Ask our expert
PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing answers all your pet questions
Dear PDSA Vet,
Is there anything I can do to save money on my pet’s care that won’t affect their health and happiness? Keira Dear Keira, many people are struggling right now, but there are ways to save money on pet care that won’t impact their welfare. If you have space to store it, buying pet food in bulk can often be cheaper, look out for good online deals. You could learn to groom your pet and clip their nails at home - as well as saving money this is a great way to spend time with your pet. Also consider cutting down on their treats. Instead, keep aside some of their daily food allowance to offer as ‘treats’ if you need to. Make sure your pet keeps to a healthy weight and is up to date with vaccinations, flea and worming treatments.
Dear PDSA Vet,
I’ve recently been diagnosed with heart disease and am struggling to keep up with my dog Peter’s daily walks. I’m worried he isn’t getting the exercise he needs, but I also can’t bear the thought of giving him up. What can I do? Margorie Dear Marjorie, sorry to hear about your ill health, sadly this can affect us all at any point in our lives. You’re right to consider Peter’s needs – daily walks are very important. But you may not need to consider rehoming him, in fact some studies suggest that owning a pet can help to improve the health of people suffering from heart disease. To make sure that Peter still gets his daily exercise, ask for help from family or friends, or a neighbour. You could also consider using a qualified professional dog walker or an app that matches you with willing helpers. Snuffle mats and feeding puzzles could also keep Peter entertained at home, alongside his walks. Dear PDSA Vet, I’ve been at home a lot this year and my dog Lulu now hates being on her own. Even if someone just leaves the room she goes a bit nuts and starts barking like mad. Why is this?
Claudia
Dear Claudia, it sounds like Lola is uncomfortable with being left alone – this is known as a separation related problem. It’s worth getting her checked by your vet, just in case there is any underlying medical cause or pain that could be causing this or making it worse as this can be very common. If she’s physically ok, it would be a good idea to get help and advice from a certified pet behaviourist as separation related problems can be complicated to deal with and it is important to get professional guidance on this. You’ll need to be patient as this process can be slow – you’ll need to work at Lulu’s pace.