HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.
Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.
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He says: “If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”
Q) I HAVE an eight-year-old female cat, Fluffles, and for the past 12 months have had a problem with her spraying in the house.
It used to be only on plastic bags but now it’s the furniture, curtains, toaster and cooker, which can be very unpleasant.
There has been no change in circumstances or no new animals in the household.
I have tried Feliway plug-ins and spray but they have not worked.
Christina Williams, Swansea
A) Did anything happen to Fluffles a year ago for this to have suddenly started?
Does she have litter trays in the house?
If not and she’s intimidated outside she may have developed a preference to go indoors.
A year in, it’s a hard habit to break. Another cat outside may be intimidating her.
Feliway is only an aid, not a solution here, but worth keeping on, as it may ease anxiety.
Have you had her urine tested at the vets? If she has an infection, that may prompt her to go.
A vet appointment will help to get to the bottom of it and figure out a plan.
Q) MY four-month-old Yorkshire terrier, Lily, gets really upset when I leave her.
She has food, water, a bed and toys.
I leave her in the kitchen with her crate open but she cries, barks and whines.
I have a camera so I can see what she’s doing. I’m only gone for 30 minutes to an hour.
Lesley Reeve, Bridlington, East Yorks
A) You need to start back at basics for Lily’s separation anxiety, leaving her without your attention for short periods, then not being in the same room, then not being in the house for seconds, then minutes.
Walk out and back in, ignoring any crying or attention-seeking behaviour until she is calm and her focus is on something else when you return.
There are resources online about this from the Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, RSPCA and PDSA. Otherwise, see a qualified animal behaviourist.
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Q) RIO, my Russian dwarf hamster, is having problems with his eyes.
One is really swollen and the other will only open when I bathe it.
His health has deteriorated this week, he’s storing his food in his cheeks and is breathing heavily.
Lee Armstrong, by email
A) In the wild, if a hamster acted strangely or unwell, they would quickly get noticed and eaten by a predator.
So if you see signs of illness and deterioration over time it’s bad news, I’m afraid.
A vet visit is needed, even just to ease his suffering if there’s no hope or he’s too old to treat. It’s unfair to let him linger.
Q) A YEAR ago our daughter befriended Lola, a small cat.
It was always sitting in her porch so she started feeding it.
A neighbour said she was a stray, another said she had been attacked by a fox.
Lola doesn’t go out or make any sound, she just sits staring at the wall.
She eats and drinks OK and snuggles up to my daughter.
But she looks traumatised and has a bone sticking out of her neck, has started to lose weight and her fur looks thinner
We can’t take her to the PDSA because there is an issue over ownership.
Cecilia Taylor Little Hulton, Gtr Manchester
A) With such an unknown history I’d only be guessing at what might be wrong with her but sudden weight loss is always a worry for me.
She needs a vet visit, and while I appreciate there may be issues getting PDSA treatment, whoever is caring for Lola needs to find a way to get her at least a first vet consultation.
If finances are an issue your vet will work within your budget to help her. I promise.
Star of the week
HARRY KANE the terrier loves meeting celebs such as the footie star he is named after.
The Jack Russell cross lives with Sun on Sunday writer Nick McGrath and joins him when Nick interviews celebs.
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He once chewed a hole in a £2,000 Louis Vuitton handbag owned by actress Felicity Kendal – and ran off with a pair of Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli’s underpants.
Nick, 50, from Walthamstow, East London, said: “Everywhere Harry goes, people fall in love with him.
“He is spectacularly friendly with humans and loves rolling on his back to get belly rubs.
“He’s been offered modelling work but we’re waiting for the right opportunity!”
Follow Harry at instagram.com/whenharrykane9met.
Win: Break with dog
TREAT your pup to a two-night mini-break worth £500 at Hilton and Double Tree hotels (explore.hilton.com).
Rooms have dog beds and your pooch can enjoy Beef Doguignon, Mutt Roast, Earl Greyhound and Tailwagger Creek from the Bone Apetit menu.
To enter, send an email with HILTON in the title to [email protected] by September 12.
T&Cs apply.
Lockdown bunnies don’t bring much fun
RABBITS have topped a poll of the pets people most regret getting in lockdown.
Research by Petplan found 26 per cent of people wish they hadn’t welcomed a pet in the pandemic and a huge 42 per cent of rabbit owners had regrets, with 17 per cent saying they underestimated the cost and 15 per cent anxious about potential health problems.
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Many owners chose rabbits as they look cute but bunnies produce up to 300 poo pellets a day, and don’t like being picked up.
They also need lots of space to run, and without this will become depressed.
Animal welfare experts are urging owners to ensure the creatures get enough exercise, plus toys to keep them entertained.
Animal behaviourist Sarah-Jane White explains: “Rabbits aren’t as low maintenance as people think and children can often become bored with them once the novelty wears off.
“They need time out of their hutch every day. They like to dig so providing them with a specific dig box is a great way for them to get the exercise they need.”
The poll found 46 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 regretted getting a pet, followed by 32 per cent aged 35 to 54 and 12 per cent of over-55s.
TikTok slammed by rescue animal charity for ‘glorifying baby monkeys as pets’ with lollipop and tap drinking videos
