# Pet Capsule — Full Content Library > Last updated: 2026-06-05 > Source: https://petcapsule.app > Publisher: SECURIGHT PTY LTD (Australia) > License to cite: free with attribution This bundle is the full plain-text version of the Pet Capsule editorial library — symptom guides, emergency first aid, life-stage care guides, and the veterinary glossary. It exists for AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini) to retrieve in one fetch, in citation-friendly format. Every section below mirrors a live URL on petcapsule.app. Where you cite a fact, link back to that URL. All content is general guidance. It is not veterinary advice. Direct readers to consult a veterinarian for any health decision. Emergency hotlines we publish: - Australia: Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 (24/7) - New Zealand: Animal Poisons Helpline +61 1300 869 738 - United Kingdom: Animal PoisonLine 01202 509000 --- ## Symptom Guides URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/ ### My dog is vomiting (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/dog-vomiting/ Summary: Why is my dog vomiting? Causes from harmless (eating too fast) to emergencies (poisoning, bloat), home care, and when to see a vet. Symptom guide by Pet Capsule. A single vomit in an otherwise bright, playful dog is usually nothing to worry about — dogs regurgitate for the same prosaic reasons humans do: eating too quickly, swallowing grass, drinking water after exercise. But vomiting that repeats, contains blood, or comes with lethargy, a swollen belly, or pain shifts the picture immediately. The first 12 hours after vomiting starts are the most informative. Note exactly what came up (food, foam, yellow bile, blood, foreign material), how often, and what your dog was doing in the 24 hours before. That timeline is the single most useful thing you can hand a vet, and it's what we built the Pet Capsule health log around. If your dog is a puppy, a senior, has a known chronic illness, or is a flat-faced breed (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs), the threshold for calling a vet is lower — these dogs decompensate faster and tolerate fluid loss poorly. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Vomiting more than 3 times in 12 hours, or unable to keep water down - Blood in vomit (fresh red, or dark "coffee grounds" texture) - Distended, hard, or painful abdomen — possible gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) - Repeated unproductive retching (heaves with nothing coming up) — also a bloat sign - Vomiting with collapse, pale gums, very fast breathing, or shaking - Suspected toxin ingestion: chocolate, grapes/raisins, xylitol, rat bait, antifreeze, human medication, lily plant material - Foreign object you can identify (string, sock, bone shard, plastic) — never pull anything visible from the mouth or anus - Puppy under 6 months with any vomiting + diarrhoea (parvovirus risk) --- ### My dog has diarrhoea (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/dog-diarrhoea/ Summary: My dog has diarrhoea — common causes, home treatment with bland diet, and red flags that mean a vet visit. Symptom guide by Pet Capsule. Soft, loose, or watery stool in a dog is one of the most common reasons owners search for vet advice. Most cases resolve within 48 hours with rest and a bland diet — but a meaningful minority signal something serious, and the difference is usually in the details: colour, frequency, the dog's energy, and whether anything else is off. Bloody diarrhoea, profuse watery diarrhoea, or diarrhoea in a young puppy is never something to wait out. Healthy adult dogs with one soft stool can typically be monitored at home for 24 hours; chronic loose stool (more than 3 weeks) needs investigation regardless of the dog's energy. Record the colour, consistency, frequency, and anything visible in the stool (blood, mucus, worms, foreign material). That note is what your vet will ask for and is the fastest path to a useful diagnosis. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Bloody diarrhoea (bright red streaks, or dark "tarry" black stool indicating digested blood) - Diarrhoea + vomiting in a puppy under 6 months (parvovirus risk) - Diarrhoea + lethargy, collapse, or pale gums - More than 6 episodes in 12 hours, or unable to hold any food or water down - Diarrhoea with a swollen, painful abdomen - Known or suspected toxin or foreign body ingestion - Diarrhoea in a senior dog with a known kidney or liver condition --- ### My dog won\ (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/dog-not-eating/ Summary: My dog won\ Appetite loss (anorexia, in vet language) is one of the earliest and least specific signs that something is off. A dog who skips a single meal but is otherwise bright is rarely a worry; a dog who refuses food for 24 hours, or who eats poorly alongside any other symptom, almost always needs investigation. Context matters more than the food bowl. A dog who turns away from kibble but eagerly takes a treat is being picky; a dog who refuses their favourite treat is sick. Note when they last ate, how much, what changed in their environment, and whether they are drinking water normally. For puppies under 6 months and toy breeds, the timeline is much shorter — going more than 12 hours without food risks hypoglycaemia. Healthy adult dogs can safely skip a meal or two if they are otherwise well. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - No food for 24 hours in an adult, or 12 hours in a puppy or small/toy breed - Not eating + vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, or pain signs - Refusing water alongside food - Distended or painful abdomen - Pale gums, collapse, or rapid breathing - Recent surgery or known illness — call the treating vet now - Suspected toxin or foreign body ingestion --- ### My dog is lethargic (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/dog-lethargy/ Summary: My dog is lethargic — common causes from heat to serious illness, when "tired" is an emergency, and how to act. Symptom guide by Pet Capsule. Lethargy is one of the hardest symptoms to read. Every dog has lazy days, hot days, post-walk crashes, and grumpy moods. The difference between a normal slow day and an early warning sign of illness is how the dog responds to triggers they would normally light up for — the leash, a favourite toy, food, your return home. A lethargic dog who still wags, eats, and gets up for a walk is rarely an emergency. A lethargic dog who refuses food, can't be roused for their favourite trigger, or has any other symptom (pale gums, fast breathing, vomiting, limping) is communicating something serious. Take a photo or short video of your dog's posture and behaviour now and again in 2 hours. Pattern change is the most reliable signal, and is the kind of thing the Pet Capsule daily log was built for. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Cannot be roused, or only briefly responds before lying back down - Lethargy + pale, white, or bluish gums - Lethargy + fast or laboured breathing at rest - Lethargy + distended abdomen (possible bloat or internal bleeding) - Suspected heatstroke: hot to touch, panting heavily, after exercise in heat - Suspected toxin or medication ingestion - Lethargy + collapse, even brief - Puppy lethargic and not eating for more than 6–8 hours (parvovirus, hypoglycaemia risk) --- ### Why is my dog coughing (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/dog-coughing/ Summary: Why is my dog coughing? Kennel cough, heart disease, tracheal collapse, and reverse sneezing explained — when to wait, when to see a vet. Pet Capsule guide. A cough is one of those symptoms where the *sound* and *trigger* tell a vet almost everything. A goose-honk cough triggered by leash pulling or excitement points one way; a moist, productive cough at rest or at night points another; a sudden retching cough in a dog who was just in kennels points a third. Most coughs in dogs are not emergencies, but a cough that lasts more than 7 days, comes with breathing changes at rest, blue-tinged gums, or is paired with collapse is a different category — that's a same-day vet visit, not a wait-and-see. A short phone video of the cough is the single most useful thing you can hand a vet. Sound, posture, frequency, and what triggers it — they will diagnose half the cases from the video alone. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Blue or grey gums, or laboured breathing at rest - Coughing + collapse, even briefly - Coughing up blood or pink froth - Sudden onset severe cough in a dog who could have swallowed a foreign body - Very fast resting respiratory rate (>40 breaths/min at rest in a calm dog) - Cough with a swollen face or neck --- ### My cat is vomiting (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/cat-vomiting/ Summary: Why is my cat vomiting? Hairballs, food intolerance, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism — causes, home care, and red flags. Symptom guide by Pet Capsule. Vomiting in cats is so common that owners often dismiss it as normal — but veterinary medicine has shifted hard on this in the last decade. A cat who vomits more than once a month is not "just throwing up a hairball"; chronic vomiting is now treated as the early sign of inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy, or even small-cell lymphoma until proven otherwise. That said, not every vomit is a crisis. A single vomit in an otherwise bright cat who returns to eating and using the litter tray is usually a one-off. Pattern is the signal — frequency, what comes up, paired symptoms (weight loss, appetite change, water intake), and how the cat looks between episodes. Cats hide illness expertly. By the time vomiting is "obvious," the underlying condition may have been present for months. The Pet Capsule weight + intake log was built around exactly this — small drifts that matter. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - More than 3 vomits in 12 hours, or unable to keep water down - Vomiting + lethargy, hiding, or collapse - Blood in vomit (fresh red or dark "coffee grounds") - Vomiting + open-mouth breathing or fast breathing - Known or suspected lily exposure (any part of the plant — even pollen on the fur is potentially fatal) - Known or suspected medication ingestion (paracetamol, ibuprofen, antidepressants) - String visible from mouth or anus — never pull - Distended or painful abdomen --- ### My cat has diarrhoea (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/cat-diarrhoea/ Summary: My cat has diarrhoea — causes from diet change to IBD, home care, and when soft stool means a vet visit. Symptom guide by Pet Capsule. Loose stool in a cat is uncomfortable for everyone and often more serious than the equivalent in a dog. Cats are quiet sufferers and dehydrate quickly, so a 48-hour rule that works for dogs is too generous for cats — particularly for kittens and seniors. Acute diarrhoea (less than 7 days) is most often from diet change, stress, or a passing infection, and usually resolves with gentle home care. Chronic diarrhoea (more than 3 weeks, intermittent or continuous) is a different problem and almost always needs investigation — inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy, parasites, hyperthyroidism, and small-cell lymphoma all sit in this picture. Note colour, consistency, frequency, blood, mucus, and whether the cat is making it to the litter tray. That information narrows the differential dramatically. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Blood in stool (fresh red, mucus-coated, or black tarry) - Diarrhoea + vomiting in a kitten or senior cat - Diarrhoea + lethargy, collapse, or hiding - More than 6 episodes in 12 hours - Refusing food alongside diarrhoea — risk of hepatic lipidosis - Suspected toxin or lily exposure - Diarrhoea in a cat with a known chronic condition (kidney, diabetes, thyroid) --- ### My cat won\ (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/cat-not-eating/ Summary: My cat won\ Cats refusing food is much more serious than dogs refusing food. A healthy adult cat going more than 24 hours without eating is at real risk of hepatic lipidosis — a life-threatening liver condition where the body, deprived of food, mobilises fat into the liver faster than the liver can process it. Overweight cats are at the highest risk. That changes the math. Where a dog can safely skip a meal or two, a cat off food for a day needs a vet call. Two days is no longer optional. Three days is an emergency. Cats are also expert at hiding illness. By the time appetite drops noticeably, the cat may have been quietly unwell for some time. Note exactly how long it has been since they ate normally, whether they're drinking, whether they're using the tray, and any other change in behaviour — hiding, grooming less, sitting in unusual positions. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - No food for 24 hours in any cat, or 12 hours in a kitten - Not eating + vomiting, lethargy, hiding, or hunched posture - Yellow tinge to the gums or whites of the eyes (jaundice — possible hepatic lipidosis already developing) - Open-mouth breathing or fast breathing - Drooling, pawing at the mouth, or reluctance to swallow - Pale or grey gums - Suspected lily, medication, or toxin exposure --- ### My cat is lethargic (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/cat-lethargy/ Summary: My cat is lethargic — why hiding and sleeping more is serious in cats, common causes, and when to see a vet today. Pet Capsule guide. Cats are masters of hiding illness. Where a dog complains, vocalises, or paces, a cat slips into a cupboard and goes still. By the time an owner notices "lethargy," the cat is often telling you they have been unwell for some time. A normally social cat who suddenly hides, a normally interactive cat who stops greeting you, or a cat who stops grooming — these are equivalents of a dog vomiting six times. Take them seriously. The diagnostic approach is broad because lethargy is non-specific: dental pain, kidney disease, thyroid disease, infection, anaemia, heart disease, cancer, and pain from a hidden injury can all present as "my cat is just sleeping more." Bloodwork and a careful physical exam catch most causes; ultrasound finds many of the rest. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Cannot be roused, or only briefly responds before lying back down - Lethargy + open-mouth or fast breathing - Lethargy + pale, white, yellow, or bluish gums - Lethargy + hiding for more than 24 hours, especially in a normally social cat - Lethargy + not eating or drinking - Suspected toxin or lily exposure - Lethargy with crying out, especially in a male cat unable to urinate (urethral obstruction is a life-threatening emergency) --- ### Why is my cat sneezing (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/symptoms/cat-sneezing/ Summary: Why is my cat sneezing? Cat flu, allergies, dental disease, polyps — causes of acute and chronic sneezing in cats and when to see a vet. Pet Capsule guide. An occasional sneeze in a healthy cat is no more concerning than it is in a human — a passing irritant, a speck of dust, or a brief startle. Persistent sneezing is a different matter: cats almost always have an underlying cause when sneezing lasts more than a few days, and the older the cat, the more important it is to investigate. Bouts of sneezing, especially with watery or coloured discharge from the eyes and nose, are most often "cat flu" — feline herpesvirus or calicivirus. These viruses are common, often picked up as kittens, and can flare up under stress for the cat's entire life. They are not usually dangerous to a healthy adult cat but can be life-threatening in kittens. Chronic one-sided nasal discharge in a senior cat — different from intermittent bilateral sneezing — is one of the patterns that always warrants imaging. Tumours, polyps, and tooth root infections all sit in that picture. **Stop and call a vet now if:** - Open-mouth breathing or fast breathing - Bright red blood from one or both nostrils - Sudden facial swelling - Sneezing + severe lethargy, not eating, hiding - Sneezing + unable to open eyes (severe conjunctivitis or corneal ulceration) - Kittens with sneezing + not eating, especially if dehydrated --- ## Emergency First Aid URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/ ### My dog ate something toxic (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/dog-poisoning/ Summary: Dog poisoning emergency guide — what to do in the first 10 minutes if your dog has eaten chocolate, grapes, xylitol, rat bait, or human medication. Pet Capsule. Time matters. For most common dog poisonings — chocolate, xylitol, grapes, rat bait, human medications, antifreeze — the difference between an inexpensive successful treatment and intensive care is measured in hours, sometimes minutes. Call a vet or poisons helpline **before** you try to do anything else. They will tell you whether vomiting should be induced, whether activated charcoal is appropriate, whether the dose is even toxic, and what to bring with you. Pet owners who try to manage poisonings without that call routinely make the situation worse. Bring the original packaging or a clear photo of the product, and an estimate of how much was eaten and when. Those three facts decide treatment. --- ### My cat ate something toxic (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/cat-poisoning/ Summary: Cat poisoning emergency guide — what to do in the first 10 minutes if your cat has been exposed to lilies, paracetamol, essential oils, or rodenticide. Pet Capsule. Cats are far more sensitive to common household toxins than dogs. A single paracetamol tablet can be fatal. Pollen from a lily that brushed against the fur, then groomed off, can cause kidney failure within 36 hours. Tea tree oil applied to the skin or licked off can be fatal. If you have any suspicion of exposure — chewed plant material, a spilled medication, a tipped essential-oil diffuser, a chewed rodenticide block — call a vet or the poisons helpline immediately. Do not wait for signs. Many cat poisonings have a silent window where the cat looks fine and the damage is already happening. The single most important fact about cat toxin exposure: **lilies kill cats**. All parts of true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis genera) cause acute kidney failure. Pollen on the fur counts. The water in the vase counts. This is the most important thing to know about cats and poisoning. --- ### My dog has heatstroke (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/dog-heatstroke/ Summary: Dog heatstroke emergency — recognise the signs, cool safely, and get to a vet. Step-by-step first aid for hot weather and exercise emergencies. Pet Capsule. Heatstroke kills dogs every summer. By the time signs are obvious, internal organ damage may already have started. Survival depends on starting cooling immediately and getting to a vet — not one, then the other, but both at once. Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Cavaliers) and double-coated breeds (Huskies, Malamutes, Akitas) are at highest risk. Senior dogs, overweight dogs, dogs with heart disease, and puppies are all more vulnerable. Most cases happen during exercise on hot days or in cars — even at 25°C / 77°F a parked car becomes lethal in minutes. The single most important rule: **start cooling immediately, with cool (not ice-cold) water, on the way to the vet.** Hot dogs cool fastest when soaked with cool water and placed in front of a fan. Ice or ice baths cause peripheral blood vessels to constrict and trap heat inside — this is now understood to be worse than cool water. --- ### My cat has heatstroke (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/cat-heatstroke/ Summary: Cat heatstroke emergency — signs, safe cooling, and how to get to a vet. Less common than in dogs, but lethal when it happens. Pet Capsule. Heatstroke in cats is much less common than in dogs but no less dangerous when it happens. Cats don't pant or run themselves into heatstroke the way dogs do — most feline cases come from being trapped in a hot space (greenhouse, shed, car, dryer) or in a closed unventilated room on an extreme day. Persian and Himalayan cats (flat-faced) are at highest risk, along with overweight cats, seniors, and cats with heart or respiratory disease. Indoor-only cats can suffer heatstroke during summer power outages or in conservatories. If you suspect heatstroke in a cat — visible panting (cats panting is itself abnormal and emergency-grade), drooling, lethargy on a hot day, or finding a cat in a hot space — start cooling and call a vet now. --- ### My dog is choking (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/dog-choking/ Summary: Dog choking emergency — how to recognise it, when to do back blows and chest thrusts (dog Heimlich), and when to rush to the vet. Pet Capsule first-aid guide. True airway obstruction is rare but terrifying. Most "choking" reported by owners turns out to be reverse sneezing, kennel cough, or gagging on something that the dog then swallows. Real choking — a fully blocked airway — is when the dog cannot make sound, pawing at the mouth, eyes wide, lips going blue. If a dog can cough, sound is still moving through the airway, and the safest action is to let them try to expel the object themselves. Don't reach into the mouth blindly — you may push the object deeper, and an alert distressed dog will bite. If a dog truly cannot breathe — silent, blue-tinged, collapsing — you have minutes. Do the steps below in order, while someone calls the vet. --- ### My cat is choking (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/cat-choking/ Summary: Cat choking emergency — recognise true airway obstruction, perform feline back blows safely, and get to a vet. Pet Capsule first-aid guide. Cats truly choking is rare. Most "choking" in cats is actually a hairball event, reverse sneezing, or asthma — none of which look like true airway obstruction once you know the difference. True choking is silent, terrified, blue-tinged, and lasts seconds before the cat collapses. Cats are small, fragile, and stressed easily. Heroic first aid that works on a 30kg Labrador can crack ribs on a 4kg cat. The single best advice for suspected cat choking is **get to a vet now**, with gentle first aid only as a bridge. Most common foreign bodies in cats: string (the most dangerous — never pull), hair ties, ribbon, small toy parts, chunks of dry food in cats who eat fast. --- ### My dog is bleeding (dog) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/dog-bleeding/ Summary: Dog bleeding emergency — how to control bleeding, what counts as serious, and when to rush to the vet. Pet Capsule first-aid guide. Most bleeding in dogs is minor — a torn pad, a nicked ear, a cut paw on a walk. These look dramatic (head and pad wounds especially) but stop with direct pressure and warrant a vet check rather than a panicked drive. Severe bleeding — arterial spurting, deep wounds, bleeding from the mouth or rectum, bleeding that doesn't stop with 10 minutes of pressure — is an emergency. So is any wound that exposes muscle or bone, any bite from another animal (especially to the abdomen or chest), or any bleeding alongside lethargy, pale gums, or collapse (suggesting internal bleeding). Direct pressure is almost always the right first action. Tourniquets are rarely necessary and can cause more harm than good when applied incorrectly. The exception is severe limb bleeding that cannot be controlled any other way, and that is a very high bar. --- ### My cat is bleeding (cat) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/emergency/cat-bleeding/ Summary: Cat bleeding emergency — when bleeding is serious, how to apply safe pressure, and when to go to a vet. Pet Capsule first-aid guide. Cats bleed less visibly than dogs because they hide. By the time owners notice blood, the underlying injury is often older than the visible wound — and abscesses from cat bites are far more common than open lacerations. The most common bleeding scenarios in cats: a torn claw (dramatic but minor), a fight wound (often noticed only when an abscess bursts days later), a road-traffic injury (serious internal bleeding even when external bleeding looks small), and clotting disorders (most commonly from rat-bait exposure or paracetamol toxicity). Direct pressure is the right first action for almost all visible bleeding. The harder skill is recognising the bleeding cat — pale gums, hiding, lethargy, distended belly — when the wound is internal. --- ## Life-Stage Care Guides URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/ ### Puppy — Puppy (0–12 months) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/puppy-care/ Summary: Complete puppy care guide — vaccinations, feeding, toilet training, socialisation window, health checks, and the first-year timeline. By Pet Capsule. The first year of a dog's life is the most demanding and the most consequential. Decisions made in the first six months — what you expose your puppy to, how you feed them, the people and places and dogs they meet, what you tolerate behaviourally — set the temperament and health trajectory for the next 10–15 years. The most-missed thing in first-year ownership: the **socialisation window closes at around 16 weeks**. The dog you bring home from a puppy class at 12 weeks is the most plastic you will ever have, and what they meet before that age — in calm, positive, safe encounters — shapes whether they grow up calm or reactive. Owners often wait until "all vaccinations are done" at 16 weeks to start exposing the puppy to the world, by which point the window has closed and they end up with a fearful adolescent. The good news: every breed-specific quirk, every training challenge, every health risk has a known, well-worn path. Walk the path slowly, with vet support, and you have set up a healthy first decade. --- ### Adult dog — Adult dog (1–7 years) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/adult-dog-care/ Summary: Adult dog care — annual vet checks, weight management, dental health, exercise needs, behavioural maintenance, and how to prevent issues that show up in middle age. The adult years are when many owners relax. The puppy chaos is over, the vet visits are routine, and the dog seems to take care of themselves. This is a mistake. The decisions you make through years 1–7 — weight, dental care, exercise, mental stimulation, parasite prevention — determine whether the senior years are quiet and dignified or expensive and uncomfortable. The two highest-leverage things in adult dog care are **weight management** and **dental hygiene**. Both are cheap, both compound, and neither tends to feel urgent until they are. Obesity in adult dogs reliably shortens lifespan and predicts arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Untreated periodontal disease shortens life span by years and is present in around 80% of dogs over 3. --- ### Senior dog — Senior dog (7+ years) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/senior-dog-care/ Summary: Senior dog care — biannual vet checks, mobility, cognitive change, nutrition, quality of life, and how to spot the conditions that show up after age 7. "Senior" starts earlier than most owners realise. Giant breeds are senior at 5; large breeds at 6–7; medium and small breeds at 7–9; toy breeds at 9–10. The shift matters because the diagnostic threshold drops — what was a "wait a week and see" symptom in an adult is a "vet this week" symptom in a senior. The single highest-leverage shift in senior care is **biannual rather than annual wellness exams**. The body changes faster after 7. Bloodwork twice yearly catches kidney, liver, thyroid, and diabetic changes when they are still reversible or stabilisable, not when they are end-stage. Most senior conditions are not curable but are highly manageable. A diabetic dog on insulin can live a normal lifespan. A dog with osteoarthritis on the right combination of weight management, joint medication, and physical therapy moves like a much younger dog. Kidney disease caught at IRIS stage 1–2 is a different prognosis than stage 4. The earlier you find it, the longer the good years. --- ### Kitten — Kitten (0–12 months) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/kitten-care/ Summary: Complete kitten care guide — vaccinations, feeding, socialisation, litter training, and the first-year timeline for a healthy adult cat. Pet Capsule. Kittens are simpler than puppies in some ways and trickier in others. They mostly toilet-train themselves, mostly socialise themselves if you do the right things at the right age, and rarely chew the furniture beyond the first six months. But what you get wrong in kittenhood — particularly socialisation and dietary patterns — can be hard to undo in an adult cat who lives with you for another 15 years. The biggest miss in kitten ownership: **the socialisation window in cats is even earlier than in dogs**. The most plastic age is 2–9 weeks, and most kittens go to their new homes at 8 weeks — meaning the breeder or rescue carer has done most of the socialisation before you got involved. From 9 weeks onwards your job is consolidation, not foundation. A kitten that hasn't met dogs, vacuum cleaners, men with beards, and children by 9 weeks will likely never be fully comfortable with them. The second miss: dry-only diets and irregular hydration. Cats evolved as desert hunters and don't feel thirst the way dogs do. Establishing wet food and varied water sources as a kitten prevents the urinary problems that surface in many adult cats. --- ### Adult cat — Adult cat (1–7 years) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/adult-cat-care/ Summary: Adult cat care — annual vet checks, weight, dental health, litter habits, and how to prevent the urinary, dental, and weight problems that show up in middle age. The adult years in cats are deceptively quiet. The cat eats, sleeps, uses the tray, accepts a brush, and seems indestructible. This is exactly when most owners stop watching closely and when most of the conditions that will show up in old age start their silent progression — chronic kidney disease, dental disease, obesity, hyperthyroidism, diabetes. Annual vet checks matter more in cats than dogs because cats hide illness so well. By the time a cat looks sick, the underlying condition has often been present for months. Bloodwork from age 5 onwards changes this; a urinary check, a body-condition check, and a thyroid check catch most of the silent progressions early. The two biggest leverage points in adult cat care: **weight management** (cats are even more sensitive to obesity than dogs — diabetes, hepatic lipidosis, and joint disease all stack up) and **hydration / urinary support** (urinary obstruction in male cats is a top-five emergency). --- ### Senior cat — Senior cat (7+ years) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/life-stages/senior-cat-care/ Summary: Senior cat care — biannual vet checks, kidney and thyroid screening, mobility, cognitive change, and how to manage the conditions of older cats. By Pet Capsule. Cats age more gracefully than dogs in appearance but accumulate chronic disease just as reliably. Around three quarters of cats over 12 have chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, or all three. Most of these are highly manageable when caught early and become a series of crises when caught late. The single most important shift after age 7 is **biannual rather than annual vet exams**, with full bloodwork including thyroid and urinalysis at each visit. The conditions that define senior cats — kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, osteoarthritis — all progress quietly and reveal themselves at the bowl, the tray, and the bedside long before they cause obvious illness. The second is **environmental adaptation**. Senior cats sleep more, climb less, and feel cold more. Lower-sided litter trays, more accessible water bowls, ramps to favourite perches, warmer beds, and gentler interactions extend dignified years considerably. --- ## Veterinary Glossary URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/ ### Anaesthesia URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/anaesthesia/ **Short definition:** Controlled unconsciousness used for surgery and many vet procedures (such as dental scaling) in pets. Modern protocols make it routinely safe even in older animals. Anaesthesia in veterinary practice ranges from light sedation for nail trims or imaging to full general anaesthesia for surgery. Modern protocols use multiple drugs at low doses (multimodal anaesthesia) so that recovery is faster and side effects are reduced. A typical anaesthetic visit involves pre-anaesthetic blood work to check organ function, an IV catheter for fluids and any emergency drugs, intubation to secure the airway, and continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen, carbon-dioxide, and temperature. Risk does exist — overall mortality is in the range of 0.05–0.17% for healthy dogs and cats — but most pets are at the lower end. Risk rises with age, brachycephalic conformation (Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians), heart disease, kidney disease, obesity, and emergency rather than elective procedures. Discuss your specific pet's anaesthetic plan with the vet — particularly the drugs chosen and the monitoring level. Fasting before anaesthesia reduces vomiting risk. Most vets ask for no food from midnight; water is usually fine until you leave. Do not stress-medicate at home before the visit unless the vet has prescribed it. **When you'll hear it:** Before any surgery, dental procedure, X-ray that needs the pet still, or biopsy. --- ### Arthritis (osteoarthritis) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/arthritis/ **Short definition:** Inflammation and degeneration of joint cartilage causing chronic pain and reduced mobility. The most common cause of pain in older dogs and cats — and widely under-diagnosed. Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint condition where cartilage wears, bony changes develop, and the joint becomes painful and stiff. It is one of the most common conditions in pets over middle age — surveys suggest 20% of dogs over 1 year and 60–90% of cats over 12 have radiographic signs. Signs in dogs: slow to rise, stiff for the first few minutes after rest, reluctance on stairs, shorter walks, irritability when touched on the affected area. Signs in cats are much more subtle: less jumping, hesitating before jumping, sleeping in lower spots, less grooming the back end, increased grumpiness. Treatment is layered. Weight management is the highest-impact single intervention — every kilogram off an arthritic dog measurably reduces pain. Joint-supportive diet, omega-3 fatty acids, monthly injectable therapies (Cartrophen/Zydax in dogs, Solensia in cats — a step change for feline arthritis), oral NSAIDs, and physical therapy or hydrotherapy all play roles. Home environment matters: non-slip rugs, ramps to favourite spots, lower-sided litter trays for cats, orthopaedic beds, and gentle daily exercise rather than weekend warrior bursts. **When you'll hear it:** When a vet diagnoses joint disease, or when you notice your senior pet slowing down. --- ### Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus / GDV) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/bloat/ **Short definition:** A life-threatening emergency in deep-chested dogs where the stomach fills with gas and twists. Without surgery within hours, it is fatal. GDV is one of the few true minutes-matter emergencies in veterinary medicine. The stomach distends with gas (dilatation) and twists on its axis (volvulus), cutting off blood supply to the stomach and spleen and compressing major blood vessels. Shock and death follow within hours. At highest risk: deep-chested large and giant breeds — Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Setters, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Saint Bernards. Risk also rises with age, fast eating, exercise around mealtimes, eating one large meal a day, and elevated food bowls (counter-intuitively — recent evidence is mixed, but elevated bowls were once recommended and are no longer). Signs to recognise: distended abdomen, repeated unproductive retching (heaving with nothing coming up), restlessness, drooling, pale gums, collapse. Any of these in a deep-chested breed is a vet emergency now, not in the morning. Prophylactic gastropexy — surgically tacking the stomach to the body wall, often at the same time as de-sexing — substantially reduces lifetime risk in high-risk breeds. Worth discussing with your vet for any Great Dane, Setter, or other top-tier risk breed. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about large-breed dog ownership, especially deep-chested breeds. --- ### Body condition score (BCS) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/body-condition-score/ **Short definition:** A 1–9 (or 1–5) scoring system vets use to assess whether a pet is the right weight. More useful than the scale because it accounts for build and muscle. Body condition score (BCS) describes body fat. On the 9-point scale (most common), 4–5 is ideal, 6–7 is overweight, 8–9 is obese, 1–3 is underweight. On the 5-point scale, 3 is ideal. How to check at home: ribs should be easily palpable through a thin layer of fat (like feeling the back of your knuckles, not your wrist), a visible waist when viewed from above, and a slight tuck-up to the abdomen when viewed from the side. The "cat belly pouch" (primordial pouch) is normal and does not count toward score. BCS matters because it is the single best predictor of lifespan and chronic disease in pets. A landmark 14-year Labrador study showed lean-fed dogs lived 1.8 years longer than free-fed siblings — and avoided arthritis, diabetes, and many cancers along the way. Combine BCS with muscle condition score (MCS) in seniors — older pets often gain fat while losing muscle, which a single weight does not catch. **When you'll hear it:** At every wellness vet visit. Worth scoring at home every month. --- ### Brachycephalic URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/brachycephalic/ **Short definition:** Having a flat or short muzzle. Breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Cavaliers, Persians, and Exotic Shorthairs have specific health implications. Brachycephalic literally means "short-headed." The flat-faced conformation comes with a package of anatomical features collectively called brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS): narrow nostrils, elongated soft palate, narrow trachea, and sometimes laryngeal collapse. Practical implications: reduced ability to cool by panting (high heatstroke risk), louder breathing especially when excited or sleeping, exercise intolerance, susceptibility to respiratory infections, and higher anaesthetic risk. Many brachycephalic dogs benefit from surgical correction (BOAS surgery) which can be life-changing. Brachycephalic cats — Persians, Himalayans, Exotic Shorthairs — face similar but less severe airway issues, plus eye problems from shallow sockets and dental crowding from short jaws. If you own a brachycephalic breed, the key adaptations: harness instead of collar, no exercise in heat (restrict above 22–25°C), maintain lean body weight, regular vet airway assessment, and a low threshold for vet visits when breathing changes. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Pekingese, Persians, etc. --- ### Cancer in pets URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/cancer/ **Short definition:** Uncontrolled cell growth. Common in older pets but increasingly treatable. Early detection meaningfully improves outcome for most types. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in pets over 10. It is not one disease — there are dozens of types with very different behaviour, treatability, and prognosis. Lymphoma, mast cell tumour, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, mammary tumours, oral tumours, and bladder cancer are among the most common. Treatment options have expanded substantially. Surgery remains the cornerstone for many tumours. Chemotherapy in pets is gentler than in humans — most pets feel reasonably well through treatment, with milder side effects than people expect. Radiation therapy is increasingly available. Immunotherapy and targeted drugs are becoming options. Early detection matters: any new lump should be examined and aspirated (a needle sample) rather than "watch and wait" — many cancers look benign externally. Annual wellness exams, monthly home palpation, and immediate vet visits for non-healing wounds or unexplained weight loss all catch problems earlier. Quality-of-life is a real consideration. Aggressive treatment is one path; palliative care is another; choosing not to treat is also a legitimate option for some owners and some pets. A good vet will discuss all three frankly. **When you'll hear it:** When a lump is biopsied, when you have a senior pet, or in any conversation about long-term prognosis. --- ### Cushing's disease URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/cushings/ Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is one of the more common endocrine conditions in middle-aged and senior dogs. It results from too much cortisol — either from a small pituitary tumour stimulating the adrenals (most common, ~85% of cases) or directly from an adrenal tumour. Classic signs: increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, pot-bellied appearance, thin skin, hair thinning or loss on the body (often symmetrical), panting at rest, exercise intolerance, recurring skin or urinary infections. Diagnosis involves blood tests (low-dose dexamethasone suppression test or ACTH stimulation test) and abdominal ultrasound. Treatment is medical (trilostane or mitotane) and lifelong, with regular monitoring. Cushing's is rarely an emergency on its own, but it predisposes to other problems: diabetes, blood clots, hypertension, infections. Diagnosis and treatment improve quality of life substantially in most affected dogs. **When you'll hear it:** When an older dog shows persistent increased thirst and a pot belly. --- ### Dental disease (periodontal disease) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/dental-disease/ **Short definition:** Inflammation of the tissues supporting the teeth, caused by plaque and tartar. Present in around 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by age 3. Painful and shortens lifespan. Periodontal disease is the most common health condition in adult pets. Plaque on the teeth hardens to tartar, which inflames the gums (gingivitis) and progressively destroys the bone supporting the tooth. End-stage disease causes tooth loss, abscesses, jaw fractures, and contributes to heart, kidney, and liver problems. Pets hide dental pain expertly. Common signs are subtle: bad breath, reluctance to chew hard food, dropping food, chewing on one side, head shy when touched on the face, irritability, weight loss. "Slowing down with age" is sometimes simply chronic dental pain. Treatment combines home care (daily tooth brushing is gold standard; VOHC-approved dental chews are partial replacement) with professional scaling under anaesthesia every 1–3 years. "Anaesthetic-free" dental cleaning is cosmetic only — it cannot address the under-gum disease that actually matters. Dental health is one of the highest-leverage longevity interventions for pets. Multiple studies link dental care to 1–2 extra years of life on average. **When you'll hear it:** At every vet visit. Wherever you see a pet drop food or have bad breath. --- ### Dental scaling URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/dental-scaling/ **Short definition:** Professional cleaning of teeth under anaesthesia using ultrasonic and hand instruments to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. Dental scaling is performed under anaesthesia in a vet clinic. The procedure involves a full oral exam, dental X-rays to identify hidden disease (around 30% of significant dental disease is invisible to the naked eye), ultrasonic scaling above and below the gum line, polishing, and extraction of any unsalvageable teeth. Most pets need scaling every 1–3 years from age 3. Small breeds, brachycephalic breeds, and pets with crowded or misaligned teeth may need it annually. The anaesthetic concern most owners raise is usually exaggerated for the procedure but underestimated for the alternative — chronic untreated dental disease causes systemic illness, daily pain, and shortens lifespan. Modern anaesthetic protocols make scaling routinely safe for healthy adult and senior pets. "Anaesthetic-free dental cleaning" is widely marketed but is cosmetic only — it cannot probe below the gum line where the actual disease lives and risks injury to the pet from un-sedated handling. **When you'll hear it:** When the vet recommends a dental procedure, typically every 1–3 years from age 3. --- ### Diabetes mellitus URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/diabetes/ **Short definition:** Insufficient insulin or insulin resistance leading to high blood sugar. Common in older overweight cats and middle-aged dogs. Highly manageable with twice-daily insulin. Diabetes in pets is similar to type 1 (dogs) and sometimes type 2 (cats) diabetes in humans. The body can't move sugar into cells, so blood sugar rises and the body switches to burning fat for energy, producing ketones in severe cases. Signs: increased thirst, increased urination, increased appetite combined with weight loss, lethargy, sometimes cataracts in dogs (rapid-onset blindness). Diagnosis is straightforward — a single blood glucose and urine sample is usually conclusive. Treatment is twice-daily insulin injections (most pets tolerate this very well) plus a controlled diet, ideally fed at the same times each day. Most owners are anxious before starting and surprised at how routine it becomes after a week or two. Cats sometimes achieve remission with early aggressive treatment, weight loss, and a low-carb diet — meaning they no longer need insulin. Dogs essentially always need lifelong insulin. With consistent management, most diabetic pets live a normal lifespan and quality of life. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an emergency where the body has decompensated — vomiting, severe lethargy, dehydration — and needs hospitalisation. **When you'll hear it:** In an older overweight cat or middle-aged dog with increased thirst and weight loss. --- ### FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/flutd/ **Short definition:** Umbrella term for problems affecting the bladder and urethra in cats. Most common cause: idiopathic cystitis. Male urethral obstruction is a true emergency. FLUTD describes signs of lower urinary tract trouble: frequent attempts to urinate, straining, blood in the urine, urinating outside the tray, crying or vocalising in the tray, excessive grooming of the genital area. The underlying causes include feline idiopathic cystitis (most common, stress-driven), bladder stones, urinary infection (less common in cats than dogs), urinary tract tumours, and urethral plugs. The critical scenario is male urethral obstruction — a plug or stone blocks urine flow. Without treatment, the bladder ruptures or the cat dies of kidney failure within 24–72 hours. Signs: straining with no urine produced, vocalising, restlessness, vomiting, hiding, collapse. This is a true emergency. Treatment depends on cause. Idiopathic cystitis is managed with stress reduction, environmental enrichment, hydration support (wet food, multiple water sources), and sometimes prescription urinary diets. Stones may need dissolution diets or surgery. Obstructed cats need emergency unblocking under anaesthesia. Prevention: multiple clean trays in separate locations, multiple water sources, wet food daily, stable low-stress environment, vertical territory (climbing posts), routine annual exam. **When you'll hear it:** In any cat with urinary problems; in male-cat-owner education conversations. --- ### Gastropexy URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/gastropexy/ Gastropexy is a preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked to the inside of the abdominal wall, so it can no longer twist on its axis. The stomach can still distend with gas (dilatation), but cannot rotate (volvulus). This prevents the life-threatening half of GDV. The procedure is often done laparoscopically (keyhole) and adds limited time to a routine de-sexing surgery. For high-risk breeds — Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Setters, Saint Bernards, Akitas — prophylactic gastropexy reduces lifetime GDV risk dramatically. Discuss with your vet at the time of considering de-sexing for these breeds. Cost is moderate when added to an existing procedure; far less than emergency GDV surgery (which is also far more dangerous). **When you'll hear it:** When discussing surgery for a deep-chested large breed. --- ### Heartworm URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/heartworm/ **Short definition:** A parasitic worm that lives in the heart and major blood vessels of dogs (and rarely cats), transmitted by mosquitos. Preventable. Treatment is risky and expensive. Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a roughly 30cm worm that lives in the right heart and pulmonary arteries. A single mosquito bite from an infected mosquito can transmit the disease; over months the worm matures and adult worms cause coughing, exercise intolerance, weight loss, and ultimately heart failure. Geography matters. Heartworm is endemic in northern and tropical Australia, much of the southern US, parts of Europe, and across South-East Asia. Prevention is straightforward: monthly chewable tablets, topical drops, or annual injection. Year-round prevention is recommended in endemic areas regardless of season. Treatment of established heartworm is melarsomine injections plus strict rest for months — risky, expensive, and uncomfortable. Prevention is 100x easier than treatment. In cats, heartworm is less common but still occurs, and there is no safe adult-worm treatment in cats — prevention is the only option. If your dog has lapsed on prevention, your vet will heartworm-test before restarting, because giving prevention to a heartworm-positive dog can be dangerous. **When you'll hear it:** At every annual wellness exam if you live in an endemic area. --- ### Hyperthyroidism URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/hyperthyroidism/ **Short definition:** Overactive thyroid gland producing too much thyroid hormone. The most common endocrine disease in older cats. Highly treatable. Hyperthyroidism affects around 10% of cats over 10 and is rare in dogs. A benign nodule (occasionally a tumour) in the thyroid gland overproduces thyroid hormone, ramping up the body's metabolism. Classic signs: weight loss despite voracious appetite, restlessness, hyperactivity, vocalising at night, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst, sometimes aggression or behavioural change. Senior cat owners often describe "they're hungry all the time but losing weight." Diagnosis is a single blood test (T4). Treatment has four options: - **Methimazole** — oral or transdermal medication, twice daily, lifelong, monitored with regular blood tests - **Iodine-restricted prescription diet** — must be the only food the cat eats - **Radioactive iodine (I-131)** — single treatment, curative, requires brief isolation, available at specialist centres - **Surgery** — uncommon in modern practice Untreated hyperthyroidism damages the heart and kidneys and substantially shortens lifespan. Treated, most cats live a normal lifespan. **When you'll hear it:** In any older cat losing weight despite a good appetite. --- ### IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/ibd/ **Short definition:** Chronic immune-mediated inflammation of the gut, causing intermittent or persistent vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Common in middle-aged and senior cats and dogs. Inflammatory bowel disease is not a single condition but a collection of chronic gut inflammations. The body's immune system attacks the gut wall, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, and intermittent appetite changes. Diagnosis is challenging. Bloodwork, faecal tests, and abdominal ultrasound rule out other causes. Definitive diagnosis is by intestinal biopsy under anaesthesia, which is also necessary to differentiate IBD from small-cell lymphoma — the two look identical externally and on imaging but have very different treatment. Treatment is layered: hypoallergenic or hydrolysed-protein diet trial first, then immunosuppressive medication (steroids, sometimes chlorambucil or cyclosporine), B12 supplementation, and probiotics. Most pets achieve good control even if not cure. In cats, the link between IBD and small-cell lymphoma is so close that some specialists recommend treating both the same way. Discuss with your vet. **When you'll hear it:** In any pet with chronic vomiting or diarrhoea over weeks to months. --- ### Chronic kidney disease (CKD) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/kidney-disease/ **Short definition:** Progressive loss of kidney function. Affects around 75% of cats over 12 and a substantial share of senior dogs. Manageable when caught early. Chronic kidney disease is the gradual loss of kidney function over months to years. By the time obvious signs appear, around 65–75% of kidney function is already lost — which is why screening blood and urine tests from age 5–7 catch it years earlier than waiting for symptoms. Signs include increased thirst and urination (the kidneys can't concentrate urine), weight loss, decreased appetite, intermittent vomiting, bad breath, weakness. Late signs include severe lethargy, mouth ulcers, and pale gums. Treatment depends on staging (IRIS stages 1–4). Early stages: renal prescription diet, hydration support, blood pressure monitoring. Later stages add phosphorus binders, anti-nausea medication, appetite stimulants, B-vitamin injections, sometimes subcutaneous fluid therapy at home. The single highest-impact intervention is the renal diet — modified protein, restricted phosphorus, supplemented omega-3. It is unpalatable to many cats; gradual transition over weeks and management of nausea matters. Caught at IRIS stage 1–2, many cats live years of good quality. Caught at stage 3–4, the timeline is months to a year or two. **When you'll hear it:** In any senior pet with increased thirst. In screening bloodwork for senior cats. --- ### Lymphoma URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/lymphoma/ **Short definition:** Cancer of lymphocytes (immune cells), one of the most common cancers in dogs and cats. Often responds well to chemotherapy. Lymphoma is the most common cancer in many breeds of dogs and is also common in cats. It is a cancer of lymphocytes — white blood cells in the immune system — and can arise in lymph nodes (most common in dogs), gut (most common in cats), liver, spleen, bone marrow, or other sites. In dogs, the most common form (multicentric lymphoma) presents as enlarged lymph nodes — often noticed under the jaw, in front of the shoulder, or behind the knee. The pet is often otherwise well at diagnosis. In cats, gastrointestinal lymphoma is most common, presenting as chronic vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss — clinically very similar to IBD, requiring biopsy to differentiate. Treatment with chemotherapy is well-tolerated in pets compared with humans. Dogs commonly achieve 12–14 months of high-quality life with combination chemotherapy; small-cell lymphoma in cats can have 2–3 year median survival with chlorambucil and steroids. Without treatment, prognosis is months. Quality of life with appropriate treatment is usually good — most pets tolerate chemotherapy with mild side effects. **When you'll hear it:** When a vet finds enlarged lymph nodes or unexplained chronic gut signs. --- ### Microchip URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/microchip/ Microchipping is a permanent identification method that survives lost collars, faded tags, and changes of address. The chip is injected between the shoulder blades with a slightly large needle — most pets react less than to a vaccine — and is readable by any vet, shelter, or council scanner. The chip itself stores only an ID number. That number is registered in a national database with your contact details. Two critical things owners forget: keep the registered details current (when you move, when you change phone numbers) and confirm the chip is actually registered to you (rescue dogs sometimes still show breeder or rescue details). Microchipping is legally required in most Australian states, New Zealand, the UK, and many other jurisdictions. Without a microchip, recovery of a lost pet is much harder; with one, the chance of reunion is high. Microchips do not provide GPS tracking — they only respond to a scanner held against the skin. For real-time location, GPS collars and AirTag-style trackers are separate products. **When you'll hear it:** At de-sexing or first vet visit. When moving house or changing phone number. --- ### Neutering / de-sexing / spaying / castration URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/neutering/ **Short definition:** Surgical removal of the reproductive organs. Spaying = female (ovaries and usually uterus); castration / neutering = male (testicles). Population control + health benefits. De-sexing is one of the most common surgical procedures in companion animals. In females (spay / ovariohysterectomy / ovariectomy), the ovaries and usually the uterus are removed. In males (castration / orchidectomy), the testicles are removed. Health benefits include elimination of certain cancers (testicular, ovarian, uterine), reduced risk of others (mammary cancer if spayed before first heat in dogs), elimination of pyometra (life-threatening uterine infection in older entire females), and reduced behaviours linked to sex hormones (roaming, fighting, marking, false pregnancy). Timing is increasingly debated. The traditional 6-month age is being revised in some breeds — particularly large and giant breed dogs, where delaying until growth plates close (12–18 months) appears to reduce orthopaedic disease (cruciate rupture, hip dysplasia) at the cost of slightly higher cancer risk for some types. Discuss with your vet for your specific breed. Cats: typically 4–6 months. Sexual maturity arrives early in cats and unwanted litters are a leading welfare issue. Recovery is usually 7–14 days of restricted activity. Modern anaesthetics, IV fluids, pain relief, and Elizabethan collars (or recovery suits) make the experience routine for healthy young pets. **When you'll hear it:** At the first puppy/kitten vet visit. In any conversation about pet population, behaviour, or breed-specific timing. --- ### NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/nsaid/ **Short definition:** Anti-inflammatory and pain medication used widely for arthritis and post-surgical pain. Vet-prescribed pet NSAIDs are very different from human ones and human versions are dangerous. NSAIDs reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. In pets they are the mainstay of arthritis management and post-surgical pain control. Common veterinary NSAIDs in dogs include meloxicam, carprofen, firocoxib, robenacoxib, deracoxib, and grapiprant. In cats, meloxicam (limited use) and robenacoxib are available. Critical safety points: - **Never give human NSAIDs** — ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, diclofenac. They cause severe ulcers, kidney damage, and death in dogs and cats at relatively low doses. - **Never combine** an NSAID with steroids — high ulcer risk. - Monitor kidney and liver function with baseline and periodic blood tests, especially in senior pets. - Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased appetite, or dark stool — stop the medication and call the vet. When used appropriately, NSAIDs transform quality of life for arthritic pets. The decision is usually whether to use them, not which one — modern veterinary NSAIDs have much better safety profiles than NSAIDs from a generation ago. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about arthritis or post-surgical pain. --- ### Obesity URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/obesity/ **Short definition:** Excess body fat associated with negative health effects. Around 60% of dogs and 50% of cats in many countries are overweight or obese. Major lifespan and disease driver. Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in pets. It is also one of the most reversible causes of premature illness — every kilogram off an overweight pet reduces strain on joints, heart, pancreas, kidneys, and the immune system. Causes are simple in principle (calories in > calories out) and complex in practice (over-feeding, treats and table scraps, de-sexing-driven metabolic shift, inactivity, ageing, the unintended cumulative effect of "just a bite"). The most common owner-side cause is using treats as love. Health consequences: arthritis, diabetes, hepatic lipidosis in cats, pancreatitis, heart disease, kidney disease, urinary disease, multiple cancers, exercise intolerance, anaesthetic risk, and shortened lifespan (1.8 years in the landmark Labrador study). Weight loss must be gradual — 1–2% body weight per week in dogs, 0.5–1% in cats. Crash dieting in cats triggers hepatic lipidosis. Use a vet-supervised plan: prescription weight-loss food, measured portions, fewer treats (or treats as part of the daily calorie allowance), increased low-impact activity. The hardest part of weight loss in pets is the household — multiple feeders, kids slipping treats, the older relative who can't bear to see the dog "starve." Family consensus is the actual lever. **When you'll hear it:** At nearly every vet visit. In any conversation about long-term health. --- ### Pancreatitis URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/pancreatitis/ Pancreatitis ranges from a mild self-limiting episode to severe necrotising disease requiring intensive care. The pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes and insulin, becomes inflamed and the enzymes begin damaging the pancreas itself. In dogs, classic triggers include a fatty meal (Christmas ham, the BBQ scraps, a stick of butter found on the bench), corticosteroid medication, and some other medications. Predisposed breeds include Schnauzers (high-fat blood is common), Cocker Spaniels, and Yorkies. Signs: vomiting, abdominal pain (the "praying position" — chest down, rear up), lethargy, decreased appetite. In cats, pancreatitis is sneakier — vague signs like lethargy, decreased appetite, sometimes vomiting, weight loss. The "feline triaditis" (pancreatitis + IBD + cholangitis) is a common pattern. Diagnosis: specific pancreatic lipase blood test (cPL for dogs, fPL for cats) plus abdominal ultrasound. Treatment: IV fluids, anti-nausea medication, pain relief, gradual reintroduction of a low-fat diet. Severe cases need hospitalisation and intensive care. Prevention: avoid fatty meal scraps especially around holidays, maintain healthy weight, careful use of corticosteroids in predisposed pets. **When you'll hear it:** After a holiday food incident, or in a dog with sudden vomiting and abdominal pain. --- ### Parasite prevention URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/parasite-prevention/ Routine parasite prevention is one of the highest-leverage investments in pet care. The diseases prevented — heartworm, paralysis tick (Australia), Lyme disease, tick paralysis, flea-allergic dermatitis, intestinal worm infestations, hookworm anaemia in puppies, tapeworm transmitted by fleas — are common, sometimes fatal, and almost entirely preventable. Common product categories: - **Monthly chewables** combining flea, tick, heartworm, intestinal worm (e.g., NexGard Spectra, Simparica Trio, Bravecto Plus). Most convenient. - **Topical (spot-on) products** covering different combinations. - **Tablets** (single-action or combination). - **Injectable heartworm prevention** (annual, dogs). - **Collars** (some long-acting tick/flea collars; check ingredients carefully for cat-safety in dog products). Year-round prevention is standard in endemic areas. Lapsing for even a single month restarts the heartworm clock; lapsing during summer can mean tick paralysis in Australian east-coast regions. Cats need cat-specific products. Many dog flea products containing permethrin or pyrethrin are lethal in cats. **When you'll hear it:** At every vet visit. When moving between geographies. --- ### Pet insurance URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/pet-insurance/ **Short definition:** Insurance that reimburses a portion of veterinary costs for accidents, illness, or both. Most valuable when purchased before any pre-existing condition develops. Pet insurance reimburses a portion of veterinary fees according to policy terms. Cover ranges from "accident only" (cheapest) through "accident and illness" to "comprehensive" including routine care and dental. The single most important rule: **pre-existing conditions are excluded forever**. Anything the pet has shown signs of before the policy starts (or during a waiting period) will not be covered for that condition for the life of the policy, regardless of subsequent insurers. Insure young — ideally before 6 months — and review policies before there is any health concern. Key terms to understand: excess (the amount you pay before reimbursement starts — annual or per-condition), reimbursement percentage (70%, 80%, 90%), annual benefit limit, sub-limits per condition, waiting periods, age limits, breed-specific exclusions, and bilateral conditions (if one cruciate ruptures, the other is often excluded as "pre-existing"). Compare like-for-like — the cheap policy may exclude the conditions most likely to occur in your breed. Comprehensive cover on a young, healthy pet is typically $40–$100 per month and pays back fast if anything serious happens. Without insurance, set aside the same monthly amount into a dedicated pet savings account. **When you'll hear it:** At first puppy/kitten visit; in any conversation about chronic conditions or surgery. --- ### Spay URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/spay/ **Short definition:** Surgical de-sexing of a female pet. See "neutering / de-sexing" for the full entry. "Spay" is the everyday English term for ovariohysterectomy (removal of ovaries and uterus) or ovariectomy (removal of ovaries only) in female pets. See the full entry on **neutering / de-sexing** for benefits, timing, recovery, and what to expect. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about female pet de-sexing. --- ### Titer (titre) test URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/titer-test/ **Short definition:** A blood test measuring existing antibody levels against a specific disease. Used to decide whether a vaccine booster is necessary. Vaccine titer tests measure the antibodies in your pet's blood against core diseases (in dogs, parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis; in cats, panleukopenia, herpes, calici). If antibody levels are above a protective threshold, the pet is considered immune and a booster can usually be skipped that year. Titer testing reflects a shift in best practice — modern core vaccines often produce immunity that lasts longer than the standard 1–3 year booster cycle. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) endorses titer testing as an evidence-based alternative to routine boosters for core diseases. Practical use: typical schedule is core vaccines as puppy/kitten, a 1-year booster, then titer test annually or every 3 years. Non-core vaccines (kennel cough, FeLV, lepto) require their own schedule based on lifestyle. Cost is similar to a vaccine in many practices, sometimes slightly higher. The benefit is reduced lifetime vaccine load on the pet's immune system — particularly relevant in pets with previous vaccine reactions or autoimmune conditions. **When you'll hear it:** When discussing whether the annual booster is needed, especially in senior pets. --- ### Vaccinations URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/vaccinations/ **Short definition:** Injections that train the immune system to recognise specific diseases. Core (essential for all pets) and non-core (lifestyle-dependent) categories. Vaccines protect against viral and bacterial diseases by exposing the immune system to a weakened or killed version of the pathogen. Most pets need a core vaccination series as puppies/kittens followed by lifelong boosters or titer-tested reviews. **Core dog vaccines:** parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, sometimes leptospirosis (lifestyle-dependent in some countries). **Core cat vaccines:** feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia, sometimes FeLV. **Non-core / lifestyle:** kennel cough (Bordetella, parainfluenza) for dogs that board or do daycare; rabies in endemic regions; FeLV for outdoor-access cats; lepto in areas with rats or rural exposure; FIV in some practices. Schedules: typically puppies/kittens at 6–8, 10–12, 14–16 weeks; one-year booster; then 1–3 yearly per vaccine type. Many modern core vaccines provide 3+ years of immunity per booster — discuss titer-testing with your vet. Side effects are usually mild — slight lethargy or soreness for 24 hours. Serious reactions are uncommon. Report any vomiting, facial swelling, or laboured breathing post-vaccination as urgent. **When you'll hear it:** At every puppy/kitten visit and every annual exam. --- ### Cruciate ligament rupture URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/cruciate-rupture/ **Short definition:** Tearing of the cranial cruciate ligament in the knee. The most common orthopaedic injury in dogs. Often surgical. The cranial cruciate ligament (the dog equivalent of the human ACL) stabilises the knee. In dogs it usually tears not from a single trauma but from chronic degeneration — and once one knee tears, the other often follows within 12–18 months. Risk factors: breed (Labradors, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, Newfoundlands), obesity, early-age neutering in large breeds, conformation. Signs: sudden hindleg lameness, hesitation to bear weight on the affected leg, often partial improvement over a few days then persistent intermittent lameness, sometimes a clicking sound. Treatment is usually surgical for medium and large dogs — most commonly tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) or tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA). Small dogs may do well with extracapsular repair or conservative management. Surgical recovery is 3–4 months of strictly restricted activity. Most dogs return to near-normal function. Without surgery, larger dogs develop chronic lameness and severe arthritis. In cats, cruciate rupture is much less common. **When you'll hear it:** When a dog suddenly goes lame on a back leg and the lameness persists. --- ### Hip dysplasia URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/hip-dysplasia/ **Short definition:** Abnormal development of the hip joint where the ball and socket don\ Hip dysplasia is a developmental orthopaedic condition where the femoral head and acetabulum (socket) don't articulate properly. Over time the joint develops laxity, abnormal wear, and arthritis. It is heavily inherited — Labrador, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, and many other large breeds are predisposed. Breeding programmes that score hips (PennHIP, OFA, BVA hip scoring) reduce incidence. Signs in young dogs: "bunny-hopping" gait, reluctance to climb stairs, difficulty rising, narrow stance behind. Some young dogs show signs as early as 4–8 months. Older dogs with developing arthritis show stiffness, slower walks, and exercise intolerance. Treatment depends on age and severity. Young dogs with severe dysplasia may benefit from surgical procedures (juvenile pubic symphysiodesis, triple pelvic osteotomy, total hip replacement). Older dogs are managed with weight control, joint-supportive diet, omega-3, monthly joint injections, NSAIDs, and physical therapy. Maintaining lean body weight is the single most powerful intervention. Hydrotherapy is excellent for symptomatic dogs. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about large-breed puppy selection or in an older dog with hindlimb weakness. --- ### Separation anxiety URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/separation-anxiety/ **Short definition:** Distress when separated from owners. Common in dogs (less in cats). Ranges from mild whining to destructive panic. Treatable with training and sometimes medication. Separation anxiety is a clinical condition (not just "being bored"). Dogs with true separation anxiety experience genuine panic when left — they pant, drool, vocalise, destroy doorways or windows, sometimes self-injure trying to escape. It commonly emerges after a significant life change: a move, an owner returning to office work after working from home, the loss of a household member or pet. The hallmark distinguishing this from boredom: signs start within minutes of departure (not hours), and are highly consistent regardless of how tired the dog is. Video recording the dog in your absence is the diagnostic gold standard — most owners are surprised by the severity. Treatment is a structured desensitisation programme: very short absences below the panic threshold, gradually extended over weeks. Crating without prior training generally makes things worse. Anti-anxiety medication (clomipramine, fluoxetine, sometimes situational trazodone) accelerates progress in moderate-to-severe cases. A veterinary behaviourist or qualified force-free trainer experienced in separation anxiety is the right partner — DIY approaches and outdated advice ("they're being dominant", "ignore them") commonly worsen the condition. **When you'll hear it:** When a dog destroys the house in the owner\ --- ### Noise phobia URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/noise-phobia/ **Short definition:** Extreme fear of specific sounds — fireworks, thunder, gunshots. Common, treatable, and often progressive if ignored. Noise phobia is one of the most common behavioural conditions in dogs (less in cats). Affected dogs experience genuine fear bordering on panic: trembling, hiding, panting, drooling, destructive behaviour, attempts to escape. Untreated, the condition typically worsens with each exposure season. Common triggers: fireworks (largest single source of veterinary panic cases each year), thunderstorms, gunshots, smoke alarms, certain music or vacuum cleaners. Management has two timelines: - **Long-term:** desensitisation using recorded sounds at very low volume paired with food rewards, gradually increased over months. Done well, this changes the underlying emotional response. - **Short-term / situational:** anti-anxiety medication on storm or fireworks days (sileo, trazodone, clonidine, sometimes benzodiazepines), a "safe room" set up with white noise and the dog's favourite bed, calming pheromones, ThunderShirts. Avoid: reassuring in a worried tone (some dogs read this as confirmation of danger), forcing the dog to "face it," punishing the fear-related behaviour, or letting the season pass without intervention — phobia typically worsens with repeated unmedicated exposure. **When you'll hear it:** Before fireworks night or thunderstorm season. --- ### Paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/paralysis-tick/ **Short definition:** An Australian tick whose toxin causes progressive paralysis in pets. Without rapid vet treatment, often fatal. Preventable. Ixodes holocyclus, the Australian paralysis tick, lives along the east coast from north Queensland to eastern Victoria. The female tick injects a neurotoxin in her saliva that causes ascending paralysis — weakness starting in the back legs and moving forward, eventually paralysing the respiratory muscles. Signs typically appear 3–7 days after attachment: change in bark or meow, weakness on the hind legs, vomiting, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, laboured breathing, eventually collapse. Time from first signs to respiratory failure can be hours. Treatment: emergency vet visit, tick search and removal, anti-tick serum (an antibody therapy), supportive care that may include sedation, IV fluids, oxygen, and sometimes mechanical ventilation. Even with treatment, mortality is around 5%. Without treatment, mortality is much higher. Prevention is non-negotiable for east-coast Australian pets: monthly chewables (Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica), spot-on products, or some long-acting collars. Daily tick searches after walks — particularly head, ears, face, neck, between toes. The tick is small (sesame-seed size) and easy to miss. **When you'll hear it:** On the Australian east coast, every spring and summer. --- ### Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/kennel-cough/ **Short definition:** Contagious respiratory illness in dogs caused by Bordetella, parainfluenza, and sometimes other pathogens. Like a "common cold" — usually self-limiting. Kennel cough is a viral and bacterial respiratory infection complex, most commonly involving Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus. It is highly contagious, spreads through respiratory droplets and shared surfaces, and outbreaks are common where dogs gather (boarding kennels, daycare, shows, parks, vets' waiting rooms). The classic sign is a dry honking cough, often described as sounding like the dog is choking. Some dogs have mild nasal discharge or low energy; most stay bright and eat well. Onset is typically 3–10 days after exposure. Most cases self-limit in 1–3 weeks. Antibiotics are reserved for cases with fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, or productive cough — a vet decides. Cough suppressants are sometimes prescribed. Vaccination (Bordetella, often combined with parainfluenza) is non-core but strongly recommended for any dog that boards, attends daycare, goes to shows, or frequents busy dog parks. Vaccines do not prevent all cases (the syndrome includes pathogens not in vaccines) but reduce severity and incidence. Highly contagious for 1–3 weeks after symptoms start — isolate from other dogs through that window, including beyond when your dog personally feels better. **When you'll hear it:** After boarding, daycare, or a dog show — or in any dog with a sudden honking cough. --- ### Mast cell tumour URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/mast-cell-tumour/ **Short definition:** A common skin tumour in dogs that can range from a benign lump to an aggressive cancer. Many present as a "boring" skin bump and need biopsy. Mast cell tumours (MCTs) are one of the most common skin cancers in dogs. They are notorious for variability — some are entirely benign and excised cleanly, others are aggressive and metastatic. Outwardly they often look like a simple lump, sometimes hairless, sometimes red or itchy, sometimes changing in size. Breeds with higher incidence: Boxer, Bulldog, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Pug, Boston Terrier, Pit Bull. The "Boxer with a lump" stereotype is grounded in reality. The right approach to any new lump: fine-needle aspirate first. Mast cells are highly distinctive on cytology, so a quick in-clinic aspirate (often the same day as discovery) can confirm or rule out MCT before any decision about surgery. Treatment depends on grading. Low-grade MCTs are usually cured by surgical removal with wide margins. Higher-grade tumours may need chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy. Localised cases often have good outcomes; metastatic cases require oncology specialist input. Bottom line: never "watch and see" a new lump on a Boxer or similar predisposed breed. Aspirate first. **When you'll hear it:** Every time a new lump appears on a dog. --- ### Urethral obstruction (cat blockage) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/urethral-obstruction/ Urethral obstruction is one of the most urgent emergencies in feline practice. A mucous plug, stone, or inflammation blocks urine flow. Within 24 hours the bladder ruptures or the cat dies of kidney failure and electrolyte imbalance. Male cats are at much higher risk than females due to their narrow urethra. Predisposing factors: overweight, indoor lifestyle, stress, dry-food-only diet, dehydration, prior episodes of FLUTD. Signs: straining in the tray with no urine produced (or tiny drops with blood), vocalising in the tray, restlessness, hiding, vomiting, lethargy. By the time the cat is flat and unresponsive, the situation is critical. Treatment: emergency vet visit, sedation/anaesthesia, urinary catheter to relieve the obstruction, IV fluids, electrolyte correction (potassium is the killer), pain management, hospitalisation for several days. Some cats need a perineal urethrostomy (PU surgery) if they reobstruct repeatedly — this widens the urethra surgically. Prevention: wet food, multiple water sources, weight management, stress reduction, plenty of clean trays in separate locations. Routine annual exam. If you have a male cat and notice straining in the tray, do not wait for morning. This is the single most time-critical emergency owners regret being late to. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about male cat ownership and litter habits. --- ### Food allergy / intolerance URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/food-allergies/ **Short definition:** An adverse reaction to a food component, most often a protein. Causes skin or gut signs. Diagnosed by 8–12 week elimination diet. Food allergies and intolerances in pets cause chronic itching (often face, ears, paws, anal area), recurrent ear infections, chronic soft stools or diarrhoea, or chronic vomiting. The most common trigger is a protein the pet has been eating for a long time — chicken, beef, dairy, lamb, fish, egg, or sometimes a wheat or corn ingredient. True diagnosis is by **elimination diet trial**: 8–12 weeks of feeding ONLY a hydrolysed-protein diet or a strict novel-protein diet (one the pet has never had before), with absolutely no treats, flavoured medications, or table scraps from other family members. The strictness is the whole game; a single contaminated week resets the clock. Blood tests and saliva tests sold as "food allergy panels" have poor evidence behind them and are not a substitute for an elimination trial. After 8–12 weeks of clean diet trial with improvement, you challenge with one suspected ingredient at a time to identify the culprit, then choose a long-term commercial diet that avoids it. The hardest part of an elimination diet trial is the family — children sharing toast, grandparents slipping treats, the dog finding the cat's food. Without 100% compliance, the trial doesn't give a clean answer. **When you'll hear it:** In a pet with chronic itching, recurrent ear infections, or chronic gut signs. --- ### Fleas URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/fleas/ **Short definition:** Tiny blood-feeding insects that cause itching and skin disease. The most common parasite of pets. Most pets are not "scratching" — they are flea-allergic. Fleas are far more than a nuisance — they are the leading cause of skin disease in dogs and cats. Most pets that "have a few fleas" are allergic to flea saliva and a single bite triggers days of itching. Fleas spend most of the life cycle off the pet (in carpets, beds, gardens) as eggs, larvae, and pupae. The pet you see scratching is only the tip — the household has many more. This is why effective flea control requires both the pet (year-round prevention) and the environment (vacuuming, washing bedding, environmental sprays for severe infestations). Modern monthly chewables (NexGard, Simparica, Bravecto) and topical products (Frontline Plus, Advantage) are highly effective. Many combine flea + tick + heartworm + intestinal worm. Cats need cat-specific products — many dog products are toxic to cats. Heavy flea infestations in puppies and kittens can cause life-threatening anaemia. Fleas transmit tapeworm (the dog or cat eats an infected flea while grooming). Year-round prevention is standard in most climates. Lapsing for one summer typically restarts a household infestation that takes 3 months to clear. **When you'll hear it:** At every vet visit. Any time a pet scratches more than usual. --- ### Rabies URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/rabies/ **Short definition:** A viral disease of mammals causing fatal brain inflammation. Preventable by vaccination. Australia and New Zealand are rabies-free; many countries require vaccination. Rabies is one of the most consequential zoonotic diseases — transmitted from animals to humans, almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Transmission is usually via bite from an infected mammal. **Australia and New Zealand are rabies-free**, with strict biosecurity to keep them that way. The UK has been rabies-free since 1922, though imported cases occasionally appear. Most of the rest of the world has endemic rabies, with India, parts of Africa, and South-East Asia carrying the highest burden. Rabies vaccination is required for pets crossing many international borders. The schedule typically involves an initial vaccine followed by blood titer testing to confirm immunity, then ongoing boosters. International pet travel requires planning months in advance. In endemic countries, rabies vaccination is part of core puppy/kitten vaccines. In rabies-free countries, it is administered only for export or specific exposure-risk situations. **When you'll hear it:** When planning international travel, or for pets being imported. --- ### Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/hcm/ **Short definition:** The most common heart disease in cats — thickening of the heart muscle. Often silent until decompensation. Maine Coons, Ragdolls, British Shorthairs predisposed. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a thickening of the heart's ventricular walls, reducing the chamber size and the heart's ability to fill properly. It is the most common acquired heart disease in cats and often silent for years before decompensating. Predisposed breeds include Maine Coon, Ragdoll, British Shorthair, Sphynx, Persian, and Norwegian Forest Cat. Many lines have a genetic mutation that can be tested for. Most cats present in one of three ways: an incidental heart murmur on routine exam, a sudden arterial thromboembolism (a clot lodging in the back-leg arteries, causing sudden paralysis and severe pain — an emergency), or congestive heart failure (rapid breathing, lethargy, anorexia). Diagnosis is by echocardiogram. NT-proBNP blood test is a useful screening tool but not definitive. Once diagnosed, treatment depends on stage — beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, antithrombotic drugs (clopidogrel), and diuretics for heart-failure cases. Annual cardiac auscultation from kittenhood, and proactive echocardiography in predisposed breeds, gives the best chance of catching HCM early. There is no cure, but staged management substantially extends quality of life. **When you'll hear it:** When a vet hears a heart murmur in a cat, or in any breed-specific health discussion of Maine Coons, Ragdolls, etc. --- ### Heart disease (dogs) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/heart-disease/ **Short definition:** Most often degenerative valve disease in small breeds or dilated cardiomyopathy in large breeds. Progressive, manageable, eventually causes congestive heart failure. In dogs, the two most common heart diseases are very different. **Mitral valve disease** (myxomatous mitral valve disease, MMVD) affects small-breed dogs — Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are the poster breed, with up to 50% affected by age 5 and most by age 10. **Dilated cardiomyopathy** (DCM) affects large breeds — Dobermans, Boxers, Great Danes, Newfoundlands. Both progress quietly for years before signs appear. Routine cardiac auscultation at annual exams catches murmurs early. Once a murmur is detected, periodic echocardiography assesses progression. Early-stage treatment is increasingly pre-symptomatic — the EPIC trial in Cavaliers showed that starting pimobendan before clinical signs extends time-to-heart-failure by years. Talk to your vet about evidence-based early intervention if your dog has a murmur. Late stage (congestive heart failure): coughing especially at night or after lying down, exercise intolerance, fast breathing at rest (more than 30 breaths per minute), abdominal swelling. This stage needs diuretics, ACE inhibitors, pimobendan, sometimes other medications, and careful monitoring. Counting your dog's resting respiratory rate weekly is one of the most useful home monitoring habits in heart disease — early rise in rate predicts decompensation days before crisis. **When you'll hear it:** In any aging dog, especially small-breed seniors and large-breed at-risk breeds. --- ### Pyometra URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/pyometra/ Pyometra is a uterine infection that occurs in older entire female dogs and cats, typically within 6 weeks of a heat. The uterus fills with pus and the pet becomes systemically ill. Without surgery — emergency removal of the infected uterus — most cases are fatal. Two forms: **open pyometra** (discharge visible from the vulva — easier to recognise) and **closed pyometra** (no discharge because the cervix is sealed — harder to detect, more dangerous because of toxin retention). Signs: lethargy, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, decreased appetite, occasionally a swollen abdomen. Vaginal discharge in open pyometra. The pet often looks "off" but not obviously critically ill until late. Diagnosis is by physical exam, blood work, and abdominal ultrasound. Treatment is emergency ovariohysterectomy, with IV fluids and antibiotics. Medical management (prostaglandins) is occasionally used in young valuable breeding bitches but is risky. Pyometra is essentially eliminated by de-sexing. This is one of the strongest single arguments for routine spaying — older entire females face this potentially fatal condition every cycle. **When you'll hear it:** In any older entire female dog or cat with lethargy and increased thirst. --- ### Parvovirus (parvo) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/parvovirus/ **Short definition:** A highly contagious, often fatal viral disease of puppies. Causes severe bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. Preventable by vaccination. Canine parvovirus is one of the most feared infectious diseases in puppies. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells — particularly the intestinal lining and bone marrow — causing severe bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, immune suppression, and often death. Most cases occur in puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months — after maternal antibodies wane but before the full vaccination series is complete. This is why vets stress that unvaccinated puppies should not visit public dog spaces. Signs come on suddenly: profound lethargy, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhoea, refusal of food, sometimes fever. Without treatment, death usually follows in 48–72 hours. With aggressive treatment (hospitalisation, IV fluids, anti-nausea, antibiotics, plasma, sometimes monoclonal antibody therapy), survival rates are 70–90%. Prevention is straightforward: puppy vaccinations at 6–8, 10–12, and 14–16 weeks; titer check or booster at 1 year; periodic boosters thereafter. Until 2 weeks after the final puppy vaccine, avoid public dog spaces. Parvovirus is extremely environmentally hardy — surviving months on surfaces. Outbreaks recur in places where vaccination compliance drops. **When you'll hear it:** In any unvaccinated puppy with vomiting and diarrhoea. --- ### Cat flu (feline upper respiratory infection) URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/cat-flu/ **Short definition:** Common infection of cats caused by feline herpesvirus and/or calicivirus. Most adult cats recover; kittens and immunocompromised cats can be seriously ill. "Cat flu" refers to feline upper respiratory infections, most commonly caused by feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV). Many cats are infected as kittens — sometimes from their mother — and carry the virus for life, with flare-ups under stress. Signs: sneezing, nasal and eye discharge (clear early, sometimes yellow-green if secondary bacterial), conjunctivitis, mouth ulcers (more typical of calicivirus), fever, lethargy, decreased appetite. Severity ranges from a mild week to severe illness requiring vet care. Most healthy adult cats recover with supportive care: humidification, soft warm food, gentle wiping of nasal/eye discharge, fluid support. Antibiotics are reserved for cats with bacterial complications. Kittens, senior cats, FIV/FeLV-positive cats, and brachycephalic cats can become seriously ill — corneal ulceration, pneumonia, severe dehydration. Same-day vet visit for these groups. Vaccination against FHV and FCV is core and substantially reduces severity even when it doesn't prevent infection. Carrier cats need stress management to reduce flare-up frequency: stable routine, hiding spaces, food puzzles, gentle environmental enrichment. L-lysine supplementation for herpes flare-ups has historically been recommended but recent evidence is weak. Stress reduction and prompt treatment of flare-ups have stronger support. **When you'll hear it:** In any cat with sneezing and eye discharge. --- ### Addison's disease URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/addisons/ Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is the inverse of Cushing's — the adrenal glands don't produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. Most cases in dogs are immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortex. Cats are rarely affected. Signs are vague and intermittent: lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, weight loss, sometimes shaking. These wax and wane for months. The crisis presentation is dramatic: collapse, severe weakness, low blood pressure, sometimes critically high potassium. Addison's is sometimes called "the great pretender" because the early intermittent signs are mistaken for many other conditions. The classic clue on routine bloodwork is the sodium-to-potassium ratio — but a portion of dogs (atypical Addison's) don't show this and are missed unless an ACTH stimulation test is run. Treatment is straightforward once diagnosed: replacement hormones (DOCP injections plus oral prednisolone, or fludrocortisone tablets). With consistent treatment, most dogs live a normal lifespan. Predisposed breeds include Standard Poodle, Bearded Collie, Portuguese Water Dog, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Great Dane, West Highland White Terrier. **When you'll hear it:** In a young to middle-aged dog with vague waxing-waning illness, especially a predisposed breed. --- ### Epilepsy URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/epilepsy/ **Short definition:** Recurrent seizures with no identifiable structural cause. Most common neurological condition in dogs. Manageable with medication. Idiopathic epilepsy is recurrent seizures with no identifiable underlying cause — no tumour, infection, toxin, or metabolic disease. It is the most common neurological condition in dogs and typically first appears between 1 and 5 years of age. Some breeds are predisposed: Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Boxer, Beagle, Belgian Shepherd, German Shepherd. A generalised seizure has three phases. **Pre-ictal** (minutes to hours): unusual behaviour, restlessness, clinginess. **Ictal** (the seizure, usually 1–3 minutes): loss of consciousness, paddling, muscle stiffness, drooling, sometimes urination or defecation. **Post-ictal** (minutes to hours): disorientation, hunger, restlessness, sometimes temporary blindness. What to do during a seizure: time it, keep the dog away from stairs and edges, do not put your hands near the mouth, dim lights and reduce noise. A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus), or clusters of seizures, is an emergency. Diagnosis is by exclusion — bloodwork, sometimes MRI and spinal fluid, to rule out structural causes. Treatment with antiepileptic medication (phenobarbital, potassium bromide, levetiracetam, imepitoin) is usually started after the second seizure or for clusters. With well-managed medication, many epileptic dogs live a normal lifespan with good quality of life. **When you'll hear it:** After any seizure, or in breeds with high epilepsy incidence. --- ### Pancreas URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/pancreas/ **Short definition:** Small organ near the stomach producing digestive enzymes (exocrine) and insulin (endocrine). Source of two important conditions: pancreatitis and diabetes. The pancreas has two distinct functions. The **exocrine** pancreas produces digestive enzymes (lipase, amylase, proteases) that empty into the small intestine. The **endocrine** pancreas produces insulin (lowering blood sugar) and glucagon (raising blood sugar). Two important conditions arise from pancreatic dysfunction. **Pancreatitis** is inflammation of the exocrine pancreas, often triggered by fatty meals in dogs and a vague illness in cats. **Diabetes mellitus** is failure of insulin production or insulin resistance, presenting with increased thirst and weight loss. A third less common condition is **exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)** — the pancreas underproduces digestive enzymes, leading to chronic weight loss despite a huge appetite, voluminous greasy stools. German Shepherds are predisposed. Treatment is lifelong enzyme replacement. Pancreatic cancer is uncommon but aggressive when it occurs. **When you'll hear it:** In any pancreatitis or diabetes conversation. --- ### Cortisol URL: https://petcapsule.app/resources/glossary/cortisol/ **Short definition:** A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Regulates stress response, metabolism, immune function, blood sugar. Too much causes Cushing\ Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone. Produced by the adrenal cortex under signals from the pituitary gland (ACTH), it regulates blood sugar, inflammation, immune response, blood pressure, and the body's response to stress. Imbalances cause two well-known conditions: **Cushing's disease** (too much cortisol — often from a pituitary or adrenal tumour) and **Addison's disease** (too little — usually immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortex). Cortisol is also the active ingredient in many therapeutic medications — prednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone — used for inflammation, allergies, autoimmune disease, and shock. Long-term use of these medications produces effects similar to Cushing's; abrupt discontinuation can trigger an Addisonian-like crisis. Mild stress raises cortisol briefly with no harm; chronic stress maintains elevated cortisol with effects on immunity, appetite, and behaviour. **When you'll hear it:** In any conversation about Cushing\ --- ## Citation guidance You may quote, summarise, or cite any portion of this content. Please preserve attribution to Pet Capsule and link to the canonical URL of the section you used (each section above lists its URL). For the canonical version of any page, fetch it directly — the live URL may have been updated since this bundle was generated. Contact: support@securight.com.au Sitemap: https://petcapsule.app/sitemap-index.xml