Can I wash my goldfish with shampoo? This week's Pet Subjects column

From dirty goldfish to thirsty dogs, bullying cats and the reason why cats like to head butt humans.... read my weekly Pet Subjects column here. Click here for full post

Pet questions and answers on TV3

Watch the video of pet questions and answers from TV3's web only service by clicking here. I answer the following queries:
1. My puppy has a thinning coat - should I be worried?
2. My dog is afraid of other dogs and this is causing problems on walks. What can I do?
3. My Labrador scratches his left ear and howls. What do you think is wrong?
4. Do I need to have my dog vaccinated against fleas?

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Avoiding stick injuries in dogs - on Ireland AM

Chasing sticks kills dogs. There are plenty of safer toys- we discussed some on TV3 this morning. Watch here. Click here for full post

Chocolate poisoning: a common problem at Easter

On the Telegraph website this morning, I blogged about the dangers of chocolate to dogs. Read the blog here. Click here for full post

Veterinary blog listings: "Pete the Vet" gets a mention :-)

RN Central - a website for both medical and veterinary nurses - has listed this blog among the "50 Best Blogs for Veterinary Students". Read the rest of the list here. Click here for full post

Radio interview: ISPCA comments about Irish dogs being exported to UK

Should dogs be exported to the UK to be rehomed? Or is it "better for them" to be simply euthanased? Listen to the background to this saga by clicking on the play button below

VETISPCA.mp3

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Dogs being rescued in China

A remarkable rescue of dogs on their way to slaughter took place in China this week. Read more in my blog here. Click here for full post

Video questions and answers on TV3

This week on Ireland AM, I answered a few questions from viewers as follows:
1. Why does my dog chew his front feet?
2. My Boxer eats a bag of apples or pears every week. Is this a problem?
3. My hamster has a lump under his ear and it's starting to smell. What could it be?
4. My dog has very severe separation anxiety. What can I do?
5. My dog has been on thyroid tablets for a year but is still lethargic and overweight. What else could be going on?
6. What can I give a dog that's constipated?
Click here to find out my answers.
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Chocolate poisoning on Ireland AM

Easter is chocolate-fest time: a dangerous time for dogs. On Ireland AM this week,we discussed chocolate poisoning-watch here Click here for full post

My weekly Telegraph column

My weekly Pet Subjects column in the Daily Telegraph answers the usual variety of questions. This week:
1) Should I worry about lumps on my guinea pigs?
2) Wny are some cats fussy about cheap food?
3) What are the basics of a first aid kit for pets?
4) What should do owners do about lungworm?
To read the column, click here.
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"No-stun" slaughter meat: should it be labelled?

The EU is voting next week to decide if "no-stun slaughter" meat will be labelled, so that consumers can decide whether or not they wish to support this practice. There's a strong lobby against this obligation and there's a high chance that it won't be introduced. To find out more, read my blog here. Click here for full post

Lungworm - on the radio

On East Coast FM this week, we discussed lungworm in dogs. Click on the play button below to listen.

VETLUNGWORM.mp3

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Lungworm - on Ireland AM

This week on Ireland AM, we discussed lungworm. To find out more, click here. And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

The Grand National: as cruel as bullfighting?

Two horses died during last weekend's Grand National horse race. Critics have since claimed that it's a form of cruelty as serious as bull fighting. Read my blog on the subject here. Click here for full post

Pet Subjects column: cats addicted to bleach

My Pet Subjects column this week: a cat addicted to bleach, a rabbit with sharp nails & moving house with pets. Read it by clicking here Click here for full post

The truth about urban foxes and lungworm in dogs

Urban foxes may act as a reservoir for an emerging disease in pet dogs in the UK and Ireland. Does that mean we should eradicate them? Click here to read my blog on this. Click here for full post

Questions about dogs on the radio

A couple of listeners phoned in with questions for me to answer on East Coast FM this week. Listen by clicking the play button below

VETQUESTIONS.mp3

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Hypoallergenic dogs- and a 10 year anniversary celebration

Great fun on Ireland AM today. After chat about hypoallergenic pets, the presenters surprised me with a 10 year birthday cake! Watch the video by clicking here.And here is the rest of it. Click here for full post

Human-cow hybrids: what next?

In China, scientists have created genetically modified cows that produce milk containing "human" proteins rather than the normal "cow" proteins. They claim that this makes the milk a more appropriate food for humans. But isn't it a dangerous precedent? Read my blog on this by clicking here. Click here for full post

My Telegraphy column - cats, hamsters and nervous dogs

In this week's Pet Subjects column in the Daily Telegraph, I deal with the following questions:
1) Does a cat's miaow get deeper as it grows older?
2) How can a nervous dog be calmed down?
3) Do hamsters get lonely?
4) What can be done about tear staining in white dogs?
Read the column by clicking here. Click here for full post

Language classes for donkeys - in Egypt

Sometimes it's not that donkeys are stubborn - they just don't understand. Donkey trainers in Egypt have an answer: see here. Click here for full post