Surgery

Cat neutering: the best age, how to prepare, and aftercare

Neutering is the most common pet operation and the most effective way to prevent pyometra, mammary tumours and behaviour problems. Here is the timing, the procedure and the recovery, step by step.

Surgery

Dog neutering: the best age, benefits and risks, and aftercare

Neutering benefits a dog's health and behaviour, but the timing depends on size and breed. Here is how to choose the time, what the operation involves, and what to watch for at home.

Exotic pets

Rabbit neutering: why it matters, the best age, and aftercare

Neutering a rabbit is not only about litters. The uterine cancer risk in females is too high to ignore, and neutering males solves spraying and fighting.

Prevention

Deworming dogs and cats: how often, which worms, and puppies and kittens

"Deworming" covers several different parasites that need different drugs. Here is the schedule, the common myths, and when to bring a stool sample for testing.

Prevention

Heartworm in Hong Kong: prevention, signs and treatment

Heartworms live in the heart and lung arteries and are passed on by mosquito bites. Hong Kong has mosquitoes all year, and prevention is far safer and cheaper than treatment.

Practical

Dog licence and microchip in Hong Kong: licensing, renewal and the rabies jab

A dog licence is not optional in Hong Kong. It is the law, and the microchip behind it is the most reliable way a lost dog gets home. Here are the rules, the process and the common questions.

Prevention

Dog vaccination schedule in Hong Kong: puppy shots, boosters and timing

Vaccination is the most effective protection against killers like parvovirus and distemper. Here is the schedule used in Hong Kong, what to expect around each visit, and when a puppy can safely go out.

Prevention

Cat vaccination schedule in Hong Kong: kitten shots, FVRCP and indoor cats

Panleukopenia and cat-flu viruses come indoors on shoes and clothing, so indoor cats need vaccines as much as outdoor ones. Here is the schedule, core versus non-core vaccines, and what to expect around each visit.

Symptoms

Kidney disease in cats: early signs, staging, diet and treatment

Chronic kidney disease is the commonest illness in cats over ten; about one in three is affected. The early signs are quiet, but a cat diagnosed early can live well for years.

Symptoms

Dog skin problems: causes and treatment of itching, hair loss and rashes

Skin disease is one of the commonest reasons dogs see a vet, especially in Hong Kong's humidity. The same itch can have half a dozen causes, so finding the cause is what stops it coming back.

Symptoms

Cat vomiting: hairball or illness? When to see a vet, causes and tests

Many owners assume cats just vomit. They should not: a healthy cat does not vomit every week. Here is how to tell hairballs from disease, and when you must come in.

Symptoms

Dog vomiting: when to watch at home, and when it is an emergency

Dogs vomit often, usually after eating something they should not. But a few situations cannot wait a minute. Here is how to tell the difference.

Emergency

Urinary blockage in cats: a male cat that cannot pee is an emergency

This is one of the commonest fatal emergencies in cats, and many owners mistake it for constipation. If your male cat keeps going to the tray and nothing comes out, do not wait. Come now.

Symptoms

Cat not eating: how long you can wait, common causes and how to tempt them

A dog can skip a day; a cat cannot. A cat's liver starts to fail within two or three days without food. Here is when to come in and what you can do at home.

Prevention

Dental scaling for dogs and cats: why anaesthesia, how often, bad breath and gum disease

Bad breath is not "just a dog thing". It is the first sign of periodontal disease, which hurts, loosens teeth, and seeds bacteria into the heart and kidneys.

Prevention

Ticks and tick fever in Hong Kong dogs: prevention, removal, signs and treatment

Yuen Long and Tuen Mun are surrounded by country parks, and ticks are active all year with a summer peak. The tick itself is not the danger; the "tick fever" it carries is.

Emergency

Heatstroke in dogs: signs, first aid and when to rush to emergency

Dogs do not sweat; they cool only by panting. In Hong Kong's humidity panting barely works, so heatstroke can develop in minutes, and organ damage continues even after the dog cools down.

Practical

Is pet insurance worth it in Hong Kong? Five things to check, and how to claim

An emergency operation or a few days in hospital can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Whether insurance is worth it depends on how you choose. This is the vet's view of what matters; we do not recommend any particular company.

Practical

How vet fees work: consultation, emergency, hospitalisation and surgery costs explained

The question owners ask most is "roughly how much?" The answer depends on what your pet needs, but how a bill is built up can be explained clearly. Here is what each item is, why they differ, and how we quote.

Exotic pets

Exotic pet vet in Yuen Long: rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, hedgehogs, birds, reptiles and fish

Exotic pets are nothing like cats and dogs: they hide illness deeply, deteriorate fast, and need species-specific anaesthesia and drugs. We provide emergency and routine care for exotic animals here in Yuen Long.

Emergency

24-hour animal hospital in Yuen Long: when to come, what happens on arrival, how to get here

When something goes wrong at night, what matters is knowing who is open, how to get there and what will happen. Here it is in one place. We are open 24 hours, and Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun are 15 to 25 minutes away by car.

Emergency

My dog ate chocolate: toxic amounts, signs and when to rush in

Chocolate theft is the commonest poisoning we see in the emergency room. The amount and the type decide how dangerous it is, and the earlier we act, the simpler the treatment.

Symptoms

Dog coughing: kennel cough, heart disease or collapsing trachea? Causes and when to see a vet

The sound of the cough, when it happens, and the dog's age and breed already give strong clues. Here is how to tell the common causes apart, and which coughs cannot wait.

Practical

End-of-life care, euthanasia and cremation: knowing when, what happens, and afterwards

This is the hardest article to write and the one owners most need to have read in advance. Knowing what to expect lets you spend the time with your pet instead of making decisions in a panic.