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: MY cat Molly, who’s 15, has arthritis.
Do you assume getting a heated mattress for her may assist?
She has ache reduction, however are you able to advocate any meals dietary supplements?
Sarah Smith, Greenwich, South East London
Sean says: It could assist barely to make her extra snug and maintain her muscle tissues from getting stiff.
On the flip aspect, if she sits in all of it day, her muscle tissues and joints could seize up extra from being much less cell.
The finest issues to do are attempt to maintain her at a wholesome weight, use a complement containing Omega-3 fatty acids (usually fish oil primarily based) and drugs out of your vet.
With ache reduction, it’s finest to seek out the efficient quantity and check out to not skip doses, for instance if Molly appears extra snug on a specific day.
You need to have a degree of the drug in her system always, fairly than beginning her from scratch once more as soon as she is in ache.
Q: HOW usually must you feed fish in chilly climate?
Our goldfish, who reside in a backyard pond, are positively consuming a bit much less — is that this regular?
Doug Rattery, Middlesborough
Sean says: It’s regular, and truly you shouldn’t feed them in any respect.
Below a sure temperature in winter, they are going to simply cease consuming as they turn out to be a bit extra dormant and their digestive system slows down.
There is loads of pure meals within the pond in the event that they do fancy a snack.
But if you happen to proceed placing in additional, it should spoil and trigger water high quality points because it decomposes.
Start feeding once more in spring when the water temperature rises and the fish get extra energetic on the floor, as if searching for meals.
But much less is at all times extra for pond fish.
Feed an excessive amount of and also you’ll get algae blooms and water high quality points, which may result in fish illness or loss of life.
Q: MY cat Sammy, 12, had his month-to-month Advantage flea therapy however has been scratching. I do know he’s uncomfy as his ears and again have been twitching.
Should I deal with him once more earlier than the month is up? He has no allergy symptoms and his ears look regular.
Sally Tritton, Canterbury
Sean says: No, there isn’t a level treating once more with one other dose in the identical therapy window.
You run the chance of overdosing and inflicting an antagonistic response.
The downside with flea infestations is that, by the point you discover grownup fleas in your pet, there might be numerous eggs, larvae and pupae in growth within the setting, rising for weeks to return.
So the fleas on Sammy are simply the tip of the iceberg and must be killed if you happen to utilized the Advantage, in full and appropriately.
You must sort out the setting now to forestall what we name “wave re-emergence” of recent fleas.
Vacuum in all places, put bedding on scorching washes and use a twig out of your vet to kill all different life phases within the home.
Keep up with month-to-month preventative therapy and you must get issues beneath management — however it will possibly take an itchy few weeks.
Q: MY husband and I can’t agree on the kind of canine we would like.
We are each in our early sixties and our canine died a 12 months in the past.
I desire a lurcher, he needs a greyhound or poodle.
Which could be finest at our age?
We are each match and love walks.
Helen Maitland, Bexley, Kent
Sean says: A lurcher and greyhound are fairly comparable, however why not meet within the center and go together with a whippet or whippet-type lurcher?
Fantastic dogs, as they’re versatile and fairly laid again.
Happy to be lazy indoors and likewise love lengthy walks.
You’re very near an settlement on the kind of canine you need, so no want for marriage counselling but!
Star of the week
MINIATURE poodle Daisy has nursed her proprietor by means of ill-health and stored her smiling.
The three-year-old pooch is an enormous assist to Janine Parkyn-Smith, 45, of Badgers Mount, Kent, who suffers from myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weak point.
Janine mentioned: “Daisy is a really particular canine. She’s my little nurse and instinctively is aware of earlier than I do if I’m going to be a bit wonky that day. She lays on my legs to cease me getting away from bed. If she doesn’t try this, I do know I’m going to have a superb day.
“She’s sensitive and has empathy. She is simply amazing.”
WIN!
£250 hamper
WE have joined forces with canine app DogHood to supply a £250 hamper.
It incorporates Paleo Ridge canine treats, a Bone Idol canine first-aid course and a grooming equipment from Fetched The App, which connects canine house owners of their space, serving to them discover play dates and pet occasions.
For an opportunity to win, ship an electronic mail headed DOGHOOD to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk by Jan 28.
See thedoghood.com or the app retailer.
T&Cs apply.
How to maintain bored puss a-mewsed
A WINTER epidemic of boredom strikes Britain’s cats this month, feline specialists have revealed.
A spokesman for welfare charity Cats Protection mentioned: “As the climate will get colder in January cats don’t exit as a lot and so they can endure from boredom.
“Signs include regular periods of frenetic random activity, sleeping a lot, excessive mewing, pacing, overgrooming and over-eating. While some cats may happily entertain themselves, others may need more stimulation.”
Here are 5 nice boredom-busters:
1. Play with them – and interactive video games are finest. Most cats will solely want a couple of minutes at a time however attempt for a number of classes a day.
2. Provide interactive feeders to encourage your cat to unravel puzzles to get to their meals. Make your personal at cats.org. uk/cats-blog/feeding-enrichment-puzzles-for-your-cat.
3. Provide a window perch or one thing to climb – cats like trying by means of home windows. Or give them a cat tower or cat cabinets.
4. Grow some cat grass. Many cats like to chew on it and it will possibly even assist with their digestion.
5. Groom them. This is a superb exercise you are able to do collectively and most cats will benefit from the consideration.
For extra data see cats.org.uk.
