experienced

AN experienced vet has revealed the 10 signs that indicate your beloved pooch could have gut problems.

A quiz has been created for pet owners who might not feel confident when it comes to their dog or cat’s gut health – something which can have a huge impact on their overall wellbeing.

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Questions about their appetite and even stools will help to determine whether their diet needs a review, if a check-up with the vet is required or if their gut health means they’re full of life.

It comes after veterinary adviser at Protexin, Ronan Fitzgerald revealed your pet licking their lips, arching their back or being reluctant to move or jump up on furniture could be signs of tummy troubles.

Holding their bum in the air for long periods of time, drooling and pushing their food bowl away with their nose are also indications they could be experiencing issues.

A tender or gurgling tum and them not enjoying a belly rub can be another key indicator of problems with the gut as it can mean they’re experiencing abdominal discomfort.

While excessive flatulence and even blood in their stools could be signs they need a check-up at the vets.

This comes after a study of 2,000 pet owners found only 19 per cent feel confident in identifying if their pet is suffering with gut health problems.

A spokesperson for Protexin, which commissioned the research, said: “Many people believe they know their pets inside out – including how they feel.

“But while we may recognise several behaviours or symptoms as being linked to the gut, some aren’t as clear, such as excess lip-licking which can be linked to intestinal issues.

“Understanding and recognising the signs of good and poor gut health in pets is really important as this can have an impact on whole body health, helping our pets to feel full of life when the gut is working as it should.”

Ronan explained if your dog or cat adopts an abnormal stance like the ‘prayer position’ – front legs extended, chest on the ground and backside in the air – it could be worth a visit to the vets.

The research also found just 24 per cent of owners actively monitor their pet’s digestive health on a daily basis.

But a third (34 per cent) of dogs and cats display some signs of potential digestive issues a few times a year.

As a result, six in 10 (59 per cent) have changed their pet’s diet after noticing a digestive issue, while 53 per cent have gone to a vet specifically for this issue.

The typical owner spends as much as £426 each year, purely on keeping their pet healthy, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

Ronan said: “If your pet is showing signs of digestive discomfort there are a few things you can do.

10 SIGNS YOUR DOG COULD BE EXPERIENCING GUT PROBLEMS

1. Lip licking
2. Adopting a prayer-like stance (front legs extended and chest on the ground while their bum is in the air)
3. Drooling
4. Reluctancy to jump up on furniture
5. Vomiting or nausea
6. Not enjoying belly rubs
7. Gulping
8. Excessive flatulence
9. Diarrhoea
10. Blood in their stools

“Try to think about when the symptoms started and how severe they seem.

“Sometimes it helps to keep notes to see if there is a pattern, for example, are they feeling unwell or acting strangely at mealtimes?

“If your pet has a stomach upset for a day or two it may be that they’ve eaten something when out on a walk or hunting that’s not agreed with them and this will settle.

“But if you find your pet is experiencing ongoing, regular issues with their gut, or its health seems to worsen quickly and markedly, it’s worth visiting a vet for a full check-up.

“They will be able to recommend possible changes to your pet’s diet or even the introduction of a gut-health supplement.”

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Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova – who is partnered with rugby player Chris Robshaw – has spoken out about celebrity contestants with prior dance experience

Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova has said that it’s “really sad” to see celebrities with no dance experience leave the competition early, adding that it “helps a lot” if they’ve danced before.

The 36-year-old is currently partnered on Strictly with rugby union player Chris Robshaw, with the pair on the lower end of the scoreboard after their first two dances. Last year, Nadiya was paired up with Olympic diver Tom Dean, who was the first star to be eliminated on the 2024 series.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s results show, Nadiya said that Strictly is for “people who have never danced”. She told The Sun: “We often don’t see it because people who don’t have experience would sometimes leave the show earlier, which is really sad as there’s so much talent.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood slips during dance as viewers ‘cringe’ at awkward momentREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing chaos as Stefan Dennis falls and Dianne Buswell catches him

“It’s nice for the audience to see that it’s possible to learn, but you do need to put in the work, which Chris is doing every day.” She added that that doesn’t apply only to Chris but any contestant who doesn’t have “performance experience”.

She continued: “When you’re trained to be in the moment, to tell the story, you know how to show something — that helps a lot.” As for how Chris is finding the experience, Nadiya said that he’s absorbing all the information and needs a few more weeks to get to a comfortable level of performing which “you can’t get overnight”.

It comes after West End performer Amber Davies topped the scoreboard in last night’s show after wowing the judges with her Samba to Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran’s Bam Bam. The judges awarded her a score of 29, giving her a one-point lead when combined with the 27 she received for her Waltz last weekend.

Just behind her on the scoreboard is Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope – who also has dance experience – after his high-scoring Viennese waltz to Teddy Swims’ Lose Control. Meanwhile, TikTok star and surprise frontrunner George Clarke is in third place after scoring a 30 for his Paso dobe to Game of Survival by Ruelle.

Chris Robshaw’s wife Camilla Kerslake took to social media earlier this week to brand letting those with dance experience compete as “unfair”. Love Island winner Amber Gill posted on social media her “unpopular opinion”, writing: ” I think having people with so much dance experience is unfair.”

Camilla then responded by commenting: “The experience differences are absolutely wild. Definitely.”

After the first live show, she praised her rugby star husband on Instagram, writing: “Proud forever. Up against people with years of experience when you’ve never even done a 2 step, opening the whole season and starting with one of the hardest dances going.

“They tested you HARD. You and [Nadiya] blew me, and the crowd away. Definitely some lessons for next week but you were absolutely astonishing. I couldn’t hold it together at all. We love you [Chris]. Team #SeeQuins. Let’s GOOOOOO #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing. Slide 5 of my first time meeting [Vicky Pattison] is something special.”

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