Being a cat owner can be difficult when it comes to health issues – cats are notoriously secretive and can try to hide when they are in pain. This means you need to be on the lookout for symptoms that something is wrong. And dental issues can be a common problem. In this article, we’ll look at a condition called stomatitis and how to spot the signs of a dental health issue. What is stomatitis in cats? Stomatitis in cats is a medical condition which causes severe inflammation to the mouth and gums of felines. This inflammation will look reddish in colour and cause cats a significant amount of pain. In some extreme cases, it can even cause bleeding in the mouth. What causes stomatitis in cats? Multiple factors are suspected to cause stomatitis in cats and the causes have still not been definitively identified. Many believe the main cause of feline stomatitis is viral infections as many cats with stomatitis have a concurrent viral infection, particularly with a virus called 'calicivirus'. Plaque and calculus are also thought to be important contributory factors.

As your dog ages their requirements change, whether that's thinking about a senior dog dietor adjusting schedules to fit around your older dog. This includes what toys they play with or activities they participate in. Your ageing friend may no longer be able to run and grab a Frisbee, or leap around playing fetch for hours on end, but that doesn’t mean that their urge to play has gone! Also consider that when dogs age, their sight and hearing may deteriorate, so when it comes to toys for older dogs it’s usually a good idea to get bright ones, which can also be scented, noisy or flavoured. Keep reading to find out the best stimulating dog toys for your older pooch. Toys for older dogs When your dog becomes older you may think that they’ll no longer want to play, or might not have the energy to play with you.

Does your dog have the healthiest digestive system possible? Are they eating happily, thriving, growing and making the most of life? To keep your dog healthy, it’s crucial the digestive system is working at its best. For some dogs, this may mean choosing a food that is specially formulated to support sensitive digestion.

Making a running partner out of your pet can be great. If you learn how to train your dog correctly, you’ll be improving your health, happiness, and your special bond… for both of you! Build up slowly to your ideal run. Just like humans, dogs need to acclimatise to levels of exercise. You could also research your dog’s breed to discover exactly what kind of running they might enjoy: you never know, they might just inspire you to achieve a marathon with time! Why run with your dog? There’s a whole host of research that tells us how great running can be for your health. It prevents helps obesity, helps you to get fit, and can increase your stamina. It’s even been shown to lift your mood. And it doesn’t require an expensive gym membership either. What’s good for you is also great for your dog: it’ll also help them to lose weight if their body condition isn’t ideal, build muscle, and keep healthy. Keeping your dog fit and healthy is the best way to avoid expensive vet bills in the future. It’s also fantastic for your dog’s mood: most dogs are built to run (albeit some breeds more than others). They all enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors, and time spent pounding the pavement with you will always be time well spent in your pet’s mind. If you’ve noticed destructive behaviours creeping in, jogging with your dog might be a solution. Active breeds that are kept indoors for long periods of time can become bored, which may result in a bad behaviour. Keeping their mind and body active will help to get rid of that pent-up energy, and it’ll also build a great bond between the pair of you.

Despite the name, ringworm in cats has nothing to do with worms! If you suspect your cat has this fungal skin condition, it’s important that it gets treated as soon as possible to prevent spreading to other animals or even you. Ringworm in cats is a highly contagious fungal infection of the skin. It is more common in kittens and long-haired cats, but can affect any breed and age. It is also a zoonotic disease meaning it can spread to humans, particularly people who are immunocompromised. Despite the name, ringworm is not actually caused by a worm at all, rather a group of fungi called dermatophytes and can be referred to by its medical name dermatophytosis. Due to the highly contagious nature of the condition, it’s essential that ringworm treatment for cats is sought as soon as possible. If you suspect that your cat is suffering from ringworm, keep reading to find out what you should do. What is ringworm in cats? This common skin condition is a fungal infection which feeds on the keratin in a cat’s fur, skin and nails. It’s called ‘ringworm’ because the fungus creates circular ring-like lesions on your cats’ skin, usually also associated with hair loss. These are often found on the head, ears, along the ridge of the back and on the front legs, but they can be present anywhere on the body. How do cats get ringworm? Ringworm in cats is highly contagious and is most commonly caught through contact with infected cats. It can spread rapidly in multi-pet households as it gets distributed via fungal spores on skin and hair that’s been shed. Ringworm is very common in kittens under the age of one as their immune systems are still developing. It also affects long-haired cats more, because the fungus gets trapped in the long coat and is harder to remove. Symptoms of ringworm in cats Sometimes ringworm in cats can be hard to detect as symptoms may be very mild. If your cat displays symptoms, it’s likely to include the following:

It’s not uncommon for a dog to have ticks. These pesky parasites are very adept at attaching themselves to your dog’s coat, even if you do your best to avoid them. Luckily there are simple ways to help prevent, and treat, ticks on dogs. What are dog ticks? Ticks are eight-legged parasites that bite your dog to drink their blood. Although dog ticks are very tiny, they can swell up to the size of a pea once they’ve attached themselves to your dog by burying their mouthparts into their skin. There are several types of tick that can affect dogs in the world, including dog ticks, sheep ticks and hedgehog ticks. They can also bite humans too, and some ticks can transmit diseases. How do I spot ticks on my dog? Dog ticks are just large enough to be visible, especially if they’ve already had a bite – then they can look like small warts, and on closer inspection you can see their legs, too. You’ll usually find them around your dog’s head and neck area - just part your dog’s fur and run your fingers along their skin. Tick bites on dogs can also cause irritation and redness. How do I remove dog ticks? Never pull a tick out of your dog’s skin as you may end up leaving the mouthpart behind, which could cause an infection or inflammation. Instead, ask your vet to give you a specially designed tick removal tool that will get rid of the mouthparts as well, and ask them to show you how to remove dog ticks if you’re unsure. Once you’ve removed the tick, check that its head and legs are intact and there’s nothing left behind in your dog’s skin. If you think there might be, talk to your vet who will be able to advise you and put your mind at ease. Some flea products also kill ticks, while others provide a bit of extra protection against them, although they’ll need more frequent application than usual. Always talk to your vet to find the best treatment for your dog. Brushing your dog can also help remove them in some cases. For more information, check out our easy step by step guide for how to remove a tick from a dog.

In all the excitement of bringing your new puppy home, it’s important to remember to start their training right away. The sooner you introduce good habits, the better it will be for both of you as your puppy begins to understand basic commands and gets to grips with your house rules. Puppy training doesn’t just improve their manners; it’s a fun and rewarding way for you to spend quality time together and really helps you strengthen your bond. Most dogs love training – it’s a chance for them to challenge their brains, earn rewards and get lots of praise and attention! Teach your puppy their name Puppy training should begin the day they arrive in your new home. Start by helping them to get to know their name. Use it every time you play with them, feed them or cuddle them and they’ll soon recognise it and respond when called. Once they know their name, you can use it to communicate with them and start training your puppy.

All puppies go through a teething phase. Puppy teething is when they outgrow their puppy teeth, which are replaced by more permanent, adult teeth. This happens at a different age depending on their breed and size. But the effects of teething are the same: an irritable puppy and damage to your house! In this article, we explore why puppy teething can be a destructive phase and talk you through five steps that can make the whole process easier on both you and your pup. When do puppies start teething? All mammals have to go through a teething stage; this includes both you and your puppy. Unlike humans, puppies begin to start teething at around 16 weeks of age. This means their milk teeth will begin to fall out and new adult teeth will begin to poke through. Once the teething process begins do not be surprised if your dog is chewing everything is sight – this kind of behaviour is completely normal. We recommend you provide your dog with plenty of chew toys throughout this period and praise them for using them, to save your furniture. When do puppies lose their teeth? It usually takes around four months for puppies to go through the whole process of teething. By the age of 7-8 months your puppy should have grown all of their adult teeth, if they’re not all there yet try not to worry too much. However, if it gets to 9 months and there are still some adult teeth missing, we advise you contact your vet. They will be able to access your dog’s mouth and find out if their mouth needs any dental work. Why can puppy teething be so destructive? Puppy teething means discomfort (and sometimes pain) for your pup: their gums may become red and swollen as and their teeth are falling out while new ones erupt. Who wouldn’t be uncomfortable? Your pup handles puppy teething by chewing. Chewing helps ease some of the irritation on their gums (a bit like scratching an itch). Plus, for a puppy their mouth is a bit like your hand; it is what they use to explore and understand the world. Couple that with their natural curiosity and they may start to chew anything and everything in your house. But just because it is nature’s way, it doesn’t mean you have to survive with chewed-up furniture and missing shoes. Keep on reading to find out how to puppy-proof your home from puppy teething. Creating a puppy-proof home when your puppy is teething

Playing with your puppy is a huge part of your relationship, and it has loads of benefits too! Games help keep your playful puppy active and healthy, and it gives you the chance to get to know one another better.

Adolescence is a challenging time for both your pup and yourself. Learn how to get your stroppy puppy back to their normal selves. At around six months of age, you’ll discover that your puppy has grown into a… teenager! This is a period that many owners don’t anticipate as they often expect their dog will just slip seamlessly from being a puppy into being an adult, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a reason why the most common age for dogs being given to rescue centres to be rehomed is between 6-18 months old, and this is because canine adolescence can be a tricky time. With a little knowledge, preparation and a fair bit of patience however, you will find that you can deal with all the issues that living with a teenage dog can bring, and you can both sail through it and out the other side with your relationship and your sanity intact. When does a puppy become a teenager? Canine adolescence starts at different times for different breeds and can last for varying lengths of time. Smaller breeds tend to hit their teenage phase earlier than larger breeds who develop more slowly. A small breed dog will often be mature by around a year old, whereas a giant breed can be two years plus before their adolescence is behind them. What happens during puppy adolescence?