dog sniffing

The significance of a dog’s dry nose

What a dog’s dry nose really means, is a question commonly posed to vets. It’s often thought the nose denotes a pet’s overall health status. Some people think that a dry, warm nose signifies they’re sick, or that a cool, moist nose means they are well. The reality is that a dog with a warm, […]

dog lying on the deck

Hip Dysplasia and your dog

What is Hip Dysplasia (HD)? HD is an abnormal (dysplastic) hip joint. Normally, the femur (leg bone) articulates nicely within the pelvis, in dogs with HD the bones are abnormally formed and there is a lot of laxity and movement in their hip joint leading to abnormal stresses on the surrounding cartilage and bone and […]

dog licking face

How do I stop my dog constantly licking me?

We’ve talked about why dogs lick themselves but what about when they are licking you?! Whilst licking is a completely normal behaviour and an important form of communication, it can be a sign of an issue when it’s done excessively. Firstly, licking you (or the floor or the couch etc!) can indicate a gastrointestinal problem […]

dog paws

Why does my dog constantly lick it’s paws?

Dogs that are licking their paws are itchy. An itchy paw is most commonly due to allergies, most notably atopy, and less commonly food allergies. Atopy is an allergic reaction to one or more allergens in the environment such as pollen, grass, mould, dust mites and more which results in inflamed, itchy skin. Food allergies […]

Unhappy looking dog

How to help your dog with anal sac issues

Your dog has anal sacs, and yes you need to pay attention to them! Dogs have two anal sacs which are placed either side of their anus. Sorry for the analogy, but if you consider the anus as a clock face, they drain into it at 4 and 8 o’clock. The sac is constantly making […]

aloe vera plant

Can i use aloe vera on my dog’s skin?

Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds, scrapes and bumps. It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and helps to increase speed of skin healing. However, the plant is considered toxic to dogs and cats. Well, part of it anyway. When you break open the leaf you see two things, the […]

red eating peanut butter

Is peanut butter dangerous for dogs?

This question has been coming up a bit recently due to news that some peanut butter brands are adding xylitol to their peanut butter making it a dangerous food for dogs. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic to dogs. It’s popping up in more and more foods. You may recognise it as […]

sleepy cat

How to monitoring your cat’s heart

The risk factors for heart disease in cats include family history. Like dogs, genetics can also come into play. It is also the reason that we see certain conditions recur in certain breeds. Risk does increase with age, although some cats are born with a congenital condition, much like their doggo friends. Unlike humans, obesity […]