Dear PDSA Vet: I recently brought home two young budgies but I don’t know if they’re male or female. Is there any way I can tell? Nathan

Budgies are very sociable creatures that like to live in groups, so it is best for them to have at least one fellow budgie for company. Sexing birds is difficult, often requiring DNA testing, however, we can get a clue with budgies in most cases by looking at the colour of their cere, the part above their beak. In male budgies the colour can range from purple to a pale pink to a bright blue, whereas the hens can range from a white, blue tinged cere through to a brown colour. In both sexes the colours may deepen around breeding season. This can occasionally vary in specific circumstances though. For information on keeping your budgies healthy, you can visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/budgiewelfare

Dear PDSA Vet: My dog Charlie can get quite agitated when the doorbell goes. How can I keep her calm over Halloween when trick-or-treaters visit? Uzair

It’s common for our pooches to get anxious with all the activity going on at Halloween, but there are ways you can help her. Walk Charlie earlier on in the day, so that she doesn’t have to come into contact with the strange sights and costumes that Halloween brings. Keep curtains closed and place a lit pumpkin at the bottom of your drive with a bucket of sweets and a note saying ‘Please don’t knock the door- but help yourself to sweets’, with the aim of keeping ghoulish visitors away. You can also make a safe space for your pup by creating a cosy den with blankets. This way, they have somewhere to retreat to. Pheromone diffusers are useful too.

Dear PDSA Vet: My hamster Reggie tries to bite me when I go to pick him up. He even bit my mum really hard, so I’m scared to pick him up now. How can I get him to be friendlier? Marlene

Hamsters naturally sleep during the day, so leave any socialising until the evening when he’s awake. Hamsters are prey animals, so if anyone tries to pick them up quickly or from above they will be scared and bite. You’ll need to be calm and quiet when handling him. Start with letting him climb onto your hand at ground level, have a treat ready for him to find, let him eat it in the comfort of your hand, and hop off safely whenever he wants to. Once your hamster is comfortable with this, allow him to climb on your hand and gently cup him with your other hand before lifting him in case he jumps.

Dear PDSA Vet: Every year around Bonfire Night my cat Hugo starts ignoring his food and I’m worried it’s something to do with the fireworks. How can I get him to eat?

It’s important to prepare in advance, as it sounds like you’re right - poor Hugo may be worried by all the fireworks at this time of the year. Plugin pheromone diffusers can help pets feel calmer; drawing the curtains and playing repetitive music to mask sounds and flashes helps, too. Create a safe space den for him - as cats often feel safest when they’re high up, so Hugo might prefer his safe space to be on a shelf or on top of a cupboard. Try giving him a covered bed for added feelings of protection! And don’t forget to lock the cat flap so he doesn’t go out after dark. For more information on how to prepare your puss for Bonfire Night and to download PDSA’s free Firework Guide, please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/fireworks2021.

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