Health

Preparing for a medical emergency involving your pet is always best accomplished before the event takes place. Dr. Shailesh Ingole guides you for important decisions about first aid and also when to take your pet quickly to a veterinary hospital. An awareness of various first aid measures can help the owners to save their pets’ valuable life. Let’s see how. Abscess: It is localised accumulation of…

Treats become a way for owners to interact with their pets beyond their main meal. Dr. Pradeep Rana answeres Faqs on treats from a vet's perspective The benefits of treats towards a dog’s health are immense. Treats not only form a means for interaction but many dogs who suffer from debilitation are recommended treats that consist a lot of vitamins and proteins. The basic source of treats varies…

If your dog has an intolerance or reaction to certain food ingredients, you can work with your vet to discover what that ingredient is and then change your dog’s diet. Here’s what to know about food sensitivity. What is food allergy? Veterinarians estimate that food allergies cause 1% of all skin problems in dogs. Other allergic skin problems, such as allergy to flea bites, are more common. No-one…

Now that the summers are in, it has become crucial to take extra  care of our pets. Like humans, dogs can also suffer from heat stroke. Dr. Gautam Unny gives tips to prevent heat stoke in our canines. We all try our best to combat summer hazards and we should give equal attention to our four-legged friends as they do not sweat and cool their bodies like us. Even a 10-minute lock up in a car on a…

Worldwide, pet owners are willing to spend more to satisfy their pets and bring them joy, as they are a part of their life. Treats form a major part of their spending as we all know that our dogs simply love them. Delight their taste buds Alike humans, dogs also need and love the occasional delicious helpings in the form of treats. These treats can be anything ranging from readymade treats in…

The quality of food makes a lot of difference to your pet’s health. The strength of your pet’s immune system, his resistance to disease and his quality of life all depend on the food that he eats. Commonly home-made diet of meat and carbohydrate may be deficient of certain nutrients required for growth, good health, lustrous coat, strong bones and teeth. The simplest method of meeting nutritional…

GID is a common disease in dogs. But such problems can be avoided if you vaccinate your pet regularly. Dr. Hitesh Swali gives tips to take care your pet’s health. Gastrointestinal diseases (GID) often occur in puppies till 6 months of age, although adults can also be affected to a variable percentage. The common symptoms of GID include frequent diarrhoea and vomiting. It is utmost important to…

The dog looked obviously in discomfort, with his tongue hanging out, panting for breath. After a thorough examination, I told the owner, “Your dog has a heart problem.” Oh!, she said, sounding surprised, “You mean dogs have a heart?” I am not exaggerating, this is true and it happened 18 years ago, at a time when I had gone against convention to study cardiology in dogs. Ok, so maybe this…

Once you adopt a puppy, you are amazed at how fast he grows up and becomes your most trustworthy and lovable pal. Like people, pet also go through life stages of growth, maturity, and aging. But, it is a hard thing to accept that dog’s lifespan is much shorter. The passage from one stage to another is often blurred, and owners must be on guard to recognize the signs that their lil’ darling is…

Excess weight is a common problem for dogs. But, as with humans, it’s better and healthier for a dog to be of normal weight than to be overweight. A quick way to check if your dog is overweight is to feel his ribs with the flat of your hand. If you can only feel the ribs with difficulty, your dog probably needs to lose weight. How dogs become overweight Dogs nearly always become overweight from…

Neutering and spaying of dogs is a very specialised and sensitive operation, as it sterilises the pet so that he/she cannot reproduce. There are many aspects involved in the process, and Dr. Vasanth M. Shetty, PhD, FISVS, elucidates the various queries and fine points that most owners would like to know. Dogs are considered to be the oldest friend of humans and the most trustworthy companions.…

Blood transfusion As a result of the growth in veterinary speciality services, the demand for blood transfusion has risen dramatically. However, blood and blood products are not readily available in most of the places in our country. Even in places where it is practical, there is a considerable delay in getting the donor, collecting and then transfusing. Non-availability of canine blood group…

German Shepherd is perhaps the world’s most popular utility dog. Their robustness, rusticity and intelligence, steals everyone’s hearts. They convey a sense of strength, intelligence and litheness. They radiate a harmonious sense of nobility and self-confidence that commands respect. Nevertheless while rearing a German Shepherd, their specific characteristics should be kept in mind and accordingly…

There has been a lot of awareness among pet owners about the diet of their pets. The use of nutraceuticals has proven improved quality of life in pets. DHA is one such anti-oxidant which is critical for the development of vision and the central nervous system in pets. With more and more pets living to a ripe old age, nutritional supplements for pets have become a fast growing business, as pet…

An easy, regular routine can ensure that your dog has a beautiful coat and a healthy skin. The most common complaint that veterinarians face in their daily practice is skin trouble! Dry, itchy skin, redness, sores, little bumps, pustules, falling hair, typical ‘doggy’ odour are some of the usual signs. Owners tend to give a lot of importance to their pets’ skin and coat condition mainly because…

Dr. Deepa Katyal briefly reviews the pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnostic approach, and treatment of two tick-transmitted diseases in dogs. Two of the most prevalent tick-transmitted diseases in dogs are Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis, which are also a fairly common cause of morbidity and mortality in South Asia. While Babesiosis is caused by either of the protozoal parasites Babesia gibsoni or…

More and more pet owners are now resorting to herbal treatment for some common ailments. Dr. Pandey informs how herbalism works and its benefits. Since the past few years, herbalism is gaining importance as an “alternative system of medicine that applies the medicinal values of plants for the maintenance of health.” Herbalism, the holistic approach of treatment, identifies and treats the root…

Canine dental care is often overlooked, but pets can suffer the same kinds of dental problems as humans, including severe pain, infection and tooth loss. You can help prevent these problems by learning about the basics of pet tooth care from your veterinarian. You should take advantage of recent advances in veterinary dentistry, including implants, braces, ultrasonic scaling, root canals, bonding…

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is the most common kidney disease found in old dogs. Dogs are considered old above the age of 7.5 years. However, in the case of large dogs (above 20 kg) and giant dogs (above 40 kg), old age appears earlier than 7.5 years. An awareness of different aspects of this disease leads to early detection. Role of kidneys?: The role of kidneys is to form urine, excrete waste…

What appears absolutely harmless to you can be extremely poisonous to your pet dogs. Dr Gautam Unny advises on how to prevent your dog from getting poisoned and what you should do, if unfortunately your dog consumes a poisonous substance. Snappy is a healthy nine- year-old Cocker Spaniel. Anyone who sees him ambling during his daily walks would hardly be able to understand the depth of his owner’s…