From a Labrador with arthritis to a goldfish’s lifespan – 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.

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 dog Muggles has arthritis and she is stiff in the morning.

Are there any alternative therapies you can recommend alongside meds?

She’s an 11-year-old Labrador.

SAM CARPENTER, Braintree, Essex

Sean Says: Managing arthritis is always about combining many techniques and efforts.

Anti-inflammatories and pain medication are only a small part of the picture.

The single biggest thing you can do is to keep pets at a healthy weight, with a diet and portions tailored to their needs.

This is a fundamental part of what we do at tails.com.

Secondly, regular gentle exercise helps to keep joints mobile.

Dietary supplements can help support healthy joints.

Speak to your vet about ones that are clinically proven.

There are a lot of people on the internet trying to sell you products that have zero proof they are effective.

Hydrotherapy and physiotherapy may be useful for some.

Adapting the home environment with mats and ramps is advised.

Most vets take a holistic approach.

That doesn’t mean herbal remedies or crystals, but looking at the whole picture.

Q) I’VE got a goldfish that I’ve had for five years and our little boy loves him.

But how long can we expect a goldfish to last?

I am thinking I may need to swap him out if Clarry doesn’t survive.

SARAH BUXTON, Newcastle-Upon-Tynee, Carlisle

Sean says: There’s no reason that with good care, including an appropriate size tank and filtration, that Clarry should not still be alive in 20 years.

They are long-living fish, we just often keep them in substandard conditions.

They should never live in small bowls.

It’s just not enough water and space for them and very difficult for them to thrive.

Effectively, that’s like us living in our bathroom for our entire lives, excrement included. Not a very pleasant thought, eh?

Q) DO you think an old dog can be taught new tricks?

We adopted our boxer Billy and were told he wasn’t good around other dogs.

He lurches at them but I think he is scared.

I have thought about getting a behaviourist in, but at the age of ten is there any point?

SARAH FERGUSON, Leeds

Sean says: There is absolutely a point.

In fact, with his new adoption, new home and new owner, I’d say it will be really helpful for him to adjust and also help you to understand his behaviour.

As we say at tails.com, dogs are all individuals, with complex emotions and needs.

And the old saying is just a myth. It does dogs a real disservice.

So I’d recommend a qualified behaviourist.

Find one on the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors website (apbc.org.uk).

Q) SHOULD I trim my indoor cat Percy’s nails?

He has a scratch post and scratch board, but they still grow.

Do you recommend it? And should the vet do it or can I do it myself?

KAY BROWN, Norfolk

Sean says: I don’t generally recommend it unless growing too long and thick, which happens on older cats with reduced mobility.

The reason is that unlike dog claws, cat claws tend to split when you cut them, and the outer portion tends to come off soon after.

So yes, encourage natural claw maintenance using his scratch post and board.

But if there’s not a problem, don’t try to fix it is my best advice.

Star of the week

PEPPER the dachshund is the star of a new children’s book inspiring kids to help others and overcome obstacles.

Artist Sophie Walbeoffe, who lives between Kenya and London, illustrated the tale, written by Ian Strathcarron, in honour of her furry friend.

Sophie, 63, whose book Pepper And Poncho is published by Affable Media, said: “I would take Pepper on safari and whenever she saw the animals she’d get so excited.

“In my twenties I suffered from terrible panic attacks and I can honestly say that ever since I’ve had Pepper I haven’t had one.

“In our book she’s also a therapy dog.”

ALARMING NUMBER OF ABANDONED CATS

THE RSPCA is urging cat owners to neuter their pets after rescue centres have seen an alarming rise in abandoned kittens.

Stapeley Grange Cattery in Nantwich, Cheshire, is currently looking after 45 kittens, all under six months old.

Five-week-old kittens Nick, Charlie, Elle and Tao are receiving intensive care after they were rescued during heavy rain last month in the nearby town of Crewe.

Three days earlier, 11-week-old black kittens Rolo, Galaxy, Smartie, Sherbert and Skittle were brought in after they were found in a local village, again with no sign of their mum.

Nicola Chilton, from the cattery, said: “We’ve never known a summer as challenging as this one, the numbers coming through our doors have been unprecedented.

“We think pet owners could be avoiding having their cats neutered because of the cost, while others think they’ll easily be able to rehome a litter of kittens and then find they can’t.”

Anyone thinking of getting a cat is urged to first look at the RSPCA’s checklist at rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/kittens.