Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
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Co-authored Articles (504)
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
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 ...
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
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 ...
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 ...
How to
Carry a Cat
Sometimes you will need to pick up and move a cat, whether it's to put him in a cat carrier, keep him from causing trouble, or remove him from a dangerous situation. How you pick up and carry a cat depends on the cat's i...
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
Trim a Dog's Nails
Nail trimming is an important task that keeps your dog’s nails short and healthy. It also keeps your floors and furniture safe from snags and scratches! Long nails can break and bleed, or they can grow back into the pa...
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...
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
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
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
Tell if a Mouse Is Male or Female
All mice look pretty similar, so you might not know if you have a male or female. The process of determining sex is called sexing. There are two main methods of determining sex; both require a keen eye and gentle handlin...
How to
Fatten Up a Dog
If your dog has gotten particularly thin you will need to know the proper ways to ‘fatten’ it up. Key to fattening a dog up is feeding little and often, giving supplements to correct any dietary insufficiencies, and ...
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
Groom a Cat
Cats are generally very clean pets and groom themselves. But some cats may not be able to adequately groom themselves, such as when they have fleas or very long fur. But by maintaining your cat’s coat and caring for it...
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 a Dog's Wound
Accidents happen. Your dog's playful nature and curiosity may lead to cuts, scrapes, and punctures at some point in his life. Cleaning the wound properly at home will help him heal and may buy you some time if you can't ...
How to
Groom a Long‐Haired Cat
Your long-haired cat may have trouble getting mats out of its fur. For that reason, long-haired cats need to be groomed more often than short-haired cats. You need to brush your cat often, as well as bathe your cat on a ...
How to
Save a Choking Dog
Dogs use their mouths to explore the world, and, fortunately, their anatomy includes safeguards that make choking rare. But it isn’t impossible for a dog to experience choking, and it’s important that you be able to ...
