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) WHAT do you recommend to keep cats cool in the summer?
I have an 18-year-old moggy called Pepper who has black fur and she gets hot.
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Are there any tips or tricks you can share that would help?
Jane Evans, Cardiff
A) Ensure there are shady and cool places for Pepper to go.
You can pull the blinds in one room, preferably north facing, and provide a bowl of iced water on the floor in front of a fan, which will create a cool air current that she might enjoy.
This is always a good DIY air con option for dogs and cats when the weather is hot.
Also, a pet water fountain is something many cat owners swear by to maximise the amount their kitty drinks.
It’s a good option as some cats can be fussy about drinking from a bowl, much preferring running water.
Q) MY cat Pickles seems to want to wee a lot.
Do you think she needs a check- up?
At times it seems she’s straining.
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Cath Broom, Burnley, Lancs
A) Yes, yes, yes. These are all alarm bells for several conditions that can be serious.
It could be as simple and temporary as a mild urinary infection, or it could be a more serious issue like a kidney problem, urinary stones or a partial blockage.
You don’t mention Pickles’ age or whether she’s lost weight.
But in any case, straining to urinate or urinating more frequently all of a sudden in any cat is always a sign that warrants a vet visit and health check.
Q) WHAT care should I give my six-month-old rabbit brothers Toby and Tom’s teeth?
I’ve read that overgrown teeth can be a problem for pet bunnies.
Is this true and how can I prevent it?
Aimee Bullen, Plympton, Plymouth
A) It’s all to do with diet, and a little bit of genetics. Let’s get genetics out of the way first.
Some breeds like Netherland Dwarf or Dwarf Lops have more flattened and rounded heads, so their dentition is affected and teeth are more prone to overgrowth.
If that’s the case, they may need regular dental trims.
For most other rabbits, the secret to good dental health is feeding a natural diet that encourages them to chew, chew, chew, all day long.
That means good quality hay and grass should form the bulk of the diet — at least 80 per cent.
Then some fresh vegetables and a complete and balanced pellet diet should make up the remainder.
No fruit and no muesli mixes which encourage selective feeding and lead to dental issues and obesity.
Simples!
Q) I HAVE taken on a rescue dog from abroad who is a Collie mix and she’s settling in well.
Maggie is fine on the lead but she tends to try to herd all the dogs when we are out on walks and it causes friction with some of them.
Is there something else I can do to help steer her herding instincts that is more positive?
Sarah Fielding, Exeter
A) Absolutely! It sounds like Maggie has a lot of drive and energy and you should definitely work with her innate skills and instincts.
For a Collie like her, I’d encourage you to look for any dog agility and flyball clubs in your local areas.
It’s a great way to harness that energy, possibly reduce her need to herd other dogs in the park and it’s also a really fun, social new hobby for you. Best of luck!
Star of the Week
JACK the cat has been reunited with his owners three years after he went missing.
Alex Rose, 78, of Tetbury, Gloucs, said she “nearly fainted” after receiving a call that the 15-year-old puss had been brought into Blue Cross’s rehoming centre in Burford, after being found 24 miles away in Lechlade after vanishing in 2021.
She said: “Jack is completely settled in and seems very content and happy.
“Having Jack home again is still such a wonderful surprise and stresses the need for microchipping which isn’t simply a legal requirement, but a lifeline of hope for pet owners.”
As of this month, all cats over 20 weeks old must be microchipped by law.
Brit vets help clear rabies in Ukraine
BRITISH vets are saving abandoned pets in war-torn Ukraine after there was a deadly rabies outbreak.
The volunteers are working with Worldwide Vets in the Mykolaiv region to save cats and dogs.
Dr Gemma Campling, chief executive of the organisation, said: “Since the start of the war, Worldwide Vets has been working tirelessly to sterilise and vaccinate animals in Kherson, Mykolayiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Cherkasy and Kyiv regions.
“This is as important for people as it is for animals.
“Rabies is highly contagious and 100 per cent fatal once symptoms begin, so we are protecting everyone when we vaccinate pets and stray animals.”
The International Fund for Animal Welfare, Save Pets of Ukraine and the charity U-Hearts are carrying out the Save Paws programme.
More than 1,500 animals have been vaccinated out of a planned 7,000.
Ukrainian government figures reveal 369 rabies outbreaks were detected in the first quarter of 2024, almost double the same period last year.
You can donate at app.payhere.co/u-hearts/ u-hearts-foundation.
