Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.
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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.”
Q) MY 18-month-old Labrador Milo humps people’s legs.
He is an embarrassment.
I’ve been holding off neutering because it’s better for his long-term health, but I’m getting to the end of my tether.
Ideally, how long should I wait until he gets the snip, which will hopefully cure his randy ways?
Paul Robins, Bath
A) Timing of neutering is very important.
There are benefits in allowing dogs to fully mature with their sex hormones fully functional.
It’s been shown, for example, to reduce the incidence of certain skeletal and joint conditions in specific large breeds or breeds predisposed to these problems.
For Labradors, generally wait until they are 15 to 18 months minimum, perhaps even up to two years of age.
But every dog is different, and if behavioural issues are becoming a problem, and being driven by burgeoning sex hormones, it’s sometimes best to neuter.
Neutering can make fearful or anxious dogs worse.
So there are always multiple factors in making that decision.
As yours has already hit that 18-month-old threshold, if his behaviour is really giving you the hump, go ahead.
Q) OUR cat Mog lost part of her tail after she was hit by a car six months ago.
She now seems to have a bit less balance.
She can still get around OK but is not as confident.
Is that because of what happened to her?
Liz Smith, Reading
A) It may be, but cats are mysterious creatures at the best of times so it can be tricky to work them out psychologically.
Our pets tend to be better than us at forgetting the past and living in the moment, so even if her confidence was dented by the accident
I imagine she’ll get back to her old self before long.
Q) IF the post comes when I’m not in, my chihuahua just tears it to shreds.
He really hates it.
What can I do to deter Woody from his destructive ways?
Sarah Chambers, Plymouth
A) There’s a really easy answer to many behavioural “issues” we perceive with our pets, that’s so painfully obvious I always feel like a fraud saying it.
But it’s simply limiting their access or opportunity to perform that behaviour.
So for a cat that wees in the bath, make sure to keep the bathroom door shut.
For Woody, make the hall a no-go area until late morning, after the post has been delivered and picked up.
Or get a cage fitted around the letterbox to stop the post falling on the floor and getting shredded. Simples.
Q) CAN you suggest ways to raise humidity in my corn snake Bernie’s enclosure?
He’s doing OK but now summer is coming I want to keep things on an even keel.
Are there any simple steps I can take?
Caitlin Evans, Lancaster
A) Yes, the best thing to do is provide different microclimates within the enclosure so Bernie can choose for himself where to go at various times of the day. And according to his need.
That means providing a temperature gradient with heating at one end, and a humidity gradient with a large shallow water dish at the warm end topped up regularly.
It’s also a good idea to provide a damp hide, usually a moisture- retaining tub with a small entrance hole cut out and filled with damp sphagnum moss or other bedding.
When Bernie is coming up to a shed, I bet he spends most of his time in there and will have no shedding problems as a result.
Star of the week
MOOSE played a key role in saving the woman who rescued him – and now he’s the inspiration behind Blue Cross’s new TV advert.
The nine-year-old puss was rehabilitated by the charity after losing a leg, then taken in by Carol Watson from the Yorkshire Dales.
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When Moose flew across the room to claw at her breast, Carol made sure to keep her hospital appointment, which confirmed she had cancer.
Carol said: “I’d have still had treatment and surgery, but not as fast. I rescued Moose, now he’s rescued me.”
See bluecross.org.uk/give-get-help.
WIN: Backpack worth £159.99
IT’S National Walking Month and to celebrate we are giving away two Gomatic backpacks, each worth £159.99.
Built to last, the sleek, slim Gomatic Navigator RS 15L Pack is ideal for all your walking gear for you and your pup. It also includes a hidden water- bottle pocket.
For a chance to win one, send an email headed Gomatic to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk by May 26.
See gomatic.co.uk.
T&Cs apply.
Take a dog walk on the wild side
WITH National Walking Month under way, the top ten dog-friendly hikes have been revealed.
Experts from outdoor clothing brand Tog24 analysed hundreds of TikTok posts to find the most popular treks, based on scenery, pup-friendly terrain and opportunities to meet other four-legged friends.
Managing director Mark Ward said: “At Tog24 we believe that outdoor exploration is better with our furry companions by our side.
“Always plan ahead to avoid any ‘surprises’.
“Make sure that both you and your dog have plenty of supplies, and stay hydrated and respect the environment by following a leave-no-trace policy.
“We advise people taking their dogs into the countryside to check government guidance in the Countryside Code.
“This is the best way to ensure livestock, the environment and the dogs themselves are protected.”