Health Archives - Andys Veterinary Hospital

Cats living in high rise apartments

Cats are quite inquisitive in nature and like exploring the areas around them. They have been known to be distracted by birds flying by their windows or balconies and they leap in anticipation of a good hunt. Sometimes this comes with a price of them accidentally falling, especially if they are living in high rise buildings. When cats fall from high rise buildings, they tend to land with their legs spread out causing severe injuries. Some get away with minor [...]

Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Introduction The recent novel coronavirus disease has placed the world in mortal terror and consternation. There has been a few cases that have been reported in Kenya causing public fear and anxiety. Doubt is fuel for fear and this can be more harmful than the actual COVID-19. This article will give you a general overview of COVID-19 so that you are armed and avoid being a victim of public misinformation. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease that is [...]

Diabetes in Dogs

Overview November is a pet diabetes month, which provides an opportunity to understand the manifestation of diabetes in dogs. Diabetes is generally a disorder of carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency. Diabetes is among the common endocrine diseases in middle-aged and senior dogs. At least 70% of the patients older than 7 years may manifest the symptoms by the time of diagnosis. The prevalence is between 1:400 and 1:500 with female dogs being predominantly affected. [...]

Tick borne infections and control

Ticks are ecto parasites that are fairly common in dogs. The severity of tick infestation depends in the region that the dog lives in and how often is the use of tick control medication. In a study done by Tsai-jung and et al found out that 63.7 % of dogs had history of tick infestation. Dogs that never had tick control were more likely to be infested by ticks. Dogs that were treated for tick control, those living indoors [...]

Recommendations for new cat owners

Cats are fun, playful, loving, independent, smart, curious and entertaining. They are easy to maintain especially when you learn the basics such as feeding, grooming, general health, safety tips and litter management. However, cats are not as easy to train as dogs and require patience to have them fully domesticated. Building kittens confidence Many kittens tend to be shy and reserved and may hide under furniture until they are sure they can trust you. They can cover up sickness leading to [...]

FAQs at The Andys Veterinary Hospital.

When do dogs and cats get their first vaccination? Puppies and kittens get their first vaccinations at 6 weeks of age. This will follow with a series of vaccinations until they are 4 months of age. Thereafter, they are given annual boosters for the rest of their lives. When do they get their first rabies vaccination? We recommend rabies vaccination at 3 months of age and a booster shot one month after the primary rabies vaccination. My pet keeps shading a lot, what [...]

Bladder stones in dogs and cats

These are stones which vary in size from being microscopic sandy particles to large visible stones lodged somewhere along the urinary system in dogs and cats. These stones are formed as a result of minerals in urine that are clumped up together to form stones, also known as urinary calculi or bladder stones. The common cause for formation of these stones is contributed by the pH of the urine, which can be influenced by bacterial infection, diet and some [...]

Recommended guidelines for vaccinations in Dogs and Cats.

One of the frequently asked question at our veterinary hospital is the one related to vaccinations. Many pet owners know that their pet’s need vaccinations, deworming and parasite control, however, the time of administering these preventative exercises becomes a bit hazy and they depend upon professional health care givers to provide correct guidelines. It is important to note that kittens and puppies can be infected with worms while still in the uterus or during nursing. Adult dogs get infected through [...]

Pica in Dogs

Stones from an xray in a puppy at The Andys Veterinary Hospital Dogs especially puppies love to chew lots of inedible things like shoes, rocks, just to mention a few, can bring deleterious health complications that might need urgent medical attention. This condition where dogs eat inedible items is called pica. It is common with puppies and to some extent, some breeds like the Labrador and dachshunds. Labrador are genetically inclined to be always hungry and would eat almost anything, and [...]

Hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s disease in Dogs.

A patient with Hyperadrenocortism at The Andys Veterinary Hospital. This disease, also known as Cushing syndrome, is the most common endocrine disease in dogs and it is due to excess cortisol in the body. This excess cortisol can be derived from dogs own body or it can be as a result of treatment from corticosteroid medications. Dogs with excess production of cortisol, 85% of them have pituitary gland tumors and the 15% have adrenal gland tumors. In addition, it has [...]