More discussion on puppy farm bill in Ireland

On East Coast FM last week, following the interview with John Gormley, we had further discussion in the studio on various aspects of the proposed legislation. Click on the play button below to listen.

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Depression in dogs - on Ireland AM

On Ireland AM this week, I discussed a subject that I've never covered before: depression in dogs. Click here to watch the video. Click here for full post

Animal A&E - episode 4

In this week's Animal A&E, I have to treat Copper, a Labrador who'd become very dehydrated after a nasty bout of gastroenteritis. Click here to watch it. Click here for full post

Dogs and cats: off the menu in China at last?

There's news from China that it may soon be illegal to eat dogs and cats. Click here to read my blog on this. Click here for full post

A cat's knee makes the national news....

A referral practice in the UK made national news in the UK after giving Missy the cat a new custom-made knee - reportedly the first of its kind in the world. Click here to read my blog on this in the Telegraph. Click here for full post

Interview with Minister of Environment about puppy farms

This morning on East Coast FM, I took part in an interview with John Gormley, the Minister of Environment, about the upcoming legislation that will introduce regulation of dog breeders in Ireland. Click here to listen to the interview. Click here for full post

Q&A in the Daily Telegraph

Hens not laying eggs, choosing a puppy, grumpy cats and playful pups. Read my latest Telegraph Q&A here: Click here for full post

Dog sledding - a popular sport for dog lovers

The UK's biggest dog sled competition is happening this weekend. Click here to read all about it. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

"Reviewing the papers" on Newstalk

I went into the Moncrieff show this week to look through the day's newspapers - some animal stuff, some general stuff. Click here to download or to listen. Click here for full post

Senility in pets - on the radio

This week on East Coast FM's Morning Show, I discussed senility in dogs and cats with Declan Meehan. Click here to download or to listen. Click here for full post

Vivisection: is it ever OK?

Pigs were buried in snow in Austria to "learn more about the body's reaction to being buried in an avalanche". Luckily, the experiment was stopped, but vivisection continues to be a controversial subject. What do you think about it? See my blog in the Telegraph here. Click here for full post

Video Q&A

This week, I answered five queries about pets on web-only television. Click here to watch, and read on to find out about the questions:
1. Why has my dog been coughing since Christmas?
2. My cat has gum disease and the vet said all his teeth should be removed. Would you recommend this?
3. I have a Siberian husky who keeps running out after we open the door and also whines like a puppy. How do I train him not to do this?
4. Can my King Charles live with a severe heart murmur?
5. Is it normal that my 4-year-old Jack Russell is always shaking and shivering?
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Episode 2: Animal A&E on TV3

In this week's "Animal A&E" on TV3, I carried out a delicate operation on a hamster who had a large tumour on his ear. Click here to watch the full episode - half an hour long, but very engaging and educational. Click here for full post

Training puppies - on TV3

This week on TV3, I discussed the importance of training puppies, and suggested a website that lists dog trainers in Ireland. Click here to watch it. Click here for full post

Singing cats, Staffies and Labradors

In this week's printed Daily Telegraph I had to deal with the usual mix of problems - some common, some slightly bizarre! Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Microchipping dogs - should it be compulsory?

The new dog breeding report has suggested that all puppies should be microchipped. I've written a blog about the subject for the Telegraph - read it by clicking here. Click here for full post

Dog breeding report - the facts

I was at the launch of the Independent Inquiry into dog breeding in London today - very interesting stuff - read my Telegraph blog by clicking here to find out more.... Click here for full post

Animals and cold weather - on the radio

This week on East Coast, I discussed looking after animals and birds in cold weather. Click on the play button below to listen.

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Why not "Fairtrade" milk and meat?

We're all used to seeing Fairtrade bananas and coffee on our supermarket shelves. If we want to encourage a fair deal for producers, why not extend this to farmers in the UK and Ireland, with Fairtrade milk and meat? Read my Telegraph blog on this by clicking here. Click here for full post

Episode One: Animal A&E on TV3

The first episode of "Animal A and E" included Vivace, a lovely black cat with ringworm who came in to see me a few weeks ago. Click here to watch the full episode online. . Click here for full post

Is a take-over of the UK Kennel Club imminent?

The Kennel Club has been at the centre of the controversy over pedigree dog breeding in the UK, following the BBC documentary "Pedigree Dogs Exposed". I've written a blog about what might be the next stage in this saga. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Feeding the birds in winter - on TV3

This week on Ireland AM, we discussed looking after birds and other animal life during this spell of cold weather. Click here to watch. Click here for full post

First episode of Ireland's Animal A&E

Click here to watch the first episode of TV3's exciting new animal and veterinary series, "Animal A&E". It involves a mixture of animal rescue work and veterinary clinics, including myself at Brayvet. Click here for full post

The dangers of stopping border controls for pets

"European border controls" sounds like a boring subject. Read my latest blog here to find out why everyone should know about the risk involved when controls of pet movements are stopped for political reasons, ignoring scientific advice. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

My blog plans for 2010

As we move into the New Year, I've been reflecting on the best way to use this blog, as well as my other online resources. Since I started writing the blog, Facebook and Twitter have grown in popularity, and they seem to offer a more effective way of instantaneous interaction. My current plan is to maintain four online outlets during 2010:
1. This website- www.petethevet.com - will continue as before, as a "catch-all" highlighting my writing, radio and television work as it happens. The idea is that my "blog" entries here are usually brief, linking to other articles that I've done, or to online radio or tv excerpts.
2. I also run a site that highlights my journalism work - www.petewedderburn.com - this acts as my online curriculum vitae, and doesn't change so often.
3. My Facebook "Fan Page", which you can visit by clicking here, is where I post up-to-date accounts of what I'm up to. If you become a Fan, you'll be kept in touch, and the format allows much more effective discussion about issues that come up.
4. My Twitter page is where I add in a few extra moment-by-moment comments - it reaches a bigger audience than Facebook, and it can be especially useful to give on-the-spot running accounts of events e.g. when I'm at the launch of the Independent Dog Breeding Inquiry report next week. Click here to visit my Twitter page.

It seems like a complicated patchwork: the idea is that you choose what suits you best: some folk are Twitterers, others love Facebook and others just like to come to this site. Thanks for your interest, whichever way we're connecting with each other :-)
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Predictions for 2010 in the animal world

What issues are likely to come up during the next twelve months? Click here to read about the subjects that may hit the headlines in 2020. Click here for full post