Pets

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 […]

Question: We have a large, black cat who is usually very outgoing. Recently he has become afraid of everything, even the fridge door! He runs away and hides in any dark space. What is wrong with him? Kitty, via e-mail. Answer: Dear Kitty, If your “spooked-out puss” goes outside, maybe a new cat on the […]

Question: I have a Staffy who is a six-month-old female. What is the right age for her to be desexed? Rose, via e-mail. Answer: Dear Rose, If you’ve made the decision that you don’t want to breed your dog, then you can have her done any time now. She will have to stay in hospital, […]

A Dalmatian dog is instantly recognisable, thanks to its distinctive spotted coat. These handsome dogs sport spots everywhere – even inside their mouth and on the bottom of their paws! The Dalmatian was used as a carriage dog in 19th century England because the breed had a special affinity with horses and could keep up […]

Most cat owners will have had the “interesting” experience of taking their cat on a car trip. Many cats don’t like travelling at all but sometimes it has to be done, whether it be a trip to the vet or moving house. There are few things you can do to make a car trip with […]

The Hungarian vizsla is an athletic dog whose sleek appearance and distinctive gold coat makes them stand out in a crowd. Definitely a dog that likes to feel part of the family, the vizsla is known for its sensitive, loving personality. A breed originating in, you guessed it, Hungary, the vizsla was a sporting companion […]

Question: To keep your kitten passive when trimming its claws, put a clothes peg on the loose skin at the back of its neck. Answer: This makes the kitten feel as if its mummy is gripping it. Kerri Hudson, via e-mail.

Question: I have a beautiful one-year-old English chinchilla who is constantly scratching, mainly on my couch (which he is ripping into threads), but also on the carpet. He does have a scratching pole and lots of toys to play with, but he prefers the furniture. I have tried a number of different products on the […]