HE is on a mission to help our pets. . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.
Sean, the chief vet at bespoke pet food company tails.com, has been helping with owners’ questions for a decade.
6th
Today Sean is helping a cat stay warm in cold weatherImage Credit: Getty – Contributor
6th
Sean McCormack, Senior Veterinarian at tails.com, says he can “help keep pets happy and healthy”.Photo credit: Doug Seeburg – The Sun
He says, “If your pet is behaving funny, or is under the weather, or you want to know something about diet or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy. “
Q) MY cat Pickles continues to climb the cooler to keep warm in cold weather.
I put a towel or blanket on the radiator so it doesn’t get too hot – and of course it can go down.
But a friend said it could burn her or harm her.
Is that right?
She looks so pleased and I feel bad when I tell her to get down.
Amelia Turner, High Wycombe, Dollar
SEAN SAYS: Pickles are very unlikely to get burned, but putting on a towel is still a good idea. A hanging cat bed that is tied over the radiator is better.
Here’s some fun in science. . .
Cats are like us mammals and have thermal receptors in their skin that tell them when they are too hot and possibly get burned.
Reptiles have different thermoreceptors and are cold-blooded in search of warmth.
I have treated burns on lizards and snakes that were wrapped around an unguarded heat lamp and did not realize they were on fire.
Do you have a question for Sean?
SEND your questions to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk.
Q) We have a male border collie, almost four, named Marley that we love to tear to pieces.
But he’s affectionate and attention grabbing.
He moves my arm to snuggle between me and my partner on the sofa and pats my arm to snuggle him.
He’s loved and well looked after, but it’s at the point where we avoid having people as he jumps up and doesn’t leave them alone.
Do we spoil him?
Some people have said he castrated him. But he’s not snappy or grumpy.
Laura Clare, Milton Keynes
SEAN SAYS: Too much love and attention – what a problem! Kidding aside, this is a pretty standard border collie thing.
They are a smart breed and need a lot of stimulation. So if he’s not trained enough, or if he’s exercising his mind, he might get bored.
I don’t think spay and neuter is a solution here, although there are health benefits to doing at your age.
Rewarding behavior with awareness is likely part of the problem.
Work out a plan with a qualified behaviorist, as collies brains are difficult to remove.
Tails.com offers customized pet food
Q) We have a 15 month old Border Terrier named Bessy that we got as a puppy in January 2020.
Everything was fine with the class until we were locked. (We protect for health reasons.)
She bites my husband on the feet and he cannot move without her grabbing his pants.
She wants his attention all the time, scratching the arm of his chair and then lunging with bared teeth.
When she puts on a leash, she calms down. Is a snout the answer?
Barbara Fowler, Spalding, Lincs
SEAN SAYS: It is so difficult to give advice on behavior without observation.
But starting with the basics, getting cooped up in lockdown is a problem for young and boisterous pups.
Do you have friends who might be able to give her plenty of exercise every day on long walks?
I think she’s climbing the walls.
6th
Says Sean, “Starting with the basics, getting cooped up in lockdown is a problem for young and boisterous pups.”Image Credit: Getty – Contributor
Q) I am a seasoned cat owner and I have just adopted nine month old Cassie.
She was a house cat but is dying to go out. How can I safely introduce them to the garden?
Lorraine Villiers, Wolverhampton
SEAN SAYS: Have you ever heard of a “Catio”?
It’s an enclosure that you can build in your yard with a cat flap so your cat can go outside and watch the world go by – while avoiding the risk of getting lost, attacked, or hit by a car.
Domestic cats don’t have to miss out, you just need to get creative with how to entertain them.
Star of the week
ADORABLE Eric hopes to find a new home after overcoming his shyness by playing soccer.
The six-year-old American bulldog was broken when its owner moved overseas to work in October and he was turned over to the RSPCA’s Danaher Animal Home in Essex.
6th
Eric hopes to find a new home after overcoming his shyness by playing soccer
Animal Welfare Manager Craig Horsler said, “Our people worked very hard to help him gain trust.
“He’s still nervous but ready for a new home.
“It would be nice to see that he has a second chance at luck because he is a really wonderful dog.”
See bit.ly/3vb3sf6 for more information.
WIN: Makeover kit for your dog
DO you WANT to give your pet a spring makeover?
With the WildWash gift set (wildwash.co.uk) your pooch will look fresh and smell as fresh as a daisy.
Each item is made from natural ingredients.
The sets contain shampoo, conditioner and a Smell Sweet Spritz used by snow groomers and veterinarians around the world.
For a chance to win one of eight sets worth £ 34.95 each, send an email entitled WILDWASH to sundaypets @ the-sun.co.uk.
Terms and conditions apply. The deadline for entries is March 28, 2021.
No threat from stuttering pets
CATS, hamsters, horses, and ferrets can get Covid.
But they’ll likely get well again and won’t be able to pass it on to people.
6th
Cats, hamsters, horses and ferrets can catch CovidImage Credit: Shutterstock
One cat was the first pet to test positive here last summer, followed by two in New York, causing concern among owners.
In South Korea even cats and dogs are tested for coronavirus.
But vet Sean McCormack says our furry friends have nothing to worry about.
And there is no plan to develop a pet vaccination.
Sean said, “Some pets have contracted coronavirus, but it is very rare and those who have lived in close proximity to infected people and cannot spread them.
“If a pet has it, you’d expect to see coughs, sneezes, discharge from their nose and eyes, and feel under the weather, but it’s much more likely to be kennel cough or cat flu.”
BENEFITS FOR YOU
Martin Lewis explains who qualifies to pay a £ 500 tax credit
UNHAPPY SHOPPER
Asda shoppers are furious when they click for free and now collect and charge 50p
BEER WE GO!
Brits have to wait WEEKS to get a table in the pub or restaurant while thousands book
KING OF THE CLUBS
Converted as the perfect party palace for 26 people, the castle will be launched on the market for GBP 2 million
NUG LIFE
McDonald’s makes 6 McNuggets for 99p on Sunday
EXTRA HELP
Free school meals and help with bills extended over the Easter holidays
Sean said the Covid vaccine is a reminder for pet owners to make sure their animals are up to date with boosters.
Dogs and cats need annual vaccinations.
Sean added, “While we wait to be called to our bumps, it’s so important to keep our pets updated on their vaccinations as well.”
The owner of a Glasgow cat is stunned when he discovers the moggy PEEING in the toilet
Do you have a story RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or E-MAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk
