The Nine Network's resident vet joins Woman's Day to help solve your pet problems.

What made you want to become a vet?
When I was growing up, a vet was the last thing I was going to be. My dad's a vet and I didn't want to be seen as following in his footsteps. But I saw the real side of nature and it's become a part of who I am now.

What pets do you have?
I have two dogs, Rosie, nine, a kelpie cross, and Rusty, four, a kelpie. Rusty was abused as a puppy and was useless with the stock on the property next to our farm. He was going to be shot so we brought him to the city.
What animal would you like to have in your backyard?
A dairy cow. I've always loved cows. Growing up part of the time on a farm is a big part of that. I got a cow for my 12th birthday — her name was Bridget. I used to milk her and make butter and cream. There's something calm and amusing about cows. The next best thing is chickens and I've got two in my backyard in Bondi. They are very quiet and give me an egg a day.

Your funniest animal story ...
Animals have a unique ability to embarrass you. I grew up with a dog called Claude, a tall poodle. I'd go running with him on the beach and one day he walked up to a nude sunbaker and put his cold nose between a woman's legs. Actually he did that a few times.

Any hints on how to tame a wayward pet?
Try to get a sense of what the pet is looking for and what makes them tick. A lot of dogs that run away are looking for exercise or companionship. You have to find a compromise.

Have you adopted any new pets lately?
I've taken on three yabbies. A Current Affair's Tracy Grimshaw hypnotises yabbies. We did a story with her and we had a few we didn't want to return to the fish markets, so now they're in a tank in my kitchen and stare at me with their beady eyes as I make dinner.

Do you have a secret talent?
I can hypnotise chickens, so whenever I have a party they know it's time for them to play dead.

Any memorable stories from the vet clinic?
I live at Bondi, so I surf. We had a tortoise come into the vet clinic which had its shell broken. We couldn't work out what to do with this tortoise and so I ended up using my surfboard repair kit and re-glassed his shell with fibreglass. The last I heard he was doing well and so, as soon as his own shell repairs itself, the fibreglass will drop off.

Got a question for Dr Chris? E-mail him at petexpert@acpmagazines.com.au

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