From a strange cat to a dog with a cough – 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 seven-year-old cat, who I took in as a stray, is lovely – but does some strange things.

Lois has always been very strong willed and demands food.

If I don’t feed her quickly enough, she will bite my ankle.

Sometimes a normal noise, like getting cereal out of the cupboard, will make her eyes bulge and she dives through the cat flap at super speed.

What’s making her do it?

I live near farmland and wonder if she previously had a semi-feral life.

Patsy Davison, Anglesey

A) If you don’t know your pet’s history, their strange antics can fall firmly in the “my pet is just a weirdo” category.

Sounds like Lois is a complex character, and I could give you a list of a dozen possibilities why she might be behaving certain ways.

Maybe she had a rough start and doesn’t fully trust humans, so she will either run away or lash out if she feels you’re being unpredictable.

Q) JUST before Christmas, my dog Benson developed a rough hacking cough that sounds like a goose honking.

When we go on a walk, he pulls really hard and I wonder if this has caused the cough by damaging his airway.

I now walk him in a harness, but would like to know if any bronchial damage will repair naturally or if there is anything I can do to help?

Janet Lowe, Groby, Leics

A) You describe exactly the symptoms of kennel cough, a contagious mixed bacterial and viral infection common in dogs.

As he has been pulling for a long time, but only developed these symptoms before Christmas, that’s my suspicion.

Kennel cough normally clears up in its own time, although occasionally a course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatories is needed.

You’ve already changed to a harness, so I wouldn’t worry about any further bronchial damage.

Q) ONE night when my Shih Tzu/ Poodle was on a walk, someone fired a shotgun three times.

Milly, who is four, nearly collapsed from fright and since then, every time she hears a noise, she just wants to go home.

What can I do to help?

Annie Johnstone, Ayrshire

A) Poor Milly, that sounds like a terrible shock.

These experiences are just the type of thing that can lead to serious noise phobias.

The good news is they are treatable, but the bad news is it can take quite a bit of dedication, patience and time for her to regain her confidence.

Look up a process called “noise desensitisation”, which could help.

Q) I NEED urgent help with my two dogs who have a really bad problem with toilet training.

Star, a two-year-old Samoyed, will lay there and wet herself rather than wee outside.

While Strider, a six-month-old Samoyed Chow Chow mix, is peeing everywhere, even though he will be out three times in ten minutes and do nothing. Help!

Evie Peter, Romford, Essex

A) Toilet training is simple in theory, but in practice can get really complicated.

A major factor here is habit and familiarity.

Your dogs have got used to toileting where they like, indoors, and dog scent is everything when it comes to choosing where to go.

You need to go back to basics.

Confine them to one room, use puppy pads, slowly shrinking the area covered.

Place the toilet zone near the door and, when they head there, take them outside and reward successful toileting.

A major cleaning blitz will help prevent any indoor “accidents”.

Star of the week

EDDIE the feline foodie insists on being seated for dinner with the family, and favours ribeye steak and pan-fried salmon.

Owner Tracy Murphy, 48, from Surbiton in Surrey, says of the six-year-old: “We started calling him Gourmet Ed when he was very young as he preferred our company and whatever we were cooking.

“He sits up with us and patiently waits to be served, then eats quite delicately, no paws on the table. He also likes to oversee prep in the kitchen.

“His brother, Syd, is the opposite, opting for fast food from a tin and showing no desire at all to dine with us.”

Writer Tracy adds: “His mealtimes aren’t just about food. He is almost as civilised as the adults.”

Luna tops list of cat and dog names

THE name Luna is the number one choice for both cats and dogs for the fifth year running, according to research from Pets At Home.

But it’s facing competition from Sabrina and Taylor – in tribute to pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift – with both names surging in popularity last year.

When it comes to cats, Luna, made popular by Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood, is followed by Bella and Milo in the top three.

Those names also feature in the top four for dogs.

Making up the top ten for felines are Simba, Coco, Nala, Willow, Oreo, Daisy and Loki.

Most fashionable dog names include Teddy, Poppy, Lola, Daisy, Coco, Buddy and Willow.

Dr Samantha Butler-Davies, veterinary services director from Pets At Home, said: “When choosing, aim for something short, clear and easy to say.

“One or two-syllable names are ideal as they are easy for pets to recognise and respond to.

“Avoid names that sound too similar to training commands, or other names in the household, to prevent confusion.

“Most importantly, choose a name you enjoy saying – you’ll be using it often.”