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.”
Today Sean helps a pet owner with an old Staffy
Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, promises he can ‘help keep pets happy and healthy’
Q) MY eight-year-old Staffy, Spike, refuses to walk.
When I’m taking him out and say, “Going walkies!” he gets excited and jumps into the car.
When I stop and go to get him out of the car, he lays down on his stomach and he just won’t move.
He used to love his walks. Please tell me what the problem could be?
Michael Osborne, Goole, East Yorks
Sean says: Our dogs’ bodies age a lot before their spirit does. In the case of Staffies, those adorable lumps have a puppyhood zest for life well into their older years.
So it may be that Spike really gets excited about the thought of walkies, but perhaps his body lets him down. As he refuses to move, it suggests he may be in pain somewhere.
Dogs are stoic so don’t like to show this.
I’d suggest a full physical exam at the vets to figure this out. Failing something physical, has he had any scary experiences on a walk lately that could make him hesitant?
Q) MY cat Marmalade is losing his miaow.
He’s 15 and he’s sounding a bit croaky. He’s pretty good for his age apart from that. Should I worry?
Jean Dudley, Tavistock, Devon
Sean says: Poor Marmalade. At his age, I wonder if he has dental disease. Or when was his last visit to a vet for a check-up?
Dental issues are pretty inevitable in older pets. In cats, gingivitis or inflammation of gums is common, and that can cause pain, inflammation, infections and sore throat.
The good news is it’s treatable, even in older cats.
I know we are often reluctant to bring ageing pets to the vets for fear of bad news.
But I always say age is not a disease, and early intervention for problems that occur as pets get older can keep them happier and healthier for longer.
Q) MY horse Max seems to be jealous of my boyfriend.
My partner couldn’t be kinder to him, but Max definitely gives him the cold shoulder. Any advice?
Kate Blackwood, Launceston, Cornwall
Sean says: Get your boyfriend to buy you and your horse lavish gifts — the best hay, shiny new tack, maybe even pay Max’s livery fees and tell him you’ll persuade Max that he’s not such a bad guy after all.
If it doesn’t work, at least you and Max are quids in and looking your best.
In reality, I have to admit I have no idea. Other than to suggest your boyfriend spends more time with Max, feeding and grooming him and trying to be seen as a pleasant person to hang around.
Tails.com provides tailor-made nutritional food for pets
WE have a gorgeous ten-month-old miniature Schnauzer, Rosa, who is happy and friendly with everyone apart from children.
She barks and barks and barks when she sees them. She has done this since she was a tiny puppy.
I tried to introduce her to my neighbour’s little boy who is three and bring treats into the equation, getting him to give her a treat so she knows he isn’t a threat, but she still continues to bark.
What do you think it could be?
Carol Aunt, Didsbury, Manchester
Sean says: It’s unpopular to say, but children are weird little creatures to a dog.
They shriek, move erratically, are unpredictable, and can’t read a dog’s body language as well as adults.
So they tend to overwhelm and sometimes overstep a dog’s comfort zone, even pulling and prodding them.
Barking is a defensive behaviour that Rosa has learned that keeps most humans from entering her physical space if she’s not comfortable.
The problem with kids is they often advance into her physical space despite this signalling, so she resorts to barking more frantically.
Give Rosa lots of positive reward for not barking when kids are around, and teach the kids to give her space when needed.
Star of the week
BRENDA the guinea pig survived being dumped in a shoe box – and is now the face of a campaign to stop people abandoning small furries.
The RSPCA has seen a 90 per cent increase in people abandoning the pets in the last two years.
Brenda the guinea pig survived being dumped in a shoe box
In the first eight months of 2020, the charity’s frontline officers took in 91 guinea pigs.
This rose to 111 in 2021 but so far this year 173 have come into the their care.
RSPCA spokeswoman Hatti Mellor said: “Brenda’s story is raising awareness of the plight of too many guinea pigs across the UK. Abandoning pets is not the answer.”
See rspca.org.uk/stopcruelty.
Snoop Dogg top dog for dogs
STAFFIES love a bit of Snoop Dogg while One Direction get dachshunds’ tails wagging, according to a survey.
Almost 1,000 people each month Google questions such as “what music do dogs like?”
Staffies love a bit of Snoop Dogg according to a survey
So tails.com and music licensing firm pplprs.co.uk and have found the answer.
They scanned thousands of playlists to discover which music really is top of the pups.
They also surveyed dog owners and found while 52 per cent of them say their four-legged friend becomes anxious or stressed when left alone, 48 per cent believe that playing music helps them to relax.
The results also revealed the music different breeds like.
Staffies love rap, such as Snoop Dogg while dachshunds are barking mad for pop.
And Florence And The Machine’s Dog Days Are Over is a “must have” for golden retrievers.
Canine behaviourist Carolyn Menteith said that signs your dog likes a particular tune include “gentle tail wags or swaying, relaxed ears, and steady breathing”.
She adds: “I’ve seen dogs whose musical preferences mirror their owner’s.”
