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.
Q) OUR 11-year-old cat Sid is such a fussy eater we have had to buy all different brands to tempt him.
We’re always throwing unwanted food away and putting new food out.
Sometimes the brand he rejected the week before is the one he then seems to love.
Is this normal?
SALLY POUNDER, Leeds
Sean says: Pretty normal.
As I’ve said here before, I think cats just like to test us and remind us that we are their mere servants.
I don’t think there is a medical reason, but if changes in appetite are sudden, or there is any serious weight loss, then it’s worth getting Sid checked by your vet.
I also wonder if there may be dental pain.
But it’s likely Sid just knows that variety comes when he refuses to eat.
So it may be that a battle of wills is the best approach.
If he doesn’t eat, the food gets taken up and put down again later that day.
I doubt he will waste away, he might just complain harder during the adjustment period.
Q) WE have a male blackbird on a wall outside our kitchen window daily from 7.30am until dark.
We feed him all through the day with various nuts, oats, bread and fat.
I’m worried he will refrain from fending for himself if we continue to support him.
Should we stop?
SALLY MALECZEK, Peterborough
Sean says: Lucky you, I love blackbirds.
Sadly, they may be in trouble with the Usutu virus that has caused a 40 per cent reduction in their numbers in Greater London since 2020.
So I would say continue to feed all garden birds.
It helps increase their chances of breeding success.
Be careful of disease transmission though by moving feeding locations and cleaning and disinfecting feeders regularly.
I don’t think helping your blackbird will hinder his chances of finding food on days you’re not around.
Q) DESPITE her litter tray being cleaned every day, our 15-year-old cat Lily has stopped using it.
Instead, she pees and poops on the floor.
This has been happening for the past two months.
COLETTE FENN, Cambridge
Sean says: There could be a few reasons but as it has been going on for a number of months it could be a hard habit to break.
Cats are creatures of habit, and the scent of previous toileting places will stimulate them to go there again.
So it’s important to thoroughly clean the area with a pet-safe cleaning product then a pet deodorising spray.
You can deter Lily from going in her new favourite spot by either limiting access to it or changing the surface material temporarily.
A sheet of plastic is a cheap and simple choice.
But why is she doing it?
It could be an early sign of senile changes.
It could also be a sign of kidney disease or another hormonal issue.
Or something stress related.
A vet visit at age 15 for a general health check is probably a good idea.
Q) MY four-year-old black lab Nellie refuses to go into the garden after dark.
It means sometimes she has an accident in the night.
She loves going out for her usual two walks a day.
JOHN MOORE, Hitchin, Herts
Sean says: I wonder if something frightened poor Nellie out in the garden after dark.
She may have made an association there.
The trick to tackling this is to use behavioural modification techniques.
Have a look into habituation, response substitution and counter conditioning.
Basically, you want to have Nellie associate nocturnal garden visits with positive feelings and rewards.
Star of the week
BRAVE Billy refused to let two broken legs slow him down.
After a racing career, the seven-year-old was taken in by Hector’s Greyhound Rescue near Aberystwyth, Mid Wales.
Owner Hayley Bradley says: “The trainer had one of his legs repaired, but the other leg was ignored.
“By the time he came to us it was too late for corrective surgery, so it is bent.”
Since his arrival in July 2022, Hector has shown himself to be a big softie.
Hayley says: “He has a big heart.
“If you’re short enough, he assumes your shoulders are the perfect perch for his paws to initiate cuddle time.
“If anyone was thinking about giving a retired racer a good home, he’s the one.”
See hectorsgreyhoundrescue.org.
WIN! Heated throw
WITH nine settings and a nine-hour timer, this VonHaus pink heated throw will keep you and your pet warm at a fraction of the price of heating a room.
It is machine washable, too. Just detach all the wires and pop it on a 30C wash to keep it fresh.
We have five to give away.
To enter, send an email headed VONHAUS to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk by March 23.
See vonhaus.com/vh_en/heating for more information.
Read T&Cs
Keep pooches safe from spring perils
DOG first-aid expert Rachel Bean, who wrote the International Pet Education and Training Network’s qualification in Canine First Aid, has revealed the five biggest spring hazards – and how to tackle them.
1) Poisonous plants: Many plants bloom in spring, including toxic daffodils, bluebells, and buttercups.
Ingestion can lead to vomiting, drooling, and even organ failure.
Contact a vet or emergency animal hospital urgently.
2) Heatstroke: Sudden warm days can cause heatstroke so ensure access to water and shade, and don’t walk them in the hottest part of the day.
3) Mud and puddles: Puddles might contain bacteria that can cause Leptospirosis, a dangerous infection.
If your dog has vomiting, lethargy, or fever, see a vet immediately.
4) Pollen and hay fever: If you dog shows signs like itching, sneezing, and watery eyes, consult a vet.
Wiping down their paws and coat after walks can help reduce exposure.
5) Fleas and ticks: These can transmit diseases like Lyme disease.
Check your dog after walks and remove ticks carefully using a tick remover tool, or seek veterinary attention.
- See rachelbean.co.uk
