Hypothyroidism in dogs is a disorder where the thyroid gland in the neck doesn’t secrete enough thyroxine, a hormone that controls metabolism. This means that a dog’s body is no longer able to convert food into fuel at an appropriate rate.
Age, breed, lifestyle, and exposure to certain substances can all influence the onset of hypothyroidism in canines. Symptoms can range from lethargy and weight gain to seizures and heart problems.
Black dogs have a difficult time at the shelter than most people realize. It is especially true of larger dogs. Although there is not a lot of research that proves it is true, most shelter workers will tell you that big black dog syndrome (BDS) does exist and the reasons why are beyond sad.
Shelter workers will likely tell you that black dogs, as well as black cats, will not get adopted from the shelter as readily as other dogs and they are more likely to be euthanized. There are some studies that show the opposite is true but since there is not any data pointing toward the scientific facts, I would be likely to trust the people who actually see it for themselves, the workers at the shelters.
If your cat’s tail is hanging down, it might sign that it’s broken or injured. Find out how long a broken tail takes to heal and what’s involved with treating it.
Is your kitty’s tail drooping down? If so, your cat may have a broken tail or another type of tail injury.
A cat’s tail is usually erect and moving. It can clue you into your cat’s mood, like when she's irritated and it angrily swooshes back or forth. It also helps your cat with balance.
So when your cat’s tail is pointing down, it’s a red flag that something serious is going on. Read on to learn more about cat tail injuries, their treatment, and how long they take to heal.
A very good dog got one last special treat from his favorite human.
Charlie, a beloved golden retriever, was the first dog Sallie Gregory-Hammett of Greenville, South Carolina, ever had on her own. Gregory-Hammett, 30, got Charlie when she was 23, single and had just moved to a new city.
“I know it’s cliché but he was my best friend,” Gregory-Hammett wrote to HuffPost. “He went with me everywhere —work, hiking, trips to Home Depot. He was just a constant source of comfort and companionship and joy. Everyone that knew me knew Charlie and knew how much I loved him.”
Benadryl an antihistamine medicine that cats might take primarily to treat a range of allergies and motion sickness. It’s actually a brand name for the generic drug diphenhydramine.
The medication works by calming the symptoms that are caused by histamine. It comes in tablet or syrup form, and you can purchase it over-the-counter without a prescription from a veterinarian.
We sometimes hear about “strange bedfellows” and there may be times when this occurs between different animals. The following story will convince you of the possibilities that exist in nature. It is about the bond that was formed between an American black bear, a Bengal tiger, and an African lion.
Bored Panda reported that Baloo the bear, Leo the lion, and Shere Khan have been living happily together at Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Georgia for almost 16 years. The trio of unlikely friends is usually known as BLT. They were rescued from the same basement of a house in Atlanta during a drug raid in 2001.
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group works with the Arizona government to ensure the maintenance of freedom for each horse in the herd.
PHOENIX — Wild horses on the banks of Salt River are a sight that visitors and Arizonans alike love to see when they go to the area on float trips or just looking for a good photo opportunity.
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group with the oversight from the Arizona Department of Agriculture takes care of the population and makes sure that each horse lives a humane life while maintaining their freedom.
When dog lovers Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Kroy Biermann’s son got seriously injured by one of their beloved rescue pups, they thought long and hard about whether or not they should keep him in the family.
Kim Zolciak-Biermann is known for her role on the reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, while Kroy Biermann is an outside linebacker in the NFL. Now, the couple and their family star in their reality series, Don’t Be Tardy. But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour on one fateful day in April, when their rescue Husky-Boxer mix, Sinatra (“Sinn”), bit their 5-year-old son Kash in the face.
Big dogs are impressive, especially when they’re so large they get mistaken for other animals. Take Thunder for example, a 7ft tall Great Dane who regularly gets mistaken for a horse whenever his owner takes him out for a walk. This big boy easily could pass for a pony since he tips the scale at more than 210 pounds. However, in typical big dog fashion, he thinks he’s a lapdog and often tries to cuddle on his owner’s lap.
35-year-old Jenny Saccoccia and her husband, 37-year-old home developer Chris, live with Thunder in their family home in Ontario, Canada, which is a four-bedroom house that they all share with their other smaller dogs: a Pomeranian named Chichi, a Malamute named Tulu, and a Yorkshire Terrier named Peanut. Turns out, the large and monstrous Thunder is actually afraid of the small dogs, who all have the run of the household.
A rat named Magawa has been given an animal bravery award for sniffing out dozens of landmines in Cambodia. Magawa received a gold medal from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom, on Friday, making him the first rodent in the nonprofit's history to earn the distinction.
The Japanese macaques, more commonly known as snow monkeys, attract many tourists and Japan natives alike every year.
Where are these monkeys found?
These monkeys are found in Yamanouchi in the Nagano prefecture within the Jigokudani Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen-koen) in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. They boast a large population of the monkeys, making it likely to spot them should you visit.
Due to the steep terrain and the steam coming up from the hot springs, giving the land an eerie look, the valley in which the park is located got the name Jigokudani or "Hell's Valley." Don't let the name fool you though! Although the environment may seem harsh, the land is also beautiful and serene, and especially in the colder seasons, becomes a snowy wonderland. Due to the cold, snowy environment, the monkeys love to bathe in the hotsprings, onsens, found there, and this becomes a popular sight for tourists to come see. There is something distinctly human about the way these monkeys take in and enjoy the warmth the rotenburo, outdoor onsens, offer them.
When is the best time to see them?
Although the monkeys are always close to the main park, in the warmer months, they are usually off doing their thing deep within the national park. In the winter, they are more likely to be a greater number of them closer to Jigokudanai Monkey Park, bathing in the hotsprings. The monkeys survive off of seeds, berries, bugs, and fruit within the national park, but are also fed by the park attendants, making the probability higher that the monkeys will stick around close to the hot springs year-round, as there is always guaranteed food!
Dogs “see” the world through their noses, and taste is closely tied into their sense of smell. Some veterinarians and animal behaviorists feel that this may be why pups eat items that are most certainly not food. Whether they swallow a dangerous substance out of curiosity, excitement or just by accident, seeking veterinary help quickly can make all the difference.
Here are some common materials pups have been known to eat that definitely warrant a visit to the vet.
Spoiler alert: you may never order grilled octopus again.
Myth: Felines and canines are colorblind
Although it was long believed that our furry companions had limited vision and only saw certain colors, it’s not the case. Cats and dogs have much better color eyesight than we thought. Both can see shades of blue and green. In fact, cats have way more light-sensing cells or rods in their eyes than humans do, and that’s why they can see better in low-light situations. Of course that doesn’t explain why they sometimes act that way they do.
Looking like a miniature version of the dragons in “Game of Thrones,” these armadillo lizards are quite the unique little design of nature. Similar to their name, they come with an outer layering that is armored like an armadillo. Just like the armadillo, whenever these lizards are under threat, they curl up into a ball to be protected by their built-in armor. These little armored lizards like to hang out in the crevices and nooks of rocks.
They are also natives of South Africa and have adapted many ways of shielding themselves from the area’s harsh climate and predators. As a result, they’ve become quite adept at hiding. These unique little animals are lovers of sunbathing like many other reptiles, but unlike most reptiles, armadillo lizards don’t lay eggs.