THE PDSA answer all your pet questions...

Dear PDSA Vet,

I am thinking of buying several goldfish but I’m a little confused about the best tank to buy for them. A friend has told me that a goldfish bowl isn’t ideal as she has heard the fish don’t get enough oxygen? What would you advise? Liz

Dear Liz, A goldfish bowl isn’t the right choice, even for a small number of fish. Opt for a larger tank, which not only gives them more space to move but allows more oxygen for them to breathe. It’s a myth that goldfish are short-lived: well cared-for goldfish can live many years. Many health problems in goldfish come from poor water quality so it’s vital to have a filter that can cope with the amount of waste goldfish produce, and change and test the water regularly. Too many goldfish in one tank can also lead to issues. Just as a rule of thumb, you can keep around 0.5cm of fish per litre of water in the tank and most common goldfish varieties will grow to at least 7.5cm or bigger as adults, so depending on how many fish you’re planning to get, adjust the tank size accordingly. Ask your local aquarium staff or fish vet for more guidance.

Dear PDSA Vet,

I am now the proud owner of an aviary for my budgies. I have five so there can be a lot of mess to clean up. Do you have a cleaning schedule you can advise that will ensure my aviary is both clean and safe for my birds? Alan

Dear Alan, It’s great that your budgies have an aviary as they love to have the space to fly around. We recommend you break down the cleaning process to daily, weekly and monthly. On a daily basis make sure that you sweep out the floor, remove stale food and droppings from your budgies’ sleeping area and don’t forget to clean and refill all food and water bowls or baths. On a weekly basis you should be looking to give the aviary a more thorough clean and additionally, wash it down and clean all fittings. Then for the monthly clean it would be a good idea to scrub it thoroughly inside and out.

Dear PDSA Vet,

My mum is thinking about getting me a kitten for my birthday. What will we need to get before we get a kitten and what’s the best way to look after it? Mary

Dear Mary, kittens are a very big commitment so before taking one on, do your research to figure out whether they’d be the right pet for you. As well as costs and time commitments – kittens need a lot more attention and are far more energetic compared to adult cats – make sure you’ll be able to meet your cat’s 5 Welfare Needs. These include Environment, Diet, Behaviour, Companionship and Health. If you do decide a kitten is right for you, you’ll need to buy all the supplies they need and kitten-proof the house. Also make sure you get a kitten from the best place – ensure the kitten will be well socialised, have all the preventive health treatments they need, and see them with their mum before taking them home. There’s loads of info on our website to help your research: www.pdsa.org.uk/kitten

Dear PDSA Vet,

My dog is 14 and always been healthy, but he seems to have a problem with his eye. It looks like it’s rolled up and I can see the muscle but only part of his iris. It’s very upsetting although he doesn’t seem to be in pain. What would you advise? Tom

Dear Tom, you could be seeing your dog’s third eyelid or swollen conjunctiva (the pink soft tissue that surrounds the eye), rather than your dog’s eye rolling up. Most dogs will get a mild bout of conjunctivitis that goes away by itself at some point in their lives, but two common causes of more severe or persistent conjunctivitis are an allergy or an infection. The third eyelid can also sometimes become prominent if a dog’s eye becomes painful, for example if there is a scratch, an irritation, something stuck in it or an infection. Sometimes if they generally feel under the weather or become dehydrated the eye can sink back, causing the third eyelid to come over the eye too. Eye injuries can quickly deteriorate if not seen to properly by a vet, so it’s best to get your dog checked out by them as soon as possible.