All choked up
Q: My German Shepherd almost choked on his chew recently, but he managed to regurgitate it before things got worse. What should I do if this happens again?
Ask The Experts
Bald ears
Q: My cat has been losing hair from her ears for a while now. It’s odd because it doesn’t seem to be bothering her at all. What causes it, and what can I do to help her?
A spiny issue
Q: I brought my seven-year-old Beagle-cross to the vet upon noticing that he had developed a weird gait and sporadic head-swaying from side to side when walking. He also sometimes whimpers when he jumps up or is carried. His vet diagnosed him with spondylosis. How can we manage and/or improve his condition?
Hammy gets fit
Q: My Roborovski hamster is really chubby—she weighs about 45g! I’ve been trying to get her to exercise, but she hates her wheel. Other than putting her on a diet, how can I get her to lose weight?
Breaking the foul cycle
I adopted a seven-year-old Silky Terrier from a puppy mill six months ago. She’s been eating her own poop since we got her. We initially thought it was because she didn’t get enough nutrition as a former breeding dog, but even with a nutritionally complete diet, she still does that. Will changing her diet help to eventually eliminate her poop-eating habit?
Furry loudmouth
Q: My adopted 10-year-old Miniature Schnauzer has the habit of barking incessantly at strangers. I’ve tried bringing her to crowded places and letting her mingle with other people (and dogs), but it doesn’t seem to help much. How should I tackle her barking?
Heart of the problem
Q: My 10-year-old Chihuahua has been on medication for over a year for mitral valve disease. His condition recently deteriorated and my vet said that he’s at high risk for heart failure. What are the warning signs and what should I do if that happens?
Fido's skin woes
My black mongrel has greasy skin, really bad dandruff and smells funky super quick—within a day or two of being showered. I usually bathe her once a week, sometimes twice weekly if she smells really bad. However, I’m not sure if I’m worsening her dandruff and/or making her coat greasier by bathing her more often. What’s the best way to manage this?
Sad Sound Of Silence
There could be a variety of reasons: From behavioural and emotional factors to a simple case of excessive vocalisations.
Crazy itch
Q: My three-year-old French Bulldog started licking her left leg after she was bitten by ticks. She has licked that particular spot so much that the fur around the area has dropped off, leaving a wet, oozing skin lesion, and she continues to lick. What should I do?
Spay day
Q: A few hours after my bunny was spayed, her front leg and chest were swollen and tender. The vet told me it was probably from the subcutaneous fluid administered, and that it’s normal. She didn’t eat or poop the following day. Four days have passed and she still seems to be uncomfortable and inappetent. What should I do?
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A knotty affair
Q: My Maltese has a fine, cottony coat that mats easily. She sometimes yelps when I comb through a knot, even if I’m not tugging very hard. I don’t want to cause her unnecessary pain or discomfort, so how do I know which knots to comb through and which ones to snip off? Also, how can I ensure that her coat doesn’t become “choppy” as I cut off the knots?
Hacking away
Q: My one-year-old male British Shorthair has been coughing frequently for a few weeks. I thought it might have been a hairball, so I gave him some hairball remedy. However, none have come up with his hacking and now it’s happening at least twice a day. Should I bring him to the vet and get tests done? If so, what tests should he undergo?
Bile-churning problem
Q: My vet told me that my four-year-old Miniature Schnauzer is slightly overweight, so she recommended reducing her daily feeding portion by about 15 to 20 percent. Whenever I do, she vomits a yellowish fluid. She’s currently on a mix of grain- and starch-free kibbles and freeze-dried raw dog food and her daily portion is split into two feedings—once in the morning and once at night. How can I manage her weight while ensuring she isn’t so hungry she vomits bile?
Cool cut for kitty
Q: My six-year-old male Persian has an extremely thick coat that needs regular grooming, but he gets very distressed whenever I bring him out of the house. I bought grooming clippers to do it myself, but always “butcher” his coat! Can you share tips on how to trim my cat’s fur?
