Rabies - discussion on TV3

This morning on TV3, we discussed rabies - and then I answered a few questions from viewers. Click here to watch. Click here for full post

World Rabies Day

Rabies kills over a thousand people every week - yet it's easily prevented. To find out more, read my Telegraph blog here And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Issues at the British Veterinary Association congress

There was plenty of interest at the British Veterinary Association congress, and I've written a piece that summarises the issues. Read it here. Click here for full post

The risk of changing European regulations on pet travel

More stuff from the British Veterinary congress and an issue that also will affect Ireland. Plans to change import regulations for pets carries a worrying risk of introducing a dangerous new disease of humans from the European continent. Click here to read more. Click here for full post

What do dog breeders want from their vets?

I've been at the British Veterinary Association Congress this weekend, where there's been plenty of debate about controversial issues. In this blog post, I discuss the issue of pedigree dog breeding. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Fleas - on the radio

This week on East Coast FM, I discussed fleas with Declan Meehan - an old subject, but always a good one. Click on the Play button below to listen, or download the file.

VETFLEA.mp3

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Vets talking and listening.....

I'm heading to the annual congress of the British Veterinary Association - it's being held in Cardiff this weekend. What's it all about? Read more by clicking here. Click here for full post

My new books: the front covers

My books are now available, both in book shops across the UK and Ireland, and also online (see the top right panel on this blog). I love the illustrations, and I couldn't resist posting pictures of the books here...... And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

New facebook fan page for Brayvet

Following on from my "Pete the Vet" fan page, I've started one for my vet practice, so that those of you who may be interested in goings-on behind the scenes may get a chance to find out more about what we get up to. Click here to visit it, or click on the box in the right hand column to become a "fan". Click here for full post

Petting farms: safe for children?

Petting farms in the UK have been criticised after an outbreak of E.Coli in children. Read my blog about it here. Click here for full post

At last: China is introducing animal welfare laws

China is finally introducing laws to make it illegal to be cruel to animals. Click here to read my Telegraph blog on the subject. Click here for full post

Dog nutrition, scratching cats and nervous rabbits

In my column in today's printed Daily Telegraph, I deal with dog nutrition, a nervous rabbit and a cat that's scratching in the house. To read the questions and answers, click here. Click here for full post

Radio interview about my new books

My books were discussed in detail on Derek Mooney's afternoon radio show on RTE One in Ireland yesterday. To listen, click on this link, then open in Real Player or equivalent. The interview lasted a whole hour, and it starts from the 55 min point of this file....Two critics were asked to review my books, and although they both gave the books 8/10, we had healthy and robust discussion along the way. Being under pressure while over 200000 people are listening..... it was quite exciting! Great to have the opportunity to have the books discussed in such a public forum - I really appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity Click here for full post

Televised questions and answers

I've answered the usual mix of questions about pets on television - watch here or read on to find out what subjects were covered: 1. I want to buy a Bichon Frise puppy but I live in an apartment and would be out for most of the day. I could bring her to work with me some days. Is it OK to leave her for some of the day on her own?
2. We had to put our dog Kizzy to sleep last week after sixteen great years and we are all heartbroken. Would you have any advice for us please?
3. Do cats get arthritis, like dogs? If so, what symptoms do they display, and what can be done for them?
4. Our six month old pup always gets sick in the car. Is there anything she can take for this?
5. Is it OK to give a drop of warm milk to my five year old Yorkshire Terrier every night?
6. My Labrador-cross has a weeping eye. What can I do for him? Click here for full post

Pedigree or moggie: what type of kitten?

On TV3 today, I discussed choosing a kitten - should you go for a pedigree or a mixed-breed moggie? Click here to watch. Click here for full post

How fast is your cat breathing?

Here's a video of an interesting case that came in this evening - a cat with rapid breathing, also known as "tachypnoea". Watching the rate of breathing is one of the simple observations that you can make on a pet cat at home. Breathing should be barely noticeable, slow and shallow - around 20 - 30 per minute. This cat breathes at around 60 per minute, probably due to a benign thyroid tumour producing too much thyroid hormone, which causes heart complications. We're awaiting blood test results, but she's quite contented and comfortable in the meantime. Click here for full post

Farm animals and children

There are a couple of news stories about farm animals and school children in the news today - a lamb that was reared by a class as part of a food-production project was slaughtered despite some efforts to "rescue" him in the UK media, and a "petting farm" has found itself at the centre of an E.Coli outbreak in the south of England. Read my blog on the subject here. Click here for full post

Elderly pets - when to treat, and when to let them go?

I've written a blog at the Telegraph about a dog that developed kidney failure at the age of fifteen. How far should you go in giving treatment? Read the blog here. Click here for full post

My new Facebook "fan" page

I've been trying some new ways of interacting with folk on the internet - and it's time to give you an update. This blog was the start, and then I added a Twitter stream to this page, on the right hand side. I've now started a couple of Facebook pages that work with both Blogger and Twitter. Firstly, I have a Facebook page for myself - Pete Wedderburn - as a vet, and you're welcome to become my "friend" there. Secondly, I've started a "Pete the vet fan page". I feel uncomfortable about the title of this - for goodness's sake, who am I to have "fans"? But the fan page does seem to offer a useful way of interacting - I can post cases and discussions there, and anyone can post comments to the same page so that there can be useful interactions. Now I can post photographs and discussions to the Facebook fan page, and it's automatically sent to Twitter, then on to this blog site, and also to my otre Facebook page. It seems to make sense, but I'm always open to other ideas..... Click here for full post

Expensive animals - are they worth it?

Just written a blog about the most expensive dog in the world that was just sold in China for €400000. Click here to read it.... Click here for full post

Irish wild mammals - on the radio

Foxes, squirrels, badgers and hedgehogs are just some of the wild mammals that are found across Ireland. In today's piece, I discussed these with Declan Meehan of East Coast FM. Click on the play button below to listen.

wILDvET.mp3

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Arthritis - on TV3

I brought Daisy, a fifteen year old Labrador cross onto television with me today - she suffers from arthritis, but is kept pain-free and mobile with daily medication. Click here to watch. Click here for full post

Getting best value when you buy medicines for your pet

I've written a blog at the Telegraph about buying pet medicines - the way the new rules work in the UK. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

A cat with a rash......

I've written a blog at the Telegraph about a cat that developed a bumpy rash on his back: a common summer problem. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

The Terrierman blog

Sometimes I come across a blog that seems particularly interesting, even though I may not agree with everything it says. Try this one from a man in the USA who is passionate about his working terriers. If you browse, you'll come across some interesting angles.... Click here for full post

Questions and answers on television

More questions and answers on video: to watch, click here, or read on to find out what subjects I tackled. 1. How can I stop my 3 month old male kitten from suckling on the longer hair of his female sibling’s neck?
2. My adult female Golden Retriever tears up her bed every night. How can I stop this?
3. I’ve got 4 chickens and I keep them in my back garden. Is it OK to have them on concrete or wood, or must it be grass?
4. I walk my spaniel on the beach every day and she drinks the sea water, causing her to be sick, and it also comes out the other end. How can I stop her drinking the salty water?
5. Why do hens pull feathers off each other, not stopping till they draw blood?
6. My dog spends some of his time in a dog run, and if he sees me anywhere outside, he barks the place down. How can I stop him doing this? Click here for full post

Talking about elderly pets on the radio

On East Coast FM today, we discussed the death of Chanel, that old dog in New York, as well as covering aspects such as quality of life and care of the elderly pet. Click on the play button below to listen or download the file.

OLDDOGS.mp3

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A 19 year old dog on TV3

Winston, a terrier in his 19th year, joined me on TV3 this morning to discuss the issues of old age in pets. I also answered a few questions from viewers. Click here to watch. Click here for full post

The death of the oldest dog in the world

A dog that had been known as the "oldest dog in the world" died this week. Click here to read my blog on the subject across at the Telegraph. Click here for full post