Q: My puppy has had one vaccination, so surely he is now protected? A: False! A puppy or kitten requires a number of booster vaccinations, starting from six weeks in puppies and eight weeks in kittens. The boosters should be given strictly one month apart – please do not wait longer. Your pets are not
Q & A: One vaccination? Read More »
Q: How do I know if my dog or cat needs a dental? A: Imagine not brushing your teeth for a year, or five years … and think how bad your mouth will smell and feel. Your pet’s mouth is exactly the same. We (hopefully) brush our teeth twice a day and should still go
Q & A: Dental appointment Read More »
When your dog wags his tail, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he is happy. A common misconception is that a wagging tail means a happy and friendly dog. The tail is one of the most expressive parts of a dog’s body language. The ‘language’ of a wagging tail can be complex, and should always be
Wagging tail = happy dog, or not? Read More »
Actually, they are – well, sort of. There are two types of ‘tickling’ – knismesis and gargalesis – named by two psychologists way back in 1897. Knismesis is a very light touch, like a feather across your skin or an ant walking on your arm, which causes a physical sensation. The reaction may be getting
Why are pets not ticklish? Read More »
If your dog doesn’t have super sensitive skin or a skin condition, one bath with human shampoo is unlikely to do any harm, but for regular use it’s definitely not advisable. Shampoo for humans is formulated for the more acidic pH of human skin. A dog’s skin pH is more alkaline and human shampoo used
Can I use human shampoo on my dog? Read More »
The ideal lead for your dog depends on what type of walking you do with him. If you need to keep him safe in street areas or densely populated areas, a webbing lead of 2m long, with a clip to fasten to the collar or harness, is a great choice. This length of lead is
Ideal dog walking lead Read More »
A tennis ball can be a choking hazard. A dog’s jaw can be powerful enough to compress the ball or break it into two halves. The whole ball, or a half, can ‘flick’ back into shape and become lodged in the dog’s throat, blocking his airway. Larger breeds may even be able to swallow a
Why tennis balls are bad for your dog Read More »
Have you also wondered if a dog’s coat type is different from the texture of the coat? Dogs either have a single or double coat and the texture refers to the way the coat feels. Coat lengths may be short, medium and long. Dogs with double coats have an insulating undercoat that sheds around twice
Coat types and textures Read More »
Use the Heimlich manoeuvre when your dog chokes on something. Here is a video that shows you how to do it.
Heimlich manoeuvre video Read More »
Without even knowing it, we unintentionally communicate with our pets on a daily basis with our facial expressions, hand gestures and other movements. Dogs have learnt to ‘read’ our faces and body language on a much higher level than we realise. They know when we’re sad and they know when we’re happy – just watch
How to make more sense to your pet Read More »
If your dog has an episode of epistaxis, or in layman’s terms a nosebleed, this could be due to many things. Often the cause is either blunt trauma to the nose or a bacterial or fungal infection of the upper airways and nasal cavity. If it persists it is best to take your dog to
The safest way to trim your dog’s nails is to use a guillotine or scissors clippers. The latter is better for larger breeds or dogs with thick nails. If you cut the nail down to the quick it will bleed. On a white nail, the quick is the pink area and is easy to see,
Safe dog nail clipping Read More »
