Dog ownership provides so many benefits to humans, particularly children. And pet ownership is continually on the rise world-wide, especially since COVID-19 made us more available to accommodate a new pet. Yet with all good things in life, there are risks. Children in particular are most at risk of being injured by a dog and their injuries are more severe when compared to adults. The media provides biased accounts of a ‘savage’ attack, often directly or indirectly blaming the dog’s breed, and stating how it was seemingly ‘unprovoked’. Sadly, the real reason WHY is completely misunderstood. Only by correctly understanding the true ‘why’ can we prevent future similar disasters. But there’s another possibly greater benefit of understanding why. There is immense potential for enhancing the very rewarding human-animal bond which is the underlying reason that humans and dogs live together in the first place. It’s not only our children who will thank us but the dogs!

Congratulations of your recent decision on getting a puppy. It's exciting times but often stressful as well. There is so much information available on the internet, but are they all true? What are the appropriate ways for socialisation and training?

Diabetes mellitus is a relatively common disease of cats. Treatment of this condition can be both challenging and rewarding. Diabetic cats can lead long, healthy lives if the condition is managed, and there can be periods when insulin treatment is no longer required (diabetic remission). A close rapport between the cat owner and their veterinarian is required for successful outcomes because much of the treatment and monitoring is performed by the owner at home under veterinary guidance.