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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.

What to do if your puppy is vomiting

What to do if your puppy is vomiting
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog vomiting puppy food

Q: My puppy has been vomiting for the past week. The vet suggested withholding his food and prescribed medication, but these don’t seem to have made a difference.

He is bright enough and is eating again, although less than before. Should I worry?

A: I would definitely revisit your vet as, just like a human baby, puppies are very delicate creatures and should not be allowed to be unwell for long. It could be that your dog has swallowed something, such as part of a chewed toy, which may be swirling around in his stomach and unable to pass.

Otherwise, he could be in need of a change of food, or be eating too much, too quickly. Or it might be an infection.

Don’t let this go on too long before considering X-rays and further options, as the weaker a puppy gets, the less strength they have to recover from illness.

Can I leave a rabbit outdoors over winter?

Can I leave a rabbit outdoors over winter?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: rabbit winter outdoors outside hutch

Q: I usually bring my rabbits indoors around the end of October but, as we have several children and only a small house, we’d ideally like to leave them outdoors next winter. Is this possible?

A: A rabbit would normally shelter by burrowing deep underground but, as that’s not possible for a pet, we need to take other measures to protect them from the long British winter. You could look into the possibility of placing heat lamps in a covered section of the hutch, and using appropriate dry bedding for a winter outdoors.

The hutch should be in a sheltered position and, ideally, off the ground to avoid frosts. Your rabbits must be checked every day, and you may need to bring them indoors if there’s a lot of snow.

Do jabs put your kitten under the weather?

Do jabs put your kitten under the weather?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat kitten vaccination jabs

Q: Our little kitten Tiggy recently had his first ever vaccination, and was really sad and quiet afterwards. It worried us, and made us think twice about any further jabs. What do you think?

A: You should discuss this with your vet, although generally I would say it’s important to have a young cat fully vaccinated against the harmful and common viruses in our environment. To be a little quiet and off food is a fairly normal reaction to a vaccination – very similar to how we or our children feel after routine jabs – though anything more severe should always be reported to your vet.

If the reaction is deemed severe, then there are other vaccines on the market where the active ingredients are modified or ‘killed’. These still offer some level of protection and might be more suited to your new kitten.

Does your dog have weepy eyes?

Does your dog have weepy eyes?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog eyes infection weeping

Q: My five-year-old Springer Spaniel is prone to weepy eyes. Should I take him to a vet or just keep cleaning his eyes with cooled boiled water?

A: If the discharge is clear or brownish in colour, it’s normal tear production – possibly excessive because of irritation or allergy. If the discharge is yellow, it’s a bacterial infection that will need antibiotic medication from your vet.

Many owners report that their dogs have weepy eyes during early spring, possibly associated with the increase in pollens and dust in the atmosphere. A good wipe clean with cooled boiled water would be a perfect way to keep your Springer’s eyes clean and clear, so continue as you are unless infection does become apparent.

Why your dog keeps scratching itself

Why your dog keeps scratching itself
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog skin scratch irritation

Q: My Manchester Terrier cross is constantly nibbling and scratching herself, mainly on her lower back. The vet cleaned the glands near her tail, but this hasn’t helped. What can you suggest?

A: Many dogs’ skin irritations are due to pollen, but there could be medical causes, such as pain, or behavioural reasons, such as stress. Skin problems are notoriously difficult to deal with, but your first port of call has to be back to the vet.

Have you been vigilant with your flea treatment? Even one bite can cause some dogs a lot of irritation.

Keep a diary of when and how often your terrier is nibbling. Giving your vet as much information as possible will mean they’re more likely to determine whether the problem is medical or potentially behavioural.

Should I use a choke chain on my dog?

Should I use a choke chain on my dog?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog training lead choke chain

Q: My dog is always pulling on her lead and a dog trainer I’ve consulted says I should use a choke chain and jerk her back. I’m not at all keen to do this, but do you think it’s a case of me being too soft?

A: No, you are being very sensible. Choke chains are a very old-fashioned method of training dogs. They can cause pain and even damage the dog’s neck.

I suggest that you find a trainer who uses reward-based techniques. Go along to watch a class and make sure you’re happy with the methods used.

You should also take note of whether the dogs and their owners are enjoying the class, because training should be fun and pleasurable for both dog and owner. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers is a voluntary organisation that advocates kind methods, and lists its members on its website (www.apdt.co.uk).

Is your dog stirred by the scent of foxes?

Is your dog stirred by the scent of foxes?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog barking garden foxes scent

Q: We have foxes in our garden, and when I let my Collie out for his bedtime wee, he charges about barking. How can I stop this?

A: It seems your Collie is being aroused by the scent and possibility of foxes. It’s almost impossible to stop them coming on to your property, so, rather than letting him into the garden last thing at night, why not take him out on his lead for a quick pavement walk instead?

 

 

 

How to stop your puppy weeing indoors

How to stop your puppy weeing indoors
Posted on by Petplan
Q: I've had my seven-month-old German Shepherd pup since he was 11 weeks old. He was easy to toilet train at first but for the past six weeks, he's been weeing by the back door at night, even though his last wee is at midnight. I don't chastise him but it's frustrating. The vet says he is in excellent health.

A: You are absolutely right in not telling your pup off for urinating in the night. Although puppies often learn quite quickly

My dog's aggressive on walks. What can I do?

My dog's aggressive on walks. What can I do?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog aggression
Q: My one-year-old Shih Tzu doesn't seem happy on her walks. She's very aware of everything around her, and I can't talk to people when we're out because she starts to bark and snap. She has started to growl at everyone she sees and is quite aggressive towards other dogs. If I try to block her view she turns that aggression onto me. She also has a sensitive tummy, so I can't give her too many treats to help train her out of this behaviour. It's a shame because she is lovely when we're in the house. What can I do?

Seven surprising facts about pets and their owners

Seven surprising facts about pets and their owners
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat dog Petplan Pet Census
Results from the 2011 Petplan Pet Census were released today, and it's given us some fascinating insights into how we pet owners and our pets 'tick'. Here are some of the big figures from the census - and for more, just visit www.petplan.co.uk/petcensus* 37% of respondents have mixed up pet names with the name of their partner or children* 65% feel their pet is more reliable than their spouse
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