Category: Nutritional

𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 is accumulation of 𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 (fat) to an excessive level. This is actually the most common nutritional issue in pets! It is estimated that up to 30% of dogs and cats are obese.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 is basically as the name suggests, a disease of the muscle that turns it white instead of its normal red colour. This disease is associated with nutritional problems!

𝐓𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 is more properly known as 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐲𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬. In this condition, exercise causes rapid degeneration of the muscle fibers, which can be extremely painful!

𝐇𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚 is a nutritional condition (dietetica) affecting the liver (hepatosis)! It is now quite uncommon due to development of properly formulated diets for pigs.

𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐀 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 can be quite common in turtles kept in captivity if they aren’t fed a proper diet. This is just one reason why consulting with your exotics veterinarian about your pet is so important!

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) are both common, older horse conditions that veterinarians see daily. They can also cause a lot of the same clinical signs, despite being very different diseases. So what is the difference between them?

𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐲 is caused by 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐂 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 and is one of the most common management-related diseases in guinea pigs!

CHD is a syndrome of foals primarily characterized by enlarged thyroid glands and deformities of the limbs. This syndrome was first described in Western Canada by one of my current professors. Small world!

𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭 is when the fat becomes jelly-like and clear, rather than having its normal fatty yellow appearance.

𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 is a disease of the skeleton in growing animals, that results in abnormal formation of bone at the growth plates, as well as poor quality bone in general.