HE is on a mission to assist our pets . . . and is right here to reply YOUR questions.
Sean, who’s the top vet at tailor-made pet meals agency tails.com, has helped with house owners’ queries for ten years. He says: “If your pet is performing humorous or is beneath the climate, otherwise you need to learn about vitamin or train, simply ask. I might help preserve pets pleased and wholesome.”
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Q) OUR 27-12 months-previous African gray parrot Basil is extraordinarily talkative and in excellent well being.
He likes a little bit of our meals however we additionally ensure that he has his personal parrot combine and contemporary sunflower seeds.
However the final six months he has been losing a few of his flight feathers.
He can fly down to issues however has issue flying again, if in any respect. Is there something we are able to do?
Val and Colin Brittle, Burton on Trent
Sean says: Dietary deficiencies are frequent in captive parrots, and occur very steadily over time.
We have a tendency to solely discover when a symptom as drastic as feather loss lastly happens.
Sadly we’ve been offered a lie on most parrots and cage birds when it comes to applicable vitamin.
Hen seed shouldn’t be a full and balanced food regimen, and even worse, many birds will selectively feed from these mixes of seed, consuming solely their favorite bits.
Usually they decide the candy or fatty parts, sunflower seeds being a agency favorite.
In my unique pet vet days I met many parrots who had change into sunflower seed junkies, ending up overweight with severe dietary deficiencies.
Attempt to convert Basil slowly to a extra pure food regimen of vibrant vibrant greens, a small quantity of fruit, a tiny quantity of combined seed and the staple of his food regimen being a full and balanced pelleted parrot meals, applicable for his species.
I’ve no affiliation however can advocate Harrison’s as a good choice. A vet examine can be a good thought.
Q) MY son’s eight-month-previous Patterdale Terrier Benji makes use of his paw to tip his feeding bowl over then eats the dried meals off the ground.
If my son tries to decide up the meals he knocks him away together with his nostril.
We don’t know why he does this.
A Google search recommended he’s on the lookout for one thing extra thrilling or doesn’t just like the ceramic bowl. Any concepts?
Polly Rose, Northampton
Sean says: Puppies do like to discover their meals, so it could be that Benji finds the bowl boring, needs to sniff and see every kibble earlier than consuming it, or dislikes the ceramic bowl.
I’m a huge fan of scatter feeding and utilizing feed puzzle toys.
They don’t have to be store purchased, you may get inventive with cardboard packing containers, plastic drinks bottles, even previous tea towels folded up in numerous methods or tied with pockets of kibble inside.
Canines get nice psychological stimulation from working for his or her meals
Q) MAISIE, my Cocker Spaniel, is 2 years previous however nonetheless needs to exit in the midst of the night – generally to bought to the bathroom, different occasions for a sniff round.
It isn’t each night however it doesn’t appear mandatory as she is taken out very last thing earlier than mattress.
She eats round 4pm and she or he is spayed. My different dog is ok.
Do you suppose it’s simply a behavior? I’m puzzled.
Sandra Edgell, Cambridge
Sean says: I feel she has doubtlessly skilled you to be at her beck and name, perhaps as a result of she’s bored at night, or type of wants a wee and the backyard is enjoyable to discover.
It’s value getting a urine pattern and asking your vet to examine it to guarantee she hasn’t bought a urinary an infection, and even diabetes, though that will be uncommon as Maisie is 2.
Cockers are susceptible to this so it’s all the time value watching out for elevated thirst or urination.
It sounds extra like she has by no means grown out of asking to exit at night, so change her routine.
How about transferring considered one of her longer walks to late within the night, a few hours after her dinner, after which one final rest room break stroll across the block permitting loads of sniffing time, very last thing earlier than you each go to mattress.
Then strive not to reply to her requests to exit within the night.
It could be a battle of wills.
Star of the week
SIBLINGS Jasper and Willow are flying the flag for magnificent moggies.
The duo, who dwell at St Peter and St James Hospice in Haywards Heath, Sussex, had been joint winners of Cat Safety’s Nationwide Cat of the Yr 2022.
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The rescue cats go to sufferers receiving finish-of-life care, serving to their family members really feel comfortable.
Cats Safety chief govt John Could stated: “If any readers have a particular cat whom they suppose deserves recognition, the Nationwide Cat Awards could be excited to hear from them.”
See cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards.
WIN: £50 voucher
TO rejoice the launch of its spring vary, we have now joined forces with Jollyes, The Pet Folks, to supply 5 readers the prospect to win a £50 voucher to spend on-line.
From Rufus and Rosie coats for canines to treats for cats and hay for rabbits, there’s one thing for everybody.
For a probability to win, ship an electronic mail headed JOLLYES to [email protected] by February 5. See jollyes.co.uk.
PROTECT OUR PUPS AND THE PUBLIC
AN EXPERT on harmful canines is looking for brand new legal guidelines to govern dog strolling and different canine skilled actions.
Debbie Connolly, an knowledgeable courtroom witness in harmful dog circumstances and behaviourist, has spoken out within the wake of a 28-12 months-previous dog walker tragically dying final week in Caterham, Surrey.
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She stated: “I imagine laws is required to cowl dog strolling, behaviourists, coaching, care and daycare.
“We’d like a nationwide customary for this and all dog actions. In the mean time there isn’t one.”
The Management of Canines Act 2010 permits native authorities to set their very own restrictions and the variety of canines a walker may be answerable for, that means this varies by space.
Debbie, additionally a Skilled Dog Walkers Affiliation advisor, urges readers to ensure that their walker is a member of the PDWA or Affiliation of Skilled Dog Walkers and Sitters and to completely vet them and their references.
She stated: “There are numerous sensible dog walkers on this nation.
“The problem is not only figuring out who’s good and who’s not, however that generally they’re unaware of what the dog walker goes to do after they go away.
“Who pays the value? The canines and the general public.”
Go to mydoghasbitten.uk.
