Library
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One of the disadvantages of owning a pet bitch is that she comes into oestrus or heat (season) every 4-14 months depending on the breed.
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Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip which occurs during the growing period.
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Looking after an Expectant Mare We often think of pregnancy as a delicate and fragile condition. When it comes to horses, this perception is perhaps due to the mare's relatively poor reproductive performance in comparison to other domestic animals. However, in a natural setting, the mare does comparatively well reproductively. Therefore, this seemingly poor performance is due as much to improper management as to any reproductive deficiency. Fortunately, management is something we can control.
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Neutering removes the sexual urge from both dogs and bitches. It can be carried out surgically when it is irreversible.
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Most male animals (stallions, bulls, boars, rams and tom cats) that are kept for companionship, work, or food production are neutered (castrated) unless they are intended to be used as breeding stock.
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Raising an orphaned litter is a time consuming although rewarding experience. Neonates are very fragile and despite all the care and attention, losses can be inevitable.
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False pregnancy, phantom pregnancy, pseudo-pregnancy or pseudocyesis can be defined as a display of maternal behaviour together with the physical signs of pregnancy following oestrus (heat) in a non-pregnant bitch.
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Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited condition in cats, that causes multiple cysts (pockets of fluid) to form in the kidneys. These cysts are present from birth.
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Breeding cats can be an extremely rewarding experience. However, before undertaking a breeding programme it is essential to understand what this involves; from the time of mating to the time of weaning.
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Unfortunately, at the moment, there are no reliable blood tests that will detect pregnancy in the cat.