News — pet health

The scientific name for excessive thirst, causing excessive water consumption, is Polydipsia.  The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) define polydipsia as ‘water intake that is twice maintenance requirements’ – dogs consuming more than 100ml/kg bodyweight per day is considered excessive. Dogs may have Polydipsia for a number of reasons, which we will cover in this blog!  Checking for Dehydration  First things first, here’s a simple technique called ‘tenting’ which you can use to check if your dog is dehydrated. Gently pinch some of your dogs skin on their side. Does it ping straight back to normal?  Yes: your dog...

Mites are microscopic external parasites that are part of the arachnid family of bugs (spiders, scorpions, ticks, etc.). There are thousands of different species of mites, and their diet is as diverse as the number and type that live and thrive on earth. Mites feed on a host of things, including plant matter, insects, and the skin or blood of animals—including pets and their humans. Although mite-related illness isn’t common in the United States, almost all mites are highly contagious among dogs and/or cats. Depending on the species, they can be contagious for humans as well.  What are the most...