Wet Food — Key Benefits

• 70–80% moisture content: Cats evolved in arid environments with a naturally low thirst drive. Wet food significantly boosts water intake
• Urinary health: The extra hydration dilutes urine, flushing toxins and reducing the risk of UTIs, kidney disease, and crystal/stone formation
• Higher protein, lower carb: Closer to a cat’s natural prey diet. Dry kibble often contains more starch to maintain its shape
• Palatability: More appealing aroma and texture — ideal for fussy eaters and seniors with reduced appetite
• Weight management: Lower calorie density by volume. Cats feel full on fewer calories

Dry Food — Key Benefits

• Convenience: Longer shelf life, easy to store, can be left out for grazing or used in puzzle feeders
• Cost-effective: Cheaper per calorie than wet food
• Dental: Some (not all) specifically formulated dry foods can help reduce plaque — but this benefit is often overstated. Dry food alone does not clean teeth

Comparison

FAQs

What do most vets recommend?

Most UK vets recommend mixed feeding — combining wet and dry food to get the benefits of both. Wet food provides hydration and higher protein; dry food offers convenience and can be used in puzzle feeders for mental stimulation. If you must choose one, wet food is generally considered the better option for most cats due to the hydration benefits — particularly for cats prone to urinary tract issues or kidney disease. Choose a “complete” food (not “complementary”) that meets FEDIAF standards, with meat or fish listed as the first ingredient.

The post Cat Wet Food vs Dry Food UK 2026: Hydration, Urinary Health, Dental, Cost & What Vets Recommend appeared first on Petz.

Body Condition Score (BCS)

The BCS is a simple hands-on test scored 1–9 (ideal: 4–5). Each point above ideal ≈ 10% overweight.

• Feel ribs: You should be able to feel them easily with light pressure. If you have to press hard, your dog is overweight
• Waist from above: A visible narrowing behind the ribs when viewed from above
• Tummy tuck from side: The belly should tuck upward from the ribs to the hind legs

80% of UK owners don’t know their dog’s BCS. Ask your vet to show you at the next check-up.

How Much to Feed

• Always weigh food with kitchen scales — never estimate. A “scoop” can vary by 50%+
• Packaging guidelines are a starting point, not gospel — adjust based on your dog’s condition, age, and activity
• If treats are given, reduce meal portions accordingly. Treats should be ≤10% of daily calories
• Complete elimination of table scraps

Weight Loss Plan

• Vet check first: Rule out medical causes (hypothyroidism, Cushing’s). Get a target weight
• Weight-loss food: Lower calories, higher protein and fibre — keeps your dog feeling full
• Gradual exercise increase: Start with 5-minute walks for very overweight dogs. Build to 30+ minutes daily. Swimming is excellent (low joint impact)
• Weigh monthly: Aim for 1–2% body weight loss per week

FAQs

How many calories does my dog need?

There’s no single answer — it depends on breed, age, activity level, neuter status, and metabolism. As a rough guide, a moderately active adult medium-sized dog (15–25kg) typically needs 600–1,000 kcal per day. Your vet can calculate your dog’s specific resting energy requirement (RER) and create a tailored feeding plan. For weight loss, they’ll typically reduce intake to 60–80% of the calories needed to maintain the target weight.

The post Dog Weight Management UK 2026: 50% Are Overweight, Body Condition Score, How Much to Feed & Diet Plan appeared first on Petz.

What Happened

• 2018: The US FDA began investigating reports of DCM in dogs eating diets marketed as “grain-free” — many containing high levels of peas, lentils, and other legumes as grain substitutes
• Cases appeared in breeds not typically prone to DCM, raising alarm
• 2022–2023: The FDA concluded it had “insufficient data to establish causality” between grain-free food and DCM, and ceased public updates

Where the Science Stands (2026)

• A 2023 University of Guelph study fed dogs diets with up to 45% legumes for 20 weeks — no indication of heart issues
• DCM is complex and multifactorial — genetics, overall formulation quality, and individual sensitivities all play roles
• The concern has shifted from “grain-free” to “diet quality” — poorly formulated diets with excessive legumes and insufficient quality control may be the real issue
• Not all dogs with diet-associated DCM have taurine deficiency, and not all respond to taurine supplementation

Do Dogs Need Grains?

• Dogs are omnivores and can digest grains well — thousands of years of domestication alongside humans
• True grain allergies in dogs are rare. Most food allergies are to animal proteins (beef, chicken, dairy)
• Grains (rice, oats, barley) provide fibre, energy, and B vitamins. They are not “filler”

FAQs

Should I switch my dog off grain-free food?

There’s no need to panic. If your dog is thriving on a grain-free diet from a reputable manufacturer that meets FEDIAF standards, the current evidence does not prove it’s harmful. However, if you’re feeding grain-free because you believe grains are bad, that belief isn’t supported by evidence. Consult your vet, especially if your dog is in a breed predisposed to DCM (Dobermans, Boxers, Great Danes, Cocker Spaniels). UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) advises choosing complete, balanced diets from reputable manufacturers — grain-inclusive or otherwise.

The post Grain-Free Dog Food UK 2026: The DCM Debate, FDA Investigation, Taurine, Legumes & What the Evidence Says appeared first on Petz.

Claimed Benefits

• Shinier coat: High-quality protein and omega fatty acids
• Cleaner teeth: Chewing raw bones reduces plaque/tartar
• Firmer stools: Less filler, more digestible content
• Ingredient control: You know exactly what’s in the food (homemade diets)

Note: Many of these benefits are owner-reported/anecdotal. Robust scientific studies remain limited.

Risks & Concerns

• Bacterial contamination: Raw meat carries Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria. Studies show raw-fed dogs have higher shedding rates of these pathogens — risk to humans in the household too (especially children, elderly, immunocompromised)
• Nutritional imbalance: Homemade raw diets are frequently unbalanced. Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, iodine, copper, and zinc deficiencies are common
• Calcium:Phosphorus ratio: Must be between 1:1 and 2:1 (FEDIAF). Muscle meat alone = high phosphorus, low calcium → bone problems
• Bone hazards: Choking, fractured teeth, intestinal obstruction or perforation
• Cost: Generally more expensive than conventional food. Requires freezer space

BVA & Veterinary Position

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) acknowledges the popularity of raw feeding but highlights significant health risks — particularly bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalance in homemade diets. They recommend discussing diet choices with your vet and stress that homemade raw diets require expert guidance.

FAQs

If I want to try raw, what’s the safest approach?

Use a commercially prepared “complete” raw food from a DEFRA-registered manufacturer. These are formulated to FEDIAF nutritional standards, including correct Ca:P ratios. They undergo testing for pathogens. Always handle raw pet food like you would raw meat for human consumption: wash hands thoroughly, clean bowls after every meal, store separately from human food. Avoid homemade raw diets unless you are working with a qualified veterinary nutritionist.

The post Raw Feeding Dogs UK 2026: BARF Diet Pros & Cons, Salmonella Risk, Nutritional Balance, Ca:P Ratio & Vet Opinion appeared first on Petz.

How do I know if my pet has a tick?

As a tick feeds on the blood from your host, it will grow in size. You will then be able to feel the tick on their skin – it will feel like a small bump. On closer inspection, you will see a large brown spot with eight legs. This is around the same size as a large pea. Think a marrowfat rather than a petit pois. Sometimes, they can start out as very pale, almost white creatures. While most are spotted after feeding, you really need to be checking your pet for fleas, ticks and other lumps and bumps every day when grooming.

How do I remove a tick?

Twisting the tick off your pet’s body is the best solution. This way, the whole body is removed. If you pull, the head of the tick may remain attached to your pet’s body. This could cause any disease that the tick is carrying to be passed on, and the site of the bite may also become infected. You will need a dedicated tick removal tool. Don’t use human eyebrow tweezers as you won’t be able to get the correct twisting motion or enough grip on the tick. Don’t use your fingers to crush a tick, as again it could leave part behind. They also carry diseases, and crushing a tick could mean the blood from the tick goes everywhere, spreading this disease further. Instead, follow the steps below:

1. Gently part your pet’s fur so you get a full view of the tick
2. Slowly push the tick remover tool underneath the tick
3. Grasp the tick firmly, and then twist it in a clockwise direction
4. Repeat this a few times until you feel the tick come loose
5. Observe your pet’s skin to ensure the tick is completely removed

How do I dispose of a tick?

As mentioned, you need to ensure you don’t squash the tick, which could release infected blood everywhere. So, before you start, you should be prepared. Grab a small jar with alcohol in, or damp thick tissue such as kitchen paper. Pop the tick in the alcohol until it dies, before disposing of it down the drain, or pop it in the tissue before flushing it down the toilet. Always wash your hands afterwards.

A dish of water and liquid soap will also kill the tick, if you don’t have alcohol in your home

Wash the affected area afterwards, with soap or a pet wipe. You should also disinfect your removal tool.

Can I use a topical treatment to remove a tick?

There are some spot-on treatments out there that claim to kill ticks. Most come as standard with flea treatment. These are good, as it means the ticks are feeding on blood that has been treated with the spot-on – which can’t be doing them any good. But removing a tick physically is always better. Most preventative spot-ons won’t stop a tick from latching onto your pet’s skin. It just stops the tick from thriving. Don’t use a product that claims to kill a tick. You can buy tick freezers that you spray onto a tick to immobilise it before removing, but don’t think that using that is job done. You still need to use the tool.

Which pets can carry ticks?

While ticks are most commonly found on dogs (who are taken for long walks), ticks are also found on cats. If you have other pets in your home, however, such as guinea pigs and rabbits, it can be common for a tick to fall off your dog or cat once the job is done, and then latch on to another animal. This is especially relevant if they share the same space. Perhaps your rabbit goes outdoors in a run when your dog is also outside, for instance. Therefore, don’t take for granted that your animals who don’t go outside as often will be protected.

Related Reading

• 140 Christmas Pet Name Ideas
• A History Of Presidential Pets
• How To Keep Pets Cool In Hot Weather
• Do Our Pets Make Hay Fever Worse?
• What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing

The post How To Remove A Tick From A Pet appeared first on Petz.

Can I vaccinate my dog against kennel cough?

Reputable sites will always ask for proof of all vaccinations, including kennel cough. If your chosen venue doesn’t, try to reconsider where you are taking your dog

How is a kennel cough vaccine administered?

What are the symptoms of kennel cough?

• runny nose
• sneezing
• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• fever

How long does kennel cough last?

Can kennel cough be treated?

• Honey and warm water can not only help soothe the throat but also makes the water sweeter and more appealing
• If your dog isn’t eating, strong smelly foods and meats may help
• Rest is key, so limit really long walks and keep the house quiet

How infectious is kennel cough?

The post Kennel Cough In Dogs: Symptoms & Treatment appeared first on Petz.

Vaccinating puppies

When dogs are puppies, they must be vaccinated in the first few weeks of their lives. Some may be the responsibility of the breeder, and others will fall in the timeframe that they are in their new home. Puppies are typically vaccinated at eight and ten weeks with the second dose usually being given two to four weeks later. It is really important that the second dose is given as without it, your puppy won’t be able to go outside. Your puppy will then require a booster vaccination at 6 or 12 months. As your puppy becomes an adult dog, you need to make regular visits to the vets to keep their vaccinations up to date.

Vaccinating adult dogs

Dogs must have regular vaccinations to ensure they remain healthy and strong throughout their lives. It prevents them from picking up any diseases or illnesses and also limits the spread of these illnesses. Boosters usually occur annually. All are commonly given at once, and your dog may also be able to have their annual checkup at the same time. If vaccinations are kept up to date and on time, it keeps their immune system healthy and ticking over. However, if too much time passes between doses, you may need to restart their vaccinations.

Which diseases are dogs protected against with vaccinations?

Dogs are protected against four main diseases with vaccinations and then have the additional option to be protected against kennel cough.

Canine parvovirus

A virus that is spread by the infected faeces from another dog. The virus can survive in the area for nine months. Parvovirus usually affects puppies between six weeks and six months of age but can also affect adult dogs who haven’t had their regular vaccinations. Puppies who are affected at a very young age can develop heart problems and die.

Symptoms

• Severe vomiting and diarrhoea
• Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (bloody faeces)
• Severe dehydration
• White blood cell count drops, leaving their immune systems weak and susceptible to secondary infections

Treatment

There is no specific treatment. A dog with suspected parvovirus can be put on a drip. This will give them medication to prevent secondary infections and stop vomiting. A drip will heavily increase their chances of survival, but it is still often a fatal disease.

Canine distemper

A virus that is spread by all bodily secretions from an infected animal. Commonly, this is saliva. It is usually spread by direct contact, and other mammals such as ferrets can also become infected. Those with severe symptoms commonly die. Any with mild infections can recover, but will often develop neurological issues later in life. This is known as ‘old dog encephalitis’.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the canine distemper virus can vary wildly from relatively mild health issues to serious illness, which is why it is vital your dog is protected.

• Fever
• Depression
• Coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Discharge from eyes and mouth
• Muscle tics
• Difficulty walking
• Seizures
• Eye problems
• The thickening of the skin on the nose and pads – distemper is also called ‘hard pad’

Treatment

There is no common treatment for distemper. Fluids can help with dehydration and medication can help control seizures and tics, but other symptoms are untreatable.

Leptospirosis

Lepto is a disease caused by bacteria. Contaminated water is the main way it is spread. In the UK, the main two strains are carried by dogs and rats, so dogs are particularly at risk if they swim or drink from stagnant water near where rats are. Water that cows use can also carry the bacteria. Infected urine can also spread leptospirosis. In humans, leptospirosis infection can lead to Weil’s disease. It can also be fatal

Symptoms

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Thirst
• Vomiting
• Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis
• Jaundice
• Kidney and liver infection

Kidney and liver failure occurs in the most severe infections, but dogs at this stage will most definitely die.

Treatment

Antibiotics and IV drips can help get a dog with lepto back to full health, but only if the infection isn’t too severe. Their urine will carry the bacteria for months even after they have a full bill of health, however. So, it is vital neither humans nor other animals come directly in contact with it.

Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH)

ICH, also known as adenovirus, is spread by the infected saliva, blood, nasal discharge, faeces or urine of other dogs. There are two variations. One causes hepatitis (infection of the liver) and the other causes something similar to kennel cough.

Symptoms

• Lethargy
• Coughing
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice

The above symptoms mean it is very similar to the other diseases on the list, often giving a crossover, so it can be hard to spot.

Treatment

Again there is no specific treatment for ICH. However, if your dog is showing symptoms, these can be treated separately. Beyond this, there are no long-term effects, so most dogs will recover.

Kennel cough

Kennel cough is not a core vaccine, like those above. It is optional but highly recommended for any dog who spends a lot of time around other dogs. In the UK, the kennel cough vaccine is given annually. This is often at the same time as your dog is given booster injections. It is administered intra-nasally with the vet squirting it gently up the dog’s nose. The kennel cough vaccine will not protect your dog from all strains of the virus, but it will still go a long way towards helping protect them if they mix regularly. It is particularly important for any dog with underlying health issues, particularly respiratory. Many doggy day care centres and kennels will ask for proof that your dog has been vaccinated against kennel cough. You can read more, including prevention and treatment, in our kennel cough guide.

How much are dog vaccinations?

Dog vaccinations can cost a range of prices. It can depend on what the vaccination is, and the cost your clinic sets based on the practice rules and where you live. Bought By Many found that the average cost of the first set of vaccinations for a puppy is £68. Kennel cough is usually not included in this, as an optional extra. The cost for kennel cough on top can range from around £10 to nearly £70. Many vet practices will offer a discount on kennel cough if all are given at the same time, both during initial vaccinations and boosters. The cost of boosters is often slightly cheaper. If your dog has missed their annual booster vaccinations, you may have to pay for a course of primary vaccines to catch them back up again. Ask your vet the best approach, however – they may recommend titre blood testing to see if immunity is still present. However, this is often around the same cost as vaccinations anyway. Either way, the cost of annual vaccinations will likely be a lot cheaper than treatment for any of the potential infections and diseases. This could run into thousands of pounds if overnight vet stays and long-term medication is required. You should always have suitable pet insurance to cover these emergencies.

Are vaccinations covered by pet insurance?

Vaccination costs won’t be covered through pet insurance, no. But if your dog is vaccinated, some insurance companies could offer a cheaper policy.

How long do vaccinations last?

The time a vaccine lasts can vary. However, most vets recommend that you attend their practice for boosters annually, which is a good generalised meet-in-the-middle point for them all. Immunity weakens over time, so it is vital you keep up to date with the vaccination records.

Rehoming a dog through a charity

The majority of charities will ensure dogs are fully vaccinated before they leave to come and live with their new owners. Adoption fees will go towards the costs of these vaccines, so it is a great way to keep initial costs low for you. Any dogs taken into a rehoming charity who were abused, abandoned or taken away from their previous owners will likely not have full vaccination records, so it is a good way to get their vaccinations started.

Taking your dog abroad

If you are taking your dog abroad, there are compulsory vaccinations and paperwork that must be completed before you even pack your bags. It does depend on your final destination, but in general, you will need a rabies vaccination. Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them against rabies. They must also be microchipped before their vaccination or at the same time. Otherwise, they will need to be vaccinated again. If you’re taking your pet to the EU or Northern Ireland, you must wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before you travel. The vaccine needs to be approved in the country you’re travelling to. You also need to have a pet passport or health record which shows their vaccination history. Some countries will also require other vaccinations. Rabies vaccinations require a booster every year. It is easier to carry out this booster if there is potential you will travel again with your pet, rather than restarting their vaccinations.

The post Dog Vaccination Guide: What & When Is Needed appeared first on Petz.

Why does my dog eat so much?

There are many reasons why your dog may have a big appetite, and it isn’t always something to worry about. It is a change in appetite that should concern you the most. However, it isn’t ideal if your dog is always begging for food. It can lead to problem behaviour if they don’t get their own way. So, it is vital that you understand why your dog has a large appetite so you can stay on top of it.

Breed

Certain breeds are renowned for greed. These include:

• Cocker Spaniels
• Beagles
• Pugs
• Dachshunds
• Basset Hounds

Food is enjoyable for these dogs, so it is understandable they would want to eat more! However, some of the above breeds are also at higher risk of obesity due to their smaller size, especially if they don’t get enough exercise, so it is really important to stick to their daily recommended food intake.

Multi-dog homes

Dogs in multi-pet households can also seem greedier, as they could be used to finishing off whatever is left by their sibling. While this behaviour isn’t often a concern, it is vital that you control their food intake so they don’t become used to having too much food. If they do see their sibling finish off what they believe is theirs, it could cause protective or guarding behaviours with food and toys. Try feeding them separately to your other pets. If you have a cat, you may want to opt for a microchip feeder, which will prevent your dog from gaining access.

Activity levels

Dogs who are very active will be hungrier than more sedentary hounds. A working sheepdog, for instance, will be hungrier than a sheepdog who lives in an ordinary family home. This is why it is vital to work out your dog’s recommended food intake based on their activity levels as well as their age, size, and the type of food they’re given.

Past behaviour

Do you have a rescue dog? Both underfeeding and overfeeding in their past life can lead to an excessive appetite. This will require getting them into a normal routine; it could be worth feeding them little and often throughout the day, rather than just two meals.

Feeding mistakes

Double check you are actually feeding them enough! It can sound silly but is a common problem. Different foods will require different amounts given to your dog. So, reassess how much you give your dog if you’ve changed the food brand or even if the recipe for their favourite dog food has changed. You may also have to consider specialised food. High-calorie food will keep active dogs fuller for longer. Talk to your vet if your dog is young or old, or has underlying health issues, as they will be able to recommend if specialised food is needed.

Is there a problem?

If your dog’s hunger is starting to concern you, it is a good idea to talk to a vet. After all, overfeeding can be dangerous. You may think you’re helping them to feel full and satisfied, but if they’re getting more calories than necessary, it can lead to obesity, digestion issues and pressure on their internal organs. Being withdrawn, or extra clingy, are two behavioural signs something may be wrong. A change in energy levels could point towards diabetes, and a change in toilet habits may be a sign of issues with digestion. While some dogs are just sometimes ravenous on particular days, overeating and hunger could also be a sign of:

• diabetes
• tumours
• gastrointestinal issues
• Cushing’s disease (when the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol)

If your dog seems to have a big appetite but is also losing weight, this is a serious sign they may have worms.

What to do if you notice a change in appetite with your dog

As mentioned, a random day of never-ending hunger shouldn’t result in too much worry, especially if everything goes back to normal the next day. But if it becomes the norm, you may want to look out for other signs of ill health too. If you are ever worried at all, it is worth informing your vet. If they are concerned, they may ask you to take your dog in for a checkup. They can assess your dog for any health issues, and also inform you of how best to treat the issue. It is times like this when an online vet can come in handy. They can talk you through any advice, and refer you to your vet if they are concerned.

How to keep a dog feeling fuller for longer

You’ve been to the vet and there are no issues. It is a relief, but you still need to prevent begging and other problems.

• Make them work for their food – a slow feeder can mean meals last longer, so they can feel fuller quicker
• Feed little and often. Their daily intake can be given in multiple smaller meals. They may feel satisfied after the act of eating, no matter how much they’ve had
• Divert their attention. If your dog is rewarded with treats for good behaviour, try switching to rewarding them with toys instead. You may also need to switch to walking them more.

The above suggestions are all the first steps to take if your dog is always hungry. If there are any other concerns, or you have tried changing their diet, always contact your vet for advice and to rule out anything more serious.

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How do cats catch Feline Immunodeficiency Disease?

FIV is spread through direct contact with a cat who is FIV positive, by biting and body fluids. It does not spread in the environment or air, or by sharing water and food. Deep bites from fighting, as opposed to nips from playing, are also thought to be the main concern, although there is still risk with any bite. The disease is most commonly found in unneutered male cats. Unneutered males can fight with other males over mates, territory and food. Mating is not thought to be a way the disease is spread, although some mating practices can get violent hence why females can also have the disease. Many people may first hear about FIV when looking at cat adoption. Cats who have been rescued as strays may be diagnosed as FIV positive, as again they may have fought with other cats over territory and food. This is why neutering male cats is highly recommended by animal charities and rescues. It reduces a male cats urge to mate, roam and fight. While it won’t protect them from catching FIV, it will certainly reduce their chances. On very rare occasions, a mother with FIV may pass it on to her kittens, particularly if she caught it during the pregnancy.

How contagious is FIV?

Because FIV is thought to only be spread through biting, it isn’t as contagious as a disease that would be spread through other contact or by mating. It is referred to as Feline HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). But this is because of the similarities in how it attacks the immune system and not because it is similar in terms of how it is spread. Given the number of cats in the UK, FIV is thought to be rare in general. Yet, it can be common amongst unneutered male strays. It is still something all owners should be aware of, however.

Can humans get FIV from cats?

Non-feline animals can’t catch FIV, so if your cat were to scratch or bite you there is no need to worry. It is also not possible for other pets, such as dogs, to catch FIV. However, if you do have or adopt an FIV positive cat, they should be kept as the only cat in the household.

Do I need to keep a cat with FIV indoors?

Yes. This will limit the likelihood of them fighting with another cat and spreading the disease. Even neutered cats can still fight. You may think taking them on a walk with a harness means they won’t come into contact with another cat, which is true. However, it isn’t spreading FIV which is the concern here as such. A cat with FIV will have a weaker immune system. So, coming into contact with something on a walk could mean they pick up anything from a cold to an infection. Something like a catio could be perfect for indoor cats who need exercise. Charities will usually assess whether a cat with FIV can be a happy indoor cat before rehoming.

What is the life expectancy of a cat with FIV?

There is nothing to suggest a cat with FIV will have its life cut short because of the disease. It is other illnesses and infections they pick up which pose a danger, as their immune system may not fight it off. There is a vaccine to prevent FIV, however, it is only available in the US. The efficiency of the vaccine is widely disreputed, as is the fact that it can be harder for tests to pick up FIV. It is not approved for use in the UK. Currently, there is no cure or medication for FIV. Some vets may try immune-enhancing drugs but this can be expensive for the owner over the cat’s lifetime. Many insurance policies would not cover this, as it is seen as an existing condition. If your cat does have FIV you need to let the insurance company know.

Other factors to consider with FIV

Above are the main questions people face when having a cat with FIV, or considering adopting an FIV positive cat. However, there are also some other care issues involved.

Diet

Cats with FIV should be kept on good quality, balanced diet. Avoid raw foods or dairy – foodborne bacterial and parasitic diseases are a risk, especially for immunosuppressed individuals.

Vaccinations & vet care

All cats should have an annual checkup, but if your cat has FIV you may want to take them to the vets slightly more regularly. See what your vet says, as it depends on their overall health and age. You also need to ensure all of their vaccinations are up to date. Any concerns you have must be seen by a vet ASAP. Anti-parasitic treatment for worms and fleas is also vital to keep up to date with.

Adopting a cat with FIV can be a very rewarding experience. Not only are you giving a cat a lovely home and life, but many who are concerned about FIV or don’t understand the disease can be put off adopting a cat with FIV. As long as they can be kept indoors, and you don’t have any other cats, there is no reason why a cat with FIV can’t be a suitable addition to your home and provide you with many years of companionship.

Related Reading

• What Are Savannah Cats? Breed Profile & Information
• Why Do Cats Like Warmth?
• Cat Vaccination Guide: What & When Is Needed
• Gus & Bella’s Mother Of Cats Box: Mother’s Day For Cat Mums
• How To Exercise An Indoor Cat
• Tackling Feline Obesity
• Why You Should Never Declaw Your Cat
• Caring for Cats with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important thing to know about FIV (Feline Immunodificiency Virus) In Cats?

FIV (Feline immunodeficiency virus) is a viral infection that can affect cats. It is one of the most common, and therefore most infectious, diseases amongst cats. FIV attacks a cat’s immune system. A cat with FIV will therefore have a weaker immune system compared to non-FIV positive cats, making…

How do cats catch Feline Immunodeficiency Disease?

FIV (Feline immunodeficiency virus) is a viral infection that can affect cats. It is one of the most common, and therefore most infectious, diseases amongst cats. FIV attacks a cat’s immune system. A cat with FIV will therefore have a weaker immune system compared to non-FIV positive cats, making them more prone to picking up other illnesses and infections too. This is why it is essential to ke…

Can humans get FIV from cats?

FIV is spread through direct contact with a cat who is FIV positive, by biting and body fluids. It does not spread in the environment or air, or by sharing water and food. Deep bites from fighting, as opposed to nips from playing, are also thought to be the main concern, although there is still risk with any bite. The disease is most commonly found in unneutered male cats. Unneutered males can …

The post FIV (Feline Immunodificiency Virus) In Cats appeared first on Petz.

Whether it was an unexpected shock or something that you had time to prepare for, you’ve still lost someone tremendously special in your life. Naturally, you will need a good deal of time to grieve.

In the weeks and months following the event, the painful emotions you will go through can range from anger to severe depression, and you may well suffer detrimental effects to your mental and physical health.

But while you might feel embarrassed by such feelings, it’s important to remember this pain is completely normal, and a testament to the phenomenal bond shared between you and your pet.

Although others may fail to understand what you’re going through, there’s nothing confusing about losing a loved one, and there is no correct way for someone to grieve.

We understand your grief, and while we can’t promise to make things any easier, we can offer our advice and guidance on how to best deal with the situation.

How to cope with the loss of a pet

The death of a loved one is the toughest experience you can go through in life, and so coping with the pain of losing a pet can at times feel unbearable.

But while it may at first feel like something you’ll never truly get over, it’s important to remember that even the most profound grief can become easier to live with through time. It never goes away but becomes part of normal life.

Managing grief is something that poses a real challenge, and your emotions will likely be unpredictable. However, there are a few things you can do to help you through the grieving process.

Talk to someone

On the road to acceptance, the best thing you can do for yourself is to talk to others.

At this time, friends and family members will be rallying around you to show support and so opening up to them can be a useful exercise. This is because it allows you to talk about your feelings in a trusting and caring environment without worrying about being emotional.

You’ll often find that they have lost a pet of their own at some point and so finding out about how they handled the event can be useful for you going forward.

If you’re finding things particularly hard, you may want to consider reaching out beyond your own personal support network. This could be in the form of a support group or an online forum or a message board.

It doesn’t really matter who it is, talking about your situation will help lift the weight off your shoulders.

Express your emotions

You should never feel embarrassed or ashamed about showing your emotions when it comes to the death of a pet, even if well after the event.

It’s cathartic to shed tears and it’s your body’s way of releasing stress.

Repressing such emotions means they’re less likely to go away and so coming to terms with your pet’s passing could take years if you bottle it all up.

Even if it feels like you’ve been grieving for a long time, you shouldn’t worry, no one can tell you at what point you should get over it, and in some cases, you never really will.

However, it will get easier!

You may always miss your pet but you will likely learn to accept their passing in time, making remembering your pet a fond or melancholic experience rather than an outright upsetting one.

Take care of yourself

The most important thing you can do for yourself at a time of grieving is to make sure you are looking after both your physical and mental health.

When wrapped up in a state of depression it can be incredibly easy to forget to eat and suffer from insomnia, which only makes your situation worse.

This combined with the added stress your body is under will likely see you lose energy and emotional wellbeing very quickly.

Try to maintain a healthy diet and sleep where possible, and even consider exercise to try and alleviate stress hormones.

If you feel that managing your personal health is becoming too difficult, it may be wise to seek professional help from a GP, vet or therapist.

Helping children understand pet grief

Dealing with the bereavement of a pet can become particularly hard when you have children.

Depending on a child’s age, the loss of their close friend may be their first real experience of death, and so explaining why a pet is no longer around can often be a difficult subject for parents.

However, it’s important not to be dishonest with them.

Parents will often try to lessen the severity of grief by using choice phrases such as the pet has ‘gone to sleep’ or ‘gone to live somewhere else’. You might assume these explanations are less upsetting, but they tend to just merely cause confusion. Not only do they suggest the pet is not truly gone, but that they could also return.

This causes a sadness all of its own, as your child will then likely start pondering why their pet has mysteriously left them, and perhaps even why they don’t want to come back.

Pet bereavement is painful enough without your children thinking their pet no longer loves them.

While it can be upsetting to tell them the truth, honesty is likely to help them come to terms with the loss far more quickly.

Grieving process

While people react to the passing of a pet in all sorts of ways, most will roughly follow the five stages of grief as stated in the Kubler-Ross model. There is no real timeline to this grieving process, and so some of these stages can last much longer than others.

But by understanding them and identifying them when they happen, you can help reassure yourself that grief is not a permanent state and that you are in fact slowly learning to live without your pet at your own pace.

Stage 1: Denial

Denial is common when your pet first passes away, and it can be difficult to even accept their death as a reality. You will likely be in pure disbelief and may even still expect them to come running around the corner as you cling onto a preferable reality.

Stage 2: Anger

It’s at this point where grieving starts to become truly difficult. As you come to terms with what’s happened, frustration and anger build, and you may begin to blame yourself and others for the death of your pet. It’s really important to talk to people and open up at this stage, as bottling things up tend to lead to frustrated outbursts.

Stage 3: Guilt & bargaining

At this stage, you may start to ask a lot of ‘what ifs’.

These are often quandaries about the care your pet received before death and whether there was anything that could have been done to prevent their passing. This often leads to blaming yourself, especially if you made the difficult decision of having your pet put to sleep.

This questioning of what happened is a form of bargaining, and yet another way of the human psyche avoiding true grief. We barter with a fictional universe in which we change our courses of action and our pet survives, but ultimately it’s just another way of avoiding your reality.

Try not to be so hard on yourself during this stage. No pet can live forever, and it’s highly likely that you did everything in your power to give them the best life possible while they were alive.

Stage 4: Depression

This is the worst part of the grieving process. Here you will finally embrace the realisation that your pet is gone, and naturally, it’s going to be very painful. You will likely feel empty, hopeless and of course, consumed by grief. This part of the process can often seem the longest and you may find yourself withdrawing from your everyday life, and failing to take proper care of yourself.

It’s important you have a good support base at this stage and that you attempt to maintain your physical health by eating well and getting plenty of rest, although we realise it will be hard.

Remember that this stage is the most appropriate response to the death of a loved one, and so don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed about being in it. It can take time, but to truly accept such a loss, you need time on your side.

Stage 5: Acceptance

Many people confuse acceptance with suddenly becoming ‘fine’ or ‘O.K’, but of course, this is not the case. A pet’s death is never going to be something you no longer care about, and so the term acceptance merely means to understand the reality of the situation and begin learning to live in a world without your friend in it.

Hopefully, when reaching this stage, you will be able to look back on your pet’s life with fond memories. You will still always miss them, but will likely no longer be completely lost without them by your side.

Moving on from pet loss

For most people, moving on from your pet is about celebrating their life. There are many ways of honouring your pet rather than just thinking of them from time to time, and it may help you to conduct some kind of ceremony as part of your healing.

Traditionally, this would be a sort of memorial or funeral that may involve burying them or the scattering of their ashes. If this is too upsetting, you could alternatively plant a tree or flowers in their memory.

Purchasing a memorial stone to place in your garden also gives you a place to reflect and honour your pet’s life. This can be a helpful item, as when you feel sad or miss them you can lay flowers by the stone, or just sit by it and reminisce.

Reliving happy memories with your pet can also help you alleviate your pain, so try and do something which brings those thoughts to the fore, like creating a photo album or getting some special pictures framed for display.

When to get a new pet after pet loss

People can cope in different ways. Some owners can be tempted to get a new pet very quickly after the death of a previous one, but it’s not always a wise decision.

A new ‘replacement’ can cause confusing emotions amongst your family, especially if they are still not completely over the passing of your pet. Getting a new animal while people are still grieving may be unfair on both parties and will surely delay any healing processes still in session.

It’s best to wait until your family misses the feeling of a dog in the house and are excited to start a new chapter with a new pet.

Grief support services for pet loss

We realise that sometimes you can feel very alone after the death of a pet.

You may be in a situation where you have few friends or family to talk to, or they may just simply not understand your pain.

However, there are others that will, and if you really feel you are struggling, don’t be ashamed to contact a support service who will considerately listen to what you’re going through and even offer advice.

We recommend this dedicated support line from the Blue Cross, which can help offer support whether you have recently lost a pet or are preparing to say goodbye.

Pet Bereavement Support Service:
0800 096 6606
www.bluecross.org.uk
Open every day 8.30 am-8.30 pm
Email: pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk

The post Pet Bereavement: How To Cope With Pet Loss appeared first on Petz.

What causes reverse sneezing in dogs?

Common causes of reverse sneezing include:

• Outdoor irritants (i.e pollen, grass seeds)
• Indoor irritants (perfume, smoke, dust)
• Food or water (eating and drinking)
• Exercise
• Pulling on the lead which can harm their throat
• Inflammation (such as upper airway infections)
• Excitement – some dogs will reverse sneeze when you arrive home or they know they’re going for walkies!

How can I stop my dog from reverse sneezing?

Can a cat reverse sneeze?

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CBD is a product of the cannabis plant. But although incredibly popular with humans for the treatment of pain, anxiety and diseases like Epilepsy and Parkinson’s, vets are now warning animal owners in the UK to be careful when applying the same counter-bought products to their pets.

The issue of CBD oil and pets was brought into the public eye after Katie Price received backlash for administering CBD oil to a new puppy, which later died after falling asleep in a chair and suffocating.

Angry pet owners have suggested that by giving her dog Rollo the substance, the puppy likely became overly drowsy and tragically sought out a quiet, but dangerous spot – which ended up being fatal.

While it might seem easy to blame Price for Rollo’s death (and many have), the fact is that CBD oil is still a very confusing and misunderstood topic when it comes to treating pets.

With so many stories, recommendations for CBD products online and in real life, as well as the incredibly easy access to such products in treats, drops and chew form, it’s completely understandable that someone might assume it’s perfectly safe for their pet.

So what is the truth?

Is CBD oil safe for our pets? Can it ever be beneficial? Is it even legal?

What is CBD oil?

When you first hear of CBD Oil and its derivation from the cannabis plant, it’s only natural for you to assume it creates some kind of psychoactive high for the user.

However, cannabidiol (to give it it’s real name) does not contain THC, the psychoactive agent found in cannabis products such as marijuana.

CBD instead comes from the hemp of the plant and is said to relieve feelings of anxiety and pain, essentially making it medicinal cannabis, without the drug-like effects.

Currently incredibly popular amongst humans, it of course didn’t take long for us to start administering it to our own pets to treat their own similar issues.

Is CBD legal for pets? What UK veterinary law says

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) are regulators of the manufacture and sale of veterinary medicines in the UK.

As of 2026, their official stance on CBD and animals is that it should only be used in certified veterinary medicine.

This means CBD companies in the UK are now prohibited from designing or selling CBD pet products without veterinary marketing authorisation.

For CBD supporters, this might seem like a cause for celebration, as VMD’s stance is one of the first-ever official recognitions of CBD as medicine. However, it unfortunately does pose some immediate issues too.

Although VMD’s statement allows veterinary medicines to use CBD and be considered safe, it also means any current CBD product marketed at pets now needs to be taken off the shelves, reviewed, regulated and then authorised by VMD before it can go on sale again.

And due to the freshness of this ruling, it means there are currently no CBD products that are authorised by the VMD or the Food Standard agency for use in animals.

So although you may have seen many CBD products online marketed at pets, it’s probably not wise to buy them, as at the moment, they are technically not legal in the UK.

So what? “I’ll just use normal CBD oil instead”.

In truth, most pet owners do, as there aren’t many pet-specific products out there anyway. Sadly though, the VMD’s ruling puts pet owners who already use CBD oil in a sticky situation.

Because by recognising it as veterinary medicine, the VMD has technically now made buying standard ‘human’ CBD oil for your pet without vet consultation illegal.

VMD’s position on human CBD products and animals is that “a veterinary surgeon may prescribe a legally obtained human CBD product under the provisions of the prescribing cascade”.

In short, this means you’ll need to get permission and a veterinary prescription to legally administer CBD products to your pet.

Is CBD oil safe for animals? What vets say

Due to all of the debate about CBD and pets, you may be wondering why on earth so many people are advocating its use on their precious pooches and cats!

The reason is that for owners who are suspicious of normal drugs and medicines, it’s often seen as a go-to natural medicine that has numerous benefits for sick animals.

Although these benefits are not scientifically proven, anecdotal evidence and the rare studies have shown it may help with:

• Relief of Cancer & Tumor Symptoms
• Relief of Cancer Treatment Side Effects
• Preventing Nausea
• Stress & Anxiety Relief
• Preventing Seizures
• Chronic Pain & Skin Conditions
• Insomnia
• Arthritis

There is also no evidence that CBD is toxic to dogs and cats, so pet owners understandably feel safe administering it.

By the same token though, there is also nowhere near enough evidence to prove whether any of these benefits are actually true.

For example, anecdotal evidence for a long time purported that CBD oil could help dogs with epilepsy, but it’s since been found that CBD actually has no effect on the condition. 

And there hasn’t even been a single scientific study analysing CBD’s effects on cats!

It’s this lack of knowledge about what we are giving our pets and the actual benefits or side effects it may have that is bothering many vets.

Speaking in response to the death of Katie Price’s dog and her use of CBD oil, vet Sean McCormack told The Sun:

“Do not give it (CBD) to your animals.

“It isn’t licensed in pets and it is illegal for a reason.

“Some pet owners want to go down the holistic route and don’t want to visit a vet, but we don’t know how safe some of these things are.

“How do you know what dose to give of CBD when it isn’t licensed? You could cause serious harm.”

The dosing issue Sean refers to is a particularly big one, especially when we know that CBD can sometimes have side effects on our pets.

These include:

• Dry mouth
• Lowered blood pressure
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Interference with drug metabolism
• Increased Parkinson Tremors
• Stomach Issues & Diarrhea

If we know CBD can cause our pets these issues, there’s potential that an incorrect dose could cause these side effects to become more serious.

For example, if Katie Price’s puppy could become so drowsy it accidentally suffocated itself, is there nothing to suggest a large dose could cause a dog dry mouth to the point where it develops polydipsia?

The point here is we still don’t know and can’t possibly know until more has been done.

The best thing to do is not take the risk of self-administering CBD to your pet.

If you already do so or are planning on introducing your animal to CBD, please speak to a vet first as only they can prescribe a legal CBD product to your pet and will be able to give you a far more educated dosage.

The future of CBD and pets

Admittedly, the recognition of CBD as veterinary medicine is a short-term annoyance for owners who advocate CBD use on their pets.

But in the long-term, it’s likely this change will be much more beneficial for CBD when it comes to proving (or disproving) the oil’s purported effects, even if it sadly makes access to it more difficult for those who swear by it.

Now it’s recognised as a medicinal product, it means it’s going to be more regulated, safer and much more extensively studied in relation to animals.

This will help highlight any risks or dangerous side effects with CBD and hopefully, also prove some of its benefits, helping support those whose pet’s can’t live without it.

We’ll also have a much higher understanding of the substance overall and if pet products become authorised and evolve, you’ll be able to better understand how CBD can actually benefit your animal and perhaps even buy a dog or cat-specific CBD product which caters to their specific needs.

Or, it might never see the light of day in veterinary medicine…

Until more is done, I guess all we can do is just watch this space…

The post CBD Oil For Dogs & Cats: Is It Safe Or Legal? appeared first on Petz.

Rabbit and Guinea Pig Reproduction

Guinea Pig Reproductive Diseases

Ovarian cysts

Dystocia

Rabbit Reproductive Diseases

Uterine cancer

Pseudopregnancy

Rabbit Syphilis

Take Home Message

Further Reading

You May Also Like

• Tackling Dog Obesity
• Caring for Recovering Pets
• Caring for Pets with Liver Disease
• Caring for Pets with Kidney Disease

The post Reproductive Problems In Rabbits And Guinea Pigs appeared first on Petz.

What is a Lump?

How Do You Tell if a Lump is Cancerous?

• Slow growing
• Well circumscribed (i.e. spherical)
• Covered in hair
• Not painful or ulcerated
• Mobile and not attached to underlying structures

• Fast growing
• Diffuse or irregular in shape
• Bald
• Painful or ulcerated
• Fixated to underlying structures such as muscle or bone

Most Common Causes of Lumps on Dogs

1. Lipomas: Lipomas are benign tumours originating from fat cells. They are more common in overweight, older dogs; however, some dog breeds are predisposed to them. They are essentially giant balls of fat. Some will remain relatively small, no bigger than a grape, whereas others will grow to the size of a grapefruit or bigger! The good news is, no matter how big they are, they are usually just cosmetic. The exceptions are the ones which grow in areas which restrict movement or catch and become traumatised. These ones need to be removed, but most are fine to monitor.
2. Mast Cell Tumours (MCT): Mast cell tumours are the main exception to the rules differentiating benign and malignant tumours. They can be very nasty, yet often look benign. They are made from a type of white blood cell called a mast cell, which normally plays a role in allergies and inflammation. They release a lot of histamine if manipulated, and therefore you might see the lump vary in size, depending on the histamine-related inflammation. Occasionally they can also be itchy for your dog. Boxers, Labradors, Beagles and Schnauzers commonly develop MCTs, but they can appear on any breed of dog.
3. Skin Tags: Skin tags are benign fibrous growths which extend off of the skin’s surface, usually from a stalk. It’s often the case that dogs get more than one, and they can pop up anywhere on the body. Large-breed dogs are more likely to develop them, although any dog might be affected. The good news is that even though they can be unsightly, they are harmless.
4. Histiocytomas: Histiocytomas can look like cancer, so it’s important to get them checked out. They are hairless red bumps which develop on the legs of young dogs. They can be removed, but they sometimes go away by themselves.
5. Warts (Papillomas): Warts have a cauliflower-like appearance, and can range from tiny to large, and grow individually or in clusters. Unlike most lumps, they are spread by a virus and are contagious between dogs. Most warts don’t cause a problem if they grow on the body, but when they are on the face, eyelids, mouth, feet or genitals, they can cause an annoyance to your dog.

Most Common Causes of Lumps on Cats

1. Cat Bite Abscess: An abscess is a lump filled with pus which is usually caused by a bite or scratch from another cat when fighting. They are very painful and can cause your cat’s temperature to become quite high, resulting in her feeling lethargic and off her food. Your vet will want to lance and drain it, as well as provide antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
2. Fibrosarcoma: Fibrosarcomas are cancerous tumours. Cats often develop them at an injection site, and as a result, the most common place is between the shoulder blades where annual vaccines are injected. Fibrosarcomas are difficult to remove entirely at surgery, which means a relapse of the tumour is common within a year of surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation can improve survival times.
3. Lymphoma: Lymphoma is a type of cancer of the white blood cells. It can cause tumours in the skin or it can spread internally. When it is internal, it usually spreads to the guts, resulting in chronic diarrhoea, or in the lymphatic system, resulting in swollen lymph nodes, which will feel like lumps.  
4. Sebaceous Cysts: Sebaceous cysts are fluid filled lumps which arise from blocked oil glands. They can be mistaken for tumours, but they are nothing to worry about. Your vet can drain them, surgically remove them or they can be left alone and monitored. They don’t usually grow more than 1cm in diameter.
5. Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC): SCCs are most common in white or light coloured cats and are triggered by excessive sun exposure. They aren’t always an obvious lump, and usually look like unresolving bumpy scabbing. The most common places they appear are on the ear tips and nose but they can also come up on the eyelids or lips. Surgery, and sometimes radiation therapy, is the treatment of choice and while your kitty might look a bit unusual without ear tips, it will save her life.  

Home Care for Lumps and Bumps

Take Home Message

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What is a horse microchip?

The horse’s microchip must be registered to the ‘keeper’, who may not always be the owner.

Where can I microchip my horse?

Why is it the law to microchip my horse?

• Your information as the owner/keeper
• Your horse’s passport
• Which passport issuing organisation (PIO) it is registered with
• The microchip details

How do I know if my horse is already microchipped?

What is a horse passport?

My horse doesn’t have a passport – can they still get a microchip?

How to apply for a horse passport

• 30th November in the animal’s year of birth
• Within 6 months of their birth

What happens if I don’t microchip my horse?

Related Reading

• Choosing The Right Bit For Your Horse
• Why Do Horses Wear Masks?

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What is a tick?

In fact, there are thought to be twenty species of tick that are endemic in the UK in total

How does a dog get ticks?

Nymphal tick activity increases during spring, peaking from April to June, although they are active throughout the year

Ticks and wildlife

What do ticks look like on dogs?

Every time you groom your pet, you should be looking out for signs of ticks and fleas, as well as general skin irritation.

Do ticks lay eggs on pets?

Are there any physical symptoms of ticks on pets?

What is Lyme disease?

What is babesiosis?

How to get rid of ticks on dogs & cats

Can I prevent dog ticks?

• Walk on clearly defined paths to avoid brushing against vegetation where ticks may be present
• Regularly check your dog for ticks on walks – the earlier they’re caught, the better
• Wear lightly coloured clothing, long trousers and sleeves, and insect repellent to stop them jumping on to yourself
• You may need to change your walking route and stick to more residential areas in high-risk months

Can cats get ticks?

Related Reading

• CBD Oil For Dogs & Cats: Is It Safe Or Legal?

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Ever thought that a chubby cat looks kind of cute? Well, regardless whether or not a cat looks cute, piling on the pounds can cause serious health consequences. Maybe your cat is on the larger end of the spectrum, and you’re wondering if they need to be put on a diet? It can be overwhelming when it comes to figuring out how to do that, and what their the ideal weight is.

What is Feline Obesity?

Approximately 50% of middle aged cats are either overweight or obese. With so many cats larger than optimal, our social media platforms are flooded with pictures of cats that need to shed some weight. As a result, it’s easy to think overweight cats are the norm, and we lose sight of what a normal weight cat really looks like. When we think of malnutrition, we usually think of skinny animals. However, obesity is also classed as malnutrition. A cat which is between one and 19% above their optimal weight is classified as overweight, and over 20% is classified as obese. Feline obesity is not a benign condition. It can predispose to many different diseases. In dogs, it has been suggested that over two years are knocked off their life-expectancy due to being overweight, and we can assume the same in our cats too. That’s almost 15% of their life! In addition to that, fat is not an inert body tissue. It secretes inflammatory hormones and creates oxidative stress in the body. In other words, an obese cat’s body is constantly inflamed. 

What Causes Obesity in Cats?

Naturally, cats are meant to only eat their energy requirements in food, and not more. In other words, when they have a lazy day, they know to eat less, and when they exercise more, they eat a greater amount. This is because of a hormone called leptin. When released by the small intestine and fat cells, it inhibits hunger. However, some studies have suggested that despite overweight cats having increased levels of leptin, they continue to overeat and gain more weight, suggesting a condition called ‘leptin resistance’.  Therefore, cats who graze their food are more likely to put on weight, as their food intake is not controlled. They don’t have a natural ‘shut-off’ switch for their hunger levels and don’t know when to stop. And the thing is, the food is continuously there for them. In addition to the problem of grazing, and ‘leptin resistance’ predisposing to obesity, there are also other factors which can lead to obesity. When a cat is neutered, their metabolic rate decreases by about 20%. This means they don’t need as many calories to still maintain their normal bodily functions. In addition to that, breed and genetics play a role too. Purebred cats are more likely to be lean, whereas moggies are more likely to be overweight.  Finally, activity levels also play a huge role in managing weight. Outdoor cats roam and hunt more than indoor cats, resulting in a higher expenditure of energy. Therefore, indoor cats are more likely to end up overweight than outdoor cats. 

Body Condition Scoring

So what weight should your cat actually be? Putting a figure on it is not easy. For some cats, 5kg would be fine, whereas others, 5kg would be morbidly obese. Therefore, a scientific method called ‘body condition scoring’ has been developed to help you keep track of your cat’s body weight. Body condition scoring uses a scale of one to nine, or one to five. The one to nine scale is more common in domestic animals. A score of five or just under is ideal. Every point on the scale is a movement in weight by 10%. So for example, a cat which is body condition seven is 20% overweight. Body condition scoring is based on the ability to feel the ribs and the spine, as well as the general fat coverage over the body. The following chart is free to download from Royal Canin and gives and excellent overview of each body condition score: Your vet can be a very valuable resource to help your kitty lose weight, as it should not be done without the oversight of someone knowledgeable. When you first take your cat to the vets to discuss weight, he will determine your cat’s body condition score for you, and work out what your cat’s ideal weight is. He can also provide you with plenty of advice how to achieve their optimal weight, and over what timeframe that should happen.

What are the Health Risks Associated with Feline Obesity?

Obesity can lead to a number of health implications. Not only does it reduce your kitty’s lifespan, it can also result in a higher chance of developing the following diseases and complications:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Urinary tract infections
• Osteoarthritis
• Skin diseases
• Hepatic lipidosis 
• Breathing problems
• Decreased immunity
• Increased anaesthetic risk

That’s quite an incentive to encourage your feline friend to shed those excess pounds!

How to Put Your Cat on a Diet

So, you’re probably wondering how to start with putting your cat on a diet. Dieting appropriately is very important, as a rapid weight loss can lead to a condition called hepatic lipidosis. This is when fat is mobilised from where it is being stored around the body, to be used as an energy source when calories are low. However, there ends up being too much fat in the blood due to this mobilisation. As a result, the liver mops up the excess and stores it, which when severe can lead to liver failure. Weight loss is a marathon, not a race. If your cat is obese, it might take up to a year to reach her target weight without causing hepatic lipidosis. Your vet can draw up a suitable weight loss plan for your cat, which details how much weight she should be losing, how much food she should be consuming, how much exercise she should do, and how quickly it should all be happening. Your cat will need to change her food to ensure she loses weight. Some people put their cats on a diet by feeding them according to the guidelines for their optimal weight instead of their actual weight. And other people simply decrease the amount they are feeding their cat by 5-10%. Unfortunately, neither of these options are fully effective, as it leads to your cat becoming extremely hungry. A veterinary prescription weight management diet is a better option. These diets are nutritionally balanced, low in calories, low in fat, and high in fibre. As a result, they make your cat feel fuller for longer. The top three veterinary prescription weight management diets in the UK are:

• Hills® Prescription diet metabolic
• Royal Canin® Satiety Support Weight Management
• Purina Overweight Management®

It’s important to be accurate with your feeding. Follow the guidelines on the packet, or your veterinarian’s advice, and weigh out your cat’s food every day. This means you won’t provide more than her 24 hour allowance. Remember treats contain calories. Ideally, you should only give your cat the diet food, however if she simply can’t go without her daily Dreamies®, then remove some of the allotted food for the day to make up for those calories. Weigh-ins at your local vet are the key to success. It will keep you accountable for your cat’s weight loss, and boost your morale by seeing the weight drop off. Weigh-ins should be every 2-3 weeks, and most vets will allow you to come into the practice to weigh your cat free of charge.

How to Maintain an Optimal Weight

Congratulations if your cat has achieved her optimal weight! Once you’ve got there, it’s important not to go back to your cat’s old feeding ways otherwise she will quickly gain weight again. You might not notice it at first, as subtle weight increases often are not initially visible, so continuing with the weigh-ins is vital. Portion control is the key to maintaining your cat’s weight. You should continue weighing out her food daily, so that she doesn’t get more than she needs. It is also a good idea to keep her on the diet food, or switch to a ‘light’ food, rather than changing her diet back to the old food she was on.

Take Home Message

Feline obesity is such a common problem that we’ve become immune to what a fat cat looks like. However, obesity is not something to become complacent about. Your feline friend will thank you endlessly for improving her health by ensuring she is an optimal weight. And by seeking professional advice sooner rather than later, you can ensure your kitty lives a healthy, long life.

The post Tackling Feline Obesity appeared first on Petz.

Why do dogs snore?

• A weakness in the throat muscles creates a partial closing of the airway when asleep
• A misaligned jaw
• Extra fat tissue around the throat causes an obstruction
• A blockage in the nose or throat
• The tongue falls back into the mouth, enough to partially block the airway

Why is my dog snoring?

Brachycephalic dogs

• Bulldogs
• Bull Mastiffs
• Boxers
• Shih Tzus
• Boston Terriers
• Lhasa Apsos
• Pekingese
• Chinese Pugs

Obesity and low fitness

Sleep apnoea

Cold & Flu

Allergies

Medications

Dental Issues

Secondhand Smoking

Sleeping Position

Aspergillosis

When to call the vet about your dog’s snoring

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How often do dogs go into heat?

How long do dogs stay in heat?

What are the signs of a dog being in heat?

• The first signs of estrus in your dog are a swelling of the vulva
• They will also have a bloody vulva discharge
• Female dogs can appear more alert and nervous than usual when in heat due to hormonal changes
• They may act differently with other dogs, being overfriendly and mounting
• A dog in heat will likely try and initiate sex with male dogs when they approach by lifting their hindquarters and tensing the rear legs
• They will also begin to urinate more frequently, as increased pheromones in the urine can act as a reproductive marker that can attract other dogs
• They may lick their back end more often than usual
• A dog in heat can also become more anxious and start nesting

A white discharge is not normal and could be a sign of an infection such as pyometra

How can I stop my dog from going into heat?

When can I spay my dog?

How can I care for a dog in heat?

Can a dog get pregnant if not in heat?

The post Dogs In Heat: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Petz.

It is characterised by the hamsters ‘wet tail’ which is caused by their loose, watery stools due to the infection.

Wet tail can occur in hamsters of any age and is a health issue that all owners need to be made aware of. One of the biggest causes is unhygienic living conditions, which is why you need to clean their bedding regularly.

Survival chances remain pretty slim for the disease, so it’s important you know how to best treat or prevent the illness if you ever spot the symptoms.

What causes wet tail in hamsters?

Due to how serious an infection wet tail is, the most successful way to treat it is by preventing it from ever occurring in the first place.

It’s therefore very important to understand the various causes of the disease so that you can take pre-emptive measures with your hamster:

Stress

The main cause of wet tail is stress, and so the disease tends to affect very young hamsters more than adults. Baby hamsters who have been recently separated from their mothers or taken into a home too soon are at particular risk as the experience can sometimes be too traumatic for them.

Other causes of stress in older hamsters might be too much handling from their owner, improper caging, changes in diet or environment, and even death of a partner/cage mate.

Unclean living area

If your hamster’s cage is bordering on a pigsty, it will only cause bad bacteria to build up in their system.

Bacterial issues

As wet tail is caused by bacterial overgrowth in the stomach, it sometimes is just the equivalent of a stomach bug in humans, but with far more serious results.

Hamster Wet Tail Symptoms

The clearest and most obvious symptom of wet tail is of course… a wet tail. This will be matted with faeces and so will naturally have quite a foul smell, which may be your first indicator something is wrong. However, there are other signs of the disease to watch out for.

Other symptoms include:

• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Folded ears
• Aggressive behaviour
• Oversleeping
• Irritated behaviour, walking with an arched back
• Dull coat from lack of grooming
• Sunken eyes
• Weight loss
• Protruding rectum

As symptoms can take up to several days to appear, you may well notice one or more of the above prior to the most glaring signs.

It’s important to remember your hamster can also have diarrhoea without it being wet tail. Diarrhoea is a symptom of a wet tail, not the cause of it, and so if they are merely having loose stools with no other symptoms, they’ve likely just had too much food with high-water content.

If you’re not sure check with your veterinary professional!

Treatment for wet tail

Wet tail can become fatal for hamsters within days, and even when treated its still possible that your hamster won’t recover. It’s therefore imperative that you spot the symptoms within the first 24 – 48 hours and immediately seek the advice or help of a veterinary professional.

A vet will probably then prescribe your pet with antibiotics and if necessary inject them with fluids to alleviate the severe dehydration caused by diarrhoea. They may keep your hamster hospitalised in their surgery or allow you to take them home to administer the prescribed medication yourself.

A vet is the only person who can prescribe you with the antibiotics to cure your furry friend, so don’t be fooled into thinking you can treat the disease with home remedies.

There are many over-the-counter drugs for your pet that are advertised as ‘Wet Tail Drops’. While these may be effective in helping stop your hamster’s diarrhoea, they will be unsuccessful in treating the bacterial infection.

Survival for wet tail is very low, but it is possible that your pet will recover with prescribed medication.

What to do if your hamster has wet tail

If your hamster is suffering from wet tail, your number one priority is to take them to a vet.

However, there are a few other steps you should take to lessen symptoms and extend your hamsters life before you can get them medical care:

If you own more than one hamster, make sure you remove the one suffering from wet tail from the cage and keep them in a separate environment. This is because wet tail is a very contagious bacterial infection and can easily spread to any other hamster in the cage through secondhand contact. Everything they have come into contact with must therefore be sanitised as soon as possible!

Avoid giving them foods with high water content. Wet tail causes your hamster to lose fluids rapidly through diarrhoea, causing severe dehydration. Fruit and veg will therefore only make their stools looser and exacerbate the problem further, so try feeding them dried foods to help with this symptom.

Do not bathe to clean faeces. Probably the worst symptom of wet tail is the unsightly and smelly mess of hair and faeces on their backsides. On seeing this, you may be tempted to give your hamster a wash, however, giving them a bath at any time is detrimental to hamster’s coats and skin. Instead, use a cotton bud to gently clean the area.

Rehydrate. If your hamster appears to not be drinking then they will begin to suffer from dehydration very quickly. You can solve this by an act known as scruffing. This involves very gently holding a hamster by the extra skin on the back of their neck which results in them opening their mouths. From here you can apply measurements of water with a syringe, very slowly and in small amounts over short intervals.

How to prevent wet tail

Unfortunately, wet tail is a disease that can occur no matter how well you care for your hamster, especially if it has been brought on by stress.

However, there are certain precautions you can take to ensure you do not cause the illness yourself or exacerbate any pre-existing stress:

Limit your handling of new hamsters. Although it’s understandable you want to cuddle and play with your hamster, it’s not always the best idea if they are new to your home or especially young. Constantly handling them before they’ve settled into a new environment will likely induce stress.

Keep their cage clean and disinfect once a week.  A dirty, unkempt environment can often raise a hamster’s stress as well as cause wet tail through a build-up of bad bacteria.

Observe a hamster well before purchase. When browsing for a new pet, it’s not unheard of that you may spot a hamster already suffering from symptoms of wet tail. It’s unlikely that suddenly moving them into your home is going to cure them, so make sure to observe their behaviour properly before purchase. Always buy from a reputable seller who has cared for the hamster as well as you aim to do.

Related: Do Hamsters Hibernate?

The post What Is Hamster Wet Tail? appeared first on Petz.

Spaying vs. Neutering: What’s the difference?

• Spaying is the removal of a female animal’s reproductive organs
• Neutering is the name of the procedure for male pets

Reasons to spay or neuter your pet

• Health benefits

Fights disease

Limits fighting and aggressiveness

Ends their heat cycle

• Behaviour benefits

Stops pets roaming away from home

Ends aggressive behaviour

• Cost and ethical benefits

Ends overpopulation

Saves money

When should I neuter or spay my pet?

Cost of spaying or neutering

If you’re worried about the costs, many charities can offer subsidised or discounted neutering schemes based on means-tested benefits.

How long does it take pets to heal from neutering?

What are the risks of spaying or neutering?

Neutering FAQ and mythbuster

Should I let my animal have one litter before spaying them?

Will neutering my cat or dog cause them to add on weight?

Are there any benefits to not neutering my pet?

How long before I walk my dog after neutering?

How long does it take to neuter or spay an animal?

The post Spaying & Neutering: What You Need to Know appeared first on Petz.

You also need to get prepared with equipment, from food to whelping boxes and blankets.

If you suspect your dog might be pregnant, this extensive guide on dog gestation will teach you everything you need to know, from how to spot the signs, to how to prepare for the day of birth.

How long does dog pregnancy last?

Dogs are usually pregnant for approximately 63 days (2 months) with a normal range being between 58 and 68 days.

How to tell if a dog is pregnant

Firstly, a dog can only become pregnant when they are in heat or season. So, if your dog has just had their season, it is unlikely they are pregnant. But dogs usually get into a consistent cycle after their first two or three seasons, so seeing any of the below symptoms after their season is key.

It also goes without saying that a dog cannot be pregnant if they have been spayed, nor if they mate with a neutered male.

Fatigue

One of the first things you might notice is decreased activity in your dog. If they are pregnant they’re likely to become exhausted more quickly and spend more time napping.

If your dog is typically energetic, it should come as a huge warning sign! However, if they usually love their bed anyway, observing how fast they tire when on a walk may be key.

Appetite changes

When dogs are pregnant, their appetite is constantly changing. In the first few weeks of gestation, she may eat less and vomit on occasion. Yet she may also be devouring everything in sight and still not be satisfied.

Fluctuations in hormones cause these strange changes in appetite.

Behavioural changes

Just like with humans, pregnancy can be stressful for dogs. They will likely change their mood and behaviour noticeably, but just how they act can differ.

Some may want extra attention and reassurance and will begin to seek the comfort of their owner more than usual. But some dogs may equally seek isolation in their pregnancy. She will want to be left completely alone, and won’t be happy if given attention.

Enlarged or discoloured nipples

Pregnancy in dogs causes nipples to grow substantially during the early stages of pregnancy. An increase in blood flow to the area can also cause a noticeable darkening in colour, and they will start producing and leaking milk in the later stages of gestation.

Weight gain and size increase

In later pregnancy, their abdomen will naturally swell as the litter grows. You will have likely spotted some other signs by now, but if this is the first inkling you have, you really need to get her to the vet ASAP.

Confirming pregnancy

Although you can now purchase canine home pregnancy kits to determine if your dog is pregnant, getting a veterinarian to confirm it is still your best option.

A blood test will measure the hormone relaxin. However, false negatives can occur if this is done too early or if the dog is only carrying one or two puppies.

A positive test indicates that the dog is pregnant at the time of the test. The fourth week of gestation is a common time to get this done.

Caring for a pregnant dog

Diet

The most important thing in ensuring your dog is well cared for during pregnancy is to make sure they’re getting proper nutrition. If your dog is in good health, it’s unlikely you’ll to make any severe changes in the first few weeks of gestation. However, you should always consult with your vet to determine the best course of action for the early stages.

Then in the final five weeks of her pregnancy, you should begin increasing her food intake gradually, until she is consuming between 35-50% more than her average intake.

Visit your vet!

We can’t stress enough how important frequent visits to the vet are during your dog’s pregnancy. A vet can detect illness and discomfort in your dog better than you can and will help your bitch stay as healthy as possible during the process.

Remember that emergencies can happen too. A vet is the best person to help you prepare for any potential problems that may arise, so be sure to ask them about what emergencies to expect during pregnancy so you can have a plan in place if anything goes wrong.

Dog pregnancy stages (week by week guide)

To best prepare for your dog’s pregnancy and birth, you’ll need to know what stage of gestation they’re at.

For a more comprehensive look into when to change your care methods, consult this handy week-by-week guide to understand the signs and symptoms of each stage:

Week One

If your dog has mated while in its heat cycle, fertilisation can occur in just a few days.

A vet won’t be able to confirm the pregnancy until around week four, however, your dog may already be showing the first signs of pregnancy with some bouts of morning sickness.

Week Two

In week two, fertilised eggs will begin developing in the uterus. However, there’s no need to begin a system of care just yet, as there will still be no significant changes in your dogs’ health or behaviour.

Week Three

By week three, the fetuses attach to the wall of the uterus and begin receiving the nutrients they need to grow. You won’t need to start making adjustments to your dog’s diet just yet, but you may well notice her appetite increase. She may also begin to develop breast tissue and exhibit changes in mood.

Week Four

It’s at this stage of pregnancy that puppies become most susceptible to abnormalities and other issues, meaning it’s advisable to finally start altering your care methods. Try to limit their everyday activity to gentle exercise and ask your vet whether dietary supplements are needed. Towards the end of week four, your vet should also be able to confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound. This will determine the litter size and whether there are any defects or problems at this stage.

Week Five

Amniotic fluid increases in the uterus by week five, meaning the puppies become much less susceptible to developmental issues. It’s at this point where you will also see noticeable weight gain in your dog and so it’s important to begin a diet that is designed to help growth and reproduction. To avoid upsetting the digestive system, introduce this new diet gradually by feeding her little and often over the course of the week.

Week Six

Your dog is now entering the final three weeks of her pregnancy and so will only continue to grow in size. Her teats will become darker and it’s at this stage that her appetite will noticeably increase. However, despite her hunger, it’s best to continue to feed her little and often and keep portion sizes small. This is because her rapidly growing litter can press against the stomach, meaning the amount of food she can eat is limited at this time. Don’t worry if you also begin to spot a clear discharge from her vulva, as this is perfectly normal.

Week Seven

As dogs get closer to the whelping stage, they will begin shedding hair on their abdomen and may well have already begun producing milk. Puppies are almost fully formed at this stage, meaning your dog will likely be more fatigued than usual. At this point, you really need to be preparing for the birth and devising a space for your dog to have her litter. A warm and quiet area is best, with a bed or box to sleep in, lined with plenty of comfortable linen and blankets.

Try and encourage your dog to sleep in this whelping area for the rest of her gestation.

Week Eight

With not long to go, you will be able to feel your dog’s puppies moving around when your dog lies still. It’s now vital to stop your dog from going through any strenuous activity, as you don’t want to instigate premature labour. If they haven’t already, your dog will have now started producing milk and may begin exhibiting ‘nesting’ behaviour. This includes restlessness and digging.

Week Nine

It’s the final week of pregnancy, and it’s likely your dog will be spending most of her time in her whelping area, nesting. As whelping approaches, you may detect a loss of appetite, and it’s important to begin regular checks on her health. Take her temperature several times a day to determine the onset of whelping, as a drop in temperature from 38 to 36 degrees Celsius is an indicator that the puppies will be arriving in 24-48 hours.

Whelping guide

Whelping is the name given to the birthing process of dogs.

It’s important in the later stages of pregnancy to have set up a whelping area for your dog. Somewhere warm and quiet, with plenty of blankets for comfort and a bed or box to sleep in.

Make sure to introduce your dog to the area as soon as possible, otherwise, she’ll go and find her own spot to have her litter. And you might not like where she picks!

Whelping Supply Checklist

Before your dog goes into labour, you need to make sure you have everything on hand to help things go as smoothly as possible.

You’ll need:

• Old newspaper to line the whelping area for easy cleanup
• Towels, to clean the newborn puppies
• Thermometer to check the dog’s temperature and spot labour signs
• Clean scissors to cut umbilical cords
• Bath mats for bedding post-whelping
• Unwaxed dental floss to tie off umbilical cords
• Hot water bottle to keep puppies warm
• Iodine to clean puppies’ abdomens after the umbilical cord is cut
• Your vet’s phone number and the number of an emergency veterinary clinic

Spotting labour signs

The main thing to watch out for when waiting for your dog to go into labour is a drop in temperature. A dog will usually drop from 38 degrees Celsius to 36 degrees Celsius, 12-24 hours before labour begins. Make sure to be taking your dog’s temperature twice a day to monitor this.

This temperature drop signals the beginning of the first stage of labour. This is when contractions begin. Look out for behaviour changes such as restlessness and refusal to eat. She may also begin nesting more frequently, vomiting, and passing a clear vaginal discharge.

The second stage is the whelping itself. Bitches deliver one puppy at a time and each delivery should last no more than 1-2 hours, occurring every 30-60 minutes. This is why it’s important to know the expected number of puppies, so you can best spot when complications are arising.

Assisting in the delivery

Thankfully, dogs do not need as much assistance with their birthing as humans do.
This means your role in the whelping is simply to assist where possible.

Removing membranes

Each puppy is born in a protective casing known as a placental membrane. Usually, the mother will tear this off the pup herself, but if she does not it’s up to you to set the pup free. Puppies cannot survive more than a few minutes in this membrane before oxygen runs out – so be sure to pay attention!

Cutting the cords

The mother is also likely to severe the umbilical cords herself. However, if she does not you’ll have to cut the cord yourself with some clean scissors. Then simply tie off the ends with some unwaxed dental floss. You should tie the cord approximately 1-2 inches away from the puppy and clean the abdomen area with iodine to prevent infection.

Placentas

You must also be watchful of the number of placentas. A non-birthed placenta can cause complications for the mother, so make sure everything is accounted for.

Spotting complications in dog Pregnancy and labour

It’s important to always have help on hand during your dog’s labour, as emergencies can happen.

Make sure you have your vet’s out of hours number and a number for an emergency clinic in case anything goes wrong. Because your dog may well go into labour at any time of day or night.

If you spot any of these symptoms during labour, chances are things aren’t going to plan, and your best off ringing a professional for help:

• Although labour is obviously uncomfortable, if your dog is exhibiting signs of extreme pain, call your vet.
• If your dog hasn’t gone into labour 24 hours after its temperature has dropped, call your vet to see if there is a problem.
• If the mother has failed to birth a puppy after 20-30 minutes of strong contractions, there may be an issue.
• If no puppies are birthed two hours after the mother has passed a green, red or brown vaginal discharge, contact your veterinary professional. If this discharge is passed before she has any puppies at all, this is also potentially a problem.
• You can see a puppy at the vulva entrance, but the mother has failed to deliver him
• Your dog is in the second stage of Labour for longer than 12 hours, this could mean they are having a difficult birth and help is needed.
• More than two hours pass between pups
• Collapsing, trembling and shivering are all serious warning signs of severe complications, your bitch and her puppies are likely at risk.
• No signs of whelping 64 days into the gestation period

If you aren’t regularly making visits to your vet during your dog’s pregnancy, it’s important to contact them if any of these things occur during the 9 week gestation period:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge, including bleeding or foul-smelling discharge.
• Dog becoming particularly unwell and depressed or is often in pain and crying.
• Any miscarriages during the pregnancy.
• 70 days of pregnancy without whelping.

False pregnancy in dogs

In some cases, your dog may be displaying the symptoms of a phantom pregnancy.

Some non-pregnant dogs may display symptoms of pregnancy in the months following their heat cycle, namely enlarged nipples and lactation.

They may also show a loss of appetite and begin vomiting, which can give the impression of morning sickness.

The exact reason for this phenomenon is unknown, however, it’s believed it is the result of hormonal imbalances post-estrus (heat).

This is why consulting your vet is incredibly important when trying to confirm whether your dog is pregnant or not!

The post Dog Pregnancy: Signs, Symptoms and Care Guide appeared first on Petz.

Can I give my dog human antihistamines?

Best antihistamine for dogs

• 10-24 lbs: 1/2 tablet
• 25-49 lbs: 1 tablet
• 50-75 lbs: 1 1/2 tablets
• 75 lbs+: 2 tablets

Ask a veterinarian before use if your pet has:

• Glaucoma
• Asthma
• Heart Disease
• Hypertension
• Urinary Bladder Obstruction
• Enlarged Prostate Gland
• Hyperthyroidism
• Is Pregnant or Nursing
• Weighs under 15 lbs

Can I give my dog Benadryl?

How and when to use Benadryl for dog allergies

When to avoid Benadryl

What’s the correct Benadryl dosage for a dog?

Can I give my dog Piriton?

When to avoid Piriton for dogs

What’s the correct Piriton dosage for a dog?

You May Also Like

• Can Dogs Get Hay Fever?
• Reverse Sneezing In Dogs: Is It Normal?
• Tackling Dog Obesity
• Caring For Dogs With Sugar Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus)

The post Are Antihistamines For Dogs Safe? appeared first on Petz.

Having a kitten in your house is much like having a new baby. Kittens require lots of care, especially if they are under eight weeks old. Maybe you’re only getting your new kitten from the breeder at eight weeks old though, which is great and will make your life a little bit easier.

But it’s so common to end up with kittens much younger than this. Maybe your female kitty has unexpectantly fallen pregnant from the local tomcat, and she’s expecting a litter? Or maybe you’ve found an abandoned litter of kittens while out and about? 

In this article we will discuss how to look after your new furbabies from birth to more than four months; a time period when getting the right care can mean life or death for these little fuzzballs.

Week 1-4

In weeks one to four, your fluffy little kitties will be exclusively drinking kitten milk (see our favourites here). If their mother is with them and they’re suckling appropriately, you probably won’t need to intervene. Most female cats are wonderful mothers and look after their babies excellently.

But if you have a litter of orphan kittens, then you need to take on that role of mother. Bottle feeding is not for the faint-hearted as it requires plenty of dedication and time. Kittens under one-week-old need to be fed every four hours through the day and night. At two weeks old, this can be extended to every six hours.

You can buy kitten milk in a powdered formula form, which you mix with lukewarm water. Cow’s milk simply won’t provide them with the nourishment they need, and therefore buying replacement milk from your vet or pet store is vital. You can feed the kittens with a syringe or feeding bottle very gently, ensuring they don’t breathe in any milk. This can easily happen if you force in the milk and can lead to nasty lung infections. When using kitten replacement milk, follow the instructions carefully, as giving formula too often or making it too concentrated can lead to your kittens developing diarrhoea.

Once they are three weeks old, you can start introducing a bowl of shallow milk for them to learn to lap from, although be sure to monitor that none fall in the bowl and that they all get their equal share.

After the kittens have fed, they need to be stimulated to urinate and empty their bowels. The mother would usually have licked them, but you can do this by using a warm damp cotton wool ball to rub their bottoms and tummy.

When kittens are very young, they usually have the heat of their mother to keep them warm, but if they are orphaned, you’ll need to make another plan. Heat lamps, warm (not hot) hot water bottles, covered in towels, and heating pads are all excellent options. However, remember very little kittens cannot yet crawl away from the heat source if they get too hot, so monitor the temperature carefully.

Week 4-8

Around four weeks old, your little kittens would naturally start nibbling on their mother’s food, and gradually decrease their milk intake. This is the time you can start to wean them, although they still need some milk until they are about six weeks old. You can also offer a shallow dish of fresh water at all times.

Once they’ve mastered lapping up kitten milk replacer from a shallow dish, you can start offering a soaked or moist kitten food too. When choosing a kitten food, it needs to be highly nutritious and of excellent quality. Kitten food provides all the essential nutrients for growth, including the correct levels of protein for muscle development, and calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone development.

You should never try a homemade diet for kittens, as it is difficult to get the correct balance of nutrients, which in turn may affect your kittens’ growth and health. 

Between four and eight weeks old, you should be deworming the kittens every two weeks. This prevents roundworms and tapeworms; which kittens are prone to contracting. In addition to this, you might wish to use a flea treatment suitable for kittens (such as a flea spray) to ensure they don’t have any fleas. While fleas can cause skin irritation in adults, they can result in kittens rapidly becoming anaemic due to blood loss, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, do not ignore the occasional flea.

Week 8-12

Around week eight is when kittens can go to their new homes. So, if you’ve been fostering very little kittens, this might be the time you say goodbye. On the other hand, if you are buying a kitten, or rescuing a kitten from a rescue centre or foster home, this might be the time when you bring your new furry friend home for the first time.

By now, kittens should be eating solid kitten food with ease and don’t need any milk. Don’t be tempted to give your kitten milk as a treat, as it will only lead to your feline friend becoming fat. This should be avoided at all costs, as overweight cats are prone to developing diabetes. Instead, your kitten should have access to clean, fresh water at all times to meet its fluid requirement.

Between eight and 12 weeks of age, your kitten needs to be dewormed every month, which continues until she is six months old. This will ensure she doesn’t get worms, which can lead to diarrhoea and weight loss; she should be growing rapidly at this time in her life.

Flea preventative treatment should also be given to your kitty, but now she will be big enough to have spot-on flea treatments instead of sprays, which she will definitely appreciate. There are many different flea treatment options, and it is worth discussing them with your vet.

You should also consider vaccinations for your kitten, and around eight weeks is when she can have her first vaccine. There are a couple of options when you decide which cat vaccines to give, and if you think your kitty is going to spend time outdoors, you should ensure she has as much protective cover as possible. If she is going to be an indoor cat only, then it is fine to have a more limited vaccination protocol. The following vaccines are available:

• Feline flu and enteritis: This covers feline herpesvirus type 1 (rhinotracheitis), feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia virus (MW-1). Sometimes a more limited version is available, without the feline panleukopaenia virus cover.
• FeLV: This covers feline leukemia virus.

While microchips are a legal requirement for dogs, and not cats, in the UK, you might also want to consider one if your cat is going to go outside at some point. Your vet can insert it during the vaccination consultation via a simple injection.

Week 12-16

Between 12 and 16 weeks, you’ll need to take your kitty back to the vets for her second round of vaccinations. At this stage, she will have a repeat vaccination of what she already had. In addition to that, you can also have her vaccinated against rabies if you think you will travel with her outside of the UK within the next three years. Rabies is not actively present in the UK though, so it is not a requirement if you do not wish to travel.

You should also continue on with deworming and flea treatment monthly.

Once she is fully vaccinated, you can let her outside for the first time, if you wish. However, some people decide to keep their kitten inside until they have been neutered, which is also a sensible idea. When letting them outside for the first time, opt for a time not too long before a meal. This means they will probably not go very far and will come home for food after a short period of time. You can then gradually increase the length of time allowed outside.

Week 16+

Now she is over 16 weeks old, you can begin thinking about booking her in for neutering. Males can be neutered from this age, as long as there are two testicles present, and females are usually spayed around six months.

This is essential if your cat is going to live part of their life outdoors, as male cats roam more if they are entire, leading to road traffic accidents and fights. If they were to fight with a cat with FIV, it could be passed on via a deep would.

Females on the other hand will become pregnant from a local tomcat, resulting in unwanted litters, and more cats in the world than there are caring homes.

Neutering is simply a day procedure which is routinely performed by veterinarians. Your kitty might feel a bit drowsy in the evening, but the next day, she’ll be back to normal. Males don’t have any stitches in, but females usually do (but some vets will do them internally so you cannot see them). You shouldn’t let your girl out until the stitches have come out, which is usually 10-14 days, but your male can go back outside after a few days as long as the wounds are healing well. Try to prevent licking as this will delay healing and introduce infection. Your vet can provide a buster collar if your feline friend won’t leave their surgical wound alone.

Finally, remember to continue with monthly deworming and flea treatment up until six months of age. At this stage, you can begin deworming every three to six months instead. However, if your furry friend loves to bring you the occasional mouse or bird, then monthly is still best to prevent those worms!

Take-Home Message

Kittens can be bundles of joy, and a wonderful addition to your house. Providing them with the right health care and diet early on in life will give them the best possible start to grow up into a healthy and active cat, as well as live a long and happy life.

The post Raising and Caring For Kittens appeared first on Petz.

During the Coronavirus outbreak, many vets operated on an appointment-only, limited basis. People were also shielding, unable to leave the house. This made the presence of online vets grow rapidly

Why pets may need online vet help

• If they are elderly or have existing health or mobility issues
• It is a pet who hates getting into a carrier and you don’t want to do this unless absolutely necessary
• You can’t make it to the vet, as you don’t have access to transport or need to look after children/other pets
• You live too far away from your dedicated vets to make potentially unnecessary visits
• If you don’t think it is actually serious enough
• If your vet practice can’t fit you in – many in the UK are going through a crisis due to the aftereffects of Brexit and COVID

How you can get online vet advice from home

Online vets

Avoid non-video vets

Phoning your registered practice

Here at Petz, we have Dr Joanna de Klerk to hand, giving plenty of professional assistance in our Advice Centre, so you can trust us.

Pet shops

Home visits

• Ultrasound scans
• X-rays
• Surgery
• Administration of intravenous fluid
• Chemotherapy and radiation treatments
• Dentistry

Related Reading

• Caring for Pets with Lumps

The post How To Get Online Vet Help appeared first on Petz.

It can be a stressful time for any paw-parent when their beloved furbaby is at the vet’s for an illness or surgical procedure. It’s important to remember, they are in excellent, professional hands. However, you might be wondering how to give your pet the best possible care when they come home? Every case is different, and your vet will give you specific discharge instructions, however, there are some principles which you can put in place to provide your pet with the best home-care possible.

Immediate Post-Surgical Care

Following any surgery or procedure, or any hospital admission for a medical illness, your pet will receive careful monitoring by the veterinary staff. This will ensure your fur-child is kept comfortable and recovering uneventfully. If your pet is just in the clinic for the day for a surgical procedure, the vet will call you afterwards to let you know how it went and when you can collect your baby. Even though you’re likely to want to collect your pet as soon as possible, they cannot be in a better place for recovery than your veterinary practice. If on a rare occasion, your pet was to take a turn for the worse, the veterinary staff will be there to spring into action quickly. So, if you can cope to give your pet a few extra hours there after their procedure, this is best for them. At this time, you can busy yourself by making sure your home is ready. You’ll need a warm, comfortable area for your pet to rest within easy access to food and water, and if a cat, a litterbox. When your dog needs to go to the toilet, they should always be on a lead, so that they don’t charge off an over-exert themselves. Or worse, pop stitches and open up surgical sites! So, make sure a lead is within easy access of the back door. Alternatively, if your furchild is going to struggle with walking, placing an absorbent pad in their bed for accidents is a good idea. You might also want to have a blanket or towel to hand which you can loop under their belly and use as a sling to aid them to walk. When you come to collect your pet, the vet or vet nurse will probably have a discussion with you about home-care instructions and medications. These are really important, so make sure you fully understand them before leaving. 

Coming Home

Finally, your furry friend is on their way home! You might be filled with anxiety about your role of providing recuperation care for them, but try not to show it, as pets are highly attuned to how their human parents are feeling. The last thing they need is to be worrying about why you’re worrying! Your pet can travel in the car like normal, as long as they have a comfy bed under them and you drive smoothly. You might find it comforting to have someone with you, as this will prevent you from constantly turning around and checking how your pet is while driving.  If your pet has had surgery, they are likely to not quite be themselves yet. The effects of the anaesthesia will take the remainder of the day to wear off, and your pet might seem wobbly, drag his paws or seem uncharacteristically unsociable. Rest is the best way to ensure the anaesthetic wears off quickly.

Rest

Rest is the key for a recuperating pet, especially when they are still slightly drugged up from the anaesthetic. You’ll want your pet to be resting somewhere warm and cosy, as well as confined. Too much bouncing around can pop stitches, re-injure injuries or damage dressings. This is particularly important if your furbaby is recovering from an orthopaedic injury, such as a ligament tear or spinal condition.  Your vet will be able to give an indication how long your pet needs to be kept calm for. For routine surgeries, such as neutering, it is likely to be 10-14 days, however for injuries such as slipped discs or cruciate ligament tears, you might have to keep them quiet for six to twelve weeks. In these particular cases, if your pet cannot be trusted, they will have to rest in a crate, and only be let out under constant supervision.

Exercise

Your pet won’t need the usual run around the block or stroll through their woods when they get home. In fact, it is likely to be several weeks before you should take your dog out for a walk or let your cat out of the house to explore. If your pet has had routine surgery, you can begin walking and letting them outside unsupervised when the stitches come out. This is usually two weeks after the surgery. Some conditions, particularly ones which affect mobility, are likely to take a little longer to get better. Patience is really important, as even though your dog will be begging to go out, or your cat will be stressed in the house, it is for their own good. Finally, if they are recuperating from an infectious condition, check with your vet first whether they are potentially still infectious before you take them to in a public area.

Nutrition

After your pet comes home from the vet, they might not be too interested in food. Anaesthetic medications can make your pet feel nauseous, and therefore don’t try to force-feed them. Also, pain can cause inappetence, so it is important to monitor your pet closely to see if he is comfortable. Eating is important for recovery though, so offer him little and often. You are most likely to be successful in getting them to eat if the food is light and easy to digest. Most veterinary practices sell ‘gastro-intestinal’ food, which is ideal for a recovering pet. They are gentle on the stomach, highly palatable, and nutritionally balanced.  If your pet has been extremely ill, your vet may also provide you with an electrolyte solution to offer in addition to food and water, as well as a food which is high in calories, so your pet doesn’t need to consume too much of it to meet his daily requirement. A tip to boost your pet’s appetite is to slightly warm the food. Don’t cook it, otherwise, it will lose some of the vital nutrients. A few seconds in the microwave is all that’s needed. This increases the smell of the food and makes it more appetising. This trick is particularly good for cats, who will not eat if they cannot smell their food. Finally, if you don’t wish to feed your pet a food from the vets, you can feed small meals of boiled chicken and rice. However, even though this is bland, easy to digest and palatable, it is not nutritionally balanced, so should not be fed for more than a couple of days. Your pet needs a balanced diet containing all the essential nutrients to recover quickly.

Medications

If your pet is discharged with medications, it is your responsibility as a paw-parent to ensure they receive them. This might be harder than you expect, as not only do medications require specific timings for administration, many pets are not overly obliging to open their mouth for a pill, especially if they are feeling ill. Your vet will ensure that all the medications have instructions on them, so if you have multiple ones to remember, when you get home make a chart with timings on it, that you can tick off each time and date as you’ve given it. You might not need to give any medications in the evening you bring him home, as many vets will have given injectable versions of the drugs which last until the next day. This is important to clarify with your vet so that you don’t accidentally over- or under-dose your furbaby. Your vet can show you the best way to give the medicines. It should be as gentle and stress-free as possible. Remember to give your pet plenty of praise afterwards. Tablets can be hidden in food if your pet is eating, however if not, you will have to use your fingers or a pill-popper to push it in (the latter is certainly a wise investment if you have a cat and want to keep all your fingers!). A handy trick can be to ask your vet for a spare small syringe, and fill it with water. Once you have the tablet at the back of your pet’s mouth, quickly squirt in the water, which forces them to swallow. Finally, some medications have to be taken with food, and some on an empty stomach to prevent side effects. If it is a medication which requires food, make sure your pet has eaten beforehand or place the medication in the food, so that you don’t risk your pet turning up his nose at his food after you’ve given the medication.

Dressings and Wounds

If your pet has had a wound, whether it be an injury or a surgical incision, he might come home with a dressing. This could be a simple plaster, or a full leg bandage and splint. But the basics for caring for a pet with any dressing follows the same rules. Rule #1: Never let the dressing get dirty or wet. Dressings are usually breathable, which means that if the dressing gets dirty, so does the wound, which can lead to infections. If your pet has a dressing on their leg and they need to go outside, you can cover it in a plastic bag to prevent it getting contaminated. In addition to this, your pet’s saliva is also full of bacteria, so if they want to lick their dressing, it’s time for the cone of shame to go on. Rule #2: Check it frequently. Dressings can slip or come undone in an instant. If you’re not sure how to put it back on, it is best to immediately take your pet to the vet, as a bandage which is put on incorrectly can cause serious complications and injuries in itself. Rule #3: If a leg is bandaged, frequently check the toes. It’s easy for blood flow to become restricted when a bandage is placed snuggly around the leg. Your vet might have left your pet’s toes showing, which should be checked for swelling, pain and cold several times a day. These are all indications that the bandage is too tight. Rule #4: A bandage should never smell. If it smells or looks like bodily fluid has seeped through, then immediately take your pet to the vet to be assessed. These are potential clues that there is an infection underneath.

Boosting Your Pet’s Mood

After a few days, your pet might be becoming frustrated at their change in routine and forced rest, and you might be becoming tempted to bend the rules and let him outside for a bit of a run around. However, there are better ways to boost your pet’s morale. Gentle indoor enrichments can give your pet a boost. For cats, a toy dusted in catnip, or a little mouse on a string can give him a real sense of pleasure, and for dogs, a rewarding chew toy such as a Kong helps to release endorphins as he chews and licks, which relax him. In addition to this, you can spend extra time stroking or brushing your pet, which he is sure to love. Finally, a gentle game that can be played with dogs is a scent game, where your pooch has to find something that you have laid out a scent trail for. This keeps his mind busy as well as gives him a change from resting on his bed without running around.

Follow-Up Appointments

Follow-up appointments are vital to ensure that any wounds are healing appropriately, and that your furry friend is recovering as expected. A vet looks for subtle problems, so even though you might think your pet is fine, they could still pick up on things that need to be addressed. For most routine surgical procedures, you will need to visit your vet two to three days later, as well as two weeks later to remove the stitches. However, other ailments might require a check up the next day, or might have a longer gap before the next appointment.

When to Go to a Vet Sooner

It might seem like common sense, but if your pet suddenly has a change in condition, or your beloved furbaby seems much more off-colour than you expected, you should take him back to your vet sooner than their follow-up appointment. All vets must legally provide an out-of-hours emergency service either themselves or with a partnership clinic, so don’t hesitate to get in touch. But how do you know what is not normal, when you’re expecting your pet not to be normal to some degree? These are scenarios which require a vet trip:

• Fits and seizures.
• Extreme lethargy (expect your pet to be a little lethargic though).
• Crying, whining, or acting unsettled. This might indicate pain.
• Swelling, smell, seeping through of a dressing.
• Fast or deep breathing, or wheezing.
• Persistent coughing (especially if your pet has had a breathing tube in during surgery).
• For cats: straining, crying or spending a long-time urinating.
• Loss of appetite for more than 24 hours.
• Excessive vomiting or diarrhoea.

Take Home Message

Care of a recovering pet is much more than providing them with their normal home and routine. You should be prepared to nurse them back to health for several weeks. As a result, they will need much more attention than usual, and you might find it helpful to take the initial few days off of work or arrange for someone to be with your pet 24/7. Your furbaby will appreciate it and before you know it, will be back to full health.

Related Reading

• Pet Bereavement: How To Cope With Pet Loss
• Caring for Elderly Pets

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important thing to know about Caring Recovering Pets?

It can be a stressful time for any paw-parent when their beloved furbaby is at the vet’s for an illness or surgical procedure. It’s important to remember, they are in excellent, professional hands. However, you might be wondering how to give your pet the best possible care when they come home? …

What should I know about Nutrition?

After your pet comes home from the vet, they might not be too interested in food. Anaesthetic medications can make your pet feel nauseous, and therefore don’t try to force-feed them. Also, pain can cause inappetence, so it is important to monitor your pet closely to see if he is comfortable. Eating is important for recovery though, so offer him little and often. You are most likely to be succ…

What should I know about Immediate Post-Surgical Care?

It can be a stressful time for any paw-parent when their beloved furbaby is at the vet’s for an illness or surgical procedure. It’s important to remember, they are in excellent, professional hands. However, you might be wondering how to give your pet the best possible care when they come home? Every case is different, and your vet will give you specific discharge instructions, however, there …

The post Caring for Recovering Pets appeared first on Petz.

Did you know that in 2025, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association confirmed that approximately 51% of dogs and 44% of cats are overweight or obese? That’s a whopping great big percentage of the pet population that are piling on the pounds! You might think your fur-baby is rather cute when he’s a bit chubby, but there are some major health implications to being overweight. So now is as good a time as ever to fight the flab, and get your pet in shape! 

What is Obesity?

Obesity is the extreme end of overweight. It isn’t possible for your pet get fatter than obese. So, if they’ve reached that point, then some major life changes need to come their way.  Being overweight or obese is a result of an accumulation of excess body fat. Not only does the excess weight make it hard to get active, but it also puts strain on your pet’s internal organs and significantly reduces their lifespan. Alex German, Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool says ‘Obesity is one of the most common diseases we currently face but it’s a major issue that we DON’T TALK ABOUT. It’s an uncomfortable topic wrapped in prejudice and blame.’  But why is it so uncomfortable to talk about? Your furry friend certainly isn’t bashful about his rolls, so let’s tackle this head-on and talk about how to get your pet fit and trim!

How is Obesity Measured?

So, how do you tell if your pup (or kitty) is overweight? It’s not quite as simple as sticking him on the scales. Dog and cat breeds vary significantly in size. A chihuahua shouldn’t weigh the same as a Labrador, and a Devon Rex is never going to be the same weight as a Maine Coon. Even within the breeds, there is genetic variation, so a 20kg Springer Spaniel could either be skinny or obese depending on the build of their parents and the genetics they have passed on. Did you know 46% of owners judge their pet’s weight by simply looking at it? Well, that’s certainly a good place to start. But a major problem is that they are covered in hair, and that can be deceiving. A shaggy Golden Retriever might look in pretty good condition, but it’s not until you put your hands on him that you feel he’s not at all how he looks. The good news is, there is a scientifically-verified, easily repeatable way to measure your dog’s weight, and that is known as ‘body condition scoring’. Body condition scoring is a method of judging your pet’s weight on a scale of one to nine, where the score of five is ideal. The closer to nine your fur-baby is, the more overweight or obese he is.

Check out these downloadable charts from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association detailing how to assess your dog or cat’s body condition score:

So, how did your pet score? Is it time for him to tackle the world of dieting? Let’s start by understanding why your pet is overweight in the first place and why it’s important to get your pet in good shape. 

Why is My Dog Obese?

If your furry friend is a little bit plump, you’re certainly not alone. You might not have even realised until now. The key to getting the weight off him is understanding why it’s there in the first place. The most common reason for a pet to be overweight is because they are neutered. This is because a neutered animal’s metabolism is slower, so they need fewer calories to get through their daily life. Many owners don’t realise this and continue feeding their pets exactly the same way as before their surgery.  Other times, pets become obese because they are simply getting fed too much food. Maybe you don’t measure the daily amount of kibble you pop in the bowl, or maybe those puppy-dog eyes persuade you to give far too many titbits. Those calories have to come from somewhere! Since many pets are highly food driven, it is so easy to give them affection by giving them treats, but actually this act of love is not always loving their body. Occasionally, obesity is due to a medical problem. But this is the exception and not the rule. Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) and Cushing’s disease (a condition affecting the adrenal glands) can lead to your pet putting on weight despite being fed very few calories. But they are uncommon in dogs, and extremely rare in cats, and you would notice other clinical symptoms too, so don’t immediately jump to this as the cause. 

What Health Problems Can Obesity Cause?

Approximately 67% of owners are not concerned about obesity, but it’s important to think about the troubling stuff too. Even though your pet might not give two hoots about whether or not they are overweight, ensuring they feel fit and healthy, and live a long life is a gift of love that you can give them. At times it will be hard, but in the long run it is the best. This is because obesity can lead to all these conditions:

• Joint degeneration and osteoarthritis
• Back pain
• Difficulty breathing from tracheal collapse and laryngeal collapse
• Urinary incontinence
• Difficulty breathing for brachycephalic (flat-nosed) breeds
• Tumours
• Hyperthermia and heatstroke

Feeling the need to do something about your furry friend’s weight now? Read on to find out how to shed that weight.

How Do I Put My Dog on a Diet?

Dieting doesn’t have to be complicated. But it can be difficult to know where to start, and unfortunately there are a lot of unhelpful opinions out there. First thing’s first, chat to your vet. If you don’t know what your dog’s target weight is, then how do you know when to stop the diet? Your vet will be able to assign a body condition score to your pet, and work out what he should weigh if he was at a body condition score of five. As a guideline, each body condition score equates to 10% of the body weight. However, each dog is slightly different, so his weight and score should be continually assessed throughout the diet. This table demonstrates what that means if your dog should be weighing 20kg:

So now you know what weight you should aim for, how do you get there? There are several ways you can put your pet on a diet. Some will work better for some, others better for others. But our top pick is first:

• The #1 way to get your dog to lose weight: Change the food to a high satiety diet. We all hate the hunger cramps which come from food restriction, and your pet will too. If you cut the food, expect him to start begging, or even worse, stealing. But high satiety diets will prevent this. They are low in calories, but high in fibre, resulting in him feeling fuller for longer, while receiving less calories than before. Vets may also recommend either a prescription food to help your pet lose weight without feeling hungry, proper brands include Hills Metabolic Dog Food & Royal Canin Satiety.
• Feed the same food, but based on his ideal weight: Since you know what your pet should weigh, check out the packaging for the feeding directions on the back. Work out how many grams of food he should receive if he was his ideal weight, and measure it out daily every morning. You can then split this into the number of meals he eats. If you want to give a treat, remember to pop a bit back in the bag, or give a bit of the food from his daily ration as a treat. Don’t forget, treats equal calories!
• Work out your pet’s daily calorie needs – This can be a bit complicated, and you might need to ask for the help of your vet or nutritionist to figure it out. By calculating your pet’s resting energy requirement (RER) this ensures you are giving him enough calories for his body to function, but you are not adding more for the activities he’s doing, resulting in him losing weight. It can be calculated by multiplying the animal’s body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70. So, a 10kg adult neutered dog of healthy weight needs RER = 70(10kg)^3/4 ≈ 400 Calories/day. Now, looking at the packaging of your pet’s food, you can work out how many grams provide that many calories.

Accountability is a major key to success! So, make sure your vet is on board, and regularly swing by the veterinary clinic to put your pet on the scales. This way, you have a medical professional also tracking your pet’s weight to make sure the kilos are coming off and that he is staying healthy in his journey of doing so. Weight loss is not a race. Too quick, and it can put a strain on the internal organs, much like too much weight can do also. This is why it’s a good idea to stay in close contact with your vet.

How Much Exercise Should My Pet Get?

So, is diet the answer? Well, it certainly accounts for the majority of weight loss, but upping the calories burned by your pet will also help your fur-child lose some weight. The amount of exercise needed will depend on the species, breed, age and health issues of your pet, and vary from individual to individual. Increasing your pet’s exercise doesn’t necessarily mean you have to take them out for a run every day. You certainly can increase the length of their walks, make it more strenuous, or take them out an extra time daily. But it can also mean playing fetch in the garden with your dog or bringing out the laser pointer for your cat to chase. It doesn’t necessarily require you to leave the home. Check out our article on exercise to learn more about how much exercise your pet should get. 

How Do I Prevent Obesity?

Maybe your pet isn’t actually obese, or even overweight, but you’d like to prevent it. Or maybe you have managed to get your pet to an ideal weight through hard work dieting and exercise. Now, how do you prevent obesity from happening (again)? It’s really quite simple. Firstly, don’t feed your pet too much. Just because the packaging of the food says your pet needs a certain amount of food per day, doesn’t mean he actually does. This is just an average figure. Weigh your pet regularly, and if you see his weight creeping up, alter the amount of food he gets daily until he can maintain a steady weight. But this can only be done if you are measuring his food. You’ll be surprised how inaccurate a handful of dry food is. Even a cup of food will vary from cup to cup. Ideally, you should use a kitchen scale, and weigh his food daily. Secondly, remember that treats contain calories. If you want to treat your dog, remove some food from his daily intake to ensure his overall daily calorie consumption stays the same. A dog which has had their fair share of gravy bones throughout the day won’t need as much dinner – no matter if they tell you differently! Finally, do your research before buying a pet. Don’t buy a dog that requires two hours of exercise a day if you have a small garden and have no time to take them on walks. There are plenty of dog breeds which will suffice with a half an hour walk around the block or less to stay fit. These breeds will be better suited to your lifestyle.

Take Home Message

So now you know how to judge your pet’s weight, and a few tricks to help him shed those extra kilos. While he might not thank you for it immediately, keeping your pet trim will provide him with plenty of extra healthy years, which in the end is a gift worth fighting for.

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What Does the Liver Do?

1. Digestion through the production of bile
2. Carbohydrate metabolism (processing)
3. Metabolism of toxins, drugs and chemicals
4. Protein synthesis (creation)

What Causes Liver Disease?

• Hereditary
• Traumatic
• Nutritional
• Toxic
• Parasitic
• Neoplastic (cancerous)
• Infectious (bacterial or viral)
• Idiopathic (unknown)

What are the Symptoms of Liver Disease?

• Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Weight loss
• Inappetence
• Lethargy
• Abdominal enlargement, due to ascites (fluid build-up).
• Jaundice (yellowing under the skin), due to increased levels of bilirubin in the blood.
• Neurological signs, such as seizures, tremors and head-pressing against walls, due to hepatic encephalopathy (explained later in this article).

How is Liver Disease Diagnosed?

• ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) – Increases when liver cells are damaged.
• ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) – Increases when bile flow out of the liver is halted.
• AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) – Increases with liver and muscle damage.
• GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase) – Increases when bile flow out of the liver is halted.
• BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) – Decreases with liver disease due to the liver’s decreased ability to produce it.
• Cholesterol – Also decreases with liver disease due to the liver’s decreased ability to produce it.
• Total Bilirubin – Increases when the liver cannot metabolise it.
• Total Protein – Decreases due to the liver’s inability to produce albumin and globulin.
• Serum Bile Acids – Increases with liver damage due to decreased clearance from the blood.

How is Liver Disease Treated?

1. General support, such as intravenous fluid therapy to filter out toxins.
2. Treat the specific condition, for example, some cancers can be treated with surgery or chemotherapy, bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, and parasitic infections can be treated with parasiticides.
3. Create an environment which aids liver cells to stabilise and regenerate.

• Lactulose – This is altered by the microbes in the gut, which results in a more acidic environment. As a result, ammonia from protein digestion is converted to ammonium, which is more difficult to absorb into the bloodstream, resulting in a decrease in symptoms associated with hepatic encephalopathy and less strain on the liver to metabolise it.
• Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) – This protects liver cells and reduces inflammation in the liver.
• Silibinin – This is the active ingredient in silymarin, which is found in milk thistle. It is an antioxidant, enhances protein synthesis, improves liver cell regeneration and protects against liver toxins. It should be given either in the milk thistle herbal form, or as a pure form of silibinin. This is because it is extracted from milk thistle using alcohol, which is damaging to the liver. Therefore, a product without alcohol is important.
• S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) – This is used in metabolism to remove drugs. It also maintains the function of liver cells, and has anti-inflammatory effects.
• Colchicine – This minimises fibrosis (scarring) in the liver. It prevents the synthesis of collagen, and promotes the breakdown of collagen. It also stabilises the liver cells.

How does Nutrition Play a Role?

How is Feline Liver Disease Different?

Final Thoughts

You May Also Like

• Caring for Recovering Pets
• Caring for Pets with Kidney Disease
• Caring for Pets with Heart Disease
• Caring for Pets with Acute Diarrhoea

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Instead, most pups tend to display their allergic reactions through their skin. So depending on the time of year, a scratching pooch may well be suffering from hay fever!

Although there’s no cure for such annoying allergies, helping your canine through a sneezy season is perfectly possible through things like more frequent washing. So to help spot the symptoms and keep your mutt calm and relaxed, we’ve put together this handy hay fever guide for pups!

Hayfever symptoms in dogs

Hayfever in dogs is most commonly displayed by frequent itching and scratching in the spring and summer months.

The main symptoms are:

• Itching various body parts
• Biting or nibbling various body parts
• Rubbing their face or body parts on the floor or against objects
• Rashes on the paws or face
• Itching to the point where the skin becomes sore

Sometimes these symptoms can be problematic, especially if your dog is scratching so much that it is breaking or damaging the skin. The subsequent inflammation can cause a build-up of bacteria or yeast and lead to infections of the skin and ears.

Dogs may also show signs more commonly associated with a human pollen allergy, such as:

• Frequent sneezing
• Itchy, red and runny eyes
• Runny nose

It’s important to recognise that if these symptoms are occurring at other times of the year, it’s unlikely your dog is just suffering from a pollen allergy. Get them checked by a vet for other allergies, or breathing difficulties.

There are plenty of other conditions which can quickly create an itching mutt. So, it’s possible they could instead be struggling with fleas, mange or a bacterial/yeast infection.

So the next question is, at which times of year is doggy hay fever most likely to occur?

Hayfever seasons for dogs

Hayfever symptoms can occur from reactions to a few different pollens. So when your dog actually begins to suffer from a reaction will depend on which type they are allergic to.

As a rough guide, here is when the most common pollens are at their highest count in the UK:

• Grass Pollen: May-July (Late Spring/Summer)
• Tree Pollen: March-May (Spring)
• Weed Pollen: June-September (Summer/Early August)

Dog breeds that are susceptible to hayfever

For whatever reason, hay fever is more common in some dog breeds than others, so pay close attention if your pup is one of the following:

• Irish setters
• Dalmatian
• Poodles
• Schnauzers
• West Highland terriers

Hayfever treatment & management for dogs

Hayfever can’t be cured and so to make things bearable for your pup you simply need to find ways of managing the symptoms.

Practical advice to limit dog hayfever

If you don’t want to test out a ton of allergy alleviating products on your pup, there are plenty of ways you can help limit your dog’s exposure to pollen without even spending a dime.

Because prevention is always the best method when it comes to environmental sensitivities!

• Avoid walking the dog at midday when the pollen count is high (mornings & evenings are better)
• Wipe your dog down with a damp cloth after a walk to remove pollen
• Vacuum more regularly to remove build-up of pollen in the home
• Wash your dog’s bed or sleeping area more often
• Keep grass cut short in your garden
• More regular bathing

Treatments available

If you really can’t get a handle on your hound’s hayfever, you should always consider going to a vet to have their allergy officially diagnosed and to get some guidance or prescriptive drugs to help counter the symptoms.

You could also try using some of these products:

• Dog Wipes – For wiping away unseen pollen
• Ear Cleaning Solution or Drops – Keeps ears free of pollen and prevents infection
• Antihistamines – Be careful if using human ones, and only do so after guidance from a vet
• Fatty Acid/Omega 3 & 6 Supplements – Can help improve skin condition
• Eye Drops – Helps soothe itchy eyes
• Immune Boosting Medication – Help reduce allergic responses

Advice for managing certain pollens

If you’re certain of which pollen it is your dog has an allergy too, there are further steps you can take when it comes to limiting their exposure to it.

Grass pollen

Naturally, if your dog is allergic to grass, you need to restrict their time spent on the surface by avoiding fields when walking and limiting time spent in gardens.

This can’t always be avoided, however, when it does happen, try and prevent your mutt from rolling around in the grass and picking up pollen in their coat. Keeping your grass short and properly mowed can also help prevent pollen from becoming trapped much higher than the paws.

If your pup particularly loves playing in your own garden, you may want to consider using turf rather than real grass.

Tree pollen

A tree pollen allergy is a little more difficult to control than a pollen one, because the abundance of trees means it obviously has a much wider spread!

However, you can still help prevent your dog from suffering by keeping your doors and windows closed and reducing the time your dog spends outside when not on a walk.

In terms of walking, try to avoid doing so at times when the air is windy or dry, as this again makes the spread of tree pollen more widespread.

Weed pollen

Weed Pollen is probably one of the easiest to counteract, but it requires a bit of a green finger on an owner’s part!

Keeping the outdoor areas of your home clear of weeds and closing your windows will likely help immeasurably, and it’s also a good idea to do some pre-planning when it comes to walks.

Areas like woodlands and grasslands are naturally going to be abundant in weeds, so it’s often a better idea to stick to more built-up areas and well-kept parks when walking the dog.

The post Can Dogs Get Hay Fever? appeared first on Petz.

Get it right, and a lot of stress will never happen. Get it wrong, and it can be horrendous!

Your vet will be the most important person in your dog’s life (after you).

How to choose a vet for your puppy

Ask others

As with most things to do with your puppy, other people’s experiences can be very helpful.

Never choose a vet just because they are nearby. Choose them because they are right for you!

The distance can be important, especially if there is ever an emergency or if your dog doesn’t like travelling. But most people will have a few options in their town.

The cost will also come into your decision, but having the right person should be the overriding consideration. Ask your family and friends – see what they have experienced and recommend.

If you have a pedigree puppy, consult with your breeder, and local breed clubs. It may be that your breed has special needs, and a certain vet is sympathetic and knowledgeable of these. If you’re adopting from a charity, many of these will work with vets or at least be able to recommend some.

Check Reviews

Reviews are everywhere. You can search the most popular places online to find reviews of most vet surgeries. Google Maps, Trustpilot, Yell, Yelp and Reviews.io are great places to start gathering information about the experiences of real customers.

Some may need taking with a pinch of salt, as every experience and situation is different. However, it should give a good picture of whether there are any glaring issues in regards to care or efficiency.

Visit The Vet

When you have got your shortlist, do not be afraid to visit the vet’s premises. See if you are comfortable with what they offer.

It may be that you have to be flexible in your timing of a visit (last thing in the evening etc) but most practices will welcome you, and respect that you are taking your puppy’s welfare seriously.

Take your puppy with you, and see how the staff interact.

Check how many vets there are in the practice and if appointments are always necessary.

• Are telephone helplines available at no cost to registered customers?
• Do they have specialist services (dental, x-ray, behaviourists, etc)?
• Do they offer a payment plan for larger bills?

As with choosing a doctor for yourself, it is important to find someone you can talk to and trust.

Your vet needs to be able to explain and discuss with you the symptoms of illness, test results, treatment plans etc. You don’t want to feel like you’re being rushed out of the door after a visit, either.

Ask about pet insurance – some vets run a specialist plan which can work out a lot cheaper than “off the peg” solutions.

With your puppy, you will go through some emotional times together, so it is vital that you find the vet easy to talk to, and that you have complete trust in the practice.

Puppies can build up a phobia about going to the vet, so you’ll be starting him off on the right foot if his first visit is to a vet you already feel comfortable with. If you are moving house and need to find a new vet, don’t put it off; do it as soon as you can.

Don’t be put off if the first vet you visit is not right for you – check the internet or ask local social media groups for other options, and visit another one. A vet is too important to be left to chance!

Online Vets

There are now online vets which are a great option for anyone who maybe will have a lot of questions in their first few months of puppy ownership, but who don’t always want to run to the vets, especially if you have to ring ahead and book an appointment.

You usually book an online video call for the same day. Slots can last up to 20 minutes in most cases, and you will be able to get clear answers and show them any concerns clearly. This can be good if you want a second opinion aside from that of your vet’s receptionist.

Many are attached to physical vets practices so will tell you if you must go straight to a physical veterinarian, and the cost of the appointments is always competitive with ordinary vet practices. While your puppy will most certainly need to be registered to a physical vet for booster vaccines and checkups throughout life, it could be good to prepare who you would ring for advice.

All information on this site is given in good faith, but should never be taken as final authoritative advice. In all cases of doubt or query, you are strongly advised to check the position with an expert – before you have chosen your vet, your breeder is the person to see first, and ask other people with dogs – you will find them more than happy to help.

The post How To Choose a Vet For Your Puppy appeared first on Petz.

What is grain-free dog food?

What are the benefits of grain-free dog food?

Why choose grain-free dog food?

What to be wary of when choosing grain-free dog food

Is grain-free dog food safe?

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GPS vs RF vs Bluetooth: What Actually Works for Cats?

Best Cat Trackers UK 2026

Weight matters: Trackers should weigh less than 5% of your cat’s body weight. A 4kg cat = max 200g tracker, so all three above are well within safe limits.

Related Reading

• Should I Adopt a Dog?
• How To Spot The Early Signs Of Dog Periodontal Disease
• How Do I Find The Right Pet Food Bowl?

The post Best Cat Trackers UK 2026: GPS, RF & Bluetooth Reviews appeared first on Petz.

Pets and COVID: Important things to know

Can animals get coronavirus?

The Center for Disease Control And Prevention has said:

• The risk of animals spreading COVID to people is low
• The virus can spread from people to animals during close contact
• More studies are needed to understand how animals could be affected by COVID
• People with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should avoid contact with animals

Just because an animal does not test positive for coronavirus does not mean that they can’t still pass the virus on through their fur or accessories, if someone carrying the virus spread it through contact. So you should still be taking basic precautions such as washing your hands before and after handling your animal, regularly washing their accessories and disinfecting leads if handled by anyone else. Simple acts of hygiene are always going to be critical to prevent the spread of infection, and so it’s the easiest way to keep you and your pet safe until more is known. Animals in zoos, as well as mink and wild deer in the USA, have been found to have COVID. So while pets seem to have avoided it, other animals have indeed contracted the virus.

Can I catch coronavirus from my pet?

There is no evidence that pets can be infected with the virus, so you will only be able to contract coronavirus through coming into contact with items on which the virus is living. COVID is still most common through human to human transmission.

What precautions should pet owners take with COVID-19?

Despite evidence suggesting pets are unaffected by the virus, health organisations are still encouraging everyone to maintain good hygiene practices around animals until they fully understand the virus. However, animals and humans sharing diseases is not a totally rare concept. So as a precaution, those who think they have or have been confirmed to have the virus should limit contact with their pet until more is known. When handling and caring for animals you should always wash your hands before and after contacting them and avoid sharing food, kissing and being licked by a pet. If self-quarantining, perhaps have another person take care of your pet while you recover or wear a mask when interacting with them.

Coronavirus and your pet: FAQs

Can my pet stay with me in quarantine?

Given that animals can’t carry the virus, it should be absolutely fine to keep them in your company during self-isolation, but the general advice is to limit your contact with them until more is known.  

Does my pet need to wear a mask?

No. NEVER allow a pet to wear a mask. A mask isn’t going to be particularly pleasant for your pet, and might even affect their breathing. It’s definitely not a necessary precaution to take.

Can dogs get coronavirus?

While there’s still no evidence pets can carry or contract the virus, worries around this issue likely arose due to the strange case of a canine who tested ‘weakly positive’ for coronavirus. The dog tested positive in Hong Kong and had been taken in for evaluation by the city’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on February 26th 2020, shortly after it’s owner was diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, this is the only known case of an animal displaying any signs of the virus in their system, and the dog was quarantined in Hong Kong as it awaited further testing. Naturally, this news led dog owners everywhere to panic that their own pup will be susceptible to the outbreak. Prof Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham told the BBC that it is important to “differentiate between real infection and just detecting the presence of the virus”. This is because the dog in question had such low levels of the coronavirus in its system that it’s believed tests may have simply been displaying signs of having been in contact with it’s suffering owner, rather than being actively infected and contagious. Speaking about the level of infection in the dog, Ball added: “We need to find out more, but we don’t need to panic – I doubt it could spread to another dog or a human because of the low levels.” The most important thing to remember if you’re worried is that this dog showed no symptoms of the disease, it’s unlikely it was actually infected.

How do I take my dogs for a walk if I am isolating?

In the UK, it is no longer guidance to self-isolate if you have a positive test. However, we understand people are still being cautious The recommended advice is to have a friend or dog walker do it for you.

Can cats get coronavirus?

Despite there being only one known case of the disease in a dog, there has been no evidence so far to suggest a cat has ever been infected with or carried COVID-19. However, advice remains the same as regards to hygiene and handwashing, with also emphasis placed on keeping cat’s food and litter trays clean and free from bacteria.  

The post Can Pets Get Coronavirus? What You Need To Know appeared first on Petz.

What is Epilepsy?

Types of Seizures

What to Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure

How to Move a Seizing Dog

Long-Term Treatment of Epilepsy

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Change in appetite
• Change in thirst
• Drowsiness
• Change in behaviour

Take Home Message

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The post Epilepsy in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Petz.

What is declawing?

Declawing is a medical process which carries risks just like any other surgical procedure

How can it harm the cat?

Why are cats declawed?

Why do cats scratch?

Remember that scratching is natural for cats, and the occasional scratching of furniture or yourself is part of the package with some animals

Alternatives to declawing cats

The post Why You Should Never Declaw Your Cat appeared first on Petz.

Dog teeth FAQ

Can you tell how old a dog is by how many teeth it has?

When will my puppy lose all its baby teeth?

When will my dog have all its adult teeth?

Can dogs regrow adult teeth?

Can dogs get cavities?

Signs of dental disease in dogs

• Bleeding gums
• Red gums
• Plaque
• Bad breath
• Blood in their food and water bowl
• Thick saliva
• Only using one side of the mouth
• Dropping food while eating
• Swelling of the face
• Rubbing face against objects or with paws

How do I prevent gum disease?

The post How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have? appeared first on Petz.

Why is my dog drinking so much?

Dehydration

Underlying illnesses

• Liver Disease
• Diabetes
• Cushing’s disease (adrenal hormone disease)
• Cancer
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Infection
• Kidney Disease
• Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium)
• Pyometra (uterine infection in unspayed females)
• Psychogenic polydipsia (psychiatric disorder)

Medications

• Prednisone or other Anti-inflammatories. These are usually used to treat IBS, asthma and allergies
• Furosemide and other heart failure drugs. These often list more frequent urination as a side effect, which in turn leads to loss of water and an increase in thirst.
• Phenobarbital and other seizure medication. These may increase appetite as well as urination and thirst.

When to call the vet about your dog drinking too much

How much should my dog drink per day?

Is it normal for my dog to drink so much?

Natural behaviour

Diet

Hot weather

What to do if a dog drinks too much water

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What is the Difference Between Spraying and Urinating?

Why Do Cats Spray?

What Other Ways Can Cats Scent Mark?

How to Prevent Your Cat from Spraying

• Get him neutered: Hormones play a huge role in spraying, and therefore getting your cat neutered (or spayed) will decrease his need to mark his territory and leave his calling card for the opposite gender. Unfortunately, this is not a fail-safe solution, as once the behaviour is learned, he will never completely forget it.
• Keep your house clean: Cats have millions of olfactory receptors in their nose, so if they smell even the smallest amount of urine, they are likely to want to spray in that spot again. Read on to find out how to clean an area where your cat has peed.
• Pheromones: Calming pheromone diffusers have been proven to aid in reducing stress, particularly in multi-cat households. 
• Cat-proof your garden: If it’s the neighbour’s cat which is causing the issue, first start by talking to your neighbour. Maybe they will have a solution to keep their cat close to their home. Alternatively, cat-proof fencing is highly effective at preventing cats from jumping into your garden.
• Microchip or tag activated cat flaps: If another cat is making themselves at home in your house, you can change your cat flap to a microchip or tag activated cat flap, so that only your cat has access.
• High-sided litter boxes: These litterboxes give your cat the option to spray a vertical surface in a controlled manner.
• Calming supplements: You might wish to try L-tryptophan supplements, which increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, resulting in your cat feeling happier and less stressed.
• Lots of litter boxes and bowls: If you have a multi-cat household, put out more litter boxes and water bowls than there are cats, so that your felines never have to come into conflict when they are thirsty or need the toilet.
• Enrichment: Increase the amount of exercise and entertainment your cat gets by providing them with more play time, toys, climbing areas or catnip. This will boost their mood and decrease stress.
• Rub their scent yourself: If you’ve moved around your furniture, anticipate it will upset your cat.  Rub a soft cloth on your cat’s face, and then rub it several times a day on the furniture. It might be enough for your cat to feel they have already marked the newly placed furniture.
• Talk to your vet: Spraying can be worsened by medical conditions, so if nothing is working, have your cat checked out by your vet for underlying problems.

How to Clean an Area Your Cat Has Sprayed

• Prevent your cat from accessing the area for as long as possible. You can do this by closing access to that particular room or placing some furniture over the spot.
• Wash the area with enzymatic cleaner, or if it can be removed (such as curtains), put it through the wash with enzymatic laundry detergent. 
• Spray a solution of 1:1 white vinegar and water on the area.
• Spray and scrub the area with rubbing alcohol (although, test a small area first).
• Purchase a ‘stain and odour’ remover from your vet or local pet store to clean the area with.

Take Home Message

The post Dealing with Feline Spraying appeared first on Petz.

What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?

What Are the Underlying Causes of FLUTD?

• 50% have feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). This is a condition which is diagnosed through a process of exclusion. Idiopathic means there is no known cause for the bladder discomfort. Stress seems to play a large role in initiating flare-ups; however, a thin bladder lining, microscopic crystals and highly concentrated urine have been hypothesised to worsen the condition.
• 20% have bladder stones. Calcium oxalate and struvite stones are the most common, with females having a higher incidence than males.
• 20% will have a urethral blockage. This is a life-threatening condition, as urine cannot flow out of the bladder. Blockages can be caused by a spasm, stone or urinary sediment (known as a urethral plug).
• 1-5% will have a urinary tract infection. Most infections happen in cats over 10 years old.
• 1-5% will have a bladder tumour.
• 1-5% will have bladder trauma, such as a ruptured bladder after being hit by a car.
• 1-5% will have both bladder stones and a urinary tract infection. These stones are most likely to be struvite stones, as bacterial infections cause the urine to become more alkaline, which provides the perfect pH for struvite stone formation.

What Are the Symptoms of FLUTD?

• Straining when urinating
• Frequent urination
• Pain or crying when urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Licking the genitals
• Licking or pulling out hair on the belly, over the bladder area
• Urinating in strange places around the house 

How Do I Know When It’s an Emergency?

How Do I Look After My Cat with FLUTD?

How to Prevent FLUTD in the Future?

• Increase his environmental enrichment. This increases distractions for your furry friend and makes him feel happier. You could give him more toys, catnip, scratch posts or even schedule more play time with him.
• Try to minimise changes in the environment. Cats feel stressed when things change. This includes big changes like moving to a new house, or the introduction of a new pet, as well as small changes, like moving furniture around or having a stranger clean the windows.
• Improve his social environment. Cats are naturally solitary creatures and like their personal space. Ensure your cat can have that. If you have a multi-cat household, place multiple different water bowls and litter trays around the house, so he doesn’t need to come into contact with others unnecessarily.

Take Home Message

You May Also Like

• Raising and Caring For Kittens
• Microchipping Your Cat Or Dog: All You Need To Know
• How To Trim A Cat’s Claws
• Can Cats Drink Milk?

The post Caring for Cats with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) appeared first on Petz.

• The Best Cat Flea Treatment
• The Best Dog Flea Treatment
• The Best Flea Products For Your Home

What Are Fleas?

What Are the Symptoms of Flea Infestations?

• Itchiness and scratching
• Areas of hair loss or self-trauma
• Red spots on the skin
• Red and inflamed skin
• Visible fleas within the fur, especially around the base of the tail, inside of the back legs and around the neck
• Insect bites on yourself
• Specks of red-brown dirt in the coat (this is known as flea dirt)

Treating Fleas on Your Pet

• Shampoo flea treatment: Shampoos don’t often have residual action, but they are a good option if you want to kill all the fleas on your pet, before applying a treatment with residual action. They also help to soothe itchy skin.
• Topical flea treatment: Topical treatments usually come in the form of a spot-on pipette, which you apply to the skin on the back of the neck. Most have a residual action of about four weeks, however some brands are longer. Do not bath your pet for a couple of days after applying a topical treatment to ensure you don’t wash it off before it has all soaked into the skin.
• Oral flea treatment: Oral treatments usually come in the form of a tablet or meaty treat. Their residual action can vary in length, from no residual action to over two months of effectivity. The benefit of these is that they don’t leave residue on your furbaby, so you don’t have to worry about your pet becoming wet, or your child stroking your four-legged friend.
• Flea collars: Medicated flea collars last the longest. They can prevent fleas for up to eight months and are very convenient. They are expensive, however, if you look at the cost per month basis, they are often cheaper than other types of treatment.
• Home remedies: Home remedies are not often effective at killing fleas. They usually involve sprays containing essential oils, such as lavender oil, or apple cider vinegar. You can also purchase natural flea collars with essential oils in. While they might help to repel fleas, they do not kill fleas effectively. Therefore they should not be used for treating flea infestations. In addition to this, most essential oils are highly toxic to cats, and should be avoided.
• Flea combs: If you want a natural way to remove fleas from your pet, a flea comb is effective at combing out the critters. However, it doesn’t prevent fleas from the environment jumping straight back on, and therefore, treating the environment is essential.

Treating Fleas on Other Animals

Treating Fleas in Your House

• Vacuuming: Don’t just vacuum the floor, but also the beds, curtains, cushions and sofas. It will suck up the majority of the infestation as well as stimulate any eggs left behind to hatch. Eggs are relatively resistant to insecticides, so stimulating them to hatch is a good thing.
• Washing: Hot wash all items which can fit in the washing machine. This includes dog beds and rugs, and anywhere your pet likes to lie which has removable covers. Heat and soap combat fleas very effectively.
• Steam clean: Anything you can’t wash, clean with a steamer. This includes carpets and curtains, and anywhere your pet likes to lie.
• Aerosol Sprays: Insecticide aerosol sprays can be applied to the house after vacuuming, washing and steaming. Pet-friendly sprays are available to purchase from your vets and online, however for some, you must vacate the room for a period of time afterwards. Ensure you follow the instructions so that the correct amount of spray is administered to the surface area, and don’t forget those dark, warm places such as under the sofa.

Treating Fleas in Your Garden

• Mow the Lawn: Fleas love to live in long grass. Make sure to bag the cut grass though.
• Remove Debris: Dead leaves and plants, as well as bushes, create hiding places for fleas. Try to increase the amount of sunlight reaching the ground by removing as much debris as possible.
• Sulphur Granules: Sulphur both repels fleas and interferes with flea eggs from hatching. Not all sulphur products are pet-friendly though, so be sure to pick one which won’t harm your furbaby. 
• Garden Treatments: Various different insecticidal garden sprays are available for outdoor areas. Not all treatments are suitable for all plants, nor are all treatments pet-friendly, so read the bottle carefully before applying.

Problems with Flea Treatments

Take Home Message

Treating Your House

Firstly, vacuum the whole place thoroughly.

Secondly, wash and steam it all.

Then, use chemical treatments.

The Flea Treatment Is Suddenly Not Working!

If The Problem Persists

Treating Other Animals

🛡️ Recommended Flea & Tick Products

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🛡️ 2026 Update: Flea resistance to older treatments like fipronil (Frontline) continues to grow. Many UK vets now recommend isoxazoline-based treatments (Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica) as first-line options. Always consult your vet for the most effective treatment for your specific pet.

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What is a Food Allergy?

What Causes Food Allergies?

What are the Symptoms of Food Allergies?

• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Flatulence
• Itchy skin
• Red or inflamed skin
• Chronically inflamed ears (otitis externa)
• Coughing or sneezing

How do you Diagnose Food Allergies?

What to Feed a Pet with a Food Allergy

How to Care for a Pet with a Food Allergy

Take Home Message

The post Caring for Pets with Food Allergies appeared first on Petz.

Dr Joanna has written about this topic in more depth in her book ‘Old Dog Love: A Common Sense Guide to Caring For Your Senior Dog‘, available on Amazon

How Old is Elderly?

What Happens When a Pet Ages?

• Senses: The five senses include sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste, and unfortunately not all of these remain as sharp as they used to be when your pet was younger.
• Digestion and metabolism: In elderly pets, the gastrointestinal system slows down, as well as the metabolism of nutrients in the body. This means a different approach to nutrition needs to be taken to ensure your furry friend still remains fit and trim.
• Mental Health: Sometimes the mental capacity of golden oldies deteriorates, leading to wandering behaviours and forgetting previous training, such as how to use a litterbox or knowing to toilet outside.
• Bladder Control: The urethral sphincter, which is a muscular band that closes the bladder, can become leaky in elderly pets (especially dogs). This results in accidental urine leakage, particularly when extra pressure is placed on the bladder, such as when lying down.

Caring for the Lifestyle of Elderly Pets

Exercise

Grooming

Accessories

Nutrition for Elderly Pets

• Lower calorie content: Senior pets are generally less active and require less calories to maintain a healthy weight. It is important that you don’t let your old timer pile on the pounds, as excess weight puts strain on the joints, and vital organs such as the heart.
• Improved digestibility and probiotics: As already mentioned, seniors can struggle with their ability to digest food. So senior food is usually more palatable, gentler on the stomach, and full of probiotics to promote a healthy gut.
• Omega oils: Omega oils are essential fatty acids, which aid in improving the health of the heart, brain, kidneys and joints. They are also natural anti-inflammatories, and so if your furbaby is struggling with arthritis, they can be very beneficial.

Caring for the Health of Elderly Pets

• Obesity: Weight management can be difficult in elderly pets as they become less active, however your vet is a valuable source for advice when it comes to optimising your pet’s weight. 
• Joint conditions: Arthritis is a common degenerative condition of hips, elbows, wrists and stifles, especially if your pet has had a trauma to the joint, been overweight, or has genetic joint issues. Arthritis is when the joint cartilage, joint fluid and bones under the cartilage degenerate, resulting in a painful joint with poor movement.
• Eye conditions: There are several conditions of the eye which might result in your four-legged friend losing their sight. The retina is at the back of the eye and converts light into a nerve signal to the brain. Retinal degeneration can happen with age, and cause night blindness before total blindness. Cataracts can also develop within the lenses of the eyes. These are opacities which prevent the light from reaching the back of the eye. A similar condition called nuclear sclerosis can also form in the lens. This looks like a cataract, except light can get through it, and your pet will still be able to see, except with just a bit of a haze.
• Heart conditions: The heart is a vital organ which pumps blood around the body, but age can result in the valves inside becoming leaky in dogs, or the heart muscle to malfunction in cats leading to disruptions in the blood flow.
• Kidney conditions: The kidneys filter out waste products. They can tolerate a great deal of damage and kidney disease often only becomes apparent when they are over 70% damaged. This is why it is important to pick up issues early.
• Lumps: It can be a bit scary to find a lump. While many lumps are benign and non-harmful, cancerous lumps are more common with age. The sooner a lump is investigated, the higher the chance of a better prognosis.

Take Home Message

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Diarrhoea isn’t pleasant for you or your pet. It can be smelly, it can be messy, and at times, it can make your furbaby feel really unwell. 

Diarrhoea is when the frequency, consistency and/or the volume of your pet’s stools change. It can be acute or chronic. In this article, we’re going to focus on caring for pets with chronic diarrhoea, which is defined as diarrhoea that has been going on for more than three weeks.

The Digestive Tract

The digestive tract is the part of the body which breaks down, digests and absorbs the nutrients and fluid from food. The body then uses the nutrients for energy and biological processes. The digestive tract comprises of the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine.

Problems with the digestive tract can lead to your pet having diarrhoea, sometimes with other symptoms too. It’s important to remember that diarrhoea is simply a symptom and not a disease in itself. Therefore, it’s important to work with your vet to achieve a specific diagnosis. This will help your furbaby receive the correct treatment.

What’s the Difference Between Small and Large Intestinal Diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea primarily originates from the small or large intestine, although it may originate from both. Sometimes it can be tricky to determine which one it is, but it’s important to work with your vet to figure it out, because you will have more success caring for your pet if you know the root cause.

These are the most common differences between small and large intestinal chronic diarrhoea:

Small Intestine Symptoms

• Losing weight
• Large volumes of faeces
• Occasional vomiting
• Gassy intestines
• Sometimes black or tarry stools
• Increased appetite

Large Intestine Symptoms

• Small volumes of faeces
• Increased frequency of defaecation
• Sometimes fresh blood
• Mucus in the stools
• The need to defaecate even if there is nothing pass (many people mistake this straining for constipation)
• Gassy intestines

Both small and large intestinal diarrhoea can cause dehydration, as fluid, electrolytes and nutrients are lost. This, among other symptoms, can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

Causes of Chronic Diarrhoea

There are multiple causes of chronic diarrhoea, categorised into small and large intestinal diseases. Your vet will need to determine which your pet has, as each individual diagnosis requires a specific treatment. However, you can care for your four-legged friend at home more easily if you know which category your pet’s diagnosis falls into.

Small Intestinal Diseases

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Infections (viral, bacterial, or parasites)
• Ulcers
• Lymphangiectasia
• Pancreatitis
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)
• Liver disease
• Dietary intolerance or allergies (including food sensitivities)
• Cancer
• Hyperthyroidism (cats)
• Kidney disease

Large Intestinal Diseases

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Infections (viral, bacterial, or parasites)
• Cancer
• Dietary intolerance or allergies (including food sensitivities)

Home care of chronic diarrhoea primarily falls down to getting the diet right. Your furry friend may, or may not appreciate this, depending on whether he is a fussy eater! But a change in food is really important. It’s very common for people to think that a bland diet of cooked chicken and rice will sort out diarrhoea. But when it comes to chronic diarrhoea, in particular, it is not sufficiently balanced with nutrients to sustain your pet long-term.

Therefore, you might want to consider looking into a veterinary prescription diet. In the UK, the three most common prescription brands are Hills, Royal Canin and Purina. Your vet will be able to advise you which brand and product will suit your pet best. 

Dietary Management of Small Intestinal Chronic Diarrhoea

A diet to combat small intestinal chronic diarrhoea should incorporate the following:

• High energy: This is important to address weight loss associated with the lack of nutrient absorption into the bloodstream.
• Highly digestible: The better the food is digested; the more nutrients are available for absorption into the bloodstream. This helps prevents worsened diarrhoea due to the presence of undigested food.
• Small number of protein sources: The fewer the sources of proteins, the less exposure to ingredients which could cause an allergy or intolerance.
• Balanced level of fibre: Fibre falls into two categories; soluble and insoluble. It helps regulate the motility of the intestine and slow the movement of food through the large intestine. This increases the absorption of nutrients. Soluble fibres also boost beneficial bacteria (microflora) in the intestines. However, too much fibre will decrease the digestibility of the diet, so there must be the right balance.
• Low fat content: This is particularly important for IBD, lymphangiectasia and EPI. Fats which are not absorbed properly can exacerbate diarrhoea. Fat also slows down the transit of food through the stomach, so a low-fat diet is great if your furbaby is also feeling nauseous. 
• Omega oils: These are natural anti-inflammatories and will help calm down the intestines if they are inflamed.
• High palatability: If your pet is not feeling very well, it’s important that the food is tasty.

Dietary Management of Large Intestinal Chronic Diarrhoea

A diet to combat large intestinal chronic diarrhoea should incorporate the following:

• Highly digestible: Undigested food in the large intestine can worsen diarrhoea and also upset the balance of the microflora.
• Increased fibre: This slows down large intestinal motility. Like fibre requirements for small intestinal diarrhoea, it should be a mixture of both soluble and insoluble fibres.
• Hypoallergenic: Since often large intestinal chronic diarrhoea is caused by IBD or dietary intolerances, a hypoallergenic diet will ensure the proteins in the diet do not contain antigens which could cause a reaction.

Veterinary Care of Pets with Chronic Diarrhoea

It’s really important that you involve your vet in the management of your furbaby if he has chronic diarrhoea. In addition to changing the diet, they might prescribe deworming treatment and antibiotics, which can be both therapeutic and diagnostic, to assess for an improvement after treatment.

Your vet might also prescribe probiotics for your pet. These are beneficial bacteria which help create a normal, healthy microflora environment in your four-legged friend’s intestines. They do this via competing with bad bacteria, creating a difficult environment for bad bacteria to grow, and enhancing your furbaby’s immune system. Probiotics are available in the form of powders or pastes. Pastes are usually combined with other ingredients such a kaolin and pectin, which improve the firmness of the stools and help soothe the lining of the guts.

Another consideration is whether your pet needs vitamin B12 (cobalamin) injections. Your vet can give these on a weekly basis, or as needed. Many pets with small intestinal chronic diarrhoea have a cobalamin deficiency due to the inability to absorb it into the bloodstream adequately. Therefore, injections will help it bypass the intestines.

Finally, if the diarrhoea is very severe, your furry friend might require hospitalisation for intravenous fluids, intestinal protectant medications and supplementary nutrition. 

Take Home Message

Chronic diarrhoea, as the name suggests, can go on for a long time. Sometimes it can be lifelong. However, once the root cause has been determined, and your vet has provided specific treatment, you can care for your pet with chronic diarrhoea at home with a diet change and loving nursing care when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important thing to know about Caring Pets with Chronic Diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea isn’t pleasant for you or your pet. It can be smelly, it can be messy, and at times, it can make your furbaby feel really unwell.  Diarrhoea is when the frequency, consistency and/or the volume of your pet’s stools change. It can be acute or chronic. In this article, we’re going …

What is the best Dietary Management of Small Intestinal Chronic Diarrhoea approach?

It’s really important that you involve your vet in the management of your furbaby if he has chronic diarrhoea. In addition to changing the diet, they might prescribe deworming treatment and antibiotics, which can be both therapeutic and diagnostic, to assess for an improvement after treatment. Your vet might also prescribe probiotics for your pet. These are beneficial bacteria which help crea…

What should I know about The Digestive Tract?

The digestive tract is the part of the body which breaks down, digests and absorbs the nutrients and fluid from food. The body then uses the nutrients for energy and biological processes. The digestive tract comprises of the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine. Problems with the digestive tract can lead to your pet having diarrhoea, sometimes with other symptoms too. I…

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Acute diseases (rapid onset, short duration) if managed correctly can reduce the risk of a more chronic (long duration) problem occurring.

The Digestive Tract

For pets to obtain the nourishment they need for their daily life, food must be broken down into smaller nutrients that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

The process of breaking down food particles is called digestion. This process begins in the stomach and continues in the intestines where the nutrients are absorbed. Little of the digestive process occurs in the large intestine.

Here, water is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This is important not only in the production of firm stools but in maintaining the body’s water balance. Inflammation of the intestinal tract can be caused by a variety of things, including infections (bacteria, viruses), eating spoiled food or rubbish, food allergies and some medications.

Sudden changes or additions to the diet, such as feeding table scraps or milk, can also cause diarrhoea in some animals. Other diseases, such as kidney disease and liver disease can also result in the development of gastroenteritis.

Gastritis is the term used to describe inflammation of the stomach and is usually associated with vomiting and abdominal pain. It often occurs along with inflammation of the intestines, or enteritis. Gastroenteritis, therefore, describes a general inflammation of the intestinal tract.

Acute Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the intestinal tract prevents the normal digestive and absorptive processes. Water and nutrients are not efficiently absorbed from the body resulting in large volumes of diarrhoea.

Pets with severe diarrhoea are therefore at risk of becoming dehydrated due to this loss of fluid. Fluid therapy in the form of electrolyte drinks, or if the diarrhoea is very severe, intravenous fluids are therefore an important component of treatment.

Vomiting, if present, not only results in more fluid loss but will also upset the acid/base and electrolyte balance of the blood.

Medical Management

Your veterinary surgeon may prescribe medicines (antibiotics and/or drugs to control vomiting) for your pet depending on the suspected cause and severity of your pet’s gastroenteritis. If your pet is severely dehydrated an intravenous drip may be necessary to replace the lost fluid and electrolytes.

Whatever the cause of your pet’s diarrhoea, an essential component of treatment is dietary management.

Dietary Management in Acute Diarrhoea

In order to provide the intestines with a period of ‘rest’, your veterinary surgeon may recommend withholding food for 24 hours and a fluid replacement drink. This electrolyte solution will not only aid rehydration but also help to restore the electrolyte and acid/base balance of the body.

Your veterinary surgeon will advise you when you can begin to feed a highly digestible ‘bland’ diet. A highly digestible diet allows the intestine to easily digest and absorb the nutrients that your pet needs.

Small, frequent meals will also reduce the volume of food that the intestines receive. Ideally, the diet should have a higher energy concentration than normal foods, to enable your pet to obtain all the nutrients that they need in a reduced volume.

Feeding the right diet is crucial for the improvement of digestive tract disorders. Everyone who comes into contact with your pet should realise the importance of feeding only the recommended diet; this means avoiding any treats or snacks. It is also important that your pet is prevented from scavenging food from the rubbish or from outside.

Your veterinary surgeon may prescribe a specially formulated diet for 3- 5 days during the period of recovery. They are the ideal “highly digestible diet” to use during periods of recovery as they contain a single meat or fish protein source and a single source of carbohydrate with the correct balance of vitamins and minerals to meet your pet’s needs.

They provide a more concentrated source of energy than normal petfoods, enabling your pet to receive all the nutrients that they require in smaller volumes of food. Following recovery, your pet can be changed gradually back onto their normal diet over a period of 3-4 days. If problems persist, you may wish to continue feeding the Selected Protein diet long term.

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What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

• Recurrent urine infections: These happen because the excess glucose in the blood spills over into the urine. Usually glucose is not present in the urine, but when it is, it provides a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. This can result in your dog wanting to pee much more than normal, and it might also smell bad, contain blood, or urination may be painful.
• Excessive drinking: Because your pooch’s blood glucose level is high, he will feel excessively thirsty. It’s the body’s natural response to try to dilute it. He is likely to want to drink loads of water, which can also lead to excessive urination.
• Change in appetite: At first, your furry friend is likely to want to eat more, because the cells are not getting the glucose they need for energy, which leads the body to think it needs to obtain more energy from more food. Later in the disease, your dog might then lose his appetite if the blood glucose level gets too high, because it will cause him to feel nauseous.
• Eye problems: Diabetes can lead to increased pressure in the eye, known as glaucoma. It is a painful condition, and can result in blindness. In addition to that, diabetes can cause cataracts to form in the lens of the eye, which can also cause blindness.

Looking After a Dog with Diabetes Mellitus

Treatment

Diet

Ongoing Monitoring

What is a Diabetic Emergency?

What Does the Future Hold?

Take Home Message

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What is Heart Disease?

The Differences Between Cats and Dogs

Monitoring Your Pet with Heart Disease

• Listening with a stethoscope to assess if the heart rate or heart murmur has worsened.
• Ultrasound scan to check the structure of the heart.
• Blood pressure test to check the peripheral blood pressure.
• Blood test to check parameters such as proBNP (which indicates heart muscle damage) and sodium (which is commonly retained in heart disease).

• General demeanour: Has your furbaby started slowing down? Been reluctant to go for their walk? Or become less interested in playing with their toys?
• Respiratory rate: How fast is your pet breathing? Without disturbing him, count how many times he breathes in 15 seconds, then multiply it by four to get a breaths per minute reading. This should be under 30 breaths per minute at rest.
• Heart rate: How fast is your pet’s heart beating? Place your hand just behind your dog’s left elbow, or on the chest of your cat, and count how many times the heart beats in 15 seconds. Like the breaths, multiply it by four to get a beats per minute calculation. You can also ask your vet where to feel for the femoral pulse on the inside of the back leg. The beats per minute measurement will vary depending on the size of your dog, so you should ask your veterinarian what a normal rate would be for your dog.

Medications for Heart Disease

Nutrition for Heart Disease

Exercise

Take Home Message

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• Caring for Pets with Acute Diarrhoea

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The kidneys are vital organs, which have many different roles within the body. This is why if your four-legged friend has kidney disease, all sorts of symptoms (which maybe seem unrelated) might appear. Caring for pet with kidney disease requires the help of your vet, but there also are plenty of things you can do at home to help improve the quality of life for your furbaby.

What is the Purpose of the Kidneys?

The kidneys are a pair of organs which are involved in excreting things out of the body. This includes toxins, waste products from the metabolism process, excess water and nutrients which are not needed. This helps to keep the bloodstream in a balanced harmony without anything excessive present.

They also play a vital role in controlling blood pressure through releasing a hormone called renin. This sets in motion a chemical pathway which ends up affecting the diameter of the blood vessels, and therefore the pressure of the blood inside.

Finally, they play a role in blood production. If more red blood cells are needed, the kidneys release a hormone called erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce more cells.

So it’s clear that kidneys are pretty amazing (and extremely vital) organs!

Acute Renal Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease

If your pet develops kidney disease, it can happen either acutely or chronically. In other words, quickly, or over a long period of time. Dogs have more tendency to develop acute renal failure (ARF), whereas cats are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it can be the other way around too.

When kidneys deteriorate and start to show signs of disease, they are often already very damaged. In fact, a kidney can lose up to 75% of its function before any symptoms become apparent at all. That’s why it’s important to try to prevent kidney disease, by minimising toxin exposure, ensuring adequate water intake and feeding a high-quality balanced diet throughout your pet’s life.

Acute renal failure tends to happen after a sudden insult to the kidneys. Commonly this is poison ingestion, but it can also be caused by things like heatstroke, severe dehydration, kidney infections, medication overdose and snake bites.

Chronic kidney disease, on the other hand, is usually caused by the kidneys wearing out, and commonly associated with age-related change. However, genetics, breed predisposition, and lifestyle also play a big role in the development of CKD.

Regardless of whether your pet has ARF or CKD, they are likely to exhibit some of the following symptoms:

• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination
• Nausea
• Mouth ulcers
• Anaemia, which can cause tiredness
• Poor appetite
• High blood pressure, which can lead to blindness

Nutrition for Kidney Disease

Nutrition plays a vital role in the management of kidney disease (both ARF and CKD). The kidneys need to filter out waste products from the metabolism process, and a high quality diet will reduce those waste products. In addition to that, electrolytes and water often become imbalanced when the kidneys don’t work well, and specific diets can help to correct that too. 

The following things should be considered when choosing a kidney-friendly diet:

• Protein: Protein is a vital building block for growth and regulation of many body functions. It is used to make hormones, muscle tissue and cell walls. However, any protein left over which is not needed is then converted into urea, and removed by the kidneys. If the protein quantity in the diet is lower than usual, but the protein is high-quality, then there is less waste. This means there is less urea build up, resulting in less nausea and mouth ulcers. Egg and meat proteins are of a much higher quality than cereal grain protein.
• Phosphorus: The kidneys play a vital role in managing the level of phosphorus in the blood. But when they are damaged, the level of phosphorus increases in the bloodstream, which in turn leads to other derangements in other electrolyte levels. Therefore kidney-friendly diets are usually low in phosphorus.
• Salt: Sodium, potassium and magnesium levels are all affected by kidney disease, and therefore diets are usually low in salt.
• Palatable: Protein-restricted diets are usually not very tasty, which is a big problem if your pet is already feeling nauseous. Cats in particular are fussy little creatures when it comes to food. So kidney-specific diets usually have some ingredients in which improve the palatability.

A study in 2002 demonstrated that dogs with kidney disease which were fed a kidney-friendly diet had a better quality of life, and survived at least 13 months longer than those fed normal dog food. In dog terms, that could be about 10% extra of their lifetime!

There have also been similar studies for our feline friends, which show similar results.

Specialist foods are available for both dogs and cats, and you should consult your vet if you need any advice on dietary management of this condition.

Home Care for Pets with Kidney Disease

There’s plenty you can be doing at home to ensure that your furry friend gets the best care when they are suffering from kidney disease.

Monitoring disease progression closely plays a huge role in the management of kidney disease, and it is easy to do from home. It is worth creating a diary where you can record your pet’s food and water intake daily, as this can easily go unnoticed if you aren’t actively keeping an eye on it. With the water, measure what you put in the bowl over 24 hours, and at the end of the day, subtract what is left in the bowl. You can do the same for food if your pet is a grazer, and if your furbaby eats regular meals, it’s a bit easier to notice if any food is left. Let your vet know if your pet is drinking more than usual, or eating less than usual.

In addition to this, if your pet has advanced kidney disease, he might occasionally need fluid therapy to flush out the high levels of urea in the bloodstream. Intravenous therapy is the most effective, but if your pet gets extremely stressed in the hospital and isn’t in a critical position, you can ask your vet to show you how to inject fluids under the skin at home. This might be daily or weekly, depending on how severe the kidney disease is. 

Finally, pets with kidney disease will have some good days and some bad days. It’s normal for their symptoms to fluctuate. So when your pet has a bad day, keep him warm, well rested, well fed (if he’s not feeling nauseous), and make sure he feels extra-specially loved.

Veterinary Therapy for Pets with Kidney Disease

Your vet will want to regularly check on your pet to ensure their kidney disease is being managed appropriately. This will usually involve blood tests, to check for whether the urea, creatinine, SDMA and electrolytes are increased in the blood.

Your vet may also prescribe some medications to improve kidney function and decrease unpleasant symptoms associated with kidney disease. These might include:

• A phosphate binder – this binds phosphorus in the intestines to prevent it being absorbed into the blood.
• A medication to decrease nausea – there are several different types of anti-nausea medications, and many will also work to increase appetite.
• A medication to stimulate bone marrow to produce red blood cells – a synthetic form of erythropoietin can be used short-term to stimulate the bone marrow.
• A medication for high blood pressure – several different options are available to help reduce blood pressure, which either act directly at the kidneys, or elsewhere in the circulatory system.
• A medication to improve kidney filtration – improving the ability of the kidneys to filter blood will help slow down further damage.

You might find that your pet is prescribed multiple medications, so a top tip is to have a pill container, so you can remember to give the tablets at the correct time. Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions carefully. For example, if it says twice daily, try to make the doses exactly 12 hours apart. Diligent care will significantly improve your furbaby’s quality of life.

Take Home Message

Kidney disease can occur as acute renal failure (ARF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whichever the result, it is never pleasant for your furry friend, however there is a lot you can do to improve your pet’s prognosis. There are many medication options and home care treatments you can try, but the most important treatment of all is feeding the correct diet. 

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