The importance of cat-friendly practices in veterinary medical care
Cats are one of the most popular pets around the world. Nevertheless, pet owners do not seek veterin...
15 min read
Reducing stress for guinea pigs, chinchillas and small rodents in veterinary practice
After dogs, cats and rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, chinchillas, degus and gerbils are the mo...
17 min read
Understanding the dog–owner relationship pre- and post-partum: how can veterinary staff help when family dynamics change?
For many owners, their furry companions are more than just pets – they are family members who provid...
14 min read
The role of neurotransmitters and the reward cascade in companion animal behaviour
Veterinary professionals regularly have to treat dogs with behavioural problems associated with anxi...
6 min read
Socialisation for pre-vaccination puppies
Puppies require adequate socialisation to become well-rounded, confident adult dogs. Puppies who do ...
17 min read
The role of enrichment for dogs during enforced confinement
Providing dog owners with appropriate alternative options for activities and entertainment for their...
13 min read
Pseudopregnancy in spayed bitches – a preventable welfare problem
It has been proposed that the pathophysiology of pseudopregnancy in spayed bitches is an unintention...
18 min read
Dispelling separation anxiety myths: what advice should veterinary professionals give to clients?
An estimated 23 to 55 percent of the UK dog population are thought to suffer from some form of separ...
12 min read
The top three myths about pseudopregnancy in dogs
About 18 months ago, I “outed” myself as having an interest in pseudopregnancy in dogs. This has res...
17 min read
Let sleeping dogs lie: What you need to know about canine sleep
Let him sleep. For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. Let him swim in the deepest...
13 min read
Dominance – when an outdated theory won’t go away
As a dog behaviourist and trainer I often get clients concerned that their dog is being “dominant” –...
10 min read
Sleep deprivation in horses
Sleep is an essential part of the equine ethogram and is an important maintenance function. By under...
15 min read
Effects of neutering on undesirable behaviours in dogs
The use of surgical neutering is widespread, utilised for its health benefits (Forsee et al., 2013; ...
25 min read
16 min read
Comparing environmental modification and medical management for feline idiopathic cystitis
Imagine this clinical scenario: you have recently diagnosed a four-year-old male neutered cat with i...
12 min read
Can gabapentin reduce the stress of cats when visiting the vets?
Imagine this scenario: a post-audit survey of cat owner compliance with annual vaccination recommend...
6 min read
Preventing separation-related behaviours developing in puppies
The dog is a social species that has a fundamental drive for social contact (McCrave, 1991). When se...
9 min read
Feather plucking in parrots
An article in the Scottish Daily Record (2019) brought to light the damage that parrots can do to th...
9 min read
Minimising stress during rabbit examinations
Rabbits are becoming one of the more common animals seen in practice, and with this comes a rising e...
8 min read
