0:00:02 > 0:00:06We Brits have a staggering 50 million pets,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09and from dental chews and flea collars
0:00:09 > 0:00:11to vaccinations and vet bills,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15we are now spending £40 billion a year on their health.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20But what do they really need to have a long and healthy life?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Your pet can't tell you, but science can.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25I'm Steve Leonard, and in this series,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27I'm joined by a team of vets.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31We're going to seek out the latest veterinary research
0:00:31 > 0:00:36to find out what's really good and bad for the nation's pets...
0:00:36 > 0:00:40- Campylobacter.- Mm-hm.- One of those words that you do not want to hear.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43..and do some brand-new science of our own
0:00:43 > 0:00:46to tackle the biggest issues in animal health today.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49So the experiment's been a great success.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52We'll talk to world-leading experts
0:00:52 > 0:00:54to give you the knowledge you need...
0:00:54 > 0:00:56How important is it to prevent overheating?
0:00:56 > 0:00:59..and cut through the myths and misconceptions
0:00:59 > 0:01:01to bring you the very best advice.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Each time, we'll be based at one of the UK's top vet schools
0:01:06 > 0:01:08to seek out the latest research
0:01:08 > 0:01:10from the front line of veterinary medicine.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15This time, we're at Liverpool University Veterinary School.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Welcome to Trust Me I'm A Vet.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Liverpool University Veterinary School is one of the biggest
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and most technologically advanced in Europe.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38It also has a world-renowned clinic
0:01:38 > 0:01:42specialising in the biggest health issue affecting our pets -
0:01:42 > 0:01:43weight problems.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45So, in this programme,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47we've joined forces with the vets here
0:01:47 > 0:01:48for a scientific first -
0:01:48 > 0:01:51an exciting new experiment to find the best way
0:01:51 > 0:01:53to help your pet lose weight.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Our team of vets will also be out and about across the UK,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02seeking out the latest in veterinary research.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06We uncover a hidden epidemic facing the nation's pet rabbits,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and the surprising solution,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12and the pioneering surgery used in human medicine
0:02:12 > 0:02:16that's now changing the lives of paralysed animals.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25But first...
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Around half of all pet dogs are now overweight here in the UK,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38and our cats and our rabbits are getting fatter, too.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40So, as an owner,
0:02:40 > 0:02:44how can you turn things around and get their weight under control?
0:02:44 > 0:02:48To find out, general practice vet Alice Rhodes has teamed up with
0:02:48 > 0:02:50the University of Liverpool's Vet School
0:02:50 > 0:02:52to run a unique experiment.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The pleading can be hard to resist,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but obesity is now recognised as the single biggest problem
0:03:01 > 0:03:05affecting the health and welfare of all pets in the UK.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07It's not just a cosmetic issue.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Dogs who are overweight are more likely to suffer from arthritis,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13heart and lung disease and diabetes.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15This can affect their quality of life
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and it can reduce their life span.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Here at the University of Liverpool Weight Management Clinic,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24researchers are developing treatments to tackle
0:03:24 > 0:03:26what has become a very serious problem.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31So what's the best way to help your dog lose weight?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Is it diet or exercise?
0:03:35 > 0:03:39To find out, Trust Me I'm A Vet is going to run a brand-new study.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43We've recruited 13 dogs who have all been assessed as overweight
0:03:43 > 0:03:47by Professor Alex German, the UK's leading expert in pet obesity.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51So what's the plan with the experiment?
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Well, most people will tell you that if you want to lose weight,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56you've got to eat less and exercise more,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58and that's exactly the same for dogs.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00The trouble is, really,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02we don't yet know, in the veterinary field,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04which is most effective.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Is it diet? Is it exercise?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08And for the first time ever,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11we're going to be pitting one against the other,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14and that's exciting because it will really, I think,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17help us moving forward in terms of how we gear our advice.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23The first key step is to collect some baseline data on our dogs
0:04:23 > 0:04:25before they start.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Does he ever get any crisps? - Yes, he seems to like crisps.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Ice cream? Yeah. Burgers? Yeah.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Does he ever get any cereal with milk?
0:04:33 > 0:04:34Only milk in his tea.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39All the dogs are weighed, measured
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and given a body condition score out of nine.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46A score of seven or above indicates they're obese,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48and most of our volunteer dogs
0:04:48 > 0:04:50are starting off at eight or nine.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52That may seem surprising,
0:04:52 > 0:04:53but a big problem is that
0:04:53 > 0:04:56we're so used to seeing overweight dogs these days,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58we no longer know what normal looks like.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Pepper used to attend the clinic here.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05She started out with a body condition score of eight.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07She's now an ideal five.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10She's got good definition in her lower abdomen.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12You can see this little skin fold here.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16I can feel her ribs nice and easily, and she's not too flat on top.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20And, if you look from above, she's got a little waist.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21When some people look at Pepper,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23they might think that she's underweight,
0:05:23 > 0:05:24but she's not.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26She's just right.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31We're going to find the best way to get your pet down
0:05:31 > 0:05:33to a healthy shape and weight.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Our volunteers' dogs have been randomly allocated
0:05:38 > 0:05:39to one of two groups.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Group one is the exercise group.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Your dogs will be burning more calories in order to lose weight,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49so you're going to take whatever level of activity
0:05:49 > 0:05:52you already have and increase it by a quarter to a third.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55So, let's say you're taking them for a 30-minute walk,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57you're going to increase that to 40 minutes,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00or if you're doing two play sessions a day,
0:06:00 > 0:06:02you can increase that to three.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Group two is the diet group.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08So your dogs will be following a special diet
0:06:08 > 0:06:11that's high in protein, high in fibre,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13with restricted calories,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17but should satisfy their hunger, so no treats or extras,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20so you're going to have to ignore all those pleading looks
0:06:20 > 0:06:22and whining, and stick to the plan.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Do you anticipate any struggles with this?
0:06:25 > 0:06:30Loads, cos Elvis is a stealer, and he thieves food constantly.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34We're fitting all the dogs with monitors,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38so the team can measure how active they are throughout the experiment.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42What do you anticipate the outcome to be?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Well, I'm really excited.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I would guess that we'll have loss on both sides,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49but I'm just so keen to find out.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- It's going to be really interesting to see.- Yeah, definitely.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Over the next eight weeks,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58the owners will be locked in a battle of wills with their pooches
0:06:58 > 0:07:02to see if they can get them to stick to their weight loss plan.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05We'll be back later in the programme
0:07:05 > 0:07:07to find out which is more effective -
0:07:07 > 0:07:09diet or exercise.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20After dogs and cats, our most popular pets are rabbits -
0:07:20 > 0:07:23nearly two millions of them across the UK.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25But there's new evidence of a health issue
0:07:25 > 0:07:27that's becoming a hidden epidemic.
0:07:29 > 0:07:30Stress.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36It's now believed to affect up to two-thirds of our pet rabbits.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39If it's not recognised, it can affect their immune system
0:07:39 > 0:07:43and increase their risk of digestive problems and other illnesses.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And we've uncovered some surprising new research
0:07:48 > 0:07:50that suggests the key culprit is...
0:07:51 > 0:07:53..the hutch.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59Dr Nicola Rooney is a rabbit expert from Bristol University Vet School.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- Hi!- Hi! Come on in.- Hi.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04She and her team have conducted a major survey
0:08:04 > 0:08:07of over 1,200 households, and have established that nearly
0:08:07 > 0:08:12two-thirds of the nations' rabbits are kept in hutches.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Now they're researching how much space
0:08:14 > 0:08:17a pet rabbit needs to stay healthy.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20The typical hutch is a metre or so across
0:08:20 > 0:08:24with a ceiling height of 50cm or less.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Although Pepper's is a bit larger, his current owner Paula,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29who took him in a year ago,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31is worried he doesn't have enough space.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37We inherited the hutch, but he's such a big rabbit.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40To be honest, sometimes I look at him and he looks quite sad.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45To find out whether life in the hutch is causing Pepper stress,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49we're installing cameras to record his behaviour for 24 hours.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Nicola's research suggests that the healthiest pet rabbits
0:08:53 > 0:08:57have patterns of activity that match their counterparts in the wild.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04So I've come with her to observe some natural rabbit behaviour,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and the most striking thing is how much ground they cover.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Wild rabbits utilise an awful lot of space, so given a field,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15you'll see them evenly distributed around it.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17They run, they jump.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Certain key behaviours they display in the wild,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23like standing up on their hind legs,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26are thought to be signs of wellbeing in pet rabbits.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31And the time of day they're most active is also important.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35We know animals in the wild are most active at dawn and dusk,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37something we call crepuscular,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and we've recently at Bristol done some studies on domestic rabbits
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and we found out that they naturally will follow
0:09:43 > 0:09:44exactly the same pattern.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The next day, we can see how Pepper's movements compare.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53At dusk and at dawn, we'd expect rabbits to be doing
0:09:53 > 0:09:56a lot of activity, so we'd expect them to be moving around,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58we'd expect them to be feeding.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01If you look at Pepper here at those times of day,
0:10:01 > 0:10:03he's not really doing anything.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- Mmm.- And he spends quite a lot of time in this bottom part
0:10:06 > 0:10:08of the enclosure,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10potentially partly because the upstairs,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13although it's more sheltered, is quite small.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17But he's not really moving very much at all, is he?
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Pepper may seem calm and comfortable,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23but our footage reveals some signs that he's quite the opposite.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26His body position is key.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29A contented rabbit would stretch its body out in a relaxed way.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32But Pepper is hunched up,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35a position that's associated with stress.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Other signs of stress observed in pet rabbits
0:10:38 > 0:10:41are gnawing and repetitive behaviour.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46He really doesn't give indications of being happy in that environment.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48What does he need to make his life better?
0:10:48 > 0:10:51He needs to be able to run, he needs to be able to jump,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54so something that's large enough for him to do all those behaviours.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56We know that rabbits are really social,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59it would be great if he also had a companion,
0:10:59 > 0:11:00one that he gets on with.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Well, this is really exciting, then.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04This is an opportunity for us
0:11:04 > 0:11:06to make a big difference to Pepper's life, then.
0:11:06 > 0:11:07Mm-hm. Mm-hm.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11So, the first thing we're going to do is ditch the hutch.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17We've called in a team to build Pepper a brand-new living space
0:11:17 > 0:11:20that's designed to mimic a rabbit's natural environment.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Meanwhile, since rabbits in the wild live in groups,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27we're on a mission to find Pepper a soul mate.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Anybody who's dipped their toe in the human dating world
0:11:33 > 0:11:35knows that it can be far from straightforward,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37and that's true for rabbits, too.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41You've got to pick your partner carefully and, even more crucially,
0:11:41 > 0:11:42you've got to take it slow.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49We've brought Pepper to a match-making service for rabbits.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55A selection of potential companions is placed in the enclosure
0:11:55 > 0:11:58next to Pepper to assess if they're compatible.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04A good indicator is if they display immediate interest in each other.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10The first two are showing little sign of that towards Pepper.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14But things are looking more promising with the third, Tamarind.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17It looks like Pepper may have found his match.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Tamarind's now going home with Pepper.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24And for the next two weeks, they'll be living together
0:12:24 > 0:12:26and moving into their new enclosure.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32So we've ditched the hutch and found Pepper a companion.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34But will all this actually reduce his stress?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37We'll be back later in the programme to find out.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Back in Liverpool, Judy Puddifoot's been investigating
0:12:46 > 0:12:49a controversial food fad for pets.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Raw food is the latest pet food craze,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55the idea being that you feed uncooked meat products
0:12:55 > 0:12:58to your pet cat or dog over standard pet food,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00which is cooked and processed.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05It's the fastest-growing trend in pet nutrition.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10The market in pre-packaged raw foods has doubled in the last five years.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14But is it really any healthier than ordinary pet food?
0:13:16 > 0:13:18The marketing hype is based on the idea
0:13:18 > 0:13:20that because raw food is what wolves eat in the wild,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24it's more natural, and therefore better for your dog.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26So, is that true?
0:13:26 > 0:13:28In fact, I found no conclusive evidence
0:13:28 > 0:13:32that pre-packaged raw foods are nutritionally any better
0:13:32 > 0:13:35than ordinary complete pet foods.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38And if you make up your own diet with raw meat from the supermarket,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41it's easy to get the balance of nutrients wrong.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46But nutrition isn't the only issue.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48There's another obvious question.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Is raw food safe?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Raw meat is known to harbour many different kinds of bacteria
0:13:54 > 0:13:57and here at the University of Liverpool Vet School,
0:13:57 > 0:13:59researchers are investigating whether your pet
0:13:59 > 0:14:02can spread these around your home.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04So who is this that we've got here?
0:14:04 > 0:14:05This is Ziggy, our volunteer dog,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07who's going to eat some raw meat today.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Professor Nicola Williams is going to show me
0:14:11 > 0:14:15the sheer quantity of bacteria present on raw food
0:14:15 > 0:14:19and how they spread around your pet, your home and you.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23So this is a plate that I took of my hands
0:14:23 > 0:14:26after handling the raw meat that we fed to the dog.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- OK.- So this would be, essentially, if the owner uses their hands
0:14:30 > 0:14:33to, sort of, prepare the meat, put it into the dog's bowl.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36And these are the bacteria that we saw from handling that meat.
0:14:36 > 0:14:37There's quite a lot on there, isn't it?
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Yeah, there is a lot of bacteria on there.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44The next one is actually from a swab that we took from the bowl.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46- Wow - this was after the dog had eaten.- Yup.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- You swabbed the bowl and this was what was left.- Yeah.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50So this was a very clean bowl.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54And again there's a lot of different types of bacteria there.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55- Did we find anything else?- Yes.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58So we took a swab from the dog's mouth
0:14:58 > 0:15:01after it had eaten raw meat and, essentially, you can see
0:15:01 > 0:15:03there's an awful lot of bacteria there.
0:15:03 > 0:15:04There is a lot of bacteria on there.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09But what exactly are these bacteria?
0:15:09 > 0:15:12And how worried should we be about having them in our home?
0:15:14 > 0:15:17In another lab here at the vet school,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Dr Vanessa Schmidt has been analysing hundreds of samples
0:15:20 > 0:15:24to find out if they contain types known to be dangerous -
0:15:24 > 0:15:27not just to our pets, but to us.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- This is campylobacter. - Campylobacter.- Mm-hm.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33One of those words that you do not want to hear
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- your doctor saying you've got. - That's it.- OK.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38And this one here is salmonella.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Another word that a lot of people get frightened about when they see it.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43That's correct. Absolutely.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Campylobacter and salmonella can cause severe illness in humans.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54And Vanessa has also found harmful strains of E. coli
0:15:54 > 0:15:57that, in some cases, carry genes that make them resistant
0:15:57 > 0:16:00to antibiotics used in human medicine.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04So you found this E. coli in the poo of a dog
0:16:04 > 0:16:06that was fed a raw food diet.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- That's correct, yes. - OK. So the types of E. Coli
0:16:09 > 0:16:10- that you're finding...- Yeah.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12..are potentially ones that can cause
0:16:12 > 0:16:14illness in dogs and humans?
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- Yeah, absolutely.- And those diseases and illnesses that they might cause,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20you're saying, could be quite difficult to treat?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- Yeah.- That's pretty scary stuff. OK.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24- I'm staying well away from that. - Absolutely.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30In her study, Vanessa analysed the faeces
0:16:30 > 0:16:32of 114 dogs fed on raw diets
0:16:32 > 0:16:35and 76 on standard processed pet foods.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Her results were conclusive.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43The raw diet dogs were carrying significantly more
0:16:43 > 0:16:47of these harmful bacteria than the dogs fed on cooked diets.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52These bugs certainly won't do your pet any good,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55but for you and your family, they're especially dangerous.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59So if you do feed your pet a raw food diet,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03you need to do what you can to stop the bugs spreading.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05If you're playing with your dog,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07letting your dog lick your hands, even your face,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09which some people like to do,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12that's an opportunity for those bacteria to transmit to people.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Really important to have good hygiene when you're handling the food,
0:17:15 > 0:17:16washing the dog's bowl -
0:17:16 > 0:17:19even when you're touching your dog, you're potentially at risk.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Routinely, I'd say good hygiene when handling our pets
0:17:22 > 0:17:24is always the best policy,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28but especially if you're feeding your dog a raw meat diet.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- It's really crucial.- OK.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34So, by the two measures I've looked into,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38I've found no health benefits in giving your pet raw food.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42First off, there's no clear evidence that it provides better nutrition
0:17:42 > 0:17:44than standard complete pet foods
0:17:44 > 0:17:49and, secondly, they risk bringing dangerous bacteria into your home.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52So, as a vet and a pet owner,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56my feeling is that, hopefully, raw food is just a fad.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58I certainly don't feed it to my own dog.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Still to come, the latest research
0:18:03 > 0:18:06on how to decode your guinea pig's secret language...
0:18:07 > 0:18:10..how to stop a greedy pet from binge-eating,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13and the pioneering surgery that's changing the lives
0:18:13 > 0:18:15of paralysed animals.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23But first, there's growing evidence that
0:18:23 > 0:18:27a surprising number of common foods most of us have in our kitchens
0:18:27 > 0:18:30can cause serious harm to your pet.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Alice is going to take you through
0:18:32 > 0:18:36some of the most dangerous and unexpected culprits.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39In my practice, I see a lot of cases of pets eating things
0:18:39 > 0:18:40that they shouldn't,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44so I'm going to show you some of the top foods to keep out of reach,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46because some of them really aren't that obvious.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I've been joined by some local dogs and their owners
0:18:51 > 0:18:54to play a toxic foods guessing game.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Now, I've got some ordinary everyday foods here,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02but there are some of these that you definitely want to be keeping
0:19:02 > 0:19:03out of reach of your dogs.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06So which are harmless and which are toxic?
0:19:08 > 0:19:12So what do we think? Stick the onion in the red.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- Everyone happy for the chewing gum to go in?- Absolutely. Yup.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Chocolate, definitely.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18What about the white, though?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Technically, there's no cocoa in that.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22It's not going to poison them.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24That's onion. Yeah, leeks should go, yeah.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25- Leeks.- Definitely.- Garlic? Yup?
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Some treats do have a little bit of garlic.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- Garlic.- Not the whole clove.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- Take one out. - LAUGHTER
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Yeah, put one in one, one in the other!
0:19:33 > 0:19:35A little bit of garlic won't hurt.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- Tea.- OK.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Let's see how we got on, then.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41You've got a lot of things right there,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44so let's take a few things out and have a look.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Onions, garlic, leeks and chives,
0:19:47 > 0:19:48whether cooked or raw,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52contain sulphur compounds that can damage red blood cells
0:19:52 > 0:19:54and cause anaemia in dogs and cats.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57So, not ideal.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59- Won't do it again.- No!
0:19:59 > 0:20:02So the group were right to put them in the toxic bin.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Any of these things, you wouldn't want your dogs eating
0:20:06 > 0:20:08and so things like leftover casseroles,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10that kind of thing, not ideal.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Chocolate, tea and coffee are bad news for pets.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Both tea and chocolate contain theobromine,
0:20:17 > 0:20:21which is toxic to dogs, so you've done really well there.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Theobromine is a natural chemical that can increase heart rate
0:20:24 > 0:20:27and potentially cause seizures in both dogs and cats.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32You've popped in here the chewing gum and the mints
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and that's great, because they contain xylitol.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Xylitol is found in some sugar-free foods
0:20:38 > 0:20:42and can cause liver failure in cats and dogs.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And grapes and raisins are a common cause of kidney failure.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51I mean, we quite often see dogs coming into our clinic
0:20:51 > 0:20:54having eaten a lot of them and in a really serious shape,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56so that's a great thing to have pointed out.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Some of the foods the group put in the toxic bin
0:20:59 > 0:21:02are not really harmful, but if you're not sure,
0:21:02 > 0:21:04it's always best to be cautious.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06The cashew nuts aren't toxic.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08If they were salted,
0:21:08 > 0:21:09that wouldn't be very good for them,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12but the macadamia nuts are toxic.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15And we're not really sure why, but they can't process them in
0:21:15 > 0:21:17the same way that we can.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21We vets see spikes in these cases around Christmas and Easter,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23so it's worth being particularly careful
0:21:23 > 0:21:27when lots of these problem foods - chocolate, nuts and raisins -
0:21:27 > 0:21:29might be lying around.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35And it's not just food that you need to be aware of.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39So there is one major culprit that we have not yet talked about
0:21:39 > 0:21:41and that is everyday medicines.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45By far the most common cause of poisoning in dogs is ibuprofen
0:21:45 > 0:21:48and it can really seriously affect their kidneys.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51The other one is paracetamol, which is not good for their liver,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53although it can sometimes be prescribed by vets.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57So I think both of these need to go well and truly in the toxic bin.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Now, whether it's food or pills,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06if you suspect your pet has eaten something they shouldn't have,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09don't delay, because the effects can be fatal.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13And don't attempt to make your pet vomit
0:22:13 > 0:22:16as this is difficult to do safely at home
0:22:16 > 0:22:18and can often do more harm than good.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21The most important thing is to get them to the vets
0:22:21 > 0:22:22as soon as possible.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24You could phone ahead to let them know that you're coming
0:22:24 > 0:22:28and ideally tell them what you think they've eaten, how much,
0:22:28 > 0:22:29and when - and, even better,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32you could take the packet or the jar with you.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35By being careful which foods you leave lying around,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38you can avoid serving up any dangerous dinners
0:22:38 > 0:22:41and might just save your pet's life.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Even our most familiar pets sometimes behave
0:22:51 > 0:22:54in unpredictable ways,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56but the latest scientific research
0:22:56 > 0:22:59is helping us understand them as never before.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Judy's going to crack the secrets of one of our most popular small pets,
0:23:03 > 0:23:04the guinea pig.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Nearly three-quarters of a million guinea pigs
0:23:09 > 0:23:12are kept as pets in the UK.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14But they can often behave in really funny and erratic ways
0:23:14 > 0:23:17which can come as a surprise to many owners.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21It makes you wonder - "Is it normal? Is it good or is it bad?"
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Time to learn some guinea pig.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27We asked you guinea pig owners across the country
0:23:27 > 0:23:31to capture your pets' bizarre and unexpected behaviour on camera
0:23:31 > 0:23:33and send us your footage,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35and you've given us loads of intriguing stuff.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Lots of you sent us footage of your guinea pigs
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- making extraordinary sounds. - THEY SQUEAK
0:23:43 > 0:23:45In fact, research has revealed that guinea pigs have
0:23:45 > 0:23:48a repertoire of around 14 different noises,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50all of which have different meanings.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53THEY CHIRRUP
0:23:54 > 0:23:58To help me interpret them, I've come to meet behavioural expert
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Dr Sagi Denenberg at the University of Bristol Vet School.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Most of the behaviours are based
0:24:03 > 0:24:05on their need to communicate with each other,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07so they signal something with their body language
0:24:07 > 0:24:09and a sound together.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13One surprising sound you might hear your guinea pig make...
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- THEY PURR - ..is purring.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Like cats, guinea pigs can purr when they're content,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23as this one is doing.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27But they also purr for another reason.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32They sometimes use it to placate another guinea pig
0:24:32 > 0:24:35in the hope of avoiding a fight.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37If you hear your guinea pig purring
0:24:37 > 0:24:40while backing away from another guinea pig,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42it could mean they feel threatened.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45You might need to separate them temporarily.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Our next behaviour could also signal trouble.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Talk us through what we're seeing with this then.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01The teeth chattering that you hear are actually sounds of aggression.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03They might be fighting over resources
0:25:03 > 0:25:05or something like that, or space.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08It doesn't have to be a full fight with bites and fur flying.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Sometimes, it's just the noise,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13sometimes it is just...using the human term, verbal aggression
0:25:13 > 0:25:15rather than physical aggression.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18If you have more than one guinea pig and hear teeth chattering,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20there could be trouble brewing,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23so try to make sure they have enough food and space
0:25:23 > 0:25:25to share between them.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28If your guinea pig's teeth chatter whilst on their own,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30it could be a sign of dental problems,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33so it's a good idea to have them checked by a vet.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Our final guinea pig behaviour is one of the most bizarre...
0:25:42 > 0:25:44..and as peculiar as the behaviour is its name.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50So, this guinea pig is running and bouncing in the air.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53That's why they call it called "popcorning" behaviour.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Like the popcorn, bouncing.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57That's typically a very joyous activity
0:25:57 > 0:26:00that pups will show a lot when they run and they play and they jump.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Another reason for this activity
0:26:02 > 0:26:04is showing off to girls.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Sometimes a male would show similar behaviour
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and some owners will term it, actually, as the rumba.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12- The rumba?- Yeah, like the dance.- OK.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15And they'll bounce a bit, and they'll shake their rear end.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19But in young and old, male and female alike,
0:26:19 > 0:26:24this energetic behaviour is usually a sign that guinea pigs are happy.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27Even as a vet,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30I've learned today just how complex guinea pig behaviour can be.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33They do have weird and wacky behaviours.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35But they all totally make sense in the world of guinea pigs.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38And the more you understand them,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41the more it can help you keep your guinea pig healthy and happy.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44Still to come...
0:26:44 > 0:26:47We dive into the science of how to give your pet fish
0:26:47 > 0:26:49a longer, healthier life.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53And what's the best way to help your dog lose weight?
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Diet or exercise?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58We'll have the results of our big experiment.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03But first...
0:27:03 > 0:27:05One of the biggest challenges that owners have
0:27:05 > 0:27:08when trying to control their pet's diet
0:27:08 > 0:27:11is when they're faced with an animal that seems to be constantly hungry
0:27:11 > 0:27:13and always pestering them for food,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15no matter how much they've already eaten.
0:27:15 > 0:27:20So, how can we stop your pet's constant urge to overeat?
0:27:20 > 0:27:23That's something they're investigating here
0:27:23 > 0:27:26at Liverpool's pet weight loss clinic.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29And one of the key problems they've identified
0:27:29 > 0:27:32is the speed at which animals eat.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Bailey here, like many Labradors,
0:27:34 > 0:27:36is a notoriously fast eater.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40We've given him half his normal breakfast
0:27:40 > 0:27:44and he's taken just 38 seconds to polish it off.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47He's eaten so quickly, his brain hasn't actually had time
0:27:47 > 0:27:50to register that he's full,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53and that means dogs can still feel hungry,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56even when they've eaten more calories than they need.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Research shows this makes animals more likely to overeat.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02And the same is true of humans.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06But the vets here have a solution.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10A range of low-tech toys called "puzzle feeders"
0:28:10 > 0:28:13to make dogs work harder for each morsel.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16So, now we're going to give Bailey
0:28:16 > 0:28:17the other half of his breakfast
0:28:17 > 0:28:19on one of these.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Imagine how difficult it's going to be
0:28:21 > 0:28:25to get all of these bits of food out from these grooves?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27We know he's hungry, he's always hungry,
0:28:27 > 0:28:29so let's see how long.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Ready, steady, go.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35He's going for the shallow grooves first.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41We're getting close to how long it took him last time
0:28:41 > 0:28:44and he's barely touched it, really.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48'Leading researcher in pet weight loss Professor Alex German
0:28:48 > 0:28:51'has been studying how these puzzle feeders work.'
0:28:51 > 0:28:55By slowing down how long it takes him to eat,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58it'll give time for his stomach to send signals to his brain
0:28:58 > 0:28:59to say, "I'm full."
0:28:59 > 0:29:01So, yes, it will satisfy him,
0:29:01 > 0:29:03even though it's the same amount of food.
0:29:05 > 0:29:06Surprising though it sounds,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10recent research has shown that dogs prefer to work for their food,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13rather than have it served up without effort.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15This may be because it allows them
0:29:15 > 0:29:17to satisfy their natural foraging instincts.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20He's still going. This is two-and-a-half minutes.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23A few trickier pieces left here.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25Right, last one, last one, last one.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29Good lad. Well done, you.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Three minutes ten. That's a massive difference.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Well, that worked for Bailey -
0:29:35 > 0:29:38it took him five times longer to eat the second half of his breakfast,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42giving his stomach more time to tell his brain that he's full.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45And it's not just dogs -
0:29:45 > 0:29:48eating too quickly is a problem that also affects cats.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52But research has shown that cats tend to fall into
0:29:52 > 0:29:55two very different types of eating behaviour.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59We recognise two different sorts,
0:29:59 > 0:30:02so we have so-called bingers and grazers.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04Grazers take many small meals
0:30:04 > 0:30:08but importantly, can regulate how much they eat.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12On the other hand, the binger tends to consume a much larger amount
0:30:12 > 0:30:15at each setting, so they're the ones we think are prone
0:30:15 > 0:30:17to weight gain and obesity.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20If your cat is overeating,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22you could try giving them their food inside
0:30:22 > 0:30:25a specially designed toy like this.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Just like the puzzle feeders for dogs, these toys slow down
0:30:29 > 0:30:31the rate at which a cat eats,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34and cats tend to enjoy expressing their predatory instincts.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38But what if you have not only a binger
0:30:38 > 0:30:41but also a grazer living under the same roof?
0:30:41 > 0:30:44How do you stop your binger bingeing
0:30:44 > 0:30:46and still allow your grazer to graze?
0:30:48 > 0:30:51I'm with Georgia from the university's pet weight-loss clinic,
0:30:51 > 0:30:53visiting a family who face this problem.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Here we have Purdy, a grazer,
0:30:57 > 0:30:59and Casper, who's definitely a binger.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04But Georgia has found a solution.
0:31:04 > 0:31:05This is Casper.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08This is part of his daily allowance of food that he's got here
0:31:08 > 0:31:12and we're having to moderate how much he has in a day to get
0:31:12 > 0:31:15the weight loss that we wanted from him, and he's doing ever so well.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20The Liverpool team have introduced hi-tech feeding bowls
0:31:20 > 0:31:24that only open for a specific cat with the right microchip.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27At around £60, bowls like these aren't cheap,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30but they do seem to make a difference.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34So by activating his own sort of feeder...
0:31:34 > 0:31:37It means that everyone has their own bowl and can only consume
0:31:37 > 0:31:41their own food, meaning there's no bowl-swapping and overeating.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Now Casper can no longer just help himself.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49This is Purdy being able to come and go at her bowl as she chooses.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52She probably won't eat all the food that's available to her straight away.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55She'll come and go throughout the day, and the bowl allows her
0:31:55 > 0:31:59to do that. It means Casper can't come and steal all her food.
0:31:59 > 0:32:00So as soon as she exits here,
0:32:00 > 0:32:03lid's shut and she can leave a little bit for later.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07- Absolutely.- That's such a simple solution to really a major problem
0:32:07 > 0:32:09for anybody who's got a multi-cat household.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14So if you've got a binge-eating cat or dog at home that always
0:32:14 > 0:32:18seems to be hungry, there are lots of solutions out there,
0:32:18 > 0:32:20from a simple puzzle feeder like this
0:32:20 > 0:32:23to the latest technology like this.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35We at Trust Me I'm A Vet are keen to answer your burning questions
0:32:35 > 0:32:38about pets, and there's one type of dog
0:32:38 > 0:32:41whose popularity has rocketed in recent years
0:32:41 > 0:32:44that's causing a lot of concern for vets and owners alike.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49I've got a flat-faced dog and I know they can have health problems.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52What should I be looking out for and what can I do about it?
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Pugs like little Betty here are what's called brachycephalic,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59which means they've been bred to have flat faces.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02This is done because it's thought it makes them look cute,
0:33:02 > 0:33:06a bit like babies, and it makes them very popular choices for dog owners.
0:33:07 > 0:33:13Pugs, bulldogs and shih-tzus are all in the flat-faced category
0:33:13 > 0:33:16and becoming increasingly popular,
0:33:16 > 0:33:17with four times more pugs
0:33:17 > 0:33:20and a staggering 30 times more French bulldogs
0:33:20 > 0:33:22registered in the last 10 years.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Unfortunately, their adorable features make them prone to
0:33:27 > 0:33:30specific health problems, so if you've got one or you're thinking
0:33:30 > 0:33:34of buying one, what health issues should you be looking out for?
0:33:35 > 0:33:38We vets are seeing more of these dogs than ever before.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42The Royal Veterinary College near London now treats so many
0:33:42 > 0:33:45that they have a dedicated brachycephalic clinic.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49One of the vets here is Professor Dan Brockman.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Today he's seeing a pug called Ken.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56So, Dan, what's the problem for dogs that have got flatter faces like Ken
0:33:56 > 0:34:00compared to normal dogs that have got longer faces?
0:34:00 > 0:34:02If you look at these two skulls,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05this is a medium-length face
0:34:05 > 0:34:08and this is what we call a brachycephalic,
0:34:08 > 0:34:09a short-nosed dog's skull,
0:34:09 > 0:34:13and then we turn these over and you can see immediately
0:34:13 > 0:34:16that the room that they have,
0:34:16 > 0:34:18especially for the teeth,
0:34:18 > 0:34:19is all crammed together,
0:34:19 > 0:34:21but all of the soft tissues,
0:34:21 > 0:34:25the lining of the back of the throat, is exactly the same.
0:34:25 > 0:34:26The tongue is the same,
0:34:26 > 0:34:31so all of that tissue has been pushed into a much smaller space
0:34:31 > 0:34:33and so there are folds on the inside
0:34:33 > 0:34:37just as there are folds on the outside that are interfering with the ability to move air.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43Ken had surgery to remove some of the excess tissue from inside
0:34:43 > 0:34:45his skull and widen his nostrils,
0:34:45 > 0:34:48which has helped him to breathe more easily,
0:34:48 > 0:34:50but, like many flat-faced dogs,
0:34:50 > 0:34:54the skin folds on his face also cause problems.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57If I just lift the forehead up a little bit,
0:34:57 > 0:34:59do a little mini face-lift,
0:34:59 > 0:35:03we've got discolouration inside these folds of hair.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08That's where bacteria, yeasts can cause skin infection
0:35:08 > 0:35:11that really can be painful for the animal.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16Another standout feature of a flat-faced dog is their prominent eyes.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Sometimes the eyes can be so bulgy
0:35:20 > 0:35:23that they can't close the eyelids properly.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Closure of the eyelids is crucial for spreading the tear film
0:35:27 > 0:35:31that nourishes that superficial layer of the eye, so that is
0:35:31 > 0:35:35defective and that can lead them to develop things like ulcers.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Not all flat-faced dogs will suffer from these health issues,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46but there are things you can do to help prevent them
0:35:46 > 0:35:48and treat them if they happen.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50Number one, their breathing.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Try not to overexert your flat-faced dog.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55If you do notice your dog is struggling to breathe,
0:35:55 > 0:35:57take it to a cool, quiet place to calm down,
0:35:57 > 0:36:00where it can have access to a drink, and then take it to a vet.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04Number two, their skin folds.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Ideally, you should inspect and clean your dog's face folds
0:36:08 > 0:36:11at least once a day, depending how dirty they get.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13You can use warm, soapy water.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Just make sure that you rinse it well and dry it properly.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Finally, number three - those eyes.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25If your dog's eyes show any signs of drying out,
0:36:25 > 0:36:28it's really important that you get them properly checked by a vet.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30They might need a saline eye gel
0:36:30 > 0:36:33that acts as a lubricant to keep the eyes moist
0:36:33 > 0:36:37and they might need treatment if there's any infection too.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39So if you've got a flat-faced dog,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42it's important to look out for the health problems that they're prone to,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and if you're thinking of getting one, then make sure
0:36:45 > 0:36:48you can give them the care they need to stay happy and healthy.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01Earlier in the programme, we began a unique experiment
0:37:01 > 0:37:05to tackle a hidden epidemic in the nation's rabbits - stress.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09The latest veterinary research suggests that the biggest cause
0:37:09 > 0:37:11is keeping them in hutches,
0:37:11 > 0:37:16so we installed some cameras in the hutch of one pet rabbit, Pepper,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19and the footage revealed some classic signs of stress.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Pepper's sitting hunched and motionless at times of day
0:37:22 > 0:37:24when he should be active and playful.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29So we've taken two key steps to try and reduce his stress.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34First, we've ditched the hutch and replaced it with an enclosure that's
0:37:34 > 0:37:39larger and contains features that mimic a rabbit's natural habitat.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Secondly, as rabbits in the wild are social and live in groups,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46we've found Pepper a companion, Tamarin.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49For the last two weeks,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Pepper and Tamarin have been living together and have moved into
0:37:52 > 0:37:57the new enclosure, and we've been capturing their behaviour on camera
0:37:57 > 0:38:01to find out if the changes we've made have reduced Pepper's stress.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05Now we're back for the results.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06SHE KNOCKS
0:38:07 > 0:38:10- Hi, Paula.- How are you doing?
0:38:12 > 0:38:13Oh, look at that. Very good.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Time to see if ditching the hutch has changed Pepper's life.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23This is so, so much better.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26He's sort of in and out of the tree trunks.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28He's up and down the tubing.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31They use it as, like, a little adventure playground.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34It's about three metres long, which we know is long enough for
0:38:34 > 0:38:37the average rabbit to be able to run and jump.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40We've got things in this that they can climb on
0:38:40 > 0:38:42and we've got things they can hide under,
0:38:42 > 0:38:46and the route into the home is through small tubes.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Now they can just shoot down a bolthole and they're back
0:38:49 > 0:38:51in their safe shed.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53So, the signs are encouraging,
0:38:53 > 0:38:57but have we really been able to reduce Pepper's stress levels?
0:38:58 > 0:39:02This footage shows Pepper being much more active and playful,
0:39:02 > 0:39:06especially at those key times, dawn and dusk.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10He and Tamarin groom each other, which shows they've bonded,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13and both of them stretch out in the middle of the night,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16a sign they're content and relaxed.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20It's a big difference from the hours Pepper used to spend hunched up,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22a telltale sign of stress.
0:39:23 > 0:39:24Such, such an improvement,
0:39:24 > 0:39:28and it's really, really nice to see them both interacting
0:39:28 > 0:39:29- with all the stuff in there.- Yeah.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33So, for your pet rabbit to be stress-free and healthy,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36don't keep them in a small hutch.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40The research has shown that rabbits need at least three metres' length
0:39:40 > 0:39:43and sufficient headroom to run, jump and stand up.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46And even if you haven't got all of that space,
0:39:46 > 0:39:48there's always something you can do.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52Give them platforms to climb on, places to hide, places to dig,
0:39:52 > 0:39:56and most importantly, rabbits are social creatures like us.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58They need the company of other rabbits.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Now, just as in humans, if an animal has spinal damage and is paralysed,
0:40:17 > 0:40:21there is no cure, but I'm about to witness a ground-breaking operation
0:40:21 > 0:40:23performed by only two surgeons in the world.
0:40:26 > 0:40:31For the first time, surgical technology developed to treat paralysis in humans
0:40:31 > 0:40:34is being adapted to radically improve the quality of life
0:40:34 > 0:40:35of paralysed animals.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39Ozzy is a seven-year-old dachshund.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43Just six weeks ago, his owners Andrew and Aggie noticed
0:40:43 > 0:40:47he had started walking much more slowly and seemed in pain.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50After that he just collapsed on his back legs and there was clearly
0:40:50 > 0:40:52something very seriously wrong with him.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Ozzy's vet performed a CT scan
0:40:56 > 0:41:00and found that one of the discs in his spine had ruptured.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01This can happen to any dog,
0:41:01 > 0:41:03but dachshunds are especially vulnerable
0:41:03 > 0:41:05to weaknesses in their discs.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09Ozzy was rushed in for emergency surgery
0:41:09 > 0:41:12but the damage couldn't be repaired.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15He's now paralysed from the middle of his back down.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Veterinary neurologist Dr Nicolas Granger can show me why.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22So this is Ozzy's back.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Just explain to me what we're looking at here.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28The fibres within the spinal cord have been completely damaged
0:41:28 > 0:41:32and therefore that blocks the information to go from the brain
0:41:32 > 0:41:34to the back end of the dog
0:41:34 > 0:41:38and equally the back end won't be able to communicate with the brain.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41It's pretty much like somebody's actually cut through his spine
0:41:41 > 0:41:43and it's completely severed.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45It's very clear when you look at him that there is a point
0:41:45 > 0:41:47along his back where he can feel
0:41:47 > 0:41:50and a point after the lesion where he can't,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54so he can't feel pain but that comes with loss of function as well.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59This loss of function causes many health problems
0:41:59 > 0:42:01that can shorten an animal's life.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05And the most serious are not always the most obvious.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Surprisingly, one of the biggest threats to the health of
0:42:08 > 0:42:12every paralysed animal is that they lose control of their bladder.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15This puts them at risk of dangerous infections.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17It's such a serious problem
0:42:17 > 0:42:21that Ozzy has to be taken to the vet twice a day for treatment.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26But in human medicine, innovative surgical techniques have been
0:42:26 > 0:42:30developed to restore some vital functions like bladder control.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36And now one such technology is being applied to animals.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Dr Nicolas Granger is one of only two veterinary surgeons in the world
0:42:40 > 0:42:43to perform this pioneering operation.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48In humans, neurosurgeons have designed very clever implants
0:42:48 > 0:42:51that you can place near the nerves in the lower back region
0:42:51 > 0:42:53going to the bladder.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57It involves placing a tiny electrode on a key nerve
0:42:57 > 0:43:00in the spinal cord called the sacral nerve.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05This electrode can be activated by a remote-controlled device
0:43:05 > 0:43:08to send an electrical impulse down the nerve.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12The idea is that this will act exactly like a signal from the brain
0:43:12 > 0:43:15telling the bladder to empty.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17The system, this external system
0:43:17 > 0:43:21will exploit the nerves and replace the brain.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23That's absolutely amazing.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27Today Ozzy is being admitted for surgery.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30It's an extremely delicate procedure
0:43:30 > 0:43:33and Nicolas is the only surgeon in the UK to perform it.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38One of the difficult things about this procedure is really
0:43:38 > 0:43:40just finding the right nerve.
0:43:40 > 0:43:44It's such a tiny part of the anatomy buried deep in the body.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Nicolas needs to work carefully.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50Any damage could make Ozzy's condition worse.
0:43:54 > 0:44:00Now it's going to be a matter of getting the implant onto those nerves and permanently in position.
0:44:01 > 0:44:02Micro forceps.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07Once Nicolas is confident he has positioned the chip correctly,
0:44:07 > 0:44:11he has to attach tiny cables and a receiver under Ozzy's skin.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18The surgery has gone as well as could be hoped
0:44:18 > 0:44:21and Ozzy is taken back to the dog ward to recover.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26It was a real honour for me to see Nicolas at work.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28He's very quick, he's very meticulous,
0:44:28 > 0:44:31but we'll only know if it's been truly worth it
0:44:31 > 0:44:35when Ozzy wakes up, and see if the implant works.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43Two hours later, the moment has arrived for Nicolas to test whether
0:44:43 > 0:44:47the implant has worked and can stimulate Ozzy's bladder to empty.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52OZZY WHINES
0:44:52 > 0:44:55Gosh, it really is just literary straightaway.
0:44:57 > 0:44:58That's incredible.
0:44:58 > 0:45:01Yeah, yeah. And it's very good that it's working as well,
0:45:01 > 0:45:03for this little dog.
0:45:03 > 0:45:04That is amazing.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07He's obviously completely oblivious
0:45:07 > 0:45:09but what a complete difference that will be.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18Three weeks later, and Ozzy's life has been turned around.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Instead of daily trips to the vet,
0:45:21 > 0:45:23he's back to his normal walks in the park.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27The surgery can't give him back his hind legs but by replacing
0:45:27 > 0:45:31one key part of the connection between his brain and his body,
0:45:31 > 0:45:34it's made him a lot more comfortable and healthy.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38He's just so happy to be out and about.
0:45:38 > 0:45:42He's just back to himself and he's got many more years to come,
0:45:42 > 0:45:46hopefully, of happy and healthy life with us.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49And what's really exciting is that
0:45:49 > 0:45:52Nicolas's technique is only the beginning.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55By taking the latest technology from human medicine and applying it
0:45:55 > 0:45:58to the veterinary world, this promises to transform
0:45:58 > 0:46:00the quality of life for animals like Ozzy.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06And in showing that it's possible to overcome spinal damage in this way,
0:46:06 > 0:46:09Nicolas and his team have taken a crucial step towards
0:46:09 > 0:46:13the Holy Grail of reversing the effects of paralysis.
0:46:18 > 0:46:22In a few moments, we'll be getting the results of our big experiment,
0:46:22 > 0:46:24pitting diet against exercise
0:46:24 > 0:46:26to find the best way to help your pet lose weight.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35But first, over to Vim Kumaratunga.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40You might not think it, but by sheer numbers,
0:46:40 > 0:46:43fish are far and away our most common pet.
0:46:45 > 0:46:49There are around 36 million pet fish in the UK.
0:46:49 > 0:46:54That's more than twice as many as all the dogs and cats put together.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00Yet it's a shocking fact that many fish kept at home
0:47:00 > 0:47:03will only live for a quarter of their natural lifespan.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08And when they fall ill, they're hardly ever taken to the vets.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12Given how many there are, it's remarkable how few we see.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16So what's going wrong and how can we put it right?
0:47:19 > 0:47:22To find out, I've come to Bristol Zoo Aquarium,
0:47:22 > 0:47:24home to more than 100 different species.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30Remarkably, every week here, head curator Johnny Rudd takes on fish
0:47:30 > 0:47:33from owners who are struggling to look after them at home.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36He finds that most of the problems
0:47:36 > 0:47:39are caused by three popular myths about keeping fish.
0:47:41 > 0:47:42Myth number one -
0:47:42 > 0:47:45fish will only grow to the size of your tank.
0:47:45 > 0:47:4970% of the animals in this tank have come from pet shops originally,
0:47:49 > 0:47:52unfortunately come to us after people can't look after them
0:47:52 > 0:47:53once they get to their full size.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56They would have been sold as very small animals.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01In around a third of cases when owners can't keep their fish,
0:48:01 > 0:48:04it's because they've grown too big.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07This pangasius catfish, for instance,
0:48:07 > 0:48:09started out just a few inches long,
0:48:09 > 0:48:13but has grown to be a giant three-foot tankbuster.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17And when fish are kept in a home tank that's too small,
0:48:17 > 0:48:19they suffer serious health problems.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24That applies to even our most common pet fish,
0:48:24 > 0:48:27the seemingly humble goldfish.
0:48:27 > 0:48:31Goldfish can get to a great big size and live for a long, long time.
0:48:31 > 0:48:35In a pond environment they will live to 30, 35 years.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38Given an unsuitable environment like a goldfish bowl or something,
0:48:38 > 0:48:40where they're not going to thrive,
0:48:40 > 0:48:42they can only live for three or four years.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44People think this is normal and it's just not.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46It's almost like it's a disposable pet.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48In my opinion, they shouldn't really be in indoor tanks.
0:48:50 > 0:48:51So before you buy a fish,
0:48:51 > 0:48:55make sure it's a species that will remain a manageable size.
0:48:57 > 0:49:01Myth number two - you can put whatever fish you like in your tank.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05In fact, the combination of fish is crucial.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09Not all types will be happy living together.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11When the mix of species is wrong,
0:49:11 > 0:49:14the very first problem you're likely to see is aggression,
0:49:14 > 0:49:18and fish on the receiving end will tend to become stressed
0:49:18 > 0:49:20and prone to disease.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22To help you achieve harmony, believe it or not,
0:49:22 > 0:49:25there are such things as compatibility charts.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27Which is a great starting point,
0:49:27 > 0:49:30but it won't give you all the information that you need,
0:49:30 > 0:49:33so it's best to seek expert advice from a specialist
0:49:33 > 0:49:34before you choose your fish.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39And getting the right number of fish in your tank is also vital.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43The piranhas here at Bristol are a good example.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49Like many species, they're only happy living in large shoals.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52They're a little bit like the Rottweiler of the fishkeeping world.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54People get them because of their fearsome reputation,
0:49:54 > 0:49:56but in fact they're very, very timid.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58They will often just get one,
0:49:58 > 0:50:01which will be very stressed and it will die very young.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03It won't have the security of the shoal around it,
0:50:03 > 0:50:05which it really needs, they're very social animals,
0:50:05 > 0:50:08so they'll see it deteriorate and then they'll buy two,
0:50:08 > 0:50:09which is a terrible thing to do
0:50:09 > 0:50:12because then there's no way of distributing their aggression.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14They will fight literally to the death.
0:50:14 > 0:50:16You need six to eight animals, minimum, really,
0:50:16 > 0:50:18but you will need a really big tank to do that.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22But even if you've got your fish right,
0:50:22 > 0:50:24there's still myth number three -
0:50:24 > 0:50:26that the water is the easy bit.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31In fact, water quality is the number one reason why
0:50:31 > 0:50:35the lifespan of fish kept in tanks is so much shorter than in the wild.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39So your water conditions need to be controlled precisely
0:50:39 > 0:50:41or your fish will quickly fall ill.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46That's particularly true of salt water,
0:50:46 > 0:50:50which has very complex chemistry that's difficult to get right,
0:50:50 > 0:50:52especially for first-time owners.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55Johnny's collection includes
0:50:55 > 0:50:59saltwater fish that became popular as pets after Hollywood stardom,
0:50:59 > 0:51:02only for their owners to run into trouble.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05The whole industry has seen a big influx of people trying to
0:51:05 > 0:51:08donate these sort of animals shortly after those sort of films,
0:51:08 > 0:51:11which is sad, really, because I think people just underestimate
0:51:11 > 0:51:14the amount of care and dedication you need to keep these animals.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17They're very sought after, they're very colourful and vibrant,
0:51:17 > 0:51:18but they're not for the beginner,
0:51:18 > 0:51:21so really should think it through and not get them on impulse.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26So, when you keep fish at home, there's a lot to think about.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29Not all vets are experts on fish
0:51:29 > 0:51:32and not all retailers know what they're talking about.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36So ask your vet to recommend to you someone who does.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50At the start of the programme, we began an experiment to find out
0:51:50 > 0:51:55which is more important for your pet to lose weight - diet or exercise?
0:51:58 > 0:52:01So we recruited 13 overweight dogs.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06We split them into two groups and for the past eight weeks,
0:52:06 > 0:52:10they have each been on a different weight loss plan.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12Our first group have been on a controlled diet,
0:52:12 > 0:52:17with precisely measured portions of food, and no treats.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19So how have you got on with Elvis?
0:52:19 > 0:52:21It's been a challenge because Elvis is Houdini-dog
0:52:21 > 0:52:24and can find food where you don't think there is any.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27He had two sausages out of my bag a few days ago.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30I forgot I'd put them in a Tupperware dish in my work bag.
0:52:31 > 0:52:35The second group have increased the amount of activity the dogs do
0:52:35 > 0:52:38by at least a quarter to a third.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41We're really hoping she's lost something because
0:52:41 > 0:52:44I've lost a couple of pound over the eight weeks, even if Lucy hasn't!
0:52:46 > 0:52:49Throughout, all our dogs have been fitted with a device
0:52:49 > 0:52:51to monitor their physical activity.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56It's the end of the eight weeks and they're returning
0:52:56 > 0:52:59to the University of Liverpool's Pet Weight Management Clinic
0:52:59 > 0:53:01to be weighed and measured.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05So she was 15.6, just under, last time.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08- She's now 14.6, 14.55.- Oh, wow!
0:53:08 > 0:53:11- So she's actually lost a kilogram.- That's good.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14Professor Alex German and his team have analysed the data
0:53:14 > 0:53:17to find out which group has lost most weight -
0:53:17 > 0:53:19the dieters or the exercisers.
0:53:21 > 0:53:22Time for the results.
0:53:23 > 0:53:26Welcome back. It's really nice to see everybody.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29To our knowledge, this is a world first.
0:53:29 > 0:53:33This is the first properly controlled trial comparing the two,
0:53:33 > 0:53:36so thank you so much for taking part.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39So we're going to start with the exercise group.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43If we look at the group as a whole,
0:53:43 > 0:53:46and we think in percentage terms,
0:53:46 > 0:53:51the average loss that your group achieved was 2%.
0:53:53 > 0:53:57So a modest but significant weight loss for the exercise group.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00But how did the diet group compare?
0:54:00 > 0:54:03Once again, if we think in percentage terms,
0:54:03 > 0:54:06the diet group achieved
0:54:06 > 0:54:11a spectacular 10% on average,
0:54:11 > 0:54:13so well done. Fabulous.
0:54:13 > 0:54:15CHEERING
0:54:16 > 0:54:18So the diet group were the clear winners.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22And this was the case in every measure we used.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25At the start of our experiment,
0:54:25 > 0:54:28every dog was given a body condition score.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32All our dogs scored between six and nine of a maximum nine,
0:54:32 > 0:54:35meaning they were all classed as overweight or obese.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41By the end of the experiment, just one dog in the exercise group
0:54:41 > 0:54:43managed to drop her score by one point.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48But in the diet group, all dogs went down by either one or two points,
0:54:48 > 0:54:52making them closer to their ideal size and weight.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59And our experiment has revealed an unexpected reason
0:54:59 > 0:55:01why the diet group did so well.
0:55:03 > 0:55:05Alex and his team measured the physical activity
0:55:05 > 0:55:07of all the dogs in the study.
0:55:08 > 0:55:12And in the diet group, when the dogs began to lose weight,
0:55:12 > 0:55:14they also naturally became more active.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18Over the eight-week period,
0:55:18 > 0:55:22Honey the shih-tzu increased her activity by 33 minutes a day.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25And Poppy the collie, also in the diet group,
0:55:25 > 0:55:29increased her daily activity by more than an hour.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32We didn't ask the owners to change her activity
0:55:32 > 0:55:35but Poppy seems to naturally have done that.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39These dogs' owners didn't do anything to change their routine,
0:55:39 > 0:55:43which suggests that losing weight helped the dogs feel motivated
0:55:43 > 0:55:45to move more of their own accord.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49- Well, that's a win-win situation. - Absolutely.
0:55:50 > 0:55:55Our experiment is the first of its kind to compare diet versus exercise
0:55:55 > 0:55:57and it's been a big success.
0:56:00 > 0:56:02I didn't really expect her to have lost as much as she has.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04She has done very well.
0:56:04 > 0:56:09Bob's a lot healthier and happier, so it means a lot that he's well.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11We've learnt she probably does need more exercise
0:56:11 > 0:56:14but I think we need to also look at her diet.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17All our volunteers will be continuing
0:56:17 > 0:56:21a long-term weight loss programme here at the Liverpool clinic,
0:56:21 > 0:56:24but making a lasting change to your pet's diet or exercise habits
0:56:24 > 0:56:26is never easy.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29Alex has some tricks that can help.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33With diet, one of the big challenges is sticking to a new regime.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36When we want to reward our dog, it needn't be food.
0:56:36 > 0:56:41It could be playing with your dog or some other positive interaction.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44Exercise, and it's little differences, it's like using
0:56:44 > 0:56:46the toys to stimulate the activity,
0:56:46 > 0:56:49and really just trying to stick to a regular plan.
0:56:54 > 0:56:57Dogs that do lose weight and keep it off are healthier,
0:56:57 > 0:57:00live longer and have a better quality of life,
0:57:00 > 0:57:02and the best way to do this
0:57:02 > 0:57:06is to combine a weight loss diet with exercise,
0:57:06 > 0:57:09but what our study has shown for the first time
0:57:09 > 0:57:12is that diet is the single biggest influence on weight loss,
0:57:12 > 0:57:16so it's well worth trying hard to break those bad habits -
0:57:16 > 0:57:17cut out the treats,
0:57:17 > 0:57:22feed the right amount for the size and breed of your dog and no more,
0:57:22 > 0:57:26and what's really encouraging is that when they do start to lose weight,
0:57:26 > 0:57:28they naturally start to exercise more,
0:57:28 > 0:57:30leading to a happier and healthier life for them.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44That's it from Liverpool University's Veterinary School.
0:57:44 > 0:57:48Next time we'll be in Bristol University's Langford Vet Hospital,
0:57:48 > 0:57:50where I'll be following a cutting-edge therapy
0:57:50 > 0:57:52to save a horse with nerve pain.
0:57:54 > 0:57:58We'll be finding out how to take care of one of our most intelligent pets.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Does Milo eat with you every night?
0:58:00 > 0:58:02Of course he does. He's part of the family.
0:58:03 > 0:58:07And we'll be running a unique experiment to find the best way
0:58:07 > 0:58:09to reduce stress in cats.
0:58:09 > 0:58:10CATS YOWL
0:58:10 > 0:58:13- It looks like it hasn't been totally plain sailing all the way.- No.