It DOES look as though we are nearing the end of the coronavirus lockdown, and everyone will be able to go for long dog walks again. This may well be the first chance you have to visit other areas with your pet, if they are a lockdown puppy.

Do remember that, for many pups, life has been unusual in that they were unable to socialise with other dogs and humans, so it may well be a stressful time for them.

We all assume our pets are happy because we care for them and keep them healthy, but often little changes in the home environment which we take for granted can be a major change for your pet, resulting in some degree of stress.

If you do not spot this quickly, behavioural changes can occur which can take a long time to correct. Not all animals are the same; some cats and dogs enjoy noise and excitement, but to others this would be very stressful.

Others like peace and quiet – but to some, being left quiet and alone is stressful.

I think most of us are aware that sudden, unusual noises can frighten pets; for example, thunderstorms and fireworks. These are sounds which are strange to your pet and can result in a great deal of stress.

In a recent survey carried out by the PDSA, 73 per cent of owners said their pet was scared of fireworks. The main signs the owners reported were cowering and hiding, trembling and shaking, disinterest in food and barking.

Pets left alone either at home or in a cattery or kennel, which are unusual occurrences, can result in severe stress, as the pet feels abandoned by their family.

Bringing in a new pet or moving home can also feel terrifying for a pet which is used to constancy. Sometimes the dynamics of the pets within a home can change and one or more pet can feel threatened.

At Dunedin Vets, at the beginning of lockdown, we saw many problems, especially with cats who were not used to their owners being at home all the time.

Cats are notoriously sensitive to change. They may hide their stress but it can manifest in other ways.

This can include bladder problems and over-grooming and itching.

Please contact your vet for advice if you feel your pet requires some help to overcome their stress-related problems.

It is wonderful to be out and about in the spring sunshine, albeit it is a bit chilly at the moment.

Remember, there are a few hazards to avoid when walking your dog.

Do not throw sticks for them to catch or retrieve. These can cause terrible injuries if the dog runs onto them and injuries occur in their mouth or, as I have seen, penetrate their skin and damage structures in their necks.

Last month, we mentioned the collie dog who was chasing his ball and accidentally swallowed it.

Recently, our senior veterinary nurse Nicole saw a young couple rush to the front door of our Tranent surgery, carrying their dog. The owners were obviously very distressed, so Nicole spoke with them and discovered that they were sure Loki, their three-year-old cockapoo, had tried to swallow the bouncy ball toy he had been playing with.

Mrs Pamela Masson explained it was a hard rubber ball with rubber spikes on it.

Nicole could hear Loki making strange noises when breathing; she checked he was able to breathe and called the vet to examine Loki. Gently opening his mouth, they could just glimpse something blue at the back of his mouth.

Nicole had previously been involved in dealing with a dog which had choked on a ball. She knew this dog was somehow managing to breathe, unlike the previous one she had dealt with, which was unable to breathe and had been rapidly turning blue.

She reassured the owners and admitted Loki for treatment to extract the ball. As choking animals are very distressed, they are likely to panic and bite, although Loki was remaining remarkably calm. The team prepared short-acting intravenous anaesthetic and several pairs of different-sized forceps to help extract the ball. Once a catheter was placed in Loki’s leg vein, everything had to be performed rapidly as soon as the anaesthetic injection was administered, to prevent the ball falling further into Loki’s larynx or dropping into the oesophagus. With Nicole supporting his head and a light being shone into the mouth, the blue spiky ball was seen. Grasping it with forceps, and with some tension and rotation, the vet extracted the offending ball from Loki’s throat.

The ball had a central hole, or tunnel, running through it. This was the reason Loki was able to breathe, albeit in a laboured, noisy fashion.

The ball had lodged with its central tunnel in line with Loki’s mouth and larynx. The rubber spikes caused a bit of damage to the soft areas around his larynx, but these would soon heal. Loki recovered quickly from his short-acting anaesthetic and was soon heading home with his parents.

It is great to play ball with your dog but make sure you

do play with a ball large enough that your dog cannot swallow or choke.

If you are playing with a solid rubber ball, please ensure it does have a central hole right through it.

This was undoubtedly the reason why Loki was able to breathe.

It also makes it much easier for the vet to remove, as there is something to grab onto. A smooth rubber ball completely stuck in the throat is surprisingly difficult to grasp and remove.

I think Loki will be playing with footballs from now on.