Echocardiography refers to the ultrasound examination of the heart, which is used in the diagnosis of heart disease. This requires a special ultrasound device and a veterinary practice specializing in cardiac ultrasound.
Echocardiography is a painless examination method that can be performed on animals that are awake. Dogs and cats are placed on their side on a special examination table. This table has a cutout in the chest area that allows the ultrasound probe to be placed directly on the chest. In horses, the heart ultrasound is performed while the animal is standing.
Echocardiography can be used to assess the heart muscle, the structure of the heart walls, the interior of the heart, the heart valves, and blood flow. This allows heart muscle diseases, changes to the heart valves, tumors, narrowing of blood vessels in the heart, and congenital malformations to be detected.
During ultrasound (see corresponding article), sound waves are emitted from the transducer and received again. Various types of images can be created from this using different methods.
This is a two-dimensional image in which the reflected sound waves from the tissue are displayed as dots in the image. Particularly dense tissue structures appear brighter, while less dense structures appear darker.
M-mode produces a one-dimensional image of all reflected sound waves along an ultrasound line over a specific period of time. This examination method is used to determine the size of the atria and ventricles. It is often used in combination with the Doppler method.
In the Doppler method, the transducer continuously emits ultrasound waves of the same frequency. When these sound waves encounter a flowing fluid, some of them are reflected with a changed frequency (Doppler effect). The changed frequencies are reproduced in the form of sounds, which can be used to determine the speed and direction of blood flow.
Color Doppler combines the B-mode method, the Doppler method, and color coding so that heart structures and blood flow can be examined simultaneously. Blood flowing toward the transducer is usually displayed in red, while blood flowing away from the transducer is displayed in blue. This method is particularly well suited for checking the function of the heart valves.
Birds groom themselves almost constantly: they clean themselves, sharpen their beaks and bite. But sometimes our feathered friends need a little help.
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in a dog's mouth. It can develop primarily (on its own) or secondarily as a result of other underlying diseases and can affect only a limited area or the entire mouth. Small dogs and dogs with misaligned teeth are particularly affected.
Horse ears come in different sizes, depending on breed and genetics. They usually feel soft and fluffy – but not every horse likes to have its early warning system touched. If you are a horse owner and your horse lets you stroke its fluffy ears, this is actually a sign that your horse trusts you. The horse's ear is something very special.
You've probably heard sayings like these before: Cats only see their owners as "can openers"! Cats aren't dogs, waiting to serve their masters... But cats can learn rules too.
Tetanus is a usually fatal, notifiable infectious disease caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This disease, also known as lockjaw, has been known since ancient times and is widespread throughout the world. Both humans and horses are particularly susceptible to the toxin, whereas dogs have only a low sensitivity and therefore do not need to be vaccinated.
Some people love it when their pony's coat shines in all its glory and even sparkles here and there. It is groomed and sprayed, the mane is braided, and hardly a hair is out of place. But coat and hoof care is not just a matter of appearance. Regular brushing means much more than that.
Gerbils are sociable pets that are fun to watch as they go about their business. But they also need attention. Before you know it, these little speedsters can jump out of their enclosure with a high leap.
It's an exciting time! You've made the decision to get a puppy, and most of the preparations are done. Now the question is whether you should enroll in dog training classes. Of course, you could also work with a dog trainer. Or you might feel confident enough to go it alone, because you already have a lot of experience with dogs.
We always want the best for our four-legged companions: to care for them, spend quality time together, and share our world with them. But despite all our care and attention, accidents and emergencies can happen. With an emergency kit, you'll be well prepared. Of course, the kit is no substitute for a visit to the vet. But especially for minor accidents, sudden illness, and stressful situations, a well-stocked emergency kit is an important tool. And in an emergency, you may even save your dog's life if you have the right equipment and know what to do.
You've probably experienced a dog wagging its tail at the door even though the person who was greeted minutes later was nowhere to be seen or heard. It's well known that dogs have better hearing than humans. But did you also know that your dog can block out certain sounds?
Endocrinology is the field of medicine that deals with disorders of metabolism and hormones. Hormones are messenger substances that are produced in the ovaries or testicles and by the endocrine glands, such as the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, and adrenal glands, and released into the blood. Hormones transmit information and thus control all important bodily functions.
Which horses get osteoarthritis? It very often affects older horses that have already covered many miles in their lifetime or those that have been actively involved in sport for some time. However, horses that have not had regular exercise appropriate to their species can also develop osteoarthritis. Basically, though, there is no general rule. It is also not easy to recognize osteoarthritis in its early stages. Sometimes, horse owners think that their horse is just experiencing a temporary period of overexertion when it has difficulty getting up from the straw. Or they believe that the cold winter is the reason why their horse is a little stiff-legged. After all, who likes to run around at minus 15 degrees Celsius? So where does osteoarthritis start and how can a horse owner best deal with it?
