Q: I usually take my two Labradors with me when I tend to my horses and have noticed that there seem to be a lot of horseflies around this year,…
Tony Buckwell
Should dogs drink ice-cold water?
Q: I have heard that I should not allow my dog to drink iced water in hot weather because it causes bloat. Can you tell me if this is true? If…
What treatment can I give my constipated dog?
Q: My Labrador seems to get constipated; she gets into position to relieve herself but with no success. What can be done to relieve constipation? A: Constipation is a relatively…
Is a deadly rabbit virus affecting fox numbers?
Q: Four years or so ago the local rabbit population crashed. We have had myxomatosis previously but the population always seemed to recover to some extent — this time it…
Hearing loss in dogs
Have you ever heard of a gundog going deaf because of the noise of gun shots?
Spaying an older dog. Should you?
Q: I took my eight-and-a-half-year-old bitch to the vet because she was being a bit slow with her food. It transpired that she was having a phantom pregnancy. The vet…
Is my dog going blind?
I'm worried for my gundog's health! I have an elderly, but fit, Labrador and I am concerned that he may be going blind.
Do dogs dream?
I like to think my Labrador dreams; he will occasionally twitch, paddle with his legs and sometimes give out one or two “woofs” while asleep. Do dogs dream? Do we…
Tips on keeping your dog’s teeth free from tartar
Dog tartar removal and prevention Dental disease in dogs is primarily caused by food particles and bacteria building up at the base of the teeth near the gum line, causing…
Are dog coats really necessary?
Have you got any experience of neoprene coats for gundog training? Do they work?
How often and how much should I feed my dog?
How many times should I feed my gun dog everyday?
Can dogs get colds?
Q: My dog has suddenly started sneezing. Can dogs get colds and flu like humans? Over the past few days there have been persistent bouts of sneezing, runny nose and…
Can you solve bad breath in gun dogs?
I have noticed that my three-year-old spaniel’s breath has started to smell.
Here’s why you should never ignore a dog’s broken tooth
A vet explains why one reader was charged £150 to have his dog's molar removed
How to make a dog vomit in an emergency
Most wild mushrooms aren't poisonous to dogs, but there are some symptoms of poisoning that you should watch out for
Can I do anything about my dog’s dry nose?
Q: My dog has a very dry nose that has started to become cracked, and food tends to get dried on after she has eaten. I wipe her nose after…
Hypothermia in dogs
A: Yes. Under the right conditions dogs, and indeed any warm-blooded mammal, can suffer hypothermia. Hypothermia in dogs occurs when an animal’s core body temperature falls and stays below the normal range. The normal body temperature…
Ringworm in dogs – how to spot it and treat it
Q: My three-year-old Jack Russell may have a skin problem. He has lost hair in places on his face and ears; in patches that look rather like red-purplish bruises. He…
Should I feed a dog before exercise?
Q: I was told that you should not feed a dog before a day’s shooting. I typically feed my dog around 6.30am and we do not start the first drive…
Help! My cocker spaniel keeps injuring his tail …
Q: I have a four year old cocker spaniel with a partially docked tail. I have used him over the past two seasons and twice now he has damaged his…