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 she snores when asleep as if her nose is blocked. So can dogs get colds? A: Dogs don’t get colds…
Health
Can you solve bad breath in gun dogs?
I have noticed that my three-year-old spaniel’s breath has started to smell.
Car sickness in dogs
A car sick dog is miserable and the condition can be caused by different factors. It may not be due to motion. For many puppies their first experience of travel sickness may be associated with unpleasantness, such as leaving his/her litter mates for the first time, or with a trip…
Hypothyroidism in dogs. What owners need to know
Underactive thyroid – known as hypothyroidism Let me list your dog’s clinical signs: Lethargy Weight gain Bilaterally symmetrical alopecia Skin changes Itchy skin It would seem most likely that your dog has an underactive thyroid, referred to as hypothyroidism. In very large breeds, the condition occurs between two and three…
What you should know about dog bloat
Risk and factors of bloat in dogs A recent study by the Royal Veterinary College’s Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System, which looked into the frequency, risk factors and survival of dogs that had bloat, found that of the dogs that underwent surgical treatment, 80% survived. (It should be borne in…
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
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 every meal, but it is getting no better. Is there anything else I should do? Is a dry nose in…
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 also has another patch on his chest, near his “arm pit”. What could cause this? A: From what you describe…
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 until around 9.30am. Do you think that is long enough? I have never had any problems. A: Dogs need sufficient…
Why has my young sprocker lost form?
Q: My three year old sprocker spaniel had a good summer, even though she failed to conceive after two matings. Since the season started she has been beating with me three days a week and she just looks lacklustre. By early afternoon she is usually walking at my side. A: Presuming…
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 tail, causing it to bleed but not enough to prevent him working. My vet has offered to dock him further…
How to stop Kennel Cough
How to stop Kennel Cough! How to prevent Kennel Cough - Kennel Cough is one of the most common diseases affecting gundogs, but is reasonably easy to treat. Read our Kennel Cough advice!
Why are Labradors greedy?
A rogue gene could explain your Labrador’s insatiable appetite. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered a genetic variation in Labradors that, they suspect, makes some obsessed with food. The research was led by Dr Eleanor Raffan, who said: “This is a common genetic variation in Labradors and it…
Should dew claws be removed?
Q: We are hoping to have a litter from our springer spaniel bitch and were wondering what the situation is regarding the removal of dew claws. Does this need to be done by a vet? A: No, not necessarily. While the mutilations clause of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes…
What if your gundog needed a blood transfusion one day?
“When my lovely cocker spaniel, Flick, was only five months old, she needed nine (yes nine!) blood transfusions. If it wasn’t for a charity called Pet Blood Bank UK, she would not be here just now. Can you spread the word?” Steve Finney, North Yorkshire Blood transfusions vital It seems…
When should you call the vet?
Q: Whenever my dog is unwell I take it to the vet, but the practice is usually very busy and I worry about bothering my vet unnecessarily (especially if it is out of hours). Can you advise of the situations when I really must contact the vet about my dog? Call…
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?
Dog first aid you need to know
Q: Until recently I was fairly confident I knew the basics of dog first aid, but on hearing a friend’s story of how he had to deal with his dog when it got into difficulties recently, I realised I wouldn’t have a clue what to do should my dogs have…
How to reduce stress for your dog at the vet
It is always amusing sitting in the waiting room of a veterinary surgery and seeing the various customers come in. Many gundogs, of course, are petrified of visiting the vet and are well aware of where they are as soon as the car arrives in the vet’s car park. These…
Is your gundog a fussy eater?
One of the remarkable things about dogs is that they will apparently happily eat the same thing every day, every week, throughout the year. A skinny spaniel stayed with us recently while its owners were away on holiday. The dog was delivered with its bed, food bowl and a big sack of so-called complete food. “She loves…