Help my portly pooch

HE’S SHUNNING WALKIES AND GAINING WEIGHT, WHAT CAN I DO?

QMy eight-year-old labrador is fed on dry food, which he enjoys. He prefers his basket by the radiator to walks, and is now starting to put on weight. Have you any tips on how to solve these problems? AThe

pet food manufacturers’ association (pfma.org.uk) is a useful website for information on weight gain in dogs. In the menu box there is a section on Pet Care, which leads to the PFMA Healthy Weight Hub. Three-quarters of vets identify overweight dogs as being one of the most prevalent problems that they see.

Just as with people, being overweight or obese can lead to a large number of medical problems, with the stark statistic that overweight dogs face a reduced life span of up to two years.

For your dog, my recommendation is a consultation with your vet. This is for two reasons. First, it is not normal for the dog to hug the radiator and prefer this to walks. It might suggest an underactive thyroid gland. Being overweight could predispose him to arthritis, which your vet will perhaps want to investigate too. Secondly, it is much easier to implement a weight-loss programme designed by the vet and nurse team. At your consultation it would help if you take the food and food bowl with you to indicate how much you normally feed him. It’s simpler to weigh your dog in the clinic and calculate the correct amount to feed. Regular checkups will be needed. These are often with the nursing team.

QWe have a nine-month kitten whose mother was a stray in such poor condition she was put to sleep. The kitten has always had mucus coming from his nose and constantly snores.

We are concerned about the costs of investigations and treatment.

AYou also mention in your email that your vet is not advising neutering at this time due to the nasal discharge.

She is obviously worried about general anaesthesia in a young cat with unresolved breathing problems. The most likely cause for the discharge is a chronic infection of the nasal passages and sinuses.

It’s very sad your kitten has never thrived since birth.

Chronic infections of the nasal passages are very difficult to cure. Normally I would sample the discharge to determine which antibiotic to use and then treat with this for a month.

This may produce an improvement, which unfortunately is more often than not short

Teing overweight could predispose him to arthritis, which your vet will perhaps want to investigate too.

Vet David Grant

lived.

Further investigations could include X-rays, nasal washes and a check for polyps. These are less likely as the problem has existed since birth. Given the history, another possibility is that the kitten has an immune suppression virus underlying the condition.

I would suggest you ask your vet for a realistic assessment of the kitten’s chances of a cure, and what she thinks is best.

These decisions are never easy ones but they should be decided with your vet’s help.