Don't Feed Your Dog Bones

"Nick, nack padywack,
Give a dog a bone"
Goes the nursery rhyme, but like many other old wives tales, this is outdated and just plain wrong.

Every couple of weeks we see a dog who is having problems because they have eaten bones. Some of them have stolen a chicken, or something they shouldn't out on a walk, but unfortunately many of them have been fed bones by otherwise caring owners.

Dogs like bones. Their history and evolution as scavengers, means that they have adapted to eat many things and this includes bones. However they also like chocolate and we all know that can be harmful to them. Just because they like bones doesn't mean that they should be fed them. This applies to any sort of bone, including specially cooked bones, as chips can be easily broken off when the dog chews.

Bones can cause a variety of problems, including constipation, but most seriously large pieces of bone can cause blockages. As you can see from this X ray, this bone has stuck in the dog's oesophagus, require a serious operation to remove it.

A number of dogs and cats die and have to be put to sleep every year because of the damage bones cause, so we have a simple message for you. Please don't feed your dog (or cat) bones.

Sweetener Can Poison Animals

A common artificial sweetener, used in many human food products has been linked with an increasing number of poisonings in dogs. The sweetener Xylitol is used as an artificial sugar in many sweets and biscuits and cake, but is also found in chewing gum, dental hygiene products and medicines.

If eaten by dogs, Xylitol causes a sudden release of insulin, which can lead to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), intestinal bleeding and liver failure. Signs of low blood sugar can include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, trembling or even fits. Immediately veterinary attention should be sought if your pet show any of these signs.

It is thought that cats and ferrets could be vulnerable to poisoning by the substance. However as cats do not taste "sweet" in the way we do, they are less likely to seek it out, although they might be attracted to dairy products such as ice cream which could contain it.

We would advise all our clients to be careful what sort of human food their pets have access to. Do not feed your dog any human food containing Xylitol, and of course avoid other toxins such as grapes, raisins and chocolate. Poisonings often occur because dogs raid unexpected sources of food; beware breath freshening gum, or that emergency bar of chocolate which lives in your handbag.

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

We've seen a lot of rabbits and guinea pigs at the surgery in the last few weeks. They make fantastic, friendly pets for both adults and children and with many of them living in the house, they can be a real part of the family.

It's best not to mix rabbits and guinea pigs together. They're both friendly creatures and are best to be kept with company, but rabbits can often bully guinea pigs, so stick to rabbits or guinea pigs in one hunch.

It's important for both of them that they have plenty of fibre in their diet. Many of the rabbits and guinea pigs we see have dental problems and these are often preventable with the right diet. Their main diet should be good quality, dust free hay, with a small amount of a complete food, such as Burgess Excel rabbit or guinea pig pellets. They should also have fresh vegetable daily, such as cabbage, kale, winter greens, cauliflower leaves. A full list can be found at here. This is a fantastic website for general information on rabbits and their care.

Guinea pigs have a dietary requirement for Vitamin C, so it is especially important that they have fresh fruit and vegetables and in some cases need a vitamin supplement.

Rabbits should be vaccinated annually against myxomatosis and Viral Haemorraghic disease, even if they are indoor rabbits as diseases can be spread by biting insects. There are currently no vaccinations available or necessary for guinea pigs.

Male and female rabbits or guinea pigs can be kept together, but it is necessary to neuter (spay or castrate) them, to prevent unwanted babies. We recommend neutering all pets to prevent health problems.

Veterinary care for both rabbits and guinea pigs is advancing year on year, allowing vast improvements in their treatment. Modern, up to date veterinary care can be lengthy and expensive, so we would advise all rabbit and guinea pig owners to consider insurance. Companies offering suitable policies include Pet Plan and Exotics Direct.

Giacomo Goes to School

Giacomo and I recently visited the playgroup at Gurnos School, Ystradgynlais to talk to the children about pet owning and veterinary care.

The children enjoyed using a stethoscope; looking at X rays, including dogs, cats and tortoises and using a scanner to find a microchip in both a teddy bear and later in Giacomo.

He was real star, allowing himself to be stroked by all the class and giving them a chance to get some hands on experience with pets.

BBC Discusses Pet Bereavement

Many of you would, no doubt, describe your pet as your best friend. However the subject of pet bereavement is not often discussed in the mainstream media. An interesting article was published on the BBC website today, discussing the loss that many people feel when a much-loved pet is put to sleep.

People who do not own pets, or have not felt a real bond with an animal, can be unsympathetic to the loss of a pet, so I'm grateful to anything which brings the subject to the attention of the public. If it means that people are more understanding, it can only help.

Our staff are of course sympathetic to your loss; we all understand what it is to lose a pet and what it feels like. Some of our staff have gone further and have trained as pet bereavement councillors, so we are able to offer as much help and support as we can.