HE is on a mission to assist our pets . . . and is right here to reply YOUR questions.
Sean, who’s the top vet at tailor-made pet meals agency tails.com, has helped with house 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.”
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Q) YOU just lately beneficial stick bugs as a fantastic starter pet for youths who like mini beasts.
Can they stay alone and what do you advocate as greatest observe to maintain them? My son Toby is critter mad and I’m pondering of getting him one.
Josie Brown, Norwich
A) They will stay alone, however they’re extra fascinating to look at in a bunch to see how they work together.
There are numerous species. Indian stick bugs seem like skinny twigs, whereas a few of the prickly or leaf stick bugs are far more dramatic in look.
There’s at all times the opportunity of child stick bugs with a bunch, or a minimum of eggs that you could select to incubate in a heat space or not.
However remarkably, some species also can lay eggs that hatch into clones of themselves with out ever assembly a male of their species.
Virgin start!
Very cool creatures, fascinating biology, low-cost and straightforward to maintain — it’s a sure from me for Toby’s new pet.
Q) HOW do I do know if my hamster Hammy’s weight is appropriate?
Somebody instructed me that if he can’t curl up in a ball to sleep it isn’t good for him. Is that this true?
And the way a lot meals can hamsters retailer of their cheeks? He appears like he’s going to pop at instances.
Kate Adams, Leicester
A) The issue is hamsters don’t actually have an off swap.
They’re designed to stockpile meals for his or her deep winter slumber within the wild, which tends to not occur in our centrally heated houses.
Additionally they stay a brief life, and it’s arduous to maintain them trim until they’ve heaps and plenty of area to roam.
So it is very important allow them to do that in as giant an enclosure as potential.
Most pet store cages are far too small for a creature that covers giant distances every evening within the wild.
I at all times advocate avoiding the muesli-style blended hamster meals as they encourage selective feeding.
Hamsters will select all of the candy, tasty, extremely calorific parts.
So that they pile on the burden, however might also be avoiding the nutritious substances, resulting in an imbalanced weight loss plan.
Q) I HAVE had my little Maltese shih tzu Penni for seven years and he or she has been just a little star – till round three weeks in the past.
She has began wetting the kitchen ground through the evening and each morning there’s a puddle ready for me. Water assessments on the vet have been clear thus far.
The vet has put her on a course of antibiotics however nothing has modified. I do know she doesn’t like change.
We gave her a brand new meals bowl a yr in the past and he or she has by no means eaten out of it. The one manner she’s going to eat now’s if we place the meals on the ground.
We just lately painted the kitchen and altered the curtains. It sounds unusual, I do know, however do you suppose it could possibly be right down to the brand new decor?
Marilyn Shaw, Glasgow
A) I believe these decor and bowl modifications are prone to simply be coincidence, to be trustworthy Marilyn.
And if these antibiotics are making no distinction to Penni then I think urinary incontinence.
The actual fact it’s in a single day, when her bladder is of course getting extra full, and passive puddles the place she’s mendacity in mattress suggests an “overflow incontinence” she’s not conscious of.
Your vet might recommend a medicine trial to see if that stops her accidents.
This can be a good instance of how, as vets, we typically have to rule out a couple of medical issues first after which use a trial remedy as prognosis.
With the bowl, did it change materials, dimension, depth?
There are lots of the explanation why a canine may not like a bowl.
With a shih tzu cross I’m pondering she in all probability has a flattish face.
May the brand new bowl be too slim or too deep maybe?
The answer for that’s, strive a brand new bowl.
Star of the week
MEET Ragnor, the cat that thinks he’s a guard canine – and sniffs out his proprietor each time she pops in for a cup of tea along with her neighbours.
The five-year-old rescue puss lets himself in by way of doorways and home windows till he finds proprietor Holly Sum, 36 – after which accompanies her home.
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Holly, of Plympton, Devon, mentioned: “Ragnor would make a superb search-and-rescue cat – as he works his manner up the road till he finds me.
He at all times likes to gatecrash a cuppa – or neighbours’ events.
“He’ll keep after which escort me home.
“He’s very loyal and extra like a guard canine than a cat”
WIN: Dog shampoo
SHAMPOO agency KinKind is providing 26 readers the possibility to win a Make Me Pawsome! canine shampoo bar and storage tin value £9.95.
The cleaning bars, which you circle instantly on to your canine’s coat, are appropriate for delicate pores and skin and comprise coconut oil and particular substances to take away any doggy odours.
To enter, ship an electronic mail headed PAWSOME to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk by April 2. See kinkind.co.uk.
TAKE EXTRA CARE OVER PODGY PUGS
PUG house owners are being warned to not allow them to get chubby, as new analysis from the Royal Veterinary Faculty reveals that one in 5 is overweight.
In response, The Kennel Club has reviewed the Pug Breed Commonplace – a information to how pugs ought to look and act – to be express on weight.
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Globally, there was growing debate about flat-faced dogs, which may endure from well being and respiration issues.
The Netherlands is taking motion to cease the commerce and import of cats and dogs with excessive faces.
Moonpig has introduced it’s to cease promoting playing cards that includes footage of pugs and French bulldogs.
And animal rights charity Peta has referred to as for insurance agency mascot Churchill, the nodding English bulldog, to be retired.
Pug specialists say the general public ought to have a alternative of what canine they personal, however are urging them to solely use respected breeders so well being points may be prevented.
Dr Dan O’Neill, who led the RVC analysis, mentioned: “Obesity is hugely harmful for typically-shaped dogs, but the harms are much greater for flat-faced dogs.”
Hilary Linnett, of Conquell Pugs, added: “The secret’s for the general public to do their analysis.
“Solely use respected breeders who well being check their dogs in line with the suggestions.”
