Have you ever wondered whether your dog can see the magnificent colors that nature sometimes presents us with? Have you ever thought about how your dog sees you and how it perceives its environment with its eyes?
Imagine you are sitting in a clearing looking down into a valley: it is summer, and the light and colors paint a magnificent picture, which you admire quietly alongside your faithful friend. It seems as if he is just as moved by what he sees. But appearances can be deceiving. Dogs can recognize colors, but not as intensely as we humans can. In addition, their vision lacks the sharpness with which humans can perceive their environment. On the other hand, dogs can see better than us at dusk and at night.
This can be explained quite simply by looking at the anatomy: in both dogs' and humans' eyes, there are cones and rods in the retina. The cones are responsible for recognizing colors, while the rods are responsible for brightness. Put simply, dogs' eyes have more rods than humans' and are therefore much more sensitive to light. This means that dogs can see more in the dark than we humans, but they don't see colors as well as we do.
A dog's field of vision is larger than that of humans. Dogs are good at perceiving movement. Your dog can therefore recognize you better at dusk and from a distance when you are moving.
Dogs with long hair are particularly prone to matting around the eyes. The hair tickles the eyelid or pricks the corner of the eye, causing the eye to water and small crusts to form at the edge, usually from the inner corner of the eye down to the muzzle. This can also cause the tear duct to become inflamed or lead to infection.
It is therefore advisable to carry out regular eye care depending on the breed and hair type of your dog. This is not complicated or time-consuming, it just needs to be done regularly. With a cotton ball or swab, a small bowl of lukewarm water (please do not use chamomile tea) and a comb, you are well equipped for cleaning.
Use clean hands or a slightly damp cotton ball or swab to wipe away any crusts from the eye. If these are a little more stubborn, moisten the fur in this area briefly with water. A few gentle strokes – always away from the eye – should then be sufficient. With the fine comb, you can then smooth the fur around the eye, especially on long-haired dogs, and comb out any loose hairs.
If any strands are too long and reach your dog's eyes, carefully trim them with scissors. It is best to hold your dog's snout with one hand. If you are afraid of hurting your dog, ask someone else to hold the animal's head.
If necessary, you can clean your dog's eyes every day. However, make sure you don't overdo it, as unnecessary cleaning can cause irritation. It is also important that you always work with clean hands and tools to prevent eye infections.
The soft palate is a muscle extension approximately 10 cm long that separates the nasal cavity from the throat. As the name suggests, dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) describes a change in position in which the soft palate temporarily or permanently covers the epiglottis, leading to coughing, difficulty swallowing, and breathing problems.
There are all kinds of dangers lurking for cats, not only outside but also in the home. Young, playful, and curious kittens are particularly at risk. Therefore, take the necessary safety precautions before a cat moves in with you. With the right knowledge, you will be on the safe side.
Entropion is also colloquially referred to as a rolled eyelid and describes the inward rolling of the upper or lower eyelid. It can affect the entire eyelid or just part of it.
Behind this complicated name lies an aggressive form of cancer in dogs, also known as malignant histiocytosis, which mainly affects Bernese Mountain Dogs, Retrievers and Rottweilers and is one of the most common causes of death in these breeds as a hereditary disease. It primarily affects male dogs between the ages of two and eight. The disease is relatively rare in other dog breeds.
The prostate gland is the most important sex gland in male dogs. It is located behind the bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. The secretion produced by the prostate gland is a component of semen and is ejaculated together with the sperm produced in the testicles. Prostate disorders are usually diagnosed in older, unneutered male dogs. These disorders can cause various changes in the gland.
Claw disorders are relatively rare in dogs. However, injuries, excessive licking or poor grooming can cause the claw bed to become inflamed due to the penetration of bacteria or fungi. Symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO) is the most common form of claw bed inflammation in dogs. This rare but extremely painful disease of the claw bed mainly affects large dogs (Great Danes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds) and can be triggered by various factors.
Castration of stallions is one of the most common medical procedures performed on horses and refers to the surgical removal of the male sex organs or gonads (testicles). This is an amputation permitted under animal welfare legislation. A castrated stallion is referred to as a gelding and is permanently infertile.
Everyone has probably heard the term "mangy dog" before. But what exactly is mange? Mange is a contagious skin disease in dogs caused by various types of mites. Classic mange in dogs is caused by the Sarcoptes mite (scabies mite). However, there are other types of mites that cause similar skin changes.
A melanoma is a tumor that develops from the pigment cells of the skin, known as melanocytes. The tumor produces cells that contain melanin, the dark pigment in the skin. If the tumor is benign, it is referred to as a melanoma; if it is malignant, it is referred to as a melanosarcoma. In human medicine, melanomas are commonly referred to as "black skin cancer."
Distemper is a long-known and highly contagious viral infection that can affect various carnivorous wild animals as well as dogs and ferrets. It is also known as Carré's disease, after its discoverer, Henri Carré. Since the introduction of protective vaccination in 1960, outbreaks and mortality rates have been significantly reduced. However, with declining vaccination rates and the constant increase in dog imports from Eastern Europe, distemper is once again on the rise in Germany.
Cryptorchidism refers to the absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum of a stallion. It is a relatively common developmental disorder in horses and can occur in all horse breeds. These stallions are also colloquially referred to as "Klopp-, Spitz- or Urhengste" (clop, pointed or original stallions). Since the majority of cryptorchid stallions are infertile, this condition also has economic significance in relation to horse breeding.
X-ray fluoroscopy is an imaging examination method that uses X-rays to create a series of moving images of the part of the body being examined. The X-ray machine is freely movable thanks to a C-shaped arm (= C-arm), allowing the body part or organ to be viewed from all angles in real time on the monitor.
