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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.

Keeping children safe around dogs - what you can do

Keeping children safe around dogs - what you can do
Posted on by Petplan
Could you help children stay safe around dogs?

Are you neglecting your cat’s teeth?

Are you neglecting your cat’s teeth?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cats cat diet cat teeth

Q: My vet says my eight-year-old cat’s teeth are in poor condition. I’ve fed her tinned food and have never cleaned her teeth. Is this just old age?

A: In an ideal world, we should brush our pets’ teeth twice daily. Imagine the state of our teeth if we hadn’t brushed them for eight years!

In the wild, a cat would naturally keep her teeth clean with what she eats, but as we feed our pets food that is very different from their natural diet, we need to take responsibility for their dental health, too.

I suspect your vet may have advised a dental treatment under general anaesthetic. If so, this is a good time to start actively maintaining your cat’s teeth.

She is unlikely to tolerate your brushing them after all these years, but there are dried diets available that effectively act like toothbrushes, with textured nuggets that don’t shatter but allow the teeth to sink through them. There are also specific dental chews for cats.

 

Are your pets passing fleas?

 Are your pets passing fleas?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: fleas flea treatment rabbits

Q: My rabbit has fleas. Could she have caught them from our cat, and can the same treatments be used for different species? I usually use Frontline for my cat. 

A: Rabbits can catch fleas from both cats and dogs, resulting in the same itchiness and inflamed skin problems they get. However, some flea treatments for cats and dogs can cause adverse reactions in – or even kill – bunnies. For safe, effective removal of fleas, you should speak to your vet about flea treatments specifically designed for rabbits.

Are flea treatments safe for pregnant dogs?

Are flea treatments safe for pregnant dogs?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: puppy fleas flea treatment dogs pregnancy

Q: My Labrador bitch is pregnant. Is it OK to treat her for fleas now, or should I wait until after she’s had her puppies? What about when she is nursing them?

A: Most flea treatments are a little vague about treating a pregnant mother, though I’d suggest you hold off on treatment until the puppies are born. It’s worthwhile checking with your vet if the specific flea treatment can be used on a lactating mother. Most products suggest not treating puppies until they reach eight weeks old or are more than 2kg.

How to stop your cat from spitting

How to stop your cat from spitting
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cats cat behaviour spitting

Q: We have had our cat Bigsy for eight years, but recently took in a stray kitten that spits at Bigsy all the time. What can I do about it?

A: Unless open hostilities begin, I would advise allowing the two cats to work it out on their own, whilst trying to encourage unity by feeding them together. Groom them with the same brush to expose them to each other’s scent, and consider getting a pheromone diffuser from your vet to calm your kitten.

Give each cat plenty of attention and accept that they may learn to tolerate each other’s company rather than enjoy it. Finally, get your kitten neutered as soon as possible, as her hormones may not be helping matters.

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