Q: Is it true that blue merle dogs have health problems? I was told this after acquiring a blue merle collie from a dog rescue centre but as far as I can tell, so far, he seems to be perfectly sound and healthy. A: A blue merle is a black…
Ask The Vet
Tony Buckwell
Your gundog’s health is a primary concern. Our resident expert, Tony Buckwell, is a retired veterinary surgeon who now acts as an advisor on animal welfare, breeding and husbandry.
If you are concerned about your dog’s health, always seek veterinary advice.
The dangers of choke collars and how they can cause injury
What is a choke collar? A collar made of metal links designed to control the dog by tightening around the dog’s neck Some people use them as a dog training tool There is no way to control how much the choke chain tightens A reader writes in with a question…
What to expect when your gundog bitch gives birth
In the concluding part of a two-part series, Tony Price guides breeders through the process of bringing their working bitch’s puppies into the world
What you need to know about hip dysplasia and gundogs
A good question and well done for admitting that you don’t know about it or understand what hip dysplasia in dogs is. Explaining hip dysplasia in dogs The hip joints are at the top of the hind leg in dogs and are ‘ball and socket’ joints, so that flexion (lifting…
Will another bitch coming into heat bring mine on as well?
Gundog training & health: Now it is the end of the shooting season, I want to breed from my bitch, but she is erratic with her heat cycles.
Dealing with food allergies in gundogs
Q: My three-year-old red Labrador bitch is pretty much itchy all the time. I am considering trying a low allergy diet. Is this worthwhile? How can you deal with food allergies in gundogs? A:If your Labrador is permanently itchy (as opposed to the sort of seasonal itch that you might…
Is it safe to give your dog raw bones to chew?
Is it safe to give my dog raw bones to chew? This is one of those subjects where opinions differ. Some dogs will chew bones their whole lives and never experience a problem. Others will require emergency surgery after being given only one bone. The complications of giving a dog…
What should you do about lameness in a dog and what causes it?
Lame dog Q: My working lurcher is on/off lame on her right foreleg and there appears to be swelling around the wrist. Any suggestions? A: Lots. Most importantly, I would immediately confine her to barracks until the problem has been diagnosed. Continuing to exercise your lame dog now may jeopardise…
Puppies and umbelical hernias – what you need to know
Umbilical hernia on puppy Q: My puppy bitch has an umbilical hernia that the vet intended to repair when she was spayed after her first season. However, we are having second thoughts about neutering her and wanted to know if this means she still needs an operation to repair her…
What should I do about my dog’s dewclaws?
Dogs and dewclaws Q: My dog still has his dewclaws, but I’ve been told that these are usually removed soon after birth. Is it too late to have them removed now? What would you advise? A: It is legal to remove dewclaws from puppies whose eyes have not yet opened.…
How do I keep my dogs warm in kennels in winter?
I have two labradors kenneled outside and want to sort out the best type of bedding for them for the coming winter.
Should I stick to a dog vaccination schedule? What’s recommended?
Q: I have heard about herd immunity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and relating to dog vaccination. How does herd immunity protect unvaccinated animals, and can you explain why it is apparently important for me stick to a dog vaccinations schedule if a sufficient level of herd immunity…
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
In the heat, is it kind to give your dogs chilled water? Or could it be dangerous?
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 should dogs drink ice cold water? Is it safe or can it cause…
Will my Labrador’s hips cause her problems in the field?
Labrador hips cause concern Q: I have a four-year-old Labrador bitch that I had intended breeding from, but her hip scores have turned out to be higher than we expected — not too bad but not good enough that we feel we should breed from her. However, I am now…
Common garden plants that are poisonous to gundogs – and what to do if they eat one
When your gundogs are out sniffing and investigating in the garden you could unwittingly be putting their health at risk, by exposing them to poisonous plants
How to treat your dog’s pollen allergies
With the warm weather upon us, Dr Neil McIntosh reveals how to treat your dog's pollen allergies
Why you should never give dogs ibuprofen
Stiff legs in the morning Q: I notice that our Labrador, as he gets older, is starting to have difficulty getting up on his legs first thing in the morning. This was especially noticeable after he had been for a long walk the previous day and we are now limiting…
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.