Q: What can I do to best protect my dog from the dangers of grass seeds? Grass awns (the spiky seeds found especially in long grass during the summer months)…
Tony Buckwell
How to treat dogs for bee and wasp stings
Can you advise on how to treat dogs for wasp and bee stings? My dog was stung recently and I wasn’t sure how to treat the sting. (Read how can…
Bloat in dogs: what causes it and how to avoid it
Gastric distension (bloat) and gastric dilation volvulus (GDV) are two related conditions that together represent one of the few real life-threatening canine emergencies. Bloat in dogs occurs when the stomach…
Should dogs be given ice-cold water when it’s hot? Or could it be dangerous?
Q: Can dogs drink ice-cold water? I have heard conflicting advice. A: There has been concern, particularly on social media, that giving dogs iced water to drink puts them at…
How can I protect my dogs from horsefly bites?
Q: I usually take my two Labradors with me when I tend to my horses and have noticed that there seem to be a lot of horseflies around this year,…
My puppy eats his own poop: why is this?
Q: Our new puppy eats his own poop. I’m told this might be a sign that he is lacking something in his diet. What would you advise I do? Is…
When should you switch from puppy food to dog food?
Q: My cocker spaniel is coming up to eight months old and is still fed a puppy diet. How and when should you switch from puppy food to dog food?…
Preventing pyometra in dogs
Q: I understand that having puppies will prevent a bitch from developing pyometra. My springer is now five years old. Should I let her have a litter or is she…
Is a neutered dog better behaved?
Unfortunately, I am not aware of any definitive scientific evidence to indicate whether or not neutering per se directly affects working ability in gundogs and whether a neutered dog is…
Bringing home a new puppy for the first time
Q: We are acquiring a new puppy as a companion for our eight-year-old spaniel. The journey home after we collect her from the breeder will take more than three hours…
Dog warts in my puppy’s mouth – should I do anything?
Q: My young labrador has a few dog warts in his mouth. Should I have these removed and can they be prevented? A: Dog warts are generally harmless and probably…
Best breeding age: How old should a female dog be before having puppies ?
Q: What’s the best breeding age? How old should a bitch be before having puppies? I wish to breed from my springer spaniel and read that a dog should be…
False pregnancy in dogs. Would spaying help?
The signs of false pregnancy in dogs Q: I took my six-year-old bitch to the vet recently, as she seemed a little ‘off colour’ and a bit slow to eat…
Cleaning a dog’s ears – how often should you do it?
Cleaning a dog’s ears Q: I have recently acquired a young cocker spaniel. I understand spaniels can be prone to ear trouble and I notice that there is some wax…
Cataracts in dogs: causes of cloudiness
I'm worried for my gundog's health! I have an elderly, but fit, Labrador and I am concerned that he may be going blind.
Lung cancer in dogs: is this a sign?
Q: My old dog has started to wheeze. Could this be the first sign of a cancer or is noisy breathing simply a sign of old age? (Read why working…
Are dog coats really necessary?
Have you got any experience of neoprene coats for gundog training? Do they work?
Can you cure bad breath in dogs? Here’s how to improve matters
Bad breath in dogs Q: Can you advise on the cause of my dog’s bad breath? I have tried brushing his teeth but he doesn’t like it. I have also…
Dog first aid you need to know
Q: Could you provide me some basic dog first aid advice? What to do in an emergency should one of my dogs be injured, stop breathing or otherwise get into…
Cut pad on a dog – how to treat it
Treating a cut pad on a dog Q: Can you advise on how best to deal with a cut pad on a dog? I live in an area where the…