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.”
MY rescue cat Karen is over- eating. I think it’s due to anxiety.
She also doesn’t like being picked up and has never strayed from our garden.
She was saved from a house overrun with 20-plus cats and was very underweight when she came to me. Have you any advice?
Helen Francis, 44, team leader, Leicester
Sean says: First off, if Karen likes her space, don’t force her. Some cats are not too fussed about physical affection and that’s fine. Secondly — and I hate to be so blunt — but you are the one who fills her food bowl.
She might be comfort-eating if she is anxious but if she is overweight, it won’t do her any harm to reduce the amount you put in her bowl or the number of treats she gets.
If she still seems ravenous after a reduction in her portions, try a light cat food containing less calories and more fibre to help her feel full.
She might cry the house down at first but if you stick to your guns she will get used to more sensible rations.
A hungry cat that can’t keep weight on, however, definitely needs a check with a vet.
I HAVE a three-year-old Chihuahua called Bambi who is terribly frightened of the rain.
She is also scared of the wind and loud noises. We have tried plug-ins to take her mind off the situation and even tempted her with treats. What do you think is causing it?
Anne Porter, 31, company manager, Edinburgh
Sean says: Two things are likely to be behind this. One is a frightening experience in her past she associates with rain, wind and loud noises. The other, more likely, is your reaction to her fearful behaviour. Our instinct is to nurture and comfort a small dog, to tell her she’s good and all will be OK in a gentle baby voice.
But all that does is tell her what a good girl she is for being terrified. Instead, we need to reward and praise her when she does NOT act fearfully. You might need to start slowly with a sound desensitisation programme.
Great advice and sound recordings are available online.
I AM struggling to find the right treats for my Dogue de Bordeaux cross, which was recently diagnosed with cystine stones.
He had an operation to remove stones from his bladder and also had a vasectomy. We have now put him on a diet of urinary-care meat and biscuits, as recommended by our vet. What do you suggest?
Tony Estabrook, 54, project co-ordinator, Gloucestershire.
Sean says: Cystine stones are a rare form of bladder stone that Mastiff breeds are prone to.
Unfortunately they frequently reoccur after surgery so it is really important you stick to his prescription diet. That means holding back some of his special biscuits and treats, I’m afraid.
MY seven-year-old whippet Blue keeps developing a nasty cyst, like a blister, at the side of one toe and between the pads.Vets have looked inside his foot and found nothing to cause this, but he is becoming almost housebound
When the cyst bursts, he has to keep the paw covered for weeks until it heals again. It is a neverending cycle. I am struggling to find a suitable boot. Is there a treatment?
Chris Herrick, 51, clerk, Lincolnshire,
Sean says: Poor Blue, that’s very frustrating. The few times I’ve seen this happen, there has been a tiny foreign object somewhere in the foot that isn’t really visible on X-ray or to the naked eye during surgery.
It may be he needs a CT or MRI of the foot to rule out a grass seed, thorn or other tiny fragment lodged in the foot. Talk to your vet about investigating why it keeps recurrin
Star of the week
LAIKA had a tough start in life but now she is bringing happiness to children as a therapy dog with Dogs4Rescue in Manchester.
The eight-year-old mongrel, was a stray puppy in Bulgaria when she was shot outside a restaurant.
Dogs4Rescue founder Emma Billington heard of her plight and brought Laika here to nurse her back to health.
Every Sunday she works alongside a psychologist during counselling sessions for youngsters. Emma said: “Laika helps kids open up and share their thoughts and worries with Dr Paula Butroid, who is one of our supporters.
“Laika is a great listener and this helps the children share their problems. She puts her paw on the children’s hands to reassure them. She’s just beautiful.”
Find out more about her work with the group at dogs4rescue.co.uk.
