From dogs with travel illness a picky bunny – your animal inquiries addressed

HE is on an objective to help our family pets  . . . and is here to address YOUR concerns.

Sean, who is the head veterinarian at customized animal food company tails.com, has actually aided with owners’ inquiries for 10 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) OUR dog Bear gets travel illness however we wish to take him on a trip of France this summer season.

Is there anything we can do in preparation, beginning with now?

Joan Price, Aberdeen

A) It depends upon why he gets ill in the car.

If it’s anxiety-related then behavioural adjustment might be a good method.

Look up the methods called habituation, desensitisation and reaction alternative.

You’re essentially intending to get him utilize to the car and after that associate it slowly with positive experiences so that any stress and anxiety around car travel vanishes.

A competent animal behaviourist can help if you’re having a hard time to advance.

If that doesn’t work, it might be a physiological movement illness issue.

And then it might be harder, however there are medications available from your veterinarian to trial.

Q) MY bunny, Eric, just selects particular little bits of his food to consume.

I’m concerned about whether he’s ­getting a well balanced diet plan.

What do you recommend?

Paul Robins, Bristol

A) This is a typical issue called selective feeding, and there’s a basic service.

Wean Eric off the muesli-style mix of bunny food and on to a good- ­quality pellet diet plan such as Burgess Excel or comparable.

And great deals of good quality hay, a couple of fresh greens or turf daily.

It’s crucial not to permit selective feeding as it tends to be the sweetest, most calorific active ingredients that are consumed.

This can cause weight problems and oral issues, the latter of which can be extremely pricey to treat.

Q) EVERY year because I got my Scottie Isla in 2019 she got a lawn seed in her paw which has actually needed to be surgically gotten rid of.

This triggers fantastic tension to her and me.

She doesn’t walk in long turf and I brush her after strolls to inspect her paws.

They are shaved by the groomer to help avoid seeds holding on to the fur however to no get.

People cutting their turf and the wind blowing the seeds imply they are all over from now up until fall.

I attempted boots however she wouldn’t take one action.

What else might you advise, please, as I’m desperate.

Julie Jordan, Ryde, Isle of Wight

A) Other than not letting Isla out at all, it’s extremely difficult to fix this issue, however certainly we can’t keep our dogs inside your home all of the time.

The just thing to avoid it taking place once again is to inspect her feet a number of times a day for seeds.

You’re best to get her feet shaved by the groomer too.

It doesn’t take wish for the barbs on particular turf seeds to get penetrated the fur and skin and they vanish rapidly into the tissue triggering awful abscesses.

You might attempt boots once again.

It’s a regular response for dogs to freeze in the beginning and have you take them off.

If in the beginning you don’t prosper, attempt once again.

Q) NOW the weather condition is heating up I wish to take my tortoises back outside as they like it.

But I’m likewise mindful our weather condition has actually ended up being more unforeseeable.

What do you advise as finest practice for outdoors living in regards to shelter?

Emmy Douglas, Warwick

A) I believe the days of having Mediterranean tortoises outside in the UK are fading quickly.

These fantastic reptiles require extra heat and UV light to go to when it’s cold or overcast some days.

I had a number of customers who made their tortoise a “des res” shed set-up in the garden, with tortoise flap and ramp for them to enter and out of, and a UV/heat light inside too so they can bask anytime they desired.

Best of both worlds, indoor and out.

Star of the week

BRITAIN’S greatest scaredy cats Luke and Leia are trying to find an unique home after being discovered living under the floorboards of a house when their owner passed away.

The duo, called after the Star Wars characters Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, were rescued by the RSPCA near Burnley, Lancs, in February 2021.

They were so traumatised that it has actually taken 2 years to restore them.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “Luke and Leia are still very timid. They are going to need very understanding owners, fully invested in helping them recover.”

See rspca.org.uk/findapet.

Don’t pay rate of dumping cover

2 in 5 animal owners are going without insurance coverage, as the cost-of-­living crisis continues to bite.

More than 50 percent of cat owners haven’t protected insurance coverage for their feline while 35 percent of dog owners haven’t guaranteed their pooch.

The findings come as part of Tesco Bank’s brand-new Pet Index, which takes a look at pet ownership in the UK in the middle of the skyrocketing cost of living.

Two in 5 ­owners without insurance coverage claim policies are too pricey while 20 per are not able to manage it.

But Tesco Bank’s analysis of claims information from 2022 exposes that those who go uninsured might discover themselves expense if their animal ends up being ill or gets captured in a mishap.

It reveals that for cats captured in a mishap, the typical claim paid is £803, while for disease it’s £691.

For dogs, the typical mishap claim is £879, while disease can cost owners £822.

Alex Cross, Tesco Bank insurance coverage director said: “It’s surprising such a substantial percentage of owners aren’t securing insurance coverage, and while cost is a crucial driver, a shock veterinarian expense will be more difficult to satisfy than the cost of animal insurance coverage.

“It might likewise supply comfort that their animal will be well looked after ought to anything occur.”