From an itchy Labrador Retriever to a cat yowling – 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.” A reader’s Labrador Retriever really suffered during the recent heatwave Credit: Getty Sean McCormack, head vet at Tails.com, promises he can ‘help keep pets happy and healthy’ Q) URVIN, our 12-year-old Labrador Retriever, really suffered during the recent heatwave. He started to scratch himself regularly, although he does not always make contact with his skin. It is almost like a nervous reaction. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! We kept him as chilled as possible with cool mats, put a supplement on his food to stop itching and he’s had hayfever medication from the vet. But it is really heartbreaking to see him in so much discomfort. Dermot O’Neill, Redditch, Worcs A) Poor old boy. At 12, heat can make an already itchy dog absolutely miserable. The fact he’s scratching without necessarily touching his skin makes me wonder if there’s a combination of genuine itch and a learned or stress-related response, but I’d certainly want your vet to reassess him. You’re doing all the sensible cooling measures already, but I’d go back to your vet rather than adding yet another supplement. Most read in Money Q) MY cat Pepper has started yowling for seemingly no reason? She seems fine and goes for her evening prowl and eats well. She’s now eight. Do you think a routine check would be wise? Sharon Price, Newcastle upon Tyne A) Cats don’t generally start providing us with a midnight opera for absolutely no reason, so yes, I’d arrange that routine check-up. At eight, Pepper is entering the age when conditions such as dental pain, arthritis, thyroid disease, high blood pressure and other medical problems become more common. The fact she’s eating, active and still enjoying her evening prowl is reassuring, but cats are masters at hiding illness. I’d mention when and how often the yowling happens to your vet, as the pattern can provide useful clues. Q) MY hamster Mo won’t sleep in his house. He just curls up in the middle of the cage. I’m worried he will get a chill as the weather turns. Lizzie Brown, Exeter A) Mo hasn’t necessarily rejected his house, he may simply have decided that the middle of the cage is his preferred penthouse. Hamsters often choose their own sleeping spots, and if he’s curled up comfortably, eating normally and behaving as usual, there’s no need to relocate him by force. What matters is keeping his enclosure away from draughts, radiators and big temperature fluctuations, while providing plenty of deep bedding so he can create a cosy nest. Don’t use artificial heat lamps or heating pads unless advised by an exotic vet. Q) OUR cockapoos Daisy and Rosie, who are nine and 12, have really bad breath even though we clean their teeth. John Wainwright, Blackpool A) If Daisy and Rosie have genuinely had their teeth cleaned and their breath is still enough to strip wallpaper, I’d be looking beyond simple tartar! Persistent bad breath can indicate periodontal disease below the gumline, infected teeth, oral masses or, occasionally, problems elsewhere such as the kidneys or digestive system. Small breeds can be prone to dental disease, and nine and 12 are ages when I’d want their mouths checked carefully. Ask your vet if they need a proper dental examination. Dental sticks can help, but they aren’t a magic wand. Unfortunately there is no minty-fresh shortcut to a healthy mouth. Star of the week Mac the pony is a real-life Mary Berry as he stars in a TikTok cooking show with owner Blossom Credit: Supplied MAC the pony is a real-life Mare-y Berry as he stars in a TikTok cooking show with owner Blossom. Cheeky Mac often joins the five-year-old in her family’s kitchen in Gloucestershire and their Baking With Blossom And Mac videos have chalked up millions of views. Abbie Braley, Blossom’s mum, said: “Mac is brilliant baking with Blossom. “He loves a birthday cake made from oats, grated carrot, molasses and apple juice. “Even though it’s only been a year of Baking with Blossom, he seems to have had at least four birthday cakes – but he’s absolutely not complaining.” Mac features on The Joy of Pets on ITV at 11.30am today. WIN: Seven dog first aid courses worth £39 WOULD you know what to do to save your dog’s life in an emergency? Registered Veterinary Nurse Rachel Bean is offering seven dog owners the chance to win a practical online dog first aid course worth £39. To enter, send an email headed FIRST AID to sundaypets@the-sun.co.uk by October 4. See rachelbean.co.uk T&Cs apply. RENTERS LOVING RIGHT TO KEEP A PET Over half of tenants say having a pet in their rental property is important Credit: Getty MORE than half of tenants say having a pet in their rental property is important. Four months after a law change in the Renters’ Rights Act made it easier for them to keep animals, a survey has found one in three tenants say being allowed to keep a pet is “essential”. A further 13 per cent said it was “very important” in the survey for property service providers LRG. The study also found nearly 30 per cent of those surveyed already own a pet, while a further 20 per cent are planning or considering getting one in the next 12 months. The figures were welcomed by charity Cats Protection, which lobbied for more rights for renters. Since May, tenants have had the right to ask to keep a pet and landlords cannot refuse without good reason. Annabel Berdy, of Cats Protection, said: “We are delighted tenants in the private rented sector [can] benefit from the joy and companionship a cat brings. “It is right that landlords are abiding by the law and allowing tenants to keep cats in their properties. “Cats are much-loved members of the family. They can help reduce feelings of loneliness and stress, strengthen family bonds and make any property truly feel like a home.” Comment now