Dear PDSA Vet, my guinea pig has problems going to the loo – sometimes she doesn’t poo for days. I’m not sure what to do to help her, what can you advise?

Anita

Dear Anita, guinea pigs should regularly pass faeces, and not doing so can be a sign of a serious issue. There can be lots of causes, ranging from problems with their teeth, to an inappropriate diet or even pain or infection. You should take her to your vet for a health check so they can advise on the possible cause. If she doesn’t have any medical problems, I would suggest that you then think about her five Welfare Needs and make sure they are being met for each one. Welfare Needs are five categories that influence every animal’s health and happiness, and can mean different things depending on the species. They cover the environment she is living in, her diet, behaviour, companionship and health. For example, toileting problems could be due to a poor diet, not having an exercise run and or the stress from not having the company of another guinea pig. For more information on how to meet these five needs for guinea pigs, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/guineapigs.

Dear PDSA Vet, should I bath my budgie? I’m not sure if he will just groom himself, or if I need to do anything? If I do, then how do I do this, and are there special products I should use?

Lesley

Dear Lesley, budgies that are kept indoors won’t have the chance to bathe themselves as those in the wild do, so the feathers can become dry and prone to debris getting stuck in them. You can ensure your budgie cleans themselves properly by getting a budgie bath that fits over the cage door. However, be aware that some budgies might not like bathing in still water. To help encourage them, you can use a sprayer to mimic a bath in the rain. Fill a fine mist sprayer used for plants with lukewarm water, take out the food pots from the cage so they don’t get damp, and gently spray just above the budgie’s head so that the water droplets fall like rain. Your bird should be offered the opportunity to bathe at least a few times a week. More tips on caring for budgies can be found on our website www.pdsa.org.uk/budgies.

Dear PDSA Vet, I usually take my dog Millie for long walks in the countryside, but she often comes home with ticks on her ears. How can I prevent this? Kat

Dear Kat, ticks should be prevented for two reasons: firstly, they can transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease; secondly, where the ticks attach can be painful and sometimes get infected. Lyme disease can cause painful joints, loss of appetite, fever and lethargy and can also be passed onto humans. Ticks are most commonly found in long grass, so walk Millie in areas with short grass if possible. After walks, check areas such as her muzzle, behind her ears and her belly for parasites. You should also get a preventive treatment from your vet to stop them transmitting diseases, and also ask them to show you how to safely remove ticks using a special tool. The best way is to use a ‘tick hook’, which ensures the tick’s mouthparts aren’t left in Millie’s skin. I would also recommend that you cover your arms and legs while walking to prevent you from being affected by ticks too.

Dear PDSA Vet, I have a 13-week-old Rottweiler that keeps eating her own poo before we get chance to clean up. She is being fed well, so we can’t understand why she is doing this. David

Dear David, it can be normal for puppies to eat their own poop. As puppies are still learning and exploring the world, they will often copy mum if this is a behaviour she displays - but you are quite right in trying to discourage this before it becomes a habit. Dogs receiving a well-balanced diet should grow out of this. If your Rottweiler continues this behaviour once they’ve reached adulthood, you should contact your vet for further advice, as there could be other causes such as boredom, stress or poor digestion. The best thing you can do for now is try to distract your puppy and get the poo picked up as soon as possible.