From a wannabe farmer to a dog with dementia – 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: I LOVE Clarkson’s Farm and would like to breed my own goats like Jeremy does.

But do they make suitable family pets?

I’m worried they might be too aggressive to keep around young kids.

John Roberts, Milton Keynes

Sean says: It’s probably not as easy or as fun as it’s made out to be on any TV programme.

The wonders of editing have a lot to answer for in encouraging people to get pets they think are cute or fun without really doing their homework.

Goats are pure mischief, great escape artists and quite boisterous.

I’m not sure there is a great market for selling any offspring you produce so if you are set on getting them, ask yourself carefully if you really need to breed from them or just have a couple as contented family pets.

You’ll need land and shelter for them, preferably pasture on rotation so they don’t turn a single field into a muddy mess.

They are generally quite tame if handled well.

Best advice is to go and spend time with a goat keeper with your kids and do your research.

Q: MY older dog seems to have dementia – is this possible?

He is 14 and seems lethargic and confused.

He is not interested in walks any more and seems restless when he sleeps.

Jackie Platt, Guildford, Surrey

Sean says: It’s certainly possible, and in dogs we call it Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, similar to senile dementia in elderly people.

Common signs include vacant expression, confusion or seeming lost, getting stuck in corners or tight spaces and seeming unable to get out, restlessness, vocalising like whining or barking at nothing in particular, especially at night, sometimes toileting accidents indoors, and seeming aloof or withdrawn.

It’s very sad to see this happen to our family pets.

The good news is there are some medications your vet can prescribe that improve blood flow to the brain and ease symptoms.

As much as we hate to think about it, it’s a good opportunity for a general health check for older pets and a discussion with your vet about quality of life and things to look for or think about towards our pets’ end of life.

Q: SHOULD I brush my terrier’s teeth?

Walter has just turned three and suddenly his breath is terrible but I’m not sure why.

Are there special toothbrushes and toothpaste you could recommend?

Danny Bowden, Colchester, Essex

Sean says: Yes, you should if you want them to remain in tip-top condition.

Ideally several times per week.

Daily is the gold standard, every second day is good.

Once a week is better than never at all, but a tooth is a tooth.

And just like ours if they are not brushed regularly an invisible bacterial film on the teeth gradually mineralises and stains to form visible plaque or hard deposits called calculus.

Once this happens the gums become inflamed, a condition called gingivitis.

When gingivitis advances you can get gum disease, recession and even bony inflammation or bone loss.

Eventually teeth become loose and fall out.

Infections happen.

Breath stinks.

A dental cleaning at the vets under anaesthetic is often required.

If you don’t brush, then I would prepare that your dog will need to undergo dental treatment at some point, possibly several throughout their lifetime.

I’d recommend bringing Walter in for a dental check-up now and your vet can go through the best course of action and ongoing maintenance including toothpaste and brushes, and how to convince Walter it’s a good idea.

Star of the week

SHY cats Angel and Rosie captured Belinda Wall’s heart at first sight.

She made the six-hour drive to Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, from her home in Horsham, West Sussex, after spotting them on social media in July.

A friend had posted snaps of the two which were rescued by the RSPCA’s Great Ayton Animal Centre.

Airline pilot Belinda, 45, says: “They were very timid, but had bonded with each other. They’ve added so much to my life and I feel blessed to have them.”

Now she’s looking forward to her first Christmas with the pair at home.

The RSPCA gets around 700 calls for help on Christmas Day alone and has launched a drive for donations.

See rspca.org.uk.

Fatty Xmas leftovers pose a danger

IN all the excitement of Christmas it’s easy to forget it can also be a hazardous time for pets.

Hidden dangers include foods that are poisonous, as well as fattening.

Research from Admiral pet insurance says nearly a third of vets have seen obesity soar in the last year and they warn that festive food can be high risk.

Vet Nicki Fox says: “Pets are more likely to overindulge in scraps and non-pet foods given by owners.”

Her no-go list includes:

Anything with nuts and raisins, which are toxic to pets.

Nuts, especially macadamias, are poisonous to cats and dogs.

Marzipan, which can upset stomachs.

Stuffing, gravy and bread sauce containing irritating onion, garlic and chives.

Bones from the roast turkey pose a choking hazard.

Chocolate can be toxic enough to kill.

Nicki warns: “We see a rise in pancreatitis and gastrointestinal cases as owners feed pets fatty foods. such as goose fat roast potatoes, turkey skin and pigs-in-blankets.

“Serve them veg like carrots, swede, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and bone-less, skinless turkey breast.”