All the latest info on caring for your pet

Despite all the focus on the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s worth bearing in mind that there is other news... Including the (apparently) never-ending Brexit saga! And while negotiations between the UK and the EU over a future trading relationship are still in progress, there is absolutely no guarantee that a trade deal will be agreed. However, the UK has already left the EU (this January), and we are now in the Transition Period. When this ends on 31st of December 2020, the UK will no longer be part of the EU’s Pet Passport Scheme. If you’re planning to take pets to the EU - this is really important!

We’re living in strange times. Never in living memory have so many people been asked to ‘stay home’ for so long. There’s a lot of focus on the bigger negative effects of being indoors for so long: mental; physical; social; and so on. A less obvious downside of lockdown that recent news reports have brought to our attention is vitamin D deficiency. Health experts are concerned many people are becoming deficient in this crucial vitamin because of a lack of going outdoors in the sun. As Britain doesn’t get great sun at the best of times, they are recommending certain groups of people should be taking vitamin D supplements to top up. Naturally, as a nation of animal lovers, questions have arisen as to whether our four-legged friends, who may also be indoors more than usual, should be given vitamin D supplements as well. So today we will be answering the question ‘do dogs need vitamin D supplements?’

In the first of a new series on “controversial topics”, we asked vet student Joe Dunne to review the evidence on Grain-free foods for dogs, and the potential health issues. Here’s his take on the situation!

Pet food manufacturing is a big industry. Every day there are more products on our shelves, more adverts featuring cute dogs on TV, and more recommendations on social media. It can certainly make us feel a bit clueless while shopping for kibble. While choice is always a good thing, an increased consumer appetite (pun intended) for ‘exotic’ pet diets, such as grain-free diets, may be causing unintended health issues in our dogs. One of the most talked-about is a potential link to these diets and heart disease in dogs. Today we will be discussing these unusual diets and their potential risks. You can make an informed decision on what your dog devours daily.

The COVID lockdown brought ‘emergency-only’ appointments for veterinary practices across the UK. For the first 8 weeks, your pet would only be given an appointment if a delay in being seen would severely affect their health or welfare. Vaccinations were put on hold; neutering appointments were cancelled… But the lockdown is lifting - so can your vets spay your pets?

“The Teenage Years”: words destined to strike fear into parents’ hearts everywhere! Stroppy sulks, uncommunicative grunts, long silences and slammed doors aplenty face carers of adolescents the world over. But what of our doggy friends? Do they go through the same perilous phase of growth and development? Should we expect our little pups to turn into slouchy, surly teenage dogs whilst we wring our hands in despair at their poor behaviour?

Micropigs were popular pets back in 2010, when Paris Hilton and stars of The Only Way is Essex bought them. Now they’re facing a resurgence, with popstar Ariana Grande and YouTube stars Logan Paul and Robert reportedly owning micropigs. But what are they? Does a pig make a good pet?