Dogs can suffer from strokes, but the symptoms differ from what we see in people. Find out the possible symptoms and the current treatment options available with this guide. Can dogs have strokes? Yes, dogs can have strokes, although they are thought to be a lot less common than in humans. While in people, symptoms include paralysis on one side of the body, and facial drooping, these symptoms are extremely rare in pets. In fact, many of the symptoms of stroke in dogs are relatively non-specific and can be indications of a variety of other medical conditions. This means that diagnosis can be challenging, and in many cases, we might never know the underlying cause. Keep reading to find out about the possible dog stroke symptoms and treatment options available, so you know what to look for and when to seek help. What is a stroke? A stroke is the result of reduced blood flow to the brain which deprives the brain cells of sufficient oxygen, resulting in cell death or injury. Usually, a stroke will occur very suddenly, and the damage caused can range from mild to severe, which may depend on which part of the brain is affected. Some mild strokes can even go undetected. Causes of strokes in dogs To understand the different causes of strokes in dogs, it is helpful to learn about the two broad categories. Firstly, there are ischemic strokes which can be caused by blood clots, tumours, bacteria or parasites. In the event of an ischemic stroke, there is a blockage in a blood vessel, disrupting blood and oxygen supply to the brain. The other type of stroke is referred to as a haemorrhagic stroke, which is where blood vessels rupture and leak blood into the brain. This type can be caused by trauma, and some diseases or clotting disorders. All dog breeds can suffer from a stroke, but there are certain breeds which are more predisposed to the underlying causes, including King Charles Cavalier Spaniels and Greyhounds.

If your cat experiences a stroke, it can be really scary and it’s important to take them to the vet quickly so they can receive any treatment they need. Find out about the symptoms you should look out for and the current treatment options in this guide. Strokes in cats occurs far less frequently than they do in humans, but a stroke is still classed as a medical emergency. If your cat experiences a stroke, it’s important to seek veterinary care quickly to make sure they have the best chance of recovery. Find out all you need to know about the cat stroke symptoms to watch out for and the treatment options currently available. What is a cat stroke? A cat stroke refers to the sudden reduction of blood supply to the brain. There are two types of stroke – ischemic, which is usually caused by a clot within a blood vessel, and haemorrhagic, which is when there is bleeding in the brain due to a blood vessel rupture. The brain needs a constant supply of blood to bring oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste from the brain cells. When the blood supply to a part of the brain fails, its function will be severely disrupted and the tissue could even be destroyed. What causes stroke in cats? There are several possible causes for strokes in cats, including: • Head trauma • Body trauma: this can dislodge fat or cartilage • Brain tumour • Tumours elsewhere in the body • Heart disease • Genetic defects • Kidney failure • Diabetes • Parasitic infection such as lungworm • Ingestion of toxins that cause bleeding, such as warfarin in rat poison • Hyperthyroidism • High blood pressure • Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) Cat stroke symptoms The symptoms of your cat’s stroke will depend on whereabouts in the brain it occurs, how much brain tissue is affected and how severe the effects are. Some symptoms you should be on the lookout for include: • Circling • Pressing their head against objects • Unusual walking gait (sometimes affecting just one side of the body) • Weakness or unsteadiness • Head tilting • Abnormal eye movements • Unequal pupil sizes • Coma • Seizures • In extreme cases, death Many of these symptoms of cat stroke are not specific to this condition and can indicate other diseases, so it’s important that you seek veterinary advice. In particular, the condition of ‘vestibular disease’ can cause some of these symptoms – a head tilt and loss of balance to one side, as well as rapid eye movements. Your vet will assess your cat and they’ll be able to advise you on how best to diagnose and treat your pet.

Asking yourself ‘what do dogs eat’ for the picky eater who’s always turning their nose up when dinner is served? Or are you just looking to spoil your pooch with the most delicious canine meals ever? Here are some great food ideas for dogs. Does the way to a dog’s heart go through their stomach? If so, it’s sometimes difficult for owners to find the right path. Since we can’t ask our four-legged friends directly, we need another way to find out what dogs like to eat. Luckily, thanks to pet nutrition experts, we do have a good idea about the foods that a dog’s taste buds will love and their tummies will approve of. If you’re wondering what makes your pet’s tail wag in pure joy at dinner time, here is all you need to know about what their favourite meals are made of. Are dogs omnivores?

Older dogs are often overlooked in rescue centres across the country, but these canines have so much love left to offer! Find out why you should consider adopting an older dog in this article. Older dogs are all too often overlooked in rescue centres across the country. It’s a heart-breaking truth that some will remain in shelters for months, sometimes years, and sadly many will stay there for the rest of their lives. A lot of potential adopters will avoid rescuing older dogs due to a mistaken belief that they don’t have much left to give, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When you rescue an older dog you save a life, and you can rest assured your canine companion will be grateful for you for the rest of their days, no matter how long that may be. Benefits of rescuing an older dog Aside from the amazing feeling of offering an overlooked dog a home, there are tonnes of other benefits of adopting an older dog. 1. Older dogs are calmer If you’re less active, don’t have too much time for long walks every day or are not as young as you once were, an older dog can be a great fit. Senior canines can still be playful and will appreciate a gentle stroll, but it’s likely that they won’t want to go for more lengthy walks or have frequent vigorous play sessions. 2. They don’t need puppy training Most older dogs needing homes will have mastered the basics. They’ll probably be toilet trained and the majority will know ‘sit’ and ‘stay’, so you won’t have the stress and pressure of having to train them from the beginning – a lengthy process that can take months with puppies. Not to mention you’ll also miss that unruly teething phase, saving your sofa, shoes and sanity. 3. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks Did you know there’s actually no truth in the saying ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?’Older dogs are more than capable of continuing their education, and it’s often easier to teach them new tricks as they have much longer attention spans than puppies!

You may be surprised to learn just how much onion we humans consume on a daily basis. Onion and onion powder are added into a vast number of recipes from soups to sauces, and this versatile vegetable is known for bringing an unforgettable flavour to dishes. With onions included as an ingredient in so many things, it has caused many pet parents to pause and ask the question “can dogs eat onions or foods that contain them?” Find out if onions are bad for dogs and more in this guide. Can dogs eat onions? No, dogs shouldn’t eat onions. These vegetables contain a compound called N-propyl disulphide which is highly toxic for dogs. This compound can cause the breakdown and eventual destruction of red blood cells and lead to anaemia. In extreme cases, onion poisoning can be fatal for dogs. How bad are onions for dogs? The toxic effect of onions depends on how much your dog eats and the size of your dog. According to various studies,100g of onion per 20kg of a dog’s weight can lead to toxic effects. This means that only a relatively small amount of onion can be deadly to a small dog. To be on the safe side, we recommend not giving any onion at all to any dog. All parts of the onion are bad for dogs, including the flesh and leaves, as well as the juices and powders that are created from this vegetable. So, if you grow onions in your garden, it’s a good idea to keep them fenced off away from opportunistic dogs. Can dogs eat cooked onions? No, dogs can’t eat cooked onions. Cooking and frying them doesn’t have an impact on how poisonous they are. Symptoms of onion toxicity If your dog’s eaten onions, they could show signs of illness within a day, but sometimes it takes several days for the signs of anaemia to become apparent. The following symptoms can develop: • Decreased appetite • Pale gums • Lethargy • Weakness • Collapse • Red tinge to urine • Vomiting and/or diarrhoea • Elevated heart rate • Panting If you notice your dog displaying any of the symptoms listed above, take them to the vet straight away for diagnosis and treatment. A speedy response can make the world of difference. How are dogs treated for onion toxicity? The treatment for onion toxicity depends on how much onion your dog has eaten and when they had it. If you discover that your dog has eaten onion and you manage to get them to the vet soon enough, the vet may be able to induce vomiting to get the onion out of your dog’s system before it can be digested. However, this only works as a preventative measure if you can take action quickly enough. If your dog develops symptoms of onion toxicity, they will need supportive treatment. In extreme cases where the dog is in a critical condition, a blood transfusion may be necessary. If your dog’s red blood cells have been severely affected, your vet will also provide ongoing care to help return them to their normal happy and healthy selves. Preventing onion toxicity Always keep onions out of reach of your dog as these vegetables can be extremely dangerous if ingested. Also, be sure to check the ingredients before offering any human foods to your dog as a lot of ready-made soups and sauces contain onions. Better yet, avoid human foods entirely and only feed your dog foods and treats specially created for dogs. Now you know that onions are bad for dogs, why not learn more about the foods your dog can enjoy and what to avoid? Read our guide on can dogs eat pineapple, next.

Scotland is a country of extensive beauty, rolling green hills, gigantic mountains and towns that look fresh out of a storybook. This charm and wonder that envelopes the land also transfers to their language, and the names of the towns, islands and people that are lucky enough to call Scotland home. So naturally they also make perfect names for our magical four-legged friends. Keep reading to find out our top Scottish dog names for both male and female canines and discover the perfect moniker for your new pup. Scottish girl dog names 1. Jessie This Scottish female dog name is a pet name for Jean or Jane, meaning ‘god is gracious’. 2. Maggie In Scotland, Maggie means ‘pearl’, which we think makes it the perfect choice for little white fluffy dogs, such as a Bichon Frise. 3. Shona Interestingly, Shona is the English spelling of the Scottish name ‘Seonaid’ which means ‘gift from god’. 4. Sorcha Sorcha’s a very unusual Scottish girl dog name that means ‘brightness’. As our dog’s bring such light to our lives, it’s only fitting we give them a name which means exactly that! 5. Skye

Tuna is better known as the ultimate cat treat, but dogs can also be attracted to the powerful smell of this popular pantry staple. So, if your dog is begging for a bite, here are a few things you should know before caving in to those puppy eyes. Can dogs eat tuna? Opinions differ when it comes to the question ‘can dogs eat tuna’. Tuna is safely used as an ingredient in many balanced dog foods, but when it comes to feeding extra tuna as a treat, there’s some conflicting advice out there. Some experts don’t hesitate to recommend this fish, while others advise against adding extra tuna to your dog’s menu. There are definitely reasons to be cautious with tuna, but when fed very occasionally in moderation, tuna is unlikely to cause health issues for your dog. Every dog is different, so if you want to feed a dog tuna it’s important to offer very small quantities at first, to see how your dog reacts. Is tuna good for dogs? Tuna is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins – all important nutrients for a dog’s health and wellbeing. It also contains Omega 3 fatty acids which are good for the health of the skin, coat and cardiovascular system. This means that tuna is useful in some dog foods as a source of various nutrients. When it comes to feeding extra tuna as a treat, there’s no need to give it for nutritional value. If you feed your dog complete and balanced dog food, they should get all the nutrients they need from that. Why is tuna sometimes considered harmful to dogs?

If your dog keeps eating grass or dirt, there’s no need to worry - this isn’t uncommon behaviour by any means, even though it might seem quite strange. If you have a four-legged friend in your life, chances are that you’ve caught them grazing once or twice on their daily constitutional. For pups that do this, owners often wonder, why do dogs eat grass exactly? Over the years there’s been numerous old wife’s tales about the behaviour, with many believing it’s for the purpose of self-medicating – but is this true? Why do dogs eat grass? Dogs eating grass is very common, but there’s actually little evidence to tell us why they do it. Behaviourists and veterinarians have been perplexed by the behaviour for years, but some of their theories include: 1. Self-medicating It’s likely that you’ve heard this one for an answer to why dogs eat grass. It’s widely believed by dog owners that if a dog feels nauseous, they’ll eat grass to make themselves vomit and then feel better. However, this still remains a theory. In fact, dogs vomiting after ingesting grass is quite rare, with less than 25 percent doing this and only a further 10 percent displaying signs of illness beforehand. 2. They like the taste of it Another reasoning could be because they simply like the taste of it. Dogs are descended from wolves and as such, they’re natural scavengers – meaning that they might be grazing in your back garden as an opportunity to forage. Additionally, some veterinarians have suggested that dogs might eat grass to make up for nutritional deficiencies in their diet. This is supported by a study outlined by Fetch by Web MD, with a dog who ate grass every single day for seven years, then the moment it was switched to a high-fibre diet, it stopped. However, there’s currently not enough studies on the topic to satiate if this is the reason behind why do dogs eat grass or not. 3. Eating grass due to boredom If you’re just letting your dog out into the garden to play by themselves and not offering enough mental and physical stimulation, then your dog eating grass may be because of boredom. To try and reduce the behaviour, make sure you’re giving your pup enough opportunities to exercise, and get some toys for them to play with in the garden too. Puzzle games are excellent for mental stimulation, chew toys are great for boredom-busting and your dog is bound to love a ball game too! 4. Dogs might need grass in their diet Another explanation for why do dogs eat grass could be down to the way they’ve evolved. This theory relates to the fact that wild canids eat all of an animal when they catch it. The animals that wild canids – your dog’s ancestors – would catch and eat were usually herbivores. This means that when the wild canids ate these animals, they might also have ended up eating a lot of grass and plants that were in the intestines of their prey. Wild canids such as foxes have also been known to eat certain berries and other plant material, supporting the idea that dogs eat grass because it’s a part of their normal diet.

There is no denying that one of your dog’s most defining traits is their loyalty. This loyalty can be overwhelming and humbling, and has often been cited as an example of what human beings can learn from dogs. But life lessons aside, where does your dog’s loyalty come from? Yes, you feed them and play with them and have your deep sense of love for them, but does that fully explain the depth of emotion they hold for you? In this article, we explore loyal dogs, why dogs are loyal and when that loyalty may need to be contained. Are dogs really loyal? The concept of a loyal dog has been peddled so much in today’s media and advertisements that you can be forgiven for questioning its premise: are dogs really loyal? Let us get the question out of the way: yes, they really are. The stories of dogs who wait endlessly for their owners or who are overjoyed to greet them years later are not made up. You can see the evidence in your dog, who is delighted when you return home from work and greets you as if they haven’t seen you in weeks. If that is not deep loyalty, we do not know what is. So, what makes a loyal dog? There are several theories on where your dog’s loyalty comes from and why it is so deep. Here we explore a few of the explanations for your dog’s loyalty, ranked from simple to intriguing. The simple explanation: you give them food The simplest explanation for your dog’s loyalty is that you give them food and shelter. Your dog is grateful to you for the essentials of life that you provide and so is loyal to you. There is a scientific basis for this: domestic dogs are descended from wolves, which man once took in and tamed with shelter and food in return for them acting as guard dogs. This reciprocal relationship remains in your dog’s genes and their loyalty is a by-product of it. Of course, this would mean that loyal dogs adore anyone who feeds them. This is also largely true, as dogs do tend to grow more attached to the family member that gives them their food. But it is not the only explanation. Looking to dog psychology for answers: dogs are pack animals Dogs are also pack animals and long to belong to a pack. They are much like humans in that way – it is said that no man is an island and the same can be said for a dog. To your loyal dog, your family is their pack and they have adopted you as their own. Loyalty in a pack is crucial. In order for a pack to survive in the wild, their members must work together to overcome dangers. Trusting, co-operating and putting the pack’s interests first are all a natural part of surviving. It would explain why dogs often put their own lives in danger to protect their owners; their pack instincts require it of them. But that cannot explain everything. After all, your dog still loves you when you return from a long vacation and you have not been feeding them during that time. And what about Hachito, the loyal dog who used to greet his owner each day at the train station after work – and continued to wait for him for nine years after he died? Neither pack instincts nor reciprocal relationships can explain that. But something else might. The intriguing explanation: dogs may love In 2005, Science Direct held an experiment on canine behaviour, where they presented dogs with their owner’s scent, a scent of a stranger and the scent of food. Brain scans were taken of the dog as they approached each scent. The study hypothesised that since smell is so important to dogs, it would be the best way to understand how canine brains work. They were right. Not only did dogs react more strongly to the scent of their owners, the part of the brain associated with enjoyment and positive emotions lit up when they were given their owner’s scent. Your loyal dog does recognise you. The same patterns in humans would usually be associated with love. In another experiment, a dog was allowed to watch a stranger be rude to their owner. When the dog was then allowed to interact with the stranger and the owner, the dog actively snubbed the stranger. If that is not loyalty, we do not know what is.

When it comes to choosing wet or dry cat food, the information can be overwhelming. Conflicting information and the sheer amount of choice on offer can all make choosing your cat’s diet seem difficult. Go back to the basics with your cat’s diet in this article to learn all about the benefits and drawbacks of both wet or dry cat food, so you can make the right choice for your pet. What do cats need in their diet? Every cat requires a total of 41 essential micronutrients from their food each day – whether it be from wet or dry cat food. These micronutrients are ‘essential’ because they cannot be manufactured in the body, and they are necessary for normal, healthy function. Cats are obligate carnivores who need to eat meat, and as such they can’t be fed a vegetarian diet without developing malnutrition problems. A proportion of their daily nutrients must come from animal sources, specifically the amino acids taurine and arginine, the fatty acid arachidonic acid, and pre-formed vitamin A. What do cats like in their food? Just like humans, when it comes to food, cats enjoy something tasty! Although they have far fewer taste buds than other animals—a mere 475 to dogs’ 1,700—they do have some interesting appetite quirks. A cat’s sensitivity to bitter tastes is 400 times greater than that of a dog’s, but they lack the taste buds to be able to enjoy sweet flavours. Texture and shape are also important factors for cats when it comes to their kibble. Cats’ sense of smell is superb, and is an essential part of appealing to their appetite. Food odours give pleasure, enhance enjoyment of food, and provide your cat with their own sense of nutritional information.