All Care Guides

Streptococcus equi equi Infection (Strangles) and Vaccination in Horses

Infection with Streptococcus equi equi, also commonly known asstrangles, is a very contagious infection that can spread quickly among horses. It can affect one or two horses on a farm, or many horses can be affected in large outbreaks. While any horse can develop strangles, young horses (younger than 5 years) are more often affected. This infection is usually spread through contact with an infected horse through nasal discharge (such as nose-to-nose contact with a horse with a runny nose) or sharing equipment (such as buckets and automatic waterers) or through contact with people handling an infected horse. The bacterium Streptococcus equi equi infects horses’ lymph nodes, especially under the jaw and around the throat. Horses that routinely have contact with unfamiliar horses (such as at shows or other events) or that are boarded with horses that travel are more likely to develop this contagious infection.

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Submissive Urination in Dogs

Dogs may urinate inappropriately in response to a perceived threat, which may be intentional (for example, when an owner scolds the dog) or unintentional (for example, when an owner displays a dominant behavior, such as looking directly into the dog’s eyes). Submissive urination is the dog’s way of communicating that he or she is not a threat and is submitting to the person’s dominance.

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Summer Hazards and Your Dog

Dogs that spend most of their summer days inside are protected from many warm weather hazards, but only if the temperature inside the home remains within a healthy range. In an effort to reduce energy usage and costs, some pet owners shut off fans and air conditioning when they leave the house in the morning and turn them on when they return later in the day. However, when temperatures outside reach dangerous levels, temperatures inside the house can, too. Being shut inside a hot house can be deadly for your dog. Dogs can’t sweat; they rely heavily on panting to cool themselves off. When the temperature in the environment increases, panting becomes less effective. This means that your dog could be locked inside with minimal options for cooling down. Read More

Tail Docking

Tail docking, also known by the term caudectomy, is the surgical removal of a portion of the tail.

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Tapeworms

Tapeworms are long, flat, parasitic worms that live in the intestines of dogs and cats. Several species of tapeworms can infect pets. Most have a head that attaches to the intestinal wall and a series of segments, called proglottids, that make up the worm’s body. An adult tapeworm can reach 6 inches or more in length and has the appearance of a white piece of tape or ribbon.

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