Simon's Cats - in video

You're probably familiar with "Simons's Cats" - the cartoon books - for a bit of fun, see this website for short videos made with the same characters. . Click here for full post

What do you prefer: walking the dog or going to the gym?

An interesting survey has just been carried out of the exercising habits of pet owners compared to other folk. Click here to read about it. Click here for full post

Animal sacrifices in Nepal - radio interview

This week on East Coast, I discussed the live animal sacrifices that have been taking place in Nepal. Click on the "play" button below to listen.

VETNEPAL.mp3

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Puppy worms - on TV3

This week on Ireland AM, I discussed puppy worms, and the need to treat puppies regularly to make sure that they don't cause a problem. Click here to watch. I also answered a few questions from viewers..... 1. I wormed my pup and an hour later it got sick. Should I do it again?
2. My Japanese Akita has dry pads on his back paws. What can I use to moisturise them?
3. My kitten is 13 weeks old - if I let him out will he run away?
4. My Jack Russell is 8 months old and shedding a lot. What can I do?
5. How can I stop my dog from snoring? Click here for full post

Mass sacrifice of animals in Nepal - time for it to stop

Hundreds of thousands of animals are being hacked to death in Nepal, as part of a traditional religious ceremony. It's shocking, but true. Click here to read my take on what's going on. Click here for full post

Rabbits, cats, and dogs: Q&A on video

You can watch me tackling viewers questions on video footage, by clicking here, or read on to find out what I was asked this week.1.I’ve a five-month old Labrador. How much, and how many times, should I feed him?
2. I have pups at 4 weeks of age, whose mother has stopped feeding them. What should I do?
3. My 6-month old puppy is eating stones. Have you any tips to get her out of the habit?
4. My 3-year-old King Charles keeps running away for hours. Would having him doctored keep him at home?
5. I’m thinking of getting a pet rabbit for my daughter for Christmas. Do they need much care and time?
6. Our 15-year-old cat has been diagnosed with an inoperable tumour. How will we know when it’s time to let him go? Click here for full post

Awards ceremonies - genuine recognition of talent or just PR?

In the UK, the latest "best vet" awards scheme has opened for votes. Are such competitions worthwhile? On balance, I think that they can be a useful way of highlighting good work that's done, as long as folk remember that the prizewinners are only a sample of the genuinely hard working people out in the field - many of them are just too busy to pause to think about such things as awards competitions. Click here to read my blog on this. Click here for full post

How can we not criticise fish being eaten while still alive?

Videos on Youtube show fish in a restaurant in China being eaten while still alive. It's horrific, yet some folk still feel that we shouldn't criticise it, because of cultural relativity etc.... click here to read my blog on this. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Ten reasons why pets are the best medicine

Here's a piece I've written in the Irish Independent about the many health benefits of pet ownership. Click here to read it. 1. Pets encourage people to exercise. If you have a dog, you need to take it for a regular walk.

It's recommended that the average dog should be given 25 minutes of exercise twice daily, and there's no doubt that many people would not head off down the street, into the park or along the beach if they didn't have a dog to accompany them.

2. They act as social catalysts, boosting our mental health by connecting us with other people. The most obvious example of this is when you take your dog for a walk. It's very easy for people to strike up a conversation with you by commenting on your animal ("He's magnificent: what breed is he?")

3. Research shows that children who grow up with pets are more confident and more socially adept than those without animals in their lives.

4. Pets can be especially helpful for children with psychological difficulties. Pet therapy started in the 1960s after a psychiatrist observed the rapid progress that took place when he was accompanied by his dog in sessions with severely withdrawn children.

The dog served as an ice-breaker, softening the children's defences and providing a focus for communication.

5. Prison inmates who are allowed to take care of birds and small animals become less isolated, less violent and more responsible.

6. Pet-ownership reduces the risk of heart disease. Petting a dog or a cat, or even just being in the same room as an animal, can have a calming effect on people, reducing blood pressure and heart rate.

7. They improve recovery rates in humans after certain types of surgery. One study followed the progress of human patients who had undergone major heart surgery. Patients who shared their lives with animals lived for significantly longer than those who did not keep pets.

8. Pets are helpful when dealing with psychiatric illness, including depression. They've been shown to build self-esteem, increase mental alertness, and they also lift the spirits of people with Alzheimer's disease.

9. They help older people to be more self-reliant. One study measured how many hours of 'paid care worker time' were needed for elderly people living alone. At the start, an average of 40 hours a week of human help was needed per patient. Six months after each patient had been given a pet, the amount of carer time had reduced to about 10 hours per week.

10. When pets are allowed to visit nursing homes, there's a strong positive effect, with elderly residents smiling and talking more, and experiencing more symptoms of well-being. In Ireland, an organisation called PEATA (www.peata.org) offers this type of pet-therapy service. Click here for full post

Do fish have feelings? On East Coast FM

This week, Declan Meehan of East Coast FM was asking me about fish feeling pain. Click on the play button below to listen.

vetTASH.mp3

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Pet Passports - on TV3

This week on Ireland AM, we discussed pet passports - it's time to start the process now if you want to take your pet overseas next summer.Click here to watch. I also answered a few text queries from viewers.... 1. My young male Labrador is eating everything: what can I do to stop him?
2. How can I tackle my dog's obesity?
3. My cat has epileptic fits. What can I do? Click here for full post

Q&A on television

This week's Q&A on video include the following queries:
1. My female Golden Retriever is ten years old. She is going crazy trying to come into the house every evening. All the door handles are damaged. What can we do?
2. I am getting a young rescue dog and was wondering how to help her settle at night or for short periods alone.
3. How can I stop my 6 month old Bichon from eating his poo?
4. My dog is nearly two – he’s a house dog. At night he stays in the kitchen, but lately he’s been wetting the floor. What can we do?
5. My dog has a rash and is on steroids. They don’t seem to be working. Do you know why?
6. My son is looking for a dog like the one that you’re holding. Where can I get one?
7. Why have I got a hairy upper lip? Click here for full post

Q&A on the Sean Moncrieff radio show on Newstalk

I called into the Sean Moncrieff show to answer listeners' questions today. Click here to download the audio file. Click here for full post

Canine allergies, cat flu and fear of fireworks

Here's a recent column that I wrote for the print copy of the Daily Telegraph - I have a piece there every Saturday. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Scruffts - the dog show that judges for health, not looks

I was at a dog show with a difference today - Scruffts - the event for cross-bred dogs, organised by the Kennel Club in London. Click here to read more about it. Click here for full post

What goes on inside animals' heads?

Animal intelligence and perception is a fascinating subject: click on the play button below to hear me discussing this with Declan Meehan of East Coast FM

VETBRAIN.mp3

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Buying a puppy: what's the best way?

On Ireland AM this week, I discussed the hazards involved with buying a pup "from the side of the road". Click here to watch. Click here for full post

Free urine tests for pets in November

Diabetes is common in pets - around one in a hundred dogs and cats are affected and sometimes it goes undiagnosed. A urine sample is the easy way to test for this, and vets in the UK are providing tests for free in November. Click here to read more about it. Click here for full post

Micropigs - maxi-disaster

I've written a blog about the latest fad in pet-keeping - teacup sized pigs. CLick here to read it. A Click here for full post

More on pedigree dogs

Continuing discussion about the latest report on pedigree dogs, I discussed the subject with Declan Meehan on East Coast FM this week. Click on the play button below to listen.

vetPEDIGR.mp3

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This week's Q&A video

To watch this week's question-and-answer video, click here. Subjects covered this week included: 1. My English Springer Spaniel has very smelly ears and he never stops scratching them. What should I do?
2. Our 8 year old Collie cross has had bad skin irritation since he was young. He’s been on steroids for years but these are now affecting his kidneys. Is there any other option?
3. My Boxer keeps jumping up at the glass of the back door because he wants to come in, leaving muddy footprints on the glass. How can I stop him from doing this?
4. How often should we be feeding our 13 week old mini-terrier?
5. I want to have a small dog for company in my home. What type of dog would you suggest?
6. Is a Bichon Frise easy to house train?
7. My dog gets upset when he hears fireworks. What can I do to help him tonight?
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Vets - we never stop learning

I was at the London Vet Show this weekend, learning about the latest advances in veterinary science. For more, click here. Click here for full post

First case of Swine Flu in a cat

Don't worry - this is not something to worry about -but it's still good to know what's going on around the world with Swine Flu. Click here to read my blog on this. Click here for full post

The pedigree dog discussion.... on TV3

Click here to see my weekly TV3 spot - with some gorgeous cross-bred pups this week, Click here for full post

Goverment control of pedigree dog breeding is on the way in the UK

In the wake of the BBC's "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" documentary, the first of two independent reports on the subject has been published. Click here to read my take on it. Click here for full post

Movember - the month of the moustache

I am growing a moustache this year for "Movember". I have decided to put down my razor for one month (November) and help raise awareness and funds for men's health - specifically prostate cancer.

What many people don't appreciate is that men have a 1 in 12 chance of developing prostate cancer during the course of their lifetime and that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer in Ireland. Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved and I am hoping that some of you out there will support me.

To donate to my Mo, you can click here and donate online using your credit card or debit card

I'll post regular updates of my moustache's progress to my facebook fan page, which you can join by clicking on the button on the top right hand bit of this blog page.

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Ticks – the mini-vampires lurking in the countryside

Ticks can pass on a disease called Lyme Disease - to pets AND humans. It's often not recognised until the disease is quite advanced. Everyone needs to read the piece I've written on this subject, as well as the comments afterwards. Lyme Disease needs to be lifted to a higher level in the public consciousness. Click here to find out more. Click here for full post

Wildlife crime in the UK - on the up

Interesting piece in the Telegraph today: wildlife crime figures have increased dramatically in the past few years: read here for more on this. Click here for full post

Q&A in the Telegraph

Dogs itching due to allergies, newly bought kittens with cat flu, and tips on pets & fireworks: click here to read it. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

The perfect cat for a witch

A competition has been held to find the perfect "witch's cat" and this is the winner: Tiny, a small black cat. To find out more, read my Telegraph blog here. Click here for full post