Guinea pigs come in all shapes and styles from short to long coated, with spots, stripes and solid colors. Their life span is approximately 6 years. They make a great pet for children if handled frequently and gently. They do not require vaccinations or routine worming and have minimal health problems if fed and cared for correctly. 

Rabbits are a very popular pet and are easy to look after. There are many different breeds of rabbits available. Small breeds such as the Dwarf or Dutch may look the right size for children to handle but are often rather feisty. Larger breeds including the New Zealand White and Flemish are naturally more docile; however, all can be tamed with regular gentle handling.

With curiosity and natural hunting instincts it is not uncommon for our pets to cross paths with a snake. Here in the northern suburbs we have the Plenty and Yarra Rivers and access to many dams and parks with water. This may be where snakes have hibernated during colder weather and will now become active in Summer months.

Incidence
Mast cell tumours (MCT) in dogs are very common, accounting for approximately 20% of all skin tumours in dogs. For most dogs, the underlying cause promoting the development of the tumour is not known.

The Newest Treatment for Canine ACL Rupture. Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the knee (stifle) is the most common Orthopaedic Injury in the dog.

The patella is the small ovoid shaped bone located at the front of the knee (stifle) joint. It is located within the tendon of the powerful quadriceps muscle and slides within a groove on the lower end of the femur, known as the femoral trochlea. Patella luxation occurs when the patella slips out of this groove.

Itchy skin is a common problem for many dogs. It can range from the occasional scratch through to severe, debilitating, generalized irritation and infection. Some dogs may have localized skin problems such as just the ears, paws or belly, while other animals may suffer from an all over itch.

The cruciate ligaments, the cranial and the caudal, of the stifle (knee) joint are cross shaped ligaments that connect the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). They are located within the stifle joint itself. The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is the most commonly injured cruciate ligament. Its role is to help maintain a normal relationship between the femur and the tibia in all angles of motion.

The pancreas is one of the organs associated with digestion, including digestion of fat and also glucose control. It is located next to the small intestines, stomach and the liver in the front part of the abdomen. It contains granules of inactivated potent digestive enzymes that are activated when released into the intestines allowing the breakdown of food particles.

Are you ready to uncover the breeds that make your dog truly one-of-a-kind? There is now testing available called “Wisdom Panel” that uses DNA analysis to offer breed detection.