In 20 years of clinical practice, I’ve seen the “vegan dog” debate shift from a fringe curiosity to a genuine nutritional movement. As pet guardians become more conscious of sustainability and ethics, the question in the consulting room has changed from “Is this possible?” to “How do we do it safely?” But before we look…
Choosing what to feed a dog is one of the most common and often confusing questions dog guardians face. “What should I feed my dog?” is something I discuss in almost every consultation, whether as part of preventive care, weight management, or as a supportive measure alongside medical treatment. There is no single diet that…
With the holiday season around the corner, many pet guardians look forward to packing up the car or boarding a ferry with their companions in tow. Travelling with your pet can be incredibly rewarding, but from a clinical perspective, it introduces a unique set of stressors, hidden environmental risks, and strict legal hurdles that can…
As a clinician, one of the most predictable patterns of my year is the shift in emergency consultations as the seasons change. Just as we saw certain trends during the spring (follow here for the 10 most common spring hazards article), the arrival of long summer days, beach holidays, and family social gatherings brings a…
As a clinician, one of the most frequent causes of emergency consultation I encounter is intoxication. Pets are often exposed to compounds simply because they align with human seasonal activities. Every year in practice, we see the same patterns with surprising consistency. As routines change with the return of sunshine and good weather, we spend…
Choosing pet insurance can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with a growing number of providers, policy types, and exclusions. As a vet, I see daily the impact of insurance decisions, both medically and financially. In 2026, veterinary medicine continues to evolve, and so do treatment options and costs. This makes choosing the right pet insurance…
As a vet, pet insurance has become a key part of treatment discussions and informed consent. In recent years, rising living costs and increasing veterinary fees mean that many treatments are only accessible with insurance. Working regularly in emergency clinics, I also see how much financial pressure adds to already difficult situations, and how much…
Obi is a rescue, and as such, I wasn’t the one managing his health in early life. Although he was generally healthy when I got him, if you discount losing a limb and having fleas, he already had a bit of calculus on his teeth at 20 months old. Although Obi is a very nice…
In a busy clinical day, the temptation is to “get the job done.” But with cats, the shortest route to a successful exam is often a slower start. My approach isn’t about rushing into a physical; it is about managing the sensory environment and respecting the specific biological triggers that turn a curious cat into…
Anxiety in cats is common but often subtle, and many guardians do not realise that early emotional stress can lead to both behavioural changes and physical illness. In cats, mental and physical health are so closely intertwined that each can influence the other. For this reason, anxiety should never be viewed in isolation, and veterinary…