Affecting 10% of all dogs, it’s the commonest cause of itchiness. CAD is caused by a genetic predisposition to, most commonly, environmental allergens, although food and fleas may also confuse matters & play a part. Essentially there is a fault in the T-cells of the patients’ immune system causing them to produce (IgE) antibodies to things they shouldn’t, which leads to scratching and secondary infections.

Epilepsy is a condition that results in a dog having episodes of impaired consciousness (seizures). It affects 0.75% of dogs and is challenging to treat.

Separation Anxiety is defined as distress in the absence of an attachment figure (typically the owner), which affects up to 20% of the dog population.

A lack of tears - it occurs when abnormalities in the quantity (or quality) of the tear production results in the window at the front of the eye (the cornea) and the layer of protective cells covering it (the conjunctiva) suffering damage.

The gestation period for bitches averages 63 days (+/- a few days) if calculated from the first mating.