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.
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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) HOW much can hamsters stuff into their cheeks?
Do I need to worry about my hamster Libby’s cheek pouches popping?
Sometimes she looks fit to burst.
Kate Adams, Barnsley
A) They are pretty impressive little hoarders, and I know what you mean when you say she looks about to burst.
Realistically there’s nothing we can do to stop them filling their cheek pouches and stashing food.
That’s a natural hamster behaviour.
So just keep an eye on Libby and make sure she is able to empty them again.
Signs of blockage would be rubbing her face, scratching at it or retching as if to vomit, which is actually just compression of the cheek pouches to try to empty them.
If she appears to have a blockage for more than a few hours I’d advise bringing her to the vet, but be assured this is a rare event.
Q) WHY do some dogs cock their legs to pee and others don’t?
My three-year-old miniature poodle Mikey doesn’t cock and on occasion he’s even done a handstand.
Is there something wrong with him? He’s always been like it.
Kate Brown, Middlesbrough
A) Did you know some men sit down on the loo to pee? I know — shock horror.
We all have our quirks and preferences, and dogs are just the same. Every dog is different.
Maybe Mikey is a splasher and wants to keep his fur clean and dry, maybe his hormones aren’t driving stereotypical male dog behaviour when it comes to marking territory.
You don’t mention if he’s neutered, which can influence this.
Or maybe he falls firmly in the camp of “my dog’s a weirdo” and we don’t need to try to explain it.
Just embrace him for who he is, a wonderful little oddball.
Q) CAN I give my guinea pigs Mae and Marilyn fruit as a treat?
They definitely like kiwi, blueberries and strawberries.
But is there too much of a good thing?
How much should they have?
Sam Black, Windsor, Berks
A) A tiny amount of fruit occasionally is the best approach, as fruit is high in sugars and guinea pigs can become obese with excess calories and even suffer from diabetes due to excess sugar in their diet.
The fruits you mentioned are good options as they are rich in anti- oxidants and vitamin C, which guinea pigs need from their diet.
Just like humans, they cannot synthesise this vitamin themselves in their bodies.
The bulk of their diet should be hay and fresh vegetables alongside a quality pelleted diet formulated especially for guinea pigs.
Q) ARE some breeds of dogs more windy than others?
My Staffie Mikey has an unpleasant habit of breaking wind and then looking accusingly at my husband.
Should I consider probiotics?
Julie King, Peterborough, Cambs
A) Yes they are and it is something we looked into at tails.com in our massive database of UK dogs.
Unfortunately, Julie, bull breeds came high on the flatulence leaderboard.
There are many factors including genetics, but also diet and maybe owner tendencies with certain breeds.
It’s just a hunch but I have a theory that Staffie owners may slip their pups a little more human food than other dog owners do, because let’s face it, who can resist a Staffie smile.
If it’s really a problem and Mikey is clearing the room on a regular basis, maybe look at putting on a hypoallergenic diet with digestive support like pre and probiotics.
Sometimes dietary intolerances can also play a role.
Star of the week
FAITH the cat has clocked up more than 50million views online after she miraculously recovered from being paralysed.
Amber Rose Beck, 27, from the Saaving Lives charity based in Greece, took the moggie into her York home after she was found unable to move.
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Amber Rose and her team fed and cared for Faith and documented her slow progress in short videos that soon went viral.
She said: “Faith was completely lifeless.
“Now she’s playing and jumping. If you saw her, you’d have no idea what she’s achieved.”
See instagram.com/saavinglives.
WIN: Pet park break
WHITEMEAD Forest Park is offering one reader the chance to win a four-night midweek stay or a three-night weekend break in a pet-friendly premier apartment worth up to £469.
There’s a doggy agility course and heated pool and gym for the owners at the Gloucs retreat.
For a chance to win, send an email headed WHITEMEAD to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk by March 24.
See whitemead.co.uk.
T&CS apply.
Don’t suffer pain of pet loss alone
ALMOST 50 per cent of UK owners felt they must suffer in silence after losing a pet, a poll by national animal charity Blue Cross found.
It revealed that while half were able to discuss their anguish with loved ones, fewer than 40 per cent could talk to their boss about it.
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Most (81 per cent) said they could not request time off work to grieve, while 67 per cent felt it was important for employers to offer support after an animal’s passing, according to the survey of 2,000 owners.
Blue Cross’s Pet Loss Support (PLS) team is marking 30 years of comforting grieving owners.
In 2023, they helped more than 20,000 people through their free helpline, email and web chat, which is available 365 days a year.
Michelle Weller, 48, from Wilts, lost springer spaniel Bailey, who collapsed on a walk in 2022.
The 48-year-old nurse said: “Nothing prepares you. PLS took me out of that dark place and just listened. It was a hug in a phone call.”
Diane James, head of PLS, said: “No one should have to endure the pain of losing a pet alone and PLS is here to hold people’s hand when they need it.”
Blue Cross Pet Loss Support is at bluecross. org.uk/pet-loss.
