Does your dog have watery eyes, a runny nose, a cough, lack of energy and appetite? Is it like a human common cold? If yes, he or she may have a mild, viral infection like a cold, but not one we can catch or that they…

A number of vet practices have been reporting problems in the last few days in getting hold of the anaesthetic gas isoflurane, due to supply problems from the manufacturers. However, instead of lasting a few days and the…

One of the most common conditions encountered in practice is arthritis, otherwise known as osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD). It may be underdiagnosed because many owners may see their older dogs ‘slowi…

I am a veterinary surgeon and a feminist. Feminism is an ideal that men and women should be treated with the same amount of fairness. But even I have sexist brain-cells. Don’t you?…

Earlier this week, the BBC’s “Watchdog” ran a programme on the costs of veterinary medicines. This is a perennial favourite (some readers may remember the Marsh / Competition Commission reports from the early 2000s where…

This is a really interesting question, and one that a lot of animal owners have been asking. There are also different views by vets - on a quick “straw poll” in our office, we have had three different answers so far! Ult…