Articles By Matthew Homfray

You purchase a bag of rabbit food from the pet shop. Your rabbit seems to enjoy eating it. So what is the problem? Well, rabbits need a low calorie, high fibre diet to avoid health problems, and what you are giving could well be the opposite. Here we look at what a healthy diet consists of, and the consequences of feeding the wrong mix to your rabbit.

With canine obesity on the rise, diet and exercise has come under the spotlight in an effort to educate owners on how to keep their pet healthy and increase its life expectancy.

With an obesity epidemic sweeping through our nations pets, an online pet Q&A service have launched a campaign to educate owners about their cats lifestyle. Here we look at what a cats diet should be to keep it healthy and minimise those vet visits.

With canine obesity on the rise, the lifestyle we impose on our four legged friends has come increasingly under the spotlight. Here we look at how much exercise dogs should be getting, and the range of exercises available to dog owners.

Despite many years of selective breeding, hip dysplasia remains one of the commonest orthopaedic diseases of dogs. Here we look at how to recognise it in your dog, how a veterinarian diagnoses it and the various management options currently available.

With pet obesity on the rise, the approval of a new drug to combat canine obesity has been hailed by some as a new breakthrough, while others are more sceptical. Here we look at the indications for using the drug and how it works.

Ear infections are one of the most common reasons a dog will visit a vet. Here we look at why they occur, how to recognise one and what you should do about it.

A huge number of dogs out there are in desperate need of dental treatment. Here we explain how to check your dogs teeth and how you can stop them getting a painful mouth by regular brushing.

How to tell if your pet is overweight, a review of the medical problems this can cause them and how to help them shift that excess fat so that they become fitter, healthier and happier.

Many dogs have anal gland problems that their owners are unaware of. This article explains what anal glands are, how to tell when they are causing discomfort and how deal with them before a trip to the vet becomes necessary.

This article explains the common causes of diarrhea in cats and dogs, and advises on what steps you should take if your pet develops diarrhea.

Vaccinations are an essential preventive care for your dog. Through vaccination, dogs can now be protected from numerous disease risks, including rabies, distemper, hepatitis and several others. Some of these diseases are zoonotic (can be passed from dogs to people) and so vaccinating your pet benefits public health too.

Christmas is a special time of year but its important not to forget your pets.The following tips will help to keep your pets out of danger during the holiday season this year.

Many cat owners are faced with inappropriate urinating in their home. A consistent problem is cats that urinate around the litter tray but never actually in it.

A clear and concise article explaining the pros and cons of neutering male and female dogs, why it is done, when is the best time to do it and how to go about it.

General veterinary consensus is that unless you are actively breeding your cats, it is better for all concerned that they are neutered. This article looks at both sides of the argument.

Moving house can be a very stressful time for your cat. Territorial battles may occur with other local cats. This article is based on a question asked at the Why Does My Pet...? Question and Answer service.

Thanksgiving is this week, and the rest of the holiday season is fast approaching. It's a busy time for all of us, but it is very important to make sure that your pet is kept safe from any danger.

This article describes what you can do to protect your pet after a natural or man made disaster strikes, when pets are often at their most vulnerable.

Flea infestations are both alarming to pet owners and sometimes difficult to wipe out. This article explains how to make both your pet and your house flea free as quickly as possible.

Allergies in pets are becoming more and more common, and are a common cause of itchiness in dogs in particular. Here Dr Matthew Homfray outlines the various allergies that can affect dogs, and how to find out whether your dog has one of them.

A summary of what you should do if your dog starts scratching, and a brief description of the non-allergic causes of itchiness.

This article combines advice from the government, pet charities and rehoming clinics to act as a thorough guide to what you can do to protect your pet before a disaster strikes. Be a responsible pet owner - print out this article so you have it handy should your worst fears come true.

A guide to helping your dog overcome his/her fear of fireworks, both in the short and long term.

Part 2 of this 3 part guide describes the steps you should take during a disaster to best protect your pet.