Vet bills, grooming, gourmet treats, buying all those cans and bags of biscuits .... the cost of keeping a dog just gets higher every day.  Hold it right there!  Let's go back in time to the days when there wasn't a pet product industry.   What did it cost to keep a dog thirty or forty years ago?   Very little - and yet dogs were still healthy and active, they had good lives and generally lived to a ripe old age.   So how was it done?

 What food shouldn't you give your dog?   Aren't they able to eat just about anything?   Because most dogs have a scavenger mindset where food is concerned, this is a popular misconception.  Rummaging through waste bins is such a popular pastime!  But there is doggy danger in even the most ordinary human foods.

 Scratching, fur falling out, flaky, irritated skin may all be signs that your dog or cat is suffering from an allergy and one of the most common causes is a reaction to chemicals in the home.

There are lots of proprietary remedies for killing fleas on dogs and cats and they are very effective.   Some people think there are dangers associated with them and would prefer to use natural and traditional remedies - they work just as well and are without side effects - they're much cheaper too!

It's bath time  One of the best ways to get rid of fleas is by giving your dog a bath - some warm water, a gentle shampoo which doesn't have to be especially for dogs, baby shampoo is fine, and you'll see most of the pests going down the plug hole.

Showering your pet is effective also.   The downside to both is that he'll shake when it's over so have an extra large towel ready and wrap him straight in it.   You can dry use the hair dryer on a warm (not hot) setting to dry him - most dogs love this.  But if he is one of those who don't like it, towel him well and let him sit by the fire or a central heating radiator.   Dogs musn't be allowed to get chilled after a shampoo.

Do the white sheet test the next day and if there are still some black specks (eggs and/or flea droppings) you'll know that some of them could swim and you didn't get them all.    It's time for another bath and this time use a flea shampoo.  Make sure you use the correct one - dog flea treatments can be extremely toxic and even fatal for cats.

Using herbs

Adding a few drops of herbal oil to your pet's shampoo will help to eradicate fleas.   Try tea tree, eucalyptus, pennyroyal or lavender.   Fleas don't like the smell and those that survive the watery onslaught will soon hop off and find somewhere more doggy smelling to live.  Never use herbal oils at full strength, always follow the instructions and if they are not already diluted you can do this by adding a few drops to almond oil.  

Persistence pays off

If you see one flea on your dog you might think that's all there is.   But these prolific little pests can produce 250,000 descendants in the space of a few weeks.   There's rarely ever one - at any given time there are more likely to be 100 or more on your furniture and carpets and floors.   Lots more will be outside,on the front porch and in the garden, just lying in wait for some warm blooded creature (it might be you!) to pass by.  One jump and they're back in residence, blood sucking and happy.   It's a never ending battle and only persistence will see these pesky critturs finally eradicated from your pet and your home.

coming next - flea combs, collars and powders

Best friends - and isn't it great.   We love this close interaction with our pets.   Cats climb on sofas, dogs curl up on the rug, we fuss and cuddle them .....but how do you know what else is lurking in all that dense hair?   Fleas?  Impossible.  Or is it?  

Help! My 5 month old Jack Russell puppy still isn't housetrained.She's making messes everwhere and when I put her out she just stands and looks at me and then uses the kitchen as a toilet when she comes back in. I'm at my wits end, what can I do?

The first thing is - stop worrying. This is a common problem and quite easily solved. Your little J.R. is still a baby and has baby ways. She has to learn to understand you - very difficult when you're only a few months old, you've left your brothers and sistersand gone to a strange home (no matterhow nice it is)and you new momma is a different species.'Whatare theytalking about?What's wrong with going to the toilet when I want to?' She's doing something completely natural for a dog to do and what's all the fuss about.

Dogs that bite

Dog attack!   It's usually front page news if a dog bites someone and there have been many ghastly and tragic cases.   Even if a dog has a quick nip at someone there's a shock, horror outcry.   No one wants to get bitten or for their pet to bite a child or adult.   Dogs are routinely destroyed if they bite anyone.   Yet, is it so surprising?    Have you ever looked in a dog's mouth?    Even at birth our canine friends have 28 little baby teeth and by 6 months of age these are replaced by 42 sharp, strong gnashers.    What is the genetic purpose of these canine incisors and molars?   Why are they so sharp and pointed?  Yes, our friendly pet was originally designed to be a killer.   He survived as a species because he was so good at hunting and catching his prey, which he then tore limb from limb and ate.   But he's a pet now and we don't want him to do that.   Is there a lingering vestige of aggression in every dog and if so, how do we get rid of it? 

Which way is home?

When a much loved dog goes missing it's a devastating experience.  Only a few make it back to their owners.  Not knowing what has happened is the worst.

Taking the right action without delay gives you the best chance of being reunited with your pet.

• Report a missing dog quickly - to the local Council Dog Wardens if it's during working hours
• The Dog Wardens pick up dogs Monday to Friday - they don't work weekends or evenings
• Find your Local Council number in the 'phone book or through Directory Enquiries - ask to be put through to the Dog Wardens
• They'll take all the details and get back to you if your dog is found
• If the Dog Wardens have found your dog they'll take him to their designated kennels - who take in all the stray dogs in their area
• In Derbyshire - it's St.Bernard's Animal Sanctuary
• The stray dog will be kept at the kennels for 7 to 10 days - it varies in different areas
• At the end of the time the dog will either be handed over to the kennels and then it's their legal responsibility or he or she will be destroyed
• At St.Bernard's Animal Sanctuary we have a non-destruction policy.  Many other kennels do not and dogs are routinely put to sleep
• When the dog is handed over to the kennels he can be offered for adoption.   It isn't easy to find new homes even though the dogs is loving, kind and affectionate.  
• If your dog is lost outside working hours then you will have to report him missing to the police because that's where he will be taken when the Wardens aren't available.
• The police have kennels at their own stations for temporary use only - that is overnight.  
• The dogs are then collected by designated kennels and kept in their accommodation for 7 days.
• At the end of the period they are either legally handed over or destroyed.

If your dog goes missing - report it to the Council Dog Wardens and the Police in every nearby area. There is not a central register and dogs often go many miles away from where they live. People regularly pick a dog up, realizing it is lost and then take it home with them and hand it in where they live. It will never get on the local 'lost dog' register if this happens.

List your dog on the Pet Samaritans website - we receive thousands of visitors each day to our website and have great contacts through our partner networks. By advertising your missing pet online you can reach out nationally to the people that matter. For more details visit our Lost Pets section or List your pet here.

When you're all ready to go off on holiday abroad do you ever think that it would be great to take the dog with you too?   A walking holiday in the Dordogne?   Camping out in Portugal?  Trekking through the wild Spanish hills - dog at heel and enjoying every moment.

Only if you've made arrangements a long time in advance will this be possible.   Whilst you can take your dog or cat taken out of the country your pet can't come back without going into quarantine - unless he or she has a pet passport.  Alright, I'll go and get one.   Hold on a moment, this will take a long time to arrange - start organising it now for next year and you might be all right.

My dog has suddenly developed a nasty grey wart on her head.  What is it and what should I do?

I think my dog has kennel cough but he hasn't been in kennels.  How can he have picked it up?

A couple of days ago my dog went lame.  I thought he'd be better by now but he's still favouring the leg.   Do dogs get sprains?

When dogs are ill or exhibiting unusual symptoms there is no substitute for professional veterinary care.    Yet there are still lots of ways to solve common problems and help your pet lead a happy and healthy life.

Please email us with your queries and we'll do our best to help you find the answers.