Do you have questions about your cat or dog’s health? Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar have called on the TV vet and animal expert, Rory Cowlam, to answer your questions - £200 voucher to be won

[BellaMumsnet]

Please note, we are no longer taking questions on this thread.

Whatever life may bring, our pets are always there to love us unconditionally. As an important part of the family, it’s only right we treat them with the utmost care they deserve. With this in mind, Rory Cowlam, Seresto’s expert vet, will be on hand to help answer your questions on your cat’s or dog’s healthcare.

Here’s some more information about Rory the Vet:

“Rory is a respected voice within the veterinary industry with an ever-growing career in broadcast. His warmth and knowledge shine through on his regular appearances on programmes such as ITV's Lorraine, BBC's Blue Peter, CBBC HQ as well as BBC Breakfast and Sky News. A graduate from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015 he has since gone on to a full-time career as a member of the Neighbourhood vet practice based in East Dulwich, London. Rory's ethos is based around education and communication which saw him become an Amazon best-selling author in 2020 with his debut book ‘Secret Life of a Vet’ published by Hodder.”

Here’s what Seresto has to say:

“You don’t want to be thinking about fleas and ticks when you should be enjoying play time with your pet! We at Seresto are keen to ensure that nothing gets in the way of the special bond between you and your pet. We know life is busy, and monthly flea and tick treatments can feel like just another thing to try and remember. That’s why Seresto collars provide 7-8 continuous months of flea and tick protection, allowing you to forget monthly treatments once and for all. Give your pet Seresto - the long-lasting flea and tick protection that lets pets play on!”

So whether you have a question on how to prevent your pet from getting fleas and ticks, or maybe this is the first time you’ve had a dog and want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep them happy and healthy, post your question on this thread for Rory the Vet to answer. Rory will be back on the week of the 3rd May to answer some of your questions.

Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

@maisietoo

Our large, 9 year old dog has big fatty lumps. I think they are called lipomas and are visible on the outside. Do dogs get internal lipomas and are they dangerous for the organs?

Hi @maisietoo. Lipomas are indeed big fatty lumps. They are most frequently found under the skin in the subcutaneous layers or in-between layers of muscle.

Now, it has been found that dogs can develop internal lipomas but they are much rarer, so much so that I have never actually seen one! If a dog was to develop one then yes, they can put pressure on internal structures but as I say, they are incredibly rare so don't lose sleep over it!

@iloveeverykindofcat

8 weeks ago my ten-year old cat underwent pancarpal arthodesis for total dislocation of the left wrist. The procedure was a success - she now uses the paw with no problem, can climb, run, jump and flex the toes, though appears to have lost use of the dew claw. She does tend to hold the paw up when it is not in use, though it doesn't seem to cause her any pain. My question is - in 6 months, my vet wants to do another procedure to remove the plate from her wrist, providing the bones are totally fused (this will be checked by x-ray tomorrow). In your opinion, why is that necessary? The insurance on this is now maxed out - I will of course pay to have the plate removed if there is a medical reason, but I don't really see why it has to be as long as it isn't bothering her. I know humans who have had a plate left permanently in a repaired joint and it gives them no trouble - are cats different somehow?

Hi @iloveeverykindofcat. This is wonderful news that your cat is on the mend!

Arthrodesis can seem quite drastic at the time, but is often a really good option for these kinds of injuries. I must admit, I have seen many cats and dogs have this procedure, sometimes with the plate being left and sometimes having it removed.

I would speak to your vet about what they perceive the risks to be with leaving the plate, as if there is a chance your cat will stay comfortable and well, then I would agree with you, that it may be a better option to leave it and only remove it if it becomes an issue.

@Eiremogra

I think my cat has an anxiety disorder! She has been chasing and biting her tail as well as digging her nails into it. It’s very distressing to watch and when she catches her tail she really hurts herself and screams the house down! More recently her nails have been dug right into the flesh of her nail and she’s been unable to release them, or she ends up stuck in a really odd position like her joints have locked. I’m so worried!!

Hi @Eiremogra. Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this. It sounds really stressful for both of you!

I'm afraid on this one, all I can suggest is you give your vet a call and get an appointment. Sorry I can't be of more help!

@Sonata13

Hi my 12 year old cat is due to have his 2 back teeth out. He's only got one left at the front. Will he be able to eat ok? He's the sweetest thing🐱. Toothless but definitely not ruthless!!

Hi @Sonata13. Oh bless him, maybe you should rename him "Toothless"? Ha-ha no, don't worry. If your vet has suggested this then I'm sure it's for all the right reasons. And yes, of course your cat will be fine to eat. Their gum actually hardens. I even know some cats with no teeth that still eat biscuits!

@BeautifulBirds

Why does my dog grind his teeth? How can we prevent this?

Hi @BeautifulBirds. Grinding teeth can be down to a lot of things.

Firstly, it is important to make sure it really is grinding teeth and not some other noise coming from his jaw or mouth. If it truly is tooth grinding and if it is a new thing he is doing, then I would get down to your vet so they can take a look and make sure he isn't trying to show you any signs of pain. In some dogs, this can be normal though, so try not to worry too much.

@claza93

My dog is drinking alot - is this something to be concerned about?

Hi @claza93. This is such a hard question to answer. If you were to google it, I'm sure there would be pages of results saying your dog had something seriously wrong and that just isn't true.

Firstly, it's all about working out what "a lot" is. For example, a dog eating dry food will drink a lot more than a dog on wet. A dog that lives in a hot environment will drink a lot more than one that lives in a cool environment. My general advice is that if you have noticed an obvious increase in your dog's drinking and you can't work out a cause, then go to your vets for a health check and likely some bloods/urine tests.

@RorytheVet thank you! Yes she's doing great, particularly for an older girl. The x-ray showed one part has fused completely and the other is coming together. My surgeon thinks holding the paw up when she's not using it is just learned behaviour at this point, there's no pain or swelling evident.

Thanks. Its something he does when getting ready to sleep. Vet said jaw/teeth look great, no signs of wear or age. My partner says he does it so the dog doesn't slobber!!

How can you sleep at night knowingly promoting a product that contains a product known to harm bees, especially given amounts are now being found in remote rivers in the highlands?

Do you tell this to your clients?

@goingpearshaped

How can you best introduce a dog to other non dog pets (we have rescue rabbits who live in a large rabbit shed with attached run)? Thanks.

Hi @goingpearshaped. Introducing pets can be a tricky business, especially when one of them is a "prey species" such as a rabbit.

Now you will know your dog better than me so you will know if this relationship is likely to work. I would always start low and slow with either a window or a fence between dog and rabbit. Once they have both got used to seeing each other, you can introduce the smells and scents of the other pet by swapping bits of bedding and allowing them to become accustomed to each other. Once you've done this, try a very gentle introduction, making sure you can control both pets well in case something goes wrong.

@MrsTumbletap

Can a dog just eat once a day?

My 1 year old King Charles cavalier has lost interest in breakfast, she loves her dinner though and is a healthy weight. Should I be concerned about her not eating in the morning?

(Also my son loves you in the PetFactor!)

Hi @MrsTumbletap. Say hi to your boy for me! Well, this is something I chat with my clients about A LOT! In my opinion, I think dogs generally do better on two or sometimes even three meals a day. That, however, is not to say that ALL dogs do better on that, some will be absolutely fine on one meal. Usually, if a dog goes off their breakfast, it is due to them being offered more than enough food throughout the day, so, after spending the day burning lots of energy, they over eat at dinner. Then, when it comes to brekky, they aren't hungry and they fall into a pattern of once a day eating. If i was you, i would reduce the amount of food you are feeding in the evening and see if that starts to help. Anecdotally, I find dogs that eat once a day are more prone to getting a bit tubby, so if you can get her back to two meals a day I think that would be ideal!

@YesIDoLoveCrisps

Our dog only eats dog food. If we drop human food on the floor he doesn’t eat it. He’s got no interest in it. Is that ok? Should I be happy or should he try something other than dog food? Would he get bored eventually as we usually buy the same brand each week?’

Hi @YesIDoLoveCrisps. This sounds like a great problem to have, if it's a problem at all! He is probably just very happy eating his food and as long as he is eating it, I wouldn't worry!

@DeanImpala67

I have a 14yr old cat recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, currently this is being managed through diet only. What options are there as this inevitably progresses and what symptoms do you think show it is the right time to euthanise?

Hi @DeanImpala67. Unfortunately CKD is one of the most common older cat diseases. I'm really sorry you are having to deal with this!

So, we stage kidney disease using IRIS staging. If your vet has done this then you should know your cats stage. If not, then i recommend you ask your vet to stage and sub stage your cat. This requires blood tests, urine tests and a blood pressure check.

If your cat has high blood pressure then this should be controlled with medication. If your cat has too much protein in their urine, this should also be controlled. If both of these things are normal, then in reality, diet change is the only and most effective thing you can do.

As the time comes, I usually find that owners know when the time is right. Once the good days outweigh the bad and your beloved pets stop doing their favourite things, you will know when it's right.

@FactyFrances

Any advice on choosing vegetarian dog food? Can I assume they're all nutritionally sufficient or are there particular ingredients to avoid or look for? (My puppy seems content eating the meat-based food that her breeder started her on but I assume that it's made from battery-farmed chicken, which is not an industry I want to support.)

Hi @FactyFrances. OOH we have gone controversial, I like it! So as far as the science goes, dogs CAN technically survive on a solely vegetarian diet. There are a number of brands out there starting to do this, and some of them are doing it pretty well.

Unfortunately though, in my opinion, we are too early in the "vegetarian dog" journey to be able to confidently say that it is a good idea to let your dog "go veggie". So I am recommending that if you want to do this, either feed with the veggie foods a few days a week OR bulk out a meat based food with veggies.

If your concern is about battery farmed chicken however, I can assure you there are HUNDREDS of brands of dog food out there producing amazing quality food from ethical and high welfare sources. I sometimes think my dog eats better than me!

@Serender

How often would you say is too often to give a dog a treat?

Hi @Serender. This is an impossible question! It depends entirely on what the treat is, the size, age, breed and condition of your dog.

If you are feeding conventional shop bought treats to a healthy dog who is a good weight, then a handful of treats a day shouldn't hurt. If your dog is overweight, then go for low fat treats or vegetables and make sure they are pretty infrequent.

@PatrishaPatel

Is there a general chart to go by to know whether your dog or cat are at a healthy weight for their species?

Hi @PatrishaPatel. Yes yes yes! I wish more people asked this!

Have a search online for "Body Condition Scoring Chart". You will find image guides as to how to score your dog out of either 5 or 9. I usually use the 9 point chart as it is slightly more sensitive.

If you need a hand with this, feel free to drop your vet a message to ask them how they think your pet's weight is.

@ruqiya1965

I know it's okay to give some human food to dogs. But when does it become too much? I've seen other families giving their dogs very human food like chocolate. Isn't this bad for them?

Hi @ruqiya1965. Oh deary me. So it really depends on what you want to do with your dog.

I find that the more human food you feed your dog, the more inclined they are to beg as well as turn their nose up at their own food. Saying that, a bit of vegetable, meat or fish here and there isn't the end of the world and can be a nice treat.

Chocolate... is a no no. Chocolate, although very tasty is toxic to dogs so please avoid. We should add grapes, raisins, onions, leeks, garlic and macadamia nuts to that list too.

@quizqueen

My daughter's cat eats a bowl full of dry kibble ( he's not interested in wet food and won't start to eat unless the bowl is full) and then he often sicks it up and is then still hungry. There is always water provided ( in a bowl separated from the food) but I've never seen him drink any.

Hi @quizqueen. Okay, I'm assuming the question here is about the vomiting? If you don't see your cat drink...don't worry, this is a good thing.

As for the food, this is likely due to overeating and then the cat throwing up as the stomach gets stretched. The best way to control this is either to reduce the amount of food or change the food to something a bit more sensitive. The other thing that often helps in these situations, is to feed the cat from a slow feeder as it stops them ploughing through the food and throwing up.

@ARudeTerriblePerson

Our 12-year-old Border Terrier is very reluctant to start eating these days. Once I get him to start - usually with a small treat, which has to vary - he will polish off a bowl. What can I do to get him to eat? Are there any brands with a strong smell and taste for old dogs? He is mainly on Cesar Senior, but isn't exactly keen to eat it. He does eat grass and vomit more often, and this week very often. He is not underweight.

Hi @ARudeTerriblePerson. Hmm, this could be a vet visit I'm afraid. Very hard for me to pass judgment from behind a computer screen without seeing the handsome fella.

I think you need to get his teeth and mouth checked to make sure there is nothing to this vomiting you've seen. If that is all okay, then absolutely, try adding in some smellier, tastier bits!

My male, neutered cat, age 10, has started, erm, humping anything soft like a fleecy throw regularly for the last few months. He never did it before. What could be the reason and is there anything I can or should do about it?

@BlackKittyKat

We are due to move house with our cat who is around 10 years old. We are relocating and will need to take him on a 4 hour car journey (if no stops). He has only been in the car once when we brought him back from the rescue centre. What can we do to make the process easier for him? We are really worried about how he will cope.

Hi @BlackKittyKat. Car journeys with cats can be really variable. I would highly recommend a bit of a trial. Get the box down early, make it nice and enticing, and go for a car journey of 20-30 minutes to see how he gets on.

I would also recommend using some sort of pheromone travel spray. You can find these online and make sure to use a carrier big enough for him to get up in and move around. Try also covering the top of the carrier so he feels a bit more enclosed and can only see out the front.

@Eyesofdisarray

Any advice please on my dog's recurrent sore ears? Have had vet treatment, they clear up for a short time but then are as bad as ever. He hates his ears being touched

Hi @Eyesofdisarray. Usually, ear infections are down to one of a few things: Ear mites, malassezia yeasts or staphlyococus bacteria. Ear mites can be prevented with spot on treatments, but the other two organisms are actually found in low levels in normal un-infected ears.

It is likely, if your dog is getting repeated infections, that there is something underlying that is allowing these organisms to grow in large amounts. I would suggest the most likely thing here is an allergy, possibly to an element of their food or to environmental allergens. I would speak to your vet about how you can try and rule these out!

My shih tzu boy of 9 months eats poo - his own/foxes/cats/anyone’s…should we worry? He is on a good diet, royal canin puppy food a mix of the wet and dry, just transitioning to tails wet and dry, and he also has tripe or tuna added. Thank you

What can I give my King Charles Cavalier for her achy legs after a long walk?

Hello, my 12 year old border terrier sometimes has a resting tremor in one leg when sitting or laying down. It isn't because of excitement or anxiety because it is often just at calm times when nothing is happening. What could be causing this and is it anything to worry about?
Thanks.