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Here’s a shocking fact: around 50% of the people who get chickens end up with a bad experience, not a good one.
The reason for this is a lethal combination of inexperience and the falsely optimistic advice you get online. There nearly always comes a time when someone says to me, “no-one told us this before.”
Continue reading “A Beginners Guide To Keeping Chickens”Here is a vet authored converter for finding the approximate human age for your dog. It follows a complex calculation, not just 1 year per 7.
Continue reading “Dog Age Calculator”According to a recent survey of English cats, the average lifespan was 14 years old. Purebred cats were recorded as living to a lower average of 12.5 years.
These of course are only averages and include all causes of death from birth to old age. We regularly see cats with good care who do much better.
To help your cat live longer, it’s useful to look at the causes of death recorded.
Continue reading “How Long Do Cats Live?”
Have a look at the picture above. You could be forgiven for thinking that Barlie’s gums are just the result of a good chew on a bone. But hang on: why are there red spots a long way from the gumline and even on the tongue?
The answer is a disease you won’t easily find if you look up the causes of bleeding gums in dogs. Even though what Barlie had could have killed her.
Continue reading “5 Causes Of Bleeding Gums In Dogs”
Here are the most common reasons why a cat might sneeze. As nearly every one is associated with a runny nose, there’s also a description of the nasal discharge that goes with it.
For each, there’s a suggestion of the best treatment.
Continue reading “Causes Of Sneezing In Cats”
It’s easy to forget how refreshing Grumpy Cat was when she first appeared. If something wasn’t as good as the hype, then there she was with perfect one liner to burst the bubble. Coming from a cat like her, who could argue?
Grumpy Cat will always be the queen of memes, and perhaps the most famous cat of our time. Until now, I’ve refrained from talking about her death. But hopefully enough time has passed, because there’s a story in it about the future of cats.
Continue reading “The Death Of Grumpy Cat”
Does your dog do this? When mine gets excited or playful he starts sneezing.
Sneezing during play isn’t well understood, but it’s clearly one of the least serious causes of sneezing in dogs.
I’ll take you through the other common reasons, from minor to major. As nearly every one is associated with a runny nose, I’ll also describe the nasal discharge that goes with it.
By the time you make it to the end, you’ll be an expert!
Continue reading “Causes Of Sneezing In Dogs”
Nosebleeds in dogs are rare and worth taking seriously. Unlike humans, dogs almost never get an occasional harmless nosebleed. Causes include injuries, foreign bodies, infections, clotting problems and tumours.
At the end I’ll tell you how you and your vet can work out which one it is.
Continue reading “Causes Of Blood From The Nose”
Isn’t it always the way. You’ve been recommending something for 25 years with complete confidence. Then along comes a piece of very inconvenient evidence.
This time it’s about cats preferring moving water. It turns out that despite a whole industry devoted to promoting cat fountains, until now no one has bothered to see if they actually work.
Continue reading “Do Cats Need A Water Fountain?”
Recently I’ve seen two Australian Shepherd puppies sold with a list of 52 drugs to avoid. I understand the intention, but this list is incorrect and alarmist. It contains many perfectly safe drugs, some of which will be essential later in life.
Continue reading “Drugs To Avoid With The MDR1 / ABCB1 Mutation”
Remember Fred? Not long ago I told you how he was stolen and recovered 18 months later. This is the story of what happened next.
His path led to a specialist and a procedure called TECA that increasing numbers of dogs are getting. If you have a dog prone to ear infections, you should read this. Not just so you know it’s there if you need it, but also so you can avoid it.
Continue reading “Total Ear Canal Ablation in Dogs”If you have a cat diagnosed with hyperthyroidism you’re not alone. Studies indicate that around 2% of cats are affected, and up to 10% of geriatric cats.
There are many treatment options available for thyroid problems in cats. However, the one that generates the greatest discussion is radioactive iodine. We don’t offer it, but we can refer you to an appropriate centre.
First, here’s what you need to know.
Continue reading “Radioactive Iodine for Feline Hyperthyroidism”
Feline infectious peritonitis or FIP is probably the number one fatal viral disease of young cats around the world. Up to now FIP has had no effective treatments and no vaccine.
Now there is real hope of a successful treatment. I’ll explain it below after dismissing a few false hopes.
Continue reading “New Treatments For FIP In Cats”
One night my own dog started shaking and shivering uncontrollably. Several frantic minutes went by. Was it a poison, was he unwell? The reasons why dogs tremble and shake go from simple to serious.
A minute later he squatted, passed a huge puddle of urine on the floor and the shaking stopped. He was busting to go to the toilet, and no-one realised. We all felt a bit silly, but that’s how hard it is.
Continue reading “Causes Of Shaking & Trembling in Dogs”
Have a look at the rabbit’s teeth in the picture above. What you can see are the lower incisors coming out of the mouth and almost touching the nose. What you can’t see are the upper incisors curling inside the mouth in a similar way.
Much further and any one of them will create a painful wound and prevent eating. Horrible! Why this happens is due to a fact that surprisingly few rabbit owners know.
Continue reading “Overgrown Rabbit Teeth: Trimming vs Removal”
The photo above shows the typical appearance of a lump on a rabbit. Just like this one, most rabbit lumps are found on the head or neck.
There’s only one common cause, and you need to know what it is.
Continue reading “Help! My Rabbit Has A Lump”Essential facts:
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Has An Ear Swelling”
Hair loss, itching and skin wounds are one of the most common and frustrating skin conditions of rats.
Continue reading “Causes Of Itching, Scratching & Hair Loss In Rats”
Does your dog growl or snap at the vet? Just look at this one-star review of a decidedly one-star experience.
There’s a new health scare in dogs and cats. Four common flea and tick treatments are being linked with nervous system disorders like muscle tremors, twitching, unsteadiness and even seizures.
Most of the discussion so far has been from the USA, but Australians have a unique perspective on this. The drugs we’re talking about are the best chance we’ve ever had to end the greatest fear of many pet owners: tick paralysis.
Continue reading “Do Popular Dog Tick Treatments Cause Seizures?”
When I was a young vet, I used to say what everyone says: that you can’t bath dogs very often.
How wrong I was. If I wasn’t lucky enough to work with the right people (and have the right dogs) I might never have woken up. You need to hear this too: every day I see dogs that could be much better if only their owners knew the truth.
Continue reading “How Often Can You Bath A Dog?”
When I was young, like all kids, I wanted to know why everything happened. Having vets as parents, I can distinctly remember asking why male cats needed to be desexed.
“It’s because otherwise they fight so much that they get run down and die early.”
With the benefit of hindsight, this is pure folk wisdom. People could see that fighting was associated with sickness, but not yet why. Then, in 1986, hot on the heels of the discovery of the human AIDS virus, researchers in the USA put two and two together and found a feline AIDS virus in cats like these. We call it FIV.
Continue reading “Feline Immunodeficiency Virus & Your Cat”
Are you thinking of getting a puppy from a pet shop?
Or do you wonder if it’s OK to buy a puppy from a pet shop.
Or does your pet store puppy have the any of following symptoms?
Then you need to read this.
Continue reading “Giardia Infections In Pet Shop Puppies”Do pets improve problem behaviours and social skills in autistic children? If you ask a dog website this question, here’s what happens: “More and more, studies are showing how amazing dogs can be for these children.“
While I do believe pets can be helpful, statements like these are misleading.
Quick question: how many toes does a dog have? Some people say 16, others look at themselves and say 20. The correct answer is 18.
Why such a random number? It’s because dogs have four weight-bearing toes on each foot, and only two dewclaws. Of all the toes, it’s these dewclaws that cause dogs and their owners the most trouble.
Continue reading “Dog Dew Claws: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly”
The most common health problem in guinea pigs is itching and scratching caused by mites. It’s a simple problem with a simple solution. However, as you’ll see, there’s also a lot of rubbish being said.
Continue reading “Help! My Guinea Pig Has Mites”Lymphoma is the most common tumour of cats. It also can be one of the more treatable cancers depending on the type involved.
Lymphoma is caused by the abnormal multiplication and growth of lymphocytes. These are a white blood cell found throughout the body, including the bloodstream, gut and lymph nodes.
Continue reading “Lymphoma In Cats”
What if I told you that your backyard chickens are carrying a respiratory illness? Even if they look perfectly fine. You’d have every right to be offended.
Well the truth is that most flocks carry more than one disease, and yet many never seem to have a problem. You’re about to find out why. You’re also going to learn what to do when one breaks out.
Continue reading “Respiratory Infections In Backyard Chickens”
Quick guide:
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Rat Has Heavy Breathing”
It seems like that, doesn’t it? You search for a “dog trainer” in your area and instead of a simple answer you get all this:
It’s not even clear what the differences are. At last not yet. But you don’t want to find that out the hard way.
Continue reading “Tinker, Tailor, Whisperer, Trainer…”
It’s 6:30am. There’d still be another 30 minutes before your alarm if another sort of alarm wasn’t already going off. Incessantly.
It’s hard to ignore a cat when they want something. It’s what makes them a great first-time pet. However, being woken up too early is no laughing matter. So welcome to my new support group: Friends & Family Of Pushy Cats.
Continue reading “How To Stop Cats Waking You Up Early”
Last week Fred was found after being missing for 18 months. Without any doubt he’s very lucky ever to see his home and family again. He was stolen right here in suburban Adelaide by people who never wanted him to be found.
Continue reading “How Microchipped Dogs Can Still Be Stolen”
This lovely photo by Julie Wilson shows Jack, one of our Puppy Preschool graduates. It’s the way we like to see them: making the most out of life.
Did his puppy classes help him become the dog he is now? To answer that we need to know not what puppy classes promise, but what they actually do.
You have a right to be shown the evidence behind any veterinary recommendation. Here’s what we know.
Continue reading “Puppy Preschool: The Evidence”
A cat with dandruff may sound funny, but it’s not. So please no Head and Shoulders jokes. In a minute you’re going to see that none of the causes are trivial.
Continue reading “Help! My Cat Has Dandruff”
There’s been talk for some time that certain dog foods could be causing heart disease. I used to think it was a case of vets being biased against grain free and boutique diets. Now I’m not so sure.
Continue reading “The Link Between Diet & Heart Disease In Dogs”
The picture below is Grouch. I guess he’s called that because of what he was, not what he is. Because what he is now is a house cat.
(Quick guide) When your dog has a cough:
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Is Coughing & Gagging”
‘Essential facts (Details Below)’
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Grape Sultana & Raisin Poisoning”
Some people don’t believe in Santa Claus. Others the tooth fairy. Me, I don’t believe in fussy dogs.
How is this possible? Fussy dogs are everywhere.
Continue reading “Fussy Eaters Are Made, Not Born”
Your cat might need your help. Imagine if there was a disease that affected two thirds of cats over their life, but vets rarely diagnosed it. That’s the reality for pancreatitis in cats.
Continue reading “Pancreatitis In Cats”
Burying a dog or cat is an important part of the grieving process for many people. It certainly was for me. So as someone who advises it, and has done it, I was annoyed to see “Why you shouldn’t bury your pet in the backyard” featured on my ABC.
It’s the classic case of sitting in an ivory tower making the rest of Australia feel guilty for doing what comes naturally. It also says some fairly silly things. So before I give you some simple tips for a proper home burial, let’s clear them up.
Continue reading “Can I Bury My Dog Or Cat At Home?”
‘Essential facts (Details Below)’
Lymphoma in dogs is unfortunately quite a common cancer. It happens when the white blood cells called lymphocytes start growing and multiplying uncontrollably. They then spread to the lymph nodes, blood or internal organs.
A rare form that targets the skin is epitheliotropic lymphoma (EL), also called mycosis fungoides or cutaneous lymphoma. It has a very different appearance and outlook.
Continue reading “Epitheliotropic Lymphoma In Dogs”
I must admit there’s a time when I’m tempted not to tell you what I’m thinking. It’s when I see an older large breed dog with an unexplained limp.
It’s all very well if I find a torn cruciate or an arthritic joint. Those are quite straightforward. For the rest, I honestly can’t get x-rays fast enough.
The fear of bone cancer is always lurking.
Continue reading “Osteosarcoma In Dogs”
I’m known for supporting clients who use raw diets. Done well, they should add to the health of your pet.
However, there are some persistent myths that get in the way. One of the most common is the idea that offal and organ meats are essential ingredients. As useful as they can be, (even with vegan diets!), they aren’t a cure all.
Continue reading “The Myths About Offal, Taurine & Raw Diets”
Let me tell you a story that shows what we’re up against.
I met a very perplexed feral cat researcher recently. In his study area the cats generally hunt and eat one common mammal. However, suddenly the population of that species crashed.
There were lots of other tasty critters still hopping around, some of which look nearly the same. Despite this, the cats began to starve.
Continue reading “Getting Cats To Eat Raw Chicken Necks” The other day I took the sutures out of a vasectomy (yes, a dog vasectomy!) and said, “great, now he can get back to running.”
It turned out he hadn’t been for a run yet. The owners asked a good question: “is that OK for his growth plates?”
Continue reading “How Much To Exercise & Run A Puppy”
Pet food safety is in the news again, and this time it’s one of the foods that vets actually recommend. Pet owners I talk to are confused and unsure who they can trust. Suddenly “spend more and it’ll be better” doesn’t sound so convincing.
Continue reading “Dog & Cat Food: Are Expensive Foods Better?”
Does titre testing mean dogs and cats need a lot less vaccination? That’s certainly what you read online.
The truth is more complicated than that.
Continue reading “Titre Testing vs Vaccination”
The loss of mental function with age is one of the hardest parts of dog ownership. To some extent it’s unavoidable, but there’s also a lot you can do.
The most important thing is knowing when it isn’t likely. I see far too many dogs written off with ‘dementia’ who really have something else entirely. Usually something that can be treated.
Continue reading “Cognitive Dysfunction In Old Dogs”