From a hiding cockapoo to a grieving parrot – your pet queries answered
HE is a vet on a mission to assist our pets . . . and he’s right here to reply YOUR questions.
Sean, who’s the top vet on the tailor-made pet food agency tails.com, has helped with homeowners’ queries for ten years. He says: “In case your pet is performing humorous or is underneath the climate, otherwise you need to find out about vitamin or train, simply ask. I will help hold pets comfortable and wholesome.”
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Q) OUR eight-year-old Cockapoo Riley has been performing oddly currently – he retains hiding in corners or underneath furnishings.
He’s now not keen on food and doesn’t come when referred to as. Generally he appears to be avoiding us.
He used to observe me all over the place. Now we spend half our time searching round the home to search out him.
He nonetheless appears to get pleasure from his walks and doesn’t look like in ache however now not performs within the evenings like he used to. We haven’t taken him to the vet but, because it stresses him out.
I can’t consider something that might have frightened him that coincided with this behaviour besides it began after I examined optimistic for Covid.
Elizabeth Sandford, Worthing, West Sussex
Sean says: I’m fairly positive the Covid hyperlink is only a coincidence.
My first thought when listening to a historical past like that is that ache is a part of the image.
Dogs are stoic and conceal ache. They not often cry out, particularly when it’s power, gradual ache.
One of the frequent indicators is a change in behaviour, together with withdrawal and a seeming lack of willingness to work together, such as you describe.
I do know Riley doesn’t just like the vet clinic, however it’s essential to take him alongside for a full bodily examination and hopefully they’ll discover out the place he’s uncomfortable, if that’s the difficulty.
If not, they could need to run some bloods or different exams.
It’s finest to search out out now what’s up, relatively than wait and see.
Q) WE have taken on our family members’ parrot after they handed away, however he appears down within the dumps
What can we do to cheer Burt up?
Jasmine Black, Sunderland
Sean says: Sorry to listen to your unhappy information.
It’s pure for such a sociable chook species to grieve the lack of their long-term human proprietor.
Most parrots ought to have the corporate of their very own variety to allow them to specific pure behaviours.
And equally, many homeowners don’t spend sufficient time with pet parrots, therefore downside behaviours can come up, like feather-plucking and despair.
So I might assess truthfully whether or not you can provide Burt all he wants, and in that case contemplate possibly getting him a chook companion. Or contemplate rehoming him to a parrot sanctuary.
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Q) MY 13-week-old Westie, Mac, won’t pee outdoors, irrespective of how lengthy I keep out with him.
As quickly as he is available in, he does it earlier than I can cease him.
I’ve tried shouting “No!” and taking him again out however he doesn’t end what he began.
Is there something I can do? When he first got here right here we used coaching pads however with little success. The one pad now could be in his cage.
Susan Salamach, Oldham
Sean says: That is irritating however give Mac credit score, he’s nonetheless only a child. Return to fundamental house-training guidelines.
Mac can solely be on coaching pads whereas he’s indoors. Lay them all around the ground in a single room. Progressively cut back the realm lined by pads.
He’ll hopefully affiliate the pads because the place to go and proceed utilizing them.
If you discover him eager to go, take him out to pads positioned outdoors. The pads are the important thing, and regularly wean him off them, indoors and out.
Don’t shout at him for toileting within the mistaken place. That’s the reason he received’t go when you’re watching.
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Q) ONCE per week we give my horse Main a sugar lump as a deal with.
He loves it after an extended experience. Ought to I cease?
Bree Taylor, Swansea
Sean says: It’s simple to see no hurt in it if it’s one lump being given to a 600kg animal as soon as per week.
But when Main is chubby, I’d be inclined to suggest a lower-calorie deal with.
Ponies, particularly, might be susceptible to points like diabetes and laminitis which might be exacerbated each by weight and sugar or extremely glycaemic carbs within the eating regimen.
There’s additionally the difficulty of dental well being and decay.
So I’d swap the sugar dice for one thing pure like a handful of greens, a bit of carrot or apple.
Star of the week
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SKYE, the rescued guinea pig, is an effective lady as she loves getting her “5 a day” – and prompts her proprietor for her favorite veggies.
The 2-year-old was rescued by Gillian Jackson, 59, from Rotherham, who mentioned she squeaks to ask for her meals at time for dinner.
Gillian mentioned: “I adopted Skye from a guinea pig sanctuary.
“She loves individuals, enjoys laying on a fleece on my lap and offers me plenty of kisses.
“She is aware of when it’s tea time for her, after I get residence from work, and she or he ‘wheeks’ for her veggies.
“Skye is a lone piggy, who will get together with individuals.
“She is a whole pleasure to me.”
The right way to be new cat’s purrfect pal
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LARRY the cat, chief mouser to the Cupboard Workplace, met his fourth proprietor in a decade this week when new PM Liz Truss moved into No10.
He has served as a trusted companion to her predecessors David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. However now, the 15-year-old should get used to a brand new proprietor.
Specialists have shared their recommendation to Paws and Claws readers on how finest to make sure a clean transition if bringing a brand new feline pal into the home.
Dr Karlien Heyrman, of Pets At Residence, mentioned: “Cats are creatures of behavior and any change to each day routine can doubtlessly be distressing.
“There are some easy steps each the brand new Prime Minister, and any new pet homeowners, can take to ease anxiousness and construct a robust bond with their new pal.”
- Introduce your self one-by-one: Cats can really feel overwhelmed when confronted with plenty of unfamiliar individuals. You probably have one other pet, be sure they’ve time to get acquainted with the opposite’s scent, for instance by swapping their toys, earlier than they arrive head to head.
- Give them area: Cats wish to be up excessive, so attempt to present cozy areas on all ranges.
- Make time to bond: Most cats like to play. Keep in mind to present your cat a delicate toy or one thing to catch as they’ll get annoyed in the event that they’re not capable of pounce on their ‘prey’.
- Be affected person: It’s frequent for anxious cats to solely eat or use the litter tray at evening, or under no circumstances within the first 24 hours. Go away meals, verify trays usually and seek the advice of a vet if issues persists. Get extra recommendation at petsathome.com.
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