Finding it hard to introduce a cat to another cat? Well before you feel like a failure, try this experiment…
Continue reading “How To Get Two Cats To Like Each Other”How To Get Two Cats To Like Each Other
Help! My Cat Is Vomiting
Vomiting can be a symptom of a wide variety of illnesses in cats, many of which are featured in this article. Vomiting can also be normal, so let’s start by deciding when to go to the vet.
Help! My Dog Has Bloat
Emergency care (details below)
How To Recognise & Treat Bloat
- Retching, distress and a large, hard belly are signs of bloat
- Travel to an emergency vet as fast as is safe to do so
- Any delay in treatment reduces the chance of survival
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Has Bloat”How Choose A Good Cat Carrier
So often when an owner says “I can’t get my cat in the carrier” I think “It’s no wonder with the one you’ve got”. Then other times I see cat carriers completely fail and put cats at risk.
Here’s our guide to buying a cat box that’s not only easy to use but safe to be in.
Continue reading “How Choose A Good Cat Carrier”6 Ways To Get A Cat In A Carrier Box
At least once a week someone calls us saying “I can’t get my cat in the carrier”.
While it’s definitely not easy, you can do it. The right technique will not only improve your cat’s vet care but will also be easier and less stressful for everybody.
Continue reading “6 Ways To Get A Cat In A Carrier Box”Help! My Dog’s Ear Tips Are Bleeding
The picture above shows an ear problem in Adelaide that’s also found around the world. It only affects the margins and tips of the ears. The most common cause will surprise you.
Continue reading “Help! My Dog’s Ear Tips Are Bleeding”The Danger Of Throwing Sticks For Your Dog
What’s more natural than throwing a stick for a dog? We love it, they love it too, and every park is a toyshop. That’s why so many dogs get injured.
Continue reading “The Danger Of Throwing Sticks For Your Dog”Diagnosis and Treatment of Epilepsy In Dogs
Idiopathic epilepsy is the leading cause of seizures in dogs. If you’re already sure that’s what’s wrong with your dog, this page is for you.
Click here for the different types of seizures and causes of seizures in dogs
Continue reading “Diagnosis and Treatment of Epilepsy In Dogs”What To Give Dogs For Motion Sickness
Anyone who’s had a car sick dog knows four things:
- It distresses dogs
- It makes a mess
- It’s very frustrating
- It reduces dogs’ enjoyment of life
The good news is that most dogs can be helped if you’re prepared for a bit of effort.
Continue reading “What To Give Dogs For Motion Sickness”Help! My Dog Has A Grass Seed
Grass seed season in southern Australia is that time between October and year’s end when extra care is needed. All dog owners need to know how to prevent and treat this menace. The same also applies to cats to a lesser extent.
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Has A Grass Seed”What Can I Give My Rabbit For Arthritis?
You’re about to see what happens when a pet species isn’t big business.
Our page on treating arthritis in dogs shows you lots of choices.
Our page on treating arthritis in cats shows you a few choices.
There is no registered treatment for arthritis in rabbits.
Seizures In Dogs
‘Emergency Care’ (details below)
What To Do If A Dog Is Having A Seizure
- Stay calm: dogs almost never die from a seizure
- If poison is suspected, go to a vet as fast as is safe to do so
- Otherwise, make your dog comfortable and time the seizure
- If over 2 minutes, go immediately to an emergency vet
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Seizures In Dogs”Causes Of Sudden Death In Australian Pets
I’ve been a vet for a quarter century now. Over that time I’ve seen just about everything go wrong that can.
Pet disasters tend to go along recurring themes. If you know what they are, you have an excellent chance to avoid them. Some might be upsetting, but I hope you can see the benefit in thinking about them now.
Continue reading “Causes Of Sudden Death In Australian Pets”21 Healthy & Long Lived Dog Breeds
Trying to choose a puppy breed? There are lots of great reasons to choose certain dog breeds over others. Health should be one of these.
Of course, I would say that, wouldn’t I? I’m a vet after all.
Continue reading “21 Healthy & Long Lived Dog Breeds”Snake Bite In Dogs & Cats
‘Emergency Care’ (details below)
If A Dog Or Cat Is Bitten By A Snake
- Stay calm and keep your pet still and quiet
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake
- Do not wait until symptoms develop
- Immediately travel to an emergency vet, calling on the way if possible
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Snake Bite In Dogs & Cats”The Pros & Cons Of Greyhound Adoption
Have a look at the figures above. Any legitimate dog rescue charity would dream of numbers like these.
These are what greyhound adopters reported in a recent study, and I’m not surprised. I see tremendous levels of satisfaction among greyhound owners. They are a genuine alternative for new dog owners.
Continue reading “The Pros & Cons Of Greyhound Adoption”What Can I Give My Cat For Arthritis?
The poor kitties. Arthritis in cats is a disease that manages to be severe, unseen, unresearched and very common all at the same time.
Continue reading “What Can I Give My Cat For Arthritis?”Are Apple Cores Poisonous To Dogs?
There’s a lot of rubbish on the net…
Every time I bite into a crunchy apple, I hear the pitter-patter of eight tiny feet. That’s not some 8-legged apple monster, just my two hungry dogs.
Continue reading “Are Apple Cores Poisonous To Dogs?”Unbalanced Cat Foods You’re Not Told About
Around half of the wet cat foods being sold in my local supermarket are unbalanced. There’s usually no warning on the label to say so. (see list below).
Did you know this? I didn’t until recently, and it’s my job to know, so I’m guessing you didn’t either.
Continue reading “Unbalanced Cat Foods You’re Not Told About”Male Dog Behaviour After Neutering: The Science
Recently, a well-respected Sydney academic published his behavioural data on over 6000 castrated male dogs. It’s created headlines like”Neutering Causes Behavior Problems In Male Dogs”.
Can this be true? You’ve probably been told that desexing reduces behaviour problems, not causes them!
Continue reading “Male Dog Behaviour After Neutering: The Science”Losing Hair, Overgrooming or Over Licking in Cats
Hair loss is a good example of how the skin problems of cats are different from dogs. It’s got a lot to do with their special grooming behaviour.
Continue reading “Losing Hair, Overgrooming or Over Licking in Cats”Insulinoma in Dogs & Ferrets
Insulinomas are tumours of the beta cells in the pancreas. Most cases are diagnosed due to signs resulting from an excessive production of insulin.
Continue reading “Insulinoma in Dogs & Ferrets”Help! My Puppy Won’t Eat Dry Food
I’m deeply concerned by a fast-growing trend in puppy diets. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that puppy owners are being badly let down. It makes me angry and it should make them angry too.
New puppies at our Adelaide clinic are being set up to fail in numbers that I haven’t seen since the 1990’s. The consequences can be the permanent leg deformities you see in the picture.
Continue reading “Help! My Puppy Won’t Eat Dry Food”Carbohydrates In Australian Cat Foods
This page is a companion to our articles on homemade low carb diets for cats and the problems with commercial cat foods.
Continue reading “Carbohydrates In Australian Cat Foods”Making A Wild Food For Your Cat
There are four key differences between most commercial cat foods and the diets that cats have adapted to eat in the wild:
Continue reading “Making A Wild Food For Your Cat”What is the Best Heartworm Treatment for Dogs?
When faced with the bewildering array of heartworm and flea treatments, dog owners have two choices:
- Ask advice
- Research it yourself
An amazing number of dog owners using option 2 will buy Sentinel Spectrum. One look at our chart of the flea and heartworm treatments for dogs and you’ll see why. It does ‘everything’.
Preventing Stress, Fear & Scares At The Vet
Yesterday: a dog who panics whenever someone touches her feet. The day before: a dog with anxiety about her ears being touched. These dogs are everywhere, but what happened to them?
The answer is something I’ve held back a long time from writing about. It contains criticism of my own profession as well as others. God knows, I’m no saint, and like most vets, I’ve made all these mistakes too. But we’re going to keep making them, so you need to know how to stop them.
Continue reading “Preventing Stress, Fear & Scares At The Vet”Inbreeding In Show Dogs
Bad dog breeding makes me fear for the future of many dog breeds. Just the other day I saw a West Highland White Terrier with severe skin disease still being used for breeding. There’s no future if decisions like this keep being made.
However there’s a second and more insidious danger that ultimately might be more important: inbreeding.
I can only hope that by understanding the problem, we can fight it. The first place to go for answers is zoos.
Continue reading “Inbreeding In Show Dogs”The Senate Pet Food Safety Inquiry & You
Update 2021: still no news on whether the findings of the Inquiry will ever make it into law.
Background
Australia lacks any form of oversight regarding pet food safety or basic standards of hygiene or quality.
Australia also lacks any way to report faults in pet foods. Mistakes happen even with good brands, but attempts in the past by individual vets to highlight them have invariably led to threats of ruinous legal action against the vet involved.
I provided evidence at the public hearings into the safety of pet food on Tuesday the 28th of August, 2018 in Sydney. Here you can read my oral and written submissions.
You might also like:
- The health problem with jerky treats
- The Advance Dermocare deaths
- The deaths from pet meat in Victoria
- Grain free diet-related heart disease
- History of pet food safety in Australia
- The unbalanced cat foods hiding in plain sight
I went there to put forward the demands of ordinary pet owners. You can be sure that industry was well-represented but what about you? We needed the opinions of ordinary consumers and average Australian pet owners.
Continue reading “The Senate Pet Food Safety Inquiry & You”5 Myths About Food Allergy In Dogs
If you have an itchy dog, it doesn’t take long before someone tells you it’s due to the food. Usually that someone also offers an alternative.
It’s not a case of people trying to pull a fast one; they just believe in what they use. Who doesn’t? If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
The trouble is, though, most owners of dogs with skin problems aren’t getting the advice they need. Or they’re getting it far too late.
Continue reading “5 Myths About Food Allergy In Dogs”Pet Food Allergy Testing | Elimination Diets
Elsewhere on this site we’ve published the evidence for which foods dogs and cats are allergic to. Now we’ll show you how to figure it out for your own pet. This even works for a mouse!
Diagnosis of Food Allergies
The bad news is that there is no simple test. Popular blood test kits are not reliable enough.
The good news is that you can do it at home. It’s called an elimination diet. You have two choices:
- Buy one off-the-shelf
- Make it yourself (this is preferred if possible, see below)
Help! My Cat Keeps Trying To Pee
Emergency Care’ (details below)
When A Cat Tries To Pee But Nothing Happens
- Many male cats trying to pee have urinary obstructions
- Seek emergency vet help ASAP if your cat cannot pass urine
- Untreated blockages causes extreme suffering and rapid death
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Cat Keeps Trying To Pee”Help! My Cat Is Peeing Everywhere: Cystitis
Cystitis in cats is a fascinating disease. How many other illnesses are more common after rainy weather or moving house? Or how about the fact that it usually isn’t caused by infection?
Continue reading “Help! My Cat Is Peeing Everywhere: Cystitis”8½ Adventurous Adelaide Dog Walks
Looking for new dog walk adventures? Here are my family favourites! Most of these you won’t find elsewhere.
There’s a map afterwards or click on a walk for its description.
Vegan Dog & Cat Diets In 2020: Are They Safe?
Three years ago when I first investigated vegan diets for dogs and cats, my response was a bit simplistic. I said that as long as you use a complete and balanced diet, your pet can be vegan.
Since then, we’ve learned more and I have too. I still think you can have a vegan dog, but there are important warnings. And vegan cats? Probably not, but I can show you how to feed them without any guilt.
Continue reading “Vegan Dog & Cat Diets In 2020: Are They Safe?”Fear, Stress & Anxiety In Cats
Sadly, the treatment of mental health problems in dogs is taken much more seriously than in cats. An anxious dog will often get help quickly due to destruction or noise issues. An anxious cat, by contrast, tends to suffer in silence. Even worse, when they do show signs they’re often blamed for it.
Continue reading “Fear, Stress & Anxiety In Cats”South Australia’s New Dog & Cat Laws
The biggest change to dog and cat ownership law ever will happen on July 1st. If you live in or have moved to SA, here’s how it will affect you and what you need to do. For everyone else, I think you’ll find this unique experiment very interesting.
Continue reading “South Australia’s New Dog & Cat Laws”We Need To Talk: Anxiety Medications In Dogs
No one wants to drug their pets. I get that. But we need to talk about mental health.
Let’s start by throwing out all the weasel words that stop us seeing it for what it is. It isn’t a ‘behaviour problem’ except to us. All these concerns like destruction, whining, howling, barking, biting or escaping. They’re only symptoms of a much greater problem.
Continue reading “We Need To Talk: Anxiety Medications In Dogs”What Can I Give My Dog For Arthritis?
There is no animal treatment that provokes more debate than arthritis medication. The sheer number of treatments on offer is bewildering. Why??
Continue reading “What Can I Give My Dog For Arthritis?”A Homemade Raw Dog Food Recipe
More and more dog owners are choosing to make grain-free or raw diets. Most vets, on the other hand, recommend premium commercial foods. Neither group is likely to change. I think it’s time vets put aside their beliefs to help dog owners get these homemade diets safely balanced.
Continue reading “A Homemade Raw Dog Food Recipe”The Advance Dermocare Fiasco FAQs
Update: a Senate inquiry into pet food has been initiated as a result of this scandal. Click here to read my submission.
Over 100 dogs have now been identified with megaoesophagus after eating Advance Dermocare. Here are the essential facts.
Continue reading “The Advance Dermocare Fiasco FAQs”Help! My Kitten Has Cat Flu
‘At A Glance (Details Below)’
What Is Cat Flu?
- Cat flu isn’t influenza or a cold, it’s either a herpesvirus or calicivirus
- Symptoms include fever, not eating, and eye or respiratory infection
- Many infected cats become virus carriers or have lifelong problems
- Rarer conditions caused by cat flu include arthritis, gingivitis, eye damage, stillbirths & abortion
Now dive deeper.
Bats In Adelaide
There’s a new sound in the suburbs of Adelaide at night. I hear it most evenings in my gum tree. It’s the sound of fruit bats.
With them comes something we South Australians now need to know.
Continue reading “Bats In Adelaide”Early Age Desexing and Incontinence
If the only way you could have a certain puppy was if they were already desexed, would it be a deal-breaker for you? It would be for me.
It’s not a trivial issue. Many breeds in Australia come already desexed by the breeder before sale. I can see why they do it, but as a vet, it makes me uncomfortable. What’s the big deal?
Continue reading “Early Age Desexing and Incontinence”Help! My Dog Yelps & Shakes For No Reason
‘At a glance’ (details below)
Why Dogs Yelp, Cry or Shake Suddenly
- Acute pain is the cause of most yelping ‘for no reason’
- The majority of unexplained cases have neck or back pain
- It can happen when moving, when touched or even while sleeping
- Some of these dogs are at risk of IVDD
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Yelps & Shakes For No Reason”Reverse Sneezing in Dogs
‘Emergency Care’ (details below)
How to Tell Reverse Sneezing from Choking
- Reverse sneezing causes minimal distress and gums remain pink
- It can usually be stopped if you call or distract a dog
- The dog is 100% fine immediately before and afterwards
If in doubt, see a vet immediately. True choking is often fatal. No vet will criticise you for being careful, even if there is nothing wrong.
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Reverse Sneezing in Dogs”The Top Ten Mistakes Cat Owners Make
As a grumpy cat lover, I’m embarrassed to say what gets under my skin. It’s when a cat is so much fun to be around that someone says, “he’s like a dog.” Although it’s meant as high praise, to me it says a lot about how we risk seeing cats.
Continue reading “The Top Ten Mistakes Cat Owners Make”Help! My Dog Ate Chocolate
‘Emergency Care’ (details below)
What To Do If A Dog Eats Chocolate
- Chocolate is a nervous system stimulant & causes seizures in dogs
- Death is more likely with dark or cooking chocolate & smaller dogs
- See a vet ASAP to have the chocolate vomited and signs monitored
now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Ate Chocolate”What Human Drugs Are Safe For Dogs?
You’ve got a dog needing treatment and you’ve even got some of your own meds nearby. Can you use them?
The use of non-veterinary drugs is a common question from pet owners. When is it a good idea to give your dog human medications? Sometimes, surprisingly, it is. Just not that often.*
Continue reading “What Human Drugs Are Safe For Dogs?”Should My Pet Have Blood Work?
Blood testing in dogs and cats isn’t simply a case of ‘more is better’. It can be lifesaving but it can also occasionally bring harm. The decision to do it is by no means as black and white as it seems.
I’m going to use the evidence and my experience to help you decide if blood tests are a good idea for your pet. I’ll start by answering the question: when are blood tests useful? Then I’ll discuss the downsides.
Continue reading “Should My Pet Have Blood Work?”