Blood Donor Programs for Dogs and Cats

We all know of the importance of donating blood from a human medicine perspective; collecting and maintaining a blood bank ensures that there will be an adequate supply of blood available when it is most needed, for instance during surgery or following an accident. But what about a blood donation program for our pets? After all, they undergo many of the same medical procedures as we do; is there a program in place for them? It turns out that there is, and certain organizations are looking for you and your pet to help out and donate blood.

While there isn’t a national blood donor organization for animals as there is with humans, there are several smaller organizations that exist across the country. Several of the veterinary colleges have one in place, so if you happen to live close to a veterinary school, that would be a great place to check out.

Unruly dogs “My dog is crazy” – Calm your dog down – Pet tip 213

Dogs can get really rambunctious or unruly when they are at home and this is especially true of puppies and breeds with high exercise requirements. The second they see you or someone else that they want to play with, they may want to interact with you by jumping on you or running back and forth all over the house. It sure is cute when they are little baby-puppies and it sure gets annoying as they get older and the novelty wears off. Rambunctious dog behaviour can lead to broken lamps or dishes, uncontrollable running, loads of barking, jumping on you or the kids and general chaos that you will want to control.

Yawning and Blinking in Dogs – Pet tip 217

When it comes to reading a dog’s body language there are many movements and gestures to pay attention to. Some of the gestures are easy to understand. A growling dog is sending a clear message and very few people will mistake the intention of that message. It means that the dog is uncomfortable and you should immediately back off or back away. The growl will likely also come with other gestures like standing forward, ears pointing forward and possibly raised fur. A broad wagging tail is also a clear sign usually associated with happiness and alertness.

House Cats that Hunt

It is perhaps the greatest annoyance of every cat owner; you come home from work at the end of a long day not only to your furry feline, but also to the furry mouse carcass she so lovingly drops at your feet. You wake up on a Saturday morning and instead of toast and jam, your cat’s idea of breakfast in bed involves a mess of blood and bird feathers not the most appetizing site. So you yell and shake your finger and do all of those things we feel inclined to do when our cats misbehave, but it won’t make any difference. Our cats don’t know they’re misbehaving.

Dogs and Glaucoma

You may have heard the word ‘glaucoma’ and know that it is a disease of the eye. But if you’ve ever wondered what exactly it is and how it develops, this article might shed some light on the subject. Simply speaking, glaucoma means that there is increased pressure in the eyeball, along with a nerve problem that causes that eye to become blind. Glaucoma may be a primary problem, where an abnormality in the eye itself causes the problem. It can also be a secondary issue where an underlying disease or condition causes the pressure in the eye to increase, thus leading to glaucoma. The presentation of the disease can either be acute (sudden), chronic, or even congenital (the animal is born with it). A few breeds that often get glaucoma are Bassett Hounds, American and English Cocker Spaniels, Siberian Huskies, Toy and Miniature Poodles, and many more.