Articles
Field notes on caring for the pets you love.
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Caring for an Ageing or Elderly Rabbit
Ageing rabbits need more care and regular vet check-ups. Senior rabbits (around 5 to 7 years) can slow down, sleep more, lose or gain weight, have cloudy eyes, dental problems and stiff joints (arthritis). Watch appetite, droppings and grooming; stopping eating or fewer droppings is serious. Help with soft bedding, low-entry litter trays, ramps, non-slip floors and easy access to food and water to make moving easier. Keep up dental checks and change to softer foods if chewing is hard, while keeping hay as the main food. Keep bonded rabbits together for company and check daily for urine scald, matted fur and skin problems. Gentle exercise, regular weighing and pain relief when needed help comfort older rabbits. Small home changes and prompt vet care give elderly rabbits a better quality of life.
Small Mammals -
Field Voles in the UK
Field vole (Microtus agrestis) is a common small rodent in the UK and an important part of grassland life. It has a short tail, round face and coarse brown fur, and moves in runways through thick tussocky grass. Field voles eat grasses, sedges, herbs and sometimes bark in winter. They breed fast from March to October, with several litters and young that can breed at three to four weeks. Predators include barn owls, kestrels, foxes, stoats and grass snakes, so predator numbers often follow vole numbers. Look for winding grass runways, small round droppings, stems cut at a 45 degree angle and tiny burrow holes. Managing rough grassland, field margins and hedgerows helps keep vole numbers up and supports birds of prey and other wildlife.
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Understanding Mucus Production in Aquarium Fish
This clear guide explains fish mucus and the slime coat, and what excess mucus means for aquarium fish. A healthy slime coat is thin and clear. Cloudy, thick or stringy mucus usually points to parasites, poor water quality, chemical irritation, stress, injury or infection. Look for flashing, clamped fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, colour changes or white spots. If you see excess mucus, test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, do partial water changes with dechlorinated water, increase aeration, remove debris, and watch fish behaviour. Treat parasites or infections based on symptoms, reduce stress by adding hiding places and lowering light, quarantine new fish for 2–4 weeks, use fish safe products, and handle fish with wet hands or nets. Contact an aquatic vet or experienced aquarium specialist if mucus does not improve, many fish are affected or breathing is difficult.
Aquatics -
Do Indoor Cats Need Vaccinations?
Do indoor cats need vaccinations? Yes. Vaccinations help a cat’s body fight serious diseases. In the UK, core vaccines protect against feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. Kittens usually have jabs at about 8 to 9 weeks and again at 12 weeks, with boosters given yearly or every one to three years. Indoor cats can still catch infections from people, clothing, vet or cattery visits, other pets or insects, so speak to your vet about the right indoor cat vaccine plan. Vaccines are usually safe; mild reactions like tiredness, a small lump or reduced appetite can happen.
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Everything You Need to Do Before Boarding Your Dog
Dog boarding guide: simple dog boarding tips and a boarding kennel checklist to help you prepare your dog for a stay. Choose a clean, secure kennel with trained staff and visit first if you can. Make sure vaccinations, flea and worm treatments are up to date, and that microchip and collar details are correct. Pack your dog’s usual food, favourite toys and bedding, and give clear written instructions for feeding and medication with your vet’s contact. Practise short separations, exercise your dog before drop off, keep goodbyes calm and confirm booking and paperwork. Watch for signs of stress such as loss of appetite, pacing or unusual behaviour and contact your vet if they continue.
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Hybrid Chickens Explained: Types, Egg Colours, and How to Keep Them
Hybrid chickens are common in UK backyard flocks and are bred for strong egg production. They often lay about 250 to 320 eggs a year, start at 18 to 22 weeks and live about 3 to 5 years. Popular brown egg hybrids include ISA Brown, Warren, Goldline, Lohmann Brown and Bovans Brown. White egg hybrids such as Lohmann White and Hy-Line White are lighter and very efficient. Coloured egg hybrids like Easter Egger and Olive Egger lay blue or green eggs. Hybrids are generally calm, friendly and adapt well to free-range or enclosed runs, so they suit beginners. Give each bird at least 0.3 square metres in the coop and 1 square metre in the run, provide one nesting box for every 3 to 4 hens, and supply a layers feed with grit and calcium plus fresh water. Watch for common issues like mites, egg binding and egg peritonitis, and keep regular parasite checks and good coop hygiene. In the UK follow DEFRA biosecurity advice, check local council rules and keep neighbours informed to protect your flock and the wider poultry community.
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What Are the Signs Your Rabbit Is Sick?
Rabbits often hide illness, so spotting small changes is very important for rabbit health. Watch for appetite changes (not eating, leaving hay, weight loss), droppings changes (fewer, smaller, soft or none), low energy and behaviour changes (lethargy, hiding, aggression), breathing problems (rapid, wheeze, discharge), dental signs (drooling, trouble chewing, wet fur), coat and grooming issues (dull, matted, bald patches), digestive problems (bloating, diarrhoea, loud tooth grinding), eye and ear signs (discharge, head tilt) and pain or mobility issues (limping, stiffness). Urgent signs that need a vet straight away are not eating, no droppings, breathing difficulty, severe lethargy, sudden collapse and a bloated belly. These problems can get worse very quickly, so quick action helps your rabbit get better and keeps their health in good condition.
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Setting Up an Environment for Semi-Aquatic Juvenile Amphibians: A Complete Guide
This guide shows how to set up a safe home for semi-aquatic juvenile amphibians like newts, salamanders and some frogs. Use a low, wide tank: about 30 litre for a few juveniles and 60 litre or larger for groups. Aim for a roughly 50:50 land and water split, with water 4–8 cm deep and easy ramps or cork bark for access. Keep water clean with a gentle sponge or low-flow filter and change 25–50% twice weekly. Use dechlorinated water and remove uneaten food. Keep daytime temperatures about 20–24°C for temperate species, up to 26°C for tropicals, and humidity at 70–90% with regular misting. Feed small live prey daily or every other day, dust with calcium twice weekly and give multivitamin every 1–2 weeks. Spot clean land daily and replace substrate every few weeks. Avoid stagnant water, strong currents, poor land access and oversized prey. This setup helps juveniles grow healthy and show natural behaviour.
Exotic -
Epilepsy in Cats: Understanding Seizures, Causes and Long-Term Management
Epilepsy in cats means a cat has repeated seizures. Seizures in cats can be generalised, with collapse, stiff limbs, paddling, drooling or loss of consciousness, or focal, with twitching, chewing motions or sudden behaviour changes. Causes include idiopathic epilepsy, brain problems like tumours or inflammation, and outside causes such as liver or kidney disease, low blood sugar or toxins. Vets diagnose seizures with history, exams, blood tests, urine tests and sometimes MRI or spinal fluid tests. Treatment may include medicines such as phenobarbital, levetiracetam or emergency diazepam, and fixing any underlying disease. You should give medicine exactly as prescribed, keep a seizure diary, minimise stress and have regular vet checks. During a seizure stay calm, do not hold the cat, move dangerous objects away and time the event. Seek urgent veterinary care if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if there are repeated seizures, if the cat does not recover, or if it is the first seizure. With proper care many cats with epilepsy can live comfortable lives.
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Autoimmune Disorders in Dogs: When the Immune System Turns Against the Body
Autoimmune disorders in dogs happen when the immune system wrongly attacks the dog’s own body. They can affect the skin, blood, joints, kidneys and other organs. Common conditions include immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP), pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA). Signs of autoimmune disease in dogs vary but often include lethargy, pale gums, bruising or bleeding, skin sores, hair loss, joint pain and loss of appetite. Diagnosis uses blood and urine tests, imaging, special immune tests and sometimes biopsy. Treatment for autoimmune dogs typically involves immunosuppressive medicines such as prednisolone, azathioprine or ciclosporin, plus supportive care like transfusions, fluids, antibiotics and pain relief. Many dogs need long-term medication and regular monitoring, and some go into good control while others have relapses. Seek urgent veterinary care if your dog collapses, bleeds heavily, has trouble breathing or stops eating; early veterinary assessment improves the chance of a good quality of life.
Dogs -
Upward Fixation of the Patella in Horses: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Upward fixation of the patella (UFP) is when a horse's patella or kneecap gets temporarily stuck on the femur so the stifle cannot bend and the hind leg locks. Common signs of UFP in horses are a locked hind leg, toe dragging, difficulty starting or turning and a sudden jerky release. Causes include weak hindquarter muscles, rapid growth in young horses, straight hind limb conformation, long rest periods or stifle inflammation. Vets diagnose UFP by watching movement and may use ultrasound or radiographs to rule out other stifle problems. Mild cases often improve with conditioning such as hill work, trotting poles, turnout and corrective shoeing; persistent cases may need medial patellar ligament desmotomy surgery followed by a graded rehabilitation programme. Regular exercise, gradual increases in work and balanced nutrition help reduce the risk and most horses recover and return to normal work.
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A Complete Guide to Keeping Bovans Brown Chickens
Bovans Brown chickens are a popular choice for backyard poultry keepers in the UK due to their high egg production and friendly nature. As a hybrid laying breed, they are known for their reliability and adaptability, thriving in various climates and housing setups. Bovans Browns are beginner-friendly and easy to care for, making them suitable for new and experienced chicken keepers. They require a diet of layers pellets with calcium supplements and enjoy free-ranging to forage for food. Regular health checks, clean housing, and proper feeding are important for maintaining their wellbeing. Before keeping these hens, ensure you follow UK poultry rules for biosecurity and local council guidelines.
Poultry