From a heartbroken bird to a hyperactive puppy — 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 , 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.”
If you want him to answer a question for YOU simply email him at [email protected]
Q) WE recently inherited my mother- in-law’s parrot, Flossie, but she has started plucking at her feathers and seems quite distressed.
Do you think it could be the change of scene, as she lived with my mother-in-law for years, or could she be upset about losing her owner?
What is the best thing to do for a broken-hearted bird?
Chloe Grainger, Edinburgh
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A) Poor Flossie, that’s sad. They really are intelligent and emotional animals, parrots.
So yes, losing her owner and a major change in scene is traumatising for her.
Feather plucking can be caused by stress and psychological problems.
Tackling this is a big topic, so I’d recommend seeing a parrot specialist vet to rule out a few other problems and give detailed advice on how to help Flossie adapt to a new way of life without self-harming.
I know Flossie is of great sentimental value but if you don’t have time for a parrot (and they take a lot of time) maybe consider rehoming her with an experienced parrot owner?
Got a question for Sean?
SEND your queries to [email protected].
Q) WE have a very hyperactive puppy and a neighbour suggested we try “clicker training” to calm her down.
I don’t really know what this involves, and whether it is cruel to animals to try to control them in this way. Is it?
Malcolm Reeve, Winchester, Hants
A) Puppies are hyperactive by nature — when they’re not sleeping, that is. It’s natural.
You don’t mention what age your puppy is but they go through different phases of behaviour and learning.
A clicker is an excellent tool to help train your puppy but it won’t calm her down.
Training is a very good idea though, as it helps you communicate with your dog so she knows what you want from her.
Far from being cruel, training is vital for a happy dog, as they thrive on routine and consistency.
Many behavioural problems stem from inconsistent messages and confusion.
Enrol in puppy training classes to socialise her and learn more.
Q) YOU might think I am crazy but my tortoise seems to have a cold.
He is actually sneezing and I’m getting a bit worried.
Is this even possible though?
Can tortoises catch cold or am I losing the plot?
Natasha Evans, Swansea
A) You’re not losing the plot at all, and this is an emergency situation.
Respiratory infections in tortoises and other reptiles are very serious and much more easy to treat if caught early.
Common symptoms include nasal discharge, sneezing and lack of appetite.
I strongly urge you to find a reptile specialist vet as soon as you can.
Q) I LIVE in quite a small flat and feel guilty about having to leave our cockapoo alone for a few hours every day.
I always make sure he has a run in the morning and evenings, but would it be kinder to let him go and live on a farm in the countryside so he could run around all day?
Sally Hughes, Brighton
A) Dogs love company more than running around on their own. Needing a big garden for a big dog is a common myth.
Dogs want interaction more than space. I have to be honest in that spending all day, every day alone isn’t fun for any dog, and cockapoos are a mix of a highly active and highly intelligent breed.
So they have even more need for stimulation and exercise than most.
Could you arrange for a friend or family member to take him out each day?
Or see — there may be a neighbour who would love a spell of canine company.
Star of the week
SAINTLY kitty Quita is helping front line care workers as an emotional support animal, boosting their mental health.
The puss, who has 4.5million likes on TikTok, cheers up care staff, both in person and via Zoom, as they can spend time petting her, which lifts emotional well-being.
When Covid restrictions allow, she travels to work on a lead and uses the Tube with owner Robert Stephenson-Padron, a social care manager, 37, of Chiswick, West London.
He said: “Throughout the pandemic, Quita has been raising the spirits of our front line care staff and boosting mental health.
“She also received millions of views, and cheered people up. But when she met Prince Charles at an official visit, she tried to scratch him!”
Follow her on TikTok @quitathekitty.
Win: A dog holiday
HAVE the January blues got you dreaming of getting away?
Well, now you could – and your dog doesn’t need to be left behind.
Canine Cottages is offering one Paws & Claws reader a £300 voucher to stay at one of its cottages for up to two adults, two children and their pet.
To enter, send an email with the header CANINE COTTAGES to sunday [email protected], by January 29.
See .
Dogs inspiring cancer 'E-nose'
CUTTING edge technology that will one day allow our phones to tell us if we have cancer is being helped by two British dogs.
Midas, a ten-year-old Hungarian wirehaired vizsla, and Florin, a seven-year-old red fox labrador, are key to the project as both can detect prostate cancer with their acute sense of smell.
Medical Detection Dogs, a charity based in Milton Keynes, is working on creating a “robotic nose” that replicates how dogs sniff.
Scientists hope it will eventually be developed into a smartphone app.
A spokesman said: “It sounds a bit like science fiction, but we are working towards an ‘E-nose’ with our collaborators at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and getting closer all the time.
“Imagine your phone telling you that you may have cancer and recommending a health check with your doctor.
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“Both dogs live in loving homes but are also VIPs after being trained to use their extraordinary sense of smell.”
The charity was founded after CEO and chief scientific officer Claire Guest’s labrador alerted her to the fact she had breast cancer by repeatedly nudging her chest.