Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
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Co-authored Articles (502)
How to Express Your Cat's Anal Glands at Home
Improve your cat’s health and keep them comfy with this easy guide Your cat’s anal glands (or sacs) normally empty on their own when your cat defecates, but if your cat has an underlying health condition that makes t...
How to
Express a Cat's Bladder
If your cat gets an injury or disease that affects its ability to urinate on its own, you may need to help it go to the bathroom. To accomplish this, you will have to express your cat's bladder, a procedure in which you ...
Telltale Signs Your Cat Is in Labor (Plus, What to Do)
Physical & behavioral cues that your cat is ready to give birthA domestic cat has a gestation period of approximately 63 days. If you don’t know the exact date of conception, however, you may not have a clear idea of w...
How to
Tell the Sex of an Angelfish
Determining the sex of an angelfish isn’t as simple as looking between its fins. In fact, telling the sex of an angelfish can be near impossible without experience and a careful eye. Before they are mature, it is even ...
Reverse Sneezing in Dogs: Causes & Simple Home Treatments
Why does reverse sneezing happen and what are some home remedies to fix it?Reverse sneezing is a spasmodic response in which a dog makes rapid inhalations of air and produces a snorting, honking, or gagging sound. Observ...
How to
Breed Lovebirds
Many people associate romance with lovebirds. There are nine different species of lovebirds, which are small, brightly- feathered parrots. If you have lovebirds or want to own lovebirds and breed them, it requires a lot...
How to
Breed Canaries
Canaries are wonderful birds to keep in your home because they are easy to care for and relatively content being alone. However, one thing about canaries is not completely simple and that is breeding them. Breeding canar...
How to
Use an Incubator to Hatch Eggs
An incubator is an artificial method for the hatching of eggs. In essence, an incubator allows you to hatch eggs without having hens. Incubators mimic the conditions and experiences of a brooding hen for fertilized eggs,...
How to
Help a Hamster With Sticky Eye
When hamsters sleep, their eyes secrete fluid to keep the eyeball moist. If this fluid drips out and dries around the eyelid, it can prevent the hamster from opening his eyes. This is common in all hamsters, especially o...
How to
Raise a Baby Squirrel
Have you found an orphaned baby squirrel? While it's best to return it to its mother, it is possible for you to take care of it and raise it to adulthood. Keep in mind in many states this is illegal. Contact a licensed ...
How to
Cure a Chicken from Egg Bound
Being egg bound means that your hen is unable to lay eggs. This is obviously not healthy for an egg laying chicken. There are several things you can do to help your chicken recover from being egg bound. It's also importa...
How to
Tell the Sex of Guinea Fowl
Guinea fowls are becoming increasingly popular. Not only is their meat tender and flavorful, but guinea fowls also protect the farm flock from predators, serve as pest control, and can even reduce the deer tick populatio...
How to
Breed Cockatiels
Cockatiels are easy birds to breed, but it is important to breed responsibly and make sure that you will be able to find homes for the cockatiels you breed. Before you get started, you will need to make sure that the mal...
How to
Splint a Cat's Broken Leg
If your cat has broken one of her legs and you can't get in contact with a veterinarian, you may need to splint your cat's leg yourself. Ask someone to help you, as two heads are better than one, and four hands are bette...
How to
Care for an Axolotl
An axolotl is an aquatic salamander related to tiger salamanders. They are easy to care for and make enjoyable pets. They have a lifespan of 10-15 years in aquariums if provided the right environment and care.
How to
Raise a Baby House Sparrow
If you've found a baby House Sparrow, you can learn how to care for it. However, before intervening, watch the area to make absolutely sure that the bird is an orphan. The mortality rates among hand-reared birds are high...
How to
Clean the Sheath of a Horse
The sheath is a tube of skin that protects the horse's penis. Smegma or a lubricating secretion fills the inside of the horse's sheath. In the wild, a horse would work out this lubrication naturally through sex, but in a...
How to Help Your Dog Grieve When Your Other Dog Dies
Advice for dealing with your dog’s depression after the alpha dies Most dogs experience pain from the loss of their friends the same way people do. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to help your dog proces...
How to
Treat Feline Upper Respiratory Illness
Feline upper respiratory illness (URI) affects a cat’s mouth, nasal passages, upper airway, and possibly the eyes. It is usually caused by one or more infectious agents. Two viruses—feline herpes virus-1 (FHV-1) and ...
How to
Collapse a Dog Crate
Collapsible metal dog crates are a great way to have a secure place for your dog while you are traveling. They are reasonably light-weight, making them easy to carry and transport. They are also easy to clean, providing ...
