Hello everyone!
Hope you’re all doing well! You might remember that we recently invited you to submit your questions for a Q&A with our fourth and final pet expert of The Season of Pet Happiness, Dr Marc Abraham, otherwise known as Marc the Vet!
Thank you for being so patient. Marc has lots of commitments to attend to, from attending rescue efforts overseas to working in his own veterinary practice in Sussex, England - so we are very excited that he was able to take some time to respond to your amazing questions.
We’re thrilled to share some of his answers with you, featuring questions from our forum members and our Instagram followers! We had lots of great questions, and whilst we’d love to be able to respond to each and every one, that would be a huge task, especially for someone as busy as Marc. So, we have selected a range of questions so that even if yours wasn’t answered, hopefully, you can take something useful away from this Q&A.
Also, if you did submit a question but didn’t see an answer here, stay tuned! There’s a chance it could still appear in a future post. 
Let’s start off with questions from our lovely forum members!
@Jmcrae Dr Marc, My question is about supplements for dogs and cats. Quite often the animals we sit are on all kinds of supplements for joint health. The supplements come in all forms ranging from pills, to chews, and even liquids administered by dropper. Some of these have been very difficult to get the animal to take. The question is two parts. First, how effective are these supplements at improving quality of life/health? Second, are they helpful enough to endure the stress and difficulty it takes to administer them at times? Thank you for joining us! We look forward to reading this whole string!
Dr Marc: Dear Jmcrae, thanks for your question. There are so many different types of supplements on the market nowadays and for all types of conditions: from joints to skin, digestive to old age, and everything else in between! Firstly, I’d say some supplements can be very useful, safe for long term use, noticeably improving the animal’s quality of life, slowing the progression of arthritis, reducing joint pain, and often helpful in delaying the start of prescription medications. Secondly, supplements should always be complimentary therapies, not alternative treatments, so if you find it too stressful and/or difficult to administer supplements then perhaps either seek an alternative product with the same active ingredient that’s easier to administer, or sit tight and encourage more rest until the owners return. Obviously, if the animal you’re sitting appears to show signs of discomfort at all, then please don’t hesitate to contact your vet, make an appointment ASAP, and manage any joint pain with whatever they recommend.
@Katu Oh hello, I have another quick question, hopefully, you won’t mind answering 2, but if only 1, this is the more important one. Our boxer has severe arthritis in his knees, and we were looking to buy these laser therapy machines. They seem to work, but we’re not sure which one to buy. Merci, thank you from Montréal.
Dr Marc: Hi Katu, thanks for your question. Without examining your boxer or seeing any clinical notes (including relevant X-rays), it would be wrong of me to comment on an individual case or treatment plan. However, with my knowledge of treating arthritis in dogs, a very common condition I might add, I’d always recommend seeking professional advice from your vet ASAP. As well as some very effective joint supplements available on the market (see previous answer), and recommending an appropriate diet and levels of exercise, I have also found administering monthly arthritis injections can really help not only alleviate joint pain but also encourage activity, as well as considering prescribing safe, long-term medication if/when indicated. With this approach, I haven’t yet needed to consider employing laser therapy machines, which are another complimentary therapy (like hydrotherapy and acupuncture) thought to be effective in reducing pain, inflammation, and encourage healing.
@Ziggy Outstanding work that you do Dr Marc and incredible achievements which have been acknowledged by your receiving a well-deserved OBE. My question. I have found that most of the pet sits I have done, the cats and dogs have been fed only dry kibble morning and evening, staple diet. My own dog was only fed fresh meat and lived to the ripe old age of 14. I understand the vet products e.g. Hills etc is supposedly scientifically proven to be all our pets need but I never feel comfortable feeding with this source alone and it has been suggested that this diet alone increases the risk of cancer in dogs and cats. I also think how boring it must be for them to have the same thing day in day out for life. What would be your professional opinion on the dry food only approach ? Thank you.
Dr Marc: Hi Ziggy, thanks for your question and kind words about my campaign work and OBE, it’s definitely a team effort this end with still so much left to do! Regarding kibble-only diets it does maybe seem boring when you consider the variation us humans eat, plus seeing every different brand and type of food, and treats, available on the market for dogs. Saying that, it’s important to always make sure our pets are fed a complete diet, containing all the necessary nutrients for that age and type of dog to thrive, and if they do well on kibble-only then they’ll happily not require anything else. Pros of feeding kibble-only include dogs requiring hypoallergenic diets, it’s usually a much more convenient way of feeding as kibble doesn’t require being refrigerated or thawed, it can be left out with reduced risk of spoiling, plus amounts can be easily weighed (and a ration used as treats) which is handy when controlling your pet’s weight, especially dealing with cases of canine obesity.
@Deberle My morkipoo constantly licks his paws (or my hands if I try to block him from licking). I don’t think it’s allergies. I think it may be boredom. He’s a cuddler; not much of a player. What can I do to break this habit?
Dr Marc: Dear Deberle, thank you for your question. Important to point out that without examining or having access to your morkipoo’s clinical notes or history it’s difficult to ascertain exactly why he’s licking his paws. That said, some of the most common reasons for this behaviour include environmental or food allergies (you may not think so but please ask your vet to rule out), fleas or other parasites (make sure you’re using prescription flea and worm treatments from your vet and also treat your house), boredom and stress can sometimes manifest as paw licking, foreign bodies such as grass seeds or splinters, cut or grazed pads, and finally either one or both full glands in their rear can often cause dogs to lick their paws in sheer frustration. Moving forward, I’d definitely ask your vet to work through the above list, examining your morkipoo thoroughly all over, and maybe consider employing a qualified canine behaviourist if there’s nothing obviously medically wrong. If boredom or anxiety driven, then perhaps providing more enrichment, such as interactive toys or calming plug-ins respectively, could help.
@OliviaCantalupo Hi Dr. Abraham!
I’m a petsitter who just submitted my applications to veterinary school! What skills are transferable between being a great petsitter to providing excellent medical care to pets? Do you think being a petsitter during my “gap years” will be helpful or hurtful for my chances?
Dr Marc: Hi OliviaCantalupo, thanks for your question. Wow this is really exciting and yes there are definitely skills you can transfer between being a great petsitter and providing excellent medical care for pets! These include confidence in talking to pet owners and reassuring them that their pet will receive the best care in your hands, knowledge of what a healthy pet looks like, complete with normal lifestyle routines such as feeding, playing, and exercise; perhaps you’ll even get to administer daily medications and grooming. Being a petsitter during your “gap years” will definitely prove helpful, but make sure you also seek work experience at riding stables, rescue shelters, vet clinics, dairy and sheep farms, and any other animal-related activities, all showing you’ve sought as much varied voluntary and appropriate work with all animals as possible. Good luck getting into veterinary school, enjoy your work experience, and please let me know how you get on!
@OnTheGlobalRoad Hi Marc, Thanks for taking our questions. What are more common ailments we can treat at home, allowing the cat or dog time to heal itself, and what common symptoms should we bring the pet into a vet sooner? Broken bones, unconsciousness, uncontrolled bleeding, inability to hold food down come quickly to mind as things that need immediate professional attention, but I’m sure there are others. Thanks!
Dr Marc: Hi OnTheGlobalRoad, thanks for your excellent question. As you’ve already mentioned, obvious emergencies such as broken bones and uncontrolled bleeding should always be treated as emergencies and seen by your vet straightaway. But, very importantly, your pet maybe showing much more subtle signs that require just as urgent intervention and potentially serious surgery to fix them. For example, a dog that appears lethargic may have an abdominal bleed requiring a life-saving operation, so the quicker he or she’s seen by your vet, the better their chances of survival. A large breed dog with a slightly swollen abdomen could be an early twisted stomach, so would also need to be seen by a vet ASAP. My point is, just because something doesn’t appear urgent doesn’t rule out an urgent situation and the need to be seen quickly. So, always call your vet for advice (often free of charge), whatever the issue, and let them decide (triage) whether your pet needs an appointment, or would perhaps benefit from being starved in the case of diarrhoea, or maybe observed first and seen by a vet if their condition doesn’t improve.
Here’s some of our questions (and Marc’s answers!) from our Instagram followers!
How can I get my pet to drink more?
Firstly, it would be useful to know if your pet actually needs to drink more, is he or she dehydrated, are there kidney, liver, even hormonal issues? Also the type of diet, such as kibble only, often determines the need for maybe more drinking and hydration, so that must always be taken into consideration. Saying that, pets can be encouraged to increase their fluid intake by soaking dry food, considering integrating a proportion of wet diet, providing free-flowing drinking fountains and/or multiple drinking stations around the house, cleaning water bowls regularly, preparing flavoured broth-type drinks, and even providing pet-specific, flavoured rehydration solutions in or alongside their normal drinking water.
Is eye discharge normal for dogs like springers? Anything I should do about it?
This is an excellent question as a small amount of eye discharge can be normal for dogs and cats of all breeds and crossbreeds; usually found in the inner corner of the eye, and made up of dried tears, oil, mucus, dead skin cells, and dust. This discharge is often more noticeable in the morning or after a long nap, is present in equal quantities in both eyes, and can be removed with a warm, damp cloth or cotton wool. Some breeds are more likely to have normal eye discharge, including flat-faced breeds and dogs with prominent eyes like pugs and chihuahuas respectively, plus dogs with loose facial skin such as bloodhounds. Issues arise when the discharge is accompanied by inflammation, pain, discomfort, third eyelid coming across, or your pet could be holding their eye closed, and/or the discharge is thick yellow/green pus, bloody, watery, or even just excessive. Eye problems, in one or both eyes, that exhibit some of these types of symptoms include foreign bodies, environmental allergies, corneal scratches or ulcers, dry eye (painful condition that occurs when a dog’s eyes don’t produce enough tears), or blocked/compromised tear duct, and should be seen, investigated, and treated by your vet ASAP.
Does stinky dog breath mean my dog is sick or have gut issues?
Really good question as stinky breath, or ‘halitosis’ as it’s often called, can be an indicator of a few kinds of disease, often serious. Firstly, the most obvious reason would be dental issues in your dog’s mouth, usually from bad teeth and gums (periodontal disease) requiring possible extraction and scaling and polishing. Secondly, issues maybe further along the gut, such as an imbalanced microbiome, can be caused by too many harmful bacteria or not enough beneficial bacteria, which would normally be accompanied by gastrointestinal signs like losing weight, vomiting and/or diarrhoea, even abdominal pain and swelling. These symptoms would also usually be seen in cases of kidney and liver disease, because the organs aren’t filtering and processing waste and toxins properly. In all cases, if you suspect a problem then see your vet ASAP so they can investigate, examine, and treat as necessary.
What law or issue do you want to tackle in the UK next?
Thanks for this excellent question and relatively easy one to answer. The banning of puppies under six months of age being imported into the UK needs to become law ASAP. Puppies are still being imported, both legally and illegally, from Easten European puppy farms, after being removed from their mums too early and transported in horrific conditions in the back of vans. These pups are not only traumatised by the journey, incubate diseases (including potentially rabies), are behaviourally compromised leading to lifelong issues, and often die or become seriously ill on arrival in their new homes. This potential legislation, which already has cross-party support, was part of the Kept Animals Bill dropped by the last government, then presented as a Private Members Bill but didn’t make enough progress to get over the line, so is still waiting to be presented as a Bill to the Commons once again, and finally become law. In all these years of waiting for government promises and progress, there are millions of breeding dogs and their pups suffering which is the saddest part, not to mention the upset families who have unwittingly purchased a dying or diseased pup. Always insist on seeing pup interacting with mum (Lucy’s Law) in the place of birth or, better still, consider adopting from your local rescue shelter instead.
What would be your top 3 tips that pet parents/owners can do to help keep their pet family companions, feline and canine, healthy and happy.
An excellent question and relatively straightforward to answer. Firstly, feeding your dog or cat a complete, appropriate life-stage diet (including high quality treats) is essential. Secondly, making sure you provide your pet with opportunities to perform appropriate levels of exercise, ideally outside, to help both their mental and physical health. And thirdly, sourcing a reputable vet for your pet, and dog behaviourist for dog training, so your pet is always fighting fit and under control, especially with the number of pups purchased during lockdown that still remain inadequately socialised.
