HE is on a mission to assist our pets . . . and is right here to reply YOUR questions.
Sean, who’s the top vet at tailor-made pet meals agency tails.com, has helped with house 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.”
Q) I WANT to decorate up my cat Starsky and canine Hutch in Halloween outfits to make my niece and nephews pleased.
Hutch, my dachshund, is up for something and likes to often play gown up with the children.
How can I get Starsky to agree?
SHEREE COX, Sevenoaks, Kent
Sean says: Dressing up any pets can typically be tough, definitely some don’t are inclined to get pleasure from it whereas others appear to love the eye it brings.
But cats are a little bit of a special story to dogs.
You would possibly get away with a neckerchief or one thing, however a full-on costume is one other recreation solely.
I believe if Starsky objects in any respect to it, it may be a superb alternative to show your niece and nephew that there are a lot of methods to maintain our pets pleased, and that Starsky simply isn’t into taking part in dress-up and that’s OK.
Q) I HAVE learn there’s a new illness referred to as Brucella Canis within the UK and it will probably move to people.
How frightened do I must be about my rescue Spaniel Lily, who’s 5?
MAGGIE GRAY, Colchester
Sean says: It’s a illness that’s on the rise not too long ago resulting from massive numbers of dogs being imported to the UK for rehoming, the bulk from Romania.
And you might be right, it may be transmitted from dogs to people, however primarily by contact with birthing secretions and the like.
So except you might be breeding imported dogs and serving to them give start, your probabilities of contracting Brucellosis out of your canine is basically fairly low.
Lily, if neutered, must be simply high quality, but when she was an imported rescue canine it could be value checking her well being data and ensuring she was examined for B.canis an infection on the time of coming to the UK.
Q) WITH the recent sizzling climate I’m involved about algae once I take Dave, my Lab-cross, for a walk by water.
What do I have to look out for and why is it so harmful?
PETER THOMAS, Bournemouth
Sean says: Not all algae is dangerous for dogs, it’s the blue-green algae often known as cyanobacteria that’s typically poisonous.
This varieties in clumps or a scum on the floor of the water, and is brilliant inexperienced or blue in color.
Occasionally it will probably type a foam on the water’s edge, and also you have a tendency to seek out it most in nonetheless water across the shallow margins, particularly in sizzling climate when it actually blooms and could be fairly in depth.
It’s essential to maintain dogs on a lead and out of the water in the event you suspect blue-green algae is current.
And search vet recommendation instantly in the event you suppose your canine has swallowed water containing any.
Q) OUR Staffie Woody suffers from wind. He’s a humiliation – like a four-legged Whoopee cushion!
Do you suppose probiotics would possibly assist?
HELEN MAITLAND, Bexley, Kent
As a breed, Staffies (and Weimaraners and French Bulldogs) are proper up there within the flatulence corridor of disgrace.
We have surveyed clients to seek out out.
But fortunately there are issues we will do to assist, from eliminating widespread substances that may trigger digestive intolerances or dietary allergic reactions, by to adjusting fibre ranges, offering helpful prebiotics for a wholesome intestine microbiome and supplementing our dogs’ intestine flora with wholesome probiotics.
Our buyer expertise group can be pleased to see what we will do. Email them on hi [email protected].
Star of the week
A REAL-life Bagpuss, regarded as the oldest rescue in Britain, is in search of a brand new home.
Golden oldie Ginger is the equal of 92 years old (19 in cat years) and was handed in to the RSPCA’s Manchester and Salford Branch after her final proprietor turned unwell.
A spokesperson mentioned: “She will sleep for lots of the afternoon, then round tea time she’s going to get up once more and begin asking for laps and meals.
“We try to ensure a happy ending for every animal that comes into our care, young or old.”
To discover out extra e-mail [email protected]
WIN: Kovered bag
WE’VE acquired your getaway Kovered – with two baggage, every value £125, to offer away.
Sustainable bag model Kovered’s Humber holdall in moss inexperienced, heritage waxed canvas, is good for a weekend break together with your pooch.
For your probability to win one of many baggage ship an e-mail headed KOVERED to [email protected] by Oct 15.
See Kovered.co.uk. T&Cs apply.
PAIN REASON THAT PETS BEHAVE BADLY
“UNWANTED behaviours” is the shock prime reason for loss of life in dogs beneath three years old.
New analysis has discovered that dogs have been put to sleep resulting from undesirable behaviours, together with biting and aggression, in addition to those that died prematurely due to accidents attributed to “poor training”.
But veterinary behaviourist, Sophie White, working with Agria Pet Insurance, has urged house owners if their canine is behaving badly, to first get them checked out by a vet, as a result of ache could possibly be the trigger.
Sophie mentioned: “Up to 80 per cent of all referred behaviour instances are believed to have a supply of underlying ache – a stunning statistic that doesn’t take into consideration pets that don’t attain the referral stage.
“This knowledge leads us to ask – how lots of the nation’s dogs being euthanised resulting from their behaviour, are in truth, in ache?
“If our dogs are feeling unwell or in ache, their temper and tolerances will likely be altered because of this.
“With patience, persistence, and the right professional guidance, it is possible to modify a dog’s behaviour and create a safe and happy household.”
For extra data see agriapet.co.uk.
