We all love plants to brighten up our homes and yards but could you be putting your pooch at risk with your flora and fauna? We’ve compiled a list of some of the common house and garden plants toxic to dogs. Do you have any?

What are cataracts?

While the cloudiness may be due to ageing (the fancy word for that is nuclear sclerosis), the cloudiness could also be due to cataracts. Unlike nuclear sclerosis, cataracts don’t allow any light to pass through the lens of the eye, causing blindness in dogs and cats.

The lens usually consists of perfectly arranged fibres. The alignment is so perfect, it allows the lens to remain clear enough for light from the outside to pass through. Cataracts occur when these fibres are disrupted either because of:

• Developmental issues (seen with congenital cataracts and dietary deficiencies)
  

• Inflammation due to trauma or infection
  

• Toxin exposure
  

• Age
  

• Systemic disease, like diabetes mellitus
  

Dogs and cats are curious creatures and will often stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. If you’ve got a pet who likes to dig, explore dark spaces or get in amongst the bush, chances are at some point they’ll meet an insect who takes a dislike to them and will react with a sting or bite. How will you know and what do you need to do?

You’re probably aware of the multitude of benefits of apple cider vinegar for humans.

The fact that it can help with weight loss, digestion, and bacterial infections being just a few.

However, it turns out that your pooch can also cash in on these benefits (and many more). Keep reading to discover how this natural remedy can improve your dog’s health.

If you're thinking about getting a kitten or young cat, the first thing you need to do is make sure you source your new pet from a reputable and well established breeder or responsible private seller. This will guarantee the kittens have been well bred and cared for. It also reduces the chances of them having any of those nasty infectious diseases that often prove fatal. Whether you choose to get a male or female cat, unless you intend on breeding from them, the next step is to organise for them to be spayed or neutered as soon as they are old enough.

Of all the types of cancers that strike companion animals, hemangiosarcoma is one of the sneakiest. Sadly, more often than not, a pet suddenly develops internal hemorrhaging and the disease is diagnosed as a result of the crisis. Hemangiosarcoma is a rapidly growing, highly invasive variety of cancer, occurring almost exclusively in dogs and rarely in cats and horses.