The colon is the organ in your pet’s body used to get rid of waste, toxins and bacteria. It contains and moves waste materials throughout the body. In a healthy bowel, waste from ingested food moves through the bowel to be excreted in a regular bowel movement. When the waste materials become clogged inside the [...]
Joints are the areas where two bones meet. Joints allow all your pet’s limbs to move in many different ways — to bend and be flexible, as well as to perform everyday actions such as walking, sitting, jumping and running. Without joints, your pet’s skeleton would be stiff and inflexible and movement would be virtually [...]
Most dogs are perfectly happy when their skin and fur are well coated with their natural scents and oils. However, excess dirt can be uncomfortable for your dog and attract unwanted pests, so bathing is best. Be careful not to over-wash, as this will strip the coat of natural oils. Most dogs should be bathed [...]
Most dogs are perfectly happy when their skin and fur are well coated with their natural scents and oils. However, excess dirt can be uncomfortable for your dog and actually cause itching. It also may attract unwanted pests so bathing is best. Be careful not to over-wash, as this will strip the coat of natural [...]
The liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are all crucially involved in the digestive process. The liver stores Vitamins A, D, E and K and produces bile, which is essential in the breakdown of fats. It is also responsible for eliminating and detoxifying the poisons that enter the blood stream. These include medications, processed and unhealthy food, [...]
As with humans, a mother’s milk is the perfect food for newborn puppies and kittens. Nursing is a natural and beautiful process and anyone who has ever seen a litter nursing contentedly will attest to this. Young puppies and kittens have very high nutritional requirements for their extremely fast growth rates and high energy levels. [...]
The kidneys have a number of very important life-sustaining functions. These include excretion, fluid conservation, and endocrine processes. The kidneys filter waste products from the bloodstream, so that they may be excreted from the body in the urine. They kidneys act as natural filters of the body, filtering out nutrients from ingested food and liquids [...]
Respiratory health in pets involves taking a holistic approach in order to address the occasional minor cough, as well as the health of the nose, throat and chest. In fact, any place where animals tend to congregate – even when going for a walk in the park – can pose a risk. For this reason, [...]
The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is often seen as the most important one. In traditional Chinese medicine, a healthy liver is seen as the most critical element in the body’s natural ability to fight disease and function optimally. Amongst other important functions, the liver is responsible for eliminating and [...]
Tear stains are reddish/brownish marks found on the inside corner and just below the eyes of pets. These are most often found on animals with light-colored fur as this makes them more visible. Tear stains are caused by an overflow of tears which then react with normal bacteria found on the skin to produce the [...]
Your pet’s body is a network of veins, arteries and capillaries – all interconnected, and all trying to complete the vital task of carrying blood to every organ. Good circulation means getting oxygen-rich blood to even the farthest tips of the body, from paws to tail! Circulation moves blood along, enabling it to carry nutrients [...]
Maintaining your pet’s dental health is a very important part of caring for your pet. Calculus is the brown build-up of plaque found extending downwards on the tooth from the gum line. Calculus is a haven for bacteria which can have serious consequences for your pet’s general health. These bacteria can not only cause abscesses [...]
As all animal lovers know, the well-being of their pets is closely tied in with the emotional well-being of the family or social environment in which they live. Animals form very deep attachments to their owners and to each other and are sensitive to our moods and everyday stresses. However, this can mean that it [...]
The pancreas is a large organ of the digestive and endocrine systems. It is located deep within the upper abdomen, surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver and spleen. This organ is shaped like a pear, broad at one end and narrow at the other end. It is divided into three sections – the broad [...]
Cats are avid groomers and seem to spend hours preening and licking themselves. Unfortunately, this usually means that they end up swallowing a lot of loose fur which accumulates in their stomach to form matted lumps called furballs. These are usually either vomited out or emitted with their feces as part of the body’s natural [...]
Fleas are extremely common parasites among dogs and cats. Fleas bite their host animal and suck the blood for nutrition, leaving saliva behind under the pet’s skin. Recent scientific studies have shown that flea saliva contains around 15 different allergens – making life very uncomfortable for unfortunate dogs and cats! For some animals, all it [...]
Having a pet with common flatulence problems can be very embarrassing – not to mention inconvenient, irritating and rather frustrating. Production of gas in the digestive tract is a natural by-product of digestion and is influenced by diet as well as the health of the digestive system. Some foods take longer to digest than others [...]
All cats are exposed to different viruses during their lives. Just like humans; the younger the animal, the greater the susceptibility to illness. Some viruses are highly infectious and can cause very serious illnesses in cats. Kittens are particularly at risk when they come down with a viral infection, they may show symptoms of a [...]
All cats are exposed to different viruses during their lives. Just as for humans, the younger or the older the animal, the greater it’s susceptibility to illness. When a feline’s immune system is battling a virus, the mouth, nasal passages, sinuses, and upper airways can be affected, breathing can become hampered, and airways can become [...]
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul and when your pet looks up at you with those gorgeous eyes all resistance crumbles! Apart from stealing your heart, your pet’s eyes are crucial to his well being and ability to lead a fully functional life. Healthy eyes and vision are important to [...]
