Have you gone to give your cat a loving stroke and felt that their fur isn’t as thick as it usually is, or have noticed that there’s a bald patch on your cat? There are a number of reasons why your cat could be losing their fur and it’s always important to get your vet to take a closer look to solve the problem of hair loss in cats. Check-ups with your vet are the best way to spot any signs of possible illness as soon as possible. Here are some of the cat symptoms to watch out for. Bear in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive, and you should always speak to your vet if you have any worries about your pet’s health. What causes hair loss in cats? Cat hair loss, also known as alopecia, could be caused by several common factors. Once you understand what is causing your cat to lose their fur, you can start to seek the right treatment to get them feeling, and looking, like themselves again. Cat skin conditions It’s possible that your cat may have an infection such as cat ringworm (a fungal infection), an infestation of parasites such as mites or fleas, or another cat skin condition caused by an allergy. As these will all be irritating to the skin, your cat might find it impossible not to scratch! By over-grooming or itching, they’ can give themselves bald patches and also fur-balls from swallowing hair as they lick or chew the area. Stress or painful cat skin You’ve heard of the phrase “tearing your hair out” when under pressure, and this can be very true for upset cats, as sometimes a stressed cat will start to pull out their fur. More unusually but also possible, cats can over-groom an area if it causes them pain, such as a sore joint. Cat Hormones In your cat, bald patches and hair loss can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Specific hormones are responsible for your cat’s hair growth and in turn, may also be the reason why your cat is losing hair. When there is a surplus or deficiency of these hormones, hair loss can occur. You might also find that your pregnant or lactating cat loses their hair due to the changes in their hormones during this time, but don’t be too alarmed as fur should eventually grow back overtime. General poor health, nutrition or underlying disease An unhealthy diet, poor health or an undetected disease can all be causes for your cat to lose their hair. As these are all quite broad reasons, it’s important to visit your vet to identify the underlying cause. Some causes for hair loss in cats can also affect humans, and are contagious. Although this is unusual, it’s worth booking an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to avoid an unhappy pet and owner, too. Remember that a cat shedding it's fur happens all year round, but they tend to shed more in the summer and autumn, known as cat moulting season. If the hair loss is from all over their body, with no bald patches appearing, this is completely natural and will soon pass.

Gingivitis is a common dental problem that affects a number of different animals, including cats. If left untreated it can develop and become a more serious issue known as periodontal disease. Keep reading to learn about the causes of gingivitis in cats along with how to spot the signs of the disease.

Gastroenteritis in dogs is a fairly common condition and will usually display as diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting too. Find out all you need to know about what causes it, the most common symptoms and the current veterinary treatments available. If your dog has suddenly started having diarrhoea and perhaps vomiting as well, there’s a chance it may be dog gastroenteritis. This is a relatively common condition, typically occurring after the consumption of something unsavoury, but luckily with the right treatment it usually disappears relatively quickly. At Purina, we’ve put together this guide to tell you all you need to know about gastroenteritis in dogs including the most common causes and the current treatment options available.

Whenever the weather is nice and the sun peeks through, it’s time for those of us lucky enough to have a garden to get out there with our dogs and make the most of our own bit of the great outdoors. Finding the best toys to play with your dog in the garden will be the ideal way to enhance your relationship and provide vital physical and mental stimulation, and that isn’t just good for your pet! Research has shown that dog owners are fitter than the average person thanks to the increased daily exercise and the chance to play games. Find extra motivation to get active and outside with your dog this summer, with this list of our all-time favourite garden dog toys.

True allergies are thankfully very rare in cats, and can often be confused with the more common (and less severe) food intolerances. Learn how to spot if your cat has an allergy, and what you can do to get them back to their happy and healthy selves again. What are food allergies in cats? Food allergies in cats involve a reaction to often only tiny amounts of an ingredient in a particular food, such as beef, dairy products or fish. Although allergies are often diagnosed in young cats, they can crop up at any age, so it’s worth getting any unusual symptoms checked out at any age. Cat food allergies are very difficult to diagnose, as there are no allergy-specific tests available, symptoms aren’t usually specific, and the triggers can be inconsistent.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a major viral infection in cats. Although it is similar to HIV (AIDS) in people, FIV is species-specific, which means it can only be transmitted from cat to cat, not to humans or other animals. This is why it can also be known as ‘Feline AIDS’. What is FIV? Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus. Lentiviruses typically only cause disease slowly and thus infected cats may remain healthy for many years before showing signs of disease. Once a cat has been infected with FIV, the infection is usually permanent and needs to be managed rather than cured. How can my cat contract FIV? FIV is present in the blood and saliva of infected cats but as it cannot survive for long outside the body and requires a high dose to cause an infection, it is not easily transmitted from cat to cat. The most frequent way FIV is spread is through a bite from another cat, when the virus in the saliva of an infected cat is introduced directly into the blood of the cat it bites. For this reason, male cats that fight often are most likely to be infected. As the virus cannot be transmitted via food, feeding bowls, bedding or hands, the virus spreading within groups of cats which do not fight is highly unlikely. Occasionally infection is transmitted from an infected mother cat to her kittens during the birthing process or via her milk. Sexual contact is not a major means of spreading FIV in cats.

Have you noticed your dog scratching and shaking their head more than usual? The culprit might be an almost invisible insect causing irritation and making your dear pet friend extremely uncomfortable. Dog ear mites are unfortunately a common thing in the canine world. Find out what to do when they choose your dog as their host.

It’s not uncommon for our dogs to throw up every once in a while, – especially if they’ve wolfed down their dinner too fast. But sometimes it can be a sign of something more serious going on. Learn when dog vomiting is a cause of concern with this handy guide. As a dog owner, you’ll know that your pup can be notorious for eating everything in sight and this isn’t always savoury. From eating another animal’s poo to toilet roll tubes, everything’s on the menu! And this can result in dog vomiting. When your dog is throwing up, it’s a way for them to rid their system of anything indigestible, but sometimes it can be a sign of something more serious and an underlying disease or clinical condition. If your puppy is vomiting, you may be wondering whether it is serious and you should be thinking about seeking help from a vet. Keep reading to discover all the possible reasons why they may do this and the dog vomiting treatments available. The difference between vomiting and regurgitating in dogs First things first, you need to understand the difference between when your dog is vomiting and when they are regurgitating. If your dog vomits, it means that they’re forcefully removing the contents of their stomach, which is usually partly digested food. They may also display certain signs beforehand such as drooling, retching and their abdomen may contract too.

Classic games like ‘fetch’ are lots of fun for you and your dog, but exercise isn’t just about running around. Mental exercise is important too, as it can help fight boredom and teach your dog great new skills. Dog brain games can help keep your pet on their toes when it’s too rainy to play outside. They’re also great for dogs of any age – brain games for puppies challenge their developing brains and keep them learning new skills. They can also help keep adult dogs stimulated and may even help senior dogs stay alert and active. We’ve put together five of our favourite brain games for dogs. 1. Treasure hunt This is a great brain game to test your dog’s thinking skills! Hide pieces of your dog’s favourite treat around the house (or if it’s nice outside, the garden) and let them hunt for a tasty reward. Your dog will have to use their nose to scent out the prize. Every time you play this dog brain game, hide the treats in increasingly difficult places to keep things interesting. If your dog loves to follow scents (for example, if you have a scent hound) try leaving a ‘trail’ around the house or garden for them to follow. Just take a delicious-smelling treat, touch it on surfaces around the house in a continuous trail, and hide it at the end. 2. Brain training toys A really simple brain game for dogs involves hiding treats inside a special toy. There are many toys you can buy for this purpose – just put some of your dog’s favourite treat inside, and watch them try to release it. This may involve rolling their toy a certain way, squeezing it, or using sheer determination. Whichever toy you choose, it will help spread their treats or food out over a longer period of time, as well as keeping them occupied.

Just like us, our dogs can suffer from certain allergies. Discover what the most common dog allergies are and how they’re diagnosed with Purina. Dog allergies are a reaction to foreign substances in your dog’s immune system – which is the same cause of allergic reactions in humans! Unfortunately, where it’s relatively simple to diagnose allergies in humans, it’s usually quite difficult for dogs as there are many different types of allergies and the symptoms often overlap. This makes it hard to understand which allergies they’re actually suffering from. If you suspect that your dog may be suffering from allergies, you may be wondering about the potential dog allergy symptoms and when to seek help from your vet. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know. Dog skin allergies Skin allergies, also known as allergic dermatitis is one of the most common types of dog allergies. These are usually caused by reactions to flea bites or their surrounding environment such as pollen, dust or mould.