DEAR PDSA VET… HOW CAN I TRAIN MY DOG?

I’m currently furloughed and using my time to teach my Jack Russell some basic commands, like ‘sit’ and ‘wait’, but he’s not interested. What can I do?

Training can be fun and rewarding for you both, as it builds the bond between pet and owner. It’s important to use positive, reward-based training so praise them and give a healthy treat every time they do something correctly. Your dog needs to be focused, so training sessions should be short and fun, with frequent breaks. Remember your pet is always learning and if they do something positive outside of the training session, they should still be rewarded. Training can take a lot of time and effort for both you and your pet, as you need to be consistent with their education, but it’s great when they start to respond and you’ll soon feel a deep sense of pride as your hard work pays off.

We’re been taking extra hygiene precautions due to the coronavirus. Can my cat’s food  bowl be cleaned in the dishwasher and will it be safe for her and for us?

There is no evidence that cats can transmit coronavirus to humans, but there is a small risk that they could carry the virus on their fur by coming into contact with someone that is ill. How you wash their food bowl is unlikely to make much of a difference as long as you’re using warm water and a detergent. It’s perfectly fine to wash pet bowls in the dishwasher, just check it’s dishwasher-safe and make sure there’s no residue left on it after the cycle.

My Labrador, Shelley, keeps getting bouts of cystitis. Would cranberry capsules from the pharmacy help?

Cranberry has been found to give some relief to people suffering from cystitis but there’s not much evidence to say it makes a difference to dogs. Cystitis in dogs is usually caused by a bacterial infection and antibiotics are often needed to clear the infection. Phone your vet for advice, as they may want to prescribe antibiotics for Shelley (which can be done over the phone at the moment). Signs of cystitis in dogs include frequent urination, straining to wee and/or blood in the urine. If Shelley is getting recurring bouts of cystitis your vet will want to look into this further. Make sure Shelley drinks lots of water, gets plenty of opportunities to toilet and make sure she takes all of the medication your vet prescribes.

Billy, my nine-month-old puppy, is struggling to ‘potty train’, he continues to poo on the kitchen floor. Can you help?

You’ll need to go back to basics. Take Billy outside to where you want him to toilet after meals and then at frequent intervals in between and when he shows signs of needing to toilet, such as sniffling and circling. When Billy poos where he’s supposed to, make sure he gets plenty of praise and a healthy treat. It takes time, but with persistence he will learn to associate going in the right place with something nice. Whenever he toilets in the kitchen, make sure the area is cleaned thoroughly to get rid of any ‘smell’ triggers.