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 homeowners’ queries for ten years. He says: “In case your pet is performing humorous or is below the climate, otherwise you wish to find out about diet or train, simply ask. I might help hold pets completely happy and wholesome.”
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Q) MY hamster Ben retains flying off his wheel.
He doesn’t appear fazed by it, he simply will get again on and retains operating.
Any concepts? He will get a number of runs exterior his cage, however he loves going for it. I want I had that quantity of power.
Clare Cox, Brighton
Sean says: Seems like Ben is a little bit of a thrillseeker.
Most hamster cages are means too small so I’m glad you mentioned he will get a whole lot of runs exterior of his.
Hamsters within the wild are extraordinarily energetic and may journey lengthy distances every night time trying to find meals and a few candy hamster lovin’.
A wheel is an outlet for all that pent-up power, and hamsters can run the equal of some miles an evening on it.
It’s thought it may very well be an addictive behaviour, releasing completely happy chemical compounds very similar to the “runner’s excessive”.
So it’s necessary not simply to supply a wheel in a tiny cage, however to create secure areas in your hamster to discover and examine exterior the cage too.
Q) WE have a 4.5m by 3.5m nature pond in our backyard and lately agreed to take our neighbour’s goldfish, Golding.
He’d been dwelling in a tiny pond stuffed with putrid water.
Over the previous yr Golding has gone from energy to energy, and has grown to like his environment and appears magnificent.
We feed him (he wasn’t fed earlier than), and he seems to be completely happy sufficient.
However is he lonely? Ought to we get him a buddy?
We really feel a little bit sorry for him along with his solitary life (albeit with frogs and newts who frequent the pond).
Adrian Cross, Elloughton, East Yorks
Sean says: Unhappy to say, goldfish and nature ponds don’t go collectively.
Chances are you’ll be feeding Golding however he’s additionally continuously consuming all of the tiny bugs and bugs that decision your pond house, and that different wildlife depend on.
Your grownup frogs and newts might be able to face up to fish of a sure dimension however their tadpoles and efts (the right time period for child newts) received’t.
Getting extra goldfish for the pond will simply pace up the decline of species clinging on and of the complicated meals webs that develop in a pond that’s left for nature.
Whether or not or not he’s lonely, I’m unsure. They behave otherwise and faculty collectively for security in teams.
My resolution can be two ponds — one for fish, one for native wildlife.
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Q) MY three-year-old male rabbit Floppy was neutered as we bought a feminine, Pixie, as a companion.
However for the previous couple of months his poop has been caught to his bum.
We haven’t modified our rabbits’ meals and we hold them clear.
Please are you able to advise?
Sue Chaplin, Fleetwood, Lancs
Sean says: It’s uncertain that it’s something to do with him having been neutered.
At the least I can’t consider a hyperlink. Is he long-haired?
Have you ever been feeding him any extra greens or contemporary greens recently?
It’s actually necessary, significantly coming into summer season, that we hold rabbits clear and don’t permit soiling, particularly across the nether areas.
If rabbits are soiled, they’ll entice flies to put their eggs, then the maggots hatch out and begin consuming into flesh, a situation that is known as fly strike.
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Q) SHOULD I be apprehensive that my tabby cat has began making a whining sound?
Nothing has modified at house, he eats and drinks frequently and appears wholesome sufficient.
It’s simply the whining that could be a little disturbing. He has not completed this earlier than.
Laurie Clifton, Exeter, Devon
Sean says: It’s onerous to say with out listening to and observing for myself.
It may very well be attention-seeking behaviour, discomfort or ache, or associated to anxiousness, stress or frustration.
The chances are countless, so I’d suggest, in case you are involved and it’s getting extra frequent or frantic, that you just schedule a bodily examination along with your vet to ensure all is OK from a medical perspective.
Star of the week
RUBEN’S adventures have made the ten-year-old cat a social media hit.
He has visited 100 properties and companies in Exeter, Devon – together with three hospitals, a number of colleges and care properties.
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When not out on his wanders, the puss lives with Jon Brammer, 39, his spouse Charlotte, 35, and their six-month-old daughter Evie.
Jon, a graphic designer, mentioned: “Ruben loves everybody.
“The report distance he has travelled on foot is seven miles – 25 in case you rely the time he bought a police escort house.
“We get WhatsApps from individuals telling us, ‘Ruben has dropped in’, and generally he even will get a raise house.
See him at fb.com/rubenthecat.
WIN: DOG HAMPER
DO you’re keen on a smoothie? Now your pup can take pleasure in one too.
Now we have teamed up with Furr Enhance to supply a canine drinks hamper value £50 to 5 fortunate readers.
Every smoothie comprises superfoods together with blueberry and added nutritional vitamins.
They’ll even be frozen and changed into lollies because the climate heats up.
For an opportunity to win one of many hampers, ship an electronic mail headed FURR BOOST to [email protected] by Might 29.
For extra in regards to the drinks see furrboost.com. Phrases & Circumstances.
1M PETS WITH UNDIAGNOSED DEMENTIA
AROUND a million pets have undiagnosed dementia, and 1 / 4 of homeowners don’t know the indicators.
The shock new figures, forward of tomorrow’s launch of Dementia Motion Week, have led care and recommendation website Vets4Pets to create a web based symptom checker for cats and canines.
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Dr Huw Stacey, of Vets4Pets, which is a part of the Pets At House group, says: “There may very well be shut to 1 million cats and canines with dementia undiagnosed.
“Early analysis is the important thing to pets dwelling longer, more healthy and happier lives, so it’s necessary pet homeowners can spot the indicators.”
Cathy Owen, 31, head nurse on the Vets4Pets department in Ely, Cambs, says her labrador Louie, ten, was recognized three years in the past.
“We seen Louie would stand and stare blankly within the backyard or at a wall,” she says.
“He’d stroll into issues and began to turn out to be aggressive which was totally out of character.
“As soon as we had the analysis, we handled him with the right medicine and he turned the completely happy canine he was once.”
Communicate to your vet in case you discover behaviour modifications.
In case your pet is recognized, make surroundings acquainted and hold them engaged by strolling and taking part in.
Inform family and friends about indicators and signs.
See symptom trackers for cats see and for canines at see.
