From naming a rescue dog to a cat with wind – 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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Sean helps a reader with a rescue dog[/caption]

Q) CAN I change the name of my rescue dog?

I have a mixed-breed, year-old dog called Barny but he doesn’t really seem to know his name.

Should I keep it or give him a new name for his fresh start?

I don’t want to make him even more unsettled if it’s not the right thing to do.

He has no recall, so I’m starting from scratch.

Mike Barnett, Middlesbrough

A) Of course you can. ­Animals are not necessarily attached to their names in the way we are.

Names are a human invention in human language after all.

We use them to get our pets’ attention, reward and praise them, sometimes telling them off if they’re doing something naughty.

But as long as it’s repeated and communicated clearly, with treats to build the associations you want Barny to have with it, it doesn’t matter if you call him Bernie, Boris, Barbara, Lenny or even Doggo McDogface.

Dogs do adapt. Don’t call him Doggo McDogface though, too much.

Q) MY cat, Pepper, is windy and his tummy sometimes gurgles.

He’s fit and well, and I have no other concerns with his health, but it’s an unsociable habit at times.

Should I consider probiotics? Pre­biotics?

Is there any difference? Or what do you recommend?

Ben Peters, Lancaster

A) This may be a dietary intolerance, but the first step I always recommend is to make sure Pepper’s worming is up to date.

Worms can cause multiple problems including wind and tummy upsets.

Then I might consider trying a hypoallergenic diet for cats, or one designed for digestive support.

You could also try a novel protein diet, with a limited ingredient list Pepper hasn’t been exposed to before. Or add a digestive support supplement.

But try one thing at a time, and give each change at least six to eight weeks, preferably 12, to see if it has an effect. This will allow you to get to the bottom of the problem.

Your vet should be able to help decide which is the best approach in your circumstances. For all the strict diet trials, if cats go outdoors, who knows what they’re eating?

Q) WHEN do I need to think about hibernating my tortoise, Ben?
Is it at the first frost?

I’m going to keep him in the garage for winter by moving his home.

Is there anything else you would recommend to keep him as safe as possible?

Andrew Maitland, Bexley, Kent

A) The nights are closing in and the weather is getting cooler.

You don’t say what age Ben is or how long you have had him, or if you have hibernated him previously.

I always point out to tortoise owners that things are changing.

Both the impact of climate and seasons, as well as the fact Britain’s tortoise population is reaching geriatric age, means they are no longer as robust as they used to be.

Traditional advice would have you allow Ben to bury himself in the garden, or perhaps wrap him in straw in a box in the shed.

Both are risky in older tortoises and at the mercy of the weather.

Waking too soon or being in hibernation too long can both lead to illness.

My advice now is to transition outdoor tortoises to an indoor source of heat and UV light once the autumn comes.

If hibernating, do so in a temperature-controlled environment, even a dedicated fridge for maybe six to eight weeks maximum.

If they are not up to it, you can also overwinter them indoors with this set-up. Lots of information can be found on the Tortoise Trust and British Chelonia Group websites.

STAR OF THE WEEK  

STARVING sisters Esme and Freyja were found at death’s door, dumped in a pile of rubbish before they were rescued by the RSPCA.

But now they’ve got a second chance after their new owner, Katie Arrowsmith, travelled hundreds of miles from her home in Edinburgh to adopt them from the charity’s Great Ayton Animal Centre in North Yorkshire.

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Starving sisters Esme and Freyja were found at death’s door, dumped in a pile of rubbish before they were rescued by the RSPCA[/caption]

Photographer Katie, 45, said: “I knew as soon as I saw them they were going to be my girls.”

RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor, who found them, said: “Both had literally been thrown out with the rubbish.

“They have healed and learnt to trust again and I’m so grateful to Katie and to the staff at Great Ayton and our partner cattery for nursing them back to health.”

IS YOUR PRECIOUS POOCH UK’S TOP DOG?

THE hunt is on for Britain’s biggest canine hero.

Nominations have open­ed for The Kennel Club Hero Dog award 2026, which shines a light on the nation’s extraordinary animals, from loyal companions to those that make a life-saving ­difference to people.

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Last year retired police dog Baloo won the coveted prize, with ex-police handler owner Mandy Chapman[/caption]

The winner will be crowned at Crufts.

Last year retired police dog Baloo won the coveted prize, with ex-police handler owner Mandy Chapman.

The brave pooch had been hit by the car of a suspect fleeing a crime scene in 2018, leading to the amputation of one of her legs.

Baloo went on to inspire the creation of the nationwide Oscar Kilo wellbeing and trauma support dogs’ service. It now has more than 250 dogs helping police across the UK.

Catherine Guiver from The Kennel Club said: “Every day, dogs are making a difference. Whether protecting us, aiding people with disabilities or simply offering unconditional love.

“We want to hear your ­stories of dogs who have changed a life or shown extraordinary courage.”

Nominations are across five categories and five finalists will receive a donation for their favourite dog charity.

Nominations close October 27. See crufts.org.uk.