From a poodle with an odd peeing ritual to best reptile for kids – your pet queries answered

The Sun

24-05-2025

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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Q: MY female dog Petra cocks her leg like a boy when she pees.
She's a poodle. Is she an oddball?
Shaun Spencer, Burnley, Lancs
Sean says: It's not that unusual, really. I see it quite often and generally it's nothing to worry about.
Some female dogs just develop the habit of going that way.
Others might want to save their undercarriage from getting wet or cold.
Some may even have more naturally occurring testosterone than others, which can drive the behaviour.
And despite what recent court rulings have suggested, biological female versus biological male are not always clearly defined in the mammal kingdom.
I have heard of some cases where a dog is intersex and has both male and female internal equipment.
If Petra is straining to urinate or going more often than normal, get her checked out. Otherwise, accept it as a quirk.
I'm a property expert, here are the five key things when moving with a pet
Q: WHAT is a good starter reptile for children?
I have a ten-year-old son Ollie and he's been asking forever to have a snake or lizard.
He's sensible. What do you recommend?
Kyle Brown, Exmouth, Devon
Sean says: The honest answer is there's no perfect choice, because reptiles are pets which require a fair degree of understanding, research, expensive equipment and housing — regardless of species.
So I always say if a child wants one, their parents/guardians need to want one, too.
It's going to be down to the adult to make sure all of the animal's needs are being met.
Saying that, the top four list of species that are robust and suitable for this arrangement include corn snakes, bearded dragons, leopard geckos and crested geckos.
Q: HOW do I know if my dog is too fat?
Bob is a labrador cross and he is a bit barrel-like. He loves his food and my kids always give him snacks.
Does he need to be put on a diet? Someone said you should see the ribs — is that true?
Derek Peters, Brighton
Sean says: There is a great technique that lets you get hands on to assess any breed of dog called body condition scoring.
It looks at three key areas — the ribs, belly and waist — to check if your dog is overweight, underweight or just right.
Your vet team can also help you set a target weight for Bob, as even among pedigree Labradors there are all shapes and sizes, let alone with cross breeds.
Search for 'body condition scoring tails.com' on YouTube — you'll find some videos I've made on this topic.
This has just made me realise that I have certainly crept up in the body condition score department since I started working at tails.com — with a few more grey hairs to boot!
Q: I'VE always wanted a pot-bellied pig.
Do you think they would make a good pet? Can they be house trained?
Sam Bryant, Skegness, Lincs
Sean says: Being brutally honest, they make terrible pets for most people, and many who insist on getting one live to regret their decision as they didn't fully understand the commitment, space and care required.
Pigs are social animals so you need at least two.
They are clean animals, but they dig up and trample the ground so they need a lot of it to prevent their enclosure becoming a muddy quagmire, especially in winter.
They also don't toilet train well, so prepare for accidents if they are indoors.
Unless you have a smallholding and serious dedication, they are not a great idea as house pets.
Star of the week
TAYLOR the Labrador has helped his owner to inspire others – and even run her first marathon.
The Rev Melissa Carter, 44, a visually impaired runner from Dover, raised money for Guide Dogs, as the three-year-old pup is her fourth dog from the charity as well as her exercise buddy.
Rev Carter, of the diocese of Canterbury, who ran this year's London Marathon in just over five hours said: 'Having Taylor has given me the confidence to go out, work and live life to the full.'
She joined her local Snap Fitness in August 2024 to help her train using the motto: 'One step at a time.'
Manager Max Brunetti-Leach said: 'Her determination is an inspiration.'
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See dental.pet.
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PROTECT PETS FROM SUN'S HARMFUL RAYS
OWNERS are being urged to protect their pets from the sun in a bid to prevent skin cancer.
It comes after harmful rays caused the disease in seven-year-old cat Gracie, who then had to have her ears amputated.
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If Gracie hadn't had her op, the cancer could have spread and claimed her life.
Following treatment, she has now been rehomed.
Charities Cats Protection and the RSPCA are warning readers their four-legged friends are also at risk of sunburn and heatstroke.
Nikki Butcher, co-ordinator at Cats Protection Bracknell and Wokingham, said: 'We see too many cats suffering from the effects of sun damage and it can be easily prevented.
'Hopefully, Gracie's story will make more pet owners aware of the risks of the sun and save other cats from losing their ears.'
Dominika Jagoda, from the RSPCA, added: 'You can use pet-safe sun cream on exposed skin, such as the ears or nose, especially on those with white or light-coloured fur and pale skin, to avoid sunburn.'
Cats Protection advises keeping pets indoors between 10am and 3pm, when it's hottest, and providing plenty of water to avoid dehydration.