Can you help give a home to Riley?

MY three-year-old rabbit Thumper’s front teeth are really long and overgrown and he’s finding eating difficult. What can I do to help him?

YOU need to take Thumper to your vet without delay. The vet will check Thumper’s teeth and general health, and will probably recommend trimming the overgrown teeth so that he can eat normally again. Your vet will advise on Thumper’s diet too. A rabbit’s teeth grow continuously throughout their life. Thumper will therefore need lots of grass or good quality hay in his diet, to keep his teeth worn down; vets recommend giving rabbits at least their own body size in hay every day. You should avoid feeding your rabbit a muesli diet, as this can cause tooth problems. Some rabbits’ teeth don’t meet properly, which can be another cause of overgrown teeth. If an ongoing problem is diagnosed, Thumper might need his teeth trimmed regularly in the future. For more information on what to feed rabbits visit www. pdsa.org.uk/rabbits.

WHEN I first got my kitten Cupcake she had the flu and I had to give her medicine from a syringe and eye drops. She’s eight-months-old and better now, but won’t come near me. How can I get her to trust me again?

EVEN though you were doing it to help her, Cupcake has probably learnt to associate you with unpleasant things happening to her. You need to help Cupcake re-associate you with positive things instead of negative ones. Chasing Cupcake to reassure her can reinforce her fear. To build up her trust approach her slowly, quietly, and gently so that she isn’t scared. Keep your distance at first and offer her rewards (e.g. small pieces of her favourite lean meat) when she remains calm. (Remember to reduce her meal size if she is getting extra treats to avoid weight gain). Once she is comfortable around you, you can gradually build up again offering rewards at first. Stroke her gently, concentrating on her head and neck. Avoid more sensitive areas. It will take patience and several weeks, but Cupcake can learn to trust you again.

MY dog Marcy is a fiveyear-old Border Terrier. My mother has recently started to use a wheelchair and Marcy has started to bark and growl at her, but she is fine when my mother is on the sofa. I think Marcy is scared of the wheelchair – how can I help her to stop?

IT does sound as though Marcy may be afraid of the wheelchair. This may be because Marcy was never exposed to anything like it as a puppy, during her ‘socialisation period’ (between three and eight weeks old). During this time, dogs accept new things as normal but afterwards they are more wary of new things. Well socialised animals are less likely to be nervous in later life.

Your vet or an Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) accredited behaviourist should be able to give you more info to help.