Ask The Experts

My Schnauzer has flaky skin!

Dr Grace Heng 13 years ago
Q: My Schnauzer cross, Snuffy, has flakes all over his body, and he starts to smell just a few days after he takes a shower. I have tried many different kinds of shampoo for sensitive skin on him, and changed his kibble many times in order to find a suitable one for him but the problem still persists. What could it be due to and what other measures can I take? Is it a grooming problem or is it genetic? Please help me! I want him to get back his rich and shiny coat that he had as a pup!

Acid Reflux in Puppies

Dr Jean-Paul Ly 13 years ago
Q: My nine month old puppy is suffering from acid reflux. Apparently I’ve been told that canine acid reflux cannot be cured and can only be managed via his diet. My puppy is currently on a fish meal kibble diet, with occasional cooked food such as blanched chicken breast meat and vegetables; may I know if this is appropriate? As he’s still a growing boy, he eats quite a lot; are there other types of food I can feed him to keep his meals interesting as well as healthy? I’ve also heard that Manuka honey may help, is this true? If so, how should I go about administering this?

Cat Fight!

Zulkifli Bin Daud 13 years ago
Q: I have two male cats and four females. They are all neutered. However, Cullen (male) and Bella (female) have a habit of peeing in random places. It does not seem to be a territorial issue as they do it almost anywhere in the house. For example, they recently eliminated in the middle of the living room. Also, my other male cat, Jake, who is the more aggressive of the two boys, likes to pick a fight with Cullen, does this have anything to do with Cullen’s erratic elimination habits? How do I get them to be litter trained again? And how do I get them to get along?

Can aromatherapy soothe hot spots?

Bobby Duchowny 13 years ago
Q: I have heard that aromatherapy can work wonders to calm dogs down. Apart from that, will I be able to use essential oils on my dogs to keep skin problems at bay? And if so, what oils would you recommend to soothe hot spots?

Will I contract diseases from my dogs?

Dr Jean-Paul Ly 13 years ago
Q: My two Jack Russells are very close to me. We sleep together on the same bed. It is alright? Will I contact any illness or diseases from them?

Shelties don't know how to walk!

Rodney Tay 13 years ago
Q: I have two Shetland Sheepdogs that refuse to walk whenever I take them out of the house. Every time I try to train them or help them get used to the outside environment, I end up having to carry them throughout our trip. Is this normal behaviour for Shelties? What can I do to teach them that it’s fun to play outdoors?

Grouchy Jack Russell Terrier

Rodney Tay 13 years ago
Q: I've a three year old Jack Russell Terrier. Since a year or so ago, he's been grouchy at times. Most of the time, he would be happily coming to sit beside me on the sofa or my bed. But as soon as he has settled down, in a matter of minutes, he would be growling when I touch him or when he senses something moving near him. Sometimes, he might even suddenly snap at my hand. I'm really unsure what caused him to develop this attitude. What can I do about this?

Fractured Spine

Dr Chua Hui Li 13 years ago
Q: My three year old cat had an accident and fractured her spine about two and a half years ago. I was told to put her to sleep but I wasn't able to due to my religious beliefs. She gets her physiotherapy twice a day to keep her leg muscles strong despite being unable to walk. She moves about by using her front paws and dragging her hind legs. She can pee and poop on her own but at times suffer from bedsores, which I'll get treated promptly. I would like to know if there's any kind of operation to repair the fractured spine and hopefully allows her to walk again. If there is, where can I get it done?

Walking Crooked

Dr Chua Hui Li 13 years ago
Q: My husband and I recently made a trip to a cattery and met this adorable black cat that we are considering to adopt. We have never own a cat before. The cat seems to have some sort of nervous disorder – it is not able to walk in a straight line (knocking left and right as it walks) but otherwise responds as a normal cat. We read on the internet that a cat with such disorder may suffer problems as it grows older, such as bowl incontinence. Is this true? And are there other effects or conditions that we should be aware of? Would this cat be suitable for us?

Hip Dysplasia

Dr Chua Hui Li 13 years ago
Q: I've heard that hip dysplasia is common in breeds like Golden Retrievers. What is this condition? Could you advise how I can help prevent the onset of this for my own Goldie?

Bunny snuffles

Animal Recovery Referral Centre 13 years ago
Q: My bunny seems to have an unusually wet nose and has been sneezing quite often lately. Her paws are matted with discharge and mucus from wiping her nose. Does she have snuffles? What can I do?

Bathing bunnies

Dr Chua Hui Li 13 years ago
Q: I am a new owner of a rabbit and I've some doubts over the dos and don'ts of rabbit care. Can I bathe my rabbit? If not, how do I keep him clean, as his fur is getting dirty as he lies on his pee. My rabbit is kept in an aluminum cage with aluminum gauze at its base. Is it harmful to the rabbit's feet? What should be placed on the base instead?

Constipation

Dr Grace Heng 13 years ago
Q: My dog has a hard time pooping, how do I help him?

Pimple-like spots appearing after sterilisation

Dr Grace Heng 13 years ago
Q: I noticed that my 8 month old medium size local breed dog, Rocky started growing pimple-like spots near his groin area. They appeared five to six days after he was sterilized. After sterilization, I noticed that the fur on his front legs was getting patchy and there are three spots that seem to be losing hair. What is happening?

My cat chews on plants!

Dr Grace Heng 13 years ago
Q: My cat, Patches, has developed a habit of chewing on my dad's plants. Is this normal behaviour? Should I be concerned?