Blog · 42 posts

Blog.

Reading, notes and small findings — a slower feed on what matters for the health of dogs and cats.

Featured · Seasonal Health · Cat

Is Your Cat Scared of Fireworks?

Cats often withdraw rather than escalate when fireworks frighten them. Here's how to recognise distress, what hiding means and what genuinely helps.

27 Sept 2026Read this →

Small Animals · Small Pet

Can Guinea Pigs Live With Rabbits?

Rabbits and guinea pigs can coexist without obvious conflict. New research asks a better question: does mixed housing give guinea pigs what they actually need?

27 Sept 2026

Research · Dog

Why Are Dogs Suddenly Developing Severe Dry Eye?

Veterinary ophthalmologists are investigating more than 200 reports of sudden bilateral dry eye in UK dogs. Diet has been questioned, but the cause remains unknown.

24 Sept 2026

Nutrition · Cat

Does Your Cat Need a Water Fountain?

Cats are said to instinctively prefer running water. The controlled evidence doesn't support that as a general rule — and one cat in a study refused to drink from a fountain at all.

18 Sept 2026

Nutrition · Dog & Cat

Are Vegan Diets Safe for Dogs and Cats?

A new review says plant-based pet food is well digested. But digestibility isn't the same as nutritional adequacy, and the answer differs sharply between dogs and cats.

18 Sept 2026

Seasonal Health · Dog

Are Conkers and Acorns Poisonous to Dogs?

Conkers and acorns are covering parks again. Both can make dogs ill, but severe poisoning is uncommon — and the bigger concern is often a blockage.

17 Sept 2026

Seasonal Health · Small Pet

Your Rabbit Can Probably Stay Outside. Your Guinea Pig Probably Can't.

Rabbits cope with cold reasonably well. Guinea pigs don't. Here's what changes for each as temperatures drop, and why insulating without ventilating makes things worse.

17 Sept 2026

Small Animals · Rabbit

Your Rabbit Tests Positive for E. cuniculi. What Does That Actually Mean?

A positive E. cuniculi test shows exposure or shedding. It does not prove the parasite is causing your rabbit's symptoms — and that distinction matters.

11 Sept 2026

Research · Dog

Does Your Dog Need Antibiotics for Kennel Cough?

New UK research found around one in five kennel cough cases were prescribed antibiotics. Uncomplicated cases usually don't need them. Here's what the guidance says.

11 Sept 2026

Research · Dog

Is Librela Safe? Why the Experts Don't Agree

Librela is widely used for arthritis pain in dogs, but its safety is contested. Here's what the research and UK regulator actually say.

11 Sept 2026

Research · Cat

When Does a Cat Actually Start Getting Old? The 7-Year Study

A seven-year study of 209 cats shows why healthy-ageing care should start in middle age — and why muscle condition matters before weight starts falling.

11 Sept 2026

Seasonal Health · Dog

Blue-Green Algae and Dogs: The Summer Risk

Blue-green algae is in the Thames right now. Learn how dogs are exposed, what poisoning can look like and what to do after suspected contact.

28 Aug 2026

Seasonal Health · Dog & Cat

Harvest Mites in Dogs and Cats: Why August Itching Isn't Always Fleas

Sudden itching in late summer isn't always fleas or allergies. Harvest mites can affect dogs and cats, particularly around paws, ears and belly.

28 Aug 2026

Seasonal Health · Rabbit

Myxomatosis in Rabbits: Why Risk Rises at This Time of Year

Myxomatosis risk rises in late summer and autumn. Here's how rabbits catch it, the early signs to know and why indoor rabbits still need protection.

28 Aug 2026

Research · Cat

Your Older Cat Looks Healthy. But Is It?

A new UK study screened 549 older cats and found surprisingly high rates of hidden disease. Here's what researchers found — and when screening may help.

28 Aug 2026

Small Animals · Rabbit

Why Do Rabbits Eat Their Own Poo?

It isn't what it looks like. Rabbits eat nutrient-rich caecotrophs as an essential part of digestion — and leaving them uneaten can signal a problem.

21 Aug 2026

Behaviour · Dog

Does Playing With Your Dog Keep Its Brain Younger?

A new study of 858 senior dogs found links between lifetime play, sport and better cognitive scores. Here's what it means for your dog.

20 Aug 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog & Cat

Your Dog Ate a Grape. What Happens Next?

A major UK study of more than 31,000 canine cases found fresh grapes were associated with higher mortality than raisins. Here's what owners need to know.

20 Aug 2026

Small Animals · Rabbit

Why Do Rabbits' Teeth Never Stop Growing?

Rabbits' teeth grow throughout their lives. New research reveals which rabbits are most at risk when that remarkable system goes wrong.

20 Aug 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog & Cat

Can AI Diagnose Your Pet?

AI is entering veterinary medicine fast. But can it actually diagnose your pet? Here's what the latest research shows — and where it still falls short.

14 Aug 2026

Fish & Aquatics · Fish

Do Fish Get Bored? What the Science Says About Fish Enrichment

The three-second memory myth is wrong, and it's had real welfare consequences. Here's what fish actually need to thrive mentally — and the signs your tank might be understimulating them.

14 Aug 2026

Nutrition · Dog

Does Your Dog Need a Healthier Gut?

Probiotics, prebiotics and gut-health foods for dogs are booming. But does your dog really need them? Here's what the microbiome research actually shows — and what it doesn't.

14 Aug 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog & Cat

Are Flea Treatments Harming the Environment?

Flea treatments protect dogs and cats, but some ingredients are now in UK waterways at scale. Here's what pet owners need to know, what to do differently, and what the VMD review means.

13 Aug 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog

Are Dental Chews Worth It for Dogs?

Most dental chews on the pet shop shelf have no clinical evidence behind them at all. Here's how to tell which ones actually work, why you need to use them daily, and what they can and can't do.

06 Aug 2026

Behaviour · Cat

Can Cats Get Depressed? What to Look For and What to Do

Cats can experience depressive-like states, but the signs look identical to illness. Here's what to watch for, why a vet check always comes first, and what actually helps a cat that seems low.

06 Aug 2026

Small Animals · Small Pet

Flystrike in Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters: A Summer Emergency

Flystrike can kill a small animal in under 12 hours. Here's what it is, the twice-daily check that can save a life, and the signs that mean an emergency vet call right now — for rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters.

06 Aug 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog

Why Your Dog's Bad Breath Isn't Normal

Most owners assume bad breath is just part of having a dog. Vets say it isn't. Here's what dog breath is actually telling you, what the smell can indicate, and when to book an appointment.

06 Aug 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog & Cat

Do Dog and Cat Supplements Actually Work? What the Evidence Says

The supplement market for pets is vast and largely unregulated. Here's what the evidence actually supports, what it doesn't, and the one principle worth applying before you spend anything.

30 Jul 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog

Arthritis in Dogs: The Early Signs Most Owners Miss

A 2024 study found nearly 40% of young dogs already show joint changes. Most owners had no idea. An evidence-led guide to the early behavioural signs, why dogs hide joint pain, and what to do today.

30 Jul 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog

Is My Dog Overweight? How to Tell Before It Becomes a Health Problem

Vets estimate 46% of UK dogs are overweight, yet most owners think their dog is fine. Here's how to check properly, why the scales alone don't tell you, and what to do if your dog is carrying too much.

30 Jul 2026

Small Animals · Guinea Pig

Vitamin C Deficiency in Guinea Pigs: The Signs Every Owner Should Know

Guinea pigs can't make their own vitamin C, and deficiency can develop in as little as two to three weeks. Here are the early signs, the best food sources, why water supplements aren't reliable, and when to call a vet.

30 Jul 2026

Fish & Aquatics · Fish

White Spot in Goldfish: What It Is and What to Do

White spot is one of the commonest and most treatable goldfish diseases, but it's also a warning sign about your tank. What it is, why the whole tank needs treating, and the version that shows no spots at all.

24 Jul 2026

Explainer · Small Pet

How Long Can You Leave a Cat or Small Pet Alone?

Cats aren't as independent as their reputation suggests, and small animals are less forgiving, not more. An evidence-led UK guide to how long you can really leave a pet, and what a good carer setup looks like.

22 Jul 2026

Behaviour · Small Pet

How to Tame a New Hamster (and Teach It to Be Held)

Taming a hamster can't be rushed. A calm, step-by-step guide to earning a nervous prey animal's trust, from the first week of quiet to safely holding it in your hands, and the mistakes that set you back.

22 Jul 2026

Explainer · Cat

Cat Hairballs: What's Normal and When to Worry

The occasional hairball is normal. Frequent ones usually aren't a hairball problem at all, but a sign of something underneath. Here's what's normal, the red flags that mean a vet, and why constant hairballs deserve investigating.

16 Jul 2026

Explainer · Dog

Grass Seeds and Dogs: A Hidden Summer Danger

Grass seeds look harmless but behave like barbed darts, burrowing into a dog's paws, ears, eyes and nose. Here's how to spot the signs, why you shouldn't dig them out yourself, and how to prevent them.

16 Jul 2026

Explainer · Dog & Cat & Small Pet

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? An Honest UK Guide

Most pet insurance advice is written by people selling it. Here's the honest version: the one question that settles it, the trap that catches everyone, and what to check before the price.

16 Jul 2026

News · Dog & Cat & Small Pet

The Biggest Vet Shake-Up in 60 Years: What It Means for You

The government has published a White Paper promising the biggest overhaul of vet regulation in sixty years, with price lists, a prescription cap and a possible ombudsman. Here's what it means for pet owners, and how to act now.

09 Jul 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Dog

How to Check Your Dog's Gum Colour (and What It Tells You)

A practical UK guide to checking your dog's gum colour and capillary refill time: what's normal, what the colours mean, and when each one warrants a call to the vet.

06 Jul 2026

Behaviour · Cat

Cats Are Experts at Hiding Illness. Here's How to Read Them

Cats instinctively mask pain and illness, which is why problems are often caught late. A practical UK guide to the subtle signs, and the new science helping owners spot them.

06 Jul 2026

Preventive Vet Care · Rabbit

Rabbit Vaccinations Have Changed: What UK Owners Need to Know

A new, highly virulent strain of RVHD2 has changed UK rabbit vaccination advice. Most rabbits now need protecting twice a year. Here's what's changed and why, calmly explained.

06 Jul 2026

Seasonal Health · Dog

Recognising Heatstroke in Dogs Before It Becomes an Emergency

How to spot the early signs of heatstroke in dogs, what to do immediately, and which dogs are most at risk, based on current UK veterinary guidance.

06 Jul 2026

The Once-Over · Weekly

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