My weekly Pet Subjects column: cats purring, cataracts in guinea pigs and lungworm

In my weekly Pet Subjects column in the Daily Telegraph this week, I answer questions about cats purring, guinea pigs with cataracts, dogs with lungworm and giving tablets to cats. Click here to read it. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Worming pets

I've written a blog about the importance of worming pets. Read it by clicking here.(Photo - Bayer AG) Click here for full post

Pets and Halloween on the radio

On East Coast FM this week, we discussed the best way to look after pets over Halloween. Click on the play button to listen.

Halloween and pets.mp3

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Halloween and pets - on tv

Today on Ireland AM, I had a gorgeous black cat called Mini-Jet with me - we discussed looking after pets at Halloween. Click here to watch. Click here for full post

Animal rights activists are jailed, but this doesn't solve the problem

Anti-vivisectionists were jailed in the UK yesterday, but they're likely to be seen as martyrs for their cause. What's the best way of dealing with people who will commit violence in pursuit of their goals? Read my blog on this here. Click here for full post

Mega-dairies - do we need factory farmed dairy cows?

Intuitively, it seems mad to cram 8000 dairy cows onto one farm, when the average herd size is only 126. Yet paradoxically, experts believe that well-organised larger farms, split into smaller units, could actually improve dairy cows' conditions. Click here to read my blog on this. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Home cooking for your pet dog

Many people are now choosing to cook for their pets, just as they cook for the human members of the household. Click here to read my blog on this. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

My Telegraph column: dogs licking lips, killing lobsters, vaccinations and lonely rabbit

Click here to read my weekly column in the Daily Telegraph weekend section. Click here for full post

Viewers' pet questions on TV3

This week on TV3's Ireland AM, I answered the usual variety of viewers' questions about their pets. Click here to watch or read on to find out more about the questions:
1. My Jack Russell keeps wetting indoors on the same spot.
2. My one year old Terrier is a bit spoilt, and I'm having a baby soon. Any tips?
3. My puppy is house trained but she still urinates when I call her. Why?
4. My Bichon Frise smells, despite the fact that I wash him regularly. What can I do?
5. What can I do to prevent my dog from carrying fleas? Click here for full post

Radio discussion about the wallaby in the Dublin nightclub

Click on the "play" button below to listen to Declan Meehan and myself discussing the incident of the wallaby in the nightclub, as well as other episodes of maltreatment of animals. Ireland urgently needs new animal welfare laws.

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Discussion on TV3 on Irish exotic pet legislation.... or the lack of it -

The story of a wallaby in a nightclub made headlines in Ireland, with widespread revulsion at the maltreatment of the animal. Yet under Irish law, it's debatable whether a prosecutable crime was committed. Click here to watch the discussion on Ireland AM. Click here for full post

Pedigree dogs are still suffering......

The story of a Shar Pei with severe entropion (inturned eyelids) made this news this week. Click here to read more about it in my Telegraph blog. Click here for full post

What about Brigitte Bardot as President of France?

A recent news report suggested that Brigitte Bardot may be considering running for the French Presidency.... read my blog on this by clicking here. Click here for full post

Solving pet behaviour problems

As a "media vet", I probably get more questions about pet behaviour than animal health. What's the best way of dealing with this queries? Read my blog on this by clicking here. Click here for full post

Pet Subjects column: clever fish and more

In this week's Pet Subjects column I answer questions about a smart goldfish, a dog having seizures, spraying cats and a cat that miaows continuously. Click here to read it. Click here for full post

Pet questions and answers on Newstalk

I was in at the Tom Dunne show this week, and listeners called in with their pet problems. Click on the play button below to listen.

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Audio section: Lilies are poisonous to cats

On this week's East Coast FM show with Declan Meehan, we discussed recent local cases of cruelty to animals, as well as highlighting the risk to cats from contact with lilies

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Feral cats on TV3

Feral cats are very common, all over Ireland (and indeed, all over the world. This Saturday is National Feral Cat Day in the USA, and next week is National Feral Cat Awareness Week in Ireland. We discussed this on Ireland AM today: click here to watch. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

CCTV is needed in the UK's slaughter houses

Hidden cameras recently exposed shocking scenes in some of the UK's abattoirs. Click here to read my blog on this. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Animal charities: the battle for financial survival

Animal charities have high costs in their struggle to help unfortunate animals. Click here to read my blog on this. Click here for full post

Pet questions on the Tom Dunne show on Newstalk

I was a guest on the Tom Dunne show recently: here's the interview. Click on the play button below to listen.

1110 TDPete.mp3

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The new Animal Health and Welfare Bill in Ireland - on the radio

This week on East Coast, I discussed the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill in Ireland. Should it be delayed by the economic crisis, or should it go ahead as planned? Click on the play button below to listen.

VETWELFARE.mp3

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The dominance theory of dog training is out-of-date

The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, has hit the headlines again, with criticism of President Obama's apparently out-of-control dog. Read my blog on this here. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Keeping people and pets safe on the roads in winter

Poor visibility when out walking beside roads presents a real risk to owners and dogs... read my blog here to find out more about how to minimise that risk. Click here for full post

Pets, allergies and children

Can pets make allergies worse in children? Or could they even help to prevent allergic illness? Click here to read my take on the latest research. Click here for full post

Would compulsory microchipping lessen cases of cruelty like Jack?

"Jack" was a dog who died last week after being abandoned in an emaciated, starved condition on the doorstep of an animal sanctuary. If microchipping was compulsory, would his owner be more likely to be identified? And so would it be less common to encounter sad cases of cruelty like this? Click here to read my blog on this. Click here for full post