Ask our expert
PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing answers all your pet questions
Dear PDSA Vet, my rabbit, Hopper, seems to be having problems with his teeth. The front ones are quite long and his mouth looks sore. How can I help him? Andris
Dear Andris, Hopper’s teeth may be overgrown, which can be very painful and stop him from eating properly.
This won’t correct on its own and will only get worse if left – make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. If the front teeth are causing problems, the teeth further back that you can’t see will likely be causing problems too. Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously throughout their life, so once recovered, Hopper will need to eat lots of hay or grass to wear his teeth down. Rabbits should eat at least their body size in good quality Timothy or meadow hay daily, plus fresh rabbit safe greens and a tablespoon (2 if they’re a large breed) of commercially produced rabbit nuggets as a supplement. For more information, visit www.pdsa.org. uk/rabbits website.
Dear PDSA Vet, my dog Hilda keeps shaking her head from side to side and she won’t let me touch her ears (they seem to smell a bit too). Could she have an ear infection and if so, how can I help her? Samson Dear Samson, there are a few possibilities for Hilda’s problem, including allergies, ear mites, an ear infection, or a foreign body stuck in the ear canal - amongst others!
Ear conditions like these are often sore and cause a lot of discomfort, which explains why your pooch is shaking her head. You will need to book an appointment with your vet as soon as possible because, if left untreated, ear infections are painful and can progress to more serious conditions or even deafness. I wouldn’t recommend buying anything over the counter without having her ears examined by a vet first, as this could risk missing the underlying cause.
Dear PDSA Vet, my kitten Tulip has a cold that she can’t seem to shake off. She’s eating well and full of energy, but can’t stop sneezing. It’s been going on for a month now – what can I do? Cassidy
Dear Cassidy, sounds as though Tulip may have developed a respiratory infection, such as cat flu. It can cause chronic sneezing. Cat flu can make kittens and cats very poorly – despite eating well, Tulip may be feeling under the weather as cats often hide signs of illness or injury. She could also be spreading her flu as it’s very contagious and there’s also a chance that the illness could develop into something more serious, like a chest infection. It’s a good idea to take her to your vet to get a diagnosis. For more visit www. pdsa. org. uk/ catflu website.