Pet Advice
Search or browse 4,715 pet advice articles on pet health, pet care and pet behaviour.
The Pets4Homes site aims to provide the most informative and useful pet advice and pet care articles and information on all types of pets, from dogs and cats to rabbits and reptiles. Our articles are written by qualified veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, breeders and other writers who have a passion for pets.
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24th April 2018
The Siberian husky is the UK’s 18th most popular dog breed out of a total of over 240 breeds, and they’re a common sight across the country these days, with most regular dog walkers coming across at least one Husky on a regular basis. However, they are al....Read Full Article
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24th April 2018
The spaniel dog type is one of the most enduringly popular in the UK, and most dog lovers could name at least a couple of common spaniel breeds – like the English springer spaniel and the ....Read Full Article
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23rd April 2018
The pug is the UK’s third most popular dog breed, so it’s fair to say that there are a lot of pugs out and about all over the UK, and they are a common sight in most dog parks. This means that a significant numb....Read Full Article
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22nd April 2018
BOAS or brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is the term given to a range of different problems that affect a dog’s upper airway, and that can occur in dogs with a shortened muzzle and flat face – like the French bulldog.
Any dog with a br....Read Full Article
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21st April 2018
Unfortunately, some dogs can suffer a sudden and irreversible blindness which can be extremely distressing to their owners. The condition is known as Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS) and it negatively impacts a dog’s retina resulting in them losing their sight. At the onset of the disorder, a dog’s reti....Read Full Article
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19th April 2018
Some years ago, researchers discovered the gene that causes dogs to have bob-tails which are often referred to as short-tails. Subsequent studies identified specific breeds that have the bob-tail gene mutation. Scientists used the Swedish Vallhund in their research which began at the end of 2010. They found that the mutation is found i....Read Full Article
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18th April 2018
Occasionally cats eat food which is not designed for them. Perhaps you have run out of your cat's usual food over a holiday weekend, and you just decide to feed your cat whatever is in the fridge. Or maybe you always feed your cat commercial food designed for cats, but occasionally you want to give her a treat.&nb....Read Full Article
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17th April 2018
Making the decision to enter your pedigree dog in dog breed shows can be very exciting, and every first-time dog show exhibiter likely harbours a secret hope that their dog will place well and be able to continue up through the rankings of higher-level shows and gain a distinguished reputation.
Theoretically, anyone who owns ....Read Full Article
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17th April 2018
Virtually every recognised dog breed in the UK has at least one breed club associated with it, and several non-pedigree dog types also have their own organisations dedicated to them too.
Breed clubs are often, but not always, affiliated with The Kennel Club, and may work ....Read Full Article
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16th April 2018
Whilst the springer spaniel is a hugely popular dog type and they’re among the most popular dogs in the UK, not everyone knows that the springer spaniel comes in two different variants – the Welsh springer spaniel and the ....Read Full Article
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16th April 2018
Different dog breeds tend to fluctuate to some degree over time in terms of their popularity, but whilst a change of a couple of spaces in the popularity list over the course of any year is normal, more dramatic changes are less common. However, this very broad rule of thumb applie....Read Full Article
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12th April 2018
If you are a dog breeder or are considering breeding from your own pedigree pet dog, you should spend plenty of time deciding if this is the right decision, and learning all of the different things you should plan and do first.
This involves assessing demand for your future puppies, choosing the right stud dog or sire, and ma....Read Full Article
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12th April 2018
When most people think of terriers, they think of small, lively, and very plucky little dogs, and it is certainly true that most terrier breeds tend to be petite – which is why they were originally so widely prized for their working ability to pursue prey right down into underground setts and burrows.
However, while it ....Read Full Article
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12th April 2018
Merle is the name given to a certain specific coat pattern that can be found in dogs, rather than a particular colour. Most people who are familiar with the term “merle” think of blue merle, which is the most common expression of the pattern, but it can also be chocolate or red too.
Merle coats can appear in dogs ....Read Full Article
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12th April 2018
The British Veterinary Association or BVA is the UK’s national body for veterinary surgeons, with the goals of sharing knowledge across veterinary professionals and advising the British public on health, welfare and other veterinary issues that arise.
As part of this, the BVA drew up a formal policy for the organisation....Read Full Article
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11th April 2018
The Korthals Griffon has always been highly prized for their hunt, point and retrieve abilities because they are so versatile in the field, but they have also found a fanbase in a home environment too. They are a handsome, distinguished looking breed with their athletic, well-balanced appearance and attractive coat colours. However, a ....Read Full Article
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11th April 2018
Whether you deliberately bought a show-quality dog or if you simply bought a pedigree dog that you liked the look of but that is showing signs of star quality, you might be considering exhibiting them in Kennel Club breed shows.
Breed shows are designed to identify and reward the best examples of each individual pedigree dog ....Read Full Article
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11th April 2018
Boxer dogs are one breed that most people could pick out of a line-up with ease, thanks to their distinctive appearances and the fact that thy have long been one of the UK’s most common and popular breeds.
The boxer dog is ranked 32nd out of a total of ....Read Full Article
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10th April 2018
Bulldogs are one of the most popular dog types in the UK, and they come in a wide variety of different types, shapes, and sizes, which means that there is a bulldog breed to appeal to almost everyone.
A bulldog is a dog breed or type that was originally bred and used for bull baiting – which thankfully, has been illegal....Read Full Article
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9th April 2018
The Sphynx cat is a very unusual and distinctive breed, largely due to the fact that they known as hairless cats. However, few cats of the breed are totally bald, and most have a very soft, fine covering of short, sparse down on their bodies, as well as potentially having whi....Read Full Article
