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.
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) WHY does my Basset Hound Toby run around with a shoe in his mouth when I come home from work?
He whizzes round the downstairs and then when you ask him to give it back, he does. Why is he doing it?
Catherine Slack, Sheffield
A) He’s a scent hound, designed to savour and love tracking and catching up with smelly things.
Now I’m not saying your foot hygiene is off, but when a dog is excited, they often perform what genetically hard-wired behaviour also gives them glee.
A Labrador will run off and collect their favourite toy to bring to you as a gift.
And a Basset might find the scent that drives them wild to revel in when you return from work as a celebration that all is good in the world again.
Q) MY 11-year-old son has asked me for years to get him a pet spider. What would you recommend?
He’s very sensible and has had a passion for creepy crawlies since he was a toddler.
Mark Harris, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A) I wasn’t much older than him when I got a pet tarantula, and I do think that invertebrate or insect pets are a great way to encourage and inspire children’s interest in the natural world.
Spiders are pretty easy to keep, too, which helps, but do require an enclosure and heating/lighting equipment that’s a fairly substantial cost upfront.
The most robust, docile and easy species for beginner spider keepers is probably the Chilean Rose.
If you’re not quite ready for the tarantula, and want to see how he does, maybe starting with something easier and less long-lived is best.
Stick and leaf insects are pretty cool, giant millipedes and giant African land snails are also weird and wonderful.
Q) WHY is my rescue cat so bad tempered?
Vince is six years old, will only be petted if he wants to and seems perpetually grumpy. I’m not feeling the love. Any advice?
Julie Gray, Plymstock, Devon
A) Some cats are just not that into us mere humans, and could give or take affection.
This is the nature of cats — some are more friendly than others. Saying that, there are often valid underlying reasons for grumpy behaviour.
Perhaps Vince had some bad experiences of being handled or forced to interact against his will as a young cat that made him wary.
Underlying discomfort or pain can go unnoticed too, with arthritis in the neck, spine or joints relatively common in middle-aged cats.
My advice is a physical health check by your vet, and then making peace that perhaps your love language for Vince is giving edible treats rather than lots of cuddles.
Q) OUR Siberian hamster Pudding seems really nervous.
He’s still young at five months, what do you suggest other than feeding and handling that we can do?
Kate Rogers, York
A) It should get better over time, unless something is happening to genuinely scare him at times, in which case he may always be flighty.
I’m thinking younger kids or toddlers that don’t always understand to be quiet and gentle around animals, other pets staring in at him or even trying to interfere with his cage.
Ruling out those factors, perhaps Pudding is just a nervous little chap. We’re all different.
Gentle handling and plenty of his favourite treats will hopefully win him over in time.
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STAR OF THE WEEK
RALPHIE was a stray when he was taken in – and he has repaid his new owner by helping her through several big life changes.
Sharon Parker, 65, of Sevenoaks, Kent, adopted the black and white moggy after he kept turning up at a relative’s house.
When no one claimed him, she decided to offer Ralphie a home.
Retired Sharon said: “He is my soulmate. He has helped me through divorce, cancer, a big move from my home of 35 years and my children flying the nest.
“He is very mischievous but also a proper gentleman.
“I wouldn’t be without him now.”
DOGS GO BARKING MAD FOR HOME BAKES
COOKING shows such as The Great British Bake Off have led to a boom in pet owners making cakes and treats for their four-legged friends.
Industry body UK Pet Food found that one in four owners bake for their pet.
And Avi Nagel, of make-at-home treat kit company dogandbond.com, said owners are increasingly cooking treats – especially at Christmas.
He said: “The popularity of home baking in the UK – and Bake Off – has spilled over into how people celebrate their pets.
“Birthdays, Christmas and gotcha days are becoming times to create shared experiences, and baking treats for your dog is a fun way to do that.
“One of our most popular festive products is a gingerbread treat mix with a Christmas tree cutter.”
Dog behaviourist Philippa Short, who works with Petgevity Pet Insurance, stressed the importance of using dog-friendly ingredients.
She said: “When cooking for pets, avoid anything to do with chocolate, grapes or raisins, onions, leeks, chives, anything containing xylitol – an artificial sweetener found in some peanut butter – avocado, macadamia nuts, cooked bones, caffeine and alcohol.”
