Pet Health Articles
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Ectropion, or outward rolling of the eyelid, can cause problems such as recurring conjunctivitis and drying out of the cornea. The clinical signs are a "sagging" or outward-rolling lower eyelid, although ectropion can affect any of the eyelids. A thick mucoid discharge often accumulates along the eyelid margin. Diagnosis is usually made on physical examination. Testing for hypothyroidism and for antibodies against certain muscle fibers may be done if looking for underlying causes. The treatment for mild ectropion generally consists of medical therapy; if the condition is severe, surgical correction can be performed to shorten the eyelids.
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Entropion, or rolling in of the eyelids, is seen in many breeds and is considered a hereditary disorder. Most dogs will squint, hold the eye shut, and tear excessively (epiphora), though some patients will develop a mucoid discharge. Entropion can cause additional eye problems, such as corneal ulcers, perforations, or development of pigment on the cornea interfering with vision and chronically irritating to the dog. Entropion is corrected with surgery.
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Tumors can affect the eyelids, conjunctiva, and periocular tissues can be benign or malignant and can lead to secondary problems such as eye infections and corneal ulcerations. Diagnosis is best achieved through surgical excision of the tumor, but fine needle aspiration may be pursued as an initial diagnostic. Surgery is highly recommended to provide the pet with symptomatic relief, remove the tumor, and obtain a definitive diagnosis.
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Facial paralysis is a condition that occurs suddenly, affecting the facial nerve. Paresis (partial paralysis) or paralysis causes weakness of facial muscles and reduced ability or inability to blink or produce tears. This handout explores causes, signs, treatment, and prognosis for this condition.
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You’ve probably heard lots of funny cat anecdotes; about how you don’t own them…they own YOU; how they feel superior to everyone, especially dogs; that they expect to be treated like royalty. If you are considering a feline acquisition, first consider this: lots of those remarks are true! This handout explains the other factors to consider in selecting the cat most likely to choose your family, too.
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Dogs can be amazing family members and greatly enrich our lives! Adding a dog to the family is also a serious commitment, and research before choosing a dog will help set the family and the dog up for success. This handout goes over some factors to consider when selecting a dog.
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Fading puppy syndrome describes puppies that decline in health and die within about two weeks of birth. Neonatal puppies are fragile and so there can be many causes of this syndrome including birth defects, inadequate care from the mother, poor health status of the mother and/or infectious diseases. As well as addressing a specific cause, treatment focuses on maintaining hydration and warmth while providing adequate nutrition. Environmental hygiene is extremely important.
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In pregnant mares, unlike most other animals, antibodies do not cross the placenta into the foal's blood stream before birth. Therefore, when a foal is born it has no natural defence mechanisms against infection because it has no antibodies, that are the blood's special immune proteins, with which to fight infection.
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Acute Kidney Injury in Cats
El fallo renal agudo (FRA) o fallo agudo del riñón se refiere a un fallo repentino de los riñones, los cuales dejarán de realizar sus funciones normales de filtración. El FRA es menos frecuente que el fallo renal crónico (FRC). El FRA desencadena una acumulación de toxinas y otros metabolitos de deshecho en la circulación sanguínea, además de inducir desequilibrios electrolíticos y de base acídica.
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Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
Los riñones tienen diferentes funciones. Su principal función es limpiar la sangre de toxinas y sustancias de deshecho, regular el nivel sanguíneo de ciertas sustancias esenciales como el sodio o el potasio, ayudar a conservar el agua del cuerpo y producir la orina.