Sunburn in pets

We've been having a hot spell in Ireland recently, and owners need to remember to protect their pets from sunburn. I've written a blog about it at the Telegraph - see here Click here for full post

Rabbits, people allergic to cats, and Guide Dogs for the Blind

In my printed Telegraph column today, I cover fleas in rabbits, humans being allergic to cats, puppies being donated to Guide Dogs for the Blind, and how to train your dog to come when called.... Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Running with dogs....

This week on East Coast FM, I discussed different ways of exercising dogs - CaniX is the latest idea in the UK, which involves running races alongside your dog. Click on the play button below to listen.

vetexercise.mp3

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Climate change and globalisation: a double threat to animal health

Should pet owners be worried about the effect of global warming on pets? Click here to read my latest blog on the subject at the Telegraph. Click here for full post

Ticks on TV3

Today on TV3, I discussed ticks - they're often found on pets in Ireland at this time of year, but what should you do about them? Click here to watch Click here for full post

Dogs as weapons? Sad, but true...

I've written a blog across at the Telegraph about dogs being used as weapons in urban areas of the UK. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

The dangers of throwing sticks for dogs

I've written a post about the dangers of throwing sticks for dogs. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Q & A on TV3

This week on TV3, I answered the usual range of questions. Click here to watch.
1. My Jack Russell has been diagnosed with ATOPY. We have had several sprays and creams from our vet but nothing seems to work long term
2. My tom cat has recently started spraying all over the house. Can you help?
3. My dog will only walk so far and then stops and lies down. She's only 6 months. How do I get her to walk further?
4. How can I stop my 6 month old dog from digging up small trees. I've tried shouting at her but she still does it the next day.
5. My twelve year old dog has started lactating and is going to the toilet a lot. What could be wrong?
6. I had two Labradors, and the older one died recently. The younger on is pining. What can I do?
7. My Jack Russell is drinking lots of water. What should I do?
8. I have a pet budgie who looks bald under his wings. Could this be normal?
9. My 6 year old Chilean Rose Tarantula has not shed since December 2007 and has not eaten since November 2008. What should I do?
10. My 15 year old Cocker Spaniel has started wetting her bed. Should I go to the vet now or wait till it gets worse?
As I've said, click here to watch the answers. Click here for full post

The Leader of the Pack? No such thing.

For some years now, dog trainers have been saying that "domination" is less useful than the traditional methods have suggested - a new report backs this up, suggesting that feral dogs don't have the "pack order" that's commonly cited. I've written a blog about this across at the Daily Telegraph - click here to read it. All comments to the Telegraph site, please! Click here for full post

Rats need friends too...

On Ireland AM this week, I took in Blue, a lonely rat along with her new friend. If you want to more, watch by clicking here. Click here for full post

Food - what's best for your pet?

This week on East Coast FM, I discussed pet food with Declan Meehan.

vetfood.mp3

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Improvised treatments - in humans and animals

Sometimes, the right tools for the job just aren't available, so you need to "make do". Click here to read my Telegraph blog about this subject. Click here for full post

Radio chat - buying a puppy, feeding birds, and do dogs look like their owners?

A range of subjects came up again this week. Listen to the discussion between myself and Declan Meehan of East Coast FM by clicking the play button below.

vetdogs.mp3

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Newly graduated vets with huge debts

How should veterinary education be funded? It's a tricky question - see here for a discussion of the subject across at the Daily Telegraph Click here for full post

How to treat bald hamsters

I wrote a blog at the Telegraph about treating bald hamsters. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Poop scooping - a necessary evil

In my blog across at the Telegraph, I've written about a subject that cannot be spoken about nicely: poop scooping. Click here to read it. Comments to the Telegraph site, please :-) Click here for full post

Homoeopathy: interesting results from a pilot study

I wrote a blog across at the Telegraph about a new study on dogs being treated with homoeopathy. Click here to read it. If possible, please send comments to the Telegraph site. Thanks. Click here for full post

Questions and answers on television

As usual, I answered a few other queries from viewers - click here to watch it. Queries included: 1. Baby ducklings: what should they be fed on?
2. Is it OK to give a Yorkshire Terrier some warm milk every night?
3. My cat had four kittens, and kept putting one out of the basket. It eventually died. Why did she do this?
4. A rabbit who visits my garden is eating the shrubs. What can I do?
5. How often should I de-worm and de-flea my cat? He hunts a lot.
6. Is it bad to have a male and female rabbit from the same family living together?
7. My neutered sheepdog leaves home regularly to visit and stay at another house two miles away. What can I do?
8. I was given a kitten and I don't know how to sex or age it. What should I do
9. At what age should a kitten be neutered?
10. There are twenty stray kittens in our back lane and I'm worried because I have a 3 month old baby. What should I do?
Click here to watch the answers. Click here for full post

Brucellosis in dogs

On East Coast FM, I discussed reports of a suspected case of Brucellosis in dogs in a breeding establishment in Ireland. Click on the play button below to listen.

VETBRUCE.mp3

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"Spin" the kitten on TV3

This morning on Ireland AM, I brought my own new kitten along - a little cutie called Spin. Click here to watch the piece. Spin is half Maine Coon, and half Devon Rex...... Click here for full post

European regulations may stop vets from being available on call

I've written a blog across at the Telegraph about how working time regulations from Europe are likely to present big problems for rural vet practices trying to provide 24 hour cover for their patients. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Dogs wearing sunglasses

This is Shelley, an elderly dog who had to wear wrap-around sunglasses - for medical reasons. Click here to read her story across at my Telegraph blog. Click here for full post

Q&A on TV3

Here are the questions from viewers that I answered for web-only viewing last week. Click here to watch. Questions answered include:
1. Why is my Jack Russell still limping after a road accident?
2. Why does my dog not come back when called?
3. Why is my cat always scratching even though she doesn't have fleas?
4. Why does my collie have a rash on his muzzle?
5. My father's German Shepherd has an abscess under her tail. What should we do?
6. Why does my guinea pig have a rash on his back?
7. Why does my dog shed hair all year around?
8. Why does my terrier have bad breath?
9. Why does my Boxer have bald patches on his body? Click here for full post

Swine flu, stick insects, socialising new cats and dogs with eye problems

My latest Telegraph Q&A column can be viewed online here Subjects discussed include:
!) Can pets get swine flu?
2) What's the best way to introduce new cats to each other?
3) Are stick insects good pets?
4) What can be done about lipid deposits in a dog's eyes? Click here for full post

Electric shock training collars - illegal for humans but OK for dogs?

Across at the Telegraph today, I wrote a blog about the use of electric shock collars for training dogs - click here to read it. Lots of comments on this one. As usual, please send comments to the Telegraph site. Thanks. Click here for full post

Should people be allowed to call their pets offensive names?

Across at the Telegraph, I've written a piece about people calling their pets by offensive names. Click here to read it. Pet names are fascinating...... Click here for full post

Canine Brucellosis on TV3

Today on Ireland AM, we discussed Canine Brucellosis. A suspected case has been identified in a large scale dog breeding unit in Ireland, but news reports make it sound as if this is a much bigger threat than the reality. Click here to learn more. And click here to read the newspaper report of the incident. Click here for full post

Q & A on TV3

On TV3 last week, I stayed around after the show to answer some questions that had been texted in by owners. Click here to watch. Queries included the following:
+ How long do goldfish live for?
+ A Pekingese with skin cysts. What can be done?
+ Is it OK for dogs to eat cat food?
+ Why does our Boxer have bald black spots on her side?
+ How long does a female dog's season last?
+ Is it OK for dogs to sleep outside?
+ Is there a cheap way of getting cataracts removed? Click here for full post

Killing rats and mice

Just wrote a blog about controlling rodents. Why do people hate vivisection, yet they're happy enough putting cruel poisons out to kill rats and mice in their own backyards? Click here to read it. As usual, comments to the Telegraph site please. Click here for full post

Goldfish - on television...

Last week on Ireland AM, I brought my own goldfish with me, and we discussed keeping goldfish as pets. Click here to see the video. I also answered a few questions from viewers, live on tv:
1) An owner who's having a baby soon. How to prepare her two pet dogs?
2) Is it OK for dogs to eat grass?
3) Why do pet goldfish not produce young every year?
4) How do we stop our Westie from snoring at night?
5) Do we need to clip our dog's fur, because he has ringworm. Click here for full post

Cats' nails, dog aggression and allergies to dogs

See here for my weekly Q&A column in the Daily Telegraph Subjects covered include:
1) Claw clipping in cats
2) A dog being aggressive to other dogs
3) Humans who are allergic to dogs, coming out in a skin rash./span> Click here for full post

Dog napping - is your pet safe?

I've written a post about dog napping across at the Telegraph. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

A real life Scooby Doo?

My latest post to the Telegraph is about a police dog who seemed to be afraid to tackle the villains, a bit like Scooby Doo. Click here to read more. Click here for full post