From rescue chickens to a cat with an upset stomach, your pet’s questions will be answered

HE is on a mission to help our pets. . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.

Sean, head veterinarian at custom pet food company tails.com, has been helping owners with questions for a decade.

4

4

He says, “If your pet is acting strange or sick, or you want to know more about diet or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”

Q) I have rehomed four rescue chickens and they currently don’t have all their feathers.

What can I do to return Emma, ​​Beatrice, Vera and Ida to their full glory as quickly as possible?

Lizzie Keys, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A) I have taken in rescue hens several times and they can look quite frightening upon arrival.

I’m sure you’re doing everything right, but nutrition is probably the biggest factor in returning them to full health.

Make sure they get high quality pellets as a staple food, a handful of mixed corn once a day and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

They will be fine after their next molt.

It takes time depending on what part of the molting cycle they are in.

This time next year you won’t recognize them from their first photos.

Enjoy their antics, they make great pets.

Q) MY 12-year-old pet cat, Sophie, recently had tummy troubles.

Our vet took three days’ worth of stool samples and everything was fine again.

Sophie has access to water 24/7.

Before she got sick she would drink it from her bowl or from the tap, but now she doesn’t go near it anymore.

I have read that it can be a sign of diabetes or hypothyroidism.

If she has this, would she be showing any other signs?

She eats two bowls of wet food a day.

Sarah Hamilton, Stockton-on-Tees

A) If it was a one-off event, it could very well fall into the category of, “Who knows why that happened?”.

But it’s better to know the cause and clarify it than for it to be something more sinister.

With diabetes or hyperthyroidism (cats become hyper- or overactive, dogs become hypo- or underactive) you would expect Sophie to drink more, not less.

The wet food will provide much of the moisture she needs, while cats fed dry food usually drink more to compensate.

The best advice is to monitor for now and if you are still concerned, have your vet check her again.

Q) IS a tarantula a good pet for an eight year old?

My son Kieron begs me for it because he has a great interest in nature.

But what do you think?

Kylie Evans, Swansea

A) I’d say probably not, because they’re usually not that good to be around, but more of a “look and see” kind of pet.

They can become stressed and lose irritating hair, and they are very fragile creatures.

I once had to glue one back together when it fell to the floor and its belly burst. In the end all was well.

There are more suitable pets for an eight-year-old, such as spiny stick insects, hermit crabs or giant African land snails.

If Kieron still has the bug after trying this, then a Chilean Rose Tarantula would be a good starter species when he is a bit older.

Q) CHARLIE, my four-year-old black cat, seems to have lost her mojo.

She has gone from lively, social, playful and boisterous to a semi-recluse who rarely leaves her basket.

She eats normally and goes to her litter box well.

Our vet did blood tests and examined her, but nothing was found.

Any advice?

Dave Buckland, Hull

A) I’m glad your vet didn’t find anything wrong.

Perhaps she has just grown out of her exuberant kitten phase and is moving into a more sedentary era for adult cats.

This happens a lot in dogs who can calm down after being crazy maniacs for two to three years.

The other possibility is that something in the house or outside is upsetting Charlie and causing her to hide more.

Are there new cats in the neighborhood visiting your garden?

Or are there new pets or people in the house?

If not, keep an eye on it and if it gets much worse, go back to the vet.

Sometimes it only takes a few months in our pets’ lives for something to change health-wise, so a blood test may be different a few months later.

Star of the week

TOTO was found sleeping in a shed and now he’s parading his stuff at Crufts.

The nine-year-old crossbred dog will compete in the Golden Oldie class in the Scruffts semi-final at the famous dog show which starts on Thursday.

4

Jaylee Prince, 23, from Sittingbourne, Kent, found Toto in their shed seven years ago and he required surgery on an injured leg.

Jaylee said: “He loved always being by my side and we built such a strong bond. I couldn’t be without him.

“I am beyond proud of Toto and cannot believe how resilient he is after everything he has been through.”

Owners spend £69 million on pet toys

Last year we spent £69 million on toys to keep our four-legged friends happy, says Pets At Home.

Signs that a pet may be bored include destructive behavior, restlessness, and excessive grooming.

4

But playing games with them can be the perfect solution.

Fetching is the top game for pups and 13 million dog balls were sold last year.

Cats love food-themed toys, including rubber donuts and hamburgers, plus small stuffed animals.

Dr. Karlien Heyrman from Pets At Home said it is also essential that small pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits are given the chance to exercise and play to stimulate their minds.

She said: “One-to-one, reward-based training can keep intelligent animals such as rats stimulated and can strengthen the bond between pet and owner.

“It’s worth providing rabbits with lots of interesting toys, such as tunnels, platforms and willow toys, to keep them from nibbling on things they shouldn’t.

“Chew textured chew toys are perfect for play and satisfy small pets’ urges to chew because their teeth never stop growing. So by gnawing they keep their teeth healthy.”