Healthy gums do not usually bleed. A little pink in the sink now and then is common, but regular bleeding is a signal worth acting on. The good news: the most common cause is reversible. The usual cause: gingivitis Plaque, the sticky film of bacteria on teeth, builds up along the gumline when it is … Read more
Feeling cold when others are comfortable has many possible causes. Some are nutritional, the most common being low iron and low vitamin B12. Others have nothing to do with vitamins, such as an underactive thyroid. A simple blood test usually sorts it out. Iron deficiency (with or without anemia) Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, … Read more
“Pink eye” (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the thin membrane over the white of the eye. It is common and usually mild. But a red eye has many causes, and some of them threaten vision. Studies have found that antibiotic drops are often prescribed for red eyes that are not bacterial infections at all. Conditions … Read more
An occasional sneeze is as normal for cats as it is for people: a bit of dust, a whiff of perfume. Frequent sneezing, or sneezing with other symptoms, usually points to an upper respiratory problem. Upper respiratory infections (cat flu) The most common cause, especially in kittens, shelter cats and multi-cat homes. Viruses such as … Read more
