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The most common intestinal parasites in cats are typically called worms by the cats’ owners.

Antihistamines for dogs are mainly used as an adjuvant to corticosteroids in the continuous treatment of allergies or to control gastric acid secretion in the case of stomach ulcers.

Doxycycline for dogs is used to treat multiple infections caused by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is considered a broad-spectrum and long-acting antibiotic, so it can be given once a day without any interactions with food.

Metronidazole is an antibiotic derived from 5-nitroimidazole and used in both veterinary and human medicine to combat anaerobic bacteria and protozoa.

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in dogs, affecting approximately 2.5% of the canine population. It is usually a life-long disease that courses with repeat episodes of convulsions or seizures, although it does remit, either spontaneously or through treatment, in 15% of cases.

Canine coronavirus is a virus that can infect any dog, but puppies are the most susceptible population.

Pyometra in dogs is the most common uterine condition in sexually mature females.

Vaccination is the best prevention against the main infectious diseases. Vaccinations can be classified as mandatory or optional, although it varies between regions and countries. The dog must be in good health and have a mature immune system.

Canine mast cell tumours are a relatively common problem that require an early diagnosis and aggressive surgery. We analyse the use of histological grading to predict postoperative evolution and behaviour.

Analgesia is literally an absence of pain. In veterinary medicine, however, the aim is to relieve pain. And in clinical practice we classify pain as either acute or chronic.

Canine infectious tracheobronchitis (CITB), more commonly known as kennel cough, is a multifactorial disease caused by various microorganisms (Bordetella bronchiseptica, distemper virus, CAV-1, CAV-2, and canine parainfluenza virus).

Kidney failure in dogs consists of a reduction in the amount of kidney tissue that functions correctly. This post shows how nutrition can improve kidney function and help control kidney failure in dogs.

In 2015, the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force published their consensus report (1) on the importance of owners identifying epileptic seizures in dogs. They even prepared a questionnaire to help identify seizures.

Feline hepatic lipidosis involves the excessive accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes. This leads to cell injury and liver dysfunction. It mainly occurs in obese cats following the onset of prolonged anorexia triggered by stress.

Gingivitis in cats is inflammation of the oral, oropharyngeal and lingual mucosae. It is one of the most common periodontal diseases in cats. It affects cats of all breeds and ages, although there is a higher frequency among Somali, Abyssinian and Siamese breeds.

Osteochondrosis is an idiopathic disorder affecting joint development. It results in abnormal ossification and affects dogs that presented normal growth up until that point. This post describes the latest scientific publications of interest on osteochondrosis, we shall review four of them in particular.

Kittens are born with an immature immune system. This increases their risk of developing an infection, which can be more severe during kittenhood. A specific diet is one means of developing and strengthening the immune system of kittens. If they are suckling, the special diet should be given to the mother and the benefits will pass through her milk to the kittens.

Feline herpesvirus (FHV) can affect cats of all ages. It manifests in two clinical forms, respiratory or ocular, depending on where the virus replicates.

Canine distemper is caused by a Morbillivirus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. The virus uses lymphoid tissue as a medium for its replication. Infected animals suffer severe immunosuppression. This post summarises the latest publications of interest into canine distemper. We hope it will be useful.

Phantom pregnancy in dogs, also known as pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy, is when they display the clinical signs of a real pregnancy (they may even lactate) without the female actually being pregnant.

It is very important to show animal owners how to train a puppy correctly in order to prevent animal abandonment. This is particularly relevant in the case of animal adopters, as a major key to successful adoption lies in successful cohabitation.

Pharmacological treatment and an appropriate diet can allow dogs with leishmaniasis to live asymptomatically for a long time.

The word synovial derives from the Greek word syn (with) and the Latin for egg, ovum, essentially because synovial fluid looks similar to egg white; its viscous, gelatinous nature provides lubrication for cartilage and bones.

We review the latest scientific articles published into the use of doxycycline in cats and dogs.

Otitis in dogs is a common disease consisting of epithelial inflammation of the pinna and external auditory canal. Up to 20% of dogs suffer otitis at sometime. Dogs with otitis require supportive treatments, which may involve diets and special shampoos.

Immunoglobulins, or antibodies, are proteins that make up part of the adaptive immune system and can be found in a soluble form in the blood or other body fluids of vertebrates.

Gastrointestinal diseases, both acute and chronic, are among the most frequently encountered in clinical practice. Gastroenteritis in dogs is one of the most frequent causes of veterinary consultation. Given the nonspecific clinical signs ranging from diarrhoea and vomiting to abdominal discomfort, the differential diagnosis is not always straightforward.

Canine leptospirosis is transmitted through the urine, but it can also cross the placenta, be spread by bites, contact with rats or by eating contaminated meat. The microorganism initially infects the mucous membranes or skin wounds and then passes into the bloodstream (leptospiraemia, after 4–12 days). Then it invades the renal epithelium and hepatic parenchyma. It may also damage the central nervous system, placenta and uvula.

Feline viral upper respiratory disease, better known as feline viral rhinotracheitis, is almost always caused by herpesvirus and/or feline calicivirus. The disease is spread by direct contact between cats.

Osteoarthritis is a very common condition in dogs, particularly in older dogs. It is characterised by synovitis, increased joint fluid, cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation.

In dogs, doxycycline is used to treat multiple infections caused by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is considered a broad-spectrum and long-acting antibiotic, so it can be given once a day without any interactions with food.

When faced with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), identifying the cause is essential in order to establish the best treatment.

Feline panleukopaenia is a disease produced by a highly environmentally resistant feline parvovirus. It is a DNA virus, with a special affinity for infecting rapidly dividing cells such as the intestinal epithelium, bone marrow or lymphoid tissues. Feline panleukopaenia virus is very contagious, partly because of its strong environmental resistance; it can survive outside a host for up to 1 year.

If your dog has an opaque, whitish lens and its movements seem clumsy, it is important to take it for an eye test to detect any cataracts. Cataracts in dogs are usually hereditary and affect older individuals.

Toxoplasmosis in cats is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is a coccidian, obligate intracellular parasite. Although it can infect many animals, including humans, the parasite’s most distinctive feature is that cats are its only definitive host, as they are the only animal that release T. gondii oocysts into the environment.

The incidence of Q fever is underestimated, as it is not a notifiable disease in Spain. Q fever is an infectious, zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Coxiella burnetii is a non-encapsulated, immobile and highly pleomorphic (from round to bacillary) obligate intracellular bacterium.

Polyuria–polydipsia syndrome occurs in association with various diseases in dogs and cats. It involves increased thirst, with the consequent increase in fluid intake and excretion (polyuria). Dogs with polydipsia must be examined by a veterinary surgeon to exclude any potentially serious causes.

Canine parvovirus has a special tropism for cells with rapid division cycles. Necrosis of intestinal cells can result in gastroenteritis, but it can also attack bone marrow cells.

Hip dysplasia is when the hip joint has fully developed but in an abnormal manner.