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  • Potassium citrate is used in dogs and cats to increase urine pH and prevent the formation of calcium oxalate bladder stones, uric acid bladder stones, and kidney stones. It may also be used in patients with kidney disease to treat low potassium levels and to prevent the blood and urine from becoming too acidic.

  • Potassium salts are given by mouth or injection and are primarily used off label to treat low blood potassium levels. Common side effects include nausea or discomfort.

  • Povidone iodine topical (brand names Vetadine®, Poviderm®, Povidine®, others) is a topical antiseptic used on the skin prior to surgery and in first aid treatments for cats and dogs. It has been used in aquatic species and reptiles to treat fungal infections and wounds. Povidone iodine topical comes in liquid solution, gel, ointment, scrub, shampoo, and spray forms.

  • Poxvirus is related to the virus that causes smallpox in humans. In cats, infection usually causes skin lesions, such as ulcerations, scabs, or abscesses. Cats often recover on their own with no further symptoms unless they are immunocompromised. There is no specific treatment or vaccine.

  • Poxviruses can infect many species of birds, and each species of bird may have its own unique species of poxvirus. This handout explains three forms of the virus: cutaneous, diphtheroid, and septicaemic. Each of these forms has distinct clinical signs. Diagnosis, treatment, and ways to minimize the risk of infection in your bird are explained.

  • Pradofloxacin (brand name Veraflox®) is an antimicrobial medication used to treat bacterial infections. It is used to treat skin, urinary tract, and respiratory tract infections in cats. Pradofloxacin is approved for use in dogs in certain countries. It is used "off label" or "extra label" to treat other types of infections in cats and some types of infections in dogs.

  • The most common conditions affecting pet prairie dogs are obesity, dental problems, cardiac disease and intestinal parasites. Regular scheduled veterinary examinations will be of great benefit to help discover problems or diseases before they cause a critical illness.

  • Prairie dogs require a diet high in fiber. As they are hind-gut fermenters, they need alfalfa up to one year of age and timothy hay after one year of age, as well as a high-quality prairie dog pellet. Treats should be kept to a minimum as prairie dogs are prone to obesity.

  • In the wild, prairie dogs burrow in the ground and make tunnels. Indoor caging must be long enough and deep enough whereby the pet has a chance to dig and make a borrow. Boxes and tubes large enough to crawl through make excellent additions to the cage.

  • Prairie dogs (most often black-tailed prairie dogs) are becoming popular as pets. Like all rodents, they have teeth that continually grow throughout life. They are active, playful and sturdy rodents and can make wonderful, affectionate pets if purchased young, socialized properly and given lots of attention.