#vetadvice
Day 6 of my cat Home Vet Check Series: the 2-second gum check. Gum colour + how fast they refill after a light press tells you about circulation, oxygen, liver function and whether your cat is going into shock. Learn their normal pink while they're well so you can spot an emergency in seconds. #vetexplains #cathealth #catemergency #seniorcat #vetadvice
Alex the vet200,700 Aufrufe • vor 8 Tagen
Every dog like this exists because someone paid a lot of money for the last one. That's the whole engine. This video isn’t an attack on the owner in the video, many people don’t understand the full extent of the issues these dogs get. It is to use this as an example to raise awareness of the larger problem with breeding dogs like this. Nano bullies, teacup Frenchies, "exotic" bulldogs, breeders take an already-troubled brachycephalic breed and dial the extremes up further: shorter legs, wider faces, bigger heads, more wrinkles. A look that sells for thousands. The cost of that look is the dog: breathing that never gets comfortable, spines that buckle, joints that can't carry the body, skin folds that infect and reinfect. And here, cropped ears, a cosmetic mutilation that's illegal in the UK for good reason. The market rewards the damage. The more broken the dog, the higher the price. This gets solved on the buying side: every one that finds a buyer tells the breeder to make more. If you want a bulldog-shaped dog, please look at rescues. #vetexplains #dogwelfare #extremebreeding #adoptdontshop #vetadvice
Alex the vet1,400,000 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
MMM (masticatory muscle myositis) in dogs: the immune system attacks the chewing muscles either side of the head. Early signs are subtle, facial swelling, jaw pain, drooling, reluctance to chew, before the skull-like sunken look. One blood test diagnoses it and it's treatable. German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans and Goldens are over-represented. #vetexplains #dogwelfare #MMM #doghealth #vetadvice
Alex the vet43,600 Aufrufe • vor 3 Tagen
Watching a dog dream is one of the sweetest things in pet ownership. The twitching, paddling, muffled little half-barks. And the science is lovelier than most owners realise. Dogs enter REM sleep in cycles throughout the night, same as we do. The brain fires almost identically to the human dreaming pattern, and the body goes into partial muscle atonia so they don't act the whole dream out. The twitches are the signal leaking through anyway. Studies on sleeping rats found they replayed the exact mazes they'd learnt that day, so dogs are likely replaying their day too: walks, meals, play, the people and dogs they met, maybe you. Puppies and senior dogs dream most. One safety note: a dreaming dog is loose, paddling softly, and can be gently woken. A seizing dog is stiff, may lose bladder control, and can't be roused. If anything looks off, assume seizure and see a vet. Otherwise, leave them to it. Whatever they're dreaming about, let it be their best day. #vetexplains #dogbehaviour #dogsleep #dogfacts #vetadvice
Alex the vet79,900 Aufrufe • vor 27 Tagen
This puppy's health problems aren't bad luck. They were preventable, by not being bought in the first place. She came into the world with breathing problems because her airways are too crowded for her head to work properly. She has skin folds that already need daily cleaning to stop them infecting, and a cherry eye. None of this is unusual for her breed. It's the predictable, documented cost of selecting generation after generation for that specific face: a 4.5-year median lifespan, over 80% caesarean rate, BOAS in roughly half the breed, chronic skin and eye issues as the baseline. The owner isn't a villain, she loves the puppy. But breeders only exist as long as there are buyers. If you want a Frenchie-shaped dog, please look at rescue first. If you must buy, insist on seeing both parents, independent health testing, and a vet-verified health history. Share this with the person in your life who's thinking about getting a Frenchie. #vetexplains #dogwelfare #frenchbulldog #adoptdontshop #vetadvice
Alex the vet53,000 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
Let’s talk about something that really shouldn’t exist - debarking, or devocalisation. This is a surgical procedure where part of a dog’s vocal cords are removed to reduce their ability to bark. But it doesn’t solve the reason behind the barking - it just takes away their ability to express it. As a UK vet, I can say this has no place in modern practice except in rare circumstances where there is a medical reason to do it. Barking is a natural and essential part of canine communication. Dogs bark because they’re anxious, excited, scared, or trying to get attention. Taking that away doesn’t make them calm - it makes them confused, frustrated, and often more distressed. From an animal welfare perspective, debarking causes unnecessary pain, scar tissue, and lifelong breathing or vocal problems. It doesn’t improve behaviour - it just hides it. That’s why it’s banned here in the UK and in many other countries. There are, however, extremely limited situations where a devocalisation procedure may be considered - and only for medical reasons, not behavioural ones. For example, if a dog has severe, chronic laryngeal paralysis or throat scarring that causes airway obstruction and other treatment options have failed, a partial vocal cord resection might be done to help them breathe more comfortably. These are rare cases, always done with full welfare considerations and under veterinary ethical review. For behavioural reasons, though, there are much kinder and more effective options - like working with your vet or a qualified behaviourist to understand why your dog is barking. Training, enrichment, and proper support will always be better than silence. Every bark is communication - and every voice deserves to be heard. #vetadvice #animalwelfare #veteducation #vetreacts #doghealth
Alex the vet380,000 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
If you ever see your cat panting, it’s usually a red flag. Dogs pant all the time, but cats generally don’t. So open-mouth breathing with the tongue out usually means something is straining their respiratory system and has pushed them beyond their normal comfort zone. Sometimes there’s a simple explanation. Cats can pant briefly after really intense play, during a stressful car journey, or if they’ve become overheated. In those situations it should stop fairly quickly once they settle. But panting can also be a sign of something more serious - especially heart disease or respiratory problems. It’s actually one of the signs we sometimes see in cats with underlying heart conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If it lasts more than a minute or two, keeps happening, or you notice other signs like lethargy, pale gums, or breathing effort, it’s something I’d get checked by a vet. Dogs pant. Cats usually don’t - so when they do, it’s worth paying attention. #cathealth #catpanting #vetadvice #pethealth #veterinarian
Alex the vet67,300 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten
If your dog suddenly seems painful when opening their mouth, struggles to eat, or you notice swelling on the top of their head or around their jaw, it might be more than just a sore tooth. One possible cause is Masticatory Muscle Myositis (MMM). MMM is an autoimmune condition where a dog’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the muscles used for chewing. This causes inflammation, pain, and swelling in the jaw muscles. In the early stages, dogs may act tired, drop food, avoid chewing, or cry when their mouth is touched. If it goes untreated for too long, those muscles can start to shrink and tighten, making it hard or even impossible for a dog to open their mouth properly. That’s why catching it early is so important. The good news? With the right diagnosis and treatment (usually medications that calm the immune system), many dogs improve a lot and can go back to eating, playing, and living comfortably. If your dog ever seems painful when eating or opening their mouth, it’s always worth getting it checked. They’re not being picky - they might be hurting. #mmmdog #doghealthtips #vetadvice #masticatorymusclemyositis #veterinaryeducation
Alex the vet66,700 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
I get asked this a lot, usually after someone comes home to find their dog looking confused or unsteady, maybe with a bit of urine or mess around them. If that’s ever happened, it could’ve been a seizure. Dogs often lose control of their body completely - they might collapse, paddle, drool, or lose bladder control - and then go into a recovery phase where they seem disoriented or wobbly for a while. It’s scary to see, but it’s rarely painful. The best thing you can do is keep them safe, quiet, and call your vet once they’ve recovered. It’s important to try and diagnose the cause of seizures but with the right management, most dogs live completely normal, happy lives #VetAdvice #PetEmergency #seizuresindogs #dogepilepsy
Alex the vet56,400 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
The Munchkin cat’s short legs aren’t just a quirky feature; they’re the result of a genetic mutation that affects bone growth. It’s the same kind of mutation that causes dwarfism. While it gives them their distinctive shape, it can also cause mobility issues, joint pain, spinal problems, and arthritis later in life. As a vet, I see a lot of people who genuinely love these cats and have no idea about the potential welfare implications. It’s not about blaming owners — most are drawn in by how sweet they look. The issue is that this trait has been selectively bred and normalised, even though it compromises the cat’s physical health and comfort. The Munchkin cat isn’t banned everywhere, but it’s considered an unethical breed in several countries, including parts of Europe, due to animal welfare concerns. Personally, I think we should be breeding for health and function, not fashion. Cute should never come at the cost of comfort. #vetadvice #animalwelfare #munchkincat #cathealth #cattok
Alex the vet46,500 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
🐾 Think your dog’s bumps are ant bites? Think again! Dr. Lera breaks down why those little red spots on your pup are rarely from ants and more likely related to allergies. 🌿🐕 Whether it’s seasonal triggers or potential food sensitivities, it’s important to pay attention to the patterns! 👉 Got questions about your pet’s health? Ask Dr. Lera’s Clone for expert advice 24/7! Link in our bio! #Allergied #DogAllergies #VetAdvice #DrLera #HeronLakesVet
Dr. Lera58,400 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr