Pet Health Library

Guides to pet symptoms and conditions, cited to the veterinary literature — what's normal, what's not, and when to see a vet.

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Showing 73–96 of 117 articles found

🦎Reptile HealthJun 4, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Ball Python Scale Rot Treatment: Husbandry, Antiseptics, Antibiotics

Scale rot in ball pythons starts with damp substrate and progresses to ulcers and sepsis. Husbandry correction plus topical chlorhexidine catches early cas

🐈Cat HealthJun 3, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Pillow Foot: Plasma Cell Pododermatitis Signs and Treatment

Pillow foot is an immune-mediated paw pad swelling in cats, often linked to FIV. Here's how doxycycline treatment works and when to biopsy.

🐈Cat HealthJun 3, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Feline Acne Treatment: Why Plastic Bowls Are the Problem

Black dots and red bumps on your cat's chin are feline acne — swap plastic for ceramic and gentle cleaning resolves most mild cases.

🐈Cat HealthJun 3, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Pemphigus Foliaceus Signs: Autoimmune Crusts on the Face

Pemphigus foliaceus is the most common autoimmune skin disease in cats. Here's how to spot crusts on the face and pads and what biopsy and treatment look l

🐾Ferret HealthJun 3, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Ferret Mast Cell Tumor Signs: Benign Lumps That Look Worse Than They Are

Ferret mast cell tumors are common but almost always benign. Here's how to spot them, why surgery is curative, and what to expect at biopsy.

🐹Hamster HealthJun 3, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Hamster Papillomatosis: Viral Warts and When to Biopsy

Hamster warts come from species-specific papillomavirus. Here's why most regress, when to biopsy, and what surgical treatment looks like.

🐰Rabbit HealthJun 3, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Rabbit Treponematosis Signs: Vent Disease (Rabbit Syphilis) Explained

Rabbit syphilis (treponematosis) causes crusts around the genitals and face. Here's how penicillin clears it and why oral antibiotics are dangerous.

🐰Rabbit HealthJun 2, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Rabbit Pododermatitis Stages: Sore Hocks Grade I-V Guide

Rabbit sore hocks are graded I through V. The stage tells you whether husbandry alone, bandaging, or surgery is needed — here is what each stage looks like

🐹Hamster HealthJun 2, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Hamster Skin Tumors: 5 Common Types and What They Mean

Hamster skin tumors range from harmless lipomas to aggressive carcinomas. Here are the 5 main types and how to tell which one you're looking at.

🦎Reptile HealthJun 2, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Ball Python Stuck Shed: Dysecdysis Causes and Quick Fix

Ball python stuck shed is almost always a humidity problem. Here is how to recognize it, what a single warm soak fixes, and when to call a reptile vet.

🦎Reptile HealthJun 1, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Bearded Dragon Tail Rot Treatment: When to Amputate

A black, dry, or hard tail tip is tail rot. Surgical amputation above the necrosis plus husbandry fixes is the standard treatment.

🐈Cat HealthMay 31, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Sebaceous Adenitis: A Rare Cause of Patchy Hair Loss

Sebaceous adenitis is an uncommon skin disease in cats causing patchy hair loss, scaling, and crusts — biopsy confirms it, and treatment is lifelong.

🐕Dog HealthMay 31, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Dog Histiocytoma: The Young-Dog Bump That Usually Disappears

A fast-growing pink lump on a young dog is often a benign histiocytoma — most resolve on their own in 1 to 3 months, but a vet should confirm.

🐈Cat HealthMay 30, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Skin Lumps and Bumps: Benign vs. Cancerous

Not every cat lump is harmless. Cat skin tumors are more often malignant than dog lumps — here's how vets sort out what needs an aspirate.

🐈Cat HealthMay 30, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Licking Belly Bald: Causes and How to Stop It

A cat licking its belly until the fur thins is almost always saying something — itchy skin, pain, or stress. Here's how to figure out which.

🐹Guinea Pig HealthMay 29, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Guinea Pig Bumblefoot (Pododermatitis): Signs and Treatment

Bumblefoot is a deep foot infection that starts with hair loss and swelling on the heels. Catch it early or it tracks into bone within weeks.

🦜Bird HealthMay 29, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

African Grey Feather Plucking: Medical and Behavioral Causes

Feather plucking in African Greys often blends medical disease with stress. Learn the full workup before assuming it's behavioral.

🐕Dog HealthMay 28, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Dog Lipoma vs Tumor: Telling Benign From Malignant

Most lumps on older dogs are harmless fatty lipomas — but feel, location, and growth rate matter. Here's how vets tell the difference.

🐕Dog HealthMay 27, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Dog Anal Gland Abscess: Signs, Treatment, and When to Worry

A dog anal gland abscess shows up as a painful red swelling next to the rectum, scooting, and licking. It usually ruptures within days. Here's what to do.

🦜Bird HealthMay 27, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Parrot Feather Plucking: Causes, Workup, and Treatment Plan

Parrot feather plucking comes from medical or behavioral causes — usually both. A systematic workup identifies the underlying issue. Here's the framework.

🐹Guinea Pig HealthMay 25, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Guinea Pig Cervical Lymphadenitis: Neck Lumps and Treatment

Guinea pig cervical lymphadenitis (lumps) is a bacterial neck infection that needs surgical removal plus safe antibiotics. Here is how it is treated.

🐈Cat HealthMay 24, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Cat Paw Pad Injury: Cuts, Burns, and Home First Aid

A cat paw pad injury can be a small cut or a deep gash that needs sutures. Here is how to assess, clean, and decide if a vet visit is needed.

🐕Dog HealthMay 24, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Dog Shedding Excessively: Causes and When It's Medical

Dog shedding excessively can be normal seasonal turnover or a sign of allergies, thyroid disease, or nutrition issues. Here is how to tell.

🐕Dog HealthMay 24, 2026

🌿Skin & Coat

Dog Bald Spots: Causes, Patterns, and When to See a Vet

Dog bald spots can be from mange, ringworm, allergies, or hormonal disease. Here is how the pattern points to the cause and what to do.