HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.
Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.
Q) MY cat likes to sit on my lap and knead my leg, purring.
Mo also kneads our dog Mylo as they sometimes sit on the sofa together. What’s your view?
KATIE ARMSTRONG, Brighton
Sean says: Kneading is kitten- behaviour released in moments of comfort.
It’s like saying, ‘You’re my human hot-water bottle,’ or, ‘You remind me of the safety of being with my mum’. How sweet, eh?
As long as everyone’s relaxed and no one objects, it’s fine. Consider yourself and Mylo honorary cushions.
Q) CAN gerbils eat cheese? I have two, Aurora and Ariel, and someone told us they can have it as a treat but is that right?
MO BARNETT, Grimsby
Sean says: Gerbils can have very small amounts of mild cheese as an occasional treat, but it shouldn’t be a regular part of their diet.
Like many small mammals, they are not well-equipped to digest dairy, and too much can cause stomach upset.
If you do offer cheese, think pea-sized and infrequent. Healthier treats include pieces of apple, cucumber or a pumpkin seed.
Cheese won’t harm them, but there are far better options that suit their digestive systems.
Q) WHEN Buddy our rescue dog first came to us he was great with other dogs and people.
Now, two months later, he’s started growling at everyone and every dog.
We believe he is around two years old, he isn’t neutered yet as the vet advised against it at the moment as he was nervous. He is great with us and anyone he has got to know.
I am concerned only that I would love to take him for a walk but can’t as he is being anti-social. My husband takes him instead.
He is a Staffie crossed with an American bulldog. I would like advice as he is such a loving dog with us and as my son is having a baby soon I’m a bit concerned about that too.
CATHERINE LEWIS, Magor, Monmouthshire
Sean says: It’s quite common for rescue dogs to change after a few weeks, once they start feeling more confident in their new environment.
What looks like sudden aggression is often fear-based behaviour emerging as the dog feels secure enough to express it. This isn’t something to ignore with a baby on the way.
A qualified animal behaviourist can assess triggers and create a desensitisation plan.
Avoid forcing interactions or overwhelming him socially.
With professional guidance and patience, many dogs improve dramatically but early intervention is the right step here. There are three organisations that accredit behaviourists; APBC, CCAB and ABTC.
Q) OUR 12-year-old shih tzu Toby won’t wear any new coats or dog harnesses that we buy him.
He has a small old harness but hates anything else. He puts his paws down and refuses to move till we remove the new one, then he happily trots off. Any advice?
RITA BISCHOFF, Bolton
Sean says: Toby’s refusal is surprisingly common, especially in older dogs who can dislike change.
New harnesses can feel restrictive or unfamiliar. Introduce them slowly: leave the harness near his bed, reward sniffing, then try brief indoor wear with treats before heading out.
Some dogs simply prefer a particular style or fit.
If possible, buy the same make as his old favourite. Avoid forcing the issue, as that can create negative associations.
With patience and positive reinforcement, many dogs accept new gear, but some are lifelong traditionalists who just know what they like.
Star of the week
MIXIE, a dachshund-spaniel cross, is now known as “Mixie the minx,” after a lucky escape due to eating almost half her body weight in mince pies.
Her owner, 66-year-old retired musician Saida de Lyon from Glasgow, noticed the pup looking rounder than usual and soon discovered the cause – an entire tin of 11 of the treats had vanished.
Saida rushed her to the vet over Christmas last year as the raisins in the treat are poisonous to dogs, who told her that they’d “never come across a dog having eaten so many mince pies”.
Luckily the £1,874 vet bill was covered by her Agria pet insurance and she’s now made a full recovery.
Saida said: “It was such a relief knowing the insurance was there.”
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Putting out felines for volunteers
THE charity Cats Protection has put out a nationwide call – from Land’s End to John o’Groats – to urge cat lovers to volunteer.
A spokesperson said: “Our volunteers are at the heart of Cats Protection, from school leavers to octogenarians.
“We urgently need more hands on deck.
“Be it fostering, fundraising or giving time to support our branches, all help makes a huge difference.”
In Cornwall, Barbara Roker has just got a tattoo for her 80th birthday to mark 25 years of volunteering.
She said: “Every Friday, you’ll find me at the centre cleaning, caring and socialising with the cats.
“For my 80th I got a tattoo of a black cat on my arm. Growing old disgracefully, as they say! I do it because cats will always need us.”
The most northerly volunteer is Nicki Hellewell, who is based at the Caithness branch in Scotland.
Last month she rescued eight kittens called Alvin, Theo, Scapa, Flow, Martha, Toby, Neville and Harray from the island of Westray in Orkney,.
Nicki said: “To know that I am doing the best I can for the cats and kittens I come across gives me a sense of meaning.”
- To find out about volunteering see cats.org.uk.
