PETS

pets Ask a vet... Dr Pauline answers your pet questions

Dr. Pauline Pets Central veterinarian

My puppy doesn’t seem interested in food. Why might this be?

Have you tried changing his dry food to another brand? Or flavour? Some pups just don’t like some brands. Or he may simply not like dry food. I have just experienced a similar problem with my own pup and as soon as I changed the brand he wolfed it all down. I feed him dry food mixed with some wet foods, usually from a can but often home cooked. My cats will only eat fish flavored foods. They walk away from chicken. I certainly didn’t train them that way. However there could be a variety of medical reasons why your pup isn’t eating well. Teething, digestive problems, parasites to name a few so if the food changes don’t help please have your pup checked by your vet. Keeping a record of your pup’s weight is also helpful. If he is gaining weight it may be that you are simply feeding him too much!

We are planning on relocating to Europe which brings with it the possibility of a garden, will my ‘indoor cat’ be able to adapt to life outdoors?

All cats are different and no one rule fits all cat “characters and personality” types. Age comes into this too with middle to senior cats usually happier near the home nest than following their innate hunting instincts and/or going for a wander. Some countries ban outdoor pet cats in an effort to protect their wildlife and thus limit cat movements so cats avoid hazards like poisons, road traffic accidents, and abuse from humans or worse being attacked and killed by cat predators. To my horror, my own beautiful eight year old indoor/out cat was recently mauled by totally out of control unleashed large dogs on our property. So to answer your question there are many things to consider. Your cat may make that decision easy and be happy to lie around sunbathing inside your home. If your cat is inclined to wander then you will have to weigh up the good/bad of allowing her outside. Cats do get on quite well being ‘indoors only’ pets especially if that’s how they have been brought up from kittens.

How often do you recommend that I wash my dog?

I commonly get asked this question. Wash your dog only as often as your dog needs to be washed. This varies a lot between dogs and their lifestyles, habits, skin and hair types, exercise, veterinarian advice and other ad hoc things going on in their lives. A dog’s skin and hair is naturally coated in oils and washing with shampoo can remove these natural oils that act as barriers to protect the skin. So you need to weigh up many factors when deciding when to or not wash your dog. Daily grooming to remove dead hairs and a wipe down with towels after a walk may be all your dog’s skin type needs. However, if you walk your dog every day on mountain hikes or beaches and they like to roll in delicious smells you may need to wash your dog more often. If you do, always use a conditioner after the shampoo so these oils get replaced.

Walkies Rex the dog tackles Dragon’s Back Trail

With summer in full swing, hiking can sometimes feel more like a chore than a fun day out. That’s why it’s important to plan your summer hikes well. One which ends with a cool dip is The Dragon’s Back Trail - a three-hour trail which starts at To Tei Wan and finishes on the sandy shores of Big Wave Bay. The hike gets its powerful and unique name from its hilltop undulations, it isn’t too strenuous and offers stunning views of Shek O, Stanley and the South China Sea. Once you’re on the beach, your pooch can run around in the sand while you enjoy a well deserved beer and snack before hiking back!

How to get there: From Shau Kei Wan Station, take Exit A3 to Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus. Take bus number 9 to To Tei Wan - this is the start of the trail.

To advertise, email talk@hongkongliving.com or call 2776 2772.