Pet’s Corner Q&A

Can pets get Seasonal Affective Disorder? I think my cat Ernest is missing the sunshine!

There’s no evidence to suggest pets actually suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Most pets will be happy to go outside whatever the weather, but if Ernest is choosing to stay indoors more often than usual, he may be put off by the weather, preferring indoor comforts or he could be being bullied by other neighbourhood cats, which would also discourage him from going out.

If you have a garden, make sure it is open and welcoming, where there aren’t places he could be ambushed.

As you become more active outdoors in spring, Ernest may be more keen to accompany you.

If the problem persists though, see if you can spot anything else unusual about him such as off his food and then seek advice from your vet as there might be something else going on that they can look into.

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I’ve started to find small teeth around the house. My kitten is three months old, is this normal?

Don’t panic, this is completely normal.

Kittens lose their baby teeth at around three to four months when their adult teeth start coming through – sometimes you’ll see them around the house like you have, other times our cats will swallow them – which won’t cause a problem.

Other signs your kitten is teething include eating less, grooming less, approaching food cautiously, or sometimes redness of gums and bad breath.

There are some things you can do to help your kitten while they are teething such as being gentle while playing and not pulling toys from their mouth, avoiding brushing their teeth (as their gums are sensitive at this time), and temporarily avoiding kibble.

Find out more here: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/vet-qa-should-my-kittens-teeth-fall-out

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My puppy, Coady, won’t stop crying at night, we’ve been going down and letting him outside then sitting with him, but a friend told me to just ignore him. What should I do?

Coady has spent his life until now sleeping in a pile with his littermates and mum, so it must be a huge shock to suddenly have no one there with him at night.

It’s a common mistake that some owners make to leave their puppy in their bed to ‘cry it out’ but we don’t recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially when they’re new to your home.

They may need the toilet, so it’s important to take them outside to try, praising them when they do go, then place them back in bed, without any fuss or chat, leaving him to settle while you’re still around.

For more help: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/vet-qa-why-do-puppies-cry-at-night

 

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