Is My 6st Alsatian The Right Weight?

May 11 2008 Scott Miller

Pets Corner

Q My German shepherd is 6 stones 2lb but a friend reckons he is underweight and should be 10 stones. Is this right?

A Your pet is a perfect weight. A 10-stone German shepherd is obese and prone to liver disease. They would suffer excessive pressure on their joints and hips, leading to arthritis.

Q My six-year-old Westie has begun to soil during the night. He is walked before bed and eats normally. We were on holiday for two months recently and he stayed with my sister, who has three dogs. What is wrong with him?

A Have a vet examine his guts but I think this is a behavioural problem. If it started when you were away, you need to get his toilet habits back to normal. Only feed him in the morning so he passes faeces before you go to bed. If this doesn't work, feed at night, changing back to his normal pattern when his nightly deposits stop. A DAP diffuser may also help. This calms distressed dogs by creating the smells a female dog exudes to soothe her puppies.

Q My six-month-old lionheaded dwarf rabbit is kept indoors but I would like to get him a pen outside this summer. Will he need any vaccinations?

A Have him vaccinated against viral haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, repeated after one month then yearly. An annual check-up for any pet is always wise so your vet can pick up on any problems early that you may have accidentally overlooked.

Q Our three-year-old West Highland terrier keeps suffering from terrible skin infections. He is bathed weekly but nothing helps. Any advice?

A Westies' white fur and pale skin makes them prone to redness and irritation. It has numerous causes, such as contact and food allergies. Malaseb anti-fungal shampoo will help keep bacterial infections at bay and allergy blood testing will help you exclude irritants from his diet. If this fails, see a specialist dermatologist.

Q My five-year-old labrador has red, weeping sores on his paws. An anti-bacterial shampoo helped but they returned. What is causing this?

A Besides mange mite, which I am sure your vet checked for, this sounds like a contact allergy, with your dog walking on things that irritate his skin. Grasses and pollinating plants are the worst culprits, though parasites such as dust mites in carpets can cause dogs to chew their feet and make them sore. Wipe him down with a wet towel after walks and use antihistamines to calm the irritation. Allergy tests done by your vet will find the cause.

Q My nine-year-old cat keeps defecating on my carpets. How can I make her stop?

A Your old girl may have senile dementia. Provide a few litter trays around the house and clean them daily. Your vet can advise on medication that may also help.

Doggy doctors sniff out cancer

Clever canines are being trained as doggy doctors.

Pooches can sniff out cancer cells, detecting the changed metabolic waste they give off even in the very early stages.

Dogs are now being trained to sit or lie when sniffing cancer samples.

US newsreader Gil Lacey's life was saved by her Dalmation, who kept sniffing a mole on her leg that was a malignant melanoma. Early detection led to its quick removal.

If your cat's got flu or your dog is barking mad, our vet has the answers. Send your questions to Pets corner, Right at Home, One Central Quay, G3 8DA or email pets@sundaymail.co.uk