Dog

Breeding from your bitch and raising her puppies can be an extremely rewarding experience or it may produce frustration and failure. Pet bitches are often torn between their instinctive desire to be with their puppies and the routines they have acquired with their owners. This can lead to problems and should be borne in mind before breeding is contemplated. Also raising a litter of puppies is an extremely time-consuming exercise and one which should not be embarked upon without due consideration.

I have a young dog with a lameness that has been present for several days. Could this be serious?

What is meant by the term "Bloat" in dogs?

This is a term that is synonymous with the more scientific term "Gastric Dilatation/Volvulus." It is often called GDV. That means that a dog's stomach distends with gas to the point that it goes into shock and may die.

Dilatation means that the stomach is distended with air, but it is located in the abdomen in its correct place. Volvulus means that the distension is associated with a twisting of the stomach on its longitudinal axis.

What are bladder stones?

Bladder stones, more correctly called uroliths, or cystic calculi are rock-like collections of minerals that form in the urinary bladder. They may occur as a large, single stone or as collections of stones the size of large grains of sand or gravel.

Are these the same as gall stones or kidney stones?

No. Gall stones are in the gall bladder, and kidney stones are in the kidney. Although the kidneys and urinary bladder are both part of the urinary system, kidney stones are usually unrelated to bladder stones.

What is a haematoma of the ear, and how does it occur?

What are anal sacs?

The anal sacs are located on either side of the anus at the 8:00 and 4:00 positions; they are positioned just under the skin. They connect to the anus by means of small canals or ducts. Anal sacs produce and store a dark, foul-smelling fluid. These are the same type of organs that a skunk has to scare away its enemies. Although dogs can use these for the same purpose, most dogs live in an environment that has no enemies. Because the sacs are rarely emptied, the fluid builds up, solidifies, and becomes an ideal environment in which bacteria can grow.