Pet subjects: How can I cease my cat scratching young children?

A: Fly strike is widespread in the warm months of summer time, and it’s typically fatal. 5 factors make rabbits more attractive to flies. Very first, inability to chase flies away in elderly or obese pets. 2nd, rabbits with deep folds of skin on their neck, chest or underside. Third, rabbits with runny eyes, or other discharges. Fourth, muckiness underneath the tail. If Joshua has any of these, get him to your vet for a check out-up, which may possibly incorporate sponge-on items that stop maggots from hatching. The fifth reason is unsanitary circumstances. A complete every day hutch clean-out is important in summer season so that flies aren’t attracted to accumulated droppings.

A: Kids and older pets often don’t go nicely collectively. You can not assume James to tolerate unpredictable assaults by small people, but neither can you chance injury to your guests. You need to set up a specific cat-friendly room in your home, with a heated cat bed, some tasty food, a couple of toys, a scratching post and a litter tray. James ought to constantly be stored in there when youthful guests are expected. It would support to educate the kids how to interact with cats: you could set up brief, closely supervised play sessions in James’s area, exhibiting them how significantly James enjoys chasing a wand-and-feather or a laser-pointer toy, and educating them how to pet him gently.

A genuine-life Postman Pat and his cat

A postman had to make a particular delivery to Battersea Dogs &amp Cats House after discovering a cat curled up in the back of his truck, hiding in the parcels. The friendly two-yr-outdated tortoiseshell was brought to Battersea’s rescue centre in Old Windsor and named Jess by the cattery employees, after Postman Pat’s cat. If you are in the location, go along to the centre’s yearly fun day today, July 5, and meet Jess. battersea.org.united kingdom.

Rescue pets of the week

Chi Chi and Chequers are 10-yr-old Staffies hunting for a house. Contact Dogs Trust on 01895 453 930 or check out Dogs’ Believe in

Send pet difficulties to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.united kingdom. All sick animals ought to, of program, be taken to a vet.

Pet subjects: How can I cease my cat scratching young children?

Pet subjects: I don"t want to place my puppy in boarding kennels

A: Canine parks are normally discovered in nations where the default place is for dogs to be stored on the leash at all instances apart from when in designated regions. The opposite is the case in the United kingdom, with the common view that it is acceptable for canines to be off the leash in public locations as extended as owners are responsible about choosing up waste and controlling them. Organisations like the Kennel Club and Canines Trust are concerned about the concept of canine parks, seeing them as a symptom of elevated restrictions on canines. Unacceptable puppy-relevant problems are very best dealt with by encouraging responsible puppy ownership and just penalising the couple of irresponsible owners rather than making an attempt to fence off all canines. In the United kingdom, canines accompany individuals on about half of all visits to the countryside and urban green area: general, this is nonetheless a canine-friendly country, and there is no require for specific dog parks.

Q: Final week, my 16-year-outdated dearly loved cat, following currently being quite nonetheless and quiet all day, went out the back door to the backyard. I let him out but due to the fact it was raining, I brought him back in. He sat at the back door seeking out and a number of hours later on, he started howling, then died. Need to I have let him go out once again? I have heard that animals like to head off to select a quiet location to die.

JM, by e-mail

A: I’m sorry to hear about your pet’s death. I don’t feel that animals have a sense of their approaching death, deliberately picking to discover a quiet spot to die. It is a lot more probably that they have a sense of currently being unwell, and they seek somewhere to settle peacefully in the hope that they may recover. The threat of making it possible for an unwell pet to wander off on their own is that they may finish up distressed with no person to support them. If any animal is behaving in an uncommon way, it can make far more sense to preserve them in a safe, comfortable region in which you can observe them. Then if they do become distressed, you can seek prompt veterinary assist for them rather than permitting them to endure for a prolonged time period.

Q: We have wished to breed from our two-yr-previous pet guinea pig Lettuce for a although but worry that we could have left it as well late. Would pregnancy or the birth of a litter place her wellness in danger due to her age?

GH, Cheshire

A: I would be wary about advising anybody to breed from a pet guinea pig: there is already a surplus of guinea pigs in the Uk, with a lot of rescues overflowing with animals that want homes. Non-breeding guinea pigs live long, satisfied lives if cared for appropriately: they really do not need to be mated or to have offspring for fulfilment. In addition, pregnancy and offering birth does involve some risk: one particular specialist has been quoted as saying that breeding a female guinea pig implies a twenty per cent danger that she will die. There is a particular danger for an older guinea pig like Lettuce. Once guinea pigs grow older than 12 months, the ligaments around the pelvis turn into much less flexible. If their 1st litter is delayed until finally soon after this, there is a increased danger of birthing problems which may possibly end result in the require for an expensive and risky caesarean part.

Helping tawny owls in problems

The RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Taunton, Somerset, is coping with a wave of orphaned tawny owls. In the previous month, there has been the equivalent of one tawny owlet admission per day and the centre is packed with the youthful nestlings and fledglings. The centre has been caring for wildlife casualties and rescued pets from all in excess of southern England for over 50 many years. To support their perform, please visit http://options.rspca.org.united kingdom

Rescue pet of the week

Cayla is a seven-12 months-outdated boxer looking for a quiet house. Speak to Jenny Cole on 01452 535373 or electronic mail jenny.cole@hcbw.org.uk

To discover out the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see petsubjectsrescue.petethevet.com

Send pet troubles to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk. All sick animals need to, of course, be taken to a vet

Pet subjects: I don"t want to place my puppy in boarding kennels

Pet subjects: where does my cat go at night?

A: Puppy aggression like this can occur for a variety of motives and it can be challenging to work out with out a comprehensive evaluation of the precise events leading up to it. Dread can perform a position: if canines are not utilised to young children, they can be frightened of them, and so they are aggressive in an work to make the youngster go away. Resource guarding is another chance: the dog may possibly have not desired to share your business with the little one. You can not danger this taking place once again so the only reply is to function with a behavioural professional to carry out a forensic evaluation of the incident, and then to follow the specialist’s tips on what to do to stop it recurring in the potential. Request your local vet for a recommendation, or go to apbc.org.uk to find an skilled and experienced pet behaviour counsellor in your region.

Q: My two indoor cats share a tray and constantly use it but sometimes they spill their waste in excess of the edge, generating a mess. It occurs all around when a fortnight and can be at any time: when the tray has just been transformed, or at other occasions as well.

MH, London

A: The excellent answer in any numerous cat home is to have one litter tray per cat, plus a single extra. Cats are territorial (even if they seem to be to be receiving on well) and they normally desire to use their own litter tray. Also, some cats like to pass urine and faeces in various places, so an added tray makes it possible for for this. If this does not solve your difficulty, it may be well worth attempting bigger and deeper plastic trays, such as the type sold for seedlings in backyard centres, rather than the regular ones sold in pet shops. There’s more space inside them for cats to flip about and the deeper sides indicate that litter is less likely to spill over the edges. Go to icatcare.org (Global Cat Care — formerly the Feline Advisory Bureau) for much more guidelines on litter tray difficulties.

Q: I purchased a Bearded Dragon two months in the past, and the tip of his long tail has turned black. It appears as if it has died off: it is shrunken and hard. Do I need to do anything at all, or will this settle down naturally. I know that lizards can often regenerate their personal tails.

FL, Preston

A: It sounds as if the lizard has tail tip necrosis, which is most frequently induced by trauma of some sort (such as getting his tail stuck someplace or, in a several-lizard atmosphere, currently being bitten by a single of the other individuals.) There are other achievable leads to including bad husbandry and bacterial or fungal infections. Bearded Dragons can’t regenerate their very own tails, and he may need an x-ray followed by amputation of the tail tip to end the necrosis from spreading. You need to get him to a vet with a specific curiosity in lizards: you can discover a single by going to the Find-A-Vet segment of the internet site of the Royal School of Veterinary Surgeons (findavet.rcvs.org.united kingdom).

Puppy lungworm is spreading northwards

Proof from the Royal Veterinary School has confirmed that the lungworm parasite (Angiostrongylus vasorum) has spread across the United kingdom from its conventional habitat in the south of England and Wales. It’s now widespread in Central England and reaching northern regions and Scotland, with one in 5 vet practices nationwide reporting at least one confirmed situation of the parasite. A recent survey showed that 85 per cent of Uk dogs remain unprotected towards lungworm, a potentially fatal parasite. Ask your nearby vet if this is a issue in your spot, and if so, what preventive action you should get.

Rescue pet of the week

Bobby is an adult tabby cat who needs a property. Contact 0845 3714218 or go to northayrshire.cats.org

*Send pet troubles to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk. All sick animals ought to, of program, be taken to a vet

*To find out the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see ukpetsubjectsrescue.petethevet.com

Pet subjects: where does my cat go at night?

Pet subjects: what ought to I do about a development on my goldfish?

Nevertheless, the advisor is unable to advise on how prolonged I should steer clear of make contact with with our eight-12 months-previous cat, who sleeps on our bed. Can you help?

LP, Cumbria

A: I am not aware of any distinct tips, so I can only make an educated guess. Based on the recommendations on how you should interact with your family members and that affectionate cats like to sit on people’s laps (that is, close to their bladder, where the radio-iodine will be concentrated), it would be reasonable to keep away from shut interaction with your cat for three to 5 days longer than what has been suggested for children. I am afraid you – or your cat – will have to rest someplace else in the course of this time.

Q: I would like to incorporate donations to many animal charities in my will: the legacies could exceed £10,000 each. I want to research which charities would be ready to put this kind of sums to best use. I would like to know how much per pound donated advantages the animals. How can I get this details?

JW, West Yorkshire

A: There are 3 techniques to discover out. Initial, many charities specify how considerably per pound is spent on their core perform on their web sites or in their yearly review, usually obtainable on their internet sites.

Second, all registered charities (above a specified revenue threshold) are obliged to develop a profile on the charity commission website (charitycommission.gov.uk) and they also have to file their yearly accounts right here.

Third, if contacted straight, most charities will provide these specifics. As an instance, Bath Cats and Canines Residence (bathcatsanddogshome.org.united kingdom) spends 84p of

each pound caring for and re-homing animals, while 16p is spent on raising awareness and generating funds.

Q: My eight-month-outdated Labrador passed roundworms two days in the past, despite the fact that I wormed her two weeks ago. I am baffled about no matter whether the worms are now gone, and the place she picked them up – she is dewormed regular monthly. Am I or my children at threat?

RS, Ripon, Yorkshire

A: Worms can be impossible to eradicate from canines completely. The worm eggs that pups get from their mothers by means of milk go into a cyst-like state in the puppy’s tissues, emerging from time to time later on in daily life. Also dogs can be reinfected by picking up worms outside (in the soil or by eating little prey). This is why standard worming is required (after a month, or when each three months) employing a broad spectrum wormer.

The worms themselves are not unsafe to your kids the danger is from worm eggs, which need to have to incubate for two to three weeks before turning into infective to people. A excellent anti-worm regimen consists of much more than just typical worming: you should also pick up any faeces at as soon as and dispose of it with the rubbish. This should reduce any danger to an absolute minimum, but you should also insist that your young children always wash their hands just before eating.

Nationwide Pet Month: April one to May possibly 5

On its 25th anniversary, National Pet Month is encouraging pet fanatics to stage or attend exciting occasions in support of a United kingdom pet charity. Occasions contain sponsored canine walks, a tea celebration with pet visitors at a residential house, college assemblies, microchipping days, bake income and competitions. See nationalpetmonth.org.uk.

Rescue pet of the week

Mikey is a 7-year-previous boxer who would like to be the only pet in a home with older kids. Get in touch with Canines Believe in Snetterton in Norfolk on 01953 498377 or go to dogstrust.org.uk. To locate out the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see petsubjectsrescue.petethevet.com

*Send pet troubles to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.united kingdom. All sick animals must, of course, be taken to a vet

Pet subjects: what ought to I do about a development on my goldfish?

Pet subjects: why does my dog detest our new phone?

Matted fur on the lower back is common in older cats, and can happen for a number of reasons, including lack of flexibility due to arthritis, dental disease preventing thorough self-grooming, and general geriatric lethargy. Ideally, early intervention can solve this, by gently teasing out the clumped fur before it accumulates. If you leave the clumps, they will get bigger, forming uncomfortable pads of matted fur. The best answer is to ask your vet to remove the clumped areas with electric clippers; during the same visit, you can ask about any related issues that your cat may need help with, such as dental disease, arthritis, and other hidden geriatric problems that can often be simply treated.

My 10-year-old cat Monty has always refused to sleep on my bed. He sleeps everywhere else: on the spare bed, under my bed and in any other cosy spot, but whenever I put him on my bed, he jumps straight off. I have tried various colours of bedding and I call him over when I am in bed to give him attention. Is there anything else I can do? I’d love the company of Monty sleeping by my feet.

EC, Skelmersdale

Monty may have once suffered some adverse event associated with sleeping on a bed with a person in it: perhaps his own rest was disturbed by someone’s feet wriggling? You need to do more to encourage him to enjoy sleeping there in the daytime, when there’s no one else there. Make your bed as appealing as possible, using thick, soft cat bedding. Set up an electric cat bed heater (available in most pet shops), spray cat pheromones on the covers (Feliway, available from vets or online, is good), and scatter some tasty treats on the bedspread to entice him (thrivepetfoods.com). If he discovers that your bed is the cosiest place in the house to snooze in the daytime, there’s a good chance that he’ll get into the habit of sleeping there at night too.

My garden has a wild patch that always sprouts nettles in springtime. In the past, I’ve kept my rabbits away from this area, but someone told me that they enjoy eating them. Is this true? Surely they could be hurt by getting stung?

LR, Salisbury

The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund website (rabbitwelfare.co.uk) has an advice sheet detailing the safe plants that can be fed to rabbits, and you’ll be glad to hear that nettles are included. Rabbits seem to be resistant to nettle stings, and I’ve heard of rabbits happily munching their way through nettle crops that would leave humans covered in painful stings. If you still worry that your rabbit may be sensitive, you could cut the nettles then allow them to dry for a day or so (or more rapidly by putting them in the oven). This removes some of the stinging effect for humans, so it’s likely to make them even more appetising to rabbits.

Time for action on fat cats (and dogs)

Nearly 80 per cent of vets believe pet obesity is on the rise since 2009, with serious adverse consequences for dog, cat and rabbit health and welfare. If pets are kept at their ideal body size, their lifespan can be extended by up to two years. A recent survey showed that nearly one in three (30 per cent) owners relied only on instinct when deciding pet food portion size rather than giving a measured ration of food. For tips on how to keep your pet at the ideal weight, visit pfma.org.uk/weighinwednesday.

Rescue pet of the week

James is an adult tabby cat with a lovely personality. Contact Celia Hammond Animal Trust on 020 7474 8811 or visit celiahammond.org to find out more about him. To find out the outcomes of the rescued pets that are featured in this column, see Pet Subjects Rescue.

*Send pet problems to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a vet

Pet subjects: why does my dog detest our new phone?

Pet subjects: how can I cease my canine barking?

While several dogs get pleasure from residence-produced diets, it’s difficult to develop appropriately balanced canine nutrition in your own kitchen: one particular latest study of house-produced dog food recipes (from internet sites, veterinary text books, and pet care books) located that 95 per cent have been deficient in at least 1 crucial nutrient. It is safer to choose a commercially prepared diet plan: members of the Pet Foods Companies Association stick to European dietary suggestions for pets, reviewed by independent experts this kind of as vets, scientists and animal nutritionists to make certain that they are correct. If you pay a visit to whichdogfood.co.uk, you will uncover analyses of 1,200 distinct dog foods, like cost, ingredients and an view on every single one particular. Try a few various mid- to upper-selection products till you uncover one that suits her. Don’t fuss above her too significantly: canines are very good at enjoying games with their owners when they believe that there’s a possibility of obtaining spoiled if they turn up their nose at dinnertime.

We rescued a stray three-year-old neutered female cat, Sasha, bringing her into a family with two 13-year-previous cats. A single of them, Sid, bullied Sasha so a lot that she left property for more than two weeks in January. She’s back now and we want to maintain her but it’s unattainable to preserve Sid away from her. We have attempted a Feliway diffuser but what else can we do to make him tolerate her?

BR, Leics

There is a widespread myth that cats are sociable creatures that get pleasure from residing in little groups. The truth is that a lot of cats are individualists who like getting their very own territory, chasing out other people that they see as interlopers. New introductions of adult cats need to be carried out very carefully, making use of strategies like scent swapping to let a gradual acceptance of the newcomer. Every cat demands its personal region exactly where it feels safe and unthreatened (this kind of as a separate room for Sasha which Sid is excluded from). Occasionally it does not function out, with one particular cat preferring to move on, and it sounds as if that’s what’s happening here. The only response could be to find a property for Sasha with out a Sid-like character currently in residence.

Our 3-yr-outdated puggle (pug-beagle cross) barks ferociously at folks and canines whenever we encounter them on walks. We’re about to move residence and I’m anxious that we really do not alienate our new neighborhood. What can I do about his behaviour?

SC, Surrey

Start to use a Halti or Gentle Leader head collar when out on walks: this enables you to produce direct eye make contact with with your dog due to the fact his gaze is brought toward you when you pull the leash. Then teach him to sit and stay, preserving eye make contact with with you, in return for a tasty treat. Get him to do this many occasions when there are no distractions around. Then set up practice sessions with a buddy strolling in direction of you: get your puppy to sit and remain, viewing you all the time, while your good friend walks previous. When he does this reliably, go to a quiet region, and as soon as an individual comes into see, get your dog to sit and stay, searching at you, till they have gone by. You will always need to be on guard for approaching strangers on walks, but as long as you hold up the target in between the two of you, you must be capable to maintain him underneath great management.

Cycle your dogs to their everyday walk

With forty per cent of all vehicle trips becoming less than two miles away from the residence, an electric cargo bike can be a valuable alternative to a 2nd car. A Dorset-based producer, Vélo Électrique, has launched an optional further that makes it possible for the secure transport of canines to places of workout. The cargo region can carry a load of 120kg: a lot more than sufficient for two large dogs. Their cargo bike charges £1,395 plus £180 for the puppy-carrier option.

Rescue pet of the week

Sophie is an 18-month-previous cat and her son Selwyn is one particular 12 months outdated. They need an grownup-only residence. Call 01902 651173 or check out wolverhampton.cats.org.uk. To discover out the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see petsubjectsrescue.petethevet.com

Send pet problems to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.united kingdom. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a vet

Pet subjects: how can I cease my canine barking?

Pet subjects: can canines get swimming courses?

There has been substantial innovation in flea handle more than the previous 20 years: powdering pets with toxic dust is now consigned to historical past. Fleas really don’t drown very easily, so even if your puppy dipped his head underneath the surface of the estuary, the difficulty would not be solved. There is a general rule that the most effective products have a tendency to be launched by means of vet clinics initial, just before trickling down to pet stores. There is a wide decision, from spot-ons to sprays and as soon as-month to month tablets. Examine the predicament with your vet so that the ideal item can be matched to your wants. By the way, vets are often cheaper than other retailers for many retail items: do a value comparison and you’ll see what I mean.

You mentioned travelling with dogs the other week, but what about cats? We are moving 200 miles to a new house. We have a 15-year-old Siamese, Cleo, who has in no way been in a auto except to the vets (she cries all the way). What can you advocate – for our sanity as considerably as Cleo’s – for a four-hour automobile drive?

K &amp JJ, Somerset

Produce a cat-friendly area for her to travel in, rather than squashing her into the cat cage that she associates with the vet. Attempt a massive wire cage, with loads of her favourite bedding and a microwaveable heat pad (e.g. Hotties, from petlifeonline.co.uk) to preserve her snug throughout the journey. Place brown paper on the windows beside her so that she can not see the planet rushing by. Use cat pheromones (Felifriend spray) to make the car more welcoming. Give soothing sounds for her: you can buy CDs or MP3 downloads of “music cats love” if you search on Amazon. When you attain your new property, don’t allow her outside for at least a week, and make confident she’s identifiable in case she gets lost. Go to icatcare.org for far more tips on travelling with cats.

I have had two Miniature Appleyards (a duck and a drake) since final summer season and we have had no eggs. When will she start off to lay? I want to hatch ducklings and attempt to prepare dates.

CD, Wexford, Ireland

Ducks are sexually mature by six months of age, but egg laying is affected by ambient temperature and day-length: the cold, dark, winter months have delayed your duck’s egg laying. She’ll start off in the springtime, with the arrival of warmer climate. Offer her a breeder/layer feed, so that she has loads of protein vitamins. Appleyards are exceptional egg-layers, making all around 250 eggs every year if you maintain removing them from the nest. If you depart the eggs in the nest with her, she’ll flip broody when she has a dozen or so, sitting on the eggs for 4 weeks when (hopefully) your ducklings will hatch.

Retaining an eye on your pets using technological innovation

Motorola have just launched the Scout one Pet Monitoring Camera, which uses your home Wi-Fi to send video photos and sound to your sensible mobile phone. The two-way audio system even allows owners to talk to their pet. Scout 1 is extensively offered at £99.99, and Motorola will be donating a percentage of every single sale to the RSPCA.

Rescue pets of the week

Dasher, Frost and Noel are eight-week-previous guinea pigs which can be rehomed separately. Get in touch with Bath Cats &amp Canines Property on 01225 787321 or see bathcatsand dogshome.org.uk

Send pet issues to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.united kingdom. All sick animals must, of program, be taken to a vet.To discover the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see Pet Topics Rescue

Pet subjects: can canines get swimming courses?