You Make The Diagnosis: Cats And Flowers

Pictured below is a magnificent arrangement of flowers.  Although the flowers are beautiful, one type is highly toxic to cats.  Which flower is poisonous?  What are the symptoms of toxicity? Diagnosis:  Lily  (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) Lilies from the Lilium and Hemerocallis species contain a toxin that causes renal diease in cats.  (The two orange flowers with brown …

Be Careful Wearing Nail Polish Around Tortoises

Tortoises have excellent color vision.  In addition to the colors that humans observe, they also see into the ultraviolet spectrum according to Ronald Orenstein, author of Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins: Survivors in Armour.  Because of this wonderful gift, people need to be careful when interacting with tortoises.  I have heard of tortoises mistaking painted toenails for …

You Make The Diagnosis: Ring-tailed Lemur Unusual Behavior

Pictured below is a Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) from the Honolulu Zoo.  Native to Madagascar, these primates live in troops lead by a core group of females.  Name a unique behavior observed in Ring-tailed lemurs. Diagnosis:  Air Scent Fights Ring-tailed lemurs engage in stink fights.  According to the Cougar Mountain and National Zoos, lemurs possess scent glands on their wrists.  …

You Make The Diagnosis: What Is Wrong With This Cat’s Mouth

The image below is a closeup of a cat’s mouth.  Study the image carefully, then make your diagnosis.  Is this condition painful for the cat?  Diagnosis:  Fractured Lower Left Canine ToothLook at the right side of the picture, next to the large upper canine tooth and you will see the remnant of the lower left …