Dear PDSA Vet, my three-year-old rescued mongrel Dolly is petrified of loud bangs. Last year she messed in the house during the local fireworks display. What can I do to help her?

Yasmine

Dear Yasmine, the best thing to do is to prepare Dolly for loud noises using a gradual desensitisation programme. With patience, she will eventually learn she doesn’t need to be scared of the loud bangs and other unexpected sounds. However, the process can take many months and you may be too late for this year, so I’d suggest setting up a cosy den where she can escape to when she becomes anxious or frightened. Playing background music to mask the bangs, and using a pheromone diffuser can also help. Plan to start preparing her for New Year immediately after Bonfire Night. An accredited behaviourist could help you with a personalised programme and your vet may be able to advise a referral. For more tips, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/fireworks

Dear PDSA Vet, our cat Cyclops has recently started staying out all night; we think it started when the neighbours rescued a female cat. We’ve tried to keep him inside at night, but he cries really loudly and in the end we give in and let him out. What can we do? Aimee

Dear Aimee, I would strongly recommend that you get Cyclops microchipped and neutered if he isn’t already. It’s important that he can be safe whilst exploring as he might be at greater risk of getting lost, not to mention the possibility of fathering unplanned litters! Microchipping will increase the chance of you being reunited if he does wander too far. Neutering should reduce his tendency to follow this female cat, as well as reducing his desire to roam around the neighbourhood. Neutering male cats also has health benefits as it can prevent against certain cancers, and is a quick, routine operation.

Dear PDSA Vet, My guinea pig, Whisper, keeps sneezing. Could she have a cold? Or might it be something more serious? Lemar

Dear Lemar, Frequent sneezing could indicate an infection, especially if your guinea pig has nasal discharge or any makes wheezing sounds. Respiratory diseases are relatively common in guinea pigs and the signs include unusual breathing sounds, sneezing, a discharge from the nose, weight loss, lack of appetite and lethargy. I’d advise making an appointment for Whisper to see your vet as soon as you can because many guinea pigs can become seriously ill if left untreated. They can check her over to see what is causing her sneezing and advise what treatment is needed.

Dear PDSA Vet, I bought two rabbits earlier this year, they are kept in a hutch and run outside. I heard that they should be brought indoors for winter, but my friend says they are fine outdoors. Which is correct? Niamh

Dear Niamh

In the wild, rabbits would spend much of the winter snuggled up with each other in their burrows, protected from the elements and where the temperatures would be more stable. For our domesticated pals, we need to make sure that we are keeping them cosy too. If you keep them outside, provide extra bedding, cosy hiding places and lay blankets over their hutch (make sure you leave enough gaps for ventilation) to help to keep them protected enough during a relatively mild winter. Rabbits can usually tolerate low temperatures if owners take these steps, but if the temperature starts to reach freezing then you should move your rabbits’ home in to a shed or garage. If you do this, you should make sure they still have plenty of space to exercise freely. It’s important that a garage is car-free as exhaust fumes can be toxic to rabbits. Also check their drinking water regularly in cold weather, to ensure it hasn’t frozen, and always provide them with plenty of high quality feeding hay.