0:00:02 > 0:00:05We Brits have a staggering 50 million pets.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08And from dental chews and flea collars
0:00:08 > 0:00:11to vaccinations and vet bills,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16we're 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 > 0:00:28I'm Steve Leonard, and in this series and 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 > 0:00:37Campylobacter.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40One 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 > 0:00:45to tackle the biggest issues in animal health today.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50So the experiment's been a great success.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54We'll talk to world-leading experts to give you the knowledge you need.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57How important is it to prevent overheating?
0:00:57 > 0:00:59And cut through the myths and misconceptions
0:00:59 > 0:01:02to 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 > 0:01:11from the front line of veterinary medicine.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15This week, we are at Bristol University's Langford Vet Hospital.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Welcome to Trust Me, I'm A Vet.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24BARKING
0:01:26 > 0:01:29The Langford Vet Hospital at Bristol University
0:01:29 > 0:01:31is one of the busiest in the country.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33They see a huge variety of animals here,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37from dogs and cats to horses and exotic pets.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40In this programme, we'll run a unique experiment
0:01:40 > 0:01:44to tackle one of the biggest health problems racing the nation's cats -
0:01:44 > 0:01:45stress.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50And I'll join the world-leading equine team here at Bristol
0:01:50 > 0:01:53to witness a pioneering treatment used in human medicine
0:01:53 > 0:01:56that's now saving horses' lives.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Our team of vets will also be out and about across the UK
0:02:01 > 0:02:03seeking out the latest veterinary research.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07We'll lift the lid on the hidden danger for dogs
0:02:07 > 0:02:10that's lurking in our homes.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13And the radical new thinking on how to look after
0:02:13 > 0:02:15the nation's most intelligent pet.
0:02:25 > 0:02:26But first...
0:02:28 > 0:02:31PHONE RINGS Good morning. Helen speaking.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33How can I help?
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Stress is increasingly being recognised
0:02:35 > 0:02:38as a major health issue for the nation's pets.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42And in particular for our cats.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44It's thought as many as one in five pet cats
0:02:44 > 0:02:47are living in a state of stress. CAT MEOWS
0:02:47 > 0:02:48I know, Boris.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51And it can cause some pretty severe symptoms.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Just as in humans, stress is now known to cause
0:02:54 > 0:02:56serious illness in cats.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59And it can lead to a whole host of behavioural problems.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02So Alice Rhodes is going to run
0:03:02 > 0:03:04a unique Trust Me, I'm A Vet experiment
0:03:04 > 0:03:07to find the best way to de-stress your cat.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16Of all our pets, cats often appear to be the most chilled out.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25But in fact stress has reached epidemic levels,
0:03:25 > 0:03:30and research has revealed that there is one overriding cause.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33The majority of cats in the UK live in multi-cat households,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35over 4.5 million of them.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38But cats are in fact quite solitary animals,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and being surrounded by other cats can stress them out.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45So, while you might think having more than one cat
0:03:45 > 0:03:48means they'll be good company for each other...
0:03:48 > 0:03:51It might actually be a source of serious stress.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53And the signs aren't always obvious.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58So how can you recognise it and what can you do about it?
0:04:00 > 0:04:04To find out, we're about to run a brand-new study.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08We want to find the best way to avoid your cat becoming stressed.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11So we've recruited three multi-cat households
0:04:11 > 0:04:15whose cats are all displaying different signs of stress.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18And we're going to test three different stress-busting methods
0:04:18 > 0:04:20in all their homes.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23First, the Humphreys.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25One of their cats, Salt,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27is constantly showing signs of aggression
0:04:27 > 0:04:30towards his housemate Pepper.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34It's not only stressful for Pepper, being on the receiving end,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37the aggressive behaviour suggests that Salt too
0:04:37 > 0:04:40is stressed by Pepper's presence.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42From the start, really, they didn't get on.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45He'll chase her at least once a day. He'll swipe her.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48If she's asleep and he decides he wants to sleep there,
0:04:48 > 0:04:49he'll chase her away.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52It's not ideal. I suppose you'd really like it to be resolved,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- if you could.- Yes, it would be far nicer if they could get on.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Next, the Jacksons.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Two of their cats, Ralph and Gulliver,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04are showing another classic sign of stress.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08They seem constantly engaged in psychological warfare.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10The atmosphere's extremely tense
0:05:10 > 0:05:12when they do start going at each other,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16so it's kind of hard to kind of get them out of it, as well.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I've tried distractions, I've tried shaking the treats,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and they both just seem locked in this kind of zone
0:05:22 > 0:05:24where they just don't want to get out of it.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Finally, the Hopkins.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Susan has four cats, one of which, my namesake Alice,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34spends most of her time cowering under the bed.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35This isn't shyness.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37It's another sign of stress.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Now she is scared of her own shadow.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43It's like being in a battle all the time
0:05:43 > 0:05:46and not knowing how long this very unpleasant truce
0:05:46 > 0:05:47is going to last for.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53So, what's the best way to de-stress our feline families?
0:05:55 > 0:05:58We've brought in world-renowned veterinary behavioural specialist
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Dr Sarah Heath.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02Over the next six weeks,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05she's going to help us test three different methods
0:06:05 > 0:06:08that the latest research suggests can reduce cats' stress.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Hello. Hi, Jill?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13First up, a major source of conflict between cats
0:06:13 > 0:06:16is being made to share their space for eating, sleeping
0:06:16 > 0:06:17and going to the toilet.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22So our first stress buster will be to put their bowls,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26beds and litter trays as far away from each other as possible.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Cats are a solitary feeders.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32That means they need to be able to eat on their own.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34From a cat perspective,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37this is really quite a threatening area in which to be eating.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And we've got a cat flap -
0:06:39 > 0:06:42potentially a point of intrusion by another cat.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44So we really need to move these out of this room
0:06:44 > 0:06:47and put them in distinctly separate places.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51So they'll be given separate feeding bowls
0:06:51 > 0:06:54and the locations selected to reduce their anxiety while they eat.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57It's a nice location because when the cat's eating,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59they're going to have their back to the activity.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02So they're going to be eating in a protected area.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06That will allow Salt or Pepper to eat in a more relaxed way.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07Yes. That's the aim.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11They'll also be putting distance
0:07:11 > 0:07:13between the cats' beds and litter trays.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18All our families will start by making these changes for two weeks.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Next, they'll add in method number two - new toys.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29The idea here is that our cats will have a new outlet
0:07:29 > 0:07:31to express their wild side.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35If we can tip the balance into a situation
0:07:35 > 0:07:37where there's more positive emotion,
0:07:37 > 0:07:41that is going to help reduce the tension.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45A few of the toys are designed so that you can put some food inside,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48so they'll also encourage the cats to forage for food around the house.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52It's giving them a more natural feeding experience
0:07:52 > 0:07:55and satisfying their predatory behaviour.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Finally, after another two weeks,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06our families will add method number three - introducing smells.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10These diffusers look like air fresheners...
0:08:11 > 0:08:15..but actually release a natural scent called a pheromone,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17one that the cats should find soothing.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Smell's really important to cats,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23so were going to use this in your household
0:08:23 > 0:08:25to produce a scent environment
0:08:25 > 0:08:29that encourages all of your cats to feel safe and secure.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32One diffuser on each floor of our houses
0:08:32 > 0:08:36should be enough to help create a calming environment
0:08:36 > 0:08:38for all our cats.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Before they start,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43all our owners are completing a questionnaire
0:08:43 > 0:08:45recording their cats' behaviour,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48which will allow us to assess their levels of stress.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Then they'll all introduce the same three stress-busting methods,
0:08:52 > 0:08:53one every two weeks.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57They'll repeat the stress questionnaire every week,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59and we're setting up cameras all around their homes
0:08:59 > 0:09:03to see if we can spot any changes in the cats' behaviour.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07I think all the methods the families are using a really interesting.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It'll be fascinating to find out if they work
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and if one is more effective than the others.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Now, Judy Puddifoot's been uncovering the latest science
0:09:24 > 0:09:26that could help us avoid the one thing
0:09:26 > 0:09:28that makes many people fear dogs.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34It is estimated that one in four people in the UK
0:09:34 > 0:09:36have been bitten by a dog,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and over 10,000 people a year are admitted to hospital
0:09:39 > 0:09:40because of a dog bite.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42But I've come across some fascinating research
0:09:42 > 0:09:44that could help us avoid it happening.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49In fact, dogs will give us plenty of subtle warning signs
0:09:49 > 0:09:52that they're becoming uncomfortable and may be about to bite,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55but they go unrecognised by the people around them.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57So what are these signals and how can we recognise them?
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Time to learn some dog.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04There are some very obvious signs that a dog is gearing up to bite,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07but studies have shown there are others that are far harder to spot.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12I've come to meet researcher Dr Carri Westgarth
0:10:12 > 0:10:14at the University of Liverpool Vet School.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19She's researched hundreds of cases of dog attacks
0:10:19 > 0:10:23and is going to decode the hidden signs that a bite may be coming.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27There's a general pattern of signals that dogs will use
0:10:27 > 0:10:29and we call this the Ladder of Aggression.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33This starts with lower-level and more subtle behavioural signals,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36and then they will progress to more intense behaviours.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Stiffening up, growling, snapping and biting.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43So potentially when we see a dog that's becoming growly,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46showing its teeth to us, we may actually have missed
0:10:46 > 0:10:48many other times a dog's tried to communicate to us
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- that it's not happy.- Absolutely.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55So, what exactly are these early warning signs?
0:10:55 > 0:10:59To find out, we're going to one place most dogs seem to hate.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01The vet waiting room.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04We are recording their behaviour so that Carri can view it
0:11:04 > 0:11:06and show us what to look out for.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09The greyhounds are doing a bit of panting.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12Bit of lip licking.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16And they're giving the occasional yawn, as well.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Most of us may not think twice about the dog yawning or licking its lips.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26But, in fact, research has shown that these can be clear signals
0:11:26 > 0:11:27of growing anxiety,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30and they're the first rungs on the Ladder of Aggression.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35The black and white spaniel is sort of climbing up its mum's legs.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Yes, it looks like she's looking for reassurance.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40She's doing quite a lot of lip licking, as well.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42She's cowering her body down a little bit.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43Her tail's quite low and tucked under,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46showing that she's a bit overwhelmed by this situation.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51So, after barely any time in the waiting room,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53we can see that the dogs here
0:11:53 > 0:11:56are already showing some early warning signs.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Any significance in the other spaniel being up on the chair?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01She might feel more secure up high -
0:12:01 > 0:12:03she can see what's happening, who's coming.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06If we can recognise these lower-level signals
0:12:06 > 0:12:08to say that he's not quite happy with that situation,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11then we can prevent the dog from escalating
0:12:11 > 0:12:14and we can prevent dog bites from occurring.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16If you spot these very early signals,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19the best solution in an unfamiliar environment
0:12:19 > 0:12:21is to reassure your dog and make it feel comfortable.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25But if the early warnings are ignored,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29dogs will generally carry on up the ladder.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31And the higher they go,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34the more serious the dog's potential reaction can be.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Carri's got some clips to show us what to look out for.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39It's quite still.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42Its ears are down.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46It's showing the whites of its eyes.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50So, immediately, from me looking at that as a vet,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53that dog is giving me what we affectionately call "the eye."
0:12:53 > 0:12:57I certainly would not be trying to approach that dog.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01A dog with its years back in a stiffened position and staring
0:13:01 > 0:13:04has moved up to the middle of the Ladder of Aggression.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06It's preparing to take action.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10In this situation, don't attempt to touch the dog,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and avoid sudden movements if you're near.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16This could cause the dog to progress even further up the Ladder.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20It's raising its lips and growling.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23So we're much better on the Ladder of Aggression with this, aren't we?
0:13:23 > 0:13:27If anybody puts their hand in there, you'd definitely get bitten.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28Yeah, OK.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Growling is one of a dog's last warnings.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Carri's final clip shows what could happen next.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39So, this is a clip of a model on some sort of photo shoot
0:13:39 > 0:13:43and she's trying to get the dog to sit still for her.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45It's licking its lips, its ears are back,
0:13:45 > 0:13:46it's doing lots of panting.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48She is handling the dog quite roughly, isn't she?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Yeah, trying to get it to sit the way she wants it to sit.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53And again and again, the dog tries to get away.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55So, essentially, the handler here
0:13:55 > 0:13:58is ignoring all of these lower-level signs
0:13:58 > 0:14:00a dog is quite distressed in that situation.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Yes, and she's got it by the collar.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Eventually, there's a very gentle mouth at her arm,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06and then it does that a bit more firmly.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10But it is trying to get away, but it's being forced to stay there.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13Although not every dog will follow
0:14:13 > 0:14:16the exact pattern of behaviours on the Ladder,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19this research gives a really good idea of what to look out for,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23especially the earliest signs that may be easy to miss.
0:14:23 > 0:14:24And the best thing you can do
0:14:24 > 0:14:27is try to avoid your dog getting on the ladder in the first place.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32So, if you recognise that your dog is frightened of something, think,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34"How can I teach him to like it instead?"
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Training with tasty food rewards can help change a dog's emotion
0:14:38 > 0:14:39from negative to positive.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50When we think about some things that cat might like,
0:14:50 > 0:14:56a few spring to mind like catnip, milk and...fish.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57But some surprising new research
0:14:57 > 0:15:01suggests that we should be thinking twice about how much fish
0:15:01 > 0:15:02we feed our feline friends.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08With over 7 million cats in the UK,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11cat food is staggeringly big business.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14£1 billion every year.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And among the bestsellers are the varieties containing fish.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21There's no doubt cats love it.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24But, in fact, fish is a fairly recent addition
0:15:24 > 0:15:26that we humans have made to their diet.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32In nature, cats are land hunters that mainly eat meat.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36We tend to think of fish as a healthy alternative,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39but Trust Me, I'm A Vet has uncovered important new research
0:15:39 > 0:15:43that suggests too much of it might actually harm your cat's health.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49The discovery came when Mike Davies and David Garner
0:15:49 > 0:15:53at Nottingham University investigated some mysterious cases
0:15:53 > 0:15:56of cats that died of unknown causes.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02They found that many of them had severe kidney damage.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04So, what are we looking at here, David?
0:16:04 > 0:16:10- So here we got a slide of a normal cat kidney.- Mm-hm.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12This cat was perfectly healthy,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15and I'll just show you the clear contrast.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Oh, yes, that's very different, isn't it?
0:16:17 > 0:16:19What's going on here, then?
0:16:19 > 0:16:24So, what you can see are lots of deeper red scarring tissue
0:16:24 > 0:16:27and much less functional kidney tissue.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32The team wanted to know what could be causing this kidney damage
0:16:32 > 0:16:34in so many cats,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37so they tested some tissue samples in the laboratory
0:16:37 > 0:16:40and discovered something entirely unexpected.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Cats are carnivores, they tend to have a high meat diet.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45We expected to see more iron.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49What we actually saw was that we see much higher levels of arsenic
0:16:49 > 0:16:51- in their kidneys.- Arsenic?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54So, arsenic, obviously I know arsenic as a poison.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58So, how has that got into a cat's kidney?
0:16:58 > 0:17:02The only real route of exposure for that would be through diet
0:17:02 > 0:17:07or what they drink. And drinking water, tap water, is very, very low.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11It would seem that the only real source of arsenic
0:17:11 > 0:17:13would be through diet.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17A recent study of wild cats that hunt for their food
0:17:17 > 0:17:20has shown that there is no arsenic in their kidneys.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23This suggests it must be coming from something
0:17:23 > 0:17:25that only domestic cats consume,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and the Nottingham team are investigating what that could be.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34There are two natural ingredients that we know can contain arsenic.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36One is rice, in some situations,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38and the other is fish, some fish.
0:17:40 > 0:17:46So, a possible source of the arsenic could be the fish in pet food.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47To investigate further,
0:17:47 > 0:17:51the Nottingham team have tested 177 different pet foods.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Some with - and some without - fish.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00We've analysed a variety of pet foods available which contain fish.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03We have found some of them are quite high in arsenic.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Of the pet foods they tested,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10the 10 with the highest levels of arsenic were all fish-based.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14The kind of arsenic you find in fish
0:18:14 > 0:18:16is not the most toxic form of the chemical,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19and in moderate amounts is unlikely to harm your pet.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23The Nottingham team believe that health problems,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25like the kidney damage they've seen,
0:18:25 > 0:18:30might arise if it's part of a cat's diet every day.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Though not enough research has been done in cats yet,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35there is evidence from human medicine
0:18:35 > 0:18:39that consuming arsenic in the long term can be harmful.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Arsenic does accumulate in the body over time,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45and in people, recently they've shown there is a correlation
0:18:45 > 0:18:47between high arsenic and kidney disease,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50so that's why we're interested in what's going on in the cat,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52because cats get lots of kidney disease
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and a lot of cats are fed fish-based foods.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Guidelines exist for how often humans should eat fish each week,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02but there are no equivalent guidelines
0:19:02 > 0:19:05on how often our pets should eat fish.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08So you might decide you want to vary your cat's diet
0:19:08 > 0:19:10to make sure it's not eating fish every day.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Maybe feed it fish once, twice, few times a week.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Unfortunately, that might not be as straightforward as you think.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24We at Trust Me, I'm A Vet
0:19:24 > 0:19:28wanted to find out how easy it would be to avoid daily fish for your cat
0:19:28 > 0:19:29if you chose to.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33So, we've looked into exactly how pet foods are labelled.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35We found that, remarkably,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38cat food labelled as being "with beef"
0:19:38 > 0:19:40is legally required to contain
0:19:40 > 0:19:42only 4% beef.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Same goes for chicken, lamb, pork.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49And the rest of the meat?
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Well, you've guessed it -
0:19:50 > 0:19:53much of it could in fact be fish.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56And it's not just cat food.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00The same is true of dog food.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04This does not mean that those foods will necessarily contain
0:20:04 > 0:20:06harmful levels of arsenic.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08In fact, the vast majority will not.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12But if you'd prefer not to feed fish to your pet every day
0:20:12 > 0:20:15to reduce the risk of long-term exposure to arsenic,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19then, when looking for alternatives, check the labels really carefully.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22You might be feeding more fish than you realise.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25Still to come...
0:20:25 > 0:20:30the ground-breaking treatment that could save horses' lives.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34We lift the lid on a serious health hazard for dogs.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36And should you have your cat neutered?
0:20:36 > 0:20:38We'll bring you the latest research.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It seems that there is no end to the variety of animals
0:20:47 > 0:20:50that we pet mad Brits are choosing as our companions.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Over the 20 years I've been qualified as a vet,
0:20:52 > 0:20:57the number of more unusual pets like Mabel here have soared.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00But whether their natural habitat is a jungle or a rainforest
0:21:00 > 0:21:04or a desert, trying to recreate a part of that in your living room
0:21:04 > 0:21:06is a challenge.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Vim Kumaratunga's been delving into some new science
0:21:10 > 0:21:13that's making us vets rethink how we should care
0:21:13 > 0:21:16for probably the most intelligent animal kept as a pet.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23There are over 40,000 African grey parrots kept as pets in the UK,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25and recent research has revealed
0:21:25 > 0:21:28that they're more intelligent than we ever imagined.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31In one study, they were shown to have the reasoning powers
0:21:31 > 0:21:35of a three-year-old child, and they crave social contact.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Perhaps no great surprise pet parrots kept alone in small cages
0:21:41 > 0:21:44routinely suffer from stress and related health problems.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48So, how do you keep such an intelligent pet
0:21:48 > 0:21:50mentally and physically healthy?
0:21:50 > 0:21:55Before you get your parrot, there's one key thing to find out.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56If you're buying a young parrot,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59make sure it's been raised by its parents for as long as possible,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02rather than hand-reared, because this allows normal behaviours
0:22:02 > 0:22:05to be expressed and could prevent future behaviour problems.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Once you've got your parrot, how you house them is crucial.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- Hello.- Hi, Elaine. Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18'Animal behaviourist and self-confessed parrot devotee
0:22:18 > 0:22:22'Elaine Henley has identified three key things
0:22:22 > 0:22:24'that African greys need most,
0:22:24 > 0:22:29'and, unusually, has dedicated her entire home to providing them.'
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Number one, space.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33Rather than a small cage,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36parrots will be healthier and happier
0:22:36 > 0:22:38kept in large enclosures like this.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40But Elaine goes a lot further.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41So the cage door's open.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Your parrots have free run of the house the majority of the day.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Yes. The parrots are probably out of their cages
0:22:47 > 0:22:50more than they're inside their cages.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55If you do give your parrot time out of the enclosure,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58there are some unexpected dangers to be aware of.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02If your bird is going to be in the kitchen, use aluminium,
0:23:02 > 0:23:04copper or stainless steel pans,
0:23:04 > 0:23:09because nonstick cookware can release fumes deadly to parrots.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12And no matter how much space they have,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16indoor living in the UK won't give your tropical parrot
0:23:16 > 0:23:18enough ultraviolet light to stay healthy,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21so you'll need a good quality UV lamp.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27The second crucial thing parrots need is mental stimulation.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28You should give them access to objects
0:23:28 > 0:23:32that can allow them to satisfy their natural urge
0:23:32 > 0:23:34to chew and explore.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Hanging toys will keep them interested.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Puzzle toys will allow them to exercise their mental abilities.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43But don't crowd the cage with so many
0:23:43 > 0:23:46that they can't fully stretch their wings.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Parrots have a tendency to pull to bits pretty much anything
0:23:52 > 0:23:54they can get their beaks on,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56and in Elaine's home, nothing is off-limits.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01But while it's an unusual degree of freedom,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Elaine is often working to rehabilitate animals
0:24:04 > 0:24:07whose health has suffered through being kept in conditions
0:24:07 > 0:24:11that are too confined and lack the mental stimulation
0:24:11 > 0:24:13that such an intelligent animal needs.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16One of her African grey parrots is Roy.
0:24:16 > 0:24:21Elaine rescued him after he'd been kept for years in a garage.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Looks like he's going to be a more knowledgeable Roy
0:24:23 > 0:24:25with all the Encyclopaedia Britannicas
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- that he's been chewing up. - Oh, yes.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29A lot of people get a parrot,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33they don't realise how difficult they can be to live with.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35They perhaps get annoyed that the parrot's chewing,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39so then they start to leave them in the cages for longer and longer
0:24:39 > 0:24:40and longer on their own.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Then by the time they let them back out again,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44the parrot's going stir crazy,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48so what they do is to re-home them to another.
0:24:48 > 0:24:49And before you know it,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52you've got an animal who's extremely distressed,
0:24:52 > 0:24:54being passed around from pillar to post,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56and it's a huge vicious circle.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Roy's story is all too common.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03If you're going to keep a parrot at home,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06it's vital to give them enough space and mental stimulation.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11But of all the things an African grey needs,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13one of the most important is company.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21In the wild, they spend their days in constant contact with other birds
0:25:21 > 0:25:26foraging together, and they will nest in flocks of several hundred.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28So if you're keeping them at home,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31it's actually better if you have more than one,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33rather than a solitary pet.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Elaine keeps three African greys.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41And she also makes sure she has plenty of interaction with them,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44as pet parrots are known to fare better
0:25:44 > 0:25:47if they spend time in their owner's company.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51It's estimated that there's over 1 million parrots living in homes.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56I think we owe it to the parrots to give them the best possible life.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59While Elaine's commitments to her parrots might seem more
0:25:59 > 0:26:01than most owners can handle,
0:26:01 > 0:26:05the principles are crucial if we want to keep such intelligent pets
0:26:05 > 0:26:07physically and mentally healthy.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Parrots need plenty of space,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13stimulation,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15and the company of other parrots,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18or if they can't get that, yours.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31A recent watershed case has brought to light a deadly condition
0:26:31 > 0:26:35that can strike quickly and put your dog's life at risk.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It's called mycotoxicosis.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42It happens when an animal comes into contact with powerful toxins
0:26:42 > 0:26:44produced by fungi.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46And surprisingly, there's something that can cause it
0:26:46 > 0:26:49sitting in most of our kitchens.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Until a few years ago, very few of us had one of these.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Now they're in almost every home,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00and the latest evidence shows that food that's been sat in one of these
0:27:00 > 0:27:03for a few days could be deadly for your pet dog.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Everyday foods like bread, cheese and pasta
0:27:08 > 0:27:11aren't toxic to your dog when they're fresh.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14But when this happens and they begin to go mouldy,
0:27:14 > 0:27:18they can go from harmless to poisonous in just a few days.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23The mould that grows as some of these everyday foods decompose
0:27:23 > 0:27:27can produce highly potent poisons called mycotoxins.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Research has identified several hundred of them
0:27:30 > 0:27:32that could lurk in the food
0:27:32 > 0:27:35and remain on surfaces the mould has touched.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Most are not lethal to dogs, but in a small handful of cases,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43they can lead to severe mycotoxicosis.
0:27:43 > 0:27:49A high-temperature, salivating, vomiting, uncoordinated movements
0:27:49 > 0:27:53and trembling are all signs that your pet might be affected.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57In what's come to be seen as a highly significant veterinary case,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00three months ago, Sarah Dent spotted some of these symptoms
0:28:00 > 0:28:03suddenly appear in her white cockapoo Dexter.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07I went down to check on him and stroke him, and he was shaking.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12I panicked, realised he'd been outside in the rain, he was wet.
0:28:12 > 0:28:13Went to the back garden,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17and I found the recycling caddie open on the lawn,
0:28:17 > 0:28:21and it had mould in it from the bread that I'd put out that day.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23It had been emptied.
0:28:23 > 0:28:24I noticed it had been licked clean,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28and we grabbed Dexter and just went to the vets as fast as we could.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30And how soon after you saw Dexter was sick
0:28:30 > 0:28:32did you manage to get him down to the vets?
0:28:32 > 0:28:36I would say it was about 15 minutes.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39I was able to tell them en route what had been in the bin,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42and it just so happens that week I just had bread in there.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45- I didn't realise just how bad bread mould was.- Mm.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50'Dexter was treated immediately at his local veterinary practice.'
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Why are these specific kind of toxins that were in the bread,
0:28:53 > 0:28:54why are they so dangerous?
0:28:54 > 0:28:57These toxins, once they're eaten,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59they get into the blood quite quickly
0:28:59 > 0:29:02and cross into the brain reasonably quickly, as well,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05so you normally see signs such as the tremors
0:29:05 > 0:29:08or the muscle contractions within 15 to 30 minutes
0:29:08 > 0:29:10after them being eaten.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Once the tremors were under control and he was conscious again,
0:29:13 > 0:29:15he was monitored throughout the night
0:29:15 > 0:29:19and given certain medication
0:29:19 > 0:29:24to try and remove as much of the toxins from his blood as possible.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27'But Dexter's condition worsened.'
0:29:27 > 0:29:29He started to have problems with his pancreas,
0:29:29 > 0:29:33and they tried very hard to save him for ten days.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37Unfortunately for Dexter and for us, he never made it.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41So, before this happened, presumably,
0:29:41 > 0:29:44you hadn't even thought about the bin being dangerous to your dogs.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48I had no idea that there was a type of mould that would kill them,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50could kill them so quickly.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56The warm, moist conditions in a food bin are an ideal environment
0:29:56 > 0:29:59for the mould that produces mycotoxins.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Odourless and tasteless,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06there's nothing to trigger your dog's senses
0:30:06 > 0:30:07and warn them of the danger.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12And whilst not all mouldy foods will contain them,
0:30:12 > 0:30:14the most harmful can be deadly.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20So, what can we do to avoid the risks?
0:30:20 > 0:30:23The best advice is to make our food recycling bins
0:30:23 > 0:30:25as dog-proof as possible.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Many food waste bins are lockable
0:30:29 > 0:30:32and are, in fact, designed to be fox-proof.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36But in Dexter's case, when the bin blew onto the ground,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39the handle was knocked loose and the lid opened.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42So I'd suggest the safest thing is
0:30:42 > 0:30:45to keep your food waste bins out of reach or locked away.
0:30:46 > 0:30:52And remember, even an emptied bin can still contain residues of mycotoxins,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54so do give it a good clean regularly
0:30:54 > 0:30:57with an antibacterial spray or wipes.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12There are around a million horses kept as pets
0:31:12 > 0:31:14or for competitive riding here in the UK,
0:31:14 > 0:31:18and as many as 40,000 of them may be suffering from a condition
0:31:18 > 0:31:20called headshaking.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22It's a serious neurological condition
0:31:22 > 0:31:26whose key symptom is extreme movements of the head
0:31:26 > 0:31:28that the horse can't control.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31This is thought to be a response to severe pain
0:31:31 > 0:31:33caused by a malfunction of the nerves
0:31:33 > 0:31:35that give the horse sensation in its face.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42It usually affects horses aged between five and 12,
0:31:42 > 0:31:43often without warning.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Until now, there's been no cure,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51and in the most extreme cases the only option has been
0:31:51 > 0:31:53to put the horse down.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57But now a pioneering new therapy adapted from human medicine
0:31:57 > 0:31:59is being developed here in Bristol,
0:31:59 > 0:32:03and for the first time offers real hope for horses with headshaking.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08One of them is Ted.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10When she'd had Ted for just a few months,
0:32:10 > 0:32:14his owner Tarri began to notice some strange behaviour.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15When I was riding him,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19I began to notice that he was shaking his head up and down.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22It was so severe that I had to get off
0:32:22 > 0:32:24because his head was coming up so far,
0:32:24 > 0:32:27I was worried I was going to get hit in the face.
0:32:29 > 0:32:30When a horse behaves like this,
0:32:30 > 0:32:35it's easy to assume it's just being uncooperative or stubborn.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38Particularly as headshaking is often at its worst
0:32:38 > 0:32:41when the horse is being ridden.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44But Tarri felt that something was wrong.
0:32:44 > 0:32:45She called in the vet,
0:32:45 > 0:32:49who suspected that the cause of Ted's headshaking was neurological.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55The vet referred him to the specialists at Bristol
0:32:55 > 0:32:57as a candidate for a cutting-edge therapy
0:32:57 > 0:33:00that could potentially cure the problem.
0:33:00 > 0:33:05It's a pioneering technique based on a treatment of nerve pain in humans,
0:33:05 > 0:33:08but up until quite recently had not been tried in animals.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12It's now giving hope to owners of horses with this condition
0:33:12 > 0:33:15up and down the country.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17In humans and animals alike,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21pain can occur if the nerves involved in sensation become overactive.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27In the case of headshaking, this occurs in the trigeminal nerve,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29a key nerve in the face.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Veronica Roberts has adapted a technology
0:33:33 > 0:33:36used to treat nerve pain in humans, called PENS therapy,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39to stop the trigeminal nerve from misfiring.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43What we're going to try and do with Ted is a new procedure
0:33:43 > 0:33:45which we developed here.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50It's based on a procedure used in people suffering neuropathic pain,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52so pain from malfunctioning nerves.
0:33:52 > 0:33:58The idea behind that is you put a probe under the skin over the nerve,
0:33:58 > 0:33:59so lying directly on top of the nerve,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03and stimulate the nerve electrically for a period of time.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06And the idea behind that is to reset the nerve
0:34:06 > 0:34:08back to functioning normally.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11So, fingers crossed for Ted that this might be the solution.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Yeah, we hope so. We hope so.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Before she can treat Ted,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Veronica needs to confirm beyond any doubt
0:34:21 > 0:34:23that his behaviour is caused by nerve pain.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30Throwing his head up vertically is pretty dramatic.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33A scan rules out other possible causes for Ted's condition,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36such as a tooth infection.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38So far so good. There's quite a bit to do.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44Veronica diagnoses a clear case of nerve-induced headshaking,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46so Ted's treatment is going ahead.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51This will be the first session of three over the coming year.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57First, Ted is sedated,
0:34:57 > 0:35:01then he is led into position and his skin is prepared.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04This is a sensitive area.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07This is right over the nerve as it's exiting the bone
0:35:07 > 0:35:13and obviously we know that he's got a really oversensitive nerve.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18And it's strange to him, he's not used to being in this situation.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19But the sedation's working well.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23An electrical probe is inserted
0:35:23 > 0:35:27and guided into the correct position on the nerve.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33So you always check that the probe is sitting right on that nerve?
0:35:33 > 0:35:34Yeah, we want it not in the nerve,
0:35:34 > 0:35:36but as close as possible as we can to it.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45The probe passes a precisely controlled electrical current into the nerve.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47So, the machine's been activated,
0:35:47 > 0:35:51and there is a current now going through his body.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53It seems to be very well tolerated.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56It'll just be very strange for him.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59But he's coping very well.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01So you're happy with him?
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Yeah, he doesn't mind this at all.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05And people say it's quite pleasant,
0:36:05 > 0:36:06and I think the horses don't mind it.
0:36:08 > 0:36:09After 20 minutes,
0:36:09 > 0:36:14the probe is removed and reinserted on the opposite side of Ted's face,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16where it is guided into position
0:36:16 > 0:36:19over the other branch of the faulty nerve.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24This ground-breaking treatment is still experimental
0:36:24 > 0:36:28and it doesn't work in every horse.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30It'll take several more sessions over the coming months
0:36:30 > 0:36:34before anyone knows whether it has cured Ted's headshaking.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41But one horse whose life has been transformed already
0:36:41 > 0:36:43by the procedure is Dude.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Four years ago, he developed severe headshaking.
0:36:49 > 0:36:50When other treatments failed,
0:36:50 > 0:36:55his owner Amy was offered a programme of PENS therapy at Bristol.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57At the time of the last treatment,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Veronica had said it could last a month, it could last three months.
0:37:00 > 0:37:01She really didn't know.
0:37:01 > 0:37:07And a month turned into two months, and turned into a year,
0:37:07 > 0:37:11and then, lo and behold, three and a half years and here we are.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Now he's healthy, he's happy, he enjoys life,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17he's exactly how he was before.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Veronica gave me back my horse.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24I had a shell of a miserable horse when we first went,
0:37:24 > 0:37:29and now I have a horse that's, well, full of life, full of beans.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32She gave me the best present I could have ever had.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34SHE LAUGHS
0:37:36 > 0:37:40As vets, we're constantly looking for new techniques and interventions
0:37:40 > 0:37:42to treat chronic pain in animals.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Sometimes that means even looking at therapies
0:37:45 > 0:37:48that are still in their infancy, like this one.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50But when you see an animal return to being ridden
0:37:50 > 0:37:52with its headshaking gone,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55it really hammers home that a novel therapy like this
0:37:55 > 0:37:58in a condition as serious as headshaking
0:37:58 > 0:38:00can literally be life saving.
0:38:03 > 0:38:04Still to come,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06if you're thinking of getting a dog,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09the vets' guide to which breed you should choose...
0:38:10 > 0:38:13..and what's the best way to de-stress your cat?
0:38:13 > 0:38:16We'll have the results of our big experiment.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27We all know our pets need exercise and play to be healthy.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34But as a vet, I'm all too aware of some hazards you might not expect.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36In my practice, I frequently see cases
0:38:36 > 0:38:39of dogs who are harmed during play.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42What starts out as fun can end up with joint damage,
0:38:42 > 0:38:45overexertion or even serious injury
0:38:45 > 0:38:47caused by the hidden danger of some toys.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50So what are the most common accidents
0:38:50 > 0:38:52that happen during exercise and play?
0:38:52 > 0:38:54And what can you do to avoid them?
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Probably the most common play-related cause
0:38:57 > 0:39:01of a trip to the vet is a dog swallowing part of a toy.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06So I've been joined by some local dogs and their owners
0:39:06 > 0:39:09to play a guessing game.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11I've got here a selection of toys
0:39:11 > 0:39:14that you might choose to play with with your dog,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17but there are a couple that you actually would be better off avoiding.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19So come on over and have a look,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21and choose which ones you think are safe
0:39:21 > 0:39:24and which ones could be hazardous to your dog.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32'The group are sorting the toys into two piles.'
0:39:36 > 0:39:39'The dangerous bundle includes some toys
0:39:39 > 0:39:41'that most of the time are lots of fun.'
0:39:41 > 0:39:46OK, so I can see that some of the tennis balls are on both sides.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48'Your dog might love a tennis ball,
0:39:48 > 0:39:50'but they don't always love your dog.'
0:39:50 > 0:39:53If they break up, they can be swallowed.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57You're right, they can break up and it's all to do with quality.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59The other thing is, when you're throwing them,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02if the dog opens their mouth wide, they can lodge in their mouth.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07'Toys with small detachable parts can cause similar problems.'
0:40:07 > 0:40:10It is a nice resilient material.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12The only thing that I would say you have to watch out for
0:40:12 > 0:40:16with toys like this is that it does have little metal bells inside it
0:40:16 > 0:40:20which we do sometimes have to fish out of dogs' insides.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24'A toy that's good for one dog isn't always good for another.'
0:40:24 > 0:40:27So this would be good for a small dog or a puppy,
0:40:27 > 0:40:30but this little part of his tail would worry me a bit
0:40:30 > 0:40:33for a larger dog such as Teagan
0:40:33 > 0:40:35because he might be able to take that off and swallow it.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41'Toys that won't break apart into small bits are safest.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44'These could include a rubber bone,
0:40:44 > 0:40:48'or invest in a bite-proof Frisbee made specially for dogs.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52'Some types can be torn to bits far more easily than others.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55'So always keep an eye on how your dog's toys are standing up
0:40:55 > 0:40:58'to determined chewing.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01'Buying your dog toys that are designed for its size and age
0:41:01 > 0:41:04'will also help reduce the chances of an accident.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08'Like this puzzle feeder for a puppy or a small dog.'
0:41:08 > 0:41:09It's the right size for her.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Any bigger and she can't get anything out of it
0:41:12 > 0:41:13and it's no good for her.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15You're talking about her size, which is perfect,
0:41:15 > 0:41:20cos she's a small dog and that is a small interactive feeding toy.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22It's about what is appropriate for each dog,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25their size and their stage in life.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28'If a toy does get stuck in your pet's mouth,
0:41:28 > 0:41:29'gently hold their mouth open
0:41:29 > 0:41:32'and take the object out with your fingers.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35'Don't use any kind of tool,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38'as you could cause a serious cut if your pet moves suddenly.'
0:41:40 > 0:41:42'And if your dog does swallow something that could harm them,
0:41:42 > 0:41:44'take them to the vet.'
0:41:47 > 0:41:49'A different kind of toy that's exploded in popularity
0:41:49 > 0:41:52'in recent years is the ball thrower.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56'These can give your dog hours of fun and keep them fit,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59'but bear in mind the age of your pet.'
0:41:59 > 0:42:01If you have an older dog with arthritis,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04having them stop and start repeatedly to get the ball
0:42:04 > 0:42:07can potentially damage their joints further.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10And equally for young dogs where their joints are developing,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13it may not be such a good thing to do repeatedly.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15Absolutely fine for a fit, adult dog
0:42:15 > 0:42:17who'll probably get a lot of pleasure out of it.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21'For puppies and older dogs, gentler ball games are better.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26'Finally, there's one type of injury that I see surprisingly often
0:42:26 > 0:42:28'and can be very serious.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32'And it comes from the age-old game of fetching a stick.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34'Katie Bewley's dog Ernie ended up here
0:42:34 > 0:42:36'at Bristol Langford Veterinary Hospital
0:42:36 > 0:42:39'after some fun with a stick went wrong.'
0:42:39 > 0:42:41It was the beginning of the summer holidays.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44We'd gone to a friend's for a barbecue,
0:42:44 > 0:42:48and one of the children threw a stick.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Ernie was six months old, playful, ran after the stick,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54and it went straight through the roof of his mouth
0:42:54 > 0:42:58into his spinal cord and left him partially paralysed.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02So how did you feel when this all happened and you saw him like this?
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Scared. It was horrific.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08We thought he was going to die.
0:43:11 > 0:43:15Surgeon Tom Shaw was one of the first to treat him.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17We had a chat with the owners
0:43:17 > 0:43:19about whether we were even going to attempt surgery or not
0:43:19 > 0:43:21because of the risks,
0:43:21 > 0:43:24but we decided that the risk of leaving the stick in place was
0:43:24 > 0:43:26probably greater than the risk of removing it.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Eventually, we found the stick, pulled it out.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31How big was that piece of stick you removed?
0:43:31 > 0:43:32We've got it here.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35Quite small,
0:43:35 > 0:43:37- but big enough to do a lot of damage.- Ooh.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40- Wow.- Can you see?
0:43:40 > 0:43:43It's a couple of millimetres wide, about 1.5 centimetres long.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45The spinal cord in a dog is only about one centimetre wide,
0:43:45 > 0:43:47so you can imagine this being rammed through the spinal cord
0:43:47 > 0:43:50is going to cause quite a lot of damage.
0:43:50 > 0:43:51It was a five-hour operation.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55There was no guarantees the next day whether he would make it.
0:43:55 > 0:44:00It took roughly about four months for him to be independent on his own
0:44:00 > 0:44:02after lots of hydrotherapy and physiotherapy.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06Ernie is now back to normal
0:44:06 > 0:44:08thanks to Katie getting him treated quickly.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11So, do take care if you're playing with a stick,
0:44:11 > 0:44:14and if an accident happens, take your dog straight to the vet.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17All dogs need regular exercise and play.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21They really can't do without it in order to stay healthy.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23By being vigilant for unexpected hazards,
0:44:23 > 0:44:26you and your pet can enjoy exercise safely.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28Come on, then.
0:44:28 > 0:44:29Come on, then.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41While we've been in Bristol,
0:44:41 > 0:44:45we've been hearing your pet-related questions.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48And there's one question that we vets get asked again and again
0:44:48 > 0:44:50by cat owners.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53Should I get my cat Lulu neutered?
0:44:53 > 0:44:56For us as cat owners, the most obvious benefit
0:44:56 > 0:44:58to getting them neutered is avoiding the surprise
0:44:58 > 0:45:01of an unexpected litter of kittens.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04And that's a wider problem than you might think.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07As many as 80% of litters across the country
0:45:07 > 0:45:09are believed to be unplanned.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14A cat can quite easily have three litters a year,
0:45:14 > 0:45:16with five to six kittens in each litter.
0:45:16 > 0:45:18They all have to find homes.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22Sadly, many of them don't.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26The latest research suggests that the stray cat population in the UK
0:45:26 > 0:45:28is growing out of control.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30Just to keep it stable,
0:45:30 > 0:45:3430,000 more cats would need to be neutered every year
0:45:34 > 0:45:36than is currently the case.
0:45:36 > 0:45:40But some people may worry that it's not in the best interest of their cat,
0:45:40 > 0:45:42that somehow we're messing with nature
0:45:42 > 0:45:44or that it may be harmful to them.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45So, what's the truth?
0:45:45 > 0:45:48- PHONE RINGS - Good morning...
0:45:48 > 0:45:49Here at Langford Vets in Bristol,
0:45:49 > 0:45:53they carry out up to 100 neutering ops a year,
0:45:53 > 0:45:55often in the nick of time.
0:45:55 > 0:45:58Cats can get pregnant from as young as four months of age,
0:45:58 > 0:46:00so if you're going to stop your kitten having an unwanted litter,
0:46:00 > 0:46:02you'd better get cracking.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05Young Lulu here is five months old and she is about to be neutered.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08It seems like a young age, but it's actually the right time to do it.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11There's also a common misconception that cats need to have a litter
0:46:11 > 0:46:13before they're neutered,
0:46:13 > 0:46:16but actually they can be neutered from eight weeks of age.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20For dogs, the best time to neuter depends on breed,
0:46:20 > 0:46:22so check with your vet.
0:46:22 > 0:46:27But there is little evidence that neutering early has any ill effects your cat.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31And, in fact, neutering brings some important benefits
0:46:31 > 0:46:34for your cat's health.
0:46:34 > 0:46:35It may sound surprising,
0:46:35 > 0:46:37but neutered cats are actually less likely
0:46:37 > 0:46:39to contract infectious diseases
0:46:39 > 0:46:43and are not at risk of getting cancer of their reproductive organs.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46And in male cats, they're less likely to fight and roam,
0:46:46 > 0:46:49which obviously reduces their chances of getting injured.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54Neutering can lower your cat's metabolism
0:46:54 > 0:46:56and increase their appetite,
0:46:56 > 0:46:58which puts them at risk of becoming overweight.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02So don't be tempted to feed them more.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05Post-neutering diets are available.
0:47:05 > 0:47:10But overall, the effects on your cat's health are generally positive.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12The surgery is over in minutes,
0:47:12 > 0:47:15and a young cat like Lulu will recover quickly.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20Lulu here is just waking up after her surgery.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22So as far as you and your cat are concerned,
0:47:22 > 0:47:24it's a good idea to get them neutered.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27And of course, there's the wider benefit too.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31Fewer unplanned litters means fewer cats who don't find a good home
0:47:31 > 0:47:32and end up as strays.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36So for the greater good of cats up and down the country,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38getting your cat neutered is a no-brainer.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43- There she is.- Hey, Lulu.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46You've been a brave girl.
0:47:46 > 0:47:50In a moment, we'll be finding out the results of our big experiment
0:47:50 > 0:47:52on the best way to de-stress your cat.
0:47:57 > 0:47:58But first...
0:47:59 > 0:48:05Shockingly, around 50,000 dogs are abandoned in the UK every year.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08It's the extreme end of a problem that can start
0:48:08 > 0:48:11when a dog and an owner don't quite suit each other.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14So if you're thinking about getting a dog,
0:48:14 > 0:48:19how do you avoid ending up with one that you struggle to take care of?
0:48:19 > 0:48:22Dogs come in all different shapes, sizes, and personalities,
0:48:22 > 0:48:24and they have different needs to keep them in good health.
0:48:24 > 0:48:28So to be sure that you have a happy, healthy dog and a happy owner,
0:48:28 > 0:48:31it's a good idea to make sure that you and your dog are a good match.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35That may sound obvious,
0:48:35 > 0:48:40but surprisingly one in five people who get a dog don't do any research
0:48:40 > 0:48:43on what type might suit them.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45In my experience, there are four key questions
0:48:45 > 0:48:48that every prospective owner should consider.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52Vets rarely get asked these questions until it's too late
0:48:52 > 0:48:54and we're dealing with the problems that can arise.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58So I want to give you my own vet's guide to choosing a dog.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00One of the first things you should do is ask yourself
0:49:00 > 0:49:03how much time you can dedicate to exercising a dog.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06All dogs need daily exercise, some more than others.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09Some of the more energetic breeds like collies and Springer Spaniels
0:49:09 > 0:49:12could exercise for more than two hours a day.
0:49:12 > 0:49:13If they don't get this,
0:49:13 > 0:49:15they can become bored and frustrated
0:49:15 > 0:49:17and their behaviour can be difficult to manage.
0:49:17 > 0:49:18DOG BARKS
0:49:18 > 0:49:23This can manifest itself as constant barking or destructive activity.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28If you don't think you'll have enough time to exercise a dog,
0:49:28 > 0:49:31then think carefully before you get one.
0:49:31 > 0:49:34If you are less mobile, consider getting an older dog
0:49:34 > 0:49:36which may not require as much exercise.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41An important consideration is how easy or difficult it is
0:49:41 > 0:49:43to train your dog, and this differs between breeds,
0:49:43 > 0:49:46and some can be more stubborn than others.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51Dogs that require more committed training are working dog breeds,
0:49:51 > 0:49:53such as Huskies.
0:49:53 > 0:49:54They can be difficult to train
0:49:54 > 0:49:57because they are naturally strong willed.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00Types of dogs that may be more amenable to training
0:50:00 > 0:50:04include poodles, retrievers, and German shepherds.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11The third key question is how well they'll integrate socially
0:50:11 > 0:50:13with the whole family.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15If you're looking for a family dog,
0:50:15 > 0:50:18a crucial question is how happy they're going to be around people,
0:50:18 > 0:50:19especially children.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21This isn't just down to breed,
0:50:21 > 0:50:23but also how well socialised they were as a puppy.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26You can do things to help this by visiting breeders,
0:50:26 > 0:50:29meeting the puppy's parents and speaking to your vet for advice.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32Some breeds are better suited to a busy home.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36Staffordshire bull terriers and Labradors consistently top the polls.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40They tend to be loyal, attentive, relatively easy to train.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44Finally, you need to take into consideration your own health.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46If you suffer from allergies,
0:50:46 > 0:50:49it's a good idea to get a breed like a cockapoo
0:50:49 > 0:50:50that's less likely to trigger a reaction.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54Most allergies to dogs are because of shed fur or dead skin cells
0:50:54 > 0:50:58that end up in carpets, furniture or dispersed in the air.
0:50:58 > 0:51:02Cockapoos, poodles and labradoodles shed far less,
0:51:02 > 0:51:03so can be a good choice
0:51:03 > 0:51:07if you want to minimise the chances of triggering allergies.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11But there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog,
0:51:11 > 0:51:15so try to spend time with the dog of your choice to check for reactions
0:51:15 > 0:51:17before deciding for good and taking them home.
0:51:21 > 0:51:26So, when choosing a dog, remember the four key questions.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29The answers will really help point you towards a dog
0:51:29 > 0:51:31whose physical and behavioural traits will work for you
0:51:31 > 0:51:33and your dog.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37It's always a good idea to talk to your vet first
0:51:37 > 0:51:38before you make your choice,
0:51:38 > 0:51:40and we won't even charge for the phone call.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47PHONE RINGS
0:51:47 > 0:51:48Hello, ICU.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53Earlier in the programme, we began an experiment
0:51:53 > 0:51:57to tackle one of the biggest health problems affecting cats in the UK -
0:51:57 > 0:51:58stress.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02Cat stress levels are highest in homes with more than one cat.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07So we recruited three multi-cat households,
0:52:07 > 0:52:09and over the last six weeks, we've been testing
0:52:09 > 0:52:12three different stress-busting methods.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16First, all our households separated their cats' feeding bowls,
0:52:16 > 0:52:18beds and litter trays,
0:52:18 > 0:52:20putting them in different rooms.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23The idea was to remove conflict over space
0:52:23 > 0:52:27to meet the cats' basic needs like eating and sleeping.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29At first, the three cats were really, really confused
0:52:29 > 0:52:31as to where their bowls were going
0:52:31 > 0:52:33because we had to separate them around the house.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36Two weeks later, we added our second measure.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38We gave all the cats new toys
0:52:38 > 0:52:40to help them express their wild side
0:52:40 > 0:52:43through play and foraging for food around the house.
0:52:43 > 0:52:47Alice likes it, and I think it's given her a lot more confidence.
0:52:48 > 0:52:52And for the final two weeks, we added our third measure.
0:52:52 > 0:52:56We introduced smells, based on natural odours called pheromones,
0:52:56 > 0:53:00that research suggests should have a calming effect on cats.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03The pheromone plug-in seems to have chilled out Salty
0:53:03 > 0:53:04a heck of a lot more.
0:53:06 > 0:53:10So, the owners think there are signs of improvement in all three houses.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12But what does the data say?
0:53:13 > 0:53:15Throughout the six weeks,
0:53:15 > 0:53:18all our families have been recording their cats' behaviour
0:53:18 > 0:53:20with a questionnaire that measures cat stress.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24And we've had cameras installed in all the houses
0:53:24 > 0:53:26to look for any changes.
0:53:29 > 0:53:34Now I'm back with vet and cat behaviour expert Sarah Heath
0:53:34 > 0:53:37who has analysed the data to give us the results.
0:53:37 > 0:53:41This is a graph that shows the changes in the stress scores
0:53:41 > 0:53:43for the cats over that six-week period.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47It seems to suggest that the overall trend is
0:53:47 > 0:53:49a significant reduction in cat stress,
0:53:49 > 0:53:50which is great, isn't it?
0:53:50 > 0:53:53Absolutely, and as measured by these behaviours
0:53:53 > 0:53:56that you've been monitoring, like staring and chasing,
0:53:56 > 0:53:58we can see that there's a significant decrease
0:53:58 > 0:54:01in those sorts of behaviours within each of the households.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04I mean, that's amazing, actually seeing it on the screen.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07The results show the measure that was most effective,
0:54:07 > 0:54:09and generally caused the biggest reduction in stress,
0:54:09 > 0:54:11was the first -
0:54:11 > 0:54:14moving the bowls, beds, and litter trays
0:54:14 > 0:54:17to avoid conflict over living space.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21The toys and pheromones also helped,
0:54:21 > 0:54:23but had a lesser effect.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28The overall pattern was the same in all three of our households.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33- Hello, Emma.- Hi, come in.
0:54:33 > 0:54:34At the Jacksons',
0:54:34 > 0:54:37their cats saw a good overall reduction in stress levels.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39This is where we are now.
0:54:39 > 0:54:42With the biggest improvement coming right at the start.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46It's gone really, really well.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49There's hardly any tension now at all between any of the cats.
0:54:50 > 0:54:54At the Hopkins', Susan's cats also had a great response
0:54:54 > 0:54:57to our first stress-busting method.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59And here, our second method, the toys,
0:54:59 > 0:55:02also made a significant difference,
0:55:02 > 0:55:04with only a slight improvement with the smells.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09The overall improvement in stress levels is massive,
0:55:09 > 0:55:11and that is particularly good news for Alice,
0:55:11 > 0:55:13who used to hide under the bed all the time.
0:55:14 > 0:55:19She seems much more content, much more confident in herself.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22Overall, it's very peaceful.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24I mean, you can even feel it now.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26Can't hear a thing.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33But in one of our households, the Humphreys',
0:55:33 > 0:55:35there was a temporary glitch.
0:55:35 > 0:55:40Stress levels actually went up for part of the experiment
0:55:40 > 0:55:43as an unforeseen problem emerged.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46It looks like it hasn't been totally plain sailing all the way.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49To start off with, we weren't sure that anything was going to improve.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53Sarah suspected this might have been because of a neighbour's cat
0:55:53 > 0:55:56sneaking in through the cat flap.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58I guess this is a problem that could arise
0:55:58 > 0:56:02if you didn't have two cats in a household, you only had one.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05Yeah, absolutely. That's a very important security issue
0:56:05 > 0:56:07for the cats living in your house.
0:56:07 > 0:56:11They need to know that their house is safe from intrusion,
0:56:11 > 0:56:14so we've replaced that with a microchip-operated cat flap,
0:56:14 > 0:56:18so that means it's very specifically programmed to your cats alone.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22And it seems to have had the desired effect,
0:56:22 > 0:56:24because the stress levels for Salt and Pepper
0:56:24 > 0:56:26fell consistently afterwards.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29The combination of measures has made a big difference
0:56:29 > 0:56:31to the Humphreys' cats.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33They will now tolerate each other
0:56:33 > 0:56:37and not have the chasing and the hissing and the growling,
0:56:37 > 0:56:39all those things that we were seeing six weeks ago.
0:56:39 > 0:56:44Living more separate lives, they're actually both much happier.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47So this seems to be a great overall result for the whole family.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50Yeah, happier cats, so happier household.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54With the limited number of households in our study,
0:56:54 > 0:56:58our results are not scientifically definitive,
0:56:58 > 0:57:02but they do support the wider work done by specialists like Sarah.
0:57:02 > 0:57:06Each method Sarah introduced is based on the latest research
0:57:06 > 0:57:09and each is proven to improve wellbeing,
0:57:09 > 0:57:13whether cats are showing signs of stress or not.
0:57:13 > 0:57:14But for our families,
0:57:14 > 0:57:18what matters is that the strategies worked for their cats.
0:57:19 > 0:57:23It's worth remembering that one of the biggest causes of stress in cats
0:57:23 > 0:57:25is living with other cats.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27So if you've got a cat that's happy on its own,
0:57:27 > 0:57:30then think carefully before you get another.
0:57:30 > 0:57:32If you already have more than one cat,
0:57:32 > 0:57:35then the results of our experiment are really encouraging.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37I've been really pleasantly surprised
0:57:37 > 0:57:41by how quickly and easily methods can be put into place
0:57:41 > 0:57:43to help reduce your cats' stress.
0:57:55 > 0:57:56That's it from Bristol
0:57:56 > 0:57:59and from this series of Trust Me, I'm A Vet.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02For more information about some of the stories we've covered,
0:58:02 > 0:58:04why not visit our website?