VETS Q&A

Dear Vicki, I’m thinking of getting a hamster for my daughter. What types of food should I avoid and are there any which are poisonous or can cause deadly diseases? Foods to keep well out of reach include the stalks on tomatoes, rhubarb, grapes, fatty meat, chocolate, beans and potatoes. Like dogs, hamsters can be poisoned by onion, garlic, almond nuts and citrus fruit. Providing a balanced diet is important so consider feeding a ready-made hamster food, available from pet stores in addition to daily fresh foods such as green vegetables, cleaned root vegetables and non-citrus fruits. Avoid excess sunflower seeds as these can lead to obesity. Dear Vicki, I’m a primary school teacher and would like to get a fish tank and some fish for my class to look after. Dear Sam, I would recommend cold-water fish (e.g. goldfish) as tropical or marine fish have more specialised care requirements. Goldfish are social, so two or three would be best to start. The tank should be large, but should allow 12 square inches of water surface area for every one inch of fish. The shape of goldfish bowls makes it difficult for enough oxygen to enter the water so choose a tank with a larger opening. Position the tank away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and away from stairs or speakers as fish are sensitive to vibrations. A filter will help to keep the water clean and you will need to change approximately 40% of the water every week. Tap water contains harmful chlorine, so you will need to add special drops to help treat it. You should set the tank up and leave it for two weeks before adding any fish, to let the water ‘mature’. WWW.PDSA.ORG.UK