Get this. The National Trust has commissioned some research that has come to the stunning conclusion that….’we believe that optimised beef production – deliberately accomodating less than maximum output in order to secure stronger and broader ecosystem protection – is the best sustainable use for the grasslands in our care’.

This takes into account the fact that cattle raised in more intensive systems where they are fed largely on cereals produce les methane, and that this has been perceived as being good for the environment what with methane being one of the infamous greenhouse gases.

And the carbon footprint of grass-fed farms is much the same as intensive cereal-feeding farms.

The issue is all about the contribution of carbon sequestration made by well managed grassland: this can reduce net carbon emmissions by up to 94%. In some cases, in amongst all the belching and farting, these farms become carbon negative.

Oh, and meat from animals fed only on grass has higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids and lower levels of saturated fat than grain fed beef.

Conclusion: if you open the doors and let the cattle out into the field, their meat is better for those that eat it, and their lifestyle is better not only for them but also for the planet as a whole.

How is it that this also sounds like a simple and logical thing to do, yet for years we’d imagined that factory-feeding these creatures on a diet their metabolism and physiology is not geared for, would somehow be better??

No, this is not a scurrilous Nuts magazine-style piece about girls with loose morals that drive sports cars.

It is a serious concern for the summer months.

It seems that it’s easy to forget how hot it gets in a car left in the sun on a summers day, and how quickly it happens.

Back in the day when I used to work for the RSPCA, we were always on red alert during the Wimbledon fortnight, with RSPCA inspectors touring the car parks looking for hounds who had been left behind whilst their owners were scoffing strawberries and listening to Cliff Richard warbling away through the downpours. Or alternatively drowning their sorrows as Tim Henman, his predecessors and successors (for they are many) crashed and burned, necessitating further glasses of warm chardonnay or preferably chilled Bollinger to alleviate the pain and national shame.

Again.

A bit like the football really, but (oops) that takes us back to Nuts magazine, which is not what this is meant to be about.

Meanwhile pooch was still sat in the Porsche in the car park, wondering why it was getting rather warm in there.

Back at the hospital, we had a huge old walk-in fridge for the dog food. As each inspector came in with another gasping and overheated Labrador, we would heave open the fridge door and wheel them in for a few minutes of thermal readjustment, followed by some gentle hosing in the cool shady corners by the pond in the yard at the back until the lucky ones came back to the land of the living.

The point is, if David Cameron can manage to forget he’d left his child at the pub, it’s probably not impossible for even the most dedicated  pet parent to accidently forget they’ve left their dog in the car, assuming that just because this is England in the summer, temperatures will remain within spitting distance of zero for most of the day.

Dogs heat up and die very quickly in cars, so even a short period of sunshine can kill your dog.

DON’T leave them there!

A recent enquirer said ‘My 13 year old Tonkinese cat has been pulling her fur out over the last couple of months. She is undergoing treatment for gum disease and has recently had some teeth out. She lives in a multi-cat household with two 5 year old Burmese sisters. I have a Feliway diffuser in the area they frequently occupy. Our vet can find no obvious reason for the fur pulling. We want to help her overcome this, can you suggest anything?’

Over grooming leading to hair loss in cats is quite often a stress response, rather like people who chew their finger nails. And your cat is a Tonkinese, who can be prone to behavioural issues. And you do have other cats in the home, which many cats (being essentially solitary animals) find stressful at times. And she has dental problems which may be painful and she probably found the whole process of going to the vets an unspeakable indignity.

The other common reasons for over grooming include fleas, other parasites such as ear mites or cheyletiella (otherwise known as ‘walking dandruff’), ringworm (not a worm at all, but a fungal infection) food allergies or atopy (an environmental allergy).

Make sure those dental problems are fully resolved. Make sure she has free access, without competition from the other cats, to food, water, preferred sleeping places and high vantage points. Keep on with Feliway and consider other supplements to reduce her anxiety such as Zylkene, SereneUm or Calmex. Some cats require periods of prescription medication to help them through periods of anxiety or stress related behaviour.

If even a 2 minute drive down the road to the local vet results in your cat pooing in his travel box and limiting his food intake prior to car rides and trying to keep him calm and comfortable in the car makes no difference, your cat is clearly very anxious about car journeys. He’s frightened of confinement, the box, leaving the house, and the car with it’s movement and smell.

And how do cats know they’re going to the vet? I’ve lost count of the times people arrive late for appointments because the cat has got wind of it and bolted or hidden.

Let him use the box not just for scary travel but as a bed and safe place in the home. Sit in the car with him without going anywhere (the neighbours will think you’re weird, but they probably do anyway). If he’s OK with that, start the engine for a bit, but don’t go anywhere. Try feeding him in the car to give it some positive associations. Don’t hurry things.

We use Zylkene (a modified form of casein, one of the milk proteins), Feliway (the happy cat pheromone – you can get small spray bottles for travel), SereneUm (contains B vitamins and tryptophan) and Bach Rescue Remedy or Homeopet Anxiety Remedy.

And once again, why is it that most of my life seems to involve discussions of pee and poop?

We have a ten year old Golden Retriever who has been neutered because our vet suspected he had a testicular tumour. Since the operation he is more withdrawn; sleeps a lot more and at times seems almost ‘depressed’ and has aged suddenly. He is otherwise in good health, enjoys his walks and he could eat for England! Could the loss of testosterone could explain this change in personality?

A: Yes, this is possible. The sex hormones have an important effect on mood regulation in the brain, so when the source of testosterone (or oestrogen when a female dog is spayed) is removed, it is not unusual to see a slight change in character. These effects can sometimes last for a few months but the good news is that in many of these cases, things return to normal over time as the hormonal balance is naturally restored. A general anaesthetic itself can also cause some confusion and temporary depression.

Neutered animals do sometimes have a slightly slower metabolism after the surgery, so you may find he needs fewer calories in his food to avoid gaining weight. There are many weight control or weight loss diets available (talk to your vet about these) but as you know, I am a big fan of low carb, raw meat & raw vegetable diets, but that’s another story.

If the changes are significant and long lasting, you might also want to ask your vet to check his thyroid hormone levels.

Most local vets are general practitioners like local doctors. We have experience and training for a wide range of species and medical problems, but sometimes a pet’s illness or injury requires more specialised or intensive investigation or treatment. Rather like your doctor sending you to see a consultant at the hospital.
Some vets have further qualifications such as a certificate or diploma in, for example, orthopaedics or ophthalmology, but a vet who is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Recognised Specialist has achieved the very highest level of achievement in training, experience, publication and professional acclaim. The RCVS keeps a register of of these vets at www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/recognised-specialists-list/.

The list is fairly short: if your vet wants to send your pet to a specialist who is on the RCVS list, you can be sure that they will be in very good hands.

Bloat or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (the dreaded GDV) is a serious and life threatening emergency in dogs. It mostly affects mature, large, deep-chested breeds, is more common in anxious dogs, and is seen more in males than females.

The condition occurs when the stomach fills with air until it starts to compress other organs and blood vessels in the abdomen. It can then rotate on itself, cutting off its own blood supply. This needs to be corrected very rapidly to safe the dog’s life.

So what are the symptoms? A swollen and painful belly, repeated retching or trying to vomit with nothing coming up, restlessness, rapid shallow breathing and attempts to stretch the abdomen (the sphynx position).

Treating these cases is a real medical and surgical challenge for any vet – it’s one of the emergencies that most vets still dread, so it’s best to focus on prevention.

If you have a susceptible breed, feed them several times a day in small amounts. Avoid vigorous exercise for an hour before and 2 hours after feeding. Avoid sudden diet changes. Feed your dogs separately and in a quiet place.

Reward and encourage calm behaviour at all times, but come to think of it, that last one’s probably pretty good life advice for any dog owner, family member or captain of industry…

I was horrified to read that so many of our traditional dog breeds are now on the endangered list: to be on the list, there have to be fewer than 300 puppies registered with the Kennel Club in the last year.

And this is the list:

Deerhounds, Greyhounds, Otterhounds, Irish Red & White Setters, Clumber Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Sussex Spaniels, Miniature Bull Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Smooth Fox Terriers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Irish Terriers, Kerry Blue Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Manchester Terriers, Norwich Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Skye Terriers, Welsh Terriers, Smooth Collies, Lancashire Heelers, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, English Toy Terriers (Black & Tan).

So stop buying & breeding so many Labradors, Cockers, Springers, Shepherds, Cavaliers and Staffies!

Be a bit more adventurous and go for some of these lovely old breeds before they diet out and we don’t have the choice any more!

PS They might not be on the list, but spare a thought for the lovely English Setter…

For more information, check the Kennel Club page at http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/808

According to Petplan the pet health insurer, the 10 most common health problems in pets are:

- hyperthyroidism
- diabetes
- cystitis
- kidney disease
- kidney failure
- weight loss
- lameness
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- abcesses

Not sure quite what you’re meant to do with that information, but there you go.

Given that most pet owners are a bit slack about visiting the vet – apparently less than half of the UK’s pets get to see their vet just once a year -  you might want  to find out what the symptoms of the top 10 are so that you’ll recognise them if they happen to your pet.

Just a thought.

Oh and watch this space – we’ll be going over them for you in the next few weeks

A lot of older animals (and people) just do get smaller and skinnier with age, but medically any weight change is significant, so you should take your cat along to see your vet. The two commonest medical reasons for weight loss in senior cats are kidney and thyroid disease.

Older cats have older kidneys that start to leak proteins into the urine. Their pee also becomes more dilute, so they have to drink more to keep up. They can feel a bit nauseous, so their appetite is less and they start to lose weight. Specific changes to their diet, medication and supplements can make a big difference to how your cat feels and, bluntly, how long they live.

The thyroid glands control the basic level of metabolism, and in some cats they become hyperactive. Affected cats typically become restless, hungry, vocal and skinny. It’s a bit like them having their foot on the throttle all the time: it wears them out. This disease is also treatable, most commonly with either medication or surgery.

So get to it: book an appointment now!

And as an aside, an accurate (digital) set of bathroom scales is a good investment not just for you, but for your pets.