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. 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.”
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Q) OUR bearded dragon Burt loves watermelon in this hot weather – but should I restrict it?
What other treats would you recommend for variety?
Pete Edwards, Whitstable
A) Ideally, you’d want to limit the amount of fruit you give to Bearded Dragons, maybe a small amount a day or two a week.
Not only can it cause obesity but the sugar it contains can be bad for its teeth.
Beardies have fixed teeth which they retain all their lives, unlike many other reptiles that shed and regrow their teeth.
For this reason lots of sugary foods can lead to tooth decay and loss, and bony infections in the jaw.
So stick to his usual diet of insects, fresh colourful vegetables and greens, saving the watermelon for a tiny treat.
Q) I HAVE a 20-month-old Labrador cross rescue dog called Iskie.
Got a question for Sean?
She was spayed in February and was sent home bleeding from the wound which the vet assured us was OK.
Ten days later she was rushed back to the vet as the stitches had torn inside and she underwent further surgery.
Then she developed a hernia in June which again required major surgery.
She has now developed another hernia.
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How often can she have major surgery and why has the hernia happened again?
It is at the bottom of the previous scar which is on her belly.
Tina Noyce, Yateley, Hants
A) Spays are usually a very safe and worthwhile surgery so you’ve unfortunately had some bad luck.
Once there is scar tissue at the wound site, healing will tend to be more difficult or take longer.
Technically there’s no limit to how many times you can do surgery on a healthy dog. I do wonder if Iskie may have an underlying problem, with blood clotting or healing.
The hernia has happened again because the incision hasn’t healed properly, and any exertion can mean it breaks down and opens up.
I’d speak to your vet about options and running bloods before considering surgery.
If you go for it again she’ll need strict rest for an extended period to allow it to knit back together.
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Q) IS it possible for a cat to groom themselves too much?
My four-year-old cat Bob seems to do it constantly.
Is he vain or could there be something else going on?
Harri Doughty, Chester
A) Over-grooming can be a sign something is wrong.
If the skin is inflamed, scabby, itchy or irritated then an underlying medical condition could be responsible.
Fleas can similarly cause over-grooming so check for flea dirt by brushing on to wet tissue paper.
Flea dirt will ‘bleed’ into the paper. Make sure his flea treatment is up to date.
The other common reason for cats to over-groom is stress or anxiety.
It may be that something outside or at home, including other cats, is stressing him and he’s grooming as a comfort behaviour.
If you’re worried, he’s losing his hair or seems distressed, then take him to a vet.
Q) MY three-year-old husky/German Shepherd mix Apollo has changed since my other dog died.
Every time I take him out he gets very scared of mobility scooters, people with hi-vis vests on and people with ladders.
I had another dog who was terrified of everything and I had to have her put to sleep last July.
He has been like this since then.
He is such a friendly dog, he’s loved by everyone. I would very much appreciate any advice.
Jill Davies, Birmingham
A) Sorry for your loss, that’s not easy on you or Apollo.
This is a case for a qualified animal behaviourist to see what’s happening and to assess how you’re managing it.
I’d recommend finding a good behaviourist via the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
Star of the week
MAX the surfing Cocker Spaniel will be making a splash this weekend.
The current UK Dog Surfing Champion adores doggy paddle- boarding, canoeing and riding the waves.
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Owner Dan Taylor, 36, from Bournemouth said: “Max loves surfing, canoeing and paddle- boarding. Everyone loves to watch him as his enthusiasm is infectious.
“When I get the boards out his tail starts going like the clappers. He’s the ultimate surfer dog.”
Max is the reigning champ of the Dog Masters Festival run by surf school, Shaka Surf Branksome. Spokesman Mark Reeves said: “You see dogs in Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses surfing – what more could you ask for?”
WIN: £300 voucher
FANCY a perfect dog- friendly break or tea at a Cat Café?
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Skin cancer risk for pale cats
CATS Protection has warned that pale-coloured pets are at risk of developing skin cancer in the hot weather.
Dibbs and Gorgonzola were recently brought into adoption centres with severely sunburnt ear tips that had turned cancerous and needed to be removed.
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Both have now found loving homes.
Sarah Elliott, central veterinary officer for the charity, said: “White and pale-coloured cats don’t have a pigment called melanin in their skin, which is what protects humans from sunlight.
“This can leave them vulnerable to sun damage, usually around the ears.
“Over time, damage caused by ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of skin damage and cancer.
“Cats with unpigmented noses or ears are also more susceptible to sun damage and require additional protection.”
Cats Protection recommends keeping pale-coloured pets indoors when the sun is at its hottest – typically between 10am and 4pm, and to speak to your vet about pet safe sunscreen, provide easy access to fresh water and ensure there is plenty of shade.
Dibbs’s new owner Jordan Holmes, 22, from Derby, said: “His little face with no ears made my heart break but I knew he would be just as wonderful as any other cat underneath.”
Four-year-old Gorgonzola’s new owner, Helen Gibbons, 33, from York, said: “As soon as I saw his picture on the Cats Protection website, I knew I was taking him home.”
