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.”
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Q) MY rat Rob used to be very vocal but now he’s a year old he rarely squeaks.
Is that something I should be concerned about?
He is lively, doesn’t seem down in the dumps and eats well.
BRIAN COCHRANE, Aberdeen
Sean says: I wouldn’t worry, I think this is just the enthusiasm of youth fading slowly, now that Rob the rat is moving into middle age. I feel his pain, I used to be a lot more lively, vocal and fun too!
Q) I’VE tried to stop my dog Mella biting her front claws.
She’s always doing it, and I don’t know why. Any advice?
RICHARD BERTIN, Barry
Sean says: Get her checked by your vet, to put it bluntly.
Without examining the claws I can’t tell if they are brittle, the nail bed is inflamed, whether it may be joint pain in Mella’s digits, a fungal infection, or perhaps a referred itch due to environmental or food allergies.
She really needs a full physical exam to figure it out. Maybe they are just long and need trimming.
Q) FOR the past 17 years our two Siamese kittens have grown up together, eaten together and slept in the same cat basket day and night.
They were inseparable. Sadly, a couple of weeks ago we had to put Ozzy to sleep as he was very unwell.
Since then, George has stopped purring completely and he walks between rooms meowing very loudly. We know he misses Ozzy, but is there anything we can do to make his life a little easier in his old age?
DAVID POTTER, Stourbridge
Sean says: That’s very sad. I’m sorry to hear it. People are often surprised to hear of pets grieving, but of course they form close bonds with their comrades and human companions.
Sadly, we can’t help them through their grief by explaining coping strategies. We just need to ensure they get lots of TLC and be patient. In time they tend to get back to normal.
Basically, my advice is to spoil George with his favourite things for a while and allow him to come to terms with losing his buddy Ozzy.
Q) MY brother has rescued a seven-year-old bulldog from someone who could no longer care for it.
Albert has a wonderful temperament and is happy. The only problem is he seems to have an issue with his eyes, which weep a sticky yellow discharge and need constant wiping.
They also look opaque and cloudy, although he doesn’t appear to have problems seeing.
My brother is a pensioner and he cannot afford large vet bills. I would happily take the dog to the vets, but couldn’t commit to a long-term financial outlay. I would very much appreciate your advice, as I feel so sorry for this lovely dog.
JOSEPHINE COTTINGHAM, Finedon, Northants
Sean says: The first thing to say is that “rescuing” a dog that needs veterinary attention when there aren’t the finances available to provide it is not actually in the animal’s best interest.
Secondly, bulldogs often come with a huge range of health problems due to breeding. They often get surrendered to rescue centres when they start to incur high vet bills.
Eye problems are painful and a serious welfare issue so I would suggest at least bringing Albert to the vet for an initial assessment and an idea of costs going forward.
I commend your brother for giving Albert another chance, but if he’s going to have ongoing veterinary care expenses that he can’t afford, I’d recommend finding an alternative home for him, as hard as that might be to accept.
Star of the week
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BORIS the dog loves wearing a statement outfit for walkies.
The seven-year-old Goldendoodle feels underdressed if he doesn’t go out in his sunglasses, a jaunty hat – or even his favourite pink wig.
Owner Jill Dougherty, 39, of Edinburgh said: “It all started when he was a pup as my two boys Ray, four, and six-year-old Frank love fancy dress – and Boris loved getting involved.
“Now when we take him for walkies he waits for his sunglasses or hat – his tail wags like crazy as soon as we put them on him. His bright pink wig is a favourite.”
WIN: backpack
ECO-backpack brand Kovered has launched a new range of bags which are perfect for walks with your pup.
For a chance to win the ReKovered collection of a black drawstring bag, roll-top backpack and weekend holdall worth £250, send an email headed KOVERED with your name, address and phone number to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk by May 14.
See kovered.co.uk. T&Cs apply.
Humans, get the rid cattitude
FOUR in five cat owners wish they could be more like their pets, so they can live their best life, a survey found.
It revealed that 82 per cent aspire to have more feline qualities – being independent, carefree, playful and mischievous.
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When each quality was broken down, 43 per cent wished for more confidence. Another 30 per cent want to adopt the qualities of a cat as they were lacking a carefree attitude, and 21 per cent said they wished they had more ambition.
These are all qualities that pet food company Felix, which carried out the poll, describes as “cattitude”.
Reality TV star Gemma Collins – known for brimming with confidence, and who recently added pet Snowybelle to her family – said: “She is everything I love in a cat: Mischievous, fun, playful and independent, full of character, and fabulous just like me. And that’s why I love her so much. We are just so alike.
“If people tried being more like a cat, they’d be a lot more chilled out.
“Say no to the things you don’t want to do, say yes to being more playful and adventurous. The confidence will then come”.
