Do you have questions about how to keep your dog healthy and happy post lockdown? Ask PDSA vet and animal expert, Anna Ewers - £200 voucher to be won

[GraceEMumsnet]

You can find Anna's answers to all of your questions below - we're no longer taking questions on this thread

As the UK went into lockdown last year, most of us had a lot more time at home, and as a result, puppy sales soared. One year on, these pups will be reaching adolescence and some owners may be noticing a change in their dog’s behaviour. Many won’t have experienced the usual socialisation during their early years because of the pandemic, so their health and wellbeing is a priority as they adjust to life in the big wide world. With this in mind, PDSA vet Anna Ewers Clark will be on hand to answer your questions about preparing your adolescent pets for life after lockdown.

Here’s some more information about PDSA vet Anna: “Anna Ewers Clark is a vet working for the UK’s leading veterinary charity PDSA, who provide free and low-cost veterinary care to the pets of owners in need. She has worked in several PDSA Pet Hospitals across the UK, writes for the PDSA Pet Health Hub and provides veterinary advice for the charity’s communications team. She also has a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Anna lives with her dog, Kirk, and two rescue rabbits, Jack and Harley.”

Here’s what PDSA has to say: “As we start to socialise with friends and family again and visit new places, it’s important pets’ flea and worming treatments are kept up to date, especially if they’re exploring and mixing with other pets. PDSA has a range of flea and worm treatments available, helping to keep your four-legged friend and your family pest-free.”

Whether you’re worried about your dog’s behaviour, changing your pet’s routine post lockdown, or pesky fleas and worms, ask your questions on this thread and PDSA vet Anna will be back on the 23rd June to answer some of your questions.

All who leave a question will also be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Hello @natalielara. Exercise is really important to keep your dog healthy and happy. If you struggle to get out with your dog then a local volunteer or dog walker service could be good options. I'd recommend meeting with them, getting to know them, and seeing if they'd be a good fit for your dog. It's all about personality - there's not one type of service that will be right for all dogs. Some dogs will love meeting new people and going to new places, but others will find too many new experiences overwhelming or stressful. It's important to ask them lots of questions and see if you think your dog is likely to enjoy walking with them. It's a good idea to find out if the volunteers/walkers have any training or experience so you can make sure your dog will be safe. Do they know when it's safe to let your dog off the lead? Are they able to continue her training and recall? Do they have basic knowledge of first aid? It's a big responsibility for someone else to care for your pet, so make sure you're comfortable that you've found the right fit from the start and you're all happy with the arrangement. As long as you find the right person or service, it sounds like this could be a good way to let your dog have some extra exercise if you're stuck at work. You can find out more about how much exercise your dog needs on our website: pdsa.me/ZUdr. Don't forget, it's not just about walks. Training and brain games are important to keep your dog's mind active as well as their bodies.

Hello @beccyr36. It sounds like your puppy is enjoying trying out lots of different things to eat. If there's lots of options available, it's quite common for dogs to want to sample a bit of everything, even if the things they eat seem disgusting to us! Changing your dogs food too regularly can actually have the opposite effect than you'd like. Often, it can make them more fussy, and they may look for something different if they get bored. Having your dog on a complete dog food that's right for their life stage is really important for their development, so my advice would be to find one brand that keeps your puppy's stomach settled and stick with it for a while. If your puppy is really fussy, has suddenly gone off his food, or you're worried he's underweight, it would be a good idea to contact your vet for advice. Some dogs don't like to eat in meals, so trying a dry dog food that you can leave down all day might be better for him than having set meal times. Lots of us expect our dogs to snap up their food the minute it's put down, but many dogs will prefer to 'graze' and eat little and often. As long as he's growing well and has an ideal body condition score, you can be reassured he's getting enough nutrients, and it will take the pressure off meal time for him. If there's another source of food, for example, cat food or cat litter trays, try moving these to places he can't reach to prevent problems. Another idea that might help is to make your puppy's mealtimes more of a game. Lots of dogs actually really love to work for their food (a concept known as contra-freeloading) so trying puzzle feeders, training, or a snuffle mat might encourage your puppy to eat his dinner while providing lots of stimulation for his growing brain. You can find out more about games to play with your dog here: pdsa.me/qJ9T

Hello @chris8888. Dog theft has been in the headlines recently, which has caused lots of us to worry about out canine companions. The good news is that there are lots of things you can try to help keep your dog safe. We have a blog with lots of tips that might help put your mind at ease: pdsa.me/mlGQ. Although it can be a big worry, it's important to try not to change your dog's routine or stop going for dog walks because you're worried about them. Dogs need a regular pattern to their days and daily exercise to stay happy and healthy, so take steps to keep them safe but remember to make sure you're still meeting their needs and helping them enjoy life as much as possible too.

Hello @Nanatoo. I'm sorry to hear you're worried about your Jack Russell. There can be a number of reasons why dogs shake and it would be worth getting her checked by your vet, especialy if she's shaking a lot of the time. Sometimes shivering can be because of cold, but there are also a lot of other causes, for example, excitement, nervousness, weak muscles or in some cases, it can be related to medical problems. Your vet will be able to give her a health check and confirm if there are any problems causing her to shake, especially as she's an older girl.

Hi @Harmonypuss. I'm sorry to hear you lost your ferret a few months ago. Losing a pet is always difficult and I'm sure your ferret was a good friend to you. If you think you're ready to start considering about a new pet, I'd recommend you look at our PetWise quiz: pdsa.me/ZERE. This will give you a few ideas about the different pets that might be right for your lifestyle. Once you've got an idea of which pet might be right for you, consider how you can introduce them to your dog. If you're thinking about bringing a cat home, think about taking your dog to visit a friend who has cats (as long as they're confident around dogs) and see how he reacts. It's always important to take it slowly and get your dog used to the new addition to the household. Many dogs can be friends with a number of different species, including cats, as long as they're given time and space to adjust. We have a webpage about introducing dogs and cats that might help: pdsa.me/s8xn. I hope this information will be helpful and you manage to find the perfect new addition for you and your dog.

Thank you again for all your questions. I'm pleased so many of you reached out with your questions, comments and concerns.

Kirk is such a big part of my life, and I'm sure your dogs are too. I hope my advice will help you and your pets as the world starts to open up again.

If you would like more pet advice, why not follow PDSA on Facebook (@pdsa), Twitter (@PDSA_HQ) and Instagram (@teampdsa).

I wish you and all your lovely dogs the very best – give them a pat from me!

Thank you for your advice- I’ll be sure to book my girl in with the vet for a check-up.

My partner has inherited an 'outside dog' from a farm and wants to get him used to being an inside dog, but he doesn't get on with his two indoor dogs. What can he do to help?

My new dog 4 years old is shaky when going to strange places. Will she gain confidence the more we show her different things

can my dog be happy if he can hear another dog in my block of flats howling all day when left on his own by his owners?

At the moment I am still working from home.

My dog is nine and fairly nervous, he's a JRT but never been confident with other people or while alone for a long time. I'm not sure how he will feel about being left alone after lockdown now he's used to me being at home.

We also have two cats, who are indoor cats, so will be with him, but I think they've all gotten used to having people in the house.

I don't know how they might feel as we all start to be out of the house a bit more, but I would like to make sure it's not a shock to them, and I don't want the dog to be yapping and barking while we are out. I'd like to make sure all three are as relaxed and secure as possible when they are alone.

We bought a Labrador..he is called Stanley. He love food, people, poop, people and food. Generally a bit of a knobhead. 10 months now and can do most things until he sees another dog....then the knobhead gene kick in....help!!!???

I have a 6 yr old lab who no longer seems too interested in going for walks. His health is fine but I think he got used to not going out as much during lockdown. Any suggestions to encourage him?