Happy Pets

Ulcers are painful areas of inflammation affecting the skin, eye or membranes such as the gums and nose. The affected tissue becomes swollen, red and often moist and angry looking. Various things can trigger an ulcer: trauma, infection or allergy being the commonest. Corrosive chemicals can also be responsible and if swallowed these can ulcerate the throat, oesophagus and stomach, giving very unpleasant symptoms. Ulceration of the ear tips (see EAR PROBLEMS; SUNBURN) is common in white cats which sun bathe a lot. (more…)

Wounds are injuries which disrupt or destroy tissues, usually the skin. Severe wounds may also affect underlying structures such as bones or internal organs and gun shot wounds, in particular, can cause massive damage to adjacent structures.

Wounds vary enormously, from small and superficial to extensive and deep, and can sometimes be very deceptive in appearance. For example, bite puncture wounds are often much more serious than large but superficial skin tears, yet a puncture wound may be so small as to be hardly noticeable on the cat’s hairy body. Initial impressions might be that the gaping shallow skin wound is the worse injury, it certainly looks more dramatic. However it is often the small but deep bite injury, combined with the crushing effect on surrounding tissue that causes the most pain and carries most risk of serious complications. (more…)

Weaning

Weaning is the gradual process of separation of suckling kittens from their mother, when they start to become independent animals, able to feed and move around actively by themselves. Kittens may begin to show an interest in liquid food at around 3 weeks. By 6-8 weeks, they are usually eating well and receiving very little nutrition from their mothers. Many kittens are rehomed at this time. (more…)

Cat Warts

Warts are small benign growths on the skin surface which often have a characteristic wrinkled appearance. They are common in dogs, less so in cats. All skin growths should be checked out by a veterinary surgeon in case removal is necessary. Warts near the eye may be removed quickly owing to possible interference with the eyelids. (more…)

Several of the commonest first aid remedies are described briefly here in order to give a little more background in their use and essential characteristics. Full ‘remedy pictures’ for all remedies are to be found in homoeopathic materia medicas and repertories — these are very detailed textbooks which contain much information on the symptoms, physical and mental, which indicate certain remedies in treatment. These reference books are probably too detailed for home use as they are designed to be consulted by those with a good working knowledge of the principles and practice of homoeopathy, usually gained by academic study of the subject. Examination of such texts, however, does give an indication of both the full scope and complexity of homoeopathy as a medical treatment. (more…)