From the best insect starter pets to stressed out fish – 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. Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, promises he can ‘help keep pets happy and healthy’ For younger children, stick insects are often ideal starter invertebrates Credit: Alamy 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 WOULD like to get a nice insect starter pet for my daughter Emma, who is six. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! She loves mini beasts, which I think is great as I always had a spider phobia, growing up. What do you recommend? Liz Hollick, Reading Sean says: Well this is just wonderful. I love that Emma is fascinated by mini beasts, so encouraging that curiosity is brilliant. For younger children, stick insects are often ideal starter invertebrates. They’re gentle, fascinating to observe and relatively easy to care for. Giant African land snails or giant millipedes can also make surprisingly engaging first exotic pets. I would avoid anything too delicate or fast-moving at her age. The key is making it a shared learning experience with supervision. Most read in Money Honestly, helping children appreciate insects early is one of the best ways to raise future nature lovers. WHAT human foods are toxic to canines? My dog Mo loves a biscuit (preferably rich tea) and turns up his nose at dog biscuits. He’s not overweight. Is it all right to give him human biscuits a few times a week? Shane Brown, Doncaster Sean says: Some human foods are surprisingly dangerous for dogs, including chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts and anything containing xylitol sweetener. Rich tea biscuits a few times a week won’t harm most healthy dogs, although they’re not exactly healthy. The bigger issue is encouraging fussiness if he’s holding out for human treats. Moderation is key. Plain biscuits occasionally are fine for most dogs but ideally treats should make up only a small part of the diet. I’d stick with meaty snacks designed for dogs rather than humans. CAN fish get stressed? I’m worried mine are. My cat Bobby sometimes hangs around them and I fear they get spooked. What do you think? Andrew Spruce, Ipswich Sean says: They absolutely can. Fish respond to changes in environment, water quality, sudden movements and perceived predators. Bobby staring into the tank may well make them a little wary, particularly if he taps the glass or lurks very close. Stress in fish can affect ­appetite, immunity and behaviour over time. The good news is that if they have plenty of hiding places, plants and stable water conditions, they usually cope very well. A calm environment is just as important for fish welfare as it is for other pets, so I would try to limit your cat’s close access if you can. MY Alsatian Steve sits on ­people’s knee and wants to be petted, but he’s huge. I don’t mind him on the sofa but he’s too much of a lump to be a lap dog. Any advice? Barbara Cox, Maidstone, Kent Sean says: Large dogs often have absolutely no awareness of their own size, particularly loyal and affectionate breeds like German shepherds, or Alsatians as they used to be known. Steve has clearly decided that closeness equals comfort, even if circulation to your legs disagrees. If you’d like to discourage full-body lap landings, teach an alternative such as lying beside you for fuss instead. Reward calm behaviour on his own bed or the sofa beside you. The important thing is consistency. Personally, I think many giant dogs remain convinced they are secretly puppies for ever. Star of the week Cosmo enjoys daily two-hour walks with his owner Credit: Unknown COSMO the short-haired collie is the exercise partner of his 80-year-old owner Pat Durrant – and both enjoy daily two-hour walks. Retired clinical psychologist Pat, of Sheffield, says she and her 12-year-old pet are both as fit as a fiddle as a result. She says: “Cosmo is short for Cosmonaut, because when he was young he used to fly through the air. “Those days may be gone but we still both love a daily two-hour walk. He’s very sociable and so am I, as we get chatting to other dog walkers and their pups. “He’s my live-in companion and exercise partner. We keep each other fit and he’s completely loyal.” WIN: £250 voucher for a cottage stay ONE lucky Sun on Sunday reader can win a £250 voucher towards a two-night stay with Winterton Cottages from November to March. There are more than 50 pet-friendly holiday homes in and near Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, with miles of walks on the doorstep. For a chance to win, send an email headed WINTERTON to sundaypets@the-sun. co.uk by August 16. See wintertoncottages.co.uk T&Cs apply. GETAWAYS A NEW WORLD FOR POOCH Samantha Booth, of pet supplement firm Protexin, says it is important to prepare for travel with pets Credit: Unknown MORE than eight million Brits are taking their dogs on holiday with them this year, a survey has shown. Nearly half chat to their pet while driving, 36 per cent put their pooch on a car seat rather than the boot, and 13 per cent tailor their playlist to what they think their four-legged mate will enjoy. The poll of 2,000 dog owners by vehicle e-charging firm Gridserve also found that 28 per cent take and share more snaps of their mutt than of themselves on holiday. Devon, Cornwall and Yorkshire top the list of favourite destinations for owners, with 78 per cent saying they choose places because they think their pet would love the walks. Fifty-five per cent seek out dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, the same amount look for beaches and 36 per cent want accommodation with a garden for their pet. Samantha Booth, of pet supplement firm Protexin, said it is important to prepare for travel with pets. She added: “Stick strictly to their normal food, plan your route around shaded, grassy rest stops every two hours and pack the scent of home – their unwashed bed and favourite blanket.” For more tips see protexin.com. Comment now