Dear PDSA Vet: Recently I’ve noticed that my sausage dog Maxie has developed a little bald patch on his nose. Is this something that I should be concerned about or treatable? Carolina

It sounds as though your pooch may be suffering from alopecia. This may be caused by a number of problems, including parasites, skin allergies and rubbing the same place frequently, for example because something is irritating his nose. Hair loss like this is rarely permanent and is often treatable so it’s important to take Maxie to your vet to have the cause diagnosed. Some helpful tips to support your vet’s treatment can include protecting the exposed skin from the sun by applying pet-safe sun cream (using gloves) and watching for any repetitive behaviour that could be making the problem worse. Do follow your vet’s recommendations, as any skin problem can be very uncomfortable and painful.

Dear PDSA Vet,: My dog has recently started to get diarrhoea quite often which is something he doesn’t normally suffer from. Is there anything that I can do to settle his stomach? Dhillon

Unfortunately diarrhoea can be a common problem in dogs, but there are a few ways to get your furry friend on the mend. Try changing your dog onto a bland diet, such as a mix of boiled chicken and rice. Feed small amounts throughout the day for a couple of days until he’s passing normal stool, when you can gradually reintroduce his usual diet. You may find a probiotic paste is helpful too. You must ensure your four-legged friend has constant access to fresh, clean water. Plenty of rest is important in order to aid recovery but if he seems lethargic, the diarrhoea doesn’t clear up within a couple of days, or if he stops eating or starts vomiting, contact your vet as soon as possible. For more information, please visit https://www.pdsa.org.uk/carefordogswithdiarrhoea

Dear PDSA Vet,: My Golden Retriever, Beau, sheds his hair absolutely everywhere, all year round! Is there anything I can do about this? Timothy

It’s actually quite normal for dogs to shed hair throughout the seasons, especially as they keep warm in our lovely centrally-heated houses. Grooming is a great way of keeping on top of moulting and longhaired dogs should be groomed every day. There are a variety of grooming brushes available from your local vet, pet shop or groomers to suit different coat types. Undercoat rakes can be useful for removing the fluffy undercoat without damaging the topcoat. Use your daily grooming sessions to look out for any possible health issues, such as losing hair from some areas more than others, or if skin is reddened or scaling. These could be signs of an underlying problem and should prompt a visit to your vet.

Dear PDSA Vet: My pet goldfish has randomly started to swim upside down a lot, but he seems fine otherwise and is eating normally. Should I be worried? Kieran

It sounds as though your goldfish may have a problem with his swim bladder. This is an organ which acts as a buoyancy aid and allows fish to swim the right way up in water. Sometimes the swim bladder develops a problem, such as a viral infection, and this means that a fish may struggle to stay balanced. You should take your pet to a vet that specialises in fish, to see what is causing this problem and provide treatment as necessary. It might also be a good idea, if you’ve got any other fish, to put your aquatic friend in a suitable isolation tank just in case it’s something that could spread to his tank mates.

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