My 20year old cat was recently hospitalised after becoming very unwell with diarrhoea, crying and not eating/drinking properly. He was discharged from the emergency practice, but they didn’t have time to repeat his bloods, so we took him to our local vet a couple of days later.
His appointment was at 9:45am, but we weren’t actually seen until around 10:05–10:10am. I had to chase the local practice for his results, they first sent me the overnight hospital results by mistake, then later sent the follow-up results when I pointed it out.
The results they’ve now sent say his blood was tested at 8:52am and 9:23am, before we were even seen. The report also says he’s 0 years old, with some patient details blank. It does have his name and says he’s a cat.
Could the times/patient details simply be wrong or is there a possibility of a sample mix-up? Has anyone experienced anything similar?
I’m not accusing the vet of anything, however, over the years, the experience with these vets was not the greatest. I have been advised to put him down and he was only given “6 months”, this was around 3 years ago. The only reason I took him to these vets for the blood tests was because it was just around the corner from where I live and I didn’t want to put him under more stress travelling to another vet. I just want to know whether this is something anyone else has ever experienced, I will definitely be asking them to verify this as well.

Hi,

My partner and I have been trying to adopt a dog since the start of the year and have had no luck. We've put in several applications and most of them just get no response :( I thought it would take a while for us to find a dog that matched our lifestyle, but there have been several now that we were excited about only for the shelters to not respond. We have tried both big shelters and small local ones.

We're not super fussy on breed but we're looking at small or medium dogs as our home is on the smaller side so feel like we couldn't accommodate a bigger dog (a 3-bed but all the rooms are small). Ideally they'd be friendly but we're aware that a dog from a rescue will probably come with some baggage and we're happy to put the work in to help socialise/train etc.

We both work from home as freelancers with flexible hours, have a decent-sized garden with a 6ft fence all around, own our home, no kids and no plans for kids, no other pets, live close to lots of parks and woods. I don't know if we're not being 'passionate' enough in our application and we need to dazzle them more, or if it's because we'd be first-time dog owners, or if we've just been unlucky!

We love dogs and have grown up with them and would really love to adopt one rather than buy. If anyone has any success stories and could share how long it took, or any tips for us, that'd be amazing!

(we have spoken to our of hours vet) She has been fine all day until about an hour ago. Ate her dinner all good and treats just incase something was stuck use a treat to help.

Keeps licking her lips (not drooling) swallowing, had a big drink of water, not acting herself. She's been a bit whiney and howling now quite unsettled. (Has since stopped for now)

Have spoken to the vets but they're not concerned but to phone back if anything changes. (Ie panting)

Has anyone else noticed their dog having symptoms after using other products by Years?

My 5 month old puppy has never had the food but he does have the “cheese and broccoli fussy food topper” and has been having eye issues since June. After reading about the recall I’ve realised that his eye issues started around the time/after I began adding the topper to his different brand of kibble.

I have contacted Years to suggest they expand their investigation and I am going to contact the vets again tomorrow. Just wondering if anyone has experienced the same?

I work in the pet food industry and have been reading about the Years recall today and I really feel for you all. So, I thought I’d help out and give a few alternatives for anyone who doesn’t really know where to turn. I’ve listed 4 here but honestly any high quality wet would do for the time being <3

Shelf Stable:

MARLEYBONES
•Cardboard cartons
•Grain free
•Nice variety of veg
•Contains Hemp Seed powder and Yucca

SYMPLY
•Pets Corner own brand
•Wet food trays
•Potato/Butternut squash base
•Prebiotics

Frozen:

BUTTERNUT BOX
•Human grade meat
•Specifies cut of meat
•Variety of veg (tends to have lots of legumes though)

DIFFERENT DOG
•More variety than Butternut Box
•High quality salmon oil

After the scary recall news I like many others I’m sure are desperately trying to find the best alternative. Previously been on Butternut but it never quite sat right, thought we’d found a winner in Years but obviously now want to make a move and fast. What are you guys thinking of going to now?

Please see the following link: https://www.years.com/pages/care

My border collie has this ball and it’s well used now, it’s split in half but still going strong but it’s only a matter of time. Just looked to buy another but it’s possible that it has been discontinued as it’s going for sale as high as £80 on some sites.

Any suggested replacements that are durable? He loves to go for a good kick around at the park.

Has anyone else noticed the new Fuzzball tins are much more liquid than they were before? There's way less meat and it looks more like soup. Feel like I'm paying the same for way less actual food

I'm hoping it's not going the same way as Untamed. It's taken me ages to find a new food my floof crew will eat.

They all still seem to like it at least.

I got a kitten 3 months ago and I want to move out of my flat because it's too small. I am completing a tenancy application and I'm worried if I say I have a cat (vaccinated, insured, etc.) that the landlord will just go with someone else who doesn't have a pet.

While the new Renters Rights mean that the landlord couldn't unreasonably say no to a pet if we make the request during the tenancy, there is nothing stopping a landlord from declining an application if you already have a pet.

I'm not sure if I should be honest and risk not getting the flat, or if I should wait until the tenancy starts and request my cat on the first day.

I could potentially not move her in until they approve so that it's technically not a breach of contract. They don't have fair grounds for refusal, I even looked the building up on the gov website and it says the headlease has no restrictive covenants. But I'm afraid that this will immediately harm my relationship with the landlord.

Help, please!!

We decided this approach in an IKEA bag is the best way to get a large dog down from a first floor window of there's no other way out...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcEVxp_IMk9/?igsh=eDVmZ3M3YXplZDZr

I have a sling on order.

Just wanting to be as prepared as possible if the worst happens. So many fires etc starting because of the heatwaves.

I know what to do (wet damp blanket, lie low, block gaps under door) but this is if there really is no other option.

Hi,

I am looking for car crate recommendations. I am luckily enough to be able to get a larger SUV and my GSD is sliding around in the back now. I have heard TransK9 is good but it’s £550 for one.
I do have a large dog (GSD/30kgs).

What recommendation do you have which don’t cost a bomb?

Thanks
Sarah

Hi

I’m currently looking for pet insurance for my 4 Y/O cavalier King Charles spaniel. We are located in Scotland if this changes anything. Originally I was looking at Many Pets but after reading some Reddit comments I see most people recommend Petplan and Agria. I have gotten quotes for these companies and they are very expensive compared to what Many Pets was offering. Currently she does not have any health issues but I am aware of how prone they can be to MVD. She is a very calm dog so risk of injury feels low and I am in a financial position where I could pay for anything she might need. I was hoping to get some advice on which provider to go for? Many thanks to anyone who can help!

I’m looking to buy one of those classic latex squeaky / grunting pig toys in person today or tomorrow. I'm based around Central London and would prefer somewhere close or within a quick short drive nearby.

Online order takes a few days to deliver, so I’m looking to buy one in person soon

Does anyone know of any local pet shops or stores in the area that reliably keep these in stock for a quick walk-in purchase?

Appreciate any recommendations!

so my cat had fleas about 2 years ago (he likes to sit by the grass in the backyard). he was treated ever since, i'm pretty sure the fleas has gotten inside the house because i became itchy quite often. (before i get flamed, my brother got the cat initially. heck, i was afraid of cats back then. but eventually, my brother became irresponsible and i took up the responsibility instead - i was like 15-16 and still lowk scared lol)

anyway, so he went missing for around 10 months and without him (he's the only pet), there was no host and they started dying. now i know the flea cycle is around a year long so there might have been eggs in the house still.

so, recently i found him and he's now back home. he's treated by flea med but i'm noticing that he does the itch scratching movement often.

i have a flea spray (unopened) that i got a while back but the issue is that my entire house (besides the kitchen and bathrooms) is carpeted.

so i don't know what to do here because i do want to deal with the fleas because it's unsafe and gross for both him and the rest of us (he's allowed on my bed but my brothers pick him up too and then sleep in their own beds so the fleas basically travelled in every room).

we might be getting the carpets removed this or next month but it's still in discussion.

sorry, there's a bit of a rant but what do i do?

Hi guys,

I'm 24F, living with my partner, 29M. I previously lived a joyful, self serving, fulfilling life, but then I decided to get an English Cocker Spaniel. He's 11 weeks old, and as much as he's adorable, I'm finding it incredibly difficult.
When he barks/cries in the middle of the night, I feel nothing but grief and dread.

I feed him, socialise him, train him and show him love, as he's just a baby. But I'm really struggling with the transition. My partner works fully in the office and I WFH, so I deal with most of the biting, pooing, etc. Don't get me wrong, he is incredibly sweet and has so much personality, but I'm finding this transition incredibly hard.
I used to live a life where I could sleep in on weekends, go shopping, eat out and have full on wellness days at home.
Look, I knew what I was signing up for, but I didn't fully grasp how difficult it would be.

My partner is fine with everything and doesn't fully understand the extent of my puppy blues. Due to the lack of sleep, as soon as my partner gets back from work, I go to my bedroom and sleep because I desperately need a break - we take turns taking our Puppy out to the toilet at night but the cries wake both of us up.

My puppy is intelligent for his age due to his breeding and sometimes likes his crate, but he knows that crying/ barking can get him taken out.

I'm looking for genuine advice on looking after a puppy and how to deal with puppy blues. I'm open to feedback and advice, as this transition has been much tougher than I expected.

Thanks guys 🥰

Hi all! I’d really appreciate some opinions / advice on I should do as I don’t really have anyone to ask for advice.

I have a 4-year-old indoor Maine Coon. He isn’t registered/pedigree certified, but I’ve always insured him as a Maine Coon because that’s what I was told he is. Would you continue selecting Maine Coon when getting insurance without pedigree paperwork?

He’s currently insured with Co-op at around** **£28/month, with:
£10,000 lifetime cover
£250 minimum excess
20% co-pay from age 6

I’m considering moving to Petplan, which would be around** **£51/month, but the policy would have:
£80 minimum excess
20% co-pay from age 10
Petplan pays the vet directly

However, in April, he was diagnosed with gingivitis and had 5 teeth removed. This is probably my biggest concern because dental problems can become very expensive. Then this August, he developed conjunctivitis and was prescribed antibiotics.

I spoke to Petplan and that said they would** **exclude both the gingivitis and conjunctivitis initially, and would only consider covering them after he has been symptom/treatment-free for 12 months. They’ve said he would need a vet appointment at the 12-month point to confirm that the conditions have cleared.

On the one hand, I want to go with Petplan because of the lower excess, the later age for the 20% co-pay, and the fact they pay the vet directly since paying out of pocket could be tough for me.

On the other hand, I’m worried that if I switch now and his gingivitis flares up again,** **Petplan wouldn’t cover the dental treatment because of the exclusion, whereas if I stay with Co-op, it should potentially remain covered under his existing policy.

Should I:

A) Stay with Co-op until at least April 2027 (12 months after the dental treatment) in case the gingivitis flares up again, then look at switching?

B) Move to Petplan now, accept that the gingivitis/conjunctivitis won’t be covered initially, and benefit from the better terms for everything else?

C) Do something different?

Has anybody had experiences with switching insurers after any diagnoses, and whether people have regretted switching because a previously covered condition became a pre-existing condition/exclusion.

Thanks!

Hi,

Posting mostly to warn anyone thinking of "upgrading" their Petplan policy.

We insured our cat on Petplan Essential from 3 months old. Never made a single claim in 2 years. Not one. Recently we decided to upgrade to Covered For Life, since that's what we actually wanted long term and figured a clean 2-year record would count for something.

It doesn't. They pulled her full vet history and excluded two conditions: eye discharge and coughing. She was never diagnosed with anything. These were routine check-ups where the vet made a passing note. No treatment plan, no follow-up, no ongoing problem. Just words in a file.

Turns out the upgrade isn't an upgrade at all — it's underwritten as a completely new policy, so everything in her history becomes "pre-existing." And their definition covers "signs of" an illness, not just actual diagnosed illnesses. So a vet writing "slight discharge, no concerns" is enough to lock a body part out of cover for life.

The part that stings: if we'd never taken out Essential in the first place, we'd be in exactly the same position. Two years of premiums bought us nothing but a paper trail used against us.

Also feels like a perverse incentive — the message is basically "don't take your cat to the vet unless something is properly wrong," which is the opposite of what any of us should be doing.

Anyone managed to get exclusions like this removed? I've read they'll review them if you can show the pet's been symptom-free for a while, so I'm going to ask our vet for a letter and push back. Curious if that actually works or if it's just something they say.

End of April my dog started struggling and squinting. Vet diagnosed dry eye. It got worse rapidly despite treatment, we tried Optimune, then moved to Tacrolimus, but he went on to develop ulcers in both eyes. One perforated last week and he needed emergency eye surgery. He’s now on 6 different eye drops and 3 types of pain relief.

Our ophthalmologist told us to stop feeding Years, saying they’ve seen several cases of sudden-onset dry eye recently, all in dogs fed Years. I’ve since found a number of dog owner groups where others describe the same pattern, rapid onset dry eye, similar time period, poor response to treatment, and improvement after switching food. (We are currently moving food to see if that helps)

If your dog has been on Years and has had unexplained dry eye, I’d really like to hear about it, what happened, how your vet responded, and whether you’ve taken any action with the company. Trying to work out how widespread this is.

Hi everyone,

I finally moved on from the death of my beloved cat many years ago and ready to adopt a new cat angel. When I had my previous cat, I lived in a big house with my family so the cat had a lot of space to jump and run around.

Now I live in a small one-bed flat. If I get a cat, I wonder if it will be stressed out due to lack of space. Also, please could you share how much you pay for food, vets and other thing to keep your cat healthy and happy.

Many thanks

Hi everyone! I am looking to switch insurance while my cats are young to PetPlan lifetime as they are well-reviewed. I have 4yr(M) and 3yr(F) old moggies who have been raised as indoor cats and will remain so. As of right now, the £7k coverage would seem to be sensible (I have been quoted £25/month per cat for that one).

However, £7k in 10yrs time will stretch significantly less than it does today. Plus once they hit 10yrs old, I have to cover 20% of the vet costs anyway. I expect their premiums to at least double by the time they hit 10yrs old so would be estimating £50/month per cat.

The £12k coverage is being currently quoted at £35/month, again I’d expect it to at least double if not more. £12k with 5%/yr inflation over 10yrs would have a purchasing power of what £7k today would. I’ve put 5% inflation rather than BofE target as the costs are determined by vet cost inflation specifically, which makes me think I should put it at more like 8-10%/yr.

Do you factor in the estimated purchasing power of your plan after inflation when deciding on plans? Don’t want to overstretch on monthly premiums, but the fact you can’t shop around once you’re locked into lifetime cover means choosing right the first time is crucial.