All you need to know about the upcoming XL Bully Legislation

The new XL Bully legislation means, on 31st December 2023, XL Bullies (or dogs matching their appearance) will become subject to the Dangerous Dogs Act and require a licence. It will become illegal to breed, sell, abandon or give away XL Bullies. An XL Bully is identified by its looks and size. It is not […]

Pet Investigations

We all know there’s more to a cat than it’s coat and stroking the luxuriant fur of a puss full of purr is one of the great pleasures of feline ownership.  It’s not surprising, then, when a bald patch appears, often with an open sore, owners seek our advice early on. This is where the ‘pet […]

Compliance from pets

March is a funny old month, often behaving in a very unpredictable manner.  Some years it plays the late winter card and in others, it’s early summer.  Whatever we get, one thing is true, it really is the start of spring. With that, there’s a change in mindset and mood for all life in the […]

Garden Hazards for Pets

I’m writing this in late July during a rare rainstorm, welcome respite from the record-breaking temperatures we endured earlier this week.  The air conditioning in Swan House was very welcome for pets, clients and staff!  After the rain, the parched grass will start to grow again. Lawnmowers and strimmers will need dusting off and putting […]

Pet Ownership during the Cost-of-Living Crisis

I often become exasperated when I listen to the BBC news. It seems to me the range of topics covered has become more limited recently.  Whether it’s the terrible war in Ukraine, the most recent natural disaster or the spiralling cost of HS2, individual stories seem to dominate for a few days and then disappear […]

Ingesting Non-Food Items

I have written articles for the Times in various parts of the world but few more beautiful than where I am now, off the west coast of Sardinia.  A close friend asked me to join him on his sailing boat for 10 days or so. Although I have never set foot in one before, I […]

Breeding: Anatomical Challenges of Pure Breeding

Pure breeding is causing some anatomical issues for certain pets, resulting in unnecessary distress. Dogs, as we know, come in all shapes and sizes.  Not so much cats, which is just as well because if there was a similar size variation in our domestic felines as in pet dogs, we could have 80kg cats roaming […]

A Dog’s Scent: The Sniff Test

July is a special month for many families. Schools are breaking up for summer and preparations are being made for the holidays.  Our pets certainly know that something’s afoot and react accordingly as bags are packed for a few days away.  In my house, this means extreme excitement but a road trip causes stress and […]

A Dog’s Hearing: ‘ERE, EAR

This spring has been a bit of a stop-start affair. The sun trying to warm us up despite cold winds pushing down from the north for much of April.  Hopefully, by June we will be basking in southern breezes!  It always amazes me that they survive at all, let alone have the strength to sing […]

Hyperthermia and Hypothermia

Back in April, the hot sun but cold wind tempted Tracey and I away for a couple of nights by the sea.  When I suggested this as a treat for a birthday, bags were packed for exotic Southern European sun until I admitted we were going to Weymouth.  Talk about polar opposites – you may […]