The Spaniel Diaries

Ithink I may have to bite the weatherman! The recent deluge of rain is most unwelcome. I was looking forward to long evening walks in spring sunshine but instead I have been wading through mud and puddles in horizontal rain getting very wet, I’m surprised I haven’t grown webbed feet yet!

Mum is hating the mud and wasn’t happy as her wellies have sprung a leak. On the other hand Mav and Goose seem to love the water – what a pair of idiots, especially that silly puppy, he charges around in all the muddy puddles them refuses to get back in the car. It’s hilarious to see mum have to pick the filthy wet creature up and put him in, that’ll teach her to think he’s cute! Mav has also taken to stalking the ducks who have come to roost on the new lake although they take the Mickey out of him as they are long gone before he even gets near!

I am looking forward to our Bluebell walk soon as it’s really beautiful up in the woods although mum insists on taking the camera and making us pose for pictures – I would much rather be allowed to just wander around sniffing, it’s going to be interesting to see what the puppy makes of the carpet of flowers! If he thinks he’s going to be looning around running through them he’d better think again as mum doesn’t let us damage the flowers. The other thing I look forward to is the lunch afterwards; we get treated to something delicious while mum and dad have lunch at the pub.

I am booked in for the dreaded haircut and bath again, mum says I look scruffy after the long winter – the cheek, so does she! I smell nice thanks a combination of smelly ditch water and whatever delight I have found to roll in is perfect in my doggy world, but according to her I stink so my fate is sealed and I shall be all white and fluffy and perfumed again. Well, I shall be searching even harder for some lovely fox poo to roll in and sort that out!

It’s getting busy at the stables now the show season has started. I love sitting on the yard watching the world go by while the big hairy grass munching machines are being washed ready for a day out – about time they earned their keep, they live in the lap of luxury eating and sleeping – a bit like me really! Us dogs have been taught to have good manners around the horses and if we are out walking and we meet a horse and rider mum always calls us over and pops our leads on and makes us wait while they go past. Mum has said there have been quite a few reports of dogs chasing and even biting horses on the News lately and it’s not acceptable – me personally I give horses a wide berth as I don’t want to get kicked! Hopefully we’ll get to go swimming again soon, I will see if the puppy is as elegant as me in the water, he should be because his legs are Iike mine – a sensible length not like Mav’s stupid long legs which make him swim like a drowning meerkat!

Jeannette Douglas

Hypertension in Cats

Hypertension is a medical term for high blood pressure, a disorder well known in people. Did you know that cats can be hypertensive too? Often termed the ‘silent killer’, hypertension can go undiagnosed for a long period of time due to there being no obvious outward signs.

In cats, hypertension can damage key body organs, including the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain. More than 80% of hypertensive cats present with sudden onset blindness.

Hypertension is more common in mature cats, affecting 1 in 5 cats from 9 years of age.

• All cats aged 7 years or older should have their blood pressure checked at least once a year

• Those with pre-existing conditions such as chronic kidney disease or hyperthyroidism should be checked every 6 months. Testing your cat’s blood pressure is easy, quick and painless. The test is carried out by using a small inflatable cuff similar to the equipment used for people. Eye examination can also provide clues as to any damage that may have been caused by hypertension.

Early diagnosis is key to fighting hypertension and early treatment can prevent blindness due to high blood pressure.

If your cat is over the age of 7, ask your vet about making blood pressure tests part of their annual health check.

Sophie Hall B.V.Sc., M.R.C.V.S.