http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog Vets discuss common symptoms and diseases Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:03:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been seeing a number of bald dogs in the consulting room recently, and it made me wonder how common a problem it is - and how many conditions there are that can lead to a dog losing his hair! Baldness (or alopecia, to give it its technical name) isn't generally ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2012/02/01/baldness-in-dogs-alopecia/ Suddenly realise you’re late for your cat’s appointment at the vets. Run out to the garage and throw boxes around until you find cat basket. Scream as you remove spiders from cat basket. Look around the room for cat. No cat. Look upstairs for cat. ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2012/01/24/%e2%80%98i-am-not-going-in-that-box-%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-how-to-successfully-get-your-cat-to-the-vet/ It is the time of year for New Year’s Resolutions but if our pets were to make them, what would they be…..? Dog Oh! A New Year’s resolution? That sounds fun! I can I do one? Can I, can I, please?! Right, OK, what should I try? How ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2012/01/12/new-years-petolutions/ [caption id="attachment_755" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Lilies - the stamens can easily be removed but ALL parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten"][/caption] As far as plants go, lilies are among the most beautiful. They smell lovely and seem to last forever, making them a fantastic addition to any floral arrangement. ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/12/27/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-lilies-are-downright-dangerous/ The nights have drawn in, Merry Hill is heaving and the carols have already been playing for weeks – it’s Christmas! If you are anything like me and leave everything to the last minute, you don’t have much time to plan the ideal gifts and sometimes you buy things ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/12/14/what-not-to-buy-your-pet-for-christmas/ I see it almost every day, and constantly warn my clients about it, yet somehow even I wasn’t expecting it – yes, last week my very own cat came home with fleas. ‘How could this happen to me?’ I said, ‘I’m the vet!’ Well, the answer is very ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/11/22/it-may-be-getting-cold-outside-but-it%e2%80%99s-always-flea-season-at-home/ Did you know; two thirds of dogs and cats over the age of 3 years old will have some dental problems to some degree? It is an astonishing statistic and the numbers only get higher as the animals get older. However, the good news is that with some simple home care techniques ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/11/14/dental-problems-in-our-pet-%e2%80%93-an-entirely-preventable-problem/ Fireworks can be an enjoyable spectacle, but not for everybody. Many dogs and cats are very frightened by loud noises, and in some this fear is severe enough to be a noise phobia. For these pets and their owners, the days or weeks around November 5th each year can be ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/10/10/remember-remember-its-time-to-plan-for-fireworks-night-2012-cats-and-dogs-that-are-scared-of-fireworks/ Rabbits are really popular pets in the UK, second only to cats and dogs, and they can make great companions. However, despite peoples best efforts their needs are often misunderstood and rather than being treated as the intelligent, social animal they are, many are condemned to a life of ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/08/31/what-your-rabbit-really-needs/ As the current economic situation continues to squeeze the family finances, I have noticed an increase in clients who would prefer not to vaccinate their cat. There are probably many more who are simply not showing up for their yearly exam so we don’t even have a chance to ... http://www.vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2011/08/09/vaccination-in-cats-%e2%80%93-why-should-we-bother/