Can I get food to help my dog gain weight?

Help and advice for every animal-lover Ask the vet

My eight-year-old Shih Tzu, Maisy, seems underweight, is there any food available specifically for older dogs that will help her put on a little weight?

I would recommend having Maisy checked by your vet, as there can be a medical cause for weight loss. They can advise you what her correct weight should be and let you know if there has been any change. If they are concerned about her weight, they may want to do some investigations. However, if Maisy was previously overweight, and you have successfully increased her activity and reduced her treats, it may be that she appears underweight to you even though she is actually her perfect size now! To maintain a healthy weight, feed Maisy a good quality, commercially available food suitable for her senior life-stage and follow the feed guidance on the packet.

I planted some bulbs in tubs recently but my Collie, Dante, dug them up and ate them. He gets enough food so it can’t be that he’s hungry. How can I get him to stop?

Many dogs love digging, but unfortunately some bulbs can be poisonous to animals, daffodils in particular are toxic. If your pet eats any part of a plant and you’re not sure if it could be toxic, you should call your vet immediately. Keep pots of bulbs out of reach ideally or use chicken wire just under the surface of the soil to stop them being dug up. Collies are highly intelligent and active, so make sure Dante is getting at least two hours of exercise daily, plus playtime to keep his brain active. Training classes might be a good idea.

We moved our rabbits indoors for the winter and I’ve noticed that despite the house always being the same temperature sometimes they have warm ears and sometimes they have cold ears. Why is this?

Rabbits’ ears have a wide surface area, which helps them to regulate their body temperature. If they are too hot then more blood will flow through their ears where the fur is thinner, allowing heat to escape and making your rabbits’ ears feel warm. If they are a comfortable temperature, or too cold, the blood flow to their ears will be reduced, making them feel cooler to the touch. As long as your bunnies’ bodies still feel

warm when you touch and stroke them, and they are eating and pooing ok, with normal activity levels, this is nothing to worry about!

For the last few years my cat has got large matted sections of fur on her back that I have to cut off with scissors. It always happens around May/June, despite regular brushing and grooming. What could be causing this?

A cat’s fur can get matted if they’re not grooming themselves properly, or they’re not groomed enough by their owner. Generally long-haired cats need to be brushed daily, whereas short-haired cats need brushing twice a week. If cats stop grooming themselves properly this may indicate that there’s an underlying problem so it’s a good idea to chat this through with your vet. if