By the Tail Animal Care

07/15/2025

‘Brachycephalic Syndrome’

Many people are now familiar with the term ‘brachycephalic’ in reference to flat-faced dog and cat breeds, but did you know, this same condition impacts small mammals too?

Rodents and rabbits are increasingly being bred with unnaturally short, flattened skulls in pursuit of a ‘cute’ baby-faced look. This often comes at a serious cost to the animal’s health and welfare.

Some of the potential medical problems include:

🔸 Dental Disease: Shortened skulls mean overcrowded teeth, poor occlusion, and overgrown molars are more likely.
🔸 Difficulty Thermoregulating: Narrowed airways and malformed sinuses can increase risk of heat stress, especially in warm weather or during illness.
🔸 Increased Anaesthetic Risk: Due to compromised airways and abnormal soft tissue structures, airway control may be difficult during even routine procedures.
🔸 Chronic Respiratory Issues: A compromised upper airway may leave these animals more vulnerable to infections and ongoing breathing difficulties.
🔸 Jaw Misalignment: Skull abnormalities can cause painful joint strain during chewing and grooming.

Please avoid supporting unethical breeders or pet shops, always do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions!
If you already care for a brachycephalic rabbit or rodent, they absolutely deserve the same love and compassion as any other animal. That’s why it’s so important to understand the potential health issues they may face. Knowing what to watch for and ensuring they receive regular veterinary check-ups can make all the difference to their comfort, wellbeing, and quality of life. 💞

(Image credit of rabbits: RWAF)

07/06/2025

07/04/2025

Pet Fire Safety https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/pet-fire-safety.html

Be Prepared: Pet Safety in Emergencies https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/emergency-preparedness/

07/04/2025

🐱 ‘Cats – what does an obligate carnivore mean and what doesn’t it mean?’ 🤔 Veterinary nutritional expert Dr Marge Chandler will join us for a free open access webinar to discuss the unique nutritional needs of cats and how that affects what we should feed them.

🗓️ When: Wednesday 9 July at 19:00 (UK)

Register now 👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VYQs5NdNRZKCmA9V_WZ4VQ #/registration

Sponsored by Hill’s

06/12/2025

🚨 Urgent Community Update and Request for Support 🚨 Bishop Animal Shelter is asking for your help.

We are currently treating a number of animals with contagious illnesses at Bishop, including:

• Parvovirus (Parvo) – a serious and highly contagious virus affecting unvaccinated puppies and dogs

• Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) – a fast-spreading virus that impacts unvaccinated kittens and cats.

All animals in our care are being treated and closely monitored, including dogs that may have been exposed to Parvo.

Three dogs recently came to us from the Hightower Road and HWY 275 area. Two tested positive for Parvo, and one is negative, but under observation out of caution. If you live in this area, please be especially vigilant with your own pets and ensure their vaccinations are up to date.

Vaccinations are critical in preventing these diseases. Protecting your pets with core vaccines not only saves their lives, it helps safeguard the entire community.

Our immediate need is to divert incoming animals.

What You Can Do to Help:

1. Hold Off on Surrenders - If you’ve found a stray or need to re-home a pet, please help us by safely holding them for a few days if possible. This will prevent overcrowding and reduce the risk of illness spreading.

2. Foster - We urgently need homes for recovering animals ready to heal in a calm and clean space.

3. Prevent Spread - Wash your hands, change clothes after visiting shelters, and avoid contact between your pets and unknown animals.

Every animal is receiving care thanks to our dedicated team, but we can't do this alone. Your help, patience, and support go a long way.

Can you foster or temporarily house a pet? If so, please contact Lauren Tryon at [email protected].

Let’s work together to give these animals the best chance at recovery and keep our community safe!

06/08/2025

The 4th of July will be here before you know it. Now is the time to start preparing and to reach out to your veterinarian if your cat needs medications. See the infographic below for more details on how to prepare.

06/07/2025

06/06/2025

This is so incredibly cool. For those with snakes, what do you do for enrichment?

06/05/2025

05/30/2025

In the bodycam video, the homeowner is seen directing deputies to the cat, saying it was on the shelf behind a plant.

That’s when one deputy gets an idea.

“Hi, kitty kitty,” the deputy says. “I’m gonna see if he chases the laser. I don’t know, cats like lasers.”

“It’s not a normal cat,” the homeowner responds.

“Cats are all the same! They all like the same thing,” the deputy says.

“You guys are hilarious,” the homeowner says.

Ultimately, the homeowner was right – the bobcat was “not impressed” by the laser, according to the sheriff’s office.

05/30/2025

We see a few cases every year.

Even if you’ve signed up for puppy swim classes, don’t do it in salt water. Based on experience, the person likely has zero training in actually keeping your dog safe or how to spot the signs that your dog is inhaling salt water.

SALT WATER TOXICITY AND YOUR CANINE
By Megan Davis DVM
Suburban Animal Hospital

As summer weather approaches many owners are tempted to take their dogs to the beach or on the boat. You know the risks of heat stroke and what to watch for; but do you know about salt toxicity? This can be a common but serious problem in Southwest Florida. Knowing the symptoms could be life saving for your pup.

Initial signs are usually diarrhea and occasionally vomiting. The animal will likely also have excessive thirst. This then progresses to lethargy (which could easily be dismissed as simply being tired from a day out). Pets become uncoordinated (walking like they're drunk), anxious and confused. They may develop tremors and, in severe cases, the dog starts have seizures which may be fatal.

Salt toxicity doesn't just occur from intentional drinking of seawater. Dogs can also ingest large amounts from jumping into the water and many cases I've seen were from playing fetch with balls in the water or at the water’s edge.

If you suspect salt toxicity in your dog, you should seek veterinary care immediately. The vet is likely to recommend bloodwork to determine the sodium level in your pet’s blood then fluids to try and flush it out. Depending on severity this often needs to be done slowly as lowering the sodium level too quickly can cause swelling of the brain; thus hospitalization may be necessary.

The best way to prevent this is by providing lots of access to fresh clean water and have your dog take frequent breaks in the shade. Monitor them closely so you can disrupt them if they start drinking from the ocean. And be sure to rinse the saltwater off their fur when you get home.