Pet’s Corner Q&A

My dog, Ivy, has started scooting across the floor on her bottom. Could she be uncomfortable or is this normal behaviour?

While it may seem strange behaviour to us, scooting on their bum is your dog’s way of saying something is wrong back there.

The most common issue is blocked anal sacs.

Normally, when dogs pass poo, it triggers the sacs to empty, but sometimes the sacs can become sore, inflamed, and difficult to empty so they fill up.

This can be caused by loose stools, but in many cases, dogs are just prone to this problem.

Intestinal worms can also be a cause of scooting, and you may also see dogs bite at their back end.

It’s best you take Ivy to see the vet so they can determine the cause of her discomfort and offer any necessary treatment.

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I am about to bring home my first kitten and noticed that his list of vaccinations included cat flu. Is this the same as human flu and if so, do they really need it?

While some of the symptoms we see with cat flu may be similar to human flu, the viruses that cause the two illnesses are very different.

Cat flu is a highly contagious, serious condition and can be fatal.

Symptoms such as a high temperature, discharge from the eyes, and a snotty nose are all common.

Once a cat recovers from their initial bout of cat flu, they can become lifelong carriers and suffer these symptoms periodically throughout their life.

It is very important to get your new kitten vaccinated against all preventable diseases, like cat flu, once they are old enough, as this will help them to live a long and healthy life.

For more information on cat flu, visit https://www.pdsa.org.uk/cat-flu

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We’d like to take our dog, Meg, on more road trips with us, but she gets travel sick. Is there anything we can do to help her?

Dogs can suffer from travel sickness just like us – this can be caused by the motion but can also be triggered by anxiety related to the car journey – restarting their car travel training is the best long-term solution.

Start by helping Meg feel confident being near the car, gradually building up to entering the vehicle and eventually using her car safety restraint – reward her with praise and a healthy treat at each step.

Once she feels comfortable in the car, start with very short journeys to help Meg get used to the motion – monitor for signs of sickness or anxiety as you increase the length of your trips.

If Meg’s sickness continues, speak to your vet about travel sickness medication.

 

Picture: Pixabay/Heszter