Horse Summer Dermatitis
“Sweet…”, as a modern term, denotes pleasure and enjoyment. However, for a horse, sweet itch can be anything but “sweet…”. “Sweet Itch, also known as summer eczema or equine dermatitis, is one of several seasonal allergies that your horse may encounter,” notes Dr. Glennon Mays, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary […]
Boarding a Pet
Sometimes, you may find yourself in the position of needing to leave your animals for a few days. If you cannot find a sitter to care for your pets in your home, you may want to consider boarding them at a kennel. And since there are more than 9,000 boarding kennels in the United States […]
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Chicks and bunnies are very cute, especially when associated with Easter baskets and bows. However, their baby-like appearance can sometimes lead to an impulsive decision to bring one home as a pet without considering that they will need to be cared for during their entire lives. “An impulse pet is always a bad purchase,” warns […]
A Look at the Alternative
This year marks the 250th anniversary of veterinary medicine, as the world’s first veterinary school opened in Lyon, France in 1764. However, veterinary medicine has been around since people and animals have coexisted, and there are many ancient techniques in veterinary medicine that have been used for thousands of years. Those ancient techniques are reaching the […]
Texas Box Turtle….A Good Pet for You?
In our hurried world, we can be intrigued or frustrated by the pace of the Texas box turtle. Most of us have seen this reptile making its way across a country road or paved highway. You can stop and help the box turtle cross the road or, take it home for a pet. Question is, […]
Low Carb for Cats
According to Dr. Debra L. Zoran, a clinical assistant professor of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, cats are metabolically adapted for higher protein, low-carbohydrate diets. “More than 35 percent of cats in the United States are overweight or obese,” said Zoran. Age, sex, and […]
Living with Lizards
You love pets. You may have grown up around dogs and cats, or even horses. You are ready for the responsibility that owning an animal entails. However, you want something a bit more unusual than the normal pets of choice. Why not try a pet lizard? According to Teresa Shisk-Saling, registered veterinary technician at the […]
The Seriousness of Stomach Aches
It may seem like Sparky has a cast-iron stomach, but even he could be susceptible to “bloat.” The technical term is gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), an extremely serious condition in dogs that can result in death. “Gastric dilatation-volvulus, also known as ‘bloat’, primarily occurs in deep-chested, large breed dogs,” said Dr. Michael Willard, professor at Texas […]
Horse Foaling
Newborns evoke a smile and the birth of a foal is no different. Horse owners greatly anticipate the birth of a foal and are wise to prepare the mare for the birth. “On average, a mare is pregnant 340 days before giving birth,” notes Dr. Glennon Mays, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College […]
The Dawn of Spring Allergies
As the trees start to pollinate, the spring season starts to dawn and so do those pesky allergies. A time to put the winter cold past us and a look to the brighter days are not so bright for those with allergies. Many pets are affected by spring allergies and it is important to be […]
