Will I contract diseases from my dogs?
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?
Ask The Experts
Shelties don't know how to walk!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Q: My dog has a hard time pooping, how do I help him?
Pimple-like spots appearing after sterilisation
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!
Q: My cat, Patches, has developed a habit of chewing on my dad's plants. Is this normal behaviour? Should I be concerned?
Seed in the tummy
Q: I have a 10-year old male Maltese and he swallowed a durian seed two weeks ago. The seed is around four cm in length. We visited the vet and she said that if he does not vomit or show signs of discomfort, we can just leave it in his stomach. Even though my dog behaves normally, I am still worried for him. Can a durian seed be digested? Is it possible to leave the seed in the body without having to bring him in for surgery?
Guinea pig abscesses
Q: My guinea pig has been having abscesses for four years. It happens a few times a year and even after bringing her to the vet to have them drained, they keep recurring. Why is this happening and is there a cure?
Paw Licking
Q: My 3-year-old toy poodle seems to be licking his paws frequently. Is this common in toy poodles? I have been checking him constantly and there doesn't seem to be any obvious skin problems on his paws. I've heard that sometimes it can be an allergy. What is considered excessive licking and how would I know if it were an allergy or not?
Drying our furkids
Q: Is towel-drying or blow-drying our pets right after a shower advisable?
