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.”
4
4
Q) MY dog Louie is a ten-year-old Yorkshire Terrier.
He has previously tried to bite his groomer so now she won’t take him.
Last year, my vet wanted £300 to give him a trim.
I’ve got some bite gloves and try my hardest to groom him myself. Can you give me any advice?
READ MORE PAWS AND CLAWS
PAWS & CLAWS
From best insect starter pets to stressed out fish – your pet queries answered
PAWS & CLAWS
From a floor-licking labradoodle to a hoarding hamster — pet queries answered
Barbara Rawlings, Yeovil, Somerset
A) Is this a new behaviour? Older dogs who suddenly dislike grooming are often trying to tell us something.
Arthritis, sore skin or dental pain can make handling uncomfortable, so I’d start with a veterinary examination to rule out any discomfort.
If it’s genuine fear rather than pain, working with a patient groomer using gradual desensitisation often helps more than trying to get the whole groom done in one session.
Most read in Money
JOBS CULL
Jaguar Land Rover to cut 4,000 jobs as bosses to announce redundancy programme
SUN SAVERS
Five ways to bag extra gifts from retailers if September is your birthday month
FEES FIASCO
PM blasted over 879% tuition fee hike leaving students in £81k debt
RECORD RATES
Retirees cash in on bumper £8,150 payouts for the rest of their LIFE
Anti-anxiety medication before grooms may also help.
Q) IS it really true that tortoises are escape artists?
My aunt has asked if I would take on her old Mediterranean tortoise Ed, but she said he has a tendency to bolt. Surely this isn’t right?
Simon Graham, Exeter
A) It’s absolutely right. Mediterranean tortoises are strong, inquistive and surprisingly determined explorers — and also good climbers.
I’ve known tortoises to scale low walls, squeeze through tiny gaps and disappear into flower beds for days.
If you take on Ed, make sure his outdoor enclosure has secure, solid sides that he can’t see through as often, tortoises will keep trying to reach whatever is on the other side.
They’re wonderful pets, but never underestimate a tortoise on a mission!
Q) I HAVE a 16-month-old cockapoo called Bonnie who has just finished her season.
I used to take her out for walks every day at 6am but she now refuses to go and sometimes snarls at me if I get her lead out.
She will happily go for a walk in the afternoon but only wants to sleep in her crate in the mornings.
Nothing has ever happened on the walks to scare her so I can’t understand what is going on.
Frank Langlan, Peterborough
A) Because this behaviour started quite suddenly after Bonnie’s season, I’d be less inclined to think it’s stubbornness and more concerned there’s an underlying reason.
Hormonal changes can temporarily affect behaviour, but discomfort or even a phantom pregnancy could explain why she wants to stay in her crate.
The fact she’s happy to walk later in the day is an interesting clue.
I’d arrange a veterinary check-up to rule out any physical causes before approaching it as a behavioural issue.
Dogs rarely change routines dramatically without a reason.
You can find a local behaviourist by searching online for APBC, CCAB and ABTC, the accrediting bodies.
Q) OUR two-year-old cat Unicorn is overgrooming her face and now has little marks on her nose.
It started about three weeks ago. Could it be a seasonal allergy? She is otherwise fine.
Vera-Lynn Jones, Basildon, Essex
A) Overgrooming is always worth investigating. Seasonal allergies are certainly possible, but facial irritation can also be caused by dental disease, mites, fungal infections, insect bites or even stress.
It’s good that she’s otherwise bright and eating and drinking normally but I would still let your vet examine her sooner rather than later.
Avoid applying creams yourself and let your vet identify the underlying cause before any treatment begins.
STAR OF THE WEEK
4
PROUD mum Jilly has given birth to 14 little piggies – who are set to become pets all over Britain.
The impressive brood of micro pigs features nine girls and five boys.
The piglets were born at Kew Little Pigs Farm in Old Amersham, Bucks – and visitors are welcome to pop in and see them.
Farm founder Olivia Mikhail said: “We’ve never had a litter this large before, so it really is a record-breaking moment for us.
“Thankfully, Jilly has done an incredible job, and all 14 piglets are doing brilliantly.”
The piggies are bred ethically to become pets and kept in educational settings across the UK.
WIN: Pokemon pet bundle worth £250
TO celebrate its new Playful Partners Pokemon-themed pet range, Pokemon Center is offering ONE cat or dog lover a £250 prize bundle.
It will include collars, beds to harnesses.
To enter, just send an email headed: POKEMON, stating Cat or Dog, to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk by September 20.
See pokemoncenter.com.
T&Cs apply.
TV SHOW TEACHES OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS
4
COMIC Sara Pascoe is urging dog owners to play with their pets, after competing against four animal-mad celebs in a new TV show.
Wagging Rights sees Sara, Rhod Gilbert, Harriet Kemsley, Kae Kurd and Vicky Pattison try to transform their pets into show dogs by working on things like agility, scent skills and obedience.
Sara, who owns terrier-mix Mouse, said: “They’re all ordinary family pets rather than trained performance dogs, so we were amazed by how much they could learn week by week with expert support.
“It’s about having fun with your dog in a different way.
“I do now understand that the dogs are having a really nice time, which I didn’t fully appreciate before.”
Sara warned that things don’t always go to plan when dog training, however.
She said: “When we were learning to dance, Vicky yelled in excitement just as we did our first move, and Mouse ran over and started doing zoomies in front of everyone.”
RECOMMENDED STORIES
The comic also told how she hopes the show will make viewers laugh, adding: “I also hope they’ll go and play with their dogs.”
Wagging Rights starts on Sunday, September 13, at 8pm on U&Dave and U&W.