Category — Pet Health Articles

Salmonellosis in Hamsters

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the Salmonella bacteria. Although rare in pet hamsters, salmonellosis can lead to complications such as spontaneous abortions (miscarriages), diarrhea, and septicemia. It is usually spread due to ingestion of food and water contaminated with infected feces or urine of wild rodents. Infected bedding material can also act as a potential source of transmission.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Although typically useful in fighting infections, the overuse of some antibiotics may prove harmful in hamsters. Such is the case with gram-positive spectrum antibiotics. When overused, lincomycin, clindamycin, ampicillin, vancomycin, erythromycin, penicillin, and cephalosporins can kill the bacteria that usually live in a hamster’s digestive tract, which allows the overgrowth of other bacteria. This eventually causes inflammation of the small intestines (or enteritis), resulting in diarrhea and death within 2 to 10 days.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Cuterebriasis in Ferrets

Cuterebriasis is a parasitic infection caused by the bot fly species Cuterebra. Also called myiasis, this type of infection affects mammals including ferrets. The female Cuterebra lays her eggs either in the grass (to be brushed by the fur of any outdoor animals walking by) or directly on the ferret. The warmth of the mammal’s body causes the eggs to hatch; the tiny maggots then burrow downward, headfirst, into the mammal’s skin, creating a hole.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Ectoparasitic Infestation in Rats

Fleas are ectoparasites – parasites that infest and feed on the outside of the body (e.g., skin and hair). These parasites are found in many pet animals. However, flea infestation in pet rats is very rare. Pet rats typically only acquire this condition when they come in contact with wild rodents. Though flea infestation is not a very serious condition and treatment is available to control it, if proper steps are not taken to prevent further spread or reinfestation of the fleas, this can become a recurring problem that leads to wastage of your time and money.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Pneumonia

Pneumonia and most other respiratory infections in reptiles are caused by bacteria. In some cases, however, viruses, fungal infections, or parasites may be to blame. Treatment varies depending on the microorganism involved, so take your pet to an experienced reptile veterinarian for diagnosis if it begins to exhibit signs of a respiratory infection.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Avian Proventricular Dilatation Disease

Digestive disorders in birds are due to various reasons, including infection, low immunity and injury. One such digestive disorder in birds is the macaw wasting disease, or proventricular dilatation disease, which is due to a viral infection and can be fatal.

Despite its name, any pet bird can be infected with this disorder. Other birds who are susceptible to macaw wasting disease are cockatoos, conures, and African, Asian and Eclectus parrots.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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There are many different types and causes of diarrhea in ferrets. Relatively common among animals, it can cause loose stool, stomach pains and other gastrointestinal problems in ferrets. Diarrhea can also be a secondary symptom to another (sometimes more serious) condition.

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• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

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Anorexia / Pseudoanorexia

Anorexia is a loss of appetite. Pseudoanorexia, on the other hand, refers to animals that still have an appetite, but are unable to eat because they cannot chew or swallow food. Among this type of anorexia, dental disease is one of the most common causes in rabbits.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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The herpes virus, much like in humans, affects horses. There are five known subtypes in horses, but Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 are the two severest forms of the virus. EHV-3 is another type of major herpes virus, although it is normally associated with coital exanthema, a venereal disease that can be transmitted to horses.

The different classifications of equine herpes virus affect different systems; one affects the reproductive and neurological systems, whereas another causes respiratory issues. The virus type will also determine the symptoms the horse displays.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
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• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Feather Cysts

Feather cysts are a common skin and feather condition in pet birds. It occurs when a new feather fails to come out and instead curls up under the skin, within the feather follicle. As the feather grows, the lump — caused by the ingrown feather — also continues to grow until the feather cyst becomes an oval or long swelling. At times, it can involve one or more feather follicles at a time.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis

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