Companion Life - Spring 2018

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SPRING 2018

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In this issue > Preparing for a new puppy > Top tips for pets during springtime > A guide to... understanding skin health > Q&A - Hannah Capon, Founder of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) > Dental problems in small animals

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EDITOR’S COMMENT I’m delighted to present the first edition of Companion Life Magazine. Companion Life is a free magazine, which aims to offer pet owners information, news, and advice. In this first issue we focus on the springtime, which is now well and truly upon us. We outline the challenges and hazards that the season can bring for pets and their owners. Feel free to get in touch with any features, news, new products or even your pet pictures.

Laura Evans Editor

Companion Life Companion Life is a Free Magazine providing news, information, tips and advice for pet owners across the UK. Circulation: 20,000 copies of Companion Life is available through veterinary practices across the UK If you would like free copies for your practices, please let us know.

Contact details: Companion Life, Barn 3, Somerford Business Court, Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton, Cheshire. CW12 4SN www.companionlife.co.uk Editor: Laura Evans.

Editorial: editor@companionlife.co.uk Advertising/artwork: advertising@companionlife.co.uk Companion Life is part of ‘WITH Marketing Ltd’, The contents within Companion Life is fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Companion Life. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Companion Life, its distributors and WITH Marketing Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. @companionlife facebook.com/companionlife instagram.com/companionlifemag

NEWS

Puppy purchased when parents on holiday London based animal welfare charity, Mayhew are encouraging people to consider the commitment of a new pet before buying a puppy.

Their advice comes after a three-month old Jack Russell puppy was brought to the rescue centre, after a young buyer bought him while his parents were on holiday.

Once his parents returned, they realised they couldn’t cope with looking after the

puppy and took him to be rehomed.

However, after a thorough health check, Donnie was put up for adoption and soon found a new home.

Mayhew’s Head of Animal Welfare, Zoe Edwards, said: “There are already so many unwanted animals in rescue centres like ours, that have come from people who buy pets on a whim, without taking into consideration the responsibilities and needs of the animal”.

Mayhew supports the government’s call for evidence on whether there should be a ban on third party puppy sales.

Cat welfare is now on the political agenda at Westminster The first All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) dedicated to improving cat welfare has been launched in Westminster.

The APPG on Cats is made up of MPs and Peers with the support of two leading animal welfare charities, Cats Protection and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

The new group will discuss feline welfare and how to tackle key cat issues both in Parliament and in society more widely, as well as highlight the benefits of owning a

cat to combat loneliness.

Maria Caufield, MP was elected chair of the Group at their first meeting in March “As a cat owner myself, I am very pleased to have been elected Chair of the group, which recognises the important role that cats play in many people’s lives.“ Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff, said: “Despite their popularity, cats all too often suffer from a lack of specific legislation to protect them. Cats Protection’s ten-point Manifesto for Cats, launched ahead of the 2015 election, has received great cross-party support from politicians, yet there is still much to be done to ensure that cats are protected.”

RSPCA welcome government consultation to ban shock collars

The RSPCA have welcomed a move by the government to ban the use of electric shock collars.

The animal welfare charity has long campaigned for the devices to be banned because they trigger fear and pain in pets.

Government department, Defra announced proposals to ban the use of the devices in March.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr. Samantha Gains, said: “We’re delighted that the government has listened to the concerns raised by us and other animal welfare organisations and has launched a consultation to ban the use of electric shock collars in England.

“A survey carried out for the RSPCA’s #DogKind report, found that while 88% of dog owners agreed that training shouldn’t frighten, worry or hurt dogs, a worrying 5% said they used electric shock collars.”

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Finding your local natural healthcare stockist is now easy Due to the increasing demand to find local Nutravet stockists, the natural animal health company have recently introduced a new “Where to buy” section to their website.

This new section provides visitors instant access to details of Nutravet stockists across the UK.

Nutravet Managing Director, Matthew Shaw,

said “Nutravet products are available exclusively from authorised veterinary practices and cannot be purchased online. We have seen a large increase in pet owners contacting us over the last couple of years enquiring where they can purchase our range and we needed to find a solution to be able to meet this demand. Our new website has provided this. It has been created to focus on the needs of pet owners and includes our new automated ‘Where to buy’ section”.

You can visit the new site at www.nutravet.co.uk

Unique dog-festival returns for 2018 action-packed, fun-filled weekend.

Festival highlights include, the Dog School, the Dogs with Jobs area and the RSPCA Top Dog competition ring.

The popular Great Dog Walk also returns, lead by Noel Fitzpatrick twice a day, which offers visitors the perfect opportunity for some exercise with their dog.

The ultimate summer festival for dogs, DogFest confirms a 2018 return with three events to be held across the UK. The outdoor dog festival has announced three dates in Cheshire, Bristol and Knebworth House and Gardens in Hertfordshire.

DogFest is a unique festival, which celebrates everything about owning a dog. Hosted

by Supervet Noel Fitzpartrick it offers dogs, their owners and dog-lovers an

The event will be at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire (Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 June), Ashton Court in Bristol (Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 June) and Knebworth House and Gardens in Hertfordshire (Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 July).

Visitors and their dogs will have plenty of opportunity to join in with the action with behaviour workshops and puppy training sessions taking place.

For more information and tickets visit www.dog-fest.co.uk

NEWS SNIPPETS The RSPCA have launched an appeal after a cat was shot with an airgun in Stoke-on-Trent.

The government has pledged to review the regulations of air weapon licensing. To report animal cruelty you can call the 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.

HiLife launch all-natural range for dogs. Popular pet food brand HiLIfe has unveiled six delicious recipes for dogs. Hot on the heels of ‘It’s only natural’ for cats, dog owners can now treat their much-loved pooches to a selection of 100% natural dishes. www.hilifepet.co.uk Health Weight Competition launched

by Royal Canin. Royal Canin are inviting veterinary practices to enter their patients into a ‘Healthy Weight Competition.’ Designed to promote a healthy body shape for cats and dogs, the competition will reward the hard work of pet owners and veterinary nurses to maintain a pet’s healthy weight. For more information visit www. royalcaninhealthyweight. co.uk

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ARTICLE

Preparing for a new Getting a new puppy can be an exciting time in any home, but is also a huge responsibility. You have to make sure that you have the time and money to dedicate to your new pet.

Puppies can be excitable and full on additions to your home and training your new puppy requires time and patience, but it can also be very rewarding. It’s important to do your research to understand the commitment that comes with owning a dog.

Have you considered the cost of a dog? Can you afford the essentials that they need, as well as any sudden vet bills or kennel costs if you go on holiday?

Do you have the time to commit to a puppy? Can you take time off work to settle them in or work from home to prevent separation anxiety?

Don’t buy from a puppy farm. Make sure, if buying a puppy they come from a registered breeder to prevent any health problems down the line.

Will they get on with existing pets? Is your existing pet sociable?

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puppy Tips for bringing your puppy home

Becoming a dog owner comes with the responsibility to ensure your puppy has the best start in its new home. There are many things to consider when you get your new puppy. To help make the process stress free, here are a few tips:

Register with a vet

Registering your puppy with a vet ensures it will receive the best care during their early stages. Regular check-ups help with the rest of your puppy’s development, making sure they receive the essential vaccinations. Be sure to get your puppy micro-chipped at the earliest opportunity.

This is now mandatory and could be essential if your puppy ever escapes.

What breed will work with my lifestyle?

Do you live in a flat or the city, where a large dog or energetic breed might not work?

Puppy interaction

Although it’s important your puppy gets used to everyone in the family, during the development stage (when bones are developing and articular cartilage surfaces are fragile) all members of the family should be aware not to play too boisterously with them.

Don’t let family members interact too much, the puppy has to get used to your routine and not get into bad habits.

Help settle them

To help settle your puppy into their new home, create designated eating and sleeping areas. Choose an appropriate and safe sleeping area, which has suitable bedding, in view of the

family. Always make sure that your puppy has a fresh supply of water. Stair gates can be great to prevent your puppy from climbing the stairs and injuring themselves, as well as keeping them away from ‘out of bounds’ areas around the home.

Puppy diet

Your new puppy will probably eat 3-4 times a day, but you could reduce this to two to fit with your daily routine. If unsure, you should consult your vet to find out what is best for your particular breed of dog. Puppy food is higher in protein and enriched with vitamins, minerals and fats, which are essential for the growth of your new puppy.

Training

Whether it’s toilet or behavioural training, it’s vital that you start this as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Building up a routine with your puppy will help them to get used to how they should behave.

When toilet training, be sure to take your puppy outside frequently during the day, as soon as they wake-up and after meals.

Socialising can be an important part of training.

This can include, introducing your new puppy to other people, as well as other dogs.

Leaving your puppy alone

Although it’s not advised to leave dogs alone for more than four hours, sometimes this cannot be helped. If possible ask someone to pop in and check on them while you are out. If you have to leave them, be sure to leave plenty of toys so they don’t get bored, as this could lead to unruly behaviour. Getting them used to this early could also prevent bad behaviour as they get older.

Exercise

It is recommended that you wait one to two weeks before starting to walk them.

This ensures that they have had their last vaccination booster. In the early stages, long walks or runs should be avoided. Mild exercise routines together with a balanced healthy diet are advised as part of a sensible and responsible way to care for your pet as they begin their lives with you.

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ADVICE

TOP TIPS for pets during springtime As the weather gets warmer your cat or dog will be able to enjoy more time outside, in the garden and on walks. However, like most seasons, spring presents some challenges and hazards for pets and their owners, which you should be aware of. As a pet owner you will understand that it is important to ensure that your pet stays safe during this time to prevent an unwanted trip to your local vet. Because you can’t watch your pet 24 hours a day, there are some things to look out for to ensure that they stay safe and healthy during this season.

Here are some tips to follow to help keep your pet safe and healthy during the spring season: Chocolate

Chocolate is toxic for dogs and should not be consumed.

Be sure to keep all chocolate treats away from your dog and don’t let them pick up any scraps from the floor or other family members. When you are eating chocolate, keep some of your dog’s favourite treats to hand to stop them from begging and prevent you from being tempted to give them some.

Cold water

Despite the weather being slightly milder, the water in lakes and streams will still be too cold for your pet.

Don’t let your dog jump in, as the shock of the cold water could cause them to freeze up and struggle to swim or cause them to develop hypothermia.

Spring-cleaning

Be aware of household cleaning products and don’t leave them lying around the house for your pet to get.

Commercial cleaning products, almost without exception, contain chemicals that are toxic to your dog or cat. To

prevent any problems for your pet, you could try switching to non-toxic household cleaning products.

Vaccinations

Make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date to safeguard them from Parvo or any other contagious diseases. Warmer weather and more contact with other pets could encourage these types of diseases to spread, so be sure to keep your dog protected.

Allergies

Just like you, your pet may need support for dry, itchy or sensitive skin, which could be caused by grass, pollen or even plants. To prevent your pet from scratching all through spring, speak to your vet early to lessen the severity and give early relief.

Grooming

Brush your cat and dog regularly to remove any excess hair that they will start to shed. This will also help to keep your pet’s coat free from dirt and distribute natural skin oils that help to make their coat shiny.

Grooming your pet will also give you an opportunity to look out for fleas and ticks and maintain a healthy coat and skin for your pet. It will also help to prevent fur balls from building up in your cat’s stomach.

Bedding

To help maintain your pet’s healthy skin, be sure to keep your cat or dog’s bedding clean, as during this time they may shed more fur than usual. This will also help to reduce the amount of fur and dirt around the house.

Clean feet

During spring walks the weather might not always be dry and with rain comes mud. After your dog has been for a walk, be sure to clean their paws to prevent the mud from drying and getting stuck between their toes and in their fur.

Garden hazards

Be aware of hazards in the garden for your pet. This includes slug pellets, as they are toxic to your pet and could cause illness if swallowed.

Some spring flowers are

also toxic to pets and if swallowed could cause your pet to become unwell.

These include, daffodils, tulips and crocuses. If you think that your cat or dog has eaten any of these, you should contact your vet immediately.

Flea prevention

Fleas tend to die off during winter, but as the weather starts to warm up in spring, they can come back with a vengeance. Be sure to keep up with your pet’s flea treatment to help maintain their healthy skin and coat.

Close windows

As the weather gets warmer, be careful not to leave windows open that your cat or dog can jump or fall out of.

Exercise

If your dog has been particularly inactive during the winter season, make sure you ease them back into their exercise routine.

Start off slow to help rebuild muscle tone before engaging in strenuous outdoor activities.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

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If you would like your product featured in a future edition please get in touch editor@companionlife.co.uk

In this edition, we highlight some pet products that we think our readers will love...

True Instinct range - from Natures Menu

Dogmatic Padded cushioned webbing range

Nutramega - for healthy skin & a glossy coat

K9 Organics - natural dog shampoo range

The UK’s number one for raw, Natures Menu recently launched its new superpremium innovative range for dogs and cats, True Instinct. True Instinct specialises in premium nutrition that’s free from grain and gluten and combines premium quality high meat bites, made with fresh meat, mixed with freeze dried deboned raw meat and fish pieces.

Prices start from £2.99 RRP for the innovative Raw Boost varieties.

The award winning Dogmatic Headcollar - stops dogs pulling on the lead.

Comfortable for the dog to wear and does not ride up or go near the eyes.

Offering the widest range of dog headcollars in leather, padded cushioned webbing with matching collars and training leads.

Maintaining optimum skin and coat health for your pet is essential to ensure they lead a happy and healthy life. Nutramega has been specifically formulated to support the animal’s natural systems that control inflammation, in an easy to administer high strength gel capsule. Nutramega contains high quality Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which naturally calms sensitive skin, soothes dry, flaky skin and reduces itching and scratching.

www.naturesmenu.co.uk/ trueinstinct

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K9 Organics award winning formulas are available online for spring cleaning and summer dog washing. The range is 100% natural with English lavender, mint and zesty orange. Made with certified organic ingredients and boasting numerous healing properties, they help to repel bugs and fleas naturally too. There is certainly something for every dog and coat type, including a scent-free alternative for extra sensitive little creatures.

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Dogmatic offer a kind comfortable solution to dogs pulling on the lead.

Products that are comfortable for your dog, work correctly and also look good!

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HOSTED BY SUPERVET NOEL FITZPATRICK, DOGFEST IS THE ULTIMATE DOGGY DAY OUT FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS! DOGFEST 2018 IS SPONSORED BY:

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ARTICLE

A guide to...

UNDERSTANDING SKIN HEALTH Skin disorders are one of the most common health problems in pets and can be caused by a number of different factors.

As well as being stressful for your pet, seeing your beloved companion uncomfortable and in pain from a skin condition can be stressful for the owner too. Many skin disorders have very similar symptoms, which can make it difficult to diagnose without consulting a veterinary professional.

Common signs that your pet may be suffering with a skin disorder can include: increased grooming, thin or balding patches, a dull or greasy coat, persistent itching or scratching, dry or flaky skin, and redness and inflammation.

There are some breeds of dogs that can be more susceptible to skin conditions and affected by skin allergies. These include: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Dalmations, Terriers and Poodles.

What should your pet’s skin look like?

Your pet’s skin should be smooth and their coat should be clean and in a good condition. To help identify if your pet has a skin problem, it’s important to understand what healthy skin should look like on your cat or dog.

• Generally a pet’s skin will be pink or black depending on the breed or genetic make-up.

• There should be no crusting, itching, scaling, black and white spots and infected or hot and inflamed areas.

• A healthy coat should be shiny but not greasy, soft, quite smooth and lovely and thick. There should be no broken hairs, bald patches or dandruff.

• Dogs may shed their hair all year around, however, they do normally molt in summer and autumn.

The causes of skin problems can fall into several categories, with some pets affected by more than one. These include: • Fleas • Mange • Food • Allergies • Environmental allergies • Dandruff The quality of food that your dog or cat is fed can reflect in their skin. Pets are often fed unnatural diets, which are too high in Omega-6 fatty acids derived from high levels of cereals and vegetable proteins. An acute excess of Omega-6s, or a shortage of Omega-3s will predispose many inflammatory and allergic conditions, including dry, flaky and itchy skin.

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Identifying the problem with your pet’s skin can help to understand what the solution could be. Below are some common causes of skin disorders: Fleas Many pets can be sensitive to fleas, which can cause allergies and skin diseases if not properly treated. Pets with flea allergies can be allergic to the flea saliva and become very itchy after being bitten. Your vet will be able to offer the best flea treatment sufficient for your pet. Be sure to also treat areas of your home where they may venture.

Food allergies Cats and dogs can become allergic to the food they eat, in particular protein, such as beef, dairy, chicken and egg.

If your pet has a food allergy, they will typically have itchy skin on their face, feet and ears.

Some pets could also develop stomach problems, such as increased bowel movements and vomiting. A food elimination diet for a period of 8-12 weeks is often used to diagnose a food allergy.

Environmental allergies Environmental allergies are mostly seasonal with environmental allergens, such as pollens, grass and dust mites being common in the spring and summer months. These can cause intense itching of the face, feet, ears, chest and tummy. To diagnose environmental allergens, other problems, such as food allergies, fleas, infections or dermatitis have to be ruled out first.

Dandruff Like their owners, pets can also develop dandruff, which can cause dry skin or irritation. As the coat and skin are constantly being shed and replaced, the skin has a high need for protein.

Mange This is a skin disorder caused by tiny parasites called mites. Sarcoptic Mange, also known as canine scabies can spread easily among pets and can also be transmitted to people, but the parasites don’t survive on humans. The symptoms can be intense itching, read skin, sores and hair loss.

29MAR18_companionlife_quart161x60mm.indd 3

Pets often unwittingly gain an unnatural diet, which is too high in Omega-6 fatty acids derived from high levels of cereals and vegetable proteins. Counteracting the Omega-6 imbalance with Omega-3s can help your pet’s skin health by reducing inflammation. Many Omega-3 supplements exist but make sure you choose one that has no added Omega-6s, such as Nutramega from Nutravet which recommended by Vets.

Diagnosis

As well as being painful and uncomfortable for your pet, skin disorders can also cause secondary problems. These can be caused through excessive scratching and lower the skin’s natural defences. To diagnose the problem, a veterinary professional may use one of the following procedures, skin scrap, skin biopsy, a skin test, and allergy testing or exclusion diet.

DID YOU KNOW?

Common skin conditions

Too much Omega-6 can have a negative effect on a pet’s skin health.

your vet who is best placed to monitor your pet’s health and ensure they are receiving the best possible care.

All allergies cannot be cured and they may require lifelong treatment to keep them under control. If you are worried about any of the above problems, or symptoms that your pet may have, consult

29/03/2018 12:09:40

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GETTING TO KNOW

Q&A How did Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) initially get started?

Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) is a veterinary driven initiative, set up by vet Hannah Capon who was becoming overwhelmed with the number of dogs she was having to put to sleep having “gone off their legs”. This was often seen by the owners as a sudden incident, when in truth the dog had probably been suffering in silence for a long time prior to that day. Unlike humans, dogs are unable to express their pain in words.

We want to challenge that “just getting old” or “slowing down” should not be too readily accepted in our four footed companions. Here at CAM we think that by changing owner, vet and public perception of arthritis, we can improve and extend the lives of dogs.

How important is the work that you do at CAM? Arthritis is a really painful and debilitating condition that is unfortunately hugely underdiagnosed so our work to raise awareness is really important. We want to make sure owners know that their dog isn’t “just getting old” or “slowing down” but may actually be in considerable pain.

Unfortunately, arthritis is one of the leading causes of early, elective euthanasia of dogs in the UK and its

Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS Founder of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM)

Hannah has been a qualified first opinion small animal vet for 15 years.

She is the founder of CAM which started off as a small one-on-one vet with owner external service in 2013. She had noted that there was a disproportion of dogs being euthanased for poorly managed arthritis and felt that this chronic disease needed to be managed differently.

Here Companion Life finds out more about CAM and the work they do. heart breaking for not only the owners, but the veterinary team who care for the patient to deal with these cases.

We want to ensure owners know the signs of chronic pain, know all the available treatment options, know how to monitor their dog and ultimately give dog owners as much quality time with their pet as possible.

How common is arthritis in dogs?

As many as 1.2 million dogs in the UK are thought to have arthritis. 80% of dogs over the age of 8 suffer from it but unfortunately only a fraction of these dogs are actually on treatment.

Why do you think pet owners miss the signs of arthritis?

Chronic pain can be much harder to recognise than you might think. The signs can be really subtle and are often dismissed as signs of ageing rather than signs of pain.

Even when owners have perhaps seen some changes in their dog we too often hear phrases like “just a bit of arthritis” as it is a disease which isn’t always taken seriously, despite its progressive and painful nature.

I feel that in some cases, it can be that the owners are in denial. As arthritis is a disease usually associated with age it can be hard to face up to the fact your pet is getting older and that

their needs may change. It reminds people that their pet isn’t going to live forever. To me, the important thing is to focus on making the time they do have as enjoyable and comfortable as we can.

What advice would you offer to owners who think their dog may be suffering from conditions, such as arthritis?

Don’t ignore it!

If you are worried your pet may have any illness the best first step is to make an appointment with your vet.

They can examine your dog and discuss the options that are available, be these diagnostic tests or treatments.

It is also worth asking them about therapies that can be offered outside of your veterinary practice, for example hydrotherapy, physiotherapy or massage therapy.

There are lots of simple changes that you can make at home that can make a big difference to your dog too: preventing hazards in the house which can worsen signs, altering their exercise regime, making sure their weight is good, offering them a good quality bed…

The list goes on. And many of these changes cost very little if nothing to do!

Of course the other great piece of advice is to visit the CAM website, www.caninearthritis.co.uk.

We also have a forum, www.cam-foundation.co.uk

where you can discuss your dog with other pet owners, vets, nurses and therapists who are all there to provide help and support at what we know can be a worrying time.

If someone wanted to help or contribute to CAM, how could they do this?

There are a few ways you can help out. The simplest is to simply mention us and our work to your friends, people you meet at the vets or on dog walks and let them know about how common arthritis is and how they may be able to help their dog. If you have a success story of your own people are often more than happy to hear about it. As mentioned above, it is simply lack of awareness of the condition which is the biggest factor preventing dogs from getting the treatment they need.

We have a page on www.gofundme.com which will allows for financial contributions and as the team all work voluntarily, these are always greatly appreciated to allow us to continue doing our work and expand our product range.

We are a constantly expanding team who work voluntarily. If you feel you have any skills that may be of use to us and would be happy to volunteer a number of hours each week then please email daisy@caninearthritis.co.uk.

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ADVICE FROM THE EXPERT

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Muesli-based diets are also not recommended – they have been repeatedly linked to nutritional imbalances as well as structural problems in dentition.

Dental problems in small animals

By Emma Purnell, RVN Cert.Nut.

Many of our small mammal pets can suffer with painful and potentially life threatening dental problems.

Rabbits and rodents (including guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and degus) have very different teeth to ours. We have a set of ‘baby’ teeth which are replaced by adult teeth that have to last the rest of our lives, but rabbits and rodents only have a single set of teeth which are not replaced but continue to grow. The placement of their teeth is also very different. They have two large incisors at both the top and bottom of the front of their mouth (sometimes with tiny ‘peg’ teeth hiding just behind), which are the large teeth that can be easily seen when they eat or open their mouths, but also two rows of molars at the back of their mouths to grind food. These are impossible to see properly without special equipment so can be difficult to monitor.

As a rule, if the front teeth are visibly out of alignment then there will be problems with the molar teeth as the way they eat and hold their jaw will be different.

Dental problems can be identified in several ways. A reduction in the amount they are eating is often noticed first and any slowing down of their eating should lead to an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. If the incisors have overgrown it can be possible to see them either curled round or out of alignment but if the molars are the most seriously affected it can be impossible to tell from just looking at them. Overgrowth of the molars at the back lead to the edges becoming sharp spurs, cutting into the tongue and/or cheeks. In guinea pigs they tend to form a bridge over the tongue, stopping it from moving and making it difficult for them to swallow. Dropping of food, dribbling, or the animal

being wet down the front of their chest can often be a sign that there is an issue with the teeth. If the roots of the teeth overgrow then bumps and abscesses in the jaw can occur, but root overgrowth can also begin to push on the tear ducts and cause them to block, leading to discharge around the eyes and tear straining.

In severe circumstances, teeth can grow right through the tissues and protrude through lips and cheeks – obviously this is very painful and it should never be left until this point.

To keep your pet’s teeth healthy it is important to look at the factors affecting dental disease. In rabbits, the breed can be important – many lop eared rabbits have been bred to have short, flat faces which can affect the placement and alignment of the teeth. Diet is also a key factor - if the teeth of rabbits and rodents are not worn down, they will continue to grow and become too long, which can lead to many problems. Particularly in rabbits and guinea pigs, a high fibre diet is the best way to aid the normal wear of teeth – hay and grass are very fibrous and should make up 80% of their diet.

If you suspect your pet has a problem with its teeth it is important you seek veterinary advice immediately – for species such as rabbits and guinea pigs, they can go into gut stasis (a condition where their gut begins to shut down as there is no food passing through it) and smaller species become hypoglycaemic very quickly – both these things are rapidly fatal. Dental work will commonly involve an anaesthetic and the dental work done while they are asleep, but it is important to remember that once this occurs it is likely to be a problem which will happen again – either within a few months or, more commonly, a few weeks. Insurance is always recommended to ensure decisions do not have to be made based on cost alone, but do take care as some policies will not cover dental work and it is your responsibility to be aware of your levels of cover. Aim to ensure regular check-ups with your vet to catch problems early and prevent difficult to manage and painful conditions for your pet.

Emma qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2008 and works for nutravet (UK) Ltd. She has a BSc in Zoology with Animal Ecology and an MSc in Ecology, helping to fuel her interest in more exotic species. She has a particular love of small furries and has a grade A distinction in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition (CertNut).

The natural choice for your pet’s health Recommended by vets across the UK nutravet offer a range of premium natural healthcare products developed to support the ongoing health and well-being of dogs and cats. Available exclusively from veterinary practices.

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nutramind – high strength support for brain & mental function ®

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nutrabio - for digestive function ®

✓ Helps maintain digestive function ✓ Highly palatable natural formula ✓ Promotes friendly bacteria ✓ Replenishes natural balance of gut bacteria ✓ Binds toxins ✓ Improves stool consistency ✓ Reduces flatulence

nutramega – healthy skin & a glossy coat ®

✓ Calms sensitive skin & aids comfort ✓ Soothes dry, flaky skin ✓ Reduces itching and scratching ✓ Strengthens brittle nails ✓ Aids the body’s own natural anti-inflammatory processes

nutracys + – support for healthy urinary tract function ®

✓ Reduces irritation ✓ Naturally soothes ✓ Aids comfort ✓ Helps reduce stress ✓ Supports the natural systems that control inflammation

Find your local stockist at

www.nutravet.co.uk