My dog doesn’t like being left alone in the house

MY dog Betsy has severe separation anxiety – yesterday I left the house just for an hour and on my return she had removed the door casing and destroyed the wiring in the house alarm. I’m at my wits’ end as I can barely leave the house and it’s affecting my kids badly now. Any suggestions? Separation anxiety can cause very serious problems and it sounds like this is very stressful for Betsy as well as you and your family.

Firstly, don’t ever shout at or punish her – this will just make the anxiety worse.

Have her checked over by a vet too as underlying medical conditions can be a cause.

A technique called desensitisation will help, but you need the support of a behaviourist to maximise success.

Try the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (apbc.org.uk) to find someone locally. You won’t see results overnight, but with time and patience from all the family you should be able to improve everyone’s quality of life.

My cat has a small hole on her skin

I noticed a small hole in the skin near my cat’s front leg. It doesn’t seem to bother her too much, but should I take her to the vets? I would definitely advise taking your cat to the vet. The wound could have been caused by a number of things, for instance a fight with another cat, or it could even be a sign that your cat has been injured by an airgun pellet.

It’s important to get it checked out as she may need treatment.

Sometimes small injuries in the skin are also disguising more serious damage underneath, so I’d make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.

Do catfish feed on Alge?

My tropical fish tank has algae and a friend recommended getting a catfish. Is it true they feed on algae? It’s true that catfish eat certain types of algae, but introducing one could be stressful to your other fish, which could cause or exacerbate illnesses.

A certain amount of algae in fish tanks is inevitable, but improving the water quality can help manage this.

For instance, decreasing light levels and being careful not to overfeed your fish can restrict algae growth.

Local aquarium specialists are great for more detailed advice, but remember to be patient – it will take time to achieve a balanced aquarium!