Pet Health Library
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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.
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Until recently pregnancy diagnosis in the dog depended on abdominal palpation (i.e. feeling for foetuses through the abdominal wall), radiography (x-ray) or an ultrasound scan. However, it is now possible to accurately detect pregnancy in the dog with a simple blood test.
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Speying involves the removal of the womb and ovaries. It is permanent and irreversible.
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In its simplest terms, pyometra is an infection in the uterus. However, most cases of pyometra are much more difficult to manage than a routine infection.
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Should small mammals be neutered? Aside from birth control, there may be other issues at play.