Well a bit of a sad day today. We had a Lulu a 10 year old Labrador come in for xrays as she has had an ongoing cough for the last few months. Initially when she came in for this problem around a month ago - she had all the signs and findings of Bordetella bronchiseptica infection (otherwise known as Kennel cough!) and she was treated for this. With no improvement after a 2 week course of an appropriate antibiotic, the decision was made to take some chest xrays.

This summer I have seen a large number of dogs presenting to the clinic with very itchy bellys, groins, underarms, legs and paws. Any itchy dog that presents to the clinic I get suspicious of a large range of possible potential skin problems ranging from mites to allergies to bacterial/fungal infections and more.

Dogs presenting with itching and dermatitis (skin inflammation) in the above regions however, very commonly have an allergy to something they come in contact with either at home or on walks. Dogs quite commonly develop allergies to plants and grasses as well as sometimes to bedding and floring. These allergies are typically termed contact allergies and seem to be even more common at this time of year with long grass and pollens about.

There are several foods that you should never feed your cat, as they will not only make it feel unwell but in some instances can be extremely detrimental to its health and well-being.

During hot summer months it is important to take extra care of your cat. Be careful to protect your cat from dehydration. Since your cat is unable to communicate with you, you will have to keep a sharp eye on your pet. Watch for any changes in behavior that may be related to heat. If you aren't home enough to keep an eye on your cat, make arrangements for cool living conditions so that your cat doesn't dehydrate and overheat.

Cats and urinary infections go together far more often than the people paying the vet bill would like to think. Vets will often look at a symptom such as urinating outside the litter box, and conclude that the cat is experiencing a behavioral problem, possibly due to stress, and overlook the fact that there may be a medical problem at work.

As cats age and come in to that middle age period from around 7 – 8 years of age, it is important for owners to keep an eye out for symptoms that could indicate the beginnings of a disease or syndrome. Middle aged to older cats are very prone to developing diabetes, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, arthritis and sometimes sadly, even cancer.