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) MY cat Purdy has lost her voice. She is 20 years old, eats well, and is a good weight.
She still purrs but doesn’t make any other noises. Should I worry?
Brian Peterson, Aberdeen
Sean says: This may be nothing to worry about but at Purdy’s age I’d feel much more comfortable giving her a thorough health check, particularly examining her mouth and throat, as well as the various glands in her neck.
Get her checked out by your local vet. Dental disease is common in older cats and can cause a sore throat, which usually results in a raspy or hoarse miaow rather than completely losing their voice.
She’s maintaining her weight which is good. If you’d said she was losing weight I might have considered an overactive thyroid which can sometimes lead to laryngitis.
If her vaccinations are not up to date there is also the possibility of a viral infection.
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I know it can be daunting bringing an elderly pet to the vet for fear of hearing bad news, but there’s plenty we can still do to help a 20-year-old cat.
Q) OUR cockapoo Bailey is mental. No matter how many walks he has (he’s a year old) he’s still getting up to all sorts of mischief as soon as I turn my back.
Should I get him a treadmill and stick him on it? He gets two hour-long walks a day.
Janet March, Taunton,Somerset
Sean says: People often underestimate cockapoos but let’s think about the breeds that go into them.
Cocker spaniels are really a working breed, designed to be quite active and outdoors a lot.
As for poodles, they are some of the smartest dogs out there.
Combine the two and of course you’ve got this bundle of energy that is active, smart and needs constant attention and stimulation.
Certainly not the ideal breed mix for a lot of people or lifestyles.
Walks each day are just a part of keeping dogs happy. They also need mental stimulation and interaction as a highly social species.
Does Bailey have any doggy friends he can have over, or visit their homes on a mutual benefit basis?
Playing with other dogs is a great way to occupy him. You should also be training him, practising several times per day.
Finally, think about how you feed him. Dogs didn’t evolve to have two square meals a day handed to them in a bowl. They were designed to really work for it.
So try scatter feeding – hide his food around the house and garden so he can master scent work and use puzzle feeders too to tire out his whirring little mind.
Got a question for Sean?
Q) I AM thinking about getting two rescue rabbits for my children after reading that loads of them have been abandoned.
What’s the best way to go about this and what do you recommend I provide for them? I’m looking for them to be outdoor pets.
Sharon Knight, Manchester
Sean says: Rabbits don’t make the best pets for young children under about eight or nine years.
They can be standoffish, difficult to handle and nervous of small children who may not understand how to move and talk gently with them.
Guinea pigs are easier to handle and take care of. But if you are set on rabbits, a pair is definitely best, never one alone, as they are a really social species and need the company of their own kind.
Speak with some local rescue organisations and remember they can be a ten to 12 year commitment. I highly recommend the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) at rabbitwelfare.co.uk for your research.
Star of the week
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BAMBI the pig is attending school summer clubs to teach kids life skills – and she oinks with happiness when she’s given a scratch.
Miniature pig breeding business Kew Little Pigs takes the five-month-old to teach children empathy, teamwork and boost confidence.
Owner Olivia Mikhail, 40, who keeps Bambi as a pet as well as using her for therapy and teaching, said: “Studies show that early interactions with animals can help boost children’s wellbeing, and help with empathy, confi-dence and teamwork.
“Bambi is a special pig, she is so calm but very vocal and loves to have a chat and scratch.”
WIN: Henry pet vacuum cleaner
WE’VE joined forces with Henry to offer two readers the chance to win a Henry pet vacuum cleaner worth £179.99.
It’s ideal for homes with pets where dirt can be tough to remove.
The vacuum comes with pet-friendly features to remove stubborn hair and odours, and keep your home fresh.
To enter, send an email headed HENRY to [email protected] by August 27.
See https://myhenry.com. T&Cs apply.
Bath’s mutterly perfect for dogs
BATH has been named as the UK’s most dog-friendly destination, according to a new survey.
Luxury pet specialists Lords and Labradors surveyed 2,000 owners and compared 45 places based on the highest number of local walking routes, dog- friendly pubs, accommodation, vets, pet shops, and average weather.
Bath was top dog with 56 pup-friendly pubs, 20 dog-friendly B&Bs and hotels, and a higher than national average dry days.
The other spots in the top five were Lincoln, Whitby, Bakewell and Southwold.
One in eight said they never holiday abroad without their dog as they’d feel “too guilty”.
On average, owners are willing to fork out an extra £50 per night to bring their dogs along.
Staycation priorities are: plenty of places to walk, dog-friendly pubs in the local area, dog-friendly accommodation and dog-friendly restaurants.
Johanna Buitelaar Warden, founder of Lords and Labradors, said: “There is an abundance of choice when it comes to getting out and about and exploring our beautiful country.”
For tips on a happy holiday with your dog, visit https://bit.ly/47q15bm.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
