My guinea pigs don’t like to eat cabbage
MY two guinea pigs have muesli and enjoy eating carrots, lettuce and grass, but they don’t seem to like cabbage. I know green vegetables are important for their diet, so is there anything else I can feed them? VETS don’t recommend feeding guinea pigs muesli as it can contribute to painful dental disease and obesity, as muesli doesn’t wear their teeth down and it can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Instead, your guinea pigs’ daily diet should consist of constant access to good quality hay or grass, a teacup of fresh greens and a small amount of shop-bought guinea pig nuggets (follow packet guidelines for amount to feed). As long as you give a variety of greens every day, it won’t matter too much if they don’t eat much cabbage. Guinea pigs need to get all their vitamin C from their diet, so other vegetables like salad peppers and kale are also good for them. Changes to your guinea pigs’ diet should be made gradually, so it doesn’t upset their digestive system.
MY kitten is lovely but she won’t stop trying to bite my two dogs, and when I walk past her she will run at my legs and bite them. How do I stop her?
A CAT’S instinct is to chase and catch prey which, in the wild, would include birds and small animals unfortunately, this time it’s your ankles! To prevent this, play with your kitten using toys she can chase and jump on (e.g. fishing rod-type toys). If she is becoming rough you should calmly pick her up and distract her with an activity she will find more entertaining. You must be careful as her
teeth and claws will be very sharp so it’s best to not to encourage her to chase your hands or feet! Your dogs could get annoyed by her behaviour, but using the same distraction techniques may help them cope. If this behaviour-persists, contact your veterinary practice for advice. OUR rabbit has a hard lump on his hind leg which I think is muscle swelling because it is quite big and is all down his bottom to his hind leg. Should I take him to the vet or is it a strain that will fix itself? I DEFINITELY wouldn’t advise leaving this, as your rabbit might be in pain or at the least feeling uncomfortable with such a
large swelling. You should take your rabbit to be checked by your vet who will examine him and may recommend further tests such as a biopsy, ultrasound examination or x-rays. Once the cause is known, treatment can be discussed.
MY black lab was diagnosed Lupoid Onychodystrophy last year. Will this problem get better?
THE cause of this disease isn’t known, but it is thought of as an autoimmune disease. This is where the dog’s immune system attacks their own cells. It usually affects the nails on all of the feet, causing them to separate and drop off which can leave his paws sore. Any new nails that grow after this are usually brittle and misshapen. Your dog may need life-long treatment to keep him comfortable.