Picture the familiar scene: The sound of “Alfie”…”Alfie”… come here!… drifts across the park, to the unconcerned dog busily investigating a lump of wet grass. He looks up lethargically and spots his frustrated owner. Safe in the knowledge that his owner is still there, Alfie continues to enjoy his sniffing. Does this sounds familiar? Being…

Dental disease is a common and widespread problem amongst our canine friends. In fact studies have shown that 80% of dogs will have some form of gum disease by the time they are 2-3 years old. Genetics and other factors such as diet can influence the development of dental disease but just like humans, in…

Fit not fat. You and your dog – TOP TIPS for the New Year It’s that time of the year again, when many of us make New Year’s resolutions. What about our dogs though? If they could, many would probably want to lose weight and get fitter; just like ourselves. Did you know that 60%…

Simple health checks you can do with your dog at home Your dog can’t tell you if something’s wrong so it’s up to you to find out. As a responsible dog owner, it’s a good idea to have a health check list of things to look out for on a regular basis. This way you’ll…

Anxiety in dogs If you think that your dog may be suffering from anxiety, it is important to seek professional help – not only will this improve your dog’s quality of life, but it may also reduce the risk that the anxiety will lead to a serious behavioural problem. An obvious first port of call…

Looking after your dog on hot days Now that summer is finally here, dog owners need to take care not to let their pets overheat. Heatstroke can occur seemingly without warning, so it is important to prevent this potentially deadly condition. Just in case your dog is affected, it is a good idea to jot…

Choosing holiday care for your dog It’s holiday season and many of us are looking forward to some precious ‘down time’ away from home. For most dogs, family holidays mean going to kennels or visits from a dog-sitter. The team at your local Healthy Pet Club practice have put together some points to help you decide…

Moving house with your dog Moving house is stressful for everybody, including your dog. This guide – put together by your local Healthy Pet Club practice – should help make the day go smoothly. Planning ahead The following tips may be useful: Consider putting your dog into kennels or sending him to a friend or…

Keep your dog safe from heartworm disease If you are planning on taking your dog abroad on holiday with you, one of the things you need to plan for is the risk of canine heartworm. Because this parasite can cause serious and potentially fatal disease in your dog, prevention is extremely important if you are…

Learn how to check for and remove ticks from your dog If you walk your dog in woodland, grassland, or in heath areas – or even in a garden that harbours a lot of wildlife – then at some point they will probably come home with a tick. Dogs pick up ticks when they brush…

Checking For Lumps and Bumps Lumps and bumps are quite common in dogs, particularly as they get older. Although most lumps are entirely benign, a small proportion are serious and may require treatment. To give your dog the best chance of remaining healthy, it is important to check your pet regularly. Check your dog regularly…

Alabama Rot – What to look out for Given that it’s now hit the national news, many dog-owners will be aware of the mysterious disease called Alabama Rot, first seen in the US in the 1980s and now being reported in pockets of Britain, particularly in boggy areas. While only around 80 cases have been…

How To Stop Puppies Eating Poo Eating their own or other dogs’ faeces (called coprophagia) is an unpleasant but common problem with pet dogs, especially puppies. Contrary to widely held belief it doesn’t indicate a dietary deficiency, though there are some causes that can be corrected. They're just copying mum… When a litter of puppies…

Kennel Cough Kennel cough is a common, contagious condition seen in dogs, which is very rarely life threatening.  Infectious tracheobronchitis (the proper term for kennel cough) simply means inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (deep airways).  There isn’t a single pathogen that causes the disease – a variety of viruses and bacteria can cause…

Why Do Dogs Chew Their Paws? Many dogs will chew their paws from time to time.  Sometimes this is just an extension of normal cleaning or can be a habit that forms over time.  For some dogs however chewing their paws can be a sign of an underlying problem that needs medical attention. Chewing One…

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails? We often think of a ‘waggy tail’ as being a sign of our dogs being happy, but recent research has shown that tail wagging doesn’t purely convey a dog’s happiness. The tail of a dog is a communicative tool that they use to express emotions to other animals, and…

Cleaning Your Dogs Ears Did you know that it’s recommended to check your dog’s ears at least once a week as part of their health care routine? By doing this you’ll easily identify if there are any problems for example; infection or ear mites that may require ear cleaning. For the majority of dogs, having…

Why Do Dogs Lick You? Licking is a very common dog behaviour and like any trait, it can vary hugely from dog to dog.  Some love it while others hate it, but licking humans can occur for several different reasons. To communicate In the wild, young wolves will lick around their mother’s face to interact,…

Puppy Awareness Are you thinking of bringing a puppy into the family? Getting a puppy is very exciting and a lot of fun! But sometimes it can all seem a bit daunting finding out what you need to prepare and even where you should go to find your furry bundle of joy. As part of…