If you own cats, chances are at some point you’ll have scratched your head and wondered ‘why is my cat meowing so much?’ The reasons why cats meow are numerous – some just want attention, others are born great ‘talkers' and, sometimes, meowing is the first sign of a problem. Whatever the cause, excessive meowing shoul...
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Urinary problems are something we tend to associate more with cats than dogs, but a great many dogs suffer with urinary tract disease, and often the problem is recurring. Stress is often to blame for inducing urinary disease in cats, but in dogs the cause is sometimes harder to pinpoint. Multiple components can be at play – some, such as diet...
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With Alabama Rot featuring heavily in the news of late, let’s answer the questions we’ve all been asking. What is it? Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy, or Alabama Rot, is a serious disease with a 90% mortality rate in dogs. It is characterised by painful skin lesions and organ failure. When was it first identified? Alabama Ro...
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There’s no denying the difficulty in not over-feeding a beloved dog, especially when they gaze up at you with those big puppy dog eyes and ask for ‘just one more treat.’ According to a recent study which looked at knowledge of nutrition amongst UK dog owners, roughly 90% admitted to not knowing how many calories their dog needed,...
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Sensitive to a number of stressors, horses get depressed just as easily as cats and dogs. Prolonged stress can lead to gradual withdrawal and decline in horses, whether caused by environmental triggers or chronic pain. But how do you know if your horse is depressed? Spotting depression: Identifying a depressed horse is usually very easy, as is iden...
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Having said goodbye to 2017 – the UK’s worst year for cases of the deadly disease, Alabama Rot – we are faced with two new incidences in North Devon and North Yorkshire this January. Sometimes referred to as ‘Black Death’ disease, the official name is Cutaneous and Renal Vasculopathy (CRGV). Last year, Alabama Rot was...
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Weight is something that can both indicate, and impact, the health of your horse, whether they’re carrying excess pounds they need to shed, or are underweight. While we often think of obesity as being particularly unhealthy, weighing too little can also have major health implications if not managed, or may even be the first sign of an existin...
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Cats by their very nature, are independent creatures with a will of their own. But gone are the days when cats spent their whole lives roaming outside and were hardly seen by their owners. Nowadays, having a house cat is fairly common, and something an increasing number of people are choosing to do. Most free-roaming cats will be getting more than...
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Horses are active animals that need regular exercise to thrive. They have evolved to graze acres of land a day, which necessitates constant movement and stamina. Ideally, your horse should be getting exercised every day, even if this takes the form of being turned out with other horses rather than being ridden, but the daily workout will depend ent...
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You may have heard the term ‘cold back’ used when talking about horses that exhibit soreness and sensitivity in the back muscles, usually when tacked up or exercised. In response to the sight of a saddle or rider, ‘cold-backed’ horses may dip away or put up their backs in readiness of the sudden pressure being placed there -...
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