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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 making a splash

Stop your dog making a splash
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog behaviour water activity

Q: I have a one-year-old Labrador and, when we let her out in the garden, she often makes a beeline for the stream, which runs into a pond. How can we stop her doing this?

A: Labradors are a gundog breed and normally love water, so your bitch is displaying natural behaviour. It sounds as if she has made a habit of running straight to the stream and pond because it’s fun.

When trying to change any behaviour, think about what your pet enjoys doing the most. Does she enjoy chasing after balls?

Most Labradors also love their food! I’d recommend that when you let her out into the garden, you take a little time to interact with her.

You could throw a ball for her in the opposite direction to the stream, or play some search games with her by hiding treats around the garden for her to find. If she gets focused on these activities, this should help stop her making a beeline for the stream.

 

Why does my dog dislike the car?

Why does my dog dislike the car?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog behaviour car

Q: My dog hates getting into the car but is OK once we are driving. Why is this?

A: I would check with your vet in case he has some movement problems and it is painful for him to jump into the car. Even young dogs can have hip problems.

Sometimes, dogs do not like to jump into a dark area. Has your dog ever been hurt as it jumped into the car?

A bad experience, such as a tail or paw being caught in the car door, can result in a dog forming a bad association with entering the car. You can now buy car ramps for dogs with mobility problems.

Otherwise, I would spend time playing with your dog around the car – for example, on the driveway or in a safe open area, with all the doors open (so the car interior is not so dark). Encourage your dog to get into and out of the car with treats and toys, so that it becomes a game.

 

 

Why is my dog going bald?

Why is my dog going bald?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog hair loss hormone

Q: Our old Schnauzer, Ernie, has a bald patch near his tail that seems to be getting bigger. The vet has treated him for mange and fleas, but the bald patch still seems to be getting larger. 

We are getting really worried now, and the vet doesn’t seem to know how to treat it. Any ideas?

A: This could be a case of the condition known as hypothyroidism, a hormonal disorder in which the thyroid glands don’t produce the correct amount of thyroid hormone. This can result in many changes, most notably a thinning of the coat.

More common in older canine patients, hypothyroidism can be tested for by taking a sample of blood from Ernie to test for thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Discuss this possibility with your vet, as this condition can be easily treated with supplement hormone to eventually cover up Ernie’s patchiness.

What to do about strange lumps on your dog

What to do about strange lumps on your dog
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog lumps lipoma

Q: Our 10-year-old Labrador has developed lots of soft lumps over the years. Our vet told us that they are likely to be fatty lumps and that there were too many to test. Should I continue to point them out to the vet each time a new one develops?

A: It is very important to keep track of strange lumps and bumps on your pets and to report them to your vet whenever they are present. Fatty lumps called lipomas are very common in ageing Labradors, and tend to grow slowly while remaining smooth in texture.

Owners should be concerned if a lump or bump is growing quickly, or has changed in colour or consistency (for example, from soft to hard or from smooth to nodular), and this is always something that should be flagged up with your vet.

Coprophagia: why dogs eat poo

Coprophagia: why dogs eat poo
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog eating behaviour faeces

Q: My dog is disgusting – it eats the cat poo from the litter tray. How can I stop this?

A: This is known as coprophagia – the eating of faeces. A dog may eat its own, other dogs’ or other animals’ poo.

Cats eat a high-protein meat diet, so theirs is particularly attractive to dogs. Coprophagia can occur as a result of digestive problems.

You should clean your cat litter tray as soon as it is soiled, or place it where the dog cannot reach. Remember that dogs are scavengers and will eat all sorts of items that we find disgusting, so be careful about hygiene – particularly if you let your dog lick your face!

 

Rescue dogs: what every owner needs to know

Rescue dogs: what every owner needs to know
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog rescue pets behaviour
Q: Our 18-month-old Staffie-Jack Russell cross is a rescue dog, who was abandoned. He's friendly but quivers when we're even slightly stern with him. Sometimes he growls at nothing in particular, so we gently tell him off but he continues quivering, as he knows he'll be told off again! He also lunges at cars.

Is blood-pressure medication safe for your dog?

Is blood-pressure medication safe for your dog?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog vaccinations blood pressure
Q: My nine-year-old German Shepherd bitch was prescribed Atenolol for the blood pressure problem SVT two years ago. She recovered well but after her last booster, she became lethargic, unsteady and off her food. I'm worried this year's booster may affect her badly.

How to help your dog lose weight

How to help your dog lose weight
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: pet diet dog diet obesity
Q: Our Great Dane weighed 75kg when we adopted her a year ago. She has three 20-60-minute walks a day but can't manage more since a leg operation. She won't eat diet food so I give half the amount recommended on the packet, some tripe, two treats a day and some fruit. How can she lose weight?

Seven new ways to exercise your dog

Seven new ways to exercise your dog
Posted on by Petplan
1) Go the distance with CaniXCaniX is canine cross-country running for people of all ages and fitness levels. Over 1,500 teams competed in CaniX UK events last year and the sport looks set to run and run. Humans over 10 years and dogs over one year can all join in and there are graded trails for different abilities. You can enter a 21km distance event if

Social 'petworking' - are you barking?

Social 'petworking' - are you barking?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat dog pet pets
MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are some of the main ways we communicate nowadays. We project ourselves into the virtual world for everyone to see. But what if our pets could share in this online experience? What would they have to tweet about? One in ten of UK pets have their own page on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Below are some of the most famous canines and moggies that have gained thousands of views through social networking.
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