From cat’s flea treatment to neutering rabbits – 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.
Q) Is it OK to use my dog Barney’s flea treatment on my cat Felix? Can cats and dogs use the same product?
Shaun Brooks, Dorchester, dorset
A) Big, huge, massive NO! Although it may be the same brand of flea treatment, dog and cat strengths of medication or dosage instructions are completely different.
Also, depending on that medication, it may be either too much and therefore toxic to a cat, or too little and not be as effective.
Always, always make sure to buy cat flea treatment and dose according to an accurate weight.
Q) MY cat Elsie is terrified of people and gets really spooked and hides behind a cupboard.
She is a rescue. Is there something we can do so that over time she can learn not to be so timid?
Emma Cooke, Bath, Somerset
A) This is just going to take time, and in some cases you may never have an outgoing, happy cat when strangers enter the building. Do you know what? That’s just fine.
We have to adapt our expectations for our pets, especially rescue/rehome ones that may not have had the best start in life.
A good tip to build Elsie’s confidence and trust in people is to have your guests drop delicious treats near her when they visit.
They should do this without eye contact or calling her, or even acknowledging she is there.
Just build passive, positive associations so that when guests arrive, so do Dreamies (or other treats of choice!).
Q) DO you recommend neutering female rabbits? I have four rabbits (two boys and two girls) – Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Monica (from Friends!).
I keep the same sex together for company, but I have been considering neutering. If so, should it be the boys, girls or both?
Also, are there any health benefits or should I just let them be?
Chelsea Siddle, Burnley
A) Yes, I always do neuter, because the chances of older female rabbits developing a type of womb cancer called uterine adenocarcinoma is extremely high.
So for a long, healthy life it’s best they are spayed. As for the males, it will help them live a calmer, less frustrated and less aggressive life if they are neutered, too.
It will also prevent cancer and various health problems associated with remaining entire or intact. Also, I love their names. Could they be any cuter?
Q) MY dog Mica, who is a five-year-old Siberian husky, gets hot spot red patches on her fur, particularly through summer.
I use Sudocrem to soothe it. My vet is recommending Apoquel. What do you think?
She also gets sore spots between her paws, and she is on a hypoallergenic diet.
Sam Carpenter, Runcorn, Cheshire
A) This sounds like a good idea if diet and topical treatment are not helping.
Skin conditions, and allergies in particular, are incredibly frustrating for pets, their owners and us vets.
Quite often we cannot identify the underlying cause of the issue, and in these cases the best we can do is often just to eliminate the itch, and the scratching and skin infections that go with it.
Apoquel is one drug in our armoury that really does have a big impact on our pets’ quality of life in eliminating the itch.
Speak to your vet about your budget and appetite to diagnose the underlying cause, or to manage it going forward symptomatically.
Star of the week
QUINN, the lop-eared rabbit, sees life from a different angle after an operation left her with a head tilt.
The sweet-natured six-year-old had surgery for an ear infection, and owner Chloe Hennegan watched anxiously as Quinn struggled to balance afterwards.
But the brave bunny wasn’t beaten.
Chloe, of Hampton in Arden, West Mids, says: “At first she couldn’t balance in confined spaces, but quickly learned to run around outside.
“Now, despite the head tilt, she’s a happy and outgoing rabbit who loves to sunbathe.”
Quinn is part of the family at Fat Fluffs Rabbit Rescue and Rehome (fatfluffs.com), a charity set up by aircraft engineer Chloe and five friends in 2008.
WIN: £50 pet boutique voucher and MagiCalm goodies
VITAMIN pet brand Healthspan has teamed up with Divine Pets.
It is offering two readers a £50 voucher for the pet boutique, as well as nine months of MagiCalm products – a special mix of B vitamins, magnesium and calming chamomile.
To be in with a chance to win, send an email by December 22, headed with the word HEALTHSPAN, to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk. T&Cs apply. See healthspan.co.uk
Pooches are best drive buddies in car
DRIVING with your dog has a positive impact on your mood, says a new survey.
Nine in ten owners regularly have their pooch along for the ride and more than half say they prefer their furry friend over a human passenger.
The latest findings by Erie Insurance say 32 per cent of owners feel guilty leaving their dog at home, and 23 per cent say their pet hates staying home alone.
Expert Dr Guy Sandelowsky has some tips for owners whose pets are new to the joys of motoring.
He says: “Be patient and build it up slowly over time, and you should both be rewarded with happy car trips together in the future.
“If car journeys are associated with negative experiences, such as a painful vet visit, or the dog is not acclimatised to car journeys from a young age, travel anxiety is more likely.”
Dr Sandelowsky says familiar and comforting items, such as favourite blankets, toys or chews, are must-haves for journeys.
He adds: “There are also sprays containing calming dog pheromones that mimic the happy hormones they received from their mother, which can help some dogs.
“Others respond well to natural calming supplements.”