacteria, digestive disorder or dietary issue. Read up on the symptoms, treatment & cost of diarrhoea in dogs & cats.

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July 29, 2023

Alimentary foreign body in dogs and cats

Foreign bodies lodged in the stomach can have life-threatening consequences for dogs and cats. Learn about bowel obstruction in dogs, diagnosis and more.

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July 18, 2023

Fracture of pelvic limb in dogs and cats

Fractures of the pelvic limb include fractures of the scapula, humerus, radius and ulna as well as manus. They cause acute, non-weight bearing lameness of the hind legs.

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July 17, 2023

Mass lesion in dogs and cats

A mass lesion is a tumor or an abscess that takes space up in an animal's body. It can be benign or malignant.

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July 17, 2023

Diabetes in dogs

Diabetes in dogs is a relatively common chronic condition in dogs. Read about the causes, symptoms, treatment cost and management of this condition.

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July 5, 2023

Anal sac disorder in dogs

The anal sacs may become impacted, infected, abscessed or in rare cases, neoplastic. Read up on the symptoms, treatment & cost of anal sac disorder in dogs.

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June 29, 2023

Paralysis tick in dogs and cats

The paralysis tick is a tick species in Australia that targets wildlife & domesticated pets. Find out symptoms, treatments & ways to prevent paralysis tick.

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March 22, 2023

Signs & symptoms of ear mites in dogs

Dogs with ear mites may scratch their ears, head, and neck, get skin rashes, and even shake their heads. Here are signs and symptoms when your dog suffers an itchy ear mites.

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February 26, 2023

Bite injury in cats and dogs

Injuries from animal bites can range from bruises and small scratches to life threatening wounds requiring intensive medical care.

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November 2, 2022

Leptospirosis in dogs

Leptospirosis in dogs is a bacterial infection that can have fatal consequences. Here’s everything you need to know and how to prevent this from happening.

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October 29, 2022

Distemper in dogs and cats

Distemper in dogs and cats is a serious and potentially fatal condition. Learn about Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and more.

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December 2, 2021

Litter tray aversion in cats

Cats often change their toileting behaviours if they have issues with their litter tray & the problem can become chronic. Learn how to retrain to the tray.

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November 26, 2021

Inappropriate urination in cats

Urinating outside the litter tray can be brought on by an underlying medical condition or it could be a behavioural issue resulting from stress.

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November 24, 2021

Hyperthyroidism in cats and dogs

Hyperthyroidism is a common disease of older cats and a rare but serious condition in dogs. It is caused by an increase in production of thyroid hormones from the thyroid glands.

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October 29, 2021

Tapeworm in dogs and cats

Tapeworm is one of the most common parasitic worms in dogs and cats in Australia. Learn the symptoms, treatment & prevention tips to keep your pet healthy.

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October 29, 2021

Roundworms in dogs and cats

Roundworms or ‘worms’, are a common parasitic worm found in both cats and dogs. Find info on symptoms, treatment and prevention of roundworm.

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October 29, 2021

Mange in dogs and cats

Mange is an irritating skin disease caused by parasitic mites. See information on symptoms, treatments & tips on preventing mange in cats or dogs.

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October 29, 2021

Heartworm in dogs and cats

Heartworms can be life-threatening for your pet. Learn why they are so dangerous, what to look out for and options for treatment and prevention.

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October 29, 2021

Pancreatitis in dogs

Dog or canine pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, considered to be a mild to serious. Find info on symptoms, treatments & prevention.

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October 29, 2021

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease) in dogs

Cushing's Disease is a common endocrine disorder in dogs characterised by the overproduction of cortisol. Learn the symptoms, causes, diagnosis & treatments

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October 29, 2021

Cushing’s Disease in dogs

Find out more information about Cushing's Disease Symptoms and Treatments. Get Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Tips & more.

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October 29, 2021

Addison’s Disease in dogs and cats

Addison's Disease is a deficit of cortisol or aldosterone hormone. Learn the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention & more

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August 16, 2021

Hair coat and skin conditions in dogs

The skin is the largest and most extensive organ of the body, comprising 12 to 24% of a dog’s weight, depending on its species, size and age. The state of health of the animal, as well as the presence of illness, can be indicated by the skin.

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July 29, 2021

Stop the itching – What you need to know about allergies in dogs

Allergies in dogs are common and nearly 20% of dogs suffer from different types of allergies. Find the symptoms, treatments and great products to cure them.

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July 17, 2021

Wounds in dogs and cats

Animals can get wounded in many ways, and different wounds require different treatments. They may include puncture wounds, abrasions or lacerations.

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February 25, 2021

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in dogs and cats

Progressive retinal atrophy describes a group of conditions in which an atrophy or degeneration of retinal tissue occurs. PRA occurs commonly in dogs but rarely in cats.

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February 12, 2021

Feline Asthma or Feline Allergic Airway Disease (FAAD)

Feline asthma or FAAD is similar to asthma in humans. Affected cats become allergic to allergens in the environment, commonly causing coughing.

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September 17, 2020

Ringworm in dogs and cats

Ringworm is a highly contagious infection that causes itchy and irritated skin indogs and cats. Find info on causes, symptoms, treatment & prevention.

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July 23, 2019

Uveitis in dogs and cats

Uveitis refers to inflammation of a structure inside the eye called the uveal tract. The uveal tract lines the inside of the eye.

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July 23, 2019

Skeletal abnormality in dogs and cats

Skeletal abnormalities are described as any deformity of the animal's skeleton. They may be caused by a wide range of causes.

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July 23, 2019

Pruritus in dogs and cats

This is the medical term used to define an animal's desire to itch, or the sensation that provokes its desire to scratch, rub, chew, or lick its hair and skin.

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July 23, 2019

Polyuria and Polydipsia in dogs and cats

Polydipsia refers to an increased level of thirst in dogs, while polyuria refers to an abnormally high urine production.

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July 18, 2019

Intoxication (poisoning) in dogs and cats

Intoxication refers to some kind of poisoning. This could come from medication, toxins, plants or foods.

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July 18, 2019

Fracture of thoracic limb in dogs and cats

Fractures of the thoracic limb include fractures of the scapula, humerus, radius and ulna as well as manus. They cause acute, non-weight bearing lameness of the front legs.

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July 18, 2019

Fracture of the skull in dogs and cats

Fractures of an animal's skull often result from traumatic injuries such as car accidents, bites, or falls.

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July 17, 2019

Pain as the presenting complaint in dogs and cats

Animals suffer from pain just like we do. Pain is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that can be extremely challenging to manage and causes suffering and distress.

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February 28, 2019

Abnormal faeces in dogs and cats

Abnormal faeces describe any state of the any faeces that are different than normal. They could be very hard, liquid, with blood etc.

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February 28, 2019

Congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs and cats

Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs in animals when the heart is unable to pump an adequate amount of blood through the body. As a result, fluids will leak into the lung and elsewhere.

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February 28, 2019

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in cats

When animals get a Urinary tract infection (UTI), they may strain or have difficulty urinating and they may have blood in their urine.

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February 21, 2019

Urethral disorder in cats

Urethral disorder in cats is a condition in which there is a deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of the urethra.

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February 21, 2019

Renal (kidney) disorder in dogs and cats

Renal diseases refers to any type of condition which damages the animal's kidneys and can lead to kidney failure.

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February 20, 2019

Nail disorder and torn nails in dogs and cats

A nail or claw disorder is any disease or potentually injury to the animal's toe and nail.

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February 14, 2019

Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS) in dogs

Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS) refers to a set of upper airway abnormalities that affect brachycephalic (meaning "shortened head") animals.

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February 14, 2019

Sarcoma in dogs

Soft tissue sarcoma is a group of benign or malignant tumors that form in an animal’s soft and/or connective tissues. 

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February 14, 2019

Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) in dogs and cats

Fever, referred to medically as pyrexia, can be defined as a higher than normal body temperature in animals.

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February 13, 2019

Hepatobiliary system disorders in cats

The hepatobiliary system refers to the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts, and how they work together to make bile.

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February 12, 2019

Epilepsy in dogs and cats

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brief, recurrent changes in the electrical activity of the brain lead to seizures or 'fits'.

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February 7, 2019

Canine ear (aural) disease

Ear diseases are common in animals and often caused by bacteria and yeast, or ear mites in puppies. Common signs are ear rubbing, head shaking, abnormal odor from te ear or redness or swelling.

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February 5, 2019

Biliary tract disorder in cats

Biliary tract disease affects the bile ducts, gallbladder and other structures involved in the production and transportation of bile, a fluid produced by the liver that aids digestion.

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February 5, 2019

Abscess from a bite in cats and dogs

An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body. In this case it has been caused by a bite wound.

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January 7, 2019

Conjunctivitis in dogs & cats

Conjunctivitis is a condition where the conjunctiva membrane in the eye area is inflamed. Read more on symptoms & treatments of Conjunctivitis in dogs.

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October 30, 2018

Pneumonia in cats

Pneumonia is a respiratory disease which is characterised by an inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, the airways which feed air into the lungs.

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October 30, 2018

Gait abnormality in dogs

A dog’s gait is the pattern of repetitive limb motions. Learn how you can identify a gait abnormality in your dog, symptoms, signs, treatment and more.

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October 30, 2018

Pancreatitis in cats

Pancreatitis, is a relatively common disease in both dogs and cats with no clear specific cause of the condition. Read about feline pancreatitis treatment.

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October 30, 2018

Mast cell tumours in dogs

Mast cell tumours in dogs are the most common type of dog skin cancer found. Read about dog life expectancy, what to look out for, symptoms and treatment.

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October 30, 2018

Colitis in felines | Cat bowel disease

Colitis in cats is a chronic bowel disease resulting from inflammation of the colon causing discomfort and diarrhea. Learn more about feline colitis here.

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October 30, 2018

Corneal Ulcer in dogs and cats

A corneal ulcer is diagnosed among dogs and cats when deeper layers of the cornea are lost. Learn about this eye condition, symptoms, causes and more here.

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October 30, 2018

Megacolon in cats

Just like humans, cats can also suffer from megacolon or constipation. Find the right treatment for your cat and learn about causes, signs & symptoms.

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October 29, 2018

Dew Claws On Dogs: Clipping Dew Claws vs Keeping Them

Clipping of dew claws, also known as a dog’s thumb, is often debated as they lack function & can cause painful injuries. Learn more about dew claw clipping.

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October 29, 2018

Eye (ocular) anomaly in dogs and cats

Eye (ocular) anomalies are quite common in dogs and cats, and there are a few diseases that fall under this category. Learn more about eye (ocular) anomalies, symptoms & treatment.

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October 29, 2018

Keratoconjunctivis sicca (KCS) in cats

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a condition that is commonly referred to as "dry eye." Learn more about dry eye syndrome in cats, symptoms & treatment.

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October 29, 2018

Lymphadenopathy in cats

Lymphadenopathy in cats is also known as swollen lymph nodes. Learn more about the types of inflammation in cats, symptoms, causes, diagnosis & treatment.

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October 29, 2018

Protein losing enteropathy (PLE) in dogs

Protein-losing enteropathy in dogs refers to an excessive loss of protein from the bloodstream in the intestinal tract. Learn the causes, symptoms & diagnosis.

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October 29, 2018

Respiratory tract infection (RTIs) in cats

A respiratory tract infection in cats is a common condition. Read about the types of cat respiratory infections, causes, symptoms & diagnosis for your feline.

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October 29, 2018

Squamous cell carcinoma in dogs

A squamous cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer found in dogs. Learn more about the condition including treatment for your canine, symptoms & therapy.

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October 29, 2018

Patellar luxation

Patellar luxation occurs when the animal’s kneecap becomes dislocated from its femur (thigh bone). Find info on symptoms, causes and treatment here.

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October 29, 2018

Parvovirus in dogs

Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious and very serious viral infection that attacks a dog’s immune system. Find info on symptoms, treatment & prevention.

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October 29, 2018

Dr Jo’s Top 5 Pet Health Tips

In this column, our resident vet and pet lover, Dr Jo, shares some of her insights and advice on tips for keeping your pets happy, fit and healthy.

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October 29, 2018

Luxating Patella in dogs

Luxating Patella occurs when the animal’s kneecap becomes dislocated from its femur (thigh bone). Find info on symptoms, causes and treatment here.

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October 29, 2018

Hip Dysplasia in dogs

Hip dysplasia is a common condition among dogs, particularly large & giant breeds. Find info on symptoms, treatment and prevention on hip dysplacia in dogs.

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October 29, 2018

FIV – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV, is a virus that is passed between cats through saliva contact. Find info on symptoms, treatment and prevention of FIV.

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October 29, 2018

Dog Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer which grows in the immune system’s lymphocyte white blood cells. Read the symptoms and methods of treatments for Lymphoma in dogs.

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October 29, 2018

Dog Seizures

Find out more information about Dog Seizures. Get Symptoms , Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Tips & more

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October 29, 2018

Cardiomyopathy in dogs

Read about the two types of cardiomyopathy suffered by dogs: dilated and cardiomyopathy. Learn about symptoms, canine life expectancy, treatment and more.

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October 29, 2018

Dog Ear Infection

Find out more information about Dog Ear Infection. Get Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Tips & more.

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October 29, 2018

Dog Constipation

Find out more information about Dog Constipation. Get Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Tips & more.

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October 29, 2018

Cherry Eye

Cherry Eye occurs when the third eyelid moves from its position and protrudes out over part of the eye. Find info on symptoms, treatment and prevention.

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October 29, 2018

Trichobezoar (Hairball obstruction) in cats

Trichobezoars, or furballs, are the most common cause of vomiting in cats. Learn about other problems of this condition, causes and cat hairball remedies.

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October 29, 2018

Dog Coughing

Find out more information about Dog Coughing. Get Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Tips & more.

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October 29, 2018

Cat Scratch Disease

Cat Scratch Disease or CSD is a severe bacterial infection that is passed from cats to humans. Find info on symptoms, treatments & prevention of CSD.

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October 29, 2018

Cat Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a common illness in older cats resulting from an increase in thyroid hormone. Find out more about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & more.

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