Care Advice & Information for Your Pet
Get expert advice on caring for your pet and understanding common conditions. Below you’ll find a range of articles, covering many aspects of animal health – from vaccinations and serious conditions to wellbeing and nutrition.
This content has been written by experienced vets, to provide you with the clearest advice from a source you can trust. For more, visit our blog.
Cat Healthcare & Management
- Cat Flu
- Looking after your pregnant cat
- Care of Hunting cats
- Exotic Diseases: Care information for your Cat
- Sexing Cats and Kittens
- Cat Bite Abscess
- Common Behaviour Problems
- Giving Medications to Cats
- Feline Infectious Peritonitis in Cats
- Geriatric care for Cats
- Arthritis in Cats
- FLUTD in Cats
- Vomiting in Cats
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in Cats
- Neutering Cats
- Constipation in Cats
- Stress in Cats
- Blood Clot in Cats
- Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
- Poisons in Cats
- Allergies in Cats
- Hyperthyroidism in Cats
- Diabetes in Cats
- Hepatic Lipidosis (‘fatty liver disease’) in Cats
- Pancreatitis in Cats
- Toxoplasmosis in Cats
- Cancer in Cats
- Urinary obstruction in Cats
- Diet in Cats
- Obesity in Cats
- Vaccines for Cats
- Worming in Cats
- Zoonotic diseases in Cats
- Looking after your kitten in Cats
- Health Check in Cats
- Dental care in Cats
- Euthanasia in Cats
- Feline Asthma in Cats
- Hairballs in Cats
- Flea Control in Cats
- HCM in Cats
- Feline Leukaemia Virus – FeLV for Cats
- First aid in Cats
For more information and advice, check out the latest blog posts for cat owners
Dog Healthcare & Management
- Getting a new dog or puppy
- Looking after your pregnant dog
- Care of the older dog
- Fireworks and your Dog
- Corneal Ulcer in Dogs
- Foreign Bodies in Dogs
- Vomiting in Dogs
- Leptospirosis in Dogs
- Lungworm in Dogs
- Vestibular syndrome in Dogs
- Cryptorchidism in Dogs
- Pyometra in Dogs
- Anaesthesia for Dogs
- Obesity in Dogs
- Pancreatitis in Dogs
- Arthritis and Osteoarthritis in Dogs
- Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs
- Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
- Cruciate Injuries in Dogs
- Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs
- Vaccines for Dogs
- Stress in Dogs
- Cancer in Dogs
- Liver Disease in Dogs
- Diabetes mellitus in Dogs
- Aural Haematoma in Dogs
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
- Heart Valve Disease in Dogs
- Kennel Cough in Dogs
- Parvo in Dogs
- Distemper in Dogs
- Anal Gland Problems in Dogs
- Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs
- Intestinal Blockages in Dogs
- Diarrhoea in Dogs
- Castration for Dogs
- First Aid in Dogs
- Allergies in Dogs
- Coughing in Dogs
- Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Dogs
- Cushing’s Disease in Dogs
- Spaying in Dogs
- Osteosarcoma in Dogs
- Dental Disease in Dogs
- Flea Control in Dogs
- Anaemia in Dogs
- Poisons in Dogs
- Heatstroke in Dogs
- Diet Advice for Dogs
- Fox Mange in Dogs
- Underactive Thyroid in Dogs
- Addison’s Disease in Dogs
- Babesia in Dogs
- Mast Cell Tumours in Dogs
- Lymphoma in Dogs
- Bladder Stones in Dogs
- Dog Breeding Advice
- Common Behaviour Problems in Dogs
- Health Check for Dogs
- Exotic Diseases in Dogs
- Zoonotic diseases in Dogs
- Dental care in Dogs
- Meningitis in Dogs
- Spinal injury in Dogs
- Caesarean section in Dogs
- Worming in Dogs
- Operations in Dogs
- Unwanted Pregnancy in Dogs
- Giving Medications to Dogs
- Exercise in Dogs
- Euthanasia in Dogs
- Bone Fractures in Dogs
- Dementia in Dogs
- Cystitis in Dogs
- Megaoesophagus in Dogs
- Haemangiosarcoma in Dogs
- False Pregnancy in Dogs
- Epilepsy in Dogs
- Infectious Canine Hepatitis in Dogs
- Syringomyelia in Dogs
Guinea Pig Healthcare & Management
Hamster Healthcare & Management
Rabbit Healthcare & Management
- Ileus/Gut Stasis in Rabbits
- Fighting in Rabbits
- Neutering in Rabbits
- Diet in Rabbits
- Vaccination for Rabbits
- Haemorrhagic Disease in Rabbits
- Myxomatosis in Rabbits
- Parasite Control in Rabbits
- E. cuniculi in Rabbits
- Stress in Rabbits
- Flystrike in Rabbits
- Dental Disease in Rabbits
- First Aid in Rabbits
- Pododermatitis aka hock sores in Rabbits
- Health Checks in Rabbits
- Euthanasia in Rabbits
- Cystitis in Rabbits
- Uterine Tumours in Rabbits
- Housing in Rabbits
- Pregnancy Toxaemia in Rabbits
- Fur Mites in Rabbits
- Companionship in Rabbits
- Tear duct disease – Dacryocystitis in Rabbits
- Ringworm in Rabbits
- Snuffles in Rabbits
- Abscesses in Rabbits
- Ear Mites in Rabbits
- Swollen Testicles in Rabbits
- Paralysis in Rabbits
- Head Tilt in Rabbits
- Fur pulling and hairballs in Rabbits
- Coccidiosis in Rabbits
- Diarrhoea in Rabbits
- Arthritis in Rabbits
- Conjunctivitis in Rabbits
Rat Healthcare & Management
If you think your pet may need veterinary attention, please search our site for your nearest practice or an emergency vet.
Couldn’t find what you were looking for? There are hundreds more articles, covering a wider range of species and subject matter on the blog. The below articles are a few of our latest, but search the site or ask a question on the forum if you need further advice or information.
Check out more of our latest content on the VetHelpDirect blog

Why do horses get hoof abscesses and how are they treated?
Foot abscesses can be excruciating for horses, in fact, they can make the horse so lame that it can look like the horse has broken his leg! But why do they happen and what can be done about them?

Do antihistamines work for atopy in dogs?
Hmmm…This is a good question! It’s one as vets, that we often receive from clients. While antihistamines are effective for humans to treat allergies, do they work for dogs in the same way? Unsurprisingly, the answer isn’t straightforward.

Is my cat in heat?
Is your unneutered female cat suddenly all over you? Have you noticed a group of male cats congregating at your back door? These could all be signs that your female cat is in heat. Read on to find out what we mean by the term “heat”, learn more about your cat’s reproductive cycle and how […]

How to treat cherry eye in dogs
Unlike humans, dogs actually have three eyelids rather than two – the additional eyelid sitting under the inner corner of the eye. “Cherry eye” is the colloquial term for prolapse of this third eyelid. It can be readily diagnosed upon visual inspection, as a small pink bulge in the inner corner of the dog’s eye. […]

What is eclampsia in dogs?
Whether you are a seasoned breeder, planned first timer or unexpected owner of a pregnant dog, it is wise to be familiar with the problems that can crop up. From pregnancy, giving birth and into early parenthood. This will help reduce the anxiety and the white-knuckle ride that can occur when things seem to be […]

Short-Nosed Dogs: What is BOAS?
BOAS stands for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. A brachycephalic dog is one with a short nose – brachy means short, and cephalic head, which means the skull bones are short and give the face and nose a squashed-up appearance. The short bones of the skull and nose lead to a distinctive anatomy, which also affects […]