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  • Regular preventive health care for your cat can increase the length and quality of her life. Healthcare guidelines are established and kept up to date using the most recent evidence-based recommendations including the recommendation that all cats receive a complete veterinary examination at least once a year or more frequently, depending on their individual needs and health concerns.

  • Regular preventive health care for your dog can increase the length and quality of her life. Health care guidelines are established and kept up to date using the most recent evidence-based recommendations including the recommendation that all dogs receive a complete veterinary examination at least once a year or more frequently, depending on their individual needs and health concerns.

  • The purpose of clipping a bird's wings is not to prevent flight completely, but to ensure the bird is unable to achieve or sustain upward flight, preventing escape, unwanted roaming, and exposure to dangerous situations. Typically, the primary feathers are trimmed about halfway between the base and the tip of the feather. The secondary feathers should not be clipped, and no feathers should be clipped shorter than midway from base to tip. Newly growing pin or blood feathers (that retain blood in the shaft until the feather matures) will bleed quite profusely if accidentally cut.

  • The Wire Fox Terrier could be the canine incarnation of an anti-depressant. This merry little chap lives to play and likes nothing better than to make some mischief. And while he is on the smallish side, he has got the courage and tenacity of dogs twice his size.

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffons demonstrate love and loyalty to family, making the breed a good companion for active owners. Although calm in the house when given plenty of exercise, the breed has a sense of humor and might drag underwear through the house just as the minister comes calling.

  • Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS) is a progressive degenerative neurological disease of African and European hedgehogs. The disease causes muscle atrophy and weakness that eventually progresses to partial or full paralysis of the limbs and torso. The clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and supportive care management of WHS are explained in this handout.

  • As a hairless type, these dogs are good for some allergy sufferers – but meet the dog and find out for sure before you commit. They bond so strongly that they can't be rehomed easily, so you need to be in it for the long-haul.

  • Yeast dermatitis or Malassezia dermatitis is an extremely common skin disease in dogs. Clinical signs include itchiness, redness, scaly or crusty skin, and foul odor. Diagnosis and underlying conditions are discussed. Treatment involves resolving the underlying disorder and using topical and/or oral medications to treat the yeast.

  • The beautiful, feisty Yorkie acts more like a tough terrier than a delicate toy breed. Despite the luxurious, shiny coat, the Yorkie has a working-class attitude, a fondness for chasing small animals, a big-dog bark, and super-sized self-confidence.

  • Zinc-responsive dermatosis in dogs is a skin condition that results from zinc deficiency in the body. The deficiency can be due to an inability to adequately absorb zinc from the diet (most commonly seen in arctic breeds), zinc binders in dietary supplements, excess calcium (juvenile large breeds) or less commonly, an inadequate amount of zinc in the diet. Clinical signs include crusts and scaling around the eyes, mouth, scrotum and muco-cutaneous junctions. The haircoat can also, be dry and dull. Lethargy, inappetence, and lymphadenopathy may also occur. Diagnosis includes a history and physical exam and a skin biopsy. Treatment may include zinc supplementation, dietary change and ensuring a dog isn’t receiving any supplements that will interfere with zinc absorption.