From a bored bird who eats his blanket to a dog with cancer – your pet queries answered
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 , 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) AFTER 12 years, my conure bird Stanley has started to eat his night-time blanket.
He has always lived alone and he has the company of the TV when we are not there.
He is let out most days to have a fly and explore the room.
He has water in his cage for bathing and drinking and plenty of fresh fruit, nuts and seeds. Nothing has changed in his routine.
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Sue Whitty, Windsor, Berks
Sean says: My guess is boredom.
He’s found something new to do, it’s rewarding, perhaps addictive, like pulling a loose thread for us.
We know we shouldn’t, but it’s an impulse.
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Could be he just started randomly and now enjoys it as it passes the time.
Put something novel or new in his cage each night that he can play with and explore and that is safer for Stanley to eat or destroy.
Got a question for Sean?
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Q) I HAVE a six-year-old boxer named Frankie who has cancer — mast cell tumours that have spread into his lymph nodes.
All the primary sites have been removed and he has had chemo for two months.
It has involved him going into the vets and being given IV medication.
The final session is next week. He has breezed through it, no sickness or diarrhoea, but now he appears to be totally shattered.
Just a 15-minute walk can leave him exhausted. Is this normal after chemo? If so, how long may it last?
Jayne Brown, Chester
Sean says: It’s tricky to comment without knowing exactly what chemotherapy protocol or specific drugs Frankie has been given, so I would talk to your vet who is treating him.
Generally dogs tolerate chemotherapy far better than we do, but it may leave him feeling a bit wiped out by the end of treatment.
I hope he makes a full recovery now, but he’ll likely need regular follow-up checks at least for the next few months.
Q) MY cat Marmalade will only eat chicken-flavoured food.
I give him a premium brand which has all different flavours but he turns his nose up at everything else. Surely it’s a bit boring for him?
He’ll only eat chicken treats too. Should I worry?
Linda Dudley, Leeds
Sean says: I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s easy to humanise our pets and try to interpret their behaviour or decisions from a human mindset.
But they are not small humans and, on top of that, they are all individuals.
As long as Marmalade is getting a good-quality, complete and balanced diet, it doesn’t really matter that it’s just one flavour that tickles his fancy.
If I could eat pizza for every meal, I might just consider it, but it’s not a balanced diet. Your chicken-flavour cat food is, that’s the difference.
Some cats like variety, others eat for fuel or are quite fussy on flavour.
Q) WHEN we are on our own, my Staffie-cross Mini won’t walk with me, but she is fine if I have someone with us.
She’s a rescue dog who is still a little nervous sometimes, although we’ve had her for over seven years.
I am not aware of anything out of the ordinary that has spooked her.
She is the same with anyone else who tries to walk her on their own.
Jan Andrews, Iver, Bucks
Sean says: We often jump to the worst conclusions with rescue dogs, when actually loads of factors can result in an odd behavioural pattern.
For example, she may now be feeding off your nervous energy when you bring her out alone because you have interpreted she doesn’t like that.
A qualified behaviourist can observe these subtle signs and figure out what’s going on, so it is well worth hiring one for a session.
Star of the week
QUICK thinking Jem is not only a much loved cat for diabetic teen Jodie Gates – but she’s a life saver too.
The puss senses when Jodie’s blood sugar is dangerously high or low and alerts her family.
She is now a finalist in the Furr-Ever Friends category of this year’s Cats Protection National Cat Awards.
Jodie, 19, of High Wycombe, Bucks, said: “She’s my little life saver.
"She’ll tap my face and if there’s no response she runs off and paces around my mum or sister before running back to me, and they know to check on me.”
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WIN: A luxury weekend away with your dog
FANCY a weekend getaway with your dog?
Andaz London, a concept by Hyatt, are offering the chance to win a one night stay in a deluxe king room including breakfast for two adults and a pup worth £600 at their five star luxury lifestyle hotel.
Your dog will have a plush bed and treats too.
To enter, send an email headed ANDAZ to [email protected] by May 28.
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CAN YOUR PUPPY READ YOUR MIND?
THREE quarters of dog owners think their pet has some kind of psychic ability or can read their mind, according to a survey by .
Fourteen per cent say their pet has sniffed out an unsuitable partner, while ten per cent say they have predicted an unborn baby’s gender.
Two-thirds let their dog decide something for them because of their intuition.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) believe their dog is more intuitive than their friends.
A quarter get their dog to forecast the weather.
Nine per cent ask their pooches to predict sports results, while seven per cent have asked their dog if they are going to get a marriage proposal or job offer.
Eleven per cent get their dog to decide whether to forgive someone who has wronged them.
Six per cent ask whether they should buy the house they’re interested.
Owners say the information is relayed by their ears pricking up or barking for attention (46 per cent), closely followed by them giving a “paw” (43 per cent).
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Adem Fehmi, Rover.com canine behaviourist, said: “Dogs are known for having strong senses.
Their intuition is not something to be taken for granted either.”