Library
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Fits (seizures) or "funny turns" (so-called absences) can be due to many causes. As with any veterinary problem a thorough history and physical examination is the first step.
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The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea. Many cats live with fleas but show minimal signs. Eradicating fleas can be a demanding task, with the cat and home both requiring treatment. Using a flea preventive can be easier than treating the problem once it has developed. It is important to use products made specifically for cats, as products intended for dogs or other animals can be very dangerous for cats.
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During the summer months, pet rabbits may be affected by maggot infestation. Different terms are used for this but fly strike is a common one.
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Food allergy is but one of about five specific allergies or hypersensitivities known to affect dogs. It is well known that people can be allergic to certain foods, but it is only relatively recently that food allergies have come to be routinely diagnosed in our dogs.
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GDV is a very much more descriptive term than the old fashioned name, bloat, which is still often used for the condition in farm animals. It means the dog's stomach is distended with gas and may in addition have twisted upon itself thus effectively trapping the gas in the stomach.
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Giardia is sometimes confused with worms because they invade the gastrointestinal tract and can cause diarrhoea. They are not worms; instead, they are one-celled parasites classified as protozoa and have been largely overlooked until recently.
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Glaucoma is an increase in IOP i.e a raised pressure within the eye. The cause of glaucoma is always related to inadequate drainage of aqueous humor rather than its over production.
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Gut stasis is common in the rabbit. It may frequently be referred to as bloat.
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This is one of many similar tumours that arise by disordered growth of the hair follicles. These tumours are almost all benign and can be permanently cured by total surgical removal.
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The harvest mite (Trombicula autumnalis) is a mite the larval stage of which causes considerable discomfort to cats and dogs during the late summer and autumn. The mite is not common in Australia and only rural cats are usually affected. The fluid injected by the mite is very irritant causing the cat to scratch, bite and lick which may result in extensive self-inflicted injury. Your vet will give you appropriate treatment.