Pet topics: can I buy Wellington boots for ducks?

A: There are several triggers of itchy skin: you require to concentrate on getting a distinct diagnosis of the result in. It may be worth asking your personal vet for a referral to a expert veterinary dermatologist while this may be costly in the brief term, in the long phrase you will save cash and time, and the dog’s discomfort will be relieved more rapidly. A change of diet plan will perform only if the itchy skin is triggered by an allergy to an ingredient in the diet, and you don’t need to have a raw-meat diet program to investigate this probability. Most vets stock a assortment of particular diets designed to make it straightforward to rule meals allergy “in” or “out”. Appropriately sourced raw-meat diets will not give your dogs worms, but this way of feeding dogs does not suit every owner and animal.

Q:I have two Birman cats who sometimes regurgitate undigested food due to fur balls, which I am treating. Have you any concept what dye/food colouring goes into cat food, specifically the dried selection? The colour stains the carpet brilliant yellow and is extremely challenging to remove.

JD, Worcestershire

A: If any person ever has queries about elements in a certain pet meals, it is greatest to get in touch with the manufacturer directly, both on the internet or by telephone they are normally approachable and helpful. Colors are occasionally used in pet meals, typically to redress the all-natural variations in colour that can stick to heat processing of foods and the wide range of raw resources employed – animal, fish and vegetable. Some additives are derived from naturally happening supplies (typically plants) and other individuals are artificial substances. There is rigid EU legislation governing what additives can be used in pet meals, based on security, technical require and efficacy. The yellow colour you describe may possibly not be from the foods – it’s typical for bile to be brought up from an animal’s stomach. This is a bright yellow colour and can lead to deep stains that are not easy to eliminate.

Q:Our 5-yr-outdated black Labrador, Lola, is very delicate to rain and/or thunder. She becomes visibly distressed, taking to her bed where she sits with her head hung reduced until the rain has passed. Her bed is in the conservatory and the rain on the roof is specifically loud, but she refuses to settle in a quieter area in the home. What can we do to minimise her nervousness?

AP, Henley-on-Thames

A: The prolonged-phrase answer is to consider to desensitise Lola to the sound of storms by utilizing a specially designed audio download of foul weather (see soundtherapy4pets.co.uk). You play this very quietly in the background as component of the household’s typical regimen, progressively growing the volume as she grows utilised to the sound above weeks and months. You should also talk to your vet about occasional use of anti-nervousness medication to give her in advance when you know a storm is coming. It would make sense to set up another bed for her, in a room that’s greater protected from the noise of the climate. If she gets utilized to the new bed as component of her regular regimen, she’ll be much more probably to settle there throughout a storm.

British charity saving tigers with veterinary expertise

Canine distemper virus is killing a single per cent of the Siberian tiger population, and is also suspected to be existing in tigers in Sumatra and Bangladesh. Wildlife Vets Global is involved in surveys for illness in tiger nations, offering guidance on preventing ailment transmission. To locate out more about this and other tasks, please visit wildlifevetsinternational.org.

Rescue pet of the week

Ossie is a 1-12 months-old Labrador who is seeking for a property with no younger children. Contact information@labrador-lifeline.com or contact 01256 884027.

To locate out about the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see Pet Topics Rescue

*Send pet difficulties to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk. All sick animals must, of program, be taken to a vet

Pet topics: can I buy Wellington boots for ducks?