Q: My lab bitch is only seven years old but is acting much older. She is a little heavy, there’s hair loss and thick, scabby skin below her neck and tummy and her coat is a bit thin on her sides. Is she just getting old before her time? A:…
Health
Poisoned dogs: the symptoms and the dangers to look out for
Reports of poisoned dogs There was considerable panic in my local dog-owning community last month, when a three-year-old labrador reportedly died from poisoning. The initial Facebook post indicated that the dog had died as a result of eating poison picked up at a popular dog-walking site, a nature reserve where…
What diseases could my dog pick up from foxes?
Disease from foxes All dogs, including gundogs can get the following disease from foxes: Sarcoptic mange Lungworm Rabies Dogs and foxes do suffer from the same diseases, though, of which the most worrying is rabies. We have been rabies-free in Britain for 98 years — since quarantine for dogs was…
What’s wrong with my cocker spaniel’s eye?
Here’s a picture of my cocker spaniel’s eye. I have been to the vet who told me it’s only an infection and gave me some eye drops but I am not so sure.
New injection for arthritic dogs: could it help?
Q: I have heard that there is a new injection for arthritic dogs available. Is this very different from other treatments and how effective is it? A: Arthritis is a condition that leads to pain and progressive degeneration of the joints. It affects many aspects of a dog’s outlook, causing…
In the heat, is it kind to give your dogs chilled water? Or could it be dangerous?
Should dogs drink ice cold water? The temperature is soaring and your faithful gundogs are lying in the shade, panting heavily. It’s tempting to think there would be nothing kinder than to put some ice cubes in your gundog’s water bowl – but is it safe or can it cause…
Just how serious a threat is lungworm to dogs?
In April and May, with the weather becoming warmer, slugs and snails become much more active which increases the risk of lungworm in dogs. Dogs that eat slugs, snails or frogs, even tiny ones eaten by accident, can catch lungworm from them. Your vet should be able to advise you…
What treatment can I give my constipated dog?
Helping a constipated dog Q: My labrador seems to get constipated; she gets into position to relieve herself but with no success, despite straining for several minutes. It’s distressing to see and I’d like to solve the issue.What can be done to relieve a constipated dog? A: Constipation in dogs…
Do spaniels smell more than Labradors?
Q: I would like a springer or working cocker spaniel to train as a gundog, but my father is not keen. My grandparents had a show-strain cocker who was a lovely dog but she was one of those really smelly spaniels, no matter what my grandparents did to try to…
Removing anal glands from a dog: is it recommended?
Q: I am having to take my dog to the vet quite often to have his anal glands emptied. I have heard removing anal glands is possible in a dog. Is this something you would recommend? A: Each time a dog passes a firm stool, it voids an amount of…
Working dog hazards to watch out for in the field
I sometimes think back over the countless hours I have spent in the countryside with my dogs. Whether it was roost shooting, wildfowling, rough shooting, pigeon decoying, beating, standing on a peg or simply going for a short evening walk, I almost certainly had a dog by my side. Working…
Leptospirosis in dogs – what you need to know
Rats are known to carry disease and one of the ones they can transmit is Weil’s disease, also known as leptospirosis. Leptospirosis in dogs and humans can be fatal. It is caused by bacteria spread via the urine of infected rats. It is a zoonotic disease. In 2010 an Olympian…
Dealing with tapeworms in working dogs
Q: What’s the best of dealing with tapeworms in working dogs? I have recently had to treat my dog for tapeworms. How do dogs get tapeworms and how can I prevent them in future? A: Tapeworms are flat, segmented intestinal parasites. There are several types of tapeworms, but the most…
Do muntjac attack dogs?
Long, sharp teeth can pose a genuine threat to gundogs when muntjac attack. I well remember my first serious encounter with a muntjac. It was on a rough day in Northamptonshire in the 1990s. At the time, I lived in Kent, where we had no muntjac, so my spaniels had…
How to protect dogs from poisonous slug pellets
Dogs and slug pellets don’t mix and are in fact a lethal combination. However, it’s the time of year now when new shoots are coming up in the garden and you want to protect your hostas, bulbs and tender green shoots from voracious slugs. So if you’re a dog owner…
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs?
What are the symptoms if a dog contracts Lyme disease and what does the cure entail? Is it usually successful?
Socialising puppies – top tips from a vet
Q: I am a first time breeder and mindful of all the negative comments about the temperament of ‘Covid puppies’. How can I ensure my kennelled bitch will produce well socialised offspring? What can you advise me about socialising puppies? (Read how to use a slip lead correctly.) Socialising puppies…
Why working dogs retire and when it’s likely to happen
When working dogs retire One of the saddest sights on a shoot is seeing an old dog wandering around with a bird in its mouth, unsure of what it is doing. It’s poignant if, just a couple of seasons ago, this particular dog was one of the stars of the…
Looking after dogs in the cold
Can dogs suffer from the cold in winter? What are the signs to look out for and how best can we help them cope? (Read about hypothermia in dogs here.) Looking after dogs in the cold Dogs adapt remarkably well to living in extreme climates. Most of the breeds that…
Urinary incontinence in dogs: which breeds suffer most?
Q: Regrettably, my dear old matriarch labrador bitch is leaving a wee damp patch on her bed from time to time. I have heard that urinary incontinence in dogs is common in the breed. Is this true?” (Read our guide to the best dog beds.) Urinary incontinence in dogs –…