Library

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.

We are increasingly aware of how important balanced diets are for our health. We are what we eat! The same applies to our pets.

The abandonment of cats and unrestricted reproduction among free-living populations are still two of the main problems affecting their overall welfare. There are a lot of cats available for adoption. This post evaluates the latest data on cat abandonment, what happens to them when they are collected by shelters, and how many benefits from adoption.

This post provides an update on the latest developments in hypothyroidism in dogs. We will analyse four recent abstracts available on the Vets Affinity page, plus a few more about other pathologies. 

Given the difficulties of managing diarrhoea in dogs, Affinity Petcare conducted a clinical study to assess the efficacy and performance of diet in the control of chronic inflammatory enteropathies in dogs.  The study consisted of administering a hypoallergenic diet or a highly digestible diet supplemented with bioactive plasma proteins and assessing its effect on dogs with chronic enteropathies.

Pet abandonment affects animals of all ages, whether adults, seniors or puppies. Puppies constitute a more vulnerable population as they are still growing. However, puppies available for adoption are more appealing to some families. In this post we will review the data relating to puppies available for adoption last year.

This post provides an update on the latest developments in epilepsy in dogs. We will review some recent abstracts and discuss the therapeutic approach.

Cats are carnivorous hunters who take their time when selecting their prey. They appreciate the variety of flavours and eat small quantities about 15–20 times a day. Food for young cats is particularly important, as their bodies are rapidly developing and deficiencies at this time may have consequences in the future.

Increasingly more products specifically for dogs have been launched in recent years, with new formulations that improve the patients’ treatment adherence. As these supplements are incorporated in their food, dogs do not notice them and the overall diet is more appealing.

Castrated dogs, like castrated cats, have reduced energy needs compared to intact dogs and a different eating behaviour. This can cause a tendency to gain weight if their diet is not controlled. A good strategy to prevent obesity in these animals is to use food for castrated dogs.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis in cats is a chronic and/or recurrent skin disorder. Here we look at its aetiology, the tests necessary for its differential diagnosis and its treatment.

One of the most common skin diseases in dogs (10–15%) is canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). It is an allergic inflammation of the skin with a genetic component. An anti-inflammatory diet that reduces inflammation may help manage the signs of the disease by protecting the skin barrier.

Canine coronavirus can infect all dogs, but puppies are the most susceptible population because their immune and digestive systems are both still immature. Canine coronavirus causes an acute, self-limiting infection that does not become chronic. The virus is eliminated in the faeces and the route of infection is therefore faecal–oral contact.

Lots of people agree that owning a pet can significantly improve one’s physical, mental and emotional health. Without having to look too far, we recently published an article in this blog, based on scientific studies conducted by the Affinity Foundation group Animales y Salud (Animals and Health), about all the benefits that dogs can offer their owners, ranging from being less prone to illnesses, to having a fuller and happier life. 

Chronic infection with feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) can have fatal consequences in cats. Given its importance, here we provide an update of some recently published considerations that may prove interesting. 

Oxalate and struvite crystals are one of the main causes of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Although the leading cause is feline idiopathic cystitis, urinary crystals occupy second place and are responsible for 25% of cases. An early diagnosis by means of a urinalysis is important to institute the most suitable treatment as soon as possible and therefore reduce the recurrence rate.

Struvite stones are one of the most frequent causes of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) In this post we explain why struvite stones tend to clump together and crystallise, what we can do to prevent them from forming and the influence of the drinking water’s degree of mineralisation. In the next post we will provide more details about everything associated with the analysis of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.

We want to raise societal awareness of the continuing problem of abandoned pets. Fortunately, strategies are in place to try to reduce this ominous number, notably increased castration and the adoption of abandoned animals from shelters.

The composition of the dog’s diet is very important when treating gastroenteritis. Enterocytes become atrophied in the intestine and have less capacity for water retention and nutrient absorption, so foods for dogs with diarrhoea must be easy to digest.

Lots of your clients are probably not too keen on the idea of travelling with dogs in the car if it means adapting the vehicle or keeping the animal confined for several hours. But what if we show owners that travelling with dogs in the car is not so complicated? Let’s give it a try.

The administration of medicines and supplements always poses a problem at the moment of truth. Owners test their imagination by inventing ingenious types of “creative cooking” to hide tablets and capsules in food. Tablets inside a piece of cheese, antibiotics hidden in a sausage, mixing powdered medicines in food, among others. Yet it can prove fruitless when the tablet is discovered intact after the food has been eaten.

Hypoallergenic dog foods are used as an exclusion diet to help diagnose and manage adverse food reactions such as allergies, intolerances and so on.

Owners face a lot of doubts and difficulties when it comes to treating obesity. Concern that their dog will feel hungry, a lack of awareness regarding obesity and the ineffectiveness of some commercial light foods often cause owners to give up all too easily. Does this challenge go beyond the consultation room?

Puppies are born with only 5% of the immunoglobulins they need, but this level rises to 95% thanks to their mother’s colostrum. However, immunoglobulins can only pass through the puppy’s intestinal wall during the first 24 hours postpartum. The immunity bestowed by the colostrum antibodies protects puppies for 1–2 months. During this period, the levels of maternal antibodies in the puppy’s blood gradually decline, so they must start producing their own.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes a functional and structural alteration of the epithelial cells that collectively form the protective barrier in a cat’s immune system. Bacteria, viruses and even some foods act as pathogens by stimulating a strong immune response and fuelling inflammation.

Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection that affects the cat’s skin. Popularly known as ringworm, it is caused by Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton spp., althougyh Microsporum canis is the main causal agent of ringworm infections in cats.

Weight gain and an excessive accumulation of fat result in serious associated diseases in cats. Beyond the observable mechanical and cutaneous clinical signs, recent evidence suggests that an increase in oxidative stress due to the accumulation of adipocytes creates a proinflammatory state in obese cats called metabolic syndrome.

Gastrointestinal disorders in cats are mainly caused by chronic enteropathies, above all inflammatory bowel disease. What are the other causes? What effect does hypocobalaminaemia have?

Parenteral or enteral nutrition is commonly used to meet the needs of perioperative or seriously ill patients. In this post we discuss hospital situations involving malnutrition and the administration parameters and circumstances necessary for enteral and parenteral feeding.

Travelling with a pet brings a lot more pleasure than drawbacks. Sharing one of the best times of the year with your dog also strengthens your bond with the animal, while creating lots of treasured moments. Here we have composed a list of 10 handy tips for unforgettable holidays with dogs.

Owners first need to be made aware of their pet’s body condition. A poster in the consulting room with illustrations and a scale from 1 to 5 will help you show the owner where their pet is located on the scale, so they will accept that their animal is overweight. Another good tip is placing the body condition poster in a visible place in the waiting room, preferably near the scales, to increase owners’ awareness of the need to control the excess weight of their dogs and cats.

Sterilisation causes certain metabolic changes in cats. We explain the key points in preventing obesity, including appropriate food for sterilised cats.

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease or arthritis, is a very painful, chronic and degenerative inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints and eventually leads to a loss of mobility. It is very common in older dogs and there is still no definitive cure.

The Affinity Foundation has recently conducted studies into the special link that develops between dogs and babies – and they have shed light on some quite revealing data. Over 500 children aged 9–13 years were asked about their relationship with pets, feelings, responsibility and respect. Discover what they had to say!

Leishmaniasis is considered endemic throughout the Mediterranean region and dogs are the main reservoir of the disease.