Scamps Pet Health People

Parvovirus in Dogs and Why Vaccination Matters What is Parvovirus?  Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs—especially puppies. It's caused by a tiny, tough virus that can survive in the environment for up to 8–12 months.   Dogs infected with parvovirus shed the virus in their diarrhoea , which can contaminate everything, surfaces, bedding, feeding bowls, grass and concrete. Once the environment is infected, it becomes a serious risk to other unvaccinated dogs. A Quick History of Parvovirus Parvovirus was first recognised in dogs in the late 1970s . Before vaccinations became available, it spread rapidly and caused many deaths, particularly among puppies. The first parvovirus vaccine was developed in 1979 , and vaccination has since become very effective at preventing infection and disease. Even today, though, we still see cases of parvo—especially in unvaccinated pups. It's a serious illness that causes: Loss of appetite Vomiting Bloo...

Sun Damage is a Problem for Pets Sun damage is associated with skin problems in cats and dogs. Animals with white fur and pink skin are most at risk because their skin has little or no pigment. For white cats (and cats with white patches) the most common problem is sun damage to the ears, the white hairless area on the nose and the eyelids. Sun damage over the years causes subtle changes. These may progress to what seems like non healing scabs or scratches on the tips of the ears, the nose or eyelids. These may then go on to become squamous cell carcoma - a skin cancer which can cause ulceration of the nose, eyelids and ears. Treatment often involves surgery. Advanced disease especially of the nose is quite confronting to look at images are not included in this article. You may have noticed the odd white cat with stunted ear flaps. It is very likely they were surgically removed to treat squamous cell carcinoma. Sun damage is associated with skin problems in cats and dogs. Anima...

 Why is My Dog So Itchy? Do you notice your dog stopping play to itch, shaking their head, constantly licking their feet or belly or even waking up during the night and waking you up too? Have you tried over the counter sprays and shampoos from the pet shop that make little difference? There are various reasons for increased itchiness in dogs. The most common cause, especially in the humid, warm weather is allergic skin disease. This is similar to eczema in humans. We can help your dog with medications to help stop the itch and treat any infections so you can all sleep easily.   Allergens are very small substances from trees and plants, some parasites and some moulds. Some dogs react to allergens in an exaggerated way. This causes inflammation and itchiness of the ears and skin especially the skin on the underarms of the front legs, the paws, the back of the lower legs, the belly and inner thighs.  Some dogs have itchy eyes and anuses. If your dog has allergi...

         Why is My Cat Getting Skinny?  Understanding Common Health Issues There are many reasons why cats lose weight.  Two common conditions— diabetes mellitus  and  hyperthyroidism —can cause significant weight loss despite a good or even ravenous appetite. In addition to weight loss, cats with diabetes often drink much more water than usual. Both of these conditions are linked to hormones and can be treated effectively.       Diabetes Mellitus in Cats Diabetes mellitus occurs when there is a deficiency of the hormone  insulin , which is necessary for cells to use glucose properly. The pancreas either produces insufficient insulin or the insulin produced is less effective.  Overweight cats  are particularly at risk of developing  Type 2 diabetes . Diabetes in cats is diagnosed with a blood and urine test, which will show an increase in glucose levels. Fortunately, diabetes is treatable with  injecta...

  While there is something endearing about a chubby cat there are no health benefits to being overweight. A significant issue for cats is an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which interestingly, is not a common issue for overweight dogs. Body condition scoring is a useful tool although trickier in cats than in dogs.  To keep it simple the width across the lumbar spine (between the ribs and pelvis) should be narrower than the depth of the trunk.  The trunk of a cat with healthy weight would be 1.5 to 1.75 times as deep as it is wide.  Some cats have loose skin and subcuteous belly fat which makes the depth more difficult to estimate.   The points of the vertebrae along the spine and the top of the pelvis should be felt with gentle pressure and not obvious.  If your cat is getting wide across the back and looking more of a square shape than a rectangle it is very likely they are overweight. Putting a cat on a diet can be challenging so p...

Wh at is a Healthy Weight for a Dog? I prefer to use body condition score (BCS) or BFI (body fat index). When a pet has an ideal BCS or BFI, they are at their ideal weight. This method works for the individual animal, regardless of their conformation. A body condition score estimates the leanness of the pet. For dogs, the main points are: Feel the ribs but not see them (when running your fingers across or perpendicular to the ribs). This assesses the fat under the skin. In lean dogs, there is little thickness, and in overweight dogs, there is more. The dog should have a discernible waist when viewed from above. There should be a narrowing over the lumbar area – behind the ribs and in front of the pelvis. The dog should have a tuck when viewed from the side. There should be an upward slope from the bottom of the chest (sternum) to the pubic bone (between the hind legs). Some breeds have a lean conformation, while others are more stocky, so the extent of the waist a...