Pet Care Articles for Dogs and Cats

What Is Hepatozoonosis? Hepatozoonosis in canines stems from a singular-celled entity known as a protozoan. The illness manifests in two primary forms: Hepatozoon canis, transmitted by the Brown Dog tick, and Hepatozoon americanum, associated with the Gulf Coast tick. Infection in dogs can arise when they ingest ticks carrying the...

What Is Heartworm Disease In Dogs? Dirofilaria immitis is responsible for heartworm disease, affecting dogs, cats, ferrets, and other mammals. This sizable worm can grow over a foot long. It completes its developmental cycle over six to seven months, eventually settling in the heart and pulmonary arteries. Here, it can...

What is Advantix? Advantix is a canine-specific medication designed to eliminate fleas, ticks, and sandflies, thereby averting numerous diseases. Its primary components are imidacloprid and permethrin. How To Use To use K9 Advantix, apply it at the base of your dog's neck. The solution disseminates through your dog's body via the sebaceous glands, typically within...

What Is Bartonella Infection? Cat scratch fever, also known as Bartonellosis, is a bacterial ailment that can affect cats and dogs when it enters their bloodstream. This infection is transmitted by various insects such as fleas, ticks, lice, and sand flies. The condition may result in a fever and can inflame multiple organs,...

What Is Babesiosis In Cats? Babesiosis, once called piroplasmosis, is an infectious disease caused by blood parasites and spread through tick bites. This ailment impacts a broad spectrum of species, including humans. In particular, the strain Babesia felis targets felines. Although the consequences of this disease can be severe and...

What Is Babesiosis In Dogs? Babesiosis stems from a protozoan parasite called Babesia, prevalent globally in household pets like cats and dogs. In the Southern regions of North America, it's primarily observed in canines. Although not common in healthy adult dogs with intact spleens, it's a growing concern for canines....

What Is Ehrlichiosis In Cats? Ehrlichiosis, resulting from the bacteria Ehrlichia, is a tick-transmitted disease mainly impacting the blood cells in felines. This bacteria belongs to the Rickettsial category, which characteristically thrives inside other cells. Such bacteria can cause ailments in various species, including cats, dogs, and humans. When it...

What Is Ehrlichiosis In Dogs? Ehrlichiosis, a bacterial ailment rooted in the Ehrlichia genus, primarily infects dogs through tick bites. Multiple Ehrlichia species exist, yet in the U.S., E. canis and E. ewingii are the principal culprits behind canine cases. Although all these bacteria find their way to their hosts...

What Is Lyme Disease In Cats? Lyme disease results from the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, carried by ticks. While ticks aren't the source of Lyme disease, they are pivotal in transmitting the bacteria. Primarily, ticks from the Ixodes genus, including the deer tick, carry this disease after feeding on animals such...

What Is Anaplasmosis In Cats? Anaplasmosis, a disease transmitted through ticks, predominantly affects humans, canines, and various animals. However, feline cases, though infrequent, do occur. When a cat gets bitten by a tick carrying the Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria, there's a risk of developing anaplasmosis. For the disease to pass on, the...

Discovering a tick on your canine can be deeply concerning for multiple reasons. Initially, it can be unsettling, particularly if the tick has feasted for an extended period and looks swollen, resembling a blood-filled grape. Beyond the immediate discomfort, ticks are vectors for numerous ailments that can afflict both dogs...

What Is Lungworms In Cats? Lung-dwelling worms can lead to significant respiratory issues in cats. Those felines with outdoor access and a propensity for hunting small animals like birds and rodents are particularly susceptible to these parasitic ailments. Types And Symptoms Of Lungworms In Cats Numerous worm species can find their...

What Are Lungworms In Dogs? Lungworm infections in canines encompass various worm parasites that target domesticated and wild dogs' respiratory tracts and lung tissues. These parasites are roundworms (nematodes) and flukes (trematodes). While roundworms can be found globally without any specific regional preference, fluke lungworms display a propensity for particular habitats. To...

Spotted Fever of the Rocky Mountains (SFRM) is a disease transmitted by ticks and the bites they inflict, stemming from the bacterial pathogen Rickettsia rickettsii. This specific bacterium is unique in that it thrives only within other cells. Upon entering the circulatory system, it rapidly infects the cells that line...

Otodectes cyanotis, commonly known as ear mites, frequently infest cats, leading to a generally mild parasitic ailment. Although labeled "ear" mites, these parasites can invade areas of your feline's body beyond just the ears and are highly infectious. Cats tend to excessively scratch at their ears and vigorously shake their...