Vet Pete Wedderburn has the answers
Our six-year-old springer spaniel has recently decided to enhance his beauty, and no doubt his attractiveness, by rolling in dried horse manure while out on his walk. It sticks to him and he stinks. He needs a cold water hose scrub when he gets home. Any advice on teaching better social habits?
BL, DEVON
Try exercising him on a long training leash, attached to a head collar (like the Gentle Leader). At a calm, undistracted time, teach him a command such as “look at me” or “move away”, rewarding him with delicious treats or a ball to play with, and praise, for doing so. Then, the next time you notice him beginning to focus on the manure, use the head collar and the newly learned command to redirect his attention to something else. Pre-emption is key: if you wait until he’s rolling in it before intervening, there’s no hope: dogs enjoy this so much that no commands or tasty treats will work.
My four-year-old male neutered cat has begun to spray on trees, walls and other surrounding objects. He is an outdoor cat but does find ways into the house. Will he start doing this inside our house?
SR, CARMARTHENSHIRE
This is normal feline behaviour: urine spraying is how a cat leaves messages for other cats, making them aware of his presence, how long ago he was in the area and when they might expect him to return. Cats only tend to spray if they are sharing areas with other cats, so it’s highly unlikely that he will want to do this in your house. It’s more common indoors in multi-cat households, especially if they do not have outdoor access. No need for you to worry at all.
HELPING ANIMALS DURING COVID-19
Leading animal charity the Blue Cross has created a dedicated web page at bluecross.org.uk/coronavirus, with advice and tips to make life better for dogs, cats, smaller pets and horses during this challenging time.
RESCUE PETS
Three tiny kittens have recently been rescued by Cats Protection in Cornwall. They have been called Nye, after Aneurin Bevan, who founded the NHS; AJ, after AJ Cronin, whose book The Citadel paved the way for the service; and Elizabeth, after Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first woman to qualify in Britain as a physician and surgeon. The kittens will be ready to rehome when they are eight weeks old. Call 0300 012 1212 or see cats.org.uk/cornwall
To view outcomes of rescued pets, see petethevet.com/ rescues
Send queries to petsubjects @telegraph.co.uk or tweet @PeteTheVet. All sick animals should be taken to a vet