Nail Clippers - You can also use nail clippers designed for cats and other small animals. These look like little scissors with small notches toward the end of the blade for cutting the nail.
Doing the nails at least once a month is perfectly ok. Although nail clipping may be awkward and difficult at first, the more often you do it the more comfortable it will become for you and your guinea pig. More importantly, the longer the nails get, the harder they will be to trim. As the nails get longer the blood vessel gets longer too, and the nails will start to curl. Regular nail clipping helps keep the nails in good shape.
How to Clip the Nails - The trick to nail trims is to cut the sharp tip off the nail without cutting into the quick. The quick is the part inside the nail where the blood vessel and nerve endings are located, and if you cut into the quick, the nail will bleed and it will hurt your guinea pig.
If your guinea pig has light or translucent nails, the quick will be visible as the pink part inside the nail. Make your cut a bit in front of the quick; if you get too close it may still be a bit painful. See the diagram to the right for an illustration.
The tip of the nail is usually quite narrow and may almost appear hollow when viewed from the bottom. Otherwise, it is safest to just clip off about 1/4 inch of the nail tip.
If you have any doubts, it is wise to get a professional or other experienced owner to demonstrate a nail trim for you before you attempt nail clipping on your own.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
hairball in cats
Most people believe that a cat with a hairball will vomit hair, but it is really not the case. Some hairballs of course, do get vomited. But, more often, the hairball is leisurely parked at the exit to the stomach when the cat decides to eat a meal. The act of eating stimulates the stomach to contract and push Kitty's big meal out into the intestines to be digested. The forceful waves of stomach contractions send the food toward the pyloris with the intent of emptying the stomach, but the pyloris is blocked by the hairball napping in the road.The food is generally undigested, and since the cat experiences no real nausea or cramping, the cat usually goes back to her dish to begin satisfying that mystifying, returning hunger. Meanwhile, the hairball is being tossed and churned by a stomach that has begun the mixing stage of the digestion process, and is either dislodged from the pyloris to float freely in the stomach, or is forced into the intestines to be digested and passed. So you see, hairballs can cause vomiting of hair, food, or even water soon after drinking. A normal cat can vomit in this matter an average of one time per week. Most cats with a hairball will vomit once or even twice in one week, then be fine for 2-3 weeks before another episode.
For a hairball remedy to work, they need to be used as a preventative measure, not as a treatment after vomiting is a problem. These products physically coat the hair ingested during routine grooming to prevent it from entangling and joining other hair already in the stomach, thus preventing the dreaded hairball. If the hairball is already present, a petroleum product will not be able to penetrate the densely packed hair in a hairball.
If your cat vomits more than an average of once weekly, see your veterinarian! Vomiting can be caused by a huge list of cats problems, some of the most common being the ingestion of a foreign body, infiltrative or inflammatory bowel disease, stomach tumors, kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease.
For a hairball remedy to work, they need to be used as a preventative measure, not as a treatment after vomiting is a problem. These products physically coat the hair ingested during routine grooming to prevent it from entangling and joining other hair already in the stomach, thus preventing the dreaded hairball. If the hairball is already present, a petroleum product will not be able to penetrate the densely packed hair in a hairball.
If your cat vomits more than an average of once weekly, see your veterinarian! Vomiting can be caused by a huge list of cats problems, some of the most common being the ingestion of a foreign body, infiltrative or inflammatory bowel disease, stomach tumors, kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Parasites - Guinea pig
most common are parasites in guinea pigs including fleas, mites, and lice.
Fleas
The cat flea is the most common flea affecting guinea pigs and usually become infested when another pet in the house brings in the fleas from outside. Fleas may also cause hair loss, crusty lesions on the skin, and even anemia.A flea comb can be helpful in finding fleas. Contact your veterinarian for the proper treatment.
Mites
There are two mites that cause skin problems in guinea pigs. They may also be hair loss, thickening of the skin, redness. This mite usually affects the head, shoulders, back, and flanks of the guinea pig, but may spread to the entire animal. Secondary bacterial infections can occur. . The mite is transmitted by direct contact, and can temporarily infest people.
Lice
Lice can cause scratching, redness, papules, and scabs, usually around the head and ears. Some infested animals may not show any signs. Lice are spread through direct contact, and sometimes through the bedding. The lice of guinea pigs do not affect humans.
Fleas
The cat flea is the most common flea affecting guinea pigs and usually become infested when another pet in the house brings in the fleas from outside. Fleas may also cause hair loss, crusty lesions on the skin, and even anemia.A flea comb can be helpful in finding fleas. Contact your veterinarian for the proper treatment.
Mites
There are two mites that cause skin problems in guinea pigs. They may also be hair loss, thickening of the skin, redness. This mite usually affects the head, shoulders, back, and flanks of the guinea pig, but may spread to the entire animal. Secondary bacterial infections can occur. . The mite is transmitted by direct contact, and can temporarily infest people.
Lice
Lice can cause scratching, redness, papules, and scabs, usually around the head and ears. Some infested animals may not show any signs. Lice are spread through direct contact, and sometimes through the bedding. The lice of guinea pigs do not affect humans.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Rabies - dogs and cats
Although well-known vaccination programs rabies has helped to make the disease less common in domestic dogs and cats. However, it is important to be familiar of the symptoms of rabies in cats nonetheless, as many wild animals can be infected, and can easily transmit the disease to you or your cat if you are not prepared.
Rabies is a viral, zoonotic disease. In layman’s terms, this means that rabies is a type of virus that is transmissible to humans that affects the brain. Rabies is most commonly spread from infected animals to humans and other animals in the form of a bite. Left untreated, Rabies is almost always fatal to both humans and animals.
Rabies infection can spread through foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves, coyotes and bats as well. These animals are highly susceptible to the virus. By contrast, cats, humans and dogs are naturally more resistant to the disease, and it is estimated that only about 15% of bites from affected animals will result in the rabies virus in humans and domestic animals. However, because rabies is almost always fatal, any bite to you or your animal from one of these common sources should be reported to your doctor or veterinarian so that appropriate medical care can be provided.
Most cats that become infected with rabies have been bitten by one of these wild animals, usually in the course of hunting or fighting. The rabies virus is shed at high levels in saliva, and after being bitten the virus begins to spread through the nerves of the newly infected animal, moving towards the brain. Rabies is a slow-moving disease, with the typical first onset of symptoms occurring 2-6 weeks after being infected in cats, and 3-6 weeks in people. In some cases however, the virus moves even slower, and animals have begun to show symptoms of rabies as long as 6 months after being bitten.
The first phase is known as the prodromal phase, where early non-specific symptoms may begin to manifest themselves. Affected dogs and cats may begin to be more nervous than usual, or show signs of increased anxiousness or apprehension. Behavior changes may occur, where normally friendly cats or dogs may become more withdrawn or easily annoyed, and normally aggressive cats or dogs may suddenly become quiet and affectionate. Spikes of fever may develop, leading to episodes of normal behavior and energy and lethargy and depression. Typically the prodromal phase lasts one to two days.
After the prodromal phase, the symptoms of cat rabies begin to get more specific, and the aniaml enters the furious phase. This phase can last from 1- 7 days, and animals will become progressively more restless and aggressive, and begin to react strongly to visual and auditory stimulus. They may become openly vicious, and disorientation may lead them to attack or bite without warning or provocation. As this phase progresses, seizures may begin to occur as the inflammation in the brain progresses, and depending on their severity some animals will die as a direct result of these seizures.
Within 2-4 days of the first signs being noted, animals may enter the paralytic stage. Nerves in the head and throat become impeded, and animals will begin to have the classic look of extensive salivation due to their inability to swallow. Labored breathing and trouble with the jaw may also develop, as the animals’ ability to breathe and have muscle control is destroyed by the virus. Eventually animals will die as a result of respiratory failure, as they struggle to breathe but no longer possess the muscle strength to do so.
Diagnosis of rabies is made via clinical signs and the vaccination history and clinical history of the pet. The only way to know for sure if an animal was affected with rabies is to submit the deceased animals brain to a laboratory to test for the disease.
Rabies is a viral, zoonotic disease. In layman’s terms, this means that rabies is a type of virus that is transmissible to humans that affects the brain. Rabies is most commonly spread from infected animals to humans and other animals in the form of a bite. Left untreated, Rabies is almost always fatal to both humans and animals.
Rabies infection can spread through foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves, coyotes and bats as well. These animals are highly susceptible to the virus. By contrast, cats, humans and dogs are naturally more resistant to the disease, and it is estimated that only about 15% of bites from affected animals will result in the rabies virus in humans and domestic animals. However, because rabies is almost always fatal, any bite to you or your animal from one of these common sources should be reported to your doctor or veterinarian so that appropriate medical care can be provided.
Most cats that become infected with rabies have been bitten by one of these wild animals, usually in the course of hunting or fighting. The rabies virus is shed at high levels in saliva, and after being bitten the virus begins to spread through the nerves of the newly infected animal, moving towards the brain. Rabies is a slow-moving disease, with the typical first onset of symptoms occurring 2-6 weeks after being infected in cats, and 3-6 weeks in people. In some cases however, the virus moves even slower, and animals have begun to show symptoms of rabies as long as 6 months after being bitten.
The first phase is known as the prodromal phase, where early non-specific symptoms may begin to manifest themselves. Affected dogs and cats may begin to be more nervous than usual, or show signs of increased anxiousness or apprehension. Behavior changes may occur, where normally friendly cats or dogs may become more withdrawn or easily annoyed, and normally aggressive cats or dogs may suddenly become quiet and affectionate. Spikes of fever may develop, leading to episodes of normal behavior and energy and lethargy and depression. Typically the prodromal phase lasts one to two days.
After the prodromal phase, the symptoms of cat rabies begin to get more specific, and the aniaml enters the furious phase. This phase can last from 1- 7 days, and animals will become progressively more restless and aggressive, and begin to react strongly to visual and auditory stimulus. They may become openly vicious, and disorientation may lead them to attack or bite without warning or provocation. As this phase progresses, seizures may begin to occur as the inflammation in the brain progresses, and depending on their severity some animals will die as a direct result of these seizures.
Within 2-4 days of the first signs being noted, animals may enter the paralytic stage. Nerves in the head and throat become impeded, and animals will begin to have the classic look of extensive salivation due to their inability to swallow. Labored breathing and trouble with the jaw may also develop, as the animals’ ability to breathe and have muscle control is destroyed by the virus. Eventually animals will die as a result of respiratory failure, as they struggle to breathe but no longer possess the muscle strength to do so.
Diagnosis of rabies is made via clinical signs and the vaccination history and clinical history of the pet. The only way to know for sure if an animal was affected with rabies is to submit the deceased animals brain to a laboratory to test for the disease.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
cherion's dog after long time of treatment
he is recovered very well from the demodex mange. you might have seen his previous photos before and during the treatment.now the hair are coming back and will recover very fast because of the whether.
Monday, March 16, 2009
seizures in a dog
Types of seizures include:
Generalized Seizure: Tonic-clonic (may be Grand Mal or Mild): In the grand mal seizure, the tonic phase occurs as the animal falls, loses consciousness, and extends its limbs rigidly, apnea. This phase usually lasts 10-30 seconds before the clonic phase begins. Clonic movements include paddling of the limbs and/or chewing. Other signs that appear during the tonic or clonic phase are dilation of the pupils, salivation, urination, and defecation. The mild seizure involves little or no paddling or extension of limbs, and usually no loss of consciousness. Generalized seizures are usually associated with primary epilepsy.
Petit Mal Seizure: Depending on the authority quoted, petit mals are described as either very rare or usually unrecognized in animals. Signs are brief (seconds) duration of unconsciousness, loss of muscle tone, blank stare, and possibly upward rotation of eyes. the term petit mal is misused by veterinarians and should only be accorded to cases manifesting very specific clinical signs and EEG abnormalities.
Partial Seizures: Movements are restricted to one area of the body, such as muscle jerking, movement of one limb, turning the head or bending the trunk to one side, or facial twitches. A partial seizure can progress to (and be mistaken for) a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, but the difference can be established by noting whether or not a seizure starts with one specific area of the body. Partial seizures are usually associated with secondary epilepsy.
Complex Partial Seizures: are associated with bizarre or complex behaviors that are repeated during each seizure. People with complex partial seizures experience distortions of thought, perception or emotion, sometimes with unusual visual, olfactory, auditory and gustatory sensations. If dogs experience the same things, it may explain the lip-smacking, chewing, fly biting, aggression, vocalization, hysterical running, cowering or hiding in otherwise normal animals. Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distress, salivation, blindness, unusual thirst or appetite, and flank biting are other signs. There is an obvious lack of awareness though usually not lack of consciousness. Abnormal behaviors may last minutes or hours and can be followed by a generalized seizure. Complex partial seizures are usually associated with secondary epilepsy.
Cluster Seizures: Multiple seizures within a short period of time with only brief periods of consciousness in between. May be confused with status epilepticus.
Status Epilepticus: Status can occur as one continuous seizure lasting 30 minutes or more, or a series of multiple seizures in a short time with no periods of normal consciousness. It can be difficult to tell status epilepticus from frequent cluster seizures; but both are considered life-threatening emergencies. Most status patients usually suffer from generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Though status epilepticus can occur with either primary or secondary epilepsy, it may also suddenly arise in dogs with no previous history of seizures
Saturday, March 14, 2009
tea time between lectures
Col.Nara,dr.piyush Goyal, Myself, Dr.madhur and Dr.Negi are having tea break between lectures. we learned quite a lot over there. it was very good time to learn all those things.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
surgery at NIAW
these photographs are of the dog with fracture and was repaired under gas anaesthesia.Thursday, March 5, 2009
Some more photo from NIAW, Ballabgarh,Faridabad
it was nice time to spend over there at NIAW campus. on holiday we went to Surajkund Mela,Faridabad - its a very famous melafor carfts work. last day of the training was full of excitement as while waiting for the certificates heena session was done. i enjoyed it a lot. but only Dr.Kirsty got it done and due to lack of time rest girls just waited. i feel sorry for them. but never mind, may be next time........
Monday, March 2, 2009
parvo infection - dogs
Dog - parvo viral disease - symptoms
When dog are infected with parvo virus, they will shown sign of symptoms such as high fever, stop eating, critical diarrhea, lethargy and vomiting often. Their stool will be yellow color liquid, have strong bad smell and contain blood.
CPV will divide itself into many cells and attacks important place such as intestinal and digestive system so infected dog won't be able to absorb water or any nutrients that is useful for the body.
Parvo can also infects adult dog but it is often found in small puppies because of low immune system. After a while infected dog will have symptoms such as shock, heart failure and sudden death. This disease is very time sensitive and if you seen any sign of this disease then you must take to your veterinarian as quick as you can.
Prevention
You must keep your puppies away from other dogs as much as possible during the early age until they receives complete parvo vaccine from your local veterinarian eventhough it doesn't fully guarantee that your dog will be completely protected from CPV but it is a lot better than having no protection at all.
Treatment
Dog that are Infected with parvo disease will show clear symptoms of dehydration and malnutrition. You can do the basic treatment at home by pumping fluid that contains vitamins, sugar, and potassium into your dog body and take them to the pet hospital or clinic as fast as possible.
Veterinarian will sometimes inject your dog with anti-nausea medication to stop or help preventing further regurgitation. Once your dog is feeling better and able to eat food. Vet will give you antibiotics and medicines to helps prevent other infection because at this period your dog immune system will be low for serveral week.
When dog are infected with parvo virus, they will shown sign of symptoms such as high fever, stop eating, critical diarrhea, lethargy and vomiting often. Their stool will be yellow color liquid, have strong bad smell and contain blood.
CPV will divide itself into many cells and attacks important place such as intestinal and digestive system so infected dog won't be able to absorb water or any nutrients that is useful for the body.
Parvo can also infects adult dog but it is often found in small puppies because of low immune system. After a while infected dog will have symptoms such as shock, heart failure and sudden death. This disease is very time sensitive and if you seen any sign of this disease then you must take to your veterinarian as quick as you can.
Prevention
You must keep your puppies away from other dogs as much as possible during the early age until they receives complete parvo vaccine from your local veterinarian eventhough it doesn't fully guarantee that your dog will be completely protected from CPV but it is a lot better than having no protection at all.
Treatment
Dog that are Infected with parvo disease will show clear symptoms of dehydration and malnutrition. You can do the basic treatment at home by pumping fluid that contains vitamins, sugar, and potassium into your dog body and take them to the pet hospital or clinic as fast as possible.
Veterinarian will sometimes inject your dog with anti-nausea medication to stop or help preventing further regurgitation. Once your dog is feeling better and able to eat food. Vet will give you antibiotics and medicines to helps prevent other infection because at this period your dog immune system will be low for serveral week.
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