Small Animal Articles 

Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs and cats, particularly when the animal is over age 10. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 50 percent of senior dogs and 33 percent of senior cats die of some type of cancer. No matter what the age of...

October is National Pet Wellness Month. This purpose of this awareness campaign is to help pet owners understand the importance of preventive care. Visiting Bristol Veterinary Service once a year when your pet is not sick or injured gives our veterinarians the...

October is National Pet Wellness Month. This purpose of this awareness campaign is to help pet owners understand the importance of preventive care. Visiting Bristol Veterinary Service once a year when your pet is not sick or injured gives our veterinarians the...

Although your cat probably thinks it should be every month, September is officially Happy Cat Month. The love and care you provide your cat makes a big difference in his longevity and overall well-being. Cats are wonderful companions who really ask for so little in...

It's August, which means that National Immunization Month is here. Just like people, animals need vaccines to protect them from the devastating effects of several contagious diseases. Keeping up with your pet's regularly scheduled vaccines is one of the most important...

It only takes a few seconds for your pet to be lost forever, like when you're busy with other things and she slips out the front door to take off after a squirrel. The experience is so common that the American Humane Society estimates one in three pets will get lost...

To help foster a more respectful attitude towards animals and encourage people to honor their responsibilities towards them, In Defense of Animals (IDA) has declared May to be Responsible Animal Guardian Month. Having a respectful attitude towards our pets starts with...

A laceration is a wound involving the skin and potentially the structures underneath it. Some lacerations can be very serious and should be addressed by a veterinarian right away. Some lacerations require stitches while others are treated as an open wound and allowed...

Any eye that is squinting, swollen, red, cloudy, gooey, teary, and/or just “looks weird” should receive veterinary treatment immediately. Eye problems that are simple and “not a big deal” and problems that are serious and vision threatening can present themselves in a...

A horse that is having difficulties breathing is an emergency. Horses can only breathe through their nostrils; they cannot breathe through their mouth. A horse that is pre-occupied with breathing should be seen by a veterinarian. There are many causes for a high...

Neurologic problems encompass a large variety of presentations that can involve the brain, spinal cord, and/or peripheral nerves. Below are a few examples of neurologic difficulties. -Difficulty with balance -Dragging a toe -Having a “weird” gait -Leaning on a wall or...

Any horse that is recumbent and cannot rise unassisted is an emergency. If it is safe, the horse can be repositioned to assist with rising. Horses can go down for many reasons, some of which are very serious. A few examples of these potentially serious causes include...

In horses, choke is the word used to describe when food gets lodged in the esophagus. The windpipe, or trachea, is not blocked; these horses can still breathe. Many times, these horses will continue to try eating and/or drinking. A horse with choke can show signs of...

Lameness is a word used to describe a limping horse. Keep in mind that most lameness problems do not need to be seen on an emergency basis. Limping can be mild to the point that it is barely detectable to severe and/or non-weight bearing. Horses that have a severe...

A normal, temperature for an adult horse is 98.0 — 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. High-grade fevers and low-grade fevers are managed differently. A temperature over 105 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a high grade fever and needs immediate medical attention. A low grade...

There is a lot to take into consideration with a mare in labor. With all of the below mentioned considerations, please remember to keep yourself safe as a mare in labor or a mare with a new foal can be aggressive. It is also important to monitor your mare from a safe...

Colic is a word used to describe abdominal pain. There are many different causes of colic and the types of colic behaviors can range from mild to severe. Any horse with colic should be seen by a veterinarian right away. A few examples of colic behaviors include the...