Library

Emergencies

  • Abdominal enlargement is not an unusual occurrence. It can be due to a simple increase in intra abdominal fat due to weight gain but this is only one cause.

  • Canine haemorrhagic gastro enteritis, (HGE) is a very acute form of dysentery (bloody diarrhoea) usually combined with vomiting.

  • The medical term for Addison's disease is hypoadrenocorticism. The term indicates diminished or lowered hormone production from the outer part (cortex) of the adrenal gland.

  • Anaphylaxis is the name given to a sudden, unusual or exaggerated reaction by an animal to a particular substance. It is always a very sudden (acute) reaction and in dogs frequently results in swelling of the face, head, ears and other parts of the body.

  • Unfortunately anthrax has been used as a method of bio-terrorism and cats can be infected, as can most mammals.

  • Cats and dogs are attracted to the sweet taste of ethylene glycol. Many will voluntarily drink antifreeze if it is spilled or leaks on to garage floors or driveways and are more than ready to lick the product from contaminated paws and coats.

  • Calculi, popularly called stones can develop in many cavities in the body, e.g. the gall bladder, kidney, etc. They are commonest in the urinary tract where they are termed uroliths.

  • Coagulation refers to a series of events that result in the formation of a blood clot. Clotting occurs after any injury involving blood vessels or tissues in order to stop blood loss.

  • Although the majority of bitches will whelp without the need for assistance, problems can arise which require veterinary attention.

  • From the time of mating many bitches show behavioural changes, often becoming more affectionate. However some bitches become uncharacteristically irritable.