From featherless rescue chickens to a cat with an upset tummy – 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.

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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 HAVE re-homed four rescue chickens and they don’t have all their feathers at the moment.

What can I do to bring Emma, Beatrice, Vera and Ida back to their full glory as quickly as possible?

Lizzie Keys, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A) I’ve taken on rescue hens several times and they can look pretty shocking on arrival.

I’m sure you are doing everything right, but diet is probably the biggest factor that will restore them to full health.

Ensure they are getting high-quality pellets as their staple diet, a handful of mixed corn once a day and plenty of fresh greens and vegetables.

They will come good after their next moult.

It takes time, depending on what part of the moult cycle they are in.

This time next year you won’t recognise them from their initial photos.

Enjoy their antics, they are great pets.

Q) MY 12-year-old house cat, Sophie, recently had an upset tummy.

Our vet took three days’ worth of stool samples and it all came back OK.

Sophie has access to water 24/7.

Before she was ill she used to drink it from her bowl or the tap but now she won’t go near it.

I have read it could be a sign of diabetes or hypothyroidism.

If she has this, would she show any other signs?

She eats two trays of wet food a day.

Sarah Hamilton, Stockton-on-Tees

A) If it was a total one-off it may well fall into the category of, “Who knows why that happened?”.

But it’s better to know the cause and have it clear up, than for it to be something more sinister.

With diabetes or hyperthyroidism (cats go hyper or overactive, dogs go hypo or underactive), you would expect Sophie to be drinking more, not less.

The wet food will be providing a lot of the moisture she needs, with cats on dry food generally drinking more to compensate.

The best advice is monitor for now and if you are still worried, have your vet recheck her.

Q) IS a tarantula a good pet for an eight year old?

My son Kieron is begging me for one as he has a keen interest in nature.

But what do you think?

Kylie Evans, Swansea

A) I’d say probably not, as they are not usually great for handling, more a “just watch” kind of pet.

They can get stressed and shed irritating hairs, and are very delicate creatures.

I’ve had to glue one back together once when it was dropped on the floor and its abdomen burst. All was well in the end.

There are more suitable bug pets for an eight-year-old, such as prickly stick insects, hermit crabs or giant African land snails.

If Kieron still has the bug after giving those a try then a Chilean Rose Tarantula would be a good beginner species when he’s a little older.

Q) CHARLIE, my four-year-old black cat, seems to have lost her mojo.

She has gone from being lively, sociable, playful and loud, to a semi-recluse who rarely leaves her basket.

She is eating normally and goes to her litter tray OK.

Our vet did blood tests and examined her but nothing was found.

Any advice?

Dave Buckland, Hull

A) I’m glad your vet has found nothing wrong.

Maybe she has just grown out of her exuberant ­kitten phase and is moving into a more sedentary adult-cat era.

This happens a lot with dogs who can calm down after two to three years of being bonkers maniacs.

The other possibility is something in the home or outside is unsettling Charlie and making her hide more.

Are there any new cats on the block visiting your garden?

Or any new pets or people in the home?

If not, keep an eye, and if things get much worse, return to the vet.

Sometimes all it takes is a couple of months in our pets’ lives for things to change healthwise, so a blood test may differ several months later.

Star of the week

TOTO was found sleeping rough in a shed and now he’s strutting his stuff at Crufts.

The nine-year-old crossbreed pooch is competing in the Golden Oldie class in the Scruffts semi-final at the famous dog show which starts on Thursday.

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Jaylee Prince, 23, from Sittingbourne, Kent, found Toto in their shed seven years ago and he needed surgery to an injured leg.

Jaylee said: “He loved being at my side at all times and we built such a strong connection. I couldn’t be without him.

“I’m beyond proud of Toto and can’t believe how resilient he is after all he went through.”

Owners’ £69m splurge on pet toys

WE spent £69million on toys to keep our four-legged friends happy last year, says Pets At Home.

Signs a pet might be bored include destructive behaviour, restlessness and excessive grooming.

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But playing games with them can be the perfect solution.

Fetch is the top game for pups and 13million dog balls were sold last year.

Cats love toys that have a food theme including rubber doughnuts and burgers, plus little teddies.

Dr Karlien Heyrman from Pets At Home said it’s also essential small furries like hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits have chances to exercise and play to stimulate their minds.

She said: “One-on-one, reward-based training can keep intelligent animals such as rats stimulated and can strengthen the bond between pet and owner.

“It’s worth providing rabbits with plenty of interesting toys such as tunnels, platforms and willow toys to deter them from nibbling things they shouldn’t.

“Gnawing toys which have chewable textures are perfect for play and satisfy small pets’ urge to chew, as their teeth never stop growing, so gnawing is how they keep their teeth healthy.”