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What Is Gallbladder Infection? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention A gallbladder infection can occur in cats of any age or breed. It can develop suddenly with severe symptoms in some cats, while others may have more mild symptoms. It’s often caused by a bacterial infection of the gallbladder and bile duct. Cats with gallbladder infections will show symptoms like loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. They may also exhibit a yellow tint to their skin and gums....

It’s a big responsibility to have a dog, but sometimes life gets in the way and you might have to make serious choices such as giving up a beloved pet. There are many ways to avoid this, but if you’ve exhausted all of your options, please know you are not alone. Consider contacting animal rescue groups, many of which will accept dogs under certain circumstances. If you cannot find a new home, foster arrangement, or rescue group, your last resort may be giving away a dog to a shelter or surrendering your pet to animal control....

New aquariums always look great, but like everything that is lived in, over time that changes. Many items of aquarium decor can be removed and scrubbed, but one challenge that we all face is cleaning plants without damaging them. Live plants, in particular, can be difficult to clean, but even artificial plants can be troublesome to restore to their original attractive state. Follow these steps to keep your real or artificial plants attractive....

Preparing to Clean What You’ll Need Ear Cleaner Massaging Wiping the Canal Problems and Proofing Behavior Ear cleaning is an essential part of your dog’s basic grooming routine. All dogs should have their ears cleaned from time to time, but some dogs need more frequent and thorough cleaning than others. This is especially true for dogs prone to ear infections, such as the Bluetick Coonhound. Fortunately, it’s easy to clean your dog’s ears at home....

When you add a second dog to your household, it’s important to start things off right and allow it to be properly introduced to your current dog. It may take several weeks for the two dogs to get used to each other, so patience is required. But most of the time, dogs are accepting of other dogs, often welcoming the companionship. It’s just a matter of an owner setting expectations and being consistent....

For dog lovers, it’s only natural to want to include the family dog when they exercise. Many people enjoy running as a physical activity, and many dogs enjoy chasing and racing, so it’s often a good match of interests between owner and pet. Whether you are already a runner or you wish to start running, you can probably include your dog. Running can be a great form of exercise for certain people and dogs, but it’s important to do it right....

Macadamia Nut English Walnut Horse Chestnut Gingko Nut Macadamia and other potentially toxic nuts, can be found in many households, and can unknowingly be given to your pets as treats. The best way to prevent any accidental ingestion is to avoid these nuts altogether. Here, we will discuss some nuts that can pose a problem for dogs, the clinical signs you need to be aware of, and treatments needed if toxins have been ingested....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The miniature schnauzer is a small terrier dog breed from Germany with a medium-length coat that doesn’t shed much, a bushy beard and eyebrows, and a square build. They are hardy and feisty little dogs that were bred down from the larger standard schnauzer. They can adapt to living in an apartment or roaming around a farm....

Stress and anxiety can have debilitating effects on a human’s health. Stress in cats acts much the same way. Not only can it exacerbate existing physical conditions, but it can lead to a number of problems often considered behavioral, such as litter box avoidance, aggressive behavior, or depression and withdrawal. When behavioral problems suddenly appear, savvy cat owners soon learn to look first for signs of health problems, such as urinary tract infections with litter box avoidance, and next for stress factors, such as changes in the environment....

Cat language is composed of a combination of body postures, scent signals, and vocalizations. Humans are scent-blind compared to cats, and we often overlook tail talk and ear signals that make up the majority of cats’ communication. Feline yowls, growls, hisses, and purrs get our undivided attention, especially at 5 a.m. But is there a way to know what your cat is trying to say? Kinds of Meowing There are four major categories of meows among cats:...

Why Rabbits Stop Eating Home Remedies Veterinary Treatment Diagnostic Processes Prevention Pet rabbits often seem to chew on anything they can get their teeth into. That’s why a rabbit that suddenly stops eating is a big concern. It may not seem like a big deal if your dog, cat, or other pet skips a meal, but if a rabbit does, it may be an indication of an emergency situation. While this definitely warrants a trip to the vet, there are a few things you can do in the meantime to possibly help your bunny feel better....

Eye problems are often obvious to owners because dogs will rub at their eyes, rub their faces on the ground, wink, and even hold one or both eyes shut. Their eyes may also appear red, crusty, or teary. Many owners don’t know what they can safely do to help at home. Some products can cause serious, if not permanent, damage to an eye or interact with your dog’s other medications so it is important to know how eye disease can be managed at home while you wait to see your veterinarian....

What Is Brucellosis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Is Brucellosis Contagious to Humans? Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease that can affect many different species, including humans. The specific type of brucellosis that infects dogs causes inflammation in the reproductive organs. Occasionally, the spleen and liver are affected as well. Brucellosis mostly occurs in intact adult dogs, meaning dogs that have not been spayed or neutered. The most common symptoms of brucellosis are infertility, enlarged scrotum in male dogs, vaginal discharge in female dogs, giving birth to stillborn puppies or miscarrying a pregnancy, and swollen lymph nodes....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The Havanese is a small toy dog breed from Cuba with a rounded face, floppy ears, and either curly or straight long hair. Havanese dogs have playful, affectionate personalities. Their good-natured temperament and intelligence make them great family dogs. The breed dates back to the 1500s and is a popular choice for learning tricks, performing in dog sports, and showing in competitions....

As a dog owner, you want to know that you are taking proper care of your dog. This means learning about basic dog care and meeting your dog’s essential needs to ensure its health and happiness. Proper nutrition, preventive veterinary care, health monitoring, grooming, a place to call its own, and plenty of exercise and affection will create an environment in which your dog can thrive. Luckily, all of these things are relatively easy to provide for your pooch....

Hearing your puppy hiccup for the first time can be one of the most adorable sounds. That little high-pitched squeak sounds just like our hiccups and reminds us of how similar we can be to our pets. However, there may be times when those hiccups worry you, such as in cases where they don’t go away quickly or when your dog seems distressed. Learn about what causes hiccups in pups, when to contact your vet, and things you can do to keep your pup safe....

Crate training is an important part of raising your dog. The crate, or kennel, is an important dog training tool as well as a safe means of confinement. Crate training is also very useful when house training your dog. Even if you don’t plan to crate your dog often, training it to get into the crate will help when it needs to be confined to a cage or crate, such as at the veterinarian or while boarding....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research Pirahnas are not actually like the fish depicted in Holywood movies. A piranha averages only 10 inches in size, and it is a cousin of the neon tetra. It is true that a hungry piranha will bite almost anything, even other piranhas, however, piranha normally bite on other fish or wounded animals—not humans. Many more humans bite into piranhas as a food source than the other way around....

Hay nets are frequently used for temporarily feeding horses hay while at an event. You can’t rely on suitable grass at any venue to feed your horse all day and your horse shouldn’t go all day without feed. If you’re at a horse show, your horse will probably have time to eat between events. Hay nets should not be used on a daily basis. The advantage of hay nets is the portability....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Taiwan dog is a medium-size non-sporting dog breed from Taiwan with a short, smooth coat that can come in several colors. Also known as the Formosan mountain dog, this rare dog breed has a triangular head with almond-shaped eyes and thin prick ears. The dog’s tongue often sports black markings....