Advice hub
Written by our nurses, for the moments that actually come up: the refused dinner, the untouchable claws, the carrier that lives in the cupboard.
Cats build small, firm routines around food, and a new work pattern, a visitor or a moved bowl can be enough to put them off. Offer the usual food in the usual place first, then try one small change at a time, such as warming it slightly or moving it somewhere quieter.
Do one claw, then stop and reward. Clipping a whole paw in one go is where most struggles start. Wait until your pet is sleepy, work on a non slip surface and keep the clippers in view for a few days before you use them.
Lip licking, yawning, a tucked tail and turning away are early signs, long before a growl. If you see three or more together, give your dog space and let them come back to the room in their own time.
Aroma drives appetite more than flavour does. Bringing wet food to room temperature, or adding a spoonful of warm water, releases smell and often gets a cat interested again. Never microwave food for a pet, warm it in a bowl of hot water instead.
Leave the carrier out with the door off and a worn t shirt inside. Feed every meal beside it for a week, then inside it. By the time you need to travel, the carrier smells of your pet rather than of the vet.
Ribs you can feel easily but not see, a visible waist from above and a steady appetite tell you more than the scales alone. Weigh monthly on the same scales, at the same time of day, and bring the numbers to your next visit.
Gaps between doses, washing a treated pet too soon and using a dog product on a cat are the three we see most. Check the weight band on the box each time, because a growing puppy can move up a band in a month.
Quiet, warm and boring is the goal. Offer small amounts of water and food, keep the cone on, and check the wound twice a day for swelling or discharge. Ring your practice straight away if your pet is restless, pale or refusing everything.
Our nurses do not provide emergency care. If you see any of these, ring your practice or your nearest out of hours service straight away.