Common Questions

This is very common in puppies of all breeds. By trying to brush the puppy off you will be giving it the thing it craves most, attention. This behavior is best counteracted by completely ignoring the puppy, just walk slowly away trying not to react to it at all. No contact, therefore denying it what it seeks. When the pup is calm and quiet you should praise and lavish with attention, instantly stopping and repeating the ignoring procedure if it starts biting again. Puppy will soon learn that in order to get attention it must not bite or mouth you. Be consistent in this and remember that all members of the family must follow this routine.

Huskies normally moult in two stages, firstly the soft undercoat is shed, and this is when you normally see the clumps of hair falling out. When the new undercoat is coming through the guard hairs will then be replaced. If there is any sign of redness or excessive flaking or sores in the skin, this is not normal and should be checked by a vet.

Normally dogs do this to relieve irritated anal glands, it is advisable to visit your vet to have the glands emptied, as impacted glands may abscess.

My dog sometimes vomits bile first thing in the morning, is this normal? Some dogs vomit bile if the stomach is empty, giving the dog a dog biscuit first thing in the morning may help, if not contact your vet.

This could be caused by zinc responsive dermatosis (zinc deficiency). This is a fairly common problem in Siberians, take your dog to see your vet and advise him that this is a common problem in the breed, he will also rule out other possible causes e.g. skin infection, mange etc.

It is normal for Siberian Huskies to have blue eyes, where the iris is blue and the pupil is black as normal. If the full surface of the eye is blue and the pupil is not easily distinguished, take the dog to your vet.

She may be experiencing a false pregnancy; this is a normal part of the bitch’s reproductive cycle. Bitches sometimes produce milk so it may be worthwhile visiting your vet to check for signs of mastitis.

It is easy to see in a pale coated dog, but more difficult in a dark dog. First check through the coat, all over the body, looking close to the skin. The fleas are sometimes visible but more often the flea dirt is found. Flea dirt is gritty and looks a bit like coal dust. Take a damp white tissue and comb on some of the dirt. If it is flea dirt it will disperse into the tissue in a reddy brown stain. This is the digested blood that the flea has fed on.

Only the adult flea is found on the dog. The rest of the life cycle (eggs, larvae and juveniles) are found in the environment, e.g. dogs bedding, carpets etc. To get rid of the fleas, both the dog and the environment need to be treated effectively, you must also treat any other pets in the household, being careful to use only products which are safe for that species. Modern flea treatments are usually very effective, sometimes giving protection for up to two to three months with one treatment.

Yes, in the UK by law all dogs must wear a collar and identification tag, with the owner’s address on it, even if they are micro-chipped or tattooed.

Aspirin can be used in dogs in the correct dosage, however incorrect dosing and long-term use can cause gastric ulceration, renal failure and chronic anaemia. Other human drugs e.g. Brufen (Ibuprofen) are more toxic and can prove fatal within hours. A wide range of licensed veterinary drugs is available for short or long term use, so consult your vet.