Vet Pete Wedderburn has the answers
At the end of July every year, I take my cockapoo to a fun dog show at a local music festival (Standon Calling). She wears a daisy headband and a pink tutu. I think she enjoys it but my friends tell me dog shows are all bad, and it’s uncaring to take a dog to a music festival. What do you think?
SF, CAMBRIDGE
Pedigree dog shows have been criticised in recent years for rewarding appearance despite sometimes poor health in the show ring. In contrast, well-organised, fun dog shows are unreservedly positive events: the top prizes usually go to the happiest, healthiest, friendliest dogs. As for music festivals, as long as the animals are in dog-friendly areas, away from busy throngs of revellers and loud music, dogs can enjoy these as much as they enjoy any human social gathering.
For the past few weeks, my cat appears to have lost his voice, as his miaow is very faint and hoarse. He is eating and behaving normally but has a very slight discharge from one eye. What could be the problem and hence the solution?
DR, LIVERPOOL
This is commonly caused by a viral upper respiratory tract infection: the larynx (the voice box, in cats just as in humans) becomes inflamed and swollen, losing its normal resonant quality. The lining of the eye (conjunctiva) is often affected as well, causing the discharge. In most cases, mild cases like this resolve over time by themselves. There are, of course, more serious causes, but if your cat is otherwise well, you may not be inclined to ask your vet to carry out the necessary diagnostic investigations to look into this in detail.
OVERWEIGHT PETS OFTEN LOOK ‘NORMAL’ TO THEIR OWNERS
The latest Pet Food Manufacturers Association Obesity report found that an alarming 51 per cent of dogs, 44 per cent of cats and 29 per cent of small mammals are overweight or obese, but that 68 per cent of pet owners think their pet is the right weight. Many owners don’t recognise that their pet is too fat. If in doubt, ask your local vet for an opinion. To read the report, visit pfma.org.uk
RESCUE PET
Hook is an energetic, familyfriendly, eight-year-old cat. Contact Cats Protection’s Mitchum Adoption Centre on 0300 012 0285 or visit cats. org.uk/mitcham/adopt-a-cat
To view outcomes of rescued pets, see petethevet.com/ rescues
Send queries to petsubjects@ telegraph.co.uk or tweet @PeteTheVet. All sick animals should be taken to a vet