From parrots to a breathless bulldog – your pet questions are 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.

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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) SHOULD I let my African gray parrot, Penelope, fly free?

I trained her in a large aviary after seeing some amazing footage of birds going for walks on TikTok.

But do you think it’s too risky to bring her out?

I’ve had her for ten years and I would be devastated if I lost her.

Kylie Brown, Plymouth, Devon

A) It’s very risky, and I’m not going to recommend it to anyone because the chances of things going wrong are so high.

No doubt, free flying is great for the mental stimulation, exercise, behavioral enrichment and more natural living of parrots in captivity, but you really need to understand your bird well and have an incredibly strong bond.

Unfortunately, there is traffic, predators, or even other birds that would bother Penelope to contend with if you did start.

So it’s up to you, but you should be fully prepared for her to get lost and possibly not get her back.

­­Q) MY four-year-old French bulldog sometimes has trouble breathing.

Pepi looks no different from other bulldogs, but when he gets hot it gets worse.

That’s why I don’t put coats on him.

Would you consider surgery?

Cath Edwards, Leeds

A) Before recommending surgery, I would recommend having him assessed and scored for a condition called BOAS: brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome.

This is a genetic condition common in French/English bulldogs, but also in pugs, due to our history of breeding with flat faces that we think look cute.

The sad reality is that we have created serious welfare problems as a result.

The fact that Pepi visibly struggles to breathe, especially when it’s hot, suggests that he has some or all of BOAS’s anatomical problems: narrow nostrils, a short snout, a narrowed airway, and excess tissue in his throat.

The good news is that surgery can help tremendously, so I would check with your vet.

Q) IS it fair to keep a cat only as a house cat?

I have a Burmese kitten and she looks out the window with great interest.

Should I let her roam free?

Obviously I’m worried about wildlife and her going missing.

Spencer Shute, Exmouth, Devon

A) I’m starting to seriously entertain the idea of ​​cats living indoors only, provided that efforts are made to enrich their environment and meet all their behavioral needs.

It is standard practice in many countries and not only protects your cat from fights with others, from getting lost, traffic accidents and diseases, but also helps the local wildlife.

You can allow outdoor access with an enclosed ‘catio’, much like a giant aviary, or you can even cat-proof your garden boundaries to keep your cat on your property.

V) OUR rescue greyhound Mist is very afraid of loud noises.

We think it must be from the time he was racing.

He broke away from his lead a few times and ran home.

What can we do if we’re worried while we’re away, in case he runs away?

Ken Broomfield, Ealing, Middx

A) It appears that Mist could benefit from a noise desensitization program, which is used to tackle phobias, for example during fireworks.

It is a gradual process and requires dedication. The idea is that through slow exposure to sounds that get louder over time, your dog becomes accustomed to them and becomes less triggered because he learns that nothing bad happens with sudden loud noises.

You need recordings of the kind of sound that scares Mist, for example a backfiring car engine or a metallic bang.

The other thing you can do in the meantime is attach a second long leash to his harness, just in case he slips his collar. Safety first.

Star of the week

GRACIE, the retired racing greyhound, has completed Brintha Mahalingam’s new home.

The three-year-old pup was rescued from Battersea Dogs Home and is now learning to overcome fear with Brintha and her son Manesh, 31, an IT manager in Hastings, East Sussex.

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Financial accounts manager Brintha said: “When we completed the renovation of our house, we knew one thing was missing: a four-legged friend.

“She is calm, loving and so well behaved. She is Manesh’s first dog and she doesn’t leave him alone.

“Gracie is the perfect roommate.”

Pet-friendly is a top priority for holiday swaps

BUMPER A large number of pet owners around the world are swapping homes to save money on holiday, Paws And Claw can reveal.

Holiday company HomeExchange says there has been a 42 per cent increase in pet-friendly home exchanges for getaways.

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And this year, there are 371 percent more homes that welcome pets in Britain.
Jessica Poillucci, of homeexchange.com, said: “Home exchanges take some of the financial stress out of holiday planning.

“If you have pets, you can probably find another dog or cat lover to swap with and either have built-in pet care or take your fur baby with you on the trip.”

Cat owner Anna Bundock, 46, from Crystal Palace, South London, has been using Home Exchange since 2016 and her exchangers are happy to care for her cat Pica.

Anna, who is married to Pete, said: “We have visited Gran Canaria, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany and many beautiful villages in the UK.

“We often exchange with families who have pets with them. They are mainly cats, but we have also looked after chickens.

“And at our house, guests say they loved having Pica greet them.”