HE is on a mission to assist our pets . . . and is right here to reply YOUR questions.
Sean, who’s the pinnacle vet at tailor-made pet meals agency tails.com, has helped with homeowners’ 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 suppose getting a heated mattress for her may assist?
She has ache aid, however are you able to suggest any meals dietary supplements?
Sarah Smith, Greenwich, South East London
Sean says: It could assist barely to make her extra comfy and preserve her muscle groups from getting stiff.
On the flip aspect, if she sits in all of it day, her muscle groups and joints could seize up extra from being much less cellular.
The greatest issues to do are attempt to preserve her at a wholesome weight, use a complement containing Omega-3 fatty acids (typically fish oil based mostly) and medicine out of your vet.
With ache aid, it’s greatest to search out the efficient quantity and take a look at to not skip doses, for instance if Molly appears extra comfy on a specific day.
You need to have a degree of the drug in her system always, relatively than beginning her from scratch once more as soon as she is in ache.
Q: HOW typically must you feed fish in chilly climate?
Our goldfish, who dwell in a backyard pond, are positively consuming a bit much less — is that this regular?
Doug Rattery, Middlesborough
Sean says: It’s regular, and really you shouldn’t feed them in any respect.
Below a sure temperature in winter, they are going to simply cease consuming as they change into 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 should you proceed placing in further, 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 lively on the floor, as if searching for meals.
But much less is all the time 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 dying.
Q: MY cat Sammy, 12, had his month-to-month Advantage flea remedy 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 is no such thing as a level treating once more with one other dose in the identical remedy window.
You run the danger of overdosing and inflicting an adversarial response.
The drawback with flea infestations is that, by the point you discover grownup fleas in your pet, there will likely be a lot of eggs, larvae and pupae in growth within the atmosphere, rising for weeks to come back.
So the fleas on Sammy are simply the tip of the iceberg and needs to be killed should you utilized the Advantage, in full and appropriately.
You have to sort out the atmosphere now to stop what we name “wave re-emergence” of latest fleas.
Vacuum all over the place, 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 remedy and it’s best to get issues underneath management — however it could actually 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 yr in the past.
I desire a lurcher, he desires a greyhound or poodle.
Which can be greatest 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 along 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 stated: “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 do this, I do know I’m going to have a very good 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 accommodates Paleo Ridge canine treats, a Bone Idol canine first-aid course and a grooming package from Fetched The App, which connects canine homeowners 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 stated: “As the climate will get colder in January cats don’t exit as a lot they usually can undergo 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 greatest. Most cats will solely want a couple of minutes at a time however attempt for a number of periods a day.
2. Provide interactive feeders to encourage your cat to unravel puzzles to get to their meals. Make your individual at cats.org. uk/cats-blog/feeding-enrichment-puzzles-for-your-cat.
3. Provide a window perch or one thing to climb – cats like wanting 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 could actually even assist with their digestion.
5. Groom them. This is a good exercise you are able to do collectively and most cats will benefit from the consideration.
For extra info see cats.org.uk.
