Pets

Question: Just one can of sardines a week can make a huge difference to a puppy’s appearance and irritated skin. They’ll shine for longer and be a happy puppy! This also works well as a reward for good behavior. Answer: Daina, via e-mail.

The Korat is one of the oldest known domestic cat breeds in the world and in its homeland of Thailand this beautiful cat has long been treasured as a bearer of good luck. In Thailand the Korat is also known as the SiSawat and they were formerly only given as gifts to people deemed worthy […]

Question: Last December my son adopted a three-year-old Staffy-cross. Sam is a very active dog who loves walks and fetching. The problem is his paws are extremely sensitive and Sam quite often gets blisters and cuts. Most of the time we resist his compulsion to fetch, which reduces most of the cuts, but just a […]

Question: When a dog is bitten by a flea it’s very annoying for them and their owner. But I’ve discovered that if you rub a little olive oil with your finger on the affected area, the bite is eased and the dog stops scratching. Answer: Adriana, via e-mail.

Many of us love summer and look forward to those warm, long days. But spare a thought for your pet who might not enjoy the warmer weather as much as you do. Pet owners have to take special care in summer months that their pets are comfortable in the high temperatures. Your pet needs to […]

Question: My female blue heeler pup is 15 weeks old and still not toilet trained — is this too soon? We are trying very hard to teach her. Judy Pittard, via e-mail. Answer: Not at all! It may take a little while to toilet train but starting a consistent routine as soon as you get […]

Question: I have two indoor cats (aged four and 10) which hate dogs, but I really want to get a dog that can also come inside. Is there any way I can get my cats to be friends with a dog? Julie, via e-mail. Answer: If your cats have never been exposed to dogs before, […]

Question: When leaving your house, always give your dog a pat and say goodbye. If you get your dog used to this and let them know that you are leaving they are less likely to get annoyed and curious about why they are locked outside. Answer: Matt Linney, via e-mail.

Question: Dear Julie, My corgi is 7kg overweight. Could you prescribe a diet for her to lose weight? John Gardner, via e-mail. Answer: Dear John, I’d be interested in whether you are comparing your corgi’s weight to an average chart weight, or whether someone has told you this. Either way, you are definitely on the […]

Question: After an encounter with a cane toad one of my dogs was frothing at the mouth. I sat him down, poured three big handfuls of salt down his throat and gave him water to drink after hosing his mouth out to wash away the toad poison (point the hose towards the dog’s nose from […]