Pets

Question: My three-year-old golden retriever insists on clawing at the carpet like a cat. We clip his nails each month yet he is unstoppable. Why does he do it? Colleen Answer: Whereas scratching is a normal behaviour for cats, it’s quite abnormal for dogs. I would say that, instead of scratching, he’s actually digging. And […]

Question: I taught my cat to come to a whistle by using it when I was giving him a cuddle and a feed. Now when I call him in for the night, nine times out of ten he arrives home. I have trained three cats the same way. Answer: Helen

Descended from the Lhasa Apsos of Tibet, which in turn were crossed with the Pekingese, the resultant Shih Tzus were often presented as tributes to the Emperor of China and lived a life of luxury in the Imperial palaces. The breeding of these lively little dogs was supervised by court eunuchs, who vied with each […]

By Dr Chris Brown The courage of a two-legged dog stuns veterinary science and helps inspire people. Meet Faith, a dog I came face-to-face with on a trip to the Midwest US state of Oklahoma. Faith is no ordinary dog. This Chow-Labrador cross has fascinated the world and become a celebrity. E-mails, websites, television shows […]

Question: My dog was attacked by my ex-boyfriend’s dog four months ago and needed stitches. He told me that he had taken the dog to the vet to have them removed, yet I just discovered that they are still in my little girl. Can they do any serious harm? Amanda Answer: Those stitches, like the […]

The Nine Network’s resident vet joins Woman’s Day to help solve your pet problems. What made you want to become a vet? When I was growing up, a vet was the last thing I was going to be. My dad’s a vet and I didn’t want to be seen as following in his footsteps. But […]

By Lucy Hine Nothing beats the feeling of coming home and being greeted by an excited pet. Instantly a lousy day at work can be transformed into an enjoyable evening. However, this is a pleasure unknown to some asthma and allergy suffers. Symptoms such as sneezing, itchy, red and watery eyes, rashes and wheezy breathing […]

Question: My 8-year-old Tortie appears to have developed bulimia over the past year. She guzzles down her food and usually looks at guzzling down my other cats’ food as well whenever she gets the opportunity. She is the only one that begs at our dinner table and is a real greedy-guts. Then she vomits a […]