Q: My dog will not stop barking at visitors. I’ve tried giving her treats, taking her to another room, and even outside. What should we do? A: This can be a frustrating problem for both you and your visitors, especially if everything you have tried is not working. Dogs might bark at visitors because they […]
Q & A: Barking at visitors Read More »
Long, sunny days have made way for snuggling under warm blankets with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Fortunately, in most parts of South Africa, we don’t have extremely cold winters, but most of us still want to take things a bit easier and stay warm. And, while WE might (on some days) get away
4 grooming tips for the colder months Read More »
Anxiety and stress can be detrimental to our health and cause various health issues. The same goes for our pets – prolonged stress and anxiety also have a negative effect on their wellbeing and behaviour. Animaltalk asked Kathy Clayton, Animal Behaviour Consultant for dogs and cats, how to identify stress and anxiety in our pets
How to manage stress and anxiety in our cats and dogs Read More »
Hillbilly biscuit thief Dear Patches, My owners decided that it was time for a new puppy and brought home the most out-of-control dog they could find. I call him Tornado because he runs through the house as if the devil is behind him and leaves a trail of devastation. Nothing is safe where Tornado goes.
Ask Patches: Hillbilly biscuit thief and No bell prize Read More »
Q: My cat tested positive for feline leukaemia (FeLV). How can I boost her immune system so that she doesn’t get ill too often? A: No treatment exists to eliminate FeLV, but supportive care and treatment of the secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics are possible. The effectiveness of antiviral drugs is limited, and they may
Q & A: Protecting cat with a chronic disease Read More »
You can win a Montego hamper worth R1,000! And there are three hampers up for grabs. The hamper is filled with various treats, food complements and more for cats and dogs. This is the ultimate hamper for your pets! All you have to do to enter is answer this question: How old is Montego this
Win a Montego treats hamper Read More »
Many studies have been done about dogs, and most people are aware of dogs’ amazing olfactory senses and how they use them in many scenarios. Although we are aware that cats also have a great sense of smell, not many studies have been done on cats and their noses. Cats are sensitive creatures, and it
Cats can smell your emotions Read More »
Most of us love comfy food on a cold day – anything from a hearty stew to a delicious soup could make us feel cosy. So, why not jazz up your dog’s food on a cold day as well? He will love you for it, and you can curl up on the couch and chat
Comfy food for winter Read More »
Bothersome bees Dear Patches, Why are there so many annoying bees flying around the garden? Don’t they have anything better to do? Last week, I saw one of those buzzing insects flying from one flower to the next. I was curious, so I followed him. My doggy brain wanted to know what was so fascinating
Ask Patches: Bothersome bees and food rations Read More »
In the ideal world, we could take our pets to the office with us. We won’t have to worry about them being home alone or whether they are doing fine. And of course, we won’t miss them so much, we won’t have to hurry home and we will all be happy at the office. Or
Pets at the office – is it ideal for them? Read More »
Q: From what age should I sterilise my rabbit? And is it necessary if I only have one rabbit? A: We highly recommend the sterilisation of rabbits. Naturally, allowing unregulated breeding will soon lead to an overpopulation, but there are also other important considerations. Rabbits need companionship to be happy, but can also fight. Sterilised
Q & A: No more baby rabbits Read More »
We normally associate allergies with springtime, when there are plenty of pollen and grass seeds in the air and a variety of creepy critters come out of ‘hiding’, causing allergies for some of us. But we often forget how dry the air can be in some parts of South Africa in winter and that our
Allergies in colder temperatures Read More »
