Dog, Cat & Exotic Pet Health FAQs

Yes. If your dog refuses food for more than 24 hours, or sooner if accompanied by vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, or fever, a veterinary examination is recommended.

Repeated vomiting, especially with blood, weakness, or refusal to eat, requires prompt veterinary attention to prevent dehydration and identify the underlying cause.

Diarrhoea can result from dietary indiscretion, parasites, infections, food allergies, or more serious diseases. Persistent diarrhoea should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Not always, but limping may indicate a sprain, fracture, ligament injury, arthritis, or paw injury. If it persists for more than 24 hours or is severe, veterinary examination is advised.

Common causes include fleas, ticks, mites, allergies, bacterial infections, fungal infections, and hormonal disorders.

Head shaking often indicates ear infections, ear mites, allergies, or foreign material inside the ear.

Not every lump requires surgery, but every new lump should be examined. Early diagnosis helps determine whether it is benign or cancerous.

The ideal age depends on breed, size, and overall health. Your veterinarian will recommend the most appropriate timing.

Pyometra is a serious uterine infection in unspayed females and is a surgical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

Yes. Difficulty passing urine or complete inability to urinate is an emergency and requires immediate veterinary care.

Dogs with tartar, bad breath, bleeding gums, or loose teeth often benefit from professional dental cleaning under anaesthesia.

Increased water intake may be associated with kidney disease, diabetes, hormonal disorders, liver disease, or certain medications.

Vaccination schedules vary with age and lifestyle but commonly include protection against rabies, parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and leptospirosis.

Most adult dogs should be dewormed every three months, while puppies require more frequent deworming.

Blood in the urine may indicate urinary tract infection, bladder stones, trauma, or other urinary diseases and requires veterinary evaluation.

Yes. With appropriate pre-operative testing, anaesthetic planning, and monitoring, many senior dogs safely undergo surgery.

Keep your dog as still as possible and seek emergency veterinary care immediately, even if injuries are not immediately visible.

Coughing may be caused by kennel cough, heart disease, tracheal disorders, pneumonia, or other respiratory conditions.

Yes. Emergency procedures such as Caesarean section, foreign body removal, pyometra surgery, wound repair, and bladder surgery are performed when medically indicated at our Pimple Nilakh clinic.

We provide comprehensive medical, surgical, diagnostic, and emergency dog care in Wakad, Pimple Saudagar & PCMC, using modern equipment and evidence-based veterinary medicine.

Yes. Cats that stop eating, especially for more than 24 hours, are at risk of serious complications such as hepatic lipidosis and should be examined promptly.

This is a life-threatening emergency, particularly in male cats. Immediate veterinary treatment is essential.

Frequent vomiting may be caused by hairballs, dietary problems, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, or other medical conditions.

Cats often hide when they are in pain or unwell. Sudden behavioural changes should not be ignored.

Weight loss may be associated with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, intestinal disease, parasites, or cancer.

Blood in the urine may result from feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or stress-related cystitis.

Cats commonly develop dental disease, which may cause pain, bad breath, drooling, and difficulty eating. Professional dental care may be required.

Rapid breathing may indicate respiratory disease, heart disease, pain, fever, or fluid around the lungs and requires immediate examination.

The recommended timing depends on your cat's age and health. Your veterinarian can advise the most appropriate age.

Persistent diarrhoea may be caused by parasites, infections, dietary intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, or systemic illness.

Excessive thirst may indicate kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or other medical conditions.

Yes. Any new lump or swelling should be evaluated early to determine whether further treatment is needed.

Core vaccinations typically include protection against feline panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus, and rabies, depending on lifestyle and local recommendations.

Adult cats are generally dewormed every three months, while kittens require more frequent treatment.

Excessive drooling may indicate dental disease, oral ulcers, poisoning, nausea, or foreign bodies in the mouth.

Yes. Many senior cats successfully undergo surgery after appropriate health assessment and anaesthetic planning.

Straining may indicate constipation, urinary blockage, bladder disease, or other serious conditions that require prompt veterinary care.

Persistent sneezing may result from viral infections, allergies, nasal polyps, foreign bodies, or dental disease.

Yes. We perform spaying, neutering, tumour removal, bladder surgery, foreign body removal, wound repair, soft tissue surgery, and other medically indicated procedures at our Pune clinic.

We provide dedicated feline medical and surgical care with modern diagnostics, in-house laboratory facilities, digital imaging, and personalised treatment plans for every cat in Wakad, Pimple Saudagar & Pune.

A fluffed-up bird that remains inactive is often trying to conserve heat and energy. This is a common sign of illness and should be examined by an avian veterinarian as soon as possible.

Birds have a very fast metabolism. Even a short period without eating can become life-threatening. Loss of appetite may be caused by infections, liver disease, digestive problems, or pain.

No. Tail bobbing while breathing usually indicates respiratory distress or another serious illness and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Open-mouth breathing may indicate respiratory disease, overheating, or severe stress. Prompt examination is recommended.

Keep your bird calm, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth if possible, and seek veterinary care immediately. Birds can lose dangerous amounts of blood quickly.

Green droppings may be associated with reduced food intake, liver disease, infections, or other medical conditions. A veterinary examination is needed to determine the cause.

Yes. With appropriate anaesthesia, monitoring, and surgical expertise, many birds can safely undergo necessary surgical procedures.

Seed regurgitation or vomiting may indicate crop disorders, infections, toxins, or gastrointestinal disease and should not be ignored.

Healthy birds should ideally have a preventive health examination once a year, while older birds or those with medical conditions may require more frequent visits.

Yes. We treat budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, African greys, macaws, cockatoos, finches, canaries, and many other pet birds at our Pune Exotic Animal Centre.

Poor appetite can result from incorrect temperature, stress, infections, parasites, or metabolic disease. A veterinary examination can identify the underlying cause.

Shell rot is a bacterial or fungal infection of the shell that requires cleaning, medication, and correction of habitat conditions.

Swollen eyes are commonly caused by vitamin A deficiency, infections, or poor water quality.

Uneven floating may indicate pneumonia, excessive intestinal gas, or buoyancy disorders and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Yes. UVB light is essential for proper calcium metabolism, healthy bones, and shell development in both pet turtles and tortoises — glass and mesh both filter out UVB, so time behind either doesn't count.

A soft shell in turtles or a bumpy, pyramided shell in tortoises usually points to the same root cause — inadequate calcium, insufficient UVB, or an imbalanced diet during growth. Prevention through correct husbandry matters more than treatment once it's set in.

Diets differ by species — tortoises generally need mostly dark leafy greens with only occasional fruit, while aquatic turtles need a mix of pellets, greens, and protein. Ask us for a species-specific feeding ratio.

Yes. Surgical treatment may be required for reproductive disorders, shell injuries, abscesses, and certain internal conditions.

Most tortoises kept as pets in Pune don't need to hibernate given the mild winters, and unsupervised hibernation carries real risk. Talk to us before attempting it.

Annual health check-ups help detect nutritional deficiencies, shell problems, and internal diseases before they become severe.

Iguanas need a basking spot noticeably warmer than the rest of the enclosure, with humidity kept fairly high. Getting either wrong is one of the most common causes of illness we see in pet lizards.

Iguanas are largely herbivorous and need a varied mix of leafy greens and vegetables with appropriate calcium supplementation — not the fruit-heavy or protein-heavy diets sometimes recommended online.

This can indicate poor circulation, an old injury, or in some cases a retained shed. It's worth a veterinary look rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.

Incomplete or difficult shedding is usually a sign that humidity in the enclosure is too low. Retained shed around toes or the tail tip can restrict blood flow if it isn't resolved, so it's worth addressing promptly.

Yes, for the vast majority of common pet lizard species, including iguanas. Without proper UVB, they can't metabolise dietary calcium correctly, which leads to metabolic bone disease over time.

Yes — our Exotic Animal Centre sees iguanas and other common pet lizards alongside turtles, tortoises, birds, and small mammals.

Yes. Rabbits that stop eating can rapidly develop gastrointestinal stasis, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

It is a condition where the digestive system slows or stops moving normally. Early treatment greatly improves the chances of recovery.

Yes. Spaying and neutering help prevent reproductive diseases, reduce unwanted behaviours, and improve long-term health.

The ideal age depends on the rabbit's breed, sex, weight, and health. Your veterinarian can recommend the best timing.

Rabbit teeth grow continuously. Poor diet, genetics, or dental disease can prevent normal wear and lead to painful overgrowth.

Yes. With proper pre-operative assessment and monitoring, rabbits can safely undergo many surgical procedures.

Small droppings often indicate reduced gut movement or inadequate food intake and should be evaluated promptly.

Yes. Unspayed female rabbits have a high risk of uterine cancer as they age, making spaying an important preventive procedure.

Unlimited grass hay, fresh water, leafy vegetables, and a measured amount of quality pellets form the basis of a healthy rabbit diet.

Yes. We perform rabbit spays, neuters, tumour removal, wound repair, dental procedures, and other surgical treatments at our Pimple Nilakh clinic.

Guinea pigs should never go long without eating. Loss of appetite may indicate dental disease, pain, digestive problems, or other serious illnesses.

Unlike humans, guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C. A deficiency can cause weakness, joint pain, poor wound healing, and other health problems.

Yes. Bladder stones are relatively common and may cause pain, blood in the urine, or difficulty urinating.

Weight loss may result from dental disease, chronic illness, infections, parasites, or inadequate nutrition.

Yes. With proper anaesthesia and monitoring, many guinea pigs safely undergo surgery when medically necessary.

Bumblefoot is a painful infection of the feet caused by pressure sores, obesity, poor hygiene, or unsuitable cage flooring.

Abnormal tooth wear or dental disease can lead to overgrown teeth that interfere with eating.

Annual examinations are recommended, with more frequent visits for senior pets or those with chronic illnesses.

Good-quality hay, fresh vegetables rich in vitamin C, fresh water, and guinea pig-specific pellets are essential for good health.

Yes. Guinea pigs showing loss of appetite, breathing difficulty, severe weakness, urinary problems, or injuries should be examined immediately at our Pimple Nilakh clinic.