I have a ten-month-old parrot called Charlie who has recently started coughing a lot and has a runny nose and eyes. He’s also had diarrhoea; what could be the problem? Harold

Dear Harold, These symptoms could be a sign of a range of illnesses and so you’ll need to take Charlie to a vet with experience of treating birds as soon as possible so they can examine him and give him any treatment necessary. Birds can develop some illnesses that can be passed to people, so be very careful when handling him and when cleaning out his cage, make sure that you wear protective clothing and gloves then wash your hands thoroughly after you’ve removed them. You’ll also need to be careful to cover your mouth and nose so you don’t breathe in feather dust and feathers.

My seven-year-old female cat has suddenly started to lick my net curtains! I’ve got two male cats as well but they don’t do this, can you explain why she might be doing this? Jenny

Dear Jenny, I’d recommend that you take your cat to see you vet. If your cat is feeling unwell and has some underlying health problem this can cause unusual behaviour. If she is given a clean bill of health, her behaviour may be due to stress or anxiety. Make sure that you have enough resources for your cats, so they have enough litter trays, bowls and toys, one for each cat, plus one. Cats also appreciate a safe haven, dens on cat shelves are useful. You might also find that a pheromone diffuser helps to relax her, but discuss this at your local vet practice.

My three-year-old cat Betsy shakes her head all the time. Could there be something wrong with her ear? Rose

Dear Rose, there may be a few reasons causing Betsy to shake her head, including ear mites or an infection. Occasionally head shaking can be caused by something stuck in the ear, such as a grass seed. These problems can cause a lot of irritation and discomfort so Betsy needs to see your vet for a check-up. They will examine her ears and advise on suitable treatment. Ear drops might be prescribed and your vet will explain how they should be administered. If there is something stuck in Betsy’s ear she might need to be sedated, or have a general anaesthetic, for it to be removed.

Recently my dog went all shaky and wouldn’t move from his bed. Since then, he’s been sleeping more and his legs seem to be quite stiff. Could he have had an epileptic fit? Joanne

Dear Joanne, I’d recommend that you get your dog checked over by your vet as it could be one of many conditions and not necessarily due to epilepsy. Most people recognise seizures when the animal or person is shaking violently, loses consciousness and limbs are outstretched rigidly, but seizures can come in varying degrees and don’t always present themselves in the same way, your vet will be the best person to assess this and your vet might need to do some tests. If your dog has another episode of shaking do try and video this so you can show your vet.