From dogs with flatulence to potty-mouthed parrots – 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: OUR English bulldog Jasper suffers from flatulence.
It used to be a joke but, actually, I worry that his food isn’t right as he’s such a windy-pops.
It’s not really excessive, but it has been a regular thing since he was a pup.
Are there any supplements or anything I can do to stop him being such a four-legged whoopee cushion?
John Arnold, Plymouth
Sean says: This is one of the many less fortunate aspects of the English bulldog breed and can be due to their anatomy or the extreme flat face we have bred them with.
Like all flat-faced breeds, they struggle to eat without swallowing a lot of air.
Plus, their stomach can have physical issues, causing gas build-up and acid reflux.
Finally, many of them are prone to dietary intolerances or allergies, which again can cause inflammation and excess gas building up in the intestines.
What goes in must come out, generally in the form of foul wind that could clear a room.
You could try adding digestive support ingredients such as pre and probiotics, adjusting fibre levels or even a hypoallergenic diet to tackle any food related causes.
Get in touch on hello@tails.com and we will see what we can do.
Q: MY African Grey parrot Ezme is really potty mouthed.
My kids have taught her swear words but, when I have visitors, it can be embarrassing.
What can we do to try to discourage it?
Mark Brown, Leeds
Sean says: This problem always cracks me up — and it’s not unusual.
There is a parrot called Frosty in a Cornish pub that even tells customers they are w*****s when they walk in.
Sorry to be unsympathetic, but there’s not a lot funnier than parrot profanities, especially in pleasant company.
In my time in practice, when I treated lots of parrots, it was always hilarious to pull back the consultation room door and see everyone’s faces when a particularly vocal parrot was waiting their turn in the waiting room.
Receptionists would be trying to hold in fits of giggles, while genteel ladies would go bright red as the air turned blue.
Parrot owners would be hiding under parrot cage blankets, too.
Anyway, I digress.
The only way to discourage it is to never give it oxygen or attention of any kind.
A tall order with kids who have the same sense of humour as me.
Embrace the potty mouthed parrot, I say!
Q: CAN house cats be truly happy?
I would love to have a cat, but I live in a first-floor flat.
I’m thinking of getting a rescue, but is it fair to do so?
Liz Bullen, Elburton, Devon
Sean says: A growing community of cat owners is advocating for cats to be kept indoors all the time, with the only access to the great outdoors being a “catio”.
Effectively, it’s a large aviary they can come and go from via a cat flap to the house.
There are a lot of benefits for cat welfare: less risk of disease, fighting with other cats, avoiding road traffic accidents and so on.
There are also benefits to our delicate ecosystems and precious, yet sadly dwindling, wildlife, too.
We do have a really unnatural density of cats, which puts incredible pressure on native birds, small mammals, reptiles and more.
We are always reluctant to move away from traditional ways of keeping pets but, if you put in the effort and provide plenty of enrichment indoors, I think that, yes, cats can be happy that way.
Star of the week
WHEN Claire Kirkham and her 11-year-old daughter Mia found miniature Dachshund Bella, they thought the dinky dog would be the perfect pooch for them.
But Bella, now five months, has become so obsessed with running up trees that Claire, who has her own cleaning firm in Manchester, spends hours trying to coax her down.
She said: “Bella is gorgeous, but she thinks she’s a cat or a squirrel.
She climbs trees, getting into the branches, while I am scrambling trying to get her down.”
WIN: Viva Pet Fountain and toys bundle
KEEP your cat happy and healthy with a brilliant bundle from Petsafe Brand.
The Sun on Sunday has teamed up with PetSafe® to give two lucky readers the chance to win a newly launched 1.8 litre Viva pet fountain, an award-winning ScoopFree self-cleaning litter box and a brilliant selection of cat toys worth £350.
To enter, send an email, including your contact details and headed PETSAFE, to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk by August 4.
See uk.petsafe.net.
T&Cs apply.
Pooches dead loss at game of fetch
DOGS lose a staggering 140million balls each year – as they go missing on average within a week.
Border terriers are the most careless, with 89 per cent mislaying up to 20 balls annually.
Cavapoos are second- worst offenders at 79 percent and chihuahuas come in third with 66 per cent.
Kathryn Patel, head of pets at Pets at Home, which carried out the survey, said: “For some dogs, a ball really is their best friend – and for many pet owners, a dog walk isn’t complete without some time spent trying to find their ball.”
Pets At Home has five top tips for playing ball with your pooch . . .
Always ensure the ball is large enough for your dog to carry without the risk of accidental swallowing, but also small enough for them to hold comfortably.
Consider your dog’s jaw shape and size when choosing the best ball for them.
Always supervise your pet during play, and regularly check their ball.
Never throw it directly at your dog for them to catch.
Although balls are fun, ensure your dog has time to express normal behaviours such as sniffing and exploring, too.