From sneezing cat to dog obsessed with squirrels – 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: OUR cat Snuggles is constantly sneezing.
Our vet has checked up his nose for seeds and it’s clear — and he is up to date with his flea treatments.
What do you think it could be?
Helen Castle, Lincoln
READ MORE PAWS & CLAWS
Sean says: Your vet has ruled out a foreign body but sometimes these things can emerge months later.
Infectious causes could include cat flu or several other viral diseases. Is Snuggles up to date on vaccinations?
Otherwise, it could be inflammation due to allergies — perhaps pollen, especially if you are seeing a seasonal pattern to this issue.
Do follow up with your vet if it continues.
Most read in Money
Got a question for Sean?
SEND your queries to [email protected]
Q) MY dog Sherpa has become obsessed with the squirrels in the trees behind our house.
He runs manically around the garden and tries to launch himself at them.
We tell him off but five minutes later he’s back at it again.
How can I tell him no means no?
Colin Wright, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
Sean says: Is Sherpa a sighthound like a Whippet, Saluki or Lurcher?
These breeds have a very strong urge to chase small prey animals.
The ingrained and natural instinct of a dog breed can be a difficult thing to work against.
Are they actually a problem for the dog, or just unpalatable for us?
In Sherpa’s case it sounds like it could be extremely frustrating to not have access to chase but all the visual excitement of prey.
I’d suggest working on a technique called “response substitution” — teaching him there is greater reward in performing another behaviour whenever a squirrel appears.
A good trainer or qualified behaviourist should be able to help.
Q) I HAVE a feral cat I’ve named Smudge that lives at my home but prefers to stay outside and I’ve fed him for six months now.
I’m building a shed to see if he will use it into the winter.
What would you suggest I do to make it inviting?
Is there any treatment I can put into his food to keep him healthy?
Carol Anderson, Chester
Sean says: Great idea and a very kind thing to do.
Provide a warm, draught-proof structure that has two entry/exit points so he doesn’t feel cornered inside.
Perhaps a tunnel or baffled entrance would be good.
Even better if the shed can be raised off the ground, on top of another structure, for example.
Provide warm, clean bedding and a porch for water and food bowls.
Worm him once every three months or so with a chewy worming treat.
You may also want to get him to walk on to a scale for treats so you can provide his weight to your vet.
Q) I’VE read that pet rabbits’ nails need to be clipped every three months.
Can I do this at home with my placid bunny, Boris?
Or should he go to the vet to have it done?
And should he have regular bathtimes?
I tend to only sponge him lightly if he has been digging and is really dirty.
Cath White, Lancaster
Sean says: There aren’t hard and fast rules on how often; a lot depends on the individual rabbit, how much exercise they are getting and on what kinds of surface.
A rabbit with a large enclosure outdoors, who digs a lot in soil or stony ground may never need a nail trim, for example!
You can learn to do this safely and effectively at home for Boris, but it’s probably best to bring him to your local vet clinic to be shown how first.
As for bathing, it’s only usually necessary if they have really soiled themselves due to illness.
Star of the week
WHEN Hannah Robertson’s new home was destroyed by fire, all she was left with was her toy poodle Indie, her iPhone and the nightshirt she slept in.
The two-year-old pup helped her heal from the trauma while her Orpington flat was rebuilt.
Sales director Hannah, 30, said: “I was woken by dripping – I opened one of my cupboards and it was full of flames.
“The water tanks in the roof had melted.
“I ran outside with Indie and the whole roof was on fire. Indie was a huge comfort. She’s helped me to put the nightmare behind us.”
WIN: Smart pet feeder
WE’VE teamed up with PetSafe Brand to give one lucky reader the chance to win a Smart Feed automatic pet feeder and treats worth £250.
Designed to bring peace of mind to doggy dining and feline feeding, it can monitor and adjust their feeding schedule remotely with a free app – with alerts for when they’ve been fed and when food is low.
To enter send an email headed FEEDER, stating cat or dog, to [email protected] by August 6.
See . T&Cs apply.
PASSPORT? CHECK. PET POOCH? CHECK
NEARLY seven million dog or cat owners in the UK will take their pet on holiday with them this year, leading to warnings owners must buy the right insurance.
New research from Tesco Bank has revealed 39 per cent of dog owners are planning trips with their pooch, while 15 per cent of cat owners will take their feline friend on their hols.
A fifth of pet owners (21 per cent) plan to enjoy a staycation break with their furry friend, while nine per cent will go abroad.
And according to Airbnb data, the top five countries with the highest percentage of pet owners travelling there last summer include the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada.
Meanwhile, 41 per cent of holiday-bound owners are leaving their pets in the care of friends and family (16 per cent), asking someone to check in on them (11 per cent), paying a sitter (seven per cent) or using a kennel or cattery (seven per cent).
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Alex Cross, insurance director at Tesco Bank, said: “It can be all too easy to overlook additional holiday considerations for your pet.
“It’s worth checking if your pet is covered for any accidents, sickness or injuries that might occur during your break.”