Pets Magazine November 2020

November 2020, FREE

MY PET: TV Vet JOE INGLIS and his dog Pip

DOG EXPERT: why you shouldn’t give your boy the snip!

Beautiful Creatures: animal artist Vet Michelle Pearson Cooper

O

MyPet

ur My Pet star this month are former TV Vet

Joe Inglis and his gorgeous pooch Pip. Joe is a vet and pet nutrition expert who is well-known for his appearances on The One Show and ITV's This Morning as well as starring in the longrunning BBC series Vets in Practice. He lives and works in the Cotswolds with his family, dog Pip, t h re e c a t s a n d t w o chickens. Joe is on a mission to improve the diets of canines everywhere with a new

Puppy Pip with Joe Inglis

online platform devoted to healthy eating called VetChef.

VetChef’s AI-powered uses Dr. Joe’s expertise in nutrition to help solve dogs’ dietary problems by creating bespoke

menu plans. More of that later, including a fantastic recipe for your pooch, but now we’re excited to meet Joe and his gorgeous pup Pip!

So, Joe, tell us about Pip?

their extreme physical features Our family life has changed

Pip is a cross breed - her mum

and genetic inbreeding. Â

was a Yorkiepoo (Yorkshire

massively for the better since her arrival - she's such a

Terrier x Poodle) who went

Does Pip come with you

bundle of energy and love, it's

missing for five days and came

to work?

impossible to be grumpy or

back pregnant so nobody

At the moment, I mainly work

knows who her father is.

Given the shape of her ears, I think it's possible her dad was a German Shepherd or maybe

from home, developing the VetChef app and working on

as I much prefer mixed breed

of spending all day with her while I'm working - and she

add them to the system!

seen in purebred dogs with

garden with the children!

Do you take doggiefriendly holidays with Pip? Yes. This summer we've been on a road trip around France

dogs - they don't tend to suffer from the same health problems

your nose or racing around the

recipes, so I have the pleasure

a collie but we'll never know for gets stuck in as well, testing sure. Her lack of pedigree is out different recipes before I definitely not an issue for me

miserable when she's licking

What difference does Pip make to your life?

and Italy, and Pip's been a wonderful traveller. She seems happy with long car journeys,

and loves exploring new places - and new food. I've been cooking up some recipes for her on our travels inspired by the local cuisine - she just had a very French dinner of steak hache, tripe, green beans and potatoes.

Do you take Pip with you to restaurants and pubs?

Yes, and she's generally been good, although she does have a habit of getting her lead incredibly tangled around the table and chair legs when we sit outside to eat in a cafe or restaurant.

What are Pip's favourite things in the world?

Food, her rope toy, and anything that moves that she can chase!

which is coming on pretty well. poor diet and excessive weight She's very obedient, when she

are leading causes of many

wants to be - it's just the times

preventable health issues,

when she doesn't want to be

ranging from diabetes to

that we've got to work on now!

cancer. So I'm passionate about helping pet parents to improve

Does Pip have any tricks or special character traits?

Thankfully she's moving out of her ankle-biting phase, which was quite painful, especially for our young children, and we're working on her training

the diet and fitness of their

Is there anything you feel

pets, and I think the best way

strongly about regarding

to do this is by making it as

pet welfare?

For me the biggest issues for our pets nowadays are diet and obesity. Just as with people,

easy as possible for owners to feed fresh, homemade meals that are nutritionally designed specifically for their pet's individual needs.

Joe continues: “I've spent the last six months developing the VetChef system which creates bespoke recipes for dogs, and I'm really excited about how this can help to improve the diet of dogs around the world. It's totally free, and being used by more and more dogs from across the world every day.”

To find out more and get your dog’s free recipes, visit www.vetchef.co.uk. You can also follow Joe on Instagram @thevetchef and on twitter @vethchef.

Sample Recipe: Beef, Pasta & Broccoli

Ingredients: •

250g Beef (stewing steak or similar)

•

150g Pasta (any shape, dried)

•

75g Broccoli

•

15g Vegetable oil

•

4g VetChef PureCal Seasoning

•

1g Fresh Rosemary (optional)

This simple recipe combines fresh and tasty beef with pasta and broccoli for a great all-rounder meal suitable for dogs of all ages.

Directions Dice the beef and broccoli. Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and then turn down the heat and simmer gently for around 15 minutes, stirring regularly. Remove from the heat once the pasta is cooked, drain away any excess water and allow to cool completely before serving.

Top Dog Listener: Why Canine Castration is Wrong!

Tony Knight, an internationally-acclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, on why you shouldn’t get your

Vet

male dog neutered…

Tony Knight, an internationallyacclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, on why you shouldn’t get your male dog neutered…

“Dogs ask us questions every day to see who they can trust...”

Speaking as a male, I admit that I have a soft spot (well, two really) for my own “equipment; men will wince in empathy should they hear a story about some poor chap whose “poor chap” was involved in some kind of painful accident. dog trainer (and not

many years ago that

Maybe their legs so they can’t

(and definitely not removed).

run after anyone?

My own old fellow, Kez (I am

“Castration is not

as a male of the to the conclusion

body that should be treated

Don’t get me wrong, castration referring to my dog here) was

That said, it is as a

species) that I came

what should we cut off them?

all it is cracked up

castration is not all it is cracked up to be.

However, it is still often the first course of action when dealing with aggression in male dogs.

Too many vets propose this procedure as the cure-all (which comes at a price of course). I have met many aggressive female dogs in all my years as a Dog Listener –

to be....” for health reasons or to avoid unwanted puppies is definitely recommended in the first case (and begrudgingly in the second, although intelligent control from dog owners is preferable). When it comes to dealing with aggressive behaviour though, there is a

an entire male and the most chilled out individual you could have hoped to meet.

A very large part (I promise you I am not making these puns on purpose!) of the reason

for his calm demeanour was the way I interacted with him to show him that he could relax and trust me with the big decisions. Dogs ask us questions every day to see who they can trust, so when Kez asked, I made sure to give him

completely different part of the the right answer.

Kez asked, I made sure to give

drop, leaving them prone to

him the right answer. That way, feeling vulnerable.

concentrate on the other end of the body. Using the way they

I avoided him

think is the key to

taking on the role

success. Calm and

himself, which

positive

could have led to

communication in

bigger problems.

their language shows them that

In nearly every case

you are capable of

of dog aggression,

looking after

there is a big dose

everyone, allowing

of panic added. This does not come from

Female dogs can be aggressive too...

any appendage; If you have ever had to go to

mind that it is responsible for

work or look after your

the safety of its family in a

children while feeling unwell, I

world that it does not

am willing to bet that you may

understand. That panic that can understandably

“Many vets now realise that castration for

be seen as aggressive.

Once again, we know

aggression problems

that there are females that can also have these aggressive tendencies,

clearly does not work.”

but there is not an equivalent, arbitrary, medical procedure for them.

What can make the situation worse for a male that has been given the chop is that they may still have the responsibility of looking after everyone, only now they are constantly feeling out of sorts. The levels of testosterone take a massive

responsibility and relax.

rather the belief in a dog’s

can lead to reactions

them to relinquish

have been more easily irritated…

On so many occasions, I have been asked to work with highly strung dogs that have previously been castrated, only for their behaviour to remain unchanged or even worsen. My approach to solving dog aggression is to

Thankfully, not every veterinarian is still stuck in the old-fashioned practice of slicing off a mutt’s nuts.

There are plenty of professionals out there who have realised that castration for aggression problems clearly does not work. They also know that there are ways to help solve this problem that do not require drugs, force, pain or surgery. When it comes to helping your dog to be happy and calm, I guess the ball is in your court…

To find out more, visit: www.tonyknightdoglistener.

Vets Concern Over Covid Health Crisis For Pets Rising numbers of veterinary practices are offering telemedicine and digital consultations to encourage pet owners to keep up with routine animal healthcare despite restrictions.

Veterinarians have warned of a resurgence of preventable diseases among domestic animals after one in four pet owners said they had delayed or missed appointments because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than one in 10 cats and dogs had missed routine treatment or care, such as

primary vaccines, as a result, according to a poll of more than 3,200 owners across four countries.

The survey, commissioned by the global animal health association Health for Animals in partnership with leading animal health marketing and communications consultancy Pegasus, revealed safety fears around the risk of

Covid-19 outside personal “social bubbles” were the primary driver despite a growing number of veterinarians offering remote consultations.

“These survey results reveal yet more worrying, secondary impacts of the pandemic, with pet owners reluctant to visit a veterinarian and animal health suffering as a result,” said Dr Simon Doherty, Senior Lecturer in Animal Health & Welfare, Queen’s University Belfast, and former president of the British Veterinary Association.

“The reality is that veterinarians and veterinary services have been recognised as essential throughout the pandemic because animal health is a core element of public health.

“If pets are not receiving routine healthcare including vaccination, we could see an

increase in preventable diseases and other health issues.”

Almost half (47 per cent) of pet owners surveyed said their veterinarian offered digital or remote appointments, an increase from 20 per cent before the pandemic. Just one per cent of pet owners said their veterinarian had not adopted special precautions in response to Covid-19, with social distancing requirements being the most reported inperson change.

“The veterinary industry has seen rapid technological transformation during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is a positive, but animal care providers, businesses and pet owners are learning to adjust,” said Luke Hopkins, of Pegasus, an Ashfield company, part of UDG Healthcare.

“From ensuring pet owners are aware of new veterinary services or practice opening hours, to educating on the importance of preventative health, clear communication is more important than ever in helping preserve animal health and wellbeing during this pandemic.”

Of the pet owners who used veterinary telemedicine during the pandemic, three quarters were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the service, with more than a third reporting it reduces the waiting time to speak to a veterinarian.

Covid-19 despite only a handful of pets worldwide falling ill with the disease, all of which were instances of human-toanimal transfer.

“For many people, pets have provided much needed respite and comfort during the pandemic and its lockdowns. But owners also have a responsibility to make sure the pandemic does not negatively impact animals and their health,” said Dr. MarieJosé Enders-Slegers, President, International Association of HumanAnimal Interaction More than one in five said digital or remote consultations Organisations.

meant veterinarians could “It is especially important that dedicate more time to the appointment. More than 60 per anyone who has adopted an animal during the pandemic cent agreed, to some extent, that they would be more likely seeks and follows veterinary advice to give young animals to contact their veterinarian if the best possible start in life they could do so virtually. and continues doing so after the pandemic.”

“Pet owners need not

compromise on the health of

their dogs and cats. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian are the cornerstone of good pet health.”

As well as common illnesses, around a third (32 per cent) of pet owners said they were concerned or very concerned about their animal catching

“Owners have a

responsibility to make

sure the pandemic does not negatively impact

animals and their health.”

Beautiful Creatures

Vet

‘Wizard’, Oil on panel, 40 x 40cm Michelle Pearson Cooper

A

cclaimed animal artist Michelle Pearson Cooper was until lockdown 2.0 struck again, exhibiting her wonderful artwork, ‘Reigning Cats and Dogs: Studies, Sketches and Portraits of Creatures Great and Small, Especially Cats and Canines, Depicted with Affection and Exactitude’ at The Osborne Studio Gallery in London. In lieu, we e-meet this amazingly talented artist with a keen eye for the beauty and

quirks of our favourite companion animals who shares some of her work and insights into her creative process. Her full exhibition is also online at: http://www.osg.uk.com.

Fifteen solo shows followed, from her first in 1979 at Charles Young Gallery in Old Bond Street to La Galleria, Pall Mall, in 2016. Invited to exhibit in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1994, dog portraits in charcoal, watercolour and oils beguiled

Michelle Pearson Cooper (born glitzy collectors with its 1957) won an art scholarship to refreshing lack of sentiment.

Millfield School, continued her

Everything sold in hours .

art studies in Florence with ‘la

International commissions

Signorina’ Nerina Simi (1890 –

swiftly followed.

1987) described by Pietro

Annigoni, as the ‘ greatest art

She writes: ‘I love animals. I

teacher of the

20th

century’

try to capture their character,

venerated by generations of

not rob them of dignity, nor

pupils.

turn them into humans. My

Bee Witched, oil on paper, 30 x 40cm pictures were sought after as

Michelle triumphed early in

Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan,

an antidote to the maddeningly her career with the sale of a

the Marquis of Blandford,

popular Victorian dog

40x50in oil on canvas (Waiting

Harry Hyams builder of

portraiture with its saccharine

for the Houbara) to His Royal

Centrepoint, industrialist Lord

human emotions.’

Highness The King of Bahrein.

Hanson, among many others,

This picture shows a group of

commissioned portraits of all

Michelle Pearson Cooper has

Saluki and a falcon in the

their dogs. Powerful art

won acclaim around the world

desert. The King

patron Lord Palumbo, former

for her animal portraiture.

commissioned 16 more

Chairman of the Arts Council

The rich and grand tend to be

works. .

of Great Britain, noted the

devoted to their animals, who

‘sensitivity and perception’ in

could be called ‘reigning

Royal couturier Bruce Oldfield

Michelle’s ‘economy of line’.

princes’ in their lives. .

has a larger than life portrait of

‘Babe’ his adored Ridgeback.

French Bulldog, oil on canvas, 50 x 76cm Michelle Pearson Cooper, wife,

“I take my inspiration from my

mother and lover of her two dogs, lives in an Oxfordshire farmhouse, described by writer Victoria Mather, as ‘full of laughter’. She painted a portrait of Victoria’s Peke. Her own dogs are ‘Wizard’ lurcher Saluki, Deerhound cross, 9 years old, and described as ‘very FAST’ and Labrador ‘Kilo’ because the breeder asked for £1000 after they had fallen in love with him.

everyday experiences, observations

and travels…I have always had a natural empathy with all animals domestic and wild. I have two dogs, a perfectly behaved yellow Labrador and a cheeky deerhound/ saluki cross lurcher.”

Let it Bee, oil on paper, 40 x 50cm

“My naughty lurcher is a perfect artist’s dog as he will lie in my studio all day on an old sofa and not move or interrupt my concentration, but at the end of the day, when the good painting light has gone, they’re fed and then walked, he particularly, is a joy to watch run. Whether after a rabbit, hare, muntjac or deer, he will always return, having had a good run, as it is in their DNA, being a sight hound, to chase, you have to have an understanding of the breed and be in control as their owner, to avoid a fatality in the surrounding wildlife…”

Watching your every Move, oil on gessoed panel, 46 x 46cm

“I enjoy the challenge to capture the likeness of a domestic animal such as a dog and that of a large wild lion or leopard, equally, but the magic ingredient is to be able to give it life…and keep practising, your next painting should always be better than your last!”