With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include (1) animals coming across and getting bitten by an abundance of wildlife in the form of creatures great and small including predators-snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects; (2) overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation or even death. Never go anywhere with your pet without carrying drinking water and never leave your pet unattended in your car (3) walking your pet on hot surfaces like pavements or even hot sand/rocks-it is very easy to cause burns to their feet (4) water/burns and drowning&ndash;in swimming pools where animals can jump/fall in to cool off and drown because they cannot get out; or water in hose pipes that have been lying in the sun. The water in the pipes is hot and can burn your dog (5) a thick manky fur coat&ndash;this is not advisable so ensure it&rsquo;s clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin. (6) BBQs-these fun things for us can cause many problems in your dog&ndash;scavenging and eating too much, or too fatty foods like ice creams causing an upset gastro intestinal system, eating hazard foods like cooked meat bones and sweetcorn that can get stuck in parts of the body, stone fruits that can lead to choking or gut foreign bodies, and meat skewers or toothpicks that can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine.

夏天的到来会为宠物带来一连串的危机和影响，甚至会致命。急症兽医常见的有︰(1)动物遇到各样大大小小的野生动物和捕食者，如蛇、蚊、虱、蜜蜂和其他会飞的昆虫等，并被它们咬；(2)过热或中暑──在短时间内导致脱水，使动物有生命危险，甚至死亡。所以带动物外出时千万不要忘记带饮用水，或把它们留在车内无人看管；(3)于炽热的地面如行人路，甚或热沙、热石堆上溜狗──容易使狗只的脚灼伤；(4)水引致烫伤和遇溺──动物或会跳进泳池降温，但出不来以致遇溺；放置在阳光下的水管中的水，热度能烫伤狗只；(5)厚重肮脏的毛发──这并不理想，要确保毛发是干净和梳理好的，剃掉毛发时亦要多加留意，因为毛发能防止晒伤，所以不要剃掉太多；(6)烧烤──我们这个愉悦活动能为狗只带来很多问题──它们会在场觅食导致过饱，或吃了高脂肪的食物如雪糕，导致肠胃不适；或吃了能卡在身体内部的骨头和粟米，或有核的水果导致哽噎或肠道有异物，或肉串、牙签等有机会刺穿肠胃等重要的软组织部位，引致死亡。

夏天的到來會為寵物帶來一連串的危機和影響，甚至會致命。急症獸醫常見的有︰(1)動物遇到各樣大大小小的野生動物和捕食者，如蛇、蚊、虱、蜜蜂和其他會飛的昆蟲等，並被牠們咬；(2)過熱或中暑──在短時間內導致脫水，使動物有生命危險，甚至死亡。所以帶動物外出時千萬不要忘記帶飲用水，或把牠們留在車內無人看管；(3)於熾熱的地面如行人路，甚或熱沙、熱石堆上溜狗──容易使狗隻的腳灼傷；(4)水引致燙傷和遇溺──動物或會跳進泳池降溫，但出不來以致遇溺；放置在陽光下的水管中的水，熱度能燙傷狗隻；(5)厚重骯髒的毛髮──這並不理想，要確保毛髮是乾淨和梳理好的，剃掉毛髮時亦要多加留意，因為毛髮能防止曬傷，所以不要剃掉太多；(6)燒烤──我們這個愉悅活動能為狗隻帶來很多問題──牠們會在場覓食導致過飽，或吃了高脂肪的食物如雪糕，導致腸胃不適；或吃了能卡在身體內部的骨頭和粟米，或有核的水果導致哽噎或腸道有異物，或肉串、牙籤等有機會刺穿腸胃等重要的軟組織部位，引致死亡。

What are some things pet owners should be more concerned about during the summer months?

在夏天里，主人有什么需要特别注意的事项？

在夏天裡，主人有什麼需要特別注意的事項？

I assume you mean the pads. These are very important parts of your dogs paws, protecting the skin and surrounding tissues and absorb the pressures associated&nbsp;with&nbsp;day to day activities. It is not normal for them to be dry and cracked as that opens the way to infections including parasites&nbsp;percolating&nbsp;inwards, soft tissue pain and distress. I suggest you start by gently massaging the pads daily with&nbsp;Vaseline, coconut or&nbsp;baby oil and look carefully at his diet to ensure it&rsquo;s well balanced. Treat him for hookworms and add some biotin powder to the food. Try this for a month and if that doesn&rsquo;t work best check in with your vet.&nbsp;

我想你是指它的肉垫，这是狗爪子很重要的一部分，有着保护皮肤及附近组织，以及承受每天的活动所带来的压力的功能。肉垫干燥甚至干裂是不正常的，那会引致感染，包括寄生虫向内渗透，软组织疼痛及情绪低落。我建议你先用凡士林、椰子油或者婴儿油每天为它的肉垫按摩，并且留意它的饮食，保证它有均匀的饮食。检查它是否有钩虫，并在它的食物中加点维生素H粉。持续一个月后，如果仍然没有效果，你最好带它去看兽医。

我想你是指牠的肉墊，這是狗爪子很重要的一部分，有着保護皮膚及附近組織，以及承受每天的活動所帶來的壓力的功能。肉墊乾燥甚至乾裂是不正常的，那會引致感染，包括寄生蟲向內滲透，軟組織疼痛及情緒低落。我建議你先用凡士林、椰子油或者嬰兒油每天為牠的肉墊按摩，並且留意牠的飲食，保證牠有均勻的飲食。檢查牠是否有鉤蟲，並在牠的食物中加點維生素H粉。持續一個月後，如果仍然沒有效果，你最好帶牠去看獸醫。

My dogs paws are very dry and cracked. Is this normal or should I be putting cream on them?

我的狗爪子很干燥，甚至干裂了，这是正常的吗？我应该给它涂润肤露吗？

我的狗爪子很乾燥，甚至乾裂了，這是正常的嗎？我應該給牠塗潤膚露嗎？

In short, you are not going to turn your dog into a guard dog unless you are prepared to subject her to inhumane training methods, physical and emotional abuse, even torture at the hands of some trainers. I suggest you be very happy with her friendly demeanour which is related to her genetic background, &amp; her environment &amp; her training from an early age. If you really need a guard &lsquo;type&rsquo; dog you need to get an additional dog at home.

直接点说，除非你用不人道的训练手法，例如身体和心理伤害，甚至是交予训练员虐待，你是不能使你的狗变成一只看门狗的。我建议你应该为它个性友善而高兴，因为这是与它的基因、早年的成长背景和受到的训练有关的。如果你真的想要一只看门类型的狗，你需要一只额外的狗。

直接點說，除非你用不人道的訓練手法，例如身體和心理傷害，甚至是交予訓練員虐待，你是不能使你的狗變成一隻看門狗的。我建議你應該為牠個性友善而高興，因為這是與牠的基因、早年的成長背景和受到的訓練有關的。如果你真的想要一隻看門類型的狗，你需要一隻額外的狗。

My dog is so friendly to everyone she meets. How can I make her more of a guard dog?

我的狗看对了任何一只狗，我要怎么做一个多门狗？

我的狗對所有人都很友善，我要怎麼做才能使牠更像一隻看門狗？

I&rsquo;d really like to know if your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat and if both urine and faeces are involved. Because in winter just like we don&rsquo;t want to go out when it&rsquo;s cold, or raining, neither does your cat. If that&rsquo;s the case, it may be simply that you are witnessing what is normal toileting for your cat because he or she doesn&rsquo;t go outside. Frustration, stress, or anxiety can sometimes cause a cat to change their toileting habits. Any change in their routine, such as a new person in the household or moving house, can lead to changes in toileting. They may also &ldquo;mark&rdquo; spots in the house with their urine as a means of marking their territory.

我需要知道你的猫是喜爱在室内的还是户外的，以及当它排泄是只有小便或是小便大便都有。因为在冬天的时候，就像我们一样，猫也是不喜欢在冷或者下雨的时候出去的。如果是这样的话，你看到的可能只是你的猫的正常排泄情况，只是因为它没有外出而是在家进行。情况紧张、压力和焦虑有机会使一只猫改变它的如厕习惯，它们日常生活中的任何转变，例如新加入的家庭成员或者搬家都能使它们的如厕习惯改变。它们也有可能用小便在家中作「标记」，从而来标记它们的地盘

我需要知道你的貓是喜愛在室內的還是戶外的，以及當牠排泄是只有小便或是小便大便都有。因為在冬天的時候，就像我們一樣，貓也是不喜歡在冷或者下雨的時候出去的。如果是這樣的話，你看到的可能只是你的貓的正常排泄情況，只是因為牠沒有外出而是在家進行。情況緊張、壓力和焦慮有機會使一隻貓改變牠的如廁習慣，牠們日常生活中的任何轉變，例如新加入的家庭成員或者搬家都能使牠們的如廁習慣改變。牠們也有可能用小便在家中作「標記」，從而來標記牠們的地盤

My cat goes to the toilet much more frequently in winter/when it’s cold. Is there a reason for this?

在冬天时，或者天气冷时我的猫会更常去厕所，这有什么原因吗？

在冬天時，或者天氣冷時我的貓會更常去廁所，這有甚麼原因嗎？

I&rsquo;d be concerned that at 10 years of age, your cat has a disease or deficiency in her body&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;the amount of food you feed her isn&rsquo;t enough to satisfy her needs nowadays. As we get older, we develop inefficiencies in many parts of our bodies, the digestive system being one area. Assuming you haven&rsquo;t changed her food type, &amp; she has safe &amp; easy access to what you feed, &amp; it&rsquo;s not being stolen by another pet, I&rsquo;d check her weight for losses weekly, deworm her, increase the amount of food being fed in her feeding bowl by 10-20%/day,&nbsp;and monitor the behavior response. If stealing food continues, she needs a health check.

你的猫已经十岁了，使我怀疑它有可能是患有疾病或者是身体上有所欠缺，使得你喂给它的食物不足以满足它的身体需求。当我们年纪越大，身体上的不同部分会有效能降低的情况，而消化系统亦是其中一部分。假设你没有对它的食物种类作出改变，而它可以在安全和轻松的情况下获得你所喂食的食物，而且它的食物亦没有被其他宠物偷取，那么我建议你每星期检查它的体重是否有所下降，为它进行除虫，并每天增加10％至20％的食物，从而观察它的反应。如果它偷食物的行为仍然持续的话，它便需要去做身体检查。

你的貓已經十歲了，使我懷疑牠有可能是患有疾病或者是身體上有所欠缺，使得你喂給牠的食物不足以滿足牠的身體需求。當我們年紀越大，身體上的不同部分會有效能降低的情況，而消化系統亦是其中一部分。假設你沒有對牠的食物種類作出改變，而牠可以在安全和輕鬆的情況下獲得你所喂食的食物，而且牠的食物亦沒有被其他寵物偷取，那麼我建議你每星期檢查牠的體重是否有所下降，為牠進行除蟲，並每天增加10％至20％的食物，從而觀察牠的反應。如果牠偷食物的行為仍然持續的話，牠便需要去做身體檢查。

My cat is 10 but suddenly behaving badly, such as climbing on the kitchen counter to steal food. Is there a reason she has suddenly become like this?

我的猫十岁了，但最近它开始变得很不乖，例如会爬到厨房台上偷食物，有什么原因使它变得这样吗？

我的貓十歲了，但最近牠開始變得很不乖，例如會爬到廚房檯上偷食物，有甚麼原因使牠變得這樣嗎？

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;我應該一天餵一次狗，還是兩次？|&nbsp;Is it better to feed my dogs once a day or twice a day? Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/6_Feed-Dog-FB.webp" alt="6_Feed-Dog-FB.webp (8 KB)" width="50%" /> 野狗在捉到獵物時才會進食，牠們通常每星期進食兩至三次。 牠們大吃一頓後便放鬆和睡覺。寵物狗的情況下，我們會在我們「認 為」牠們想吃東西的時候餵牠們。 我們將牠們訓練得在我們這裏得到食物，而毋須捕獵， 食物已經會很簡單地出現在牠們的碗中。理論上， 狗應該只在餓的時間進食。在寵物狗中， 肥胖是一種最為常見的健康問題，因為我們餵食太多。 在富裕的環境下， 以餵食來消除煩悶的感覺是其中一個更頻繁地餵食的原因。 我建議將一天的食物分量劃分開， 並用分配食物的玩具來取代一天兩餐，而且一天只餵一次正餐。 但實際上這取決於你的狗，當牠真的很餓的時候牠便會吃東西， 除非牠是一隻拉布拉多&hellip;&hellip;牠們無時無刻都想吃東西！ <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/paulineheader.webp" alt="paulineheader.webp (11 KB)" width="50%" /> DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp;In wild dog packs,&nbsp;dogs get fed when they catch prey. They usually eat 2-3 times/week. They glutton &amp; overeat, then relax &amp; sleep. With our pets we&nbsp;&lsquo;think&rsquo;they would like to eat when we do. We&nbsp;train them to expect food from us &amp;&nbsp;make it very easy for them delivering food to their food bowls, no hunting required.&nbsp; In fact dogs&nbsp;in theory&nbsp;should be fed only when&nbsp;they&nbsp;really&nbsp;are hungry. Obesity is one of the most common medical problems in our pet dogs. We overfeed them. Environmental enrichment to ease boredom is a&nbsp;reason to feed dogs&nbsp;more frequently.&nbsp;I recommend dividing the daily amount of food &amp; use food dispensing toys instead of two meals/day, and feed a main meal&nbsp;only&nbsp;once/day. In reality however it actually depends on your own dog&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;normally when&nbsp;he is genuinely&nbsp;hungry he will&nbsp;eat.&nbsp;Unless of course he is a Labrador&hellip;.who&nbsp;are&nbsp;always ready to eat!

Is it better to feed my dogs once a day or twice a day?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;我給我的貓喝牛奶是安全的嗎？|&nbsp;Is it safe for my cat&nbsp;to drink&nbsp;cow&rsquo;s&nbsp;milk?&nbsp; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/7_Cow-milk-FB.webp" alt="7_Cow-milk-FB.webp (9 KB)" width="50%" /> 從營養學的角度來說，貓不會從牛奶中獲得甚麼營養， 奶對牠們來說只是一種特別高卡路里的零食。加上， 牛奶中有很高的乳糖（糖份）和駱蛋白（蛋白質）， 高於貓能接受的分量。 貓在斷奶後沒有那麼高的能力去分解牛奶中的糖份和蛋白質， 牠們的腸道裏沒有一種叫乳糖酵素的酵素，因此當牠們喝牛奶後， 攝入的糖份有機會引致腹瀉、脹氣和放屁。所以我並不建議你喂牛奶 給你的貓。 <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/paulineheader.webp" alt="paulineheader.webp (11 KB)" width="50%" /> DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;Nutritionally&nbsp;cats do not get anything special from&nbsp;cow&rsquo;s&nbsp;milk. Milk is really just a high calorie&nbsp;treat for them. In addition&nbsp;cow&rsquo;s&nbsp;milk is loaded with more lactose&nbsp;[sugar]&nbsp;and casein&nbsp;[ protein]&nbsp;than most cats can handle. Cats&rsquo; bodies after weaning do not have the&nbsp;same&nbsp;ability to break up the&nbsp;sugars &amp;&nbsp;proteins in milk, they do not have an enzyme called lactase in their gut, &amp;&nbsp;as a result the&nbsp;ingested&nbsp;milk sugars can cause&nbsp;diarrhea, bloating and farting in cats drinking&nbsp;cow&rsquo;s&nbsp;milk.&nbsp;I really don&rsquo;t recommend you feed your&nbsp;cats&nbsp;cow&rsquo;s&nbsp;milk.

Is it safe for my cat to drink cow’s milk?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;如果我從英國帶狗來的話，在氣候的轉變上有甚麼需要留意？以及，我能怎樣讓牠適應新環境？|&nbsp;When bringing in a dog from the UK, what are some changes in climate to consider and how can I help my dog settle in? &nbsp; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/8_UK-dog-FB.webp" alt="8_UK-dog-FB.webp (8 KB)" width="50%" />&nbsp; 從英國把狗帶到香港，這種比較涼快，濕度較低的氣候在香港較冷的時候十分常見。將你的狗留在20至24度的環境中，並帶你已經注射過疫苗的狗在較涼爽的清晨和黃昏時分散步，並做好對於寄生蟲的預防措施。香港有不少在英國較少見，甚至沒有的致命寄生蟲和疾病，特別是當你的狗沒有在本地成長的自然免疫力時，更需多加留意。 <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/paulineheader.webp" alt="paulineheader.webp (11 KB)" width="50%" /> DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;Bringing a dog into HK from the UK, a&nbsp;much&nbsp;cooler less humid climate,&nbsp;is preferably&nbsp;done at&nbsp;the&nbsp;cooler times of the HK year. Keep&nbsp;your dog in&nbsp;environmental temperatures&nbsp;between 20-24C&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;walk your newly imported &amp; appropriately vaccinated dog at&nbsp;cooler times-&rsquo;dusk or dawn&rsquo;&nbsp;ensuring&nbsp;you have&nbsp;preventative&nbsp;parasite controls in place. HK has a variety of&nbsp;parasites &amp;&nbsp;diseases not common or&nbsp;unknown in the UK that can kill&nbsp;dogs especially those&nbsp;imports&nbsp;with no natural local immunity in place.

When bringing in a dog from the UK, what are some changes in climate to consider and how can I help my dog settle in?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;我的豹紋守宮用了好幾天來脫皮而不是一天，是牠年紀大了還是出甚麼問題了？為甚麼？|&nbsp;My leopard gecko has been taking several days to shed his skin instead of just one. Is he just getting old, or could something be wrong? Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/9_Gecko-FB.webp" alt="9_Gecko-FB.webp (8 KB)" width="50%" /> 豹紋守宮正常只用24小時左右去脫皮， 所以如果你的豹紋守宮用多於這個時間， 那一定是有甚麼地方出錯了。 我會建議你仔細查看飼養箱裏面的溫度和濕度，如果太乾的話， 有需要加濕。同時要確保裏面有石頭去讓豹紋守宮去除死皮， 以及留意牠有足夠的營養。 <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/paulineheader.webp" alt="paulineheader.webp (11 KB)" width="50%" /> DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;The normal time for a leopard gecko to shed its skin is about 24 hours, so if yours is taking longer something could definitely be wrong. I&rsquo;d look very carefully at the temperature &amp; humidity in your terrarium because if it&rsquo;s too dry you will need to add moisture. Also make sure rocks are available so your gecko can rub against them to help remove dead skin. In addition, ensure he has appropriate nutrition at all times.

My leopard gecko has been taking several days to shed his skin instead of just one. Is he just getting old, or could something be wrong?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;我的兔子最近生了小兔子，但我今天打開籠子的時候發現小兔子們都不見了。兔子會吃牠們的孩子嗎？為甚麼？|&nbsp;My rabbits had babies recently but when I went into the cage today they were gone, do rabbits eat their own children? Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/Bunnies-FB.webp" alt="Bunnies-FB.webp (10 KB)" width="50%" /> 牠們會的。兔子在自然界中是獵物， 很容易會因牠們的生存本能而感到壓力。 所以當牠們擔心牠們會被捕獵的時候， 牠們會做出一切能使自己生存下去的行為，包含吃掉牠們的孩子。雖 然這不常見，但是很正常的現象。如果你想讓你的兔子有孩子的話， 我建議你檢查一下牠們的生產環境，營養攝取， 並閱讀些相關的東西。 <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/paulineheader.webp" alt="paulineheader.webp (11 KB)" width="50%" /> DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;In one word, yes, they do! Rabbits are prey animals, easily stressed with a natural instinct for personal survival. So if they are worried that they may become prey they will do whatever it takes to survive, including eating their own offspring. Although not common it&rsquo;s normal.&nbsp;If you want them to have offspring then&nbsp;I suggest you review their husbandry, nutrition and&nbsp;read up about&nbsp;kindling/giving birth.

My rabbits had babies recently but when I went into the cage today they were gone, do rabbits eat their own children?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;我們較年老的貓死後，年輕一點那隻貓的性格好像變了。為甚麼？|&nbsp;Since our older cat died recently our younger cat seems to have a new personality. Why is that? <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/10-pc2.webp" alt="10-pc2.webp (6 KB)" width="50%" /> Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC 在同住的另一隻貓離世後，貓是有很大機會改變牠們的性格的， 像是從束縛中解放出來一樣，會有很多與以往不同的行為。這通常是 比較正面的。像人類一樣，貓身處在社交圈子中， 並不一定和其他成員相處得好。當其中一隻貓離世時， 留下的那隻有機會變得更善於社交， 從另一隻貓帶來的壓力中解放出來。 <img src="https://backend.pets-central.com/assets/images/pet-corner/paulineheader.webp" alt="paulineheader.webp (11 KB)" width="50%" /> DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp;Cats can&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;change &amp;&nbsp;show a different personality after&nbsp;another cat in the same home environment passes away. They&nbsp;come out of their &lsquo;shell&rsquo; and act quite different.&nbsp;Their behavior changes&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;usually for the good.&nbsp;Cats,&nbsp;like humans,&nbsp;live in social groups that&nbsp;don&rsquo;t all get along&nbsp;with&nbsp;each other.&nbsp;When one&nbsp;cat&nbsp;dies the one left behind&nbsp;can change becoming a much more sociable&nbsp;cat, happy&nbsp;without stress from a fellow feline.

Since our older cat died recently our younger cat seems to have a new personality. Why is that

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;我們的狗在我們十三歲的金毛尋回犬死後情緒一直很低落，我們能怎麼樣令她精神一點？|&nbsp;Our dog has been really down since our 13-year-old retriever died. What can we do to raise her spirits? Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC 從我的個人經驗來說，我相信我們的寵物貓狗會為離世的家庭成員感到衰痛，當中也包括牠們的同類。我建議有可能的話，盡量讓牠們看看離世的家庭成員，讓牠們明白牠們的朋友離世了。不要讓牠們處於「為甚麼牠們的朋友不再回家」的疑問中。和你的狗狗好好談談，讓她知道發生了甚麼事。如果你有你金毛尋回犬的骨灰的話，請你讓你的狗狗知道並講解，看看能不能使她感覺好一點。 DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp;From my own life experiences I believe that our pet dogs and cats mourn the passing of other family members including their own species. I recommend whenever possible let a pet&nbsp;view and spend time with a deceased&nbsp;family member. Let them know their friend has died. Don&rsquo;t keep them wondering &ldquo;why&rdquo; their friend never came&nbsp;home one day.&nbsp;Talk to your dog and tell her&nbsp;what happened.&nbsp;If you have the ashes of your retriever please introduce them&nbsp;to your dog and see if that helps&nbsp;ease her&nbsp;pain.

Our dog has been really down since our 13-year-old retriever died. What can we do to raise her spirits?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;Holiday Hazards&nbsp;|&nbsp;假日危機 Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: At holiday and festival times there are many goodies around that can cause hazards for our pets. Most visits to emergency veterinary treatment clinics are caused by things dogs or cats eat. Holiday goodies include many foods with a high fat content. These are wonderful for causing upset tummies. Raisins, grapes and onions are toxic to our small pets leading to blood abnormalities and renal failure. Sweet items that contain artificial sweeteners can be toxic and chocolate leads to seizures and heart problems. Flowers and plants are also dangerous to our pets. Lilies, all parts of them, are FATAL to cats causing renal failure, mistletoe causes diarrhoea and the ever present poinsettia in abundance around us at present can cause mild irritation to lips and mucous membranes in addition to gastroenteritis. Anxious animals perhaps upset by the &ldquo;going-ons&rdquo; around them may turn to objects to chew to release their stress. A form of displacement behavior. These can include cables and cords belonging to festive lights or lanterns, paper, candles and coming up to CNY even Lai See packets! The problem with the laisee packets is that you also loose the contents of the laisee into your pet&rsquo;s digestive system so be extra careful with them. When strangers come around, and in particular if your dog or cat isn&rsquo;t used to visitors, it is a good idea to shut your pet out the way in a safe room or cage/basket. They will be much happier and you can relax too. And remember as the weather gets colder our pets feel the difference in temperature too. They can get hypothermia so they need warm shelters at all times and fresh clean water every day. Finally be sensible letting pets access other potential poisons, cleaning detergents and miscellaneous chemicals you may use. The classic one, uncommon I&rsquo;m pleased to say in HK, is anti-freeze which attracts animals to lick it leading once again to renal failure. Hopefully if you keep these hazards in mind and away from your pets you will all have a great holiday season. 在節日和假期的時候，我們身邊有大量能對寵物造成危害的節慶美食 和過節物品。大部分被送到獸醫診所的急症都是由貓狗所吃的東西所 引起。 佳節美食當中，有不少是高脂肪含量的，很容易引起腸胃不適。提子 乾、提子和洋蔥都是對小動物而言有毒的，並會引致血液異常和腎衰 竭。 含有人造甜味劑的甜食同樣是有毒的。巧克力亦會導致癲癇發作與心 臟問題。 花和植物對寵物來說亦是十分危險的。百合花的所有部分對貓來說都 是致命的，可引致腎衰竭，而槲寄生會導致腹瀉；聖誕節時大量的聖 誕花除了能使嘴唇和黏膜輕微過敏外，更會引致腸胃炎。 精神緊張的動物有可能會以嚼咬附近的物品來釋放因身邊在發生的事 而凝聚的壓力，這是一種轉移行為的表現。牠們有可能會咬的物品包 括有節日燈飾和燈籠等的電線、紙、蠟燭，在不久後的農歷新年時， 更有可能會咬利是。利是的危險性在於它的內容物同時會進入到你的 寵物的消化系統中，所以對利是要多加小心。 當有陌生人來訪時，而如果你的狗或貓並不習慣訪客的到訪，你可以 將你的寵物安置在一個安全的房間，或者是籠子、籃子裏面，對牠們 而言，這樣會更有安全感，而你也能比較放心。 隨着天氣轉冷，請謹記寵物也能感受到天氣的轉變，更有可能會引致 低溫症，所以牠們無時無刻都需要溫暖的地方和乾淨的清水。最後， 亦要留心你的寵物有可能接觸到的有毒物、清潔劑和任何你有機會用 到的化學物。其中一種典型的需要提防的化學物是防凍劑，它會吸引 動物去舔舐並引致腎衰竭，幸而這種防凍劑在香港並不常見。 祝願大家在渡過快樂假期的同時，能謹記以上提到的可能危害到寵物 的事物，過一個開心及安全的節日。

Holiday Hazards

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Is it safe to have an exterminator spray for bugs while my pets are in the house?&rdquo; &ldquo;當寵物在家時，請人來滅蟲安全嗎？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: I would not recommend exterminators spray while your pets are at home. I would advise you remove all pets from your house and keep them away for a few hours, overnight if possible &amp; certainly for birds. Make sure you tell the exterminators in advance that you have pets at home as they may vary what chemicals they use in their spray. 我不推薦在寵物在家的時候請人來噴滅蟲劑。我建議你可以將寵物帶離家中幾小時，如果可以的話，第二天才帶回家中更好。而雀鳥類則必須要過一晚後才帶回家。緊記要在滅蟲的人來之前通知他們家中有寵物，因為他們可能會選用不同的滅蟲劑。

Is it safe to have an exterminator spray for bugs while my pets are in the house?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Our 10-year-old cat has started drinking a lot more water. Is it her age?&rdquo; &ldquo;我們十歲的貓開始喝多了很多水，是年紀大了的緣故嗎？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: I very much doubt it! Many cats live to over 20 nowadays.&nbsp; There are many reasons why animals start drinking more and honestly if you have noticed &lsquo;polydipsia&rsquo; [drinks more than before], I suspect there is/are medical causes involved e.g. diabetes, kidney or thyroid disease to name a few. If you have recently started feeding a new salty food or your cat is being kept in a very hot environment these could contribute but medical reasons are more likely.&nbsp; A clinical exam and some blood/urine tests are needed to sort this out. &nbsp; 我不這樣認為──現在很多貓能活至二十多歲。 動物會因很多緣故而開始多喝水，而老實說，如果你發現牠有「 神經性口渴」（ 比從前多喝水），我懷疑是由醫療原因造成的，例如糖尿病、 腎病或甲狀腺等問題。如果你最近為你的貓餵飼了新的咸的食品， 或是牠一直處於一個炎熱的地方， 皆有可能因此出現神經性口渴的現象，但更大可能是醫療上的原故。 要解決這個問題，需要進行臨床檢查和驗血／驗尿等。

Our 10-year-old cat has started drinking a lot more water. Is it her age?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My bird has been constantly fluffy recently and just really low on energy, what is wrong with him?&rdquo; &ldquo;我的小鳥最近一直都很毛絨絨的，而且很沒精神，牠怎麼了?&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: It sounds like your bird is sick. It needs to see a vet that deals with avian species. Don&rsquo;t wait, your bird could die. Birds do fluff their feathers when they are cold and trap air around them to warm up, but this shouldn&rsquo;t last for days and days. 你的小鳥聽上去像是病了，需要盡快去看負責雀鳥類的獸醫， 不然會有死亡的風險。 雀鳥的確會在感到寒冷的時候蓬開牠們的羽毛從而保留身邊的空氣來 保暖，但不會長時間這樣做。

My bird has been constantly fluffy recently and just really low on energy, what is wrong with him?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My cat has a lump on her back, when we squeeze it clear liquid comes out and it goes down for a few days. But it always seems to come back, is it anything to worry about?&nbsp;&rdquo; &ldquo;我的貓背上有一個腫塊，當我們擠它的時候會有液體流出，接下來的幾天腫塊會消下去，但過一段時間它總會再次出現。這是需要擔心的現象嗎?&ldquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Probably not, but without analysis of the fluid and palpating around the area I can&rsquo;t be sure. It sounds like a cyst, and if the fluid is a little sticky it most likely comes from a sebaceous gland that has a blocked exit. When you squeeze, the blocked exit opens up. I&rsquo;d monitor the lump and be prepared to discuss it with your vet. 應該不用擔心，但在未對腫塊裏流出的液體作出分析，以及對附近區域進行觸診前，我不能確切的回答你。聽上去它像是一個囊腫，如果流出的液體有點黏稠的話，它可能來自於一個閉合的皮脂腺，而當你擠壓它的時候，便打開了它封閉的出口。我會監察着這個腫塊，並會和你的獸醫討論

My cat has a lump on her back, when we squeeze it clear liquid comes out and it goes down for a few days. But it always seems to come back, is it anything to worry about?

My cat has a lump on her back, when we squeeze it clear liquid comes out and it goes down for a few days. But it always seems to come back, is it anyt

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My cat sometimes has bursts of aggression and attacks things around him, including us! How can we help him calm down?&rdquo; &ldquo;我的貓有時候會充滿侵略性並攻擊身邊的事物，連我們都不例外。我們該怎樣使牠冷靜下來?&ldquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Cats remain youngsters until they are socially mature around two years of age &amp; until then don&rsquo;t know how to interact and play safely with humans. It is up to us to teach them &ldquo;unacceptable behavior&rdquo; from a young age. To any aggressive actions you should say &lsquo;NO&rsquo; by backing away &amp; refocus the behavior to toys like feather wands instead of you/your possessions. If your cat&rsquo;s behavior to a gentle correction is to attack more then you already have a serious problem and I recommend you talk to your vet. 貓在兩歲前，仍是在社交方面尚未成熟的「青少年」， 牠們不清楚該如何安全地與人接觸和玩耍。 我們有需要在牠們還小時教會牠們甚麼行為是不可接受的。 當牠們有任何攻擊性的行為時，你應該要對牠們「說不」── 例如後退和將牠們的攻擊對象從你或家中的物品轉移至玩具上， 如羽毛逗貓棒等。 如果較溫和的教育手段只是令牠更常出現攻擊性行為， 那麼問題則比較嚴重，建議應咨詢你的獸醫。

My cat sometimes has bursts of aggression and attacks things around him, including us! How can we help him calm down?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;Is it better to feed my cat dry food or wet food? 餵貓乾糧比濕糧更好嗎? Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;I get asked this all the time. I feed my own cats dry and wet food in separate dishes at least twice a day. What you feed often boils down to a few basic things like your own schedule and time, your cat&rsquo;s food texture preference, its food allergies, age and lifestyle, medical conditions e.g. obesity, diabetes (most vets would recommend a special diet), your own reading on cat diets and costs. At the end of the day the most important thing is to always feed a good balanced diet that works for your cat, its lifestyle and your own. 這個問題我總是常常被問到的。我每天至少兩次分別地給我的貓貓餵食乾糧和濕糧的食物。 你餵什麼通常要符合基本的生活習慣，比如你自己的日程和時間，你的貓對食物質地的偏好、有沒有食物過敏、年齡、生活方式、醫療情況如肥胖或糖尿病（大多數獸醫會建議特殊飲食）、貓糧的費用等。 最重要的是，提供適合的給貓貓，能照顧到其生活方式和保持良好均衡的飲食。

Is it better to feed my cat dry food or wet food?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Is it okay to cut my pets claws by myself?&rdquo; &ldquo;我可以自己剪掉寵物的指甲嗎?&ldquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: There is no reason that you cannot, but only if the claws/nails actually need to be clipped and you are confident to do the job yourself.&nbsp; Some claws may never need a clip. You should familiarize yourself what to do in advance and get the correct nail clippers for the pet involved e.g. I use different types depending on a pet&rsquo;s size, species and breed. Many animals are sensitive about having their claws/nails cut or even toes touched so it&rsquo;s a good idea to start handling claws/nails when they are young. Low stress handling of your pet at claw/nail clippings and positively sensitizing them to clipper sounds is essential. 沒有你不能的理由，但你要有信心自己能夾住爪子或指甲， 去完成這項工作。有些爪子可能永遠不需要夾子。 你應該事先熟悉自己該做什麼，並為寵物提供正確的指甲鉗，例如： 我會根據寵物的大小、種類和品種使用不同類型的工具。 許多動物都很敏感的爪子或指甲被剪掉甚至是腳趾被觸摸， 因此應在年輕時開始處理爪子或指甲， 降低寵物的壓力以及使他們對剪刀聲音敏感是至關重要的。

Is it okay to cut my pets claws by myself?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;My dog is only 4 but has arthritis and finds it very hard to get up sometimes. Is there anything we can do to help make her more comfortable and bring back her happy self?&rdquo; &ldquo;我的狗隻有4歲，但患有關節炎，有時很難站起來。 我們能做些什麼來幫助她變得更舒服，並令她快樂呢?&ldquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: I&rsquo;d like to know more about your dog&rsquo;s arthritis before I would attempt to give you good advice. What has caused the problem, what has been done so far, what medications you give, foods, supplements, what is the breed, weight, home environment and so on? There are lots of things vets can advise to help arthritis once a diagnosis has been made and there are a lot of supportive things you can do +/or feed. At the end of the day it actually boils down to each individual dog and no one recipe fits all. 在我試圖給你很好的建議之前，我想更多地了解你的狗的關節炎。是什麼導致了這個問題？到目前為止做了什麼？你給了什麼藥物、食物、補充品、什麼品種、體重、家庭環境等等？ 一旦做出診斷，有許多獸醫的建議可以幫助到關節炎，並且你可以做很多支援的事情或餵飼補充品，實際上沒有同一種配方適合所有狗的。

My dog is only 4 but has arthritis and finds it very hard to get up sometimes. Is there anything we can do to help make her more comfortable and bring back her happy self?

My dog is only 4 but has arthritis and finds it very hard to get up sometimes. Is there anything we can do to help make her more comfortable and bring

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking to get a&nbsp;poodle, what are differences between a standard&nbsp;poodle&nbsp;and a miniature&nbsp;poodle?&rdquo; &ldquo;我想養一隻貴婦狗，標準貴婦狗和迷你貴婦狗有什麼區別？&ldquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: The &lsquo;poodle&rsquo; is a group of formal dog breeds, the Standard&nbsp;Poodle, Miniature&nbsp;Poodle&nbsp;and Toy&nbsp;Poodle. Nowadays we also see Teacup&nbsp;Poodles&nbsp;around. The main difference is in their size, Standard are over 38 cm (15inch) while Miniature range between 28&ndash;38 cm (11&ndash;15 in). Ranked second most intelligent dog breed just behind the Border Collie, the&nbsp;poodle&nbsp;is skillful in many dog sports and activities, including agility, obedience, tracking to herding, are entertaining performers and make good assistance dogs. &ldquo;貴婦狗&rdquo;是正式的犬種，有標準貴婦狗， 迷你貴婦狗和玩具貴婦狗。 如今我們也看到了茶杯貴婦狗。主要區別在於尺寸， 標準尺寸超過38厘米（15英寸），而迷你貴婦狗尺寸在28- 38厘米（11-15英寸）之間。 貴婦狗是排名第二最聰明的犬種，只排在邊境牧羊犬後面， 在許多的運動和活動中都很熟練，身手敏捷、順從、放牧， 是有趣的表演者和善於協助的狗。

I’m looking to get a poodle, what are differences between a standard poodle and a miniature poodle?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My dog keeps drinking out of puddles when we go on walks and it makes her sick for a few days after. Is there anything I can do to treat a bad tummy without medication?&rdquo; &ldquo;我們去散步的時候，我的狗經常在水坑里喝水，這讓她生病了幾天。有方法不用藥物治療肚痛嗎？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: I cannot stress how important it is for you to stop this behavior. Puddles can and do contain many harmful things and in some instances could make your dog very sick or even kill your dog. As well as possible detergents, rat poisons and other &lsquo;stuff&rsquo; discarded by humans a host of disease organisms left by other animals walking by could be ingested by your dog. Please do not let your dog drink puddle water if you care for your dog. 我要強調需要停止這種行為的重要性。水坑包含許多有害的東西，在某些情況下可能會使你的狗病得很重，甚至殺死你的狗狗。 除了可能有洗滌劑、大鼠毒藥和人類丟棄的其他東西之外，其他動物留下的病原體，也可能被你的狗一同飲下。 如果你重視狗狗，請不要讓她喝水坑水。

My dog keeps drinking out of puddles when we go on walks and it makes her sick for a few days after. Is there anything I can do to treat a bad tummy without medication?

My dog keeps drinking out of puddles when we go on walks and it makes her sick for a few days after. Is there anything I can do to treat a bad tummy w

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My dog&rsquo;s breath stinks but he won&rsquo;t let you brush his teeth and will bite if I try, what can I do?&rdquo; &ldquo;我的狗呼吸很臭，但牠並不讓你刷牙甚至會咬你。我該怎麼辦？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: It sounds like brushing your dog&rsquo;s teeth isn&rsquo;t likely to make a difference at this time so I wouldn&rsquo;t recommend you dodge a bite to try. You are best to arrange a dental check up with your vet. I suggest you let the vet know in advance what the problems are-stinky breath and unable to look in the mouth so you and your vet get prepared as it is also highly unlikely that your vet will be able to get a good safe look in your dog&rsquo;s mouth without sedation or even anaesthetic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Smelly breath can arise from the teeth but it can also come from any part of the mouth or upper gastro intestinal tract. If the teeth are the problem dental X-Rays, perhaps extractions and a clean-up will be required.&nbsp;&nbsp;As far as the toothbrush goes introducing one to a pup at a young age and linking it to some positive reinforcers like treats is the way to start. Special dental toys and foods are available to assist and are often your only choice in a mouth shy adult dog. 看來一次刷牙並不能解決問題， 我不建議你冒被咬的險替狗狗刷牙了。 你應該跟獸醫預約一次牙科保健。 你要讓獸醫預知牠有口臭的問題和不願意張開口， 讓他能有準備要用麻醉檢查。口臭問題可以源於牙齒、 口腔其他部位及上消化道。如果牙齒出現問題，將需要牙科X光檢查 、拔牙和洗牙。最好是從幼犬開始習慣使用牙刷， 並與獎勵一起形成正面聯繫。 特別的玩具和食物是可以幫助不願意張開口的成年狗狗清潔口腔。

My dog’s breath stinks but he won’t let you brush his teeth and will bite if I try, what can I do?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Do dogs and cats have a concept of time&rdquo; &ldquo;貓狗有沒有時間的概念？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Absolutely! Most vertebrates including dogs and cats have their daily &ldquo;time&rdquo; manipulated by an internal body clock, controlled by the release of the hormone melatonin from a brain gland, the Pineal Body, in response to changes in daylight. If you ever try not feeding your cat on time, or not walking your dog when they expect a walk, they will soon let you know the &ldquo;time&rdquo; has arrived!!&nbsp; 當然有！大部分脊椎動物如貓、狗都有其生理時鐘，由一個名為「松果體」的腦腺釋放一種褪黑激素的荷爾蒙所控制，並在日間作出變化。如果你曾試過沒有按時給你的貓餵食，或者沒有在日常的時間帶你的狗散步，牠們很快便會主動告訴你「時間到了」！

Do dogs and cats have a concept of time? 貓狗有沒有時間的概念？

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;How long do goldfish live generally? &rdquo; &ldquo;金魚的壽命有多久？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: The lifespan of your pet goldfish depends on proper environmental care and responsible tank maintenance. The average life span of a pet goldfish is five to 10 years. In the wild, they can live as long as 25 years. The oldest recorded pet goldfish lived 43 years. 寵物金魚的壽命視乎有沒有好好打理環境給清洗魚缸。 寵物金魚的平均壽命約為5-10年。 野生的金魚還可以活到25歲呢。 而紀錄中最長壽的寵物金魚能活到43歲。

How long do goldfish live generally? 金魚的壽命有多久？

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Is it safe to let cats outside in Hong Kong?&rdquo; &ldquo;讓貓貓在香港外出安全嗎？&rdquo; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Cats are natural predators conditioned to hunt for food. They are also prey for other predators like pythons in HK. If you let your cat outside you subject it to environmental stimulation, mentally and physically. You also allow it to be at risk of coming across life threatening situations or instant death. Your choice!&nbsp; 貓貓是天生的捕食者去追捕獵食物，但牠們亦是其他食肉動物如蟒蛇的獵物之一。如果你讓你的貓貓外出，牠很容易會受到環境、精神上和身體上的刺激。嚴重的會讓牠面臨危及生命的情況或即時死亡的危險，所以歸於你的選擇了！

Is it safe to let cats outside in Hong Kong?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My cat is always hungry, why could this be?&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;我的貓經常肚餓，這究竟是為什麼呢？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: It could simply be that you are not feeding enough/the right type of balanced food for the lifestyle and age of your cat. Or there could be a medical problem interfering with internal &ldquo;Hunger Control Hormones.&rdquo; Monitor the amounts fed/eaten, your cat&rsquo;s weight gain/loss and any abnormal behaviour for a few weeks then plan to visit your vet to discuss.&nbsp; 這可能僅僅是因為你沒有根據貓的生活方式和年齡，提供足夠或是均衡營養的食物。亦有可能是因為醫學問題而干擾了內部的&ldquo;飢餓控制激素&rdquo;。在數星期內監測餵食以及貓貓食用了的量；還有觀察貓貓的體重是否增加或減少和有沒有任何異常行為，然後再計劃訪問你的獸醫再作討論。

My cat is always hungry, why could this be?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Which toys are best for my dog? &ldquo;哪種玩具最適合我的狗狗呢？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: This is a common question I get asked. Before you open your wallet here are a few things to consider as there are endless types, options and prices of toys. The age, size and breed of your dog is relevant and whether the toys will be used inside or outside, and play supervised or not. A pup will chew more than a geriatric who may have difficulty or pain with a chew toy. Mini poodles simply can&rsquo;t chew the same size of toy as a Labrador, although some may try. Likewise a toy designed for a small breed may be a hazard for a large breed in particular if it fits fully in a dog&rsquo;s mouth. Small balls can become killing toys if they get stuck in a dog&rsquo;s throat. Pups like to rip up toys and materials used to stuff them can become an intestinal foreign body as well as a dollar drain, so hard toys are better for pups. Doggy play styles also differ and it&rsquo;s beneficial to know if your dog is a tugger, chewer, hoarder, chaser or snuggler. Boredom and separation anxiety can be partly relieved by giving the right toys at the right time. A toy stuffed with yummy food will do wonders to settle your pet when you leave home. Interactive toys like tug toys are best kept for human-animal playtime when bonding occurs. Toy durability, safety and mobility should be considered especially as choosing the right one makes for a happier dog. 這是一個我經常被問到的問題。在你打開錢包付款之前， 有幾點是需要考慮到的，市場上有著各式各樣種類、 選擇和價格的玩具。要留意狗狗的年齡、體型和品種都是相關的， 而且玩具將會在室內或室外使用， 以及玩的時候是否要接受監督等因素。 一隻小狗會比有咀嚼困難的老年犬更能咬玩具， 迷你貴婦狗亦不能像拉布拉多一樣咬同樣大小的玩具， 儘管有些人還是會嘗試這樣做。為小型犬設計的玩具， 可能會對大型犬造成危害，特別是如果玩具完全合乎狗的嘴巴尺寸。 假若細小的玩具球卡在狗狗的喉嚨裡，有機會令牠致死。 小型犬喜歡撕開玩具和吞掉其材料， 這樣有機會造成腸道有異物和飼主金錢損失， 所以硬玩具對小型犬比較好。要認清小狗不同的遊戲風格， 能令你有效選擇合適的玩具，例如狗狗是否玩具的拖拉者、咀嚼者、 囤積者、追逐者或依偎者。狗狗的納悶和分離焦慮， 可以通過在適時提供適當的玩具而緩解。在你離家的時候， 你可以為狗狗準備一個塞滿美味食物的玩具，這樣會為牠帶來樂趣； 可拉扯的拖曳玩具則能讓人和狗狗玩耍互動。此外， 亦要注意玩具的耐用性、安全性和機動性， 合適的玩具會讓狗狗更快樂。

Which toys are best for my dog?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Will cod liver oil or coconut oil help with my cat&rsquo;s food allergy? &rdquo;&nbsp;鱈魚肝油或椰子油對貓貓的食物過敏有幫助嗎？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Without knowing more about your cat I honestly have no idea if either oil would help! Both oils contain essential fatty acids [EFA] that cannot be made in the body and are required in the diet. EFA supplementation has been used by vets to treat lots of conditions e.g. dry coats, arthritis and some allergies with mixed results. Good quality commercial diets have most required EFA a cat needs. My advice is take care with [over]supplements. They can harm as well as heal!!&nbsp; 在不知道你的貓咪情況如何下，我真的不知道這些油會否對牠有幫助！ 這兩種油都含有必需脂肪酸[EFA]，這種脂肪酸不能在體內製成，需要依靠在日常飲食中攝取。EFA補充品已被獸醫用於治療許多病症，例如毛髮乾燥、關節炎和一些混雜的過敏反應。貓需要的優質商業飲食大多需要全民教育。 我的建議是好好的照料代替補充品為補充品需雖然能給予治療同時也有機會造成傷害！

Will cod liver oil or coconut oil help with my cat’s food allergy?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;How many treats is too much for my dog?&rdquo;&nbsp;多少獎勵才算對狗狗過量？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: You don&rsquo;t state what you mean by a treat but I assume you mean food. Food treats are excellent rewards when used correctly in training, to reward good and appropriate behaviour and to let your dog know you are pleased with him. When they get too much is when every time your dog looks at you, or barks or whines, you give him some food. Too many treats can cause upset tummies, lead to obesity and cause friction and fighting in multi animal households.&nbsp; My advice is to use treats wisely and your dog will appreciate them and you even more. Don&rsquo;t forget about non-food treats like toys, play, walks and cuddles. It&rsquo;s not only food your dog needs. 由於你沒有清楚說明，我就假設是一般的食物吧。以食物作獎勵在訓練過程中是十分好的，用以讚賞你的狗，讓牠知道你十分滿分牠們當下的行為。甚麼情況下為之過多，就是每當狗盯著你、吠叫或嗚咽時，你卻給牠零食。太多零食會導致腸胃不適、引致肥胖和在多動物家庭中造成磨擦和打鬥。我的建議是要聰明地使用獎勵，你的狗狗才會珍視你和它。別忘記還有非食物類的獎勵如玩具、遊戲、散步和擁抱。食物並非狗狗所需的一切呢。

How many treats is too much for my dog?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;I am thinking of relocating away from Hong Kong, what are some necessary steps I need to take to bring my dog with me?&rdquo;&nbsp;我計劃移民離港，我必須帶同我的狗一起的話，有甚麼必要的步驟？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Necessary steps will vary with where you are going so the first thing to do is check import rules for dogs with the Government of the country of your future abode. This can usually be done by consulting an official website or failing your understanding of what is written, and for safety you get things right, I suggest you contact a local Import/Export company. I advise that you get onto this groundwork as soon as you suspect you may relocate. Some countries require repeated blood tests for different diseases up to six months before import. You also have to satisfy the export criteria for leaving Hong Kong with your pet &amp; have appropriate paperwork ready for entry into a new country.&nbsp; Countries not only differ they can also change their rules depending on current trends/disease status globally so please do not assume anything, make the right checks and get professional advice in good time so your pet can be prepared to emigrate with you. You will need to book a flight and check that the airline will transport your pet as there are many airline rules too and not every breed of dog is allowed on board some airlines. &nbsp; 必要步驟視你前往的地點而定。第一件事要查看當地對狗隻移民的重要守則。你可以在官方網站細閱，但如果你不能理解當中的內容，亦可尋求狗隻進口公司的協助，以確保你辦對了手續。我建議當有移民的打算時，便立刻著手調查了。有些國家規定需要六個月內的重複血液檢驗。你也要符合本港動物出口規定的要求，並辦妥所有文件。不同國家不但有不同的條例，也可按當地疫情隨時更改相應的法例要求，因此不要作出任何假設。確認手續正確及盡早尋找專業意見，就可以讓你和你的狗一起安心入境了。你需要預訂機票，來查航空公司規定以及是否會託運你的狗，因為並非所有品種的狗都能登機的

I am thinking of relocating away from Hong Kong, what are some necessary steps I need to take to bring my dog with me?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;I saw my cat eating a dead cockroach, what should I do?&rdquo;&nbsp;我看到貓咪吃死掉的蟑螂，我要怎麼樣？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Cockroaches&nbsp;can contaminate food,silverware, plates, cooking surfaces, etc.&nbsp;with their waste and saliva which contains bacteria that can cause food poisoning, diarrhea, and other infections. Although they are associated with, and thrive in conditions of poor sanitation, they can also invade even the best-kept homes. Cockroaches can come into your home on food, packages, boxes, used furniture and appliances, or can migrate from adjoining apartments or buildings. If your cat has already eaten a cockroach it&rsquo;s probably too late to do much that would help. Be prepared should your cat show some side effects-vomiting, diarrhoea, nervous signs to take her along to a vet explaining what you saw. The good news is that acids in your cat&rsquo;s digestive system will hopefully kill pathogenic bacteria that get swallowed. The bad news is that you probably have more cockroaches around for your cat to eat. Stalking these scurrying creatures is a lot of fun for your cat and brings out its natural hunter instincts. My advice is plan to eliminate cockroaches from you and your cats&rsquo; environment. &nbsp; 蟑螂能污染食物、銀器、碟、煮食地方等。牠們的排泄物和唾液含有可能導致食物中毒、腹瀉和其他感染的細菌。雖然牠們與骯髒的環境有關，但也可能入侵潔淨的家居。蟑螂來自食物、包裝、箱子、二手傢私和家電，也可以來自相鄰的大廈。 如果你的貓已經吃掉了蟑螂，便已經太遲去行動了。觀察你的貓會否出現以下症狀：嘔吐、腹瀉、緊張、並帶牠到獸醫處檢查。好消息是消化系統中的酸性能殺死致病菌。壞消息是附近可能有更多蟑螂，你的貓可能會繼續捕食。捕食這些小生物對貓來說非常好玩，以及展現出捕獵的天性。我的建議是滅絕環境中的蟑螂吧！

I saw my cat eating a dead cockroach, what should I do?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;How do you tell if your dog is overweight?&rdquo; 如何知道狗狗是否過重？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Obesity has become an extremely important health problem in the world, not just for humans but for dogs and cats as well. Obesity in pets is associated with joint problems,&nbsp;diabetes mellitus, respiratory compromise, and decreased life span; recent estimations suggest that up to 35%&nbsp;of dogs and cats in the U.S. suffer from obesity. Sometimes it is hard to recognize that your pet is overweight if the weight gain has come on gradually or it is hard to actually accept that your pet is more than just a little chubby and is now fully obese! To assist in this evaluation, &ldquo;body condition scoring&rdquo; has been developed by experts and is fairly easy to accomplish by a lay person. There are two scoring systems: a five-point system (where three out of five is considered optimal) and a nine-point system where four to five out of nine is considered optimal).&nbsp; To evaluate your pet, feel for a small amount of &ldquo;padding&rdquo; over the ribs. It should be possible to feel the ribs and there should be a small fat tuck in the belly where the hind legs meet the body. If you need help ask staff at any vet clinic. 癡肥是現今社會十分關注的健康問題，除了人類以外， 貓和狗也會有癡肥的問題。寵物癡肥會帶來關節病、糖尿病、 呼吸損傷及壽命縮減等後果。現時估計約有35%狗和貓在受癡肥的 問題困擾。有時候由於體重是逐漸上升的，很難察覺自己的寵物由「 小肥」變為「癡肥」！要評估此情況，專家發展出「 身體狀況評分表」，可以讓非專業人士也能簡單做到評估。 當中包含兩個系統：五分制(取得3分為最佳)和九分制(取得4- 5分為最佳)。為寵物進行評估時，先找出在肋骨附近的類似「 墊子」的地方，應該能感覺到肋骨， 然後在後腿和身體連接處摸到細小的脂肪體。如果你需要幫忙， 可以請教獸醫助護或獸醫的

Ask the Vet: “How do you tell if your dog is overweight?” 如何知道狗狗是否過重?”

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Will my dogs become lazy if I start using a doggie pram?&rdquo; 如果我使用狗嬰兒車，我的狗會變懶惰嗎？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: There is no place for a doggy pram unless you have a disabled or elderly dog that cannot or will not walk on its own feet. Dogs love to walk and get immense stimulation from their surroundings. By subjecting your dog to a doggy pram you are depriving your dog of so much including exercise, smells, social interaction with other animals, and leaving their own messages along the way for other dogs to pick up. I cannot recommend a pram for a dog unless it is unable to walk by itself. Doggie prams are gimmicks and unnecessary as far as I am concerned in day to day normal doggie life. In addition they promote obesity, isolation from other dogs and may even cause fear in some dogs who develop behaviour problems as a result.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 狗嬰兒車只適用於有殘障或年老而行動不便的狗狗。狗狗喜歡走動以感受環境的刺激。以嬰兒車代步將剝削狗狗運動、嗅、與其他動物社交、不能留下氣味讓其他狗狗嗅得到。我不建議使用狗嬰兒車，除非狗狗不能行走。狗嬰兒車只是行銷手法，並非必要品，我只重視狗的日常生活。此外，它間接造成肥胖、與狗群分離、甚至害怕其他狗的行為問題。

Ask the Vet: “Will my dogs become lazy if I start using a doggie pram?” 如果我使用狗嬰兒車，我的狗會變懶惰嗎？

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Is it ok for my rabbit to eat it&rsquo;s own poo?&rdquo; 我的兔子會吃糞，這是正常的嗎？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: In one word, Yes! &nbsp;This is called caecotrophy or coprophagy.&nbsp; In fact, if they do not they can be subject to life threatening problems involving the working of their digestive system [DS]. Rabbits have a very interesting, highly complex DS that processes and digests food largely with the help of a huge population of bacteria.&nbsp; If it isn&rsquo;t functioning as normal, it can affect your rabbit&rsquo;s health. Rabbits have adapted to digest a high fibre diet consisting mainly of grass. Food passes rapidly through the gut, and fibre is eliminated from the digestive tract as soon as possible. Three to eight hours after eating (and thus mainly at night), soft, mucus-covered caecal pellets are expelled and eaten directly from the anus, swallowed whole and not chewed. These caecal pellets remain in the stomach for up to six hours &amp; this process of caecotrophy allows absorption of nutrients and bacterial fermentation products (amino acids, volatile fatty acids and vitamins B and K), and the digestion of previously undigested food. A food item can thus pass twice through a rabbit&rsquo;s DS. &nbsp; &nbsp; 一言以蔽之：是的！這種行為稱為食糞。事實上，如果牠們不食糞，可能患上致命的疾病如消化系統問題。兔子有一個十分有趣、高複雜性的消化系統，以大量細菌合作負責處理和消化食物。如果它不正常，則可以影響兔子的健康。兔子發展出的消化系統，專門消化高纖維食物如草。食物快速地通過腸道而纖維則盡快地被分解。進食後3-8小時後，軟而被粘液覆蓋的小球從肛門排出並在沒咀嚼下吞掉。這些小球在肚子中待個6小時而食糞的行為是為了吸引營養和細菌的發酵產品(氨基酸、揮發性脂肪酸和維生素B和K)及消化未完成消化的食物。所以，一種食物需要通過兔子的消化系統兩次。

Ask the Vet: “Is it ok for my rabbit to eat it’s own poo?” 我的兔子會吃糞，這是正常的嗎？

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;My dog is very lethargic today, is he sick?&rdquo; 我的狗狗今天十分嗜睡，牠生病了嗎？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: If you can what I suggest you do is take your dog&rsquo;s temperature and monitor him carefully for a few days. Your dog&rsquo;s behaviour is a very important indicator of whether your companion is feeling normal. Dogs generally live for a few really important things namely food, water, shelter, exercise/walks, play, mental stimulation and their owner&rsquo;s attention and approval of what they do. Dogs naturally sleep a lot and depending on their age it can be up to 14 hours/day. So if you feel your dog isn&rsquo;t as active as normal I&rsquo;d certainly be concerned something has upset your dog. That doesn&rsquo;t mean your dog is sick as defined by a medical condition needing treatment. It could be that your dog is disturbed or distressed, or scared and anxious as many dogs in these situations go quiet, prefer to hide and are unwilling to do normal activities. 在可以的情況下，我提議可以替狗狗探測體溫並密切監視數天。縱然其他人覺得正常，狗狗的行為是重要的指標。狗狗的生活離不開數項重要的東西：食物、水、家、運動/散步、耍樂、精神上的鼓舞以及主人的注意和允許牠們所做的事。 狗天性愛睡，視乎年齡每天可睡覺多達14小時。所以，如果你覺得狗狗活動不像平常一樣，可能是因為某些事情使你的狗狗不適。這不代表狗狗生病而需要醫學治療。這可能是狗狗被騷擾、哀傷、受驚或緊張，很多狗在這些情況下都會安靜和躲藏起來，不願意表現如常。

Ask the Vet: “My dog is very lethargic today, is he sick?”　我的狗狗今天十分嗜睡，牠生病了嗎?

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;How can you tell your dog is constipated?&rdquo;　如何確認狗狗便秘？ Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Constipation is the infrequent or difficult passing of faeces which when eventually they get passed tend to be dry and hard. Passing faeces is triggered by the movement of faeces in the intestine into the rectum, and controlled by the nervous system which initiates smooth muscle contractions and relaxation of the anus. The most common sign of constipation is straining to pass faeces, but vomiting, depression, not eating and discomfort occur to varying degrees. Dogs maybe misdiagnosed with diarrhoea as liquid faeces can slip by sold faecal clumps in the rectum and be passed out. There are many causes of constipation both in and out of the intestine. These include problems with the nervous system, pain and dehydration leading to blockages and a multitude of medical conditions. If your dog is constipated my advice is to seek veterinary assistance without delay. &nbsp; 便秘指不定時或難以排便的狀況，最終雖然有可能排出， 但也是乾硬的。排便是透過腸道的蠕動把糞便推送到直腸， 並由神經系統控制肛門肌肉的放鬆與收縮。&nbsp;常見的症狀為排便緊張，但嘔吐、抑鬱、 沒有進食和不安都可以導致排便緊張。狗狗可能被誤診為腹瀉， 因為液態糞便可以在直腸中通過糞塊而排出。 便秘也可以因為腸道內外的其他原因導致的。這包括神經系統、 痛楚、脫水導致堵塞和多種情況。如果你的狗狗患上便秘， 我建議你要刻不容緩地向獸醫求助。

Ask the Vet: “How can you tell your dog is constipated?”　如何確認狗狗便秘？

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;HOLIDAY HAZARDS FOR CATS&rdquo;　貓的節日危機 Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: 1-All that glitters! Tinsel shines and is attractive to cats to eat. However it can easily get wrapped round their tongues and fatally block your cat&rsquo;s intestines. 2-Candles! Try flameless candles to avoid cats knocking them over and starting a fire that could endanger the whole family. 3-Chocolate!&nbsp; Chocolate can cause cardiac arrests and seizures so make sure no chocolate is left lying around in bowls or on the floor. This can especially happen with kids around. 4-Ribbons and Bows! Just as bad as tinsel. Be careful and don&rsquo;t let cats play with them. 5-Liquid perfumes and potpourri!&nbsp; Your cats may try and lick them and this could cause chemical; burns to the tongue or mouth. If they get in their eyes it could cause eye irritations and even blindness.&nbsp; Consider plug in air fresheners with holiday scents instead. 6-Guests! Take care as influxes of new people can upset a nervous cat. If you are having people over it is best to store your cat away in a quiet place with everything they need. Also be careful when letting people into your home that your cat doesn&rsquo;t flee outside and get lost. 7-Food! Be careful not to give your cats food that could contain garlic or onions. Both can upset the blood of cats causing anaemia. I&rsquo;d suggest sticking to turkey flavoured canned cat food or a little bit of the turkey red meat only for a real treat. 8-Ornaments! Take care with new ornaments around your cat&rsquo;s normal running track especially if they are breakable. 9-The Christmas Tree!&nbsp; A great place to climb up, a great new toy!. Take care not to allow your cat to get frightened when you first bring it to your home. I suggest leave it a day before decorating it to let your cat get used to it being around. Let the novelty of the tree wear off before tying on tinsel and ornaments and try not to let your cat see you doing this. The additions look like new toys to cats. If possible place your tree in a room that you can close off and keep the cat away from it when you are not around. Placing your tree against a wall is best as cats are known to jump off bookshelves and window sills to catch a tree and swing from it.&nbsp; Another deterrent is to put upside down sticky tape around the base of the tree and as cats don&rsquo;t like this it may help to keep them away. Spraying the trunk and branches with a deterrent like bitter apple or citrus that tastes bad may stop climbing and scratching.&nbsp; Finally do not put cat food treats wrapped in gift paper at the base of the tree. Cats have a good sense of smell and will open their Chrissie presents before the 25 if they get a chance. &nbsp; 所有閃閃發光的東西！閃爍的箔是十分吸引貓去吞食的。然而，它可以很容易地使舌頭打結，並致命地阻塞你的貓腸。 蠟燭！使用無火的蠟燭防止貓推倒蠟燭，構成大火波及全家。 巧克力！巧克力能導致心臟驟停和癲癇發作，所以確保沒有巧克力碗里或地板上。 這可能會發生在周圍有孩子的地方。 絲帶！與箔同樣危險，不要讓貓與之玩耍。 香水與花香！貓可能會舔到當中的化學物，灼傷牠們的舌頭和口。如果不慎接觸到眼睛，可以損害視力甚至致盲。選用插入底空氣淨化機會比較好。 訪客！陌生人會使貓緊張起來。如果你有來賓的話，最好把貓移到有一切牠們所需的地方。而且當有人進門時，要小心不要讓牠逃出去而走失。 食物！不要給予貓含蒜及洋蔥的食物，它們可導致貧血。你可以給牠們火雞口味的罐頭或火雞肉。 飾品！ 注意貓的日常活動範圍周圍的新飾物，特別是在易碎的。 聖誕樹！一個容易攀爬的新玩具。帶聖誕樹回家時不要嚇到貓。我建議佈置前先放置一天，讓貓習慣它的存在。除去樹上的新奇飾品，然後搭上金屬絲和裝飾品。盡量不要讓你的貓看到你這樣做，會更讓貓覺得是件新玩具。可以的話把聖誕樹放在一個有門的房中，並在你離開時關掉房門隔絕貓的接觸。在牆邊放置樹是最好不過的了，讓你的貓能在書櫃或窗框跳下來時抓住樹枝。為樹乾和樹枝噴上像苦蘋果或柑橘味道，可以停止攀爬和抓撓。最後，不要把食物和貓罐頭包裝成禮物，牠們的嗅覺很好，會在25號來臨前把禮物拆掉！

Ask the Vet: “HOLIDAY HAZARDS FOR CATS”　貓的節日危機

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Holiday Hazards&rdquo;&nbsp; 假日危機 Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: At holiday and festival times there are many goodies around that can cause hazards for our pets. Most visits to emergency veterinary treatment clinics are caused by things dogs or cats eat. Holiday goodies include many foods with a high fat content. These are wonderful for causing upset tummies.&nbsp; Raisons, grapes and onions are toxic to our small pets leading to blood abnormalities and renal failure. Sweet items that contain artificial sweeteners can be toxic and chocolate leads to seizures and heart problems. Flowers and plants are also dangerous to our pets. Lilies, all parts of them, are FATAL to cats causing renal failure, mistletoe causes diarrhoea and the ever present poinsettia in abundance around us at present can cause mild irritation to lips and mucous membranes in addition to gastroenteritis. Anxious animals perhaps upset by the &ldquo;going-ons&rdquo; around them may turn to objects to chew to release their stress.&nbsp; A form of displacement behavior. These can include cables and cords belonging to festive lights or lanterns, paper, candles and coming up to CNY even Lai See packets! The problem with the laisee packets is that you also loose the contents of the laisee into your pet&rsquo;s digestive system so be extra careful with them. When strangers come around, and in particular if your dog or cat isn&rsquo;t used to visitors, it is a good idea to shut your pet out the way in a safe room or cage/basket. They will be much happier and you can relax too. And remember as the weather gets colder our pets feel the difference in temperature too. They can get hypothermia so they need warm shelters at all times and fresh clean water every day. Finally be sensible letting pets access other potential poisons, cleaning detergents and miscellaneous chemicals you may use.&nbsp; The classic one, uncommon I&rsquo;m pleased to say in HK, is anti-freeze which attracts animals to lick it leading once again to renal failure. Hopefully if you keep these hazards in mind and away from your pets you will all have a great holiday season. Kung Hey Fat Choy to one and all, two and four legged! &nbsp; 假日和節慶時刻，都會出現很多對寵物構成危險的食物。很多前來動物醫院的急症都是由於貓狗進食所致。 很多節慶食物都含高脂肪，會對肚子造成不適。葡萄乾、葡萄和洋蔥都是對我們的寵物有毒，引致血液異常和腎功能衰竭。 甜點中的人工甜味劑同樣有毒，巧克力可引致癲癇和心臟問題。 其他植物和花也是對寵物有相當危險性的。百合花每個部位都對貓帶來致命的腎功能衰竭；槲寄生引起腹瀉；而經常出現的一品紅對嘴唇和粘膜造成輕度刺激以及腸胃炎。 較為緊張的動物可以因此而透過咀嚼物件減低壓力。這是一種位移行為。物件諸如節日燈飾和燈籠的線和繩、紙張、蠟燭和農曆新年的利是封！利是封的內含物也會掉進寵物的消化系統中，因此要加倍小心。 有陌生人前來的時候，特別是你的貓狗不習慣接觸來客的話，最好把牠們移到安全的房間或籠子中。牠們會更高興，你也能更輕鬆。 記著，天氣轉涼時，我們的寵物也會感知到溫度的變化。牠們可能出現低溫症，所以要時刻待在暖的房間和供應新鮮的飲用水。最後要小心寵物能接觸到的毒物、清潔劑和各種化學物。其中一種最典型的，但香港並不常見的，防凍液會吸引動物舔食，引致腎功能衰竭。 希望你能謹記這些危機，並遠離它們，跟動物有一個愉快的節日。 祝大家和寵物們恭喜發財！

Ask the Vet: “Holiday Hazards 假日危機”

Ask the Vet:&nbsp;&ldquo;Our dog keeps licking her paws, but there are no signs of wounds or parasites. What should I do?&rdquo; 我們的狗持續地舔牠的爪，但沒有跡象顯示有傷口或寄生蟲，我應該怎麼辦？&nbsp; Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Licking paws is part of normal grooming while over licking paws is a common problem among dogs with allergies and some other medical problems.&nbsp; With over licking, the paw hairs tend to get stained by the dog&rsquo;s saliva and can be noticed by red/brown tinges on the paw hairs, especially on dogs with light colored coats.&nbsp; Allergies can be seasonal and linked to allergens in the air e.g. flower pollen, house dust, pollutants. The can also be from contact with some triggers on the ground e.g. some plants, floor polish and so on. They can also be from ingested foods though this is less likely. I suggest a chat with your vet is your first line approach. &nbsp; 舔爪是狗日常清潔的其中一個步驟， 但過渡地舔是由敏感或其他原因所引致的常見問題。 過渡地舔會使狗毛被口水染色成紅棕色， 在淺毛色的狗身上更為明顯。 敏感可能是由於季節性的空氣致敏源引致，例如花粉、 塵埃及污染物。也可能是接觸了如某些植物、地板蠟油所引致。 也有較小的機會是因為進食而致敏。我會建議你向獸醫了解一下。

Ask the Vet: “Our dog keeps licking her paws, but there are no signs of wounds or parasites. What should I do?” 我們的狗持續地舔牠的爪，但沒有跡象顯示有傷口或寄生蟲，我應該怎麼辦？

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC In theory and usually in practice toilet training a kitten is straightforward. Most kittens from a very young age quickly learn to toilet in the appropriate place. By the time most are weaned (7-8 weeks) and go to new homes they have already learnt toileting. The most important teacher is their mother. You must provide an absorbent substrate with a texture the kitten likes, kept clean that allows scratching and digging pre/post toileting. It should be scooped daily and changed weekly, kept in an easily accessible place and deny access to other similar substrates in the house e.g. plant soil. If kittens consistently fail to use the litter box they should be checked out for a medical problem. House soiling is one of the most common behavior problems in cats. &nbsp; 理論上和通常情況下，訓練幼貓上廁所是很直接的。很多幼貓在很小的時候已經學會在正確的地方上廁所。當到達斷奶時(7至8週)，牠們在新家中便已經學會上廁所。母親是扮演著最重要的教導角色。你要提供貓喜愛的吸水材質作貓砂盤，並保持清潔，使牠們如廁後可以抓挖。每天也有一球及每週更換一次才算正常，貓砂盤應放在容易到達的地方，但不應與更似材質的東西（如：植物土壤）放在一起。如果長期無法正確使用貓砂盤，應該作一次獸醫檢查找出成因。房子弄髒的確是常見的貓行為問題。

ASK THE VET: “Is it possible to toilet train a kitten?”  可不可能訓練幼貓上廁所?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;Patience and time is required here I suspect. It can take 2-3 weeks for two recently introduced kittens to like each other, it&rsquo;s not always love at first sight. An unpleasant body odor can be eliminated by a bath. Suitable toys and interaction with you should happen daily. The ages of both kittens are important but most youngsters eventually get along just fine. Difficulties arise if you try and introduce a young kitten to a much older kitten or cat. Some cats simply &lsquo;wanna&rsquo; be alone, and live in their own solitary social group. Some kittens are fearful, others bossy and wild. The critical age for any introduction is to do so before your resident cat is over three years of age. Feeding stations, toilets, the environment, medical problems as well as play are involved in them getting along. Play usually happens in due course as kittens do &lsquo;love to play&rsquo;. If not a vet check would be indicated. 你需要忍耐和時間。這可以花兩至三星期的時間使兩隻貓能相處下來，並不可能一見鐘情的。讓貓不安的體味可以透過洗澡消除。每天也要安排玩具和貓互動。年齡是重要的因素，但幼貓通常最終也能相處在一起。如果要為老貓介紹新來的幼貓，那就比較困難了。有些貓可能習慣孤獨，或是只待在自己的群體中。有些貓則懼怕其他有威壓性和野生的動物。如果要為家貓介紹新成員，三歲以前是決定性的年齡。食盤、廁所、環境和疾病問題都是使牠們相處的好機會。玩耍是經常發生的事，貓十分喜歡玩耍。如果對玩耍不感興趣，便要找獸醫檢查一下了。

ASK THE VET: “We recently got our second kitten but they don’t get along. Is there a way to get them to play with each other?”新飼養的貓咪不能與家中的貓老大融洽相處，有方法使牠們能一起玩耍嗎？

新飼養的貓咪不能與家中的貓老大融洽相處，有方法使牠們能一起玩耍嗎？

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: My recommendation is based on better being &lsquo;safe than sorry&rsquo;. You must take your dog to your vet for a physical exam/body check. &nbsp;This problem &lsquo;respiratory distress&rsquo; may be caused by something simple and obvious like your dog being unfit, or overweight, or it&rsquo;s environmentally too warm for your dog to run around when you take your dog to the park or there are many playmates for your dog and he is so happy and excited that play becomes excessive and he gets &lsquo;out of puff&rsquo;. On the other hand there could be some underlying pathology going on that you cannot detect but your vet can after a full physical check up. Your vet may recommend further tests if she suspects an internal problem. 我的建議是「安全至上，切勿後悔。」你需要帶狗狗做身體檢查。呼吸困難可能由於你的狗狗過胖、過重、運動的環境太暖和、與其他狗朋友玩得興奮過度。此外，還有些潛在病理學是你不能察覺的，需要向你的獸醫尋求全面的身體檢查。你的獸醫如果懷疑有內科問題，可能會建議作其他檢驗。 Recommendations to help if the vet check is all OK. 如果獸醫檢查後一切無恙　建議如下 &nbsp; You may simply be told to limit the park plays to cooler times of the day and don&rsquo;t let your dog over play! &nbsp;The age of your dog comes into effect, young dogs just &lsquo;wanna play&rsquo; while older dogs are much more sensible as a rule and limit their exercise to their physical capability. Remember always take water for your dog to drink on a walk, it&rsquo;s not easy to make a dog drink before you go, and be prepared to pour water over his head to cool him down if it is hot. &nbsp; Suss out a shaded areas to rest on the walk and stop him from over running by limiting the amount of off lead exercise. &nbsp;Play is very important for your dog regardless of age, so don&rsquo;t stop the play but be mindful to balance the amount 你可以在涼快的日子才帶狗狗到公園玩耍，不要讓牠過度興奮！年齡是息息相關的，年輕的狗會單純「更有衝動去玩耍」，年長的狗則會對自己的身體狀況和可承受運動量更為敏感。記得外出時要攜同水，要讓狗狗在出門前喝水並不容易，也要時常預備為狗狗澆水降溫。在陰涼處與狗狗休息，也要制止牠的自由運動以防止牠過度的跑動。玩耍是很重要而你不需要阻止，但隨著狗狗的年齡，你要更注意平衡休息和玩耍。

ASK THE VET: “My dog breathes heavily for a long time after a run in the park, what should I do?”

我的狗狗在公園跑步後呼吸十分沉重 我應該做些甚麼?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Getting a pet around Christmas used to be considered a bad idea. This was to stop either impulse pet buying or adoption that used to lead, it was thought, to increased &ldquo;post holiday&rdquo; rate of pet returns to welfare groups or shelters or simply being pets being abandoned.&nbsp;&nbsp; The theory behind this was that as the holiday spirit wears off and life goes back to normal the pet become more work, more expense when the credit cards are already full, and the magic of having one in the home wears off with the daily drudge of taking them walks, cleaning their feet, washing their bowls, playing with them and so on when there are already many other things to do as well as go to work! 在聖誕期間增添一隻寵物作為新成員普遍是個壞主義。為了阻止因衝動購買或領養寵物所引致的「假日後」動物返還率或棄養的情況。這情況的原理是假日後的節日氣氛消退，而照顧寵物增添的工作和消費導致信用卡已滿額。飼養寵物這種神奇的感覺變為要每天帶牠們去散步、抹腳、洗碗、玩樂以及各種各樣的麻煩事情！ However studies done in California, USA show that pets adopted around the holidays actually have the lowest rate of return to animal shelters. With this in mind if you are considering getting a four legged addition of a pet to your family some basic things need considered. They are: 但是，美國加利福尼亞州的研究卻發現在節日時份領養的寵物竟然有著最低的動物返還率。故此，你想飼養一隻新的寵物，便要注意： Have you enough time for a pet in your day to day life? Pets need walked, they need exercise, they need playtime, bathtime, feeding, hair combing time and so on. They need this for their entire life. This could be 10-20 years or even more with some non hairy pets e.g. reptiles or birds. 你有沒有足夠的時間去每天照顧寵物呢？寵物需要散步、運動、玩耍、洗澡、餵食和護理毛髮等。這些都是牠們終身所需。這可以經歷十至二十年甚至更長的時間於爬行動物或鳥類身上。 Can you afford a pet? Expenses include food, regular vaccinations and parasite prevention, and other unforeseen medical bills. 你有能力負擔嗎？消費包含食物、疫苗注射、杜蟲以及疾病治療。 If the answers are yes to the above questions then I would advise you to go ahead and rescue a pet for Christmas. There are many homeless animals waiting to be adopted. Choose carefully to suit your family and your lifestyle and the rewards are plentiful. Not only will you get the satisfaction of knowing you have helped a pet find a loving home, you will get a lifelong companion that will become one of your best friends. 如果你對以上問題的答案是「是」的話，我建議你去拯救一隻小毛孩吧。有很多無家的動物正等待領養。小心選擇一隻適合你家庭和生活習慣的毛孩會帶給你很多樂趣。不止於從為一隻寵物找到有愛心的家庭那份滿足感，還會找到你一生的好朋友。

ASK THE VET: “Should I get my family a pet this Christmas? What are the key things I need to consider?” 我應否在聖誕給家庭帶來一個寵物新成員嗎? 有甚麼重點需要考量?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: This question would be better answered if I had more details of &lsquo;why&rsquo; you want to dog proof your apartment. With new pups we should expect to train them for some time because they have to learn what is good behavior and what we want them to do, or not. 這個問題如果能更詳細地了解「為何」要預防你的狗在家中搗亂。我們預料到需要些時間去訓練幼犬，因為牠們需要學習正確的行為以及理解我們想牠們做甚麼/不能做甚麼。 They simply have no idea.&nbsp; Preventing the development of misbehavior is much easier than stopping established misdeeds!&nbsp; Training a dog to happily stay in a &lsquo;cage&rsquo; or a &lsquo;den&rsquo; when you are out is well worth the effort.&nbsp; It keeps them safe as well as out of trouble.&nbsp; Chewing, digging, scratching &amp; inappropriate toileting causing home destruction are some of the major &lsquo;crimes&rsquo; dogs commit in particular when they are bored!&nbsp; Being starved of an enriched environment, lacking social play/mates or being endlessly left alone can lead to these unwanted behaviors. 牠們基本上是沒有這方面的認知。預防牠們犯錯勝於制止牠們的行為！訓練您的狗狗在你外出時愉快地待在籠子中是很值得的。這能確保牠們安全和防止牠們生事。咬嚼、挖掘、抓東西和不適當的上廁所，造成家居破壞是初生小狗經常犯的「罪」！缺乏富裕的環境、缺乏社交伙伴或經常感到孤獨都能使牠們做出這些破壞性的行為。 &nbsp; If you want to &lsquo;dog proof&rsquo; and prepare your apartment for a new dog, perhaps a pup, or a new adult dog from an unknown background, the first thing you should do is get down on your hands and knees and view your apartment from a doggy view point. Look at all the areas that seem interesting, and in particular where food may be reached.&nbsp; Make sure all food is out with your dog&rsquo;s reach, including in fridges, rubbish bins and cupboards.&nbsp; If your dog is very agile and a potential food thief, fridge and cupboard locks can and should be used.&nbsp; Move all smaller chewable objects you value out of reach.&nbsp; Be prepared for &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; some soft furnishing destruction from young pups but most outgrow this.&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t get new carpets or sofas at the same time as a new pup, keep well used furnishings till the dog is old enough to leave them alone.&nbsp; Enrich your dog&rsquo;s environment, dogs find activity rewarding, use food delivery toys, games, different types and textures of toys, ropes, bones, rubber and so on. My general rule is to change a dog&rsquo;s toys every other day and each time offer only two toys.&nbsp; Many anxious dogs become destructive when their owners are not at home.&nbsp; This is a specific problem that needs input from your vet. Punishment is not going to work and should never be used. 如果你真的要阻止新來的狗狗在家中搗亂，例如是隻幼犬或是不知道背景狀況的成年犬，你要做的第一件事是伏在地上&mdash;以狗狗的視覺看看你的住宅。留意有沒有些有趣的地方或是可能接近到食物的地方。確保所有食物是遠離狗狗能觸及的地方，包括雪櫃、垃圾筒及櫃子。如果你的狗是個身手敏捷的潛在食物賊子，你可以使用雪櫃鎖和櫃鎖。把所有能咬的有價值小物件放在安全的位置。要預備軟棉棉的傢俱會被幼犬破壞，但隨著牠們長大便不會出現的了。不要在幼犬時期同時購置新的地毯和沙發，使用舊有的傢俱直到狗狗年紀足夠大而能獨自留在家中。豐富一下環境，因為狗狗喜歡有獎勵的活動。你可以給牠們食物益智的食物玩具、遊戲、不同材質的玩具、繩子、骨頭和橡膠等。我慣常的手法是隔天轉換一次玩具，而同時只出現兩款。許多狗狗會因為主人不在家而變得緊張，出現破壞性行為。這是特殊的情況，需要尋求獸醫的意見。記著懲罰並沒有效，而且永遠不會成功的。

ASK THE VET: “How do I dog-proof my apartment?” 如何預防狗狗在家中搗亂?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;Pulling on the lead is a very unpleasant experience. It is much easier to prevent this problem by training a young pup not to pull. Stopping pulling can still be achieved in an older dog. Your dog needs to learn that the reward of walking forward only happens with a loose lead. If your dog pulls on the lead you must stop walking and wait for the dog to come back. These training walks will take time and patience, supplementing them with rewards when your dog comes back will hasten the training process. Head halters and harnesses fitted correctly can also be useful. These can be bought at most vet clinics or good pet stores but take care to fit them properly so not to cause damage, some apply pressure to body parts to restrict movement. &nbsp; &nbsp;我的狗狗會在散步時搶繩 我要如何制止牠? 搶繩是個不愉快的體驗。從小開始制止狗狗搶繩是個很好的預防方法 。當然，要制止成年的狗狗搶繩也是有辦法的。你要讓狗狗明白只有 在繩子的牽引下才可以得到獎勵。如果你的狗搶繩，你便要立刻停止 向前走，並站在原地等待狗狗回來。這個糾正訓練需要不少的時間和 耐心，給予狗狗一些獎勵對訓練有所幫助。配戴合適的防衝嘴帶和防 衝胸帶都有幫助。這些狗帶會對某些身體部位施加壓力阻礙狗狗的活 動，是可以在獸醫診所和寵物店購買的，但要注意配戴適當， 以免構成傷害。

ASK THE VET: “My dog keeps pulling on the lead when we go for walks. How do I stop this?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;I assume &lsquo;cold&rsquo; involves mild respiratory tract signs in your dog similar to what we get ourselves with a &lsquo;cold&rsquo;. These include a runny nose, some upper respiratory tract congestion, maybe a cough and some aches and pains. Usually caused by a virus the signs last for about one week the first few days of which your dog can be contagious to other dogs. The main differential to a common viral condition is an allergy. The best thing to do is to rest your dog. Don&rsquo;t take them on hikes, or swimming, and certainly do not take them to mix with other dogs. Let them rest, take them on shorter walks to relieve themselves and avoid too hot or cold times of the day. Check their body temperature and if you think they have a fever you may need to book an appointment with your vet. If their temperature remains normal and they are behaving fairly normal the &lsquo;cold&rsquo; should pass. If the signs hang around or get worse a more serious condition could be brewing then a trip to the vet is required.&nbsp; Various over the counter remedies are available but I would caution their use without a diagnosis of the cause. 如何治療狗狗的傷風？ 我假設你的狗狗有輕微呼吸道感染的症狀，近似於我們人類的「傷風」。這包括鼻敏感、上呼吸道擴張、咳嗽和疼痛。通常由病毒感染，病徵會維持一星期。首幾天會具狗隻間傳染性，而與其他病毒感染狀況的分別是致敏性。 最佳的做法是讓狗狗休息。不要帶狗狗爬山和游泳，也不要帶牠接近其他狗隻。讓狗狗休息，帶牠去短暫的散步舒展一下以及防避日夜的溫差吧。檢查狗狗的體溫，如有發燒就要向獸醫求助了。如果體溫和行為都正常，那傷風便會很快痊癒了。如症狀持續或惡化，便有需要求助獸醫了。有很多方法都可以幫助病情，但我不會在未經診斷下使用。

ASK THE VET: “What remedies are there if my dog has a cold?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: This can be a dangerous situation and should never be treated lightly. You describe a form of resource guarding or possessive aggression, it is fairly common and although normal can become a serious problem for you.&nbsp; It is often accompanied by physiological arousal in the form of tensing &amp; dilated pupils and this relates to an underlying anxiety in your dog that the &lsquo;resource&rsquo; will be taken away. Toys, food bowls, stolen items, people and places may be guarded instead of or in addition to bones. You should avoid taking his bone away and instead learn how to avoid and deal with this situation. Most important understand that anyone including yourself could get bitten and this must be avoided at all costs.&nbsp; A simple solution is to limit access to &lsquo;resources&rsquo; to controlled situations that you manage at all times.

ASK THE VET: “What should I do when my dog gets overprotective of his bone and starts snarling when we try to take it away?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: This is a question I have been asked countless times. Euthanasia stands for a &lsquo;good&rsquo; death performed to relieve pain or suffering and it is something most people wish for their pets. There is no straightforward, simple answer on exactly the right time. I always say that you as the person who has loved and cared for your pet for many years is the best person to make the final decision and go ahead with input from your vet. Sadly different family members may disagree and some religions frown on euthanasia complicating a very emotional time.&nbsp; It is important that all pets enjoy a quality of life which includes eating &amp; drinking naturally, and being responsive, not in pain, anxious or distressed. When the time comes your vet will explain what will happen and that involves the administration of a powerful sleeping type drug that stops the brain sending messages to the rest of the body. Shortly after its administration the heart stops and your pet will then be pronounced dead.

ASK THE VET: “How will I know it’s time to euthanise my pet? How does the process work?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: In a simple answer probably not unless he is a pup and you are socializing and training him right now.&nbsp; If that&rsquo;s the case you have the perfect window to teach your pup to bark on cue, use the word &lsquo;speak&rsquo; to encourage him to bark at a trigger then reward him when you ask him to stop. Barking in dogs happens in a wide variety of situations that include play, attention seeking, territorial defense, fear/anxiety, excitement and at times when the dog wants to let you know something has changed in the environment. A bark should always be analyzed by its tone, intensity &amp; shrill and attention paid to your dog&rsquo;s demeanor, body position and facial expression.&nbsp; A bark is the transfer of information from one dog to another. In your case it&rsquo;s very important to work out the information your dog wants to send to another dog. It could be a learned behaviour that may not be easy to stop. Hope this helps.

ASK THE VET: “My dog barks at every dog he sees. Will he grow out of it?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: I&rsquo;d be very concerned that the food is not the sole problem or even answer in this case, but it could be involved.&nbsp; When I hear a question like this my first recommendation is that you administer medication for gastro intestinal parasites.&nbsp; All pups are born with these in their digestive system, a gift from their mothers, and if not eliminated they multiply and interfere with normal digestion. This can be one cause of your dog being ravenous.&nbsp; I&rsquo;d ask you weigh your dog weekly, and check the poo colour, consistency, &amp; frequency of elimination.&nbsp; I&rsquo;d recommend you feed a good diet balanced with the correct amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals &amp; vitamins and at an appropriate amount for the size &amp; age/lifestyle of your dog. Recipes for home-made diets are available on line and many brands of manufactured dog foods exist.&nbsp; Choose these carefully as they vary greatly in quality and price.&nbsp; If these simple changes do not make a difference within a month you must have your dog vet checked for medical causes.

ASK THE VET: “My two-year old dog is always ravenous. What do you recommend to feed my dog?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;A great question! I am currently training a new pup at home and I&rsquo;d forgotten how much commitment and patience this takes. It is very important to get your pup into a routine as young as possible.&nbsp; The only way to house train is by positive reinforcement. You must train your pup when and where to eliminate and when he does so enthusiastically praise and reward him.&nbsp; Timing is the crux of successful housetraining. You need to predict when your pup needs to eliminate and direct him to the appropriate area.&nbsp; Remember pups usually pee within 30 seconds of waking up and poo within 2 minutes.&nbsp; Set your timer, after waking, eating, playing take your pup to eliminate without fail.&nbsp;&nbsp; Many good articles are around to consult, please use them &amp; don&rsquo;t frighten your pup with punishment.&nbsp; If your pup poos or pees in the wrong place it is your fault, not your pups.

ASK THE VET: “How do you toilet train a puppy?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp;Smelly ear discharge should be checked out by your vet. It indicates irritation in the external ear canals. Cats normally produce ear wax similar to our own. If the wax is discolored it means something is wrong. The color change is due to the normal wax containing biological debris or broken down blood cells the result of trauma caused by your cat scratching the ears, head shaking or both. Common causes that contribute to light brown discharges include parasites, bacterial and/or yeast ear infections, and occasionally other irritants or a foreign body but that would be rare in both ears at the same time.

ASK THE VET: “My cat has a smelly, light brown discharge from her ears. What could this be?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp;What you must do is ignore your dog when he whines at you. Do not speak to him and never give him food as that will only make the whining and begging continue and even increase. Quite simply you have the choice of (1) not allowing your dog near the table when you are eating, shut him in another area of your house, or (2) training him not to beg/whine. Training involves rewarding your dog when he is good and not begging instead of giving him food when he does. Check out U Tube for step by step instructions on how to tackle this problem. Tackling and stopping this is by far the best way for you to have a peaceful dinner together.

ASK THE VET: “How do I get my dog to stop whining when he begs for food at the table?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp; It is perfectly normal for your dog to sniff other dog&rsquo;s rear end. Dogs have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, this appears to be their most important sense, and each dog seems to have its own unique odor. This odor is linked to many things about the dog including internal and environmental influences, their diet, genetic make-up and their own microflora. Dogs can detect odors at 1/100 of the concentration required for humans to detect the same smell. &nbsp; &nbsp;Sniffing&nbsp;another dog&rsquo;s rear is an indication that the &ldquo;sniffer dog&rdquo; is reading a message/odor produced by the &ldquo;other dog&rdquo;. The information gained from that &ldquo;sniff&rdquo; is a combination of the dog&rsquo;s physical, physiological and behavior characteristics including individual identity, age, wellbeing &amp; social status.

ASK THE VET: “My dog keeps sniffing other dog’s rear end when we go to the park. Why does he do this?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;&nbsp;Some dogs have sensitive feet and strongly dislike them being touched, never mind having their nails cut. The best way is to try and avoid the situation and train all pups to be comfortable with feet handling and nail trimming. You should start this as early as possible, reward the pups for being good and allowing handlers to touch and clip the nails after the pup has been introduced to nail clippers and the noise they make. You can also use nail files to blunt and smooth nail tips while feeding yummy treats. &nbsp;Regular walking and playing with dogs on hard surfaces help to wear nails down naturally. Failing this if the nails really are long some anxious dogs may require sedation for a trim.

ASK THE VET: “My dog won’t let me cut his toenails and they’re starting to get long. What are the other options?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Many people assume that as dogs age so do their senses, their behaviour changes and there is nothing we can do to help them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;It is annoying but they are simply getting old!&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Changes seen in these elderly companions include disorientation or getting lost in well-known places especially in the home, they can become less tolerant with changes in memory, house soiling, sleep disturbances-being awake at normal sleep times and vocalizing, restlessness, strange staring, panting, obsessive licking and worse sometimes not recognizing family members who may have been out of town.&nbsp;&nbsp;While it is correct that senior dog&rsquo;s behaviour changes with age, sometimes we can help them and you, the owner, can fully enjoy the rest of their geriatric years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Studies at different veterinary schools in the USA have shown that up to 100% of participating study dogs are affected by cognitive behaviour issues by age 16 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;The actual clinical signs may start as young as nine years of age and slowly progress. With increasing age the brain shrinks in weight and size, there is an increase in protein plaques in the brain that cause damage to brain cells, little hemorrhages and blocks to blood flow result that contribute to a lack of oxygen in brain cells and changes in the brain protein messengers which in turn alter levels of dopamine a feel good neurotransmitter/brain chemical. If you suspect CCD a thorough medical exam is advised to &ldquo;rule out&rdquo; other medical, environmental or behaviour conditions.&nbsp; Many treatments are available for CCD all aimed at managing cognitive dysfunction although there is no cure. They include medications, dietary changes, environmental enrichment and supplements aimed at increasing brain blood flow to bring in more oxygen.&nbsp; Teaching an old dog new tricks (yes you can), grooming and touching your dog more often, playing daily with toys and a variety of other non-medical options are available to you and your dog.&nbsp; If you suspect your companion is showing some early signs start right away to support him/her manage the changes that are happening. Old age is not a disease and together you and your pet can enjoy a very precious time together during wonderful senior years.

ASK THE VET: Has My Dog Got Alzheimer’s?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: In a word very simply I&rsquo;d say to ask your daughter to put her shoes out of reach of your dog at all times and that way they won&rsquo;t get chewed!&nbsp; If you can understand that dogs smell roughly 200-300,000 times more than humans you can accept that your daughters shoes probably contain and release a large amount of delicious &lsquo;smells&rsquo; that attract dogs to them. This means that any shoes in the vicinity of a dog are&rsquo; fair game&rsquo; to being selected for a chew.&nbsp; Your dog doesn&rsquo;t really understand that your daughter&rsquo;s shoes are out of bounds so don&rsquo;t blame the dog, train your daughter!

ASK THE VET: “My dog keeps chewing on my daughter’s shoes, and she’s devastated. How do I get him to stop?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: Chocolate is one of the most common poisons that can cause death in cats and dogs. Chocolate is derived from the roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao, which contains certain properties that can be toxic to animals: caffeine and theobromine. They act as a stimulants. Signs of poisoning can take 6-12 hours after eating to show up. These include extreme thirst, panting, shaking, diarrhea, agitation and even seizures and cardiac irregularities. If you know your pet has eaten chocolate the quicker you start treatment the better and the first thing to do is to help your pet vomit out any chocolate in its stomach. You can try forcing lots of salty water into the mouth or simpler contact your ER vet as soon as possible for help and advice.

ASK THE VET: “Why can’t dogs eat chocolate?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: There is a debate about whether the term &ldquo;depression&rdquo; should be used for non-human animals. In humans it can be defined as an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts and that it prevents a person from leading a normal life. We lack studies in animals that determines if &ldquo;depression&rdquo; exists from the &ldquo;animals&rdquo; viewpoint.&nbsp;&nbsp; That said I think it is correct to apply signs seen in human depression to animals, but they must be assessed while looking at the animals overall behavior. Signs include withdrawal from normal things-walks, play, altered sleep-wake patterns, &amp; loss of interest in things they used to like to do like eating. Any ongoing changes like these need first assessed by your vet in a thorough physical examination and if physiologically well possible &ldquo;triggers&rdquo; of depressed behavior discussed e.g. loss of a family member, chronic pain from an accident and so on. Only then can treatment options be made.&nbsp; Lots of cuddles though will never go wrong!

ASK THE VET: “Is my dog depressed? How can I tell? What should I do?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: This is a fairly common problem in both male &amp; female as well as entire &amp; neutered dogs. Jumping/humping is a normal behavior and usually happens when dogs are happy and want people to interact with them. You may need to differentiate it from a sexual desire however, and sometimes it can even be a &ldquo;possessive&rdquo; act.&nbsp; Because our dogs are smarter then we think &amp; this behavior is normal you need to train your dog not to jump/hump and reward them with treats or praise for stopping the action. However if they restart it your visitors must be asked to ignore the dog and even leave temporarily. They should not encourage your dog, laugh or think it&rsquo;s alright and the dog is &ldquo;so friendly and cute&rdquo;.&nbsp; If they do you will have a very difficult time to get your dog to stop.

ASK THE VET: “My dog keeps jumping and sometimes starts humping on visitors that come to our house. What should I do?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS:&nbsp;To be safe you should not allow your dogs to eat ice cream at all.&nbsp; My dogs have always loved licking ice cream cartons but I am well aware it is not good for them.&nbsp; Usually made from cows milk with a high fat &amp; sugar content, ice cream can lead to upsets in their digestive system with signs of abdominal pain, vomiting &amp; diarrhea &amp; in some dogs an even more serious metabolic condition called pancreatitis that affects the working of the pancreas gland. &nbsp;&nbsp;The flavor of ice cream is also critical. Dogs have a very low threshold for chocolate which contains &ldquo;theobromine&rdquo; a direct toxin for dogs.&nbsp; Theobromine is similar to caffeine, it is very slowly metabolized in dogs and can cause &nbsp;cardiac&nbsp;arrhythmias,&nbsp;epileptic seizures,&nbsp;internal bleeding,&nbsp;heart attacks, and eventually&nbsp;death.&nbsp;&nbsp; So chocolate ice cream is a never never!&nbsp; The same advice applies for cats.

ASK THE VET: “How much ice cream can my dog have, or should they not eat ice cream at all?”

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC DR. PAULINE SAYS: There are so many causes of hair loss, red and inflamed skin that the best thing you could do for your&nbsp;Pekingese&nbsp;is take him for a proper check up at his doctor. The first thing your vet should check is if he is itchy or not? If he is itchy e.g. scratching a lot the treatment is quite different from what he will get if he is not itchy. I always&nbsp; ask my clients about their flea and tick control on their animals and in their home, the diet the dog is taking, has this happened before, and if so how many times and when in the year as we get seasonal irritations in many dogs that can cause red and swollen skin. The list of causes of this type of problem is potentially huge, I think its best you seek professional help as soon as possible so your dog can get some pain relief and treatment.

QUESTION: My Pekingese seems to be losing a lot of hair, and his skin seems to be red and irritated. What should I do?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC In a word, stop him getting access to the rubbish bin, or if that is impossible ensure that your dog cannot access the contents. Make sure the bin is solid and has a fitted lid, is chained or locked in place so your dog cannot knock it over and if necessary put something heavy on the top to keep that lid down. Human rubbish can cause a lot of problems for our dogs who love to eat our discarded cooked bones, corn cobs, fruit stones, chocolate and much more, and some of these items, stuck inside your dog or causing irritation of his digestive tract, could lead to large vet bills. &nbsp;You dog usually only sees the fun side of rummaging through your garbage. It is a fun way to for a dog to spend time especially if the dog is left alone for a long time and bored.&nbsp;

My dog keeps rummaging through our rubbish bin at home, how do I stop him?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC In short, the first thing you need to do is to arrange to take your cat to a vet. Normally, as well as a physical exam, some initial lab tests will be required. There are many reasons cats do this, it is quite a common problem, however be aware that the differential of possible causes of this annoying urination include medical and non-medical reasons. Stress and anxiety are the main factors behind non-medical reasons and trying to sort these out is like being a detective on a case. Medical causes include infections in the urinary tract, formation of irritating crystals &amp; bladder stones, congenital problems and more so input from your vet at an early stage can help before you go down the wrong tract to investigate the problem. Good luck!

My cat has started urinating all over the house. What should I do?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC To be perfectly honest no one including scientists and animal behaviorists really know why dogs do this but they definitely do! They also seem to delight in this pastime much to most people&rsquo;s disgust. Anybody who has owned or looked after a dog will probably have a story about their lovely obedient dog friend finding a smelly dead fish, or animal carcass or skin and before they know it the dog has leapt onto the top of it and is rubbing all over its body as if they are &ldquo;in heaven&rdquo;. The incident also creates another surprise because the dog usually has done this before its pet parent even knows anything smelly or that interesting is around. &nbsp; Dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans. It is reckoned that some breeds like bloodhounds and bassets, those dogs humans train to use their noses to work for us, have around 500-600,000 times more cells than us in their nasal passages that detect smells. Can you imagine if you were a dog what it would be like to walk along the beach and suddenly smell a delicious dead fish? It appears dogs do not like nice smells like we humans. It is well documented how many dogs, given the chance after a nice bubble bath, will immediately go and roll in the nearest piece of sand or grass, and get dirty again! &nbsp; Wolves roll in earth and animal matter to disguise their own smell. This helps them in the hunt for prey, to get closer to it before they start the hunt for dinner. Dogs are 98% similar in genetic matter to wolves, their common ancestor, so it is probably acceptable that (given the chance) a dog rolling in mud and poo is an inherited behavior that in modern dogs has not yet been bred out. &nbsp; Recent brain research suggests that when we sleep our brains re live our days and store our experiences in our memory bank. While dogs sleep in a different pattern from humans there is a lot to be said for this theory. Before I became a vet I worked as a sheep midwife in Scotland. Never a day went by that one of my border collies rolled in the afterbirth of a lambing ewe. My old wise friend and shepherd Jim told me then, over thirty years ago and before modern brain research,that rolling in the disgusting smelly afterbirth was so my collie had nice dreams that night and would be fresh and ready to work in the morning! I think he may have been right!

Why do Dogs Roll in Mud and Poo?

Q&amp;A WITH DR PAULINE TAYLOR, BVM&amp;S MACVSC Noise &ldquo;sensitivity&rdquo; is a very common problem in dogs worldwide with as many as 40-50% of dog owners reporting changes in their dog&rsquo;s behavior in response to certain sounds. Signs of a noise sensitivity, brought on by fear in your dog, vary from dog to dog and from situation to situation and include signs relating to (1)physiological changes-panting, breathing heavily, salivating, gastro-enteritis, trembling etc. as well as (2)changes to their behavior-yawning, licking lips, pacing around, barking and general restlessness. The most common sounds involved include fireworks, gun shots, vacuum cleaners and hair driers, loud engine noises, storms, banging doors and loud voices. Dogs that are introduced to these sounds under the age of 5-6 months may have a better chance of coping with them. Studies have shown that the noise sensitivity can be genetic in origin, linked to a traumatic experience associated with noise exposure or learned from another dog in a social situation (e.g. neighbors dog barks at doorbell so your dog barks too) and how we as dog parents respond to the problem may contribute to its escalation as time goes on. Some dogs with a general anxiety (dogs that are reactive, apprehensive or uneasy to anticipated threats/danger) may even respond to a wide range of stimulating noises. In some very severe cases a noise &ldquo;phobia&rdquo; can develop which is a severe fear response in your dog that is out of proportion with the actual situation. Sadly there is no one answer for all dogs and to give a specific answer I would need a lot more information on the actual dog, how it responds and the situations that bring on its &ldquo;struggles&rdquo;. However most cases can be tackled using a mix of environmental management, behavior modification and when necessary administering appropriate medications prescribed by a sympathetic and understanding vet.

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