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Welcome to Petplan’s blog, a space where you can read up on the latest pet-news, find out interesting facts and tips about keeping your pets happy and healthy, and share your views on hot topics.

Stop your dog mauling the mail

Stop your dog mauling the mail
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog behaviour mail territorial behaviour

Q: My dog is attacking our mail and the letterbox. What can I do?

A: This is a very common problem with dogs, who are territorial creatures. They become aroused when they hear the postman arriving on ‘their’ territory and rush to the door to see the postman off, often grabbing at the mail and sometimes ripping it to shreds.

The quick and easy solution is to place a secure external postbox outside and as far away from the front door as possible, such as on a front gate, so that the postman does not need to come onto the property and your dog cannot see him. If this is not possible, then protect your letterbox with a wire cage (available from most DIY stores), or consider placing a dog gate across the hallway so that your dog does not have access to the front door area.

Is my rabbit eating too much?

Is my rabbit eating too much?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: rabbit eating obesity feeding

Q: My rabbit is looking a wee bit chubby. I was wondering if this is because we are letting him on the lawn to eat grass?

A: Or could it be that you have been feeding him a little bit too much? You would think that the extra exercise in your garden would make him lose weight, and grass is quite low in energy, so his other supplied foods play the major role in his weight gain.

Commercially prepared foods have far greater energy content, so should be used sparingly when supplementing with hay and grass. Just a very small handful is more than enough each day, allowing him to fill up on grass in your garden to keep his weight down and his teeth well worn and healthy.

Why cats love TV

Why cats love TV
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat behaviour television DVD

Q: Since we got a new HD-ready TV, our cat Porsche is fascinated with it, and David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes in particular. Why is that?

A: Like us, cats have binocular vision, but their eyes have adapted to enable them to cope with low-intensity light so that they can hunt at dawn and dusk. While they cannot see colour as well as we humans can, cats are stimulated by movement, and I suspect that Porsche is being stimulated by the moving animals she sees on the wildlife programmes.

There are now DVDs specifically for cats that feature a variety of eye-catching movements from insects, birds and mice, providing good stimulation for indoor cats.

Control your cat’s urge to scratch

Control your cat’s urge to scratch
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat behaviour scratching

Q: My cat is scratching the furniture. Should I tell him off?

A: NO! Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats for which they should not be punished. Temporarily cover your furniture with some plastic sheeting and place a sturdy scratching post in front of the area he has been using.

 

Should you let your cat lick its wounds?

Should you let your cat lick its wounds?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat infection cleaning saliva mouth bacteria

Q: Our cat is a real fighter and keeps coming into the house with bites and scratches. He tends to clean them himself and isn’t keen for us to look at them. My mum says his saliva can kill bacteria, but I don’t believe it. Is this true?

A: No. A cat’s mouth harbours one of the highest concentrations of bacteria in existence, and is far more likely to cause an infection than to treat one. Of course, pets will groom themselves when injured, but you should always try to clean any wound with warm salty water if you can. If the skin is punctured, you will need to see your vet, as abscesses are a common condition in cats that get involved in local dust-ups.

 

Cat chewing on your houseplants? Here’s what to do

Cat chewing on your houseplants? Here’s what to do
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat eating behaviour plants

Q: How do I stop my cat eating my houseplants? I did have a spider plant, but she ate most of that and then acted oddly.

A: Great care must be taken with cats around houseplants, as some – lilies, for example – can be very dangerous to them. Most cats will, from time to time, eat a bit of roughage, and should be provided with a tray of cat grass to nibble on. You can buy seed from garden centres or on the internet, and the grass is quick and easy to grow.

The Feline Advisory Bureau (www.fabcats.org) offers advice on plants that are toxic to cats. As your cat has a habit of eating your houseplants, you should check out what plants you have and remove any potential hazards.

Does your cat have an ear infection?

Does your cat have an ear infection?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat infection ears

Q: One of my cats, a moggy called Clarence, seems to have a bit of a problem with his ear. I noticed today that one ear is slightly down, and he is reluctant to let me touch it. He is shaking his head on one side as though there is something in it, but he is an indoors-only cat. He is otherwise fine, bright and eating well, so is this something that will clear up on its own?

A: There certainly could be something in your cat’s ear, though infection leading to inflammation and pain could also lead to a feline shaking its head. Cats are generally very hardy creatures and don’t complain much, so if Clarence is clearly distressed, then book him an appointment to see your vet as soon as possible.

Should your dog wear a jacket in winter?

Should your dog wear a jacket in winter?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog winter jacket coat cold outdoors

Q: We have just bought a Pug who the children have called Lucy. She is a wonderful character, but seems to feel the cold terribly, shaking whenever we go outside.

I don’t want to be like Paris Hilton, but the kids are keen on buying her a jacket for winter. What do you think?

A: If your little short-haired dog feels the cold, then some type of warm clothing during the winter months may be OK – as long as this is just temperature-related. This could be a behavioural problem, where little Lucy is nervous about going outdoors and shakes as a result.

If she seems happy and well-adjusted outdoors, then canine fashion can be tolerated as long as it is comfortable and allows your dog to act naturally – a pink puffa jacket does not fit this description!

Ticks have left my dog with lumps

Ticks have left my dog with lumps
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog ticks lumps

Q: Our nine-month-old Cockapoo has had a number of ticks that have been removed but have left him with lumps. As one is close to the eye, we took him to the vet.

He was given a course of antibiotics and we were told that they would go away in time. This was a month ago and they haven’t altered in size. What should we do?

A: Let your vet have another look, as they really should have reduced by now. It seems that your tick-removing technique might need a little tweaking, as you may be leaving the head in, which causes infection and can lead to swelling.

Even when removed properly, tick bites can cause inflammation and small lumps, so in the long term, the use of a topical product to repel ticks from biting your dog in the first place is the best bet.

Why dogs pee in other people’s houses

Why dogs pee in other people’s houses
Posted on by Petplan

Q: We have a new rescue Jack Russell Terrier who won’t stop peeing in other people’s houses. He is a lovely dog – but will wee at least once everywhere we go! It’s really embarrassing. Please help!

A: Your dog is marking territory with his scent, a problem in male dogs who may not have had the best upbringing or been well house-trained. Patience and training will go some way towards helping with this problem, but I would strongly suggest having him castrated if he is not already.

This will help reduce the level of the male hormone testosterone, which plays a role in encouraging your new dog to cock his leg on new surroundings.

 

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