Pet Questions and Answers

Craig is the new Vet in the Belfast Telegraph – with a weekly column on Saturday Nights. Read an archive of his Pet Questions and Answers here.

In the past couple of days my four and half month old cocker spaniel has started eating his own pooh. This makes his breath smell and it surely can't be doing him any good. What can I do?

All bitches “clean up” after their pups by licking their bottoms. Pups see this behaviour and learn it as normal. My best advice is to lift all parcels as soon as they are passed – remove the opportunity. He will eventually stop wanting to do it. If your lifestyle means that some poohs must go unlifted (eg. you are at work) try lacing one or two with Tabasco sauce, or mustard powder – a nasty (but not harmful) shock may discourage him. Don`t worry, most dogs stop as they get older!

I have two terrapins aged 10 months. One has its` eyes swollen shut. I found a site selling Vitamin A drops online – will they cure this problem?

Maybe, but maybe not, and if the eye problem is not Vitamin A deficiency then by the time you realise it, it may be too late to save the terrapins` sight. Blind terrapins cannot feed, and they are likely to die. Take him to your vet ASAP. The vet will check for eye infections, which are common, and can mimic Vitamin A deficiency.

I read that cats can get skin cancer, especially the white ones. Is that right?

All cats love the sun. They will lie for hours sunbathing, and if they have little skin pigment to protect the skin they get sunburned. This is very common on the tips of ears and noses in white cats. Repeated sunburn causes skin cancers, so it is best to use a high factor waterproof sunblock daily on these areas from May to September, especially on sunny days. If red crusty areas or lumps develop visit the vet promptly: early surgery or photodynamic therapy can be curative – like skin cancer in people, prevention is better than cure, but early surgery saves lives!

I would like to bring my rabbits indoors more. How do I go about it?

More and more people are keeping rabbits as house pets. They are very clean, easy to litter train and are fun family pets as long as you provide for their behavioural needs. They need a toilet area, a separate feeding area, and lots of things to chew! There`s a great website with all the advice you ever need: Access it off the “Rabbit Page” on our practice website.

I got Sammy, a lovely tortoise-shell cat, a year ago from a rescue sanctuary. Her nose runs all the time, and she sneezes a lot. What should I do?

Sadly, many cats have not been properly vaccinated, and catch Cat Flu. This sounds like a case where Sammy may have chronic damage to her nasal membranes caused by the virus. Full-blown Cat Flu can kill, but Sammy is not in danger any more. Your vet may decide to try a long course of antibiotics to clear any secondary bacterial infection, or perhaps even a course of interferon to try and clear the virus. These cases are complicated and very frustrating. Take her to your vet and discuss the way forward.

I would really like to get some hens for my back garden, but I don`t want a rooster waking everyone up early! Will the hens lay eggs even if I don`t get a rooster?

Absolutely! Many people now keep small backyard flocks for fun and for the eggs. Modern hens are bred to lay long clutches of eggs, frequently laying almost every day for quite long periods, as long as their diet is adequate. The only difference will be that the eggs will not hatch!

My dog is very, very smelly. I have bathed her in several different shampoos and she still reeks. Help!

This is a common problem! I always check them for smells in the likely places first: mouths (dental disease or lip folds), ears (infections), bottoms (anal glands), feet (dermatitis) and the general skin, especially in hot sweaty, foldy bits! This can usually be sorted, so do take him to see your vet. Don`t be embarrassed – the vet will understand!

Jimmy is my pet Hooded Rat. He got his foot stuck in the wire on the bottom of his cage and now his whole leg is swollen. What should I do?

You must take him to your vet at once. Injuries like these are very common in wire-bottomed cages, so I think that you should get him a cage with a solid base. If the leg is just swollen with no superficial wound, then an anti- inflammatory drug and rest may be all that are required for a quick recovery, but if it has become infected things are likely to be more serious. Your vet may need to prescribe antibiotics. These are easily administered in food eg. Strawberry jam! Correct management of swollen limbs is vital both to save the leg and spare Jimmy any unnecessary pain.

My 5 year old cocker spaniel eats grass and pulls tufts of it and leaves them lying around. Why does he do this, and how can I prevent him doing it?

People say dogs eat grass to make themselves sick, or perhaps to kill pain (as grass contains a precursor for aspirin). I believe many dogs simply love the taste of grass, especially in the spring and summer when it contains sugars and is quite sweet. I know this is true of my own dogs! As for the tufts….he is just having fun! Try and distract him into playing with a favourite toy when he starts, and you may be able to re-teach a less untidy game!

My 10 year old ginger tom-cat cannot jump up on the bench any more, and is very stiff when he gets up. What is wrong?

You need to get him to your vet – he is in pain! Recent studies have confirmed that arthritis occurs very commonly in elderly cats: the problem is they don`t complain! Oftentimes they simply sleep longer, and spend more time sitting or lying still, so no-one realises there is a problem. Your vet can check for joint pain at his annual health check when he gets his annual vaccinations. We can treat arthritis in cats more effectively now: there is no need to leave him in pain!

My 3 year old cross-lab always barks when friends/family call to visit us. Can I stop her from doing this?

This is a normal behaviour for many dogs, but is very distracting! Try and decide if she is fearful or excited, playful or territorial. Prevention requires careful diagnosis of the trigger. Anti-barking collars (even the animal welfare-friendly versions sold by your vet) are contraindicated in a fearful dog, as they increase anxiety. Territorial behaviours and excitement barking are treated differently. Careful, persistent retraining is necessary to affect any lasting change in established behaviour: Good Luck!

My budgies nails are very long and seem to be hurting her. Should I trim them?

Budgies need to have their nails worn down by perching on a broad rough surface, eg. an applewood branch, or a perch covered in sandpaper. If the nails overgrow they need trimming – this is not difficult, but please remember it is painful to cut into the quick, and you risk causing bleeding: perhaps you should have your vet do it the first time to be safe.

I have two Lop Eared Rabbits, and am worried about maggots growing on them!

Late summer is the commonest time to see this horrible problem. “Fly Strike” is when flies lay eggs in wet/matted fur (often round the rabbit`s bottoms) and then maggots hatch out. This can be very distressing and often fatal. Ask your vet for a good safe repellent product to deter the flies. Regularly check your rabbits` rear end: it should be clean and dry without any matted areas. Prevention is definitely the best way forward! If you think there are maggots there already please call your vet at once. Undue delay could leave your pet suffering unnecessarily.

I read that animals only see in black and white? Is that right?

Yes it is! The only mammals to have developed true colour vision are humans and the apes. In nature, it can be a disadvantage to see too much detail. The US Army use colour-blind soldiers to look for camouflaged enemies: sometimes less is better! Of course, dogs and especially cats, can see much better than us at night!

I was wondering if you can tell me why marine fish are so colourful?

I believe there are many theories, but no-one really knows for certain. Patterns, eg. a false eye “look-a-like” on your tail, and dazzling colours can confuse underwater predators and may save your life. Bright colours may be useful in attracting a mate, or signalling that you don`t taste too good! It is possible that the colour has evolved for reasons which no longer matter to the modern day fish: this is another of natures` mysteries.

My elderly Labrador bitch is leaving wet puddles everywhere she sits or sleeps. What is wrong?

True urinary incontinence can be caused by many things, from simple infections, bladder stones and polyps, to serious illnesses such as cancer and spinal damage. Your vet will be able to diagnose this problem, but may need to take some xrays, or perform an ultrasound examination of the bladder and kidneys, after testing a urine sample. Most cases can be controlled, perhaps by a hormone replacement or by daily medication combined with weight loss if required. Occasionally surgery will be necessary also. Please don`t leave it untreated, as even serious problems can be fixed if tackled early in the course of the disease.

I am thinking about getting a few hens for the back yard, but I have two cats. Would they attack the hens?

In my experience grown chickens intimidate cats! I suspect there would be no problem. Probably best to buy them at Point of Lay, so they are nearly fully grown, rather than buying chicks. Remember dogs and foxes can also pose a threat!

My 13 year old Siamese has been diagnosed with kidney failure. What do you think may have caused it?

I am sorry to hear that. Different types of kidney disease can result in failure. A careful veterinary investigation is necessary to differentiate these types and target therapy appropriately. Eating any part of an Easter Lilly can cause renal damage. Anti-freeze is lethal: it is vital to dispose of this chemical safely. I am sure your vet will have discussed your treatment options. Did you know that correct diet alone can at least double life expectancy? Monitoring for urinary infections and severe hypertension (high blood pressure) can also improve the quality of life: this is no longer the devastating diagnosis it once was.

I keep koi, and am worried about sunburn.

It is rare for UV radiation to burn adult fish which have scales to protect their skin, although we believe it can induce cataracts just like in people. A much bigger, and emerging problem, is sunburn in juvenile fish, both wild and farmed. The depletion of our Ozone layer is being blamed for this increased incidence, and perhaps is yet another reason for concern about our environment!

My vet says I need my dog`s teeth cleaned under anaesthetic. I am worried about the risk.

Dental disease (including gum infections) is common and often painful (and smelly!!) in our pets. Very few will allow effective descaling without anaesthesia, and certainly extractions or root canal work definitely require a sleeping patient! Many vets are now using the most modern equipment and drugs for this. I have been very impressed with the advances in anaesthetic gases in particular, and am delighted to say that I believe general anaesthetics have never been so safe! I have no hesitation in recommending you progress, assuming of course your vet is happy with all the pre-anaesthetic checks he/she has made/will make. I cannot say there is no risk, because that is obviously untrue. You should discuss your concerns frankly with your vet.

There is an awful smell off my 14 year old Border Collie. I have tried shampooing him, but I didn`t make any difference. He also has a bald patch on his bottom. Please help!

Don`t worry! Please take him to your vet: this antisocial problem is usually easy to sort out! Dogs have scent glands beside their anus, used originally by wolves to mark territory. Domestic dogs rarely do this nowadays, so these glands fill up, and can become very, very itchy. The contents smell like rotten fish, and become especially vile if they get infected. Your dog may have licked the fur away trying to relieve the terrible itch!

I bought a pet rat last month and now his ears are covered in scabs which bleed. What can I do?

Scabs can be very disfiguring and itchy! Sadly, there are many causes. Ask the pet shop if they know about others from the batch your rat came from. If not, your vet can test for mites (mange), viruses, or fungi (Ringworm), the common causes of this problem. We can usually cure this, although it can be a bit tricky reaching a definitive diagnosis without laboratory test backup!

I have tried a magnetic collar on my cat to operate her cat flap, but she keeps losing it, and then cannot get into the house! Without some lock on the flap other cats come in and steal her food! Do you have any suggestions?

Yes! We now sell battery powered microchip-operated cat flaps which only open to your own cat, or cats! This means that no others can get in, and as cats cannot lose their microchip they will always “carry the key”. A more expensive mains electric product is also available online.

I am worried that my year old Macaw may be stolen. How do I go about getting him microchipped?

Microchipping provides permanent identification, allowing police to track a stolen or lost bird. Unlike dogs and cats, who can have chips painlessly injected under the skin, birds usually have them inserted deep into the left breast muscle. This requires a short general anaesthetic, so you will need to locate a vet who is used to dealing with avian anaesthetics and ask him/her to do it for you.

More Pet Questions & Answers from over grooming to keeping tortoises
More Pet Question & Answers from bones to sexing African Grey Parrots