PETS TALES & TIPS

We love our dogs and want to share our love by rewarding them with treats when they have behaved well or learnt a new trick or command. These treats are in addition to a well-balanced daily diet they don’t replace it. However, we must be careful not to unintentionally harm them with toxic treats. Below is a summary of foods that are toxic to dogs, ingredients to beware of when purchasing treats, and some safer home prepared options. Common toxic ingredients Xylitol: An artifi

Q&A WITH DR. PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: This question would be better answered if I had more details of 'why' you want to dog proof your apartment. With new pups we should expect to train them for some time because they have to learn what is good behavior and what we want them to do, or not. They simply have no idea. Preventing the development of misbehavior is much easier than stopping established misdeeds! Training a dog to happily stay in a 'cage' or

Q&A WITH DR. PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Constipation is the infrequent or difficult passing of faeces which when eventually they get passed tend to be dry and hard. Passing faeces is triggered by the movement of faeces in the intestine into the rectum, and controlled by the nervous system which initiates smooth muscle contractions and relaxation of the anus. The most common sign of constipation is straining to pass faeces, but vomiting, depression, not

Q&A WITH DR. PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Many people assume that as dogs age so do their senses, their behaviour changes and there is nothing we can do to help them. "It is annoying but they are simply getting old!" Changes seen in these elderly companions include disorientation or getting lost in well-known places especially in the home, they can become less tolerant with changes in memory, house soiling, sleep disturbances-being awake at normal sleep time

Ask the Vet: "Do dogs and cats have a concept of time?" Q&A WITH DR. PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Absolutely! Most vertebrates including dogs and cats have their daily "time" manipulated by an internal body clock, controlled by the release of the hormone melatonin from a brain gland, the Pineal Body, in response to changes in daylight. If you ever try not feeding your cat on time, or not walking your dog when they expect a walk, they will soon let you know t

Q&A WITH DR. PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: At holiday and festival times there are many goodies around that can cause hazards for our pets. Most visits to emergency veterinary treatment clinics are caused by things dogs or cats eat. Holiday goodies include many foods with a high fat content. These are wonderful for causing upset tummies. Raisons, grapes and onions are toxic to our small pets leading to blood abnormalities and renal failure. Sweet items that c