From a dog scared of cars to best pet for children – your pet queries answered

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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.

GettyWhat pet should you get your children?[/caption]

Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, promises he can ‘help keep pets happy and healthy’Supplied

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: BOJO, my four-year-old labradoodle, is really frightened of cars.

He has such a lovely nature but how can I stop him cowering when a noisy car drives past?

Steve Mansfield, Watford

 Sean says: You will need to practise some behavioural modification techniques.

The first is called habituation — basically getting Bojo used to the sound and sight of cars driving by, at a distance at first, and gradually closer and closer.

The second is response substitution, which means training him to change his fearful response to a more positive one by teaching him to associate those incidents with something positive.

Being asked to do a trick for a treat, for instance.

There’s lots more to it, and you can research the exact techniques online, but I’d highly recommend getting a qualified animal behaviourist to help.

Q: MY father had cats and a sheepdog that were fed with leftovers, including bread, gravy, meat and vegetables.

They lived long and healthy lives without ever seeing a vet.

I also had a cat who lived to 18 years who had no injections and no vet care.

Do you think the reason most pet cats and dogs need so much medical treatment is because of people wanting designer animals that look nice, to the detriment of their health?

Philip Clark, Wakefield, West Yorks

Sean says: Great question, but to do it justice I’d need to write an essay.

First thing to say is that many pets are lucky and never get sick, regardless of the care we give them.

For example, if you do not vaccinate your pet, you still benefit from all the other pet owners who do, creating herd immunity.

As regards nutrition, our knowledge of what our pets need has grown.

A good diet (meaning quality of ingredients, the right amount of food and tailoring ingredients or supplements to the individual) has been proven to boost health and increase lifespan.

But you are correct, our pets’ genetic health, particularly in the pedigree dog and cat world, has in many cases deteriorated due to overbreeding, often for fashion rather than what that breed was originally designed to do.

Q: WHICH pet is best for young children?

Gerbils or rabbits?

I want something that is cuddly and fun.

Which would you suggest?

I’m going to have them as a house bunny if it’s a rabbit.

Mia Charles, Birmingham

Sean says: Neither! Gerbils are far too fast and skittish, and don’t really enjoy handling.

And rabbits have more complex needs than most realise.

They’re also quite delicate, especially their spines, so they are not really suited to handling by young children.

I would say the best “small furry” for kids are guinea pigs — robust enough for gentle handling, docile and entertaining, and won’t struggle and potentially injure themselves, as can happen with rabbits.

They are best kept in pairs or groups, of the same sex to prevent unwanted litters.

Q: HOW can I stop my cat walking on kitchen surfaces?

I don’t think it’s hygienic.

But of course, Bob does what he wants. Can you suggest any deterrents?

Shelly Price, Manchester

Sean says: Crumpled-up grease-proof paper, tin foil or plastic on all the countertops or stuck to the edges for a period of time can break the habit.

But Bob may just start again once these things are removed.

Citrus sprays on the countertops can also be a deterrent.

Also, make sure the behaviour isn’t rewarded.

If he’s getting up there to scavenge leftovers, make sure there’s no incentive.

Don’t punish, it doesn’t work.

Star of the week

HOMELESS cat Daisy is looking for her forever home after she was injured trying to save her kittens.

The ten-year-old was found severely hurt after trying to carry her newborn babies over a spiked metal fence.

Ten-year-old Daisy was found severely hurt after trying to carry her newborn babies over a spiked metal fence

One kitten survived, which has now been rehomed.

Luka Atkinson, at RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre in Co Durham, where she’s waiting for a home, said: “Now Daisy is fighting fit again, she’s looking for a nice retirement home in a calm environment where she’ll receive all the love she’s missed out on.

“She’s a quiet, sweet-natured cat who’ll make a lovely companion.”

Time to walkies down the aisle?

NEARLY a third of us believe getting a puppy is a bigger commitment to a partner than marriage.

Three quarters of people believe looking after a young dog can help them discover if they have the qualities for being parents, according to the research.

GettyA third of us believe getting a puppy is a bigger commitment than marriage[/caption]

And four out of ten had taken on a pet with that purpose in mind.

Ninety per cent of those hoped it would show if they had sufficient patience, 55 per cent said it would test their attentiveness, 54 per cent believed it would demonstrate their ability to set boundaries, 45 per cent looked to find out their adaptability and 44 per cent wanted to test their success at time management.

Sixty per cent said having a pup also prepared them for financial demands, 48 per cent for sleepless nights and 47 per cent for potty training.

Sixty-seven per cent see joint dog ownership as more significant than opening a joint bank account, while 27 per cent said it was a greater message of commitment than marriage.

Adem Fehmi, canine behaviourist at pet store Rover.com, which carried out the research, said: “Owning a dog brings huge responsibility and requires a lot of time, patience, and commitment.”

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