Dear PDSA Vet,

My two guinea pigs have muesli and enjoy eating carrots, lettuce and grass, but they don’t seem to like cabbage.

I know green vegetables are important for their diet, so is there anything else I can feed them?

Vicky

Dear Vicky, vets don’t recommend feeding guinea pigs muesli as it can contribute to painful dental disease and obesity, as muesli doesn’t wear their teeth down and it can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Instead, your guinea pigs’ daily diet should consist of constant access to good quality hay or grass, a teacup of fresh greens and a small amount of shop-bought guinea pig nuggets.

As long as you give a variety of greens every day, it won’t matter too much if they don’t eat much cabbage.

Guinea pigs need to get all their vitamin C from their diet, so other vegetables like salad peppers and kale are also good for them.

Changes to your guinea pigs’ diet should be made gradually, so it doesn’t upset their digestive system.

Check our list of safe greens, visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/guineapigdiet.

Dear PDSA Vet,

My kitten is lovely but she won’t stop trying to bite my two dogs, and when I walk past her she will run at my legs and bite them.

How do I stop her?

Paula

Dear Paula, a cat’s instinct is to chase and catch prey which, in the wild, would include birds and small animals unfortunately, this time it’s your ankles!

To prevent this, play with your kitten using toys she can chase and jump on (e.g. fishing rod-type toys).

If she is becoming rough you should calmly pick her up and distract her with an activity she will find more entertaining.

You must be careful as her teeth and claws will be very sharp so it’s best to not to encourage her to chase your hands or feet!

Your dogs could get annoyed by her behaviour, but using the same distraction techniques may help them cope with her.

If this behaviour towards you persists, contact your veterinary practice for advice.

They may suggest referring you to an accredited pet behavioural specialist.

Dear PDSA Vet,

My black lab has suffers from claw and paw issues and was diagnosed with a disease called Lupoid Onychodystrophy last year.

Will this problem get better?

Wayne

Dear Wayne, The cause of this disease isn’t known, but it is thought of as an auto-immune disease.

This is where the dog’s immune system attacks their own cells.

Lupoid Onychondystrophy usually affects the nails on all of the feet, causing them to separate and drop off which can leave his paws sore.

Your dog may need life-long treatment to keep him comfortable.