From a sweaty guinea pig to a lonely horse – your pet queries answered
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) IS it true that guinea pigs don’t sweat?
Do I need to do anything to keep our pair, Pinky and Perky, cool in this warm weather we’re having?
Helen Bright, Colchester, Essex
A) It’s strange but true — guinea pigs don’t have sweat glands so can suffer in hot weather and need protection if it gets really warm.
Temperatures over 30C can be fatal, so it’s important to provide them with shade, bring them indoors to a cool room if possible, use a fan to blow air over a bowl of ice into one corner of their enclosure and have plenty of water available, as well as fresh veg to keep them hydrated and cool.
Q) WHICH food is best for dogs? Dry, wet or a combination?
And are liver and chicken a good idea to add in for variety?
My greyhound Woody is really fussy, but also has a delicate tum, so what would you recommend?
Helen Booker, Exeter, Devon
A) How long is a piece of string? As we say at tails.com, every dog is different and what works for one may not suit another.
The basic idea is to feed a diet that is complete (has everything they need) and balanced (has important elements in the right quantities) for their lifestyle, age and other factors.
In terms of diet formats, you can go dry, wet or freshly cooked.
If feeding a high-quality brand formulated by a qualified animal nutritionist, then there is no need for any added extras like liver and chicken.
They’re fine as an occasional treat, but if you start using them as a bribe to get Woody to eat, you risk creating a food monster as he will no longer want his normal food.
Dogs are clever. They know how to manipulate us to give them something tastier, which isn’t always in their best interests.
Q)MY horse Bob has lost his field companion recently and is down in the dumps.
He has a donkey with him and they rub along OK, but should I look at introducing another horse companion? Might it cheer him up?
Kate Walker, Launceston, Cornwall
A) Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, donkeys do not make the best companions for horses, and vice versa.
They really do each need the company of their own kind, as they speak their own language and have their own species preferences.
In fact, in many European countries it’s illegal to keep donkeys alone.
So, in short, I think it’s a great idea to look for another horse companion for Bob.
You may find a mutually convenient situation with someone nearby in the same boat.
Q) MY cat Freddie keeps on peeing in the corner of my sitting room behind the sofa.
He’s been neutered. What can I do to stop it?
He is an only pet, has two litter trays and is a house cat. I really want to solve this issue.
Lucy Meadows, Colchester, Essex
A) Once he gets used to that habit and the spot smells of wee, it’s a really strong draw for Freddie to keep going to the toilet there.
To retrain him, first block the route to the back of the sofa or even keep him out of the room for a while.
Cats and dogs have a much keener sense of smell than us, so make sure the urine scent is gone.
You’ll need to thoroughly shampoo the carpet, then treat it with an enzymatic pet deodorising spray.
But don’t use cleaning chemicals containing ammonia.
Two litter trays is a great move, but make sure they are hidden away from busy parts of the house.
Star of the Week
SPEEDY the tortoise is celebrating her 80th birthday this week – with a Rich Tea biscuit dunked in a cuppa.
Owner Andy Harris, 62, of Glemsford, Suffolk, was given her as a pet when he was ten and she was already 18.
He said: “Speedy could live to up to 150, so we know she’s going to outlive us.
“But she will be passed on to our children. Once a year, on her birthday, she gets a Rich Tea biscuit – but she will only eat it if it’s dunked in tea.
“That’s her annual treat and she loves it, along with fruit cake.
“The rest of the year she has a healthy tortoise diet and she loves her fruit and veg.”
But Andy added: “Everyone deserves a blowout on their birthday.”
WIN: Pet health test
WE’VE teamed up with pet medical pioneers Labrador to give ten readers an at-home test worth either £34.99 or £39.99 for the 12 most common and serious pet viruses and infections.
It swabs a dog or cat’s saliva, stool or vomit to give results in ten minutes, with 97 per cent accuracy.
To enter, send an email with either Doggy Diarrhoea Test, Doggy Cough Test, Sneezy Cat Test or Cat Diarrhoea Test in the subject line to sundaypets@ the-sun.co.uk by August 25.
See labrador. fyi. T&Cs apply.
Labs are wurst for stealing BBQ food
HUNGRY hounds are bringing a whole new meaning to the term sausage dog – by nicking barbecue grub.
A fifth of pet owners admit their dog has swiped a treat from the grill.
Bangers proved the most popular, followed by burgers and fish, according to a Pets at Home poll.
Labradors, Jack Russell terriers, cocker spaniels and cheeky chihuahuas are the worst culprits.
However, 26 per cent of owners admitted their greedy pooch’s antics resulted in a visit to the vet.
Dr Samantha Butler-Davies, director of clinical services at Pets at Home, said: “It’s important to ensure that barbecue food is not left unattended, as certain ingredients can be harmful to pets.
“Beware of onions in burgers, as they are toxic for dogs and cats.
“Corn on the cob can cause an obstruction in a dog’s digestive tract, and cooked ribs can splinter.
“Barbecue food also has a high fat content that can lead to stomach upsets for pets. So ensure all food, including leftovers, is out of reach and resist feeding them tit bits from your plate.
“Keep sticks and skewers out of sight. If ingested, they can cause damage to stomach walls and potentially nearby organs.”