Help and advice for every animal-lover Why does dog growl at me when he eats?

Our seven-year-old Jackapoo, Ryder, is very protective of his food. Even if I just walk past while he’s eating, he growls at me and gets defensive. What can I do?

This is something that needs addressing sooner rather than later, as it seems like your dog may have some emotional problems around food. You don’t want his behaviour to escalate, which could even see him become aggressive around food. In the short term, don’t let anyone approach Ryder when he’s eating as he will feel that he has to protect his food. Please chat with your vet as soon as possible to rule out any medical problems, such as pain, especially if this is something he’s only recently started doing.

My old cat Spitfire has been diagnosed with arthritis and has started on medication. I’ve been made redundant and I’m worried about the ongoing cost. Arthritis is a condition that occurs when your cat’s joints become inflamed, stiff and painful, often as they get older. Many owners may notice their cat become slower and reluctant to jump, or they may notice loss of muscle on their legs and other signs of pain. The medication supplied by your vet will manage the condition and help keep Spitfire mobile and comfortable but Spitfire will need regular checkups to monitor how she responds to treatment and to check her general health. Sadly, more pet owners may find themselves in a similar situation as the full economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic hits. Charities like PDSA may be able to help you,

I don’t want my Chihuahua to get fleas but I don’t like giving her chemicals or medication. Do natural remedies work and what could I give her? Flea bites can cause irritation and suffering for both you and your pet. An effective treatment is one which kills fleas when they bite your pet and veterinary licensed medications will do this. These flea treatments have been through vigorous safety testing and are highly regulated with regards to use and safety, unlike natural products which do not have to undergo any testing. Natural remedies may repel fleas, but are unlikely to kill them all. Just a few surviving fleas

are able to reproduce and you could quickly end up with a serious infestation.

Our Spaniel keeps getting ear infections every few months. Each time we get ears drops from the vet and they get better but it comes back. Can we do anything to help?

Ear infections occur when you get an overgrowth of bacteria inside the ear canal. This can lead to the delicate skin inside the ear getting sore and red. The bacteria in the ears love warm, dark places and a Spaniels ear is just perfect! There are a few things you can do to help such as regularly cleaning the ears with a vet-approved solution, drying the ears after swimming and always finishing any courses of medication. If the infections keep coming back, your vet may take a swab.