Pet’s Corner Q & A

I’ve noticed that the inner corner of my dog, DeeDee’s eye has swollen. It doesn’t seem to be bothering her, but should I still get this looked at?

I’d suggest booking DeeDee in at the vets, as anything that involves the eye should be examined as soon as possible.

From what you’ve described, it sounds like she might have something called cherry eye.

Not many people know that dogs have a third eyelid that is visible in the inner corner of their eye. This eyelid contains a tear duct which can pop out, often an inherited condition, and when this happens it often looks red, swollen and a bit like a cherry – hence the name.

Cherry eye can be uncomfortable for our furry friends so your vet may advise surgery to replace the gland and prevent any infections.

For more information on cherry eye, you can visit https://www.pdsa.org.uk/cherryeyeindogs

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My kitten, Sardine, keeps shaking her head and scratching at her ears. What could be wrong?

Head shaking and scratching at ears has many possible causes.

An ear infection, mites, or even a foreign body down the ear can cause problems such as this, so do take Sardine to see your vet so they can determine the cause.

They will carry out a thorough health check to get to the root of the problem and offer any necessary treatment.

Mites can be common in kittens and typically affect both ears, causing them to become red, swollen, irritated and painful.

If she does have mites, your vet may advise using a preventive flea treatment that also treats ear mites to help stop them recurring.

You can find more about head shaking in cats by visiting https://www.pdsa.org.uk/ear-mites-in-cats

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Tally, my rabbit, is leaving lots of her food every day. Could I be over feeding her?

Tally should be offered at least her own body size in hay each day as this should be her main diet.

Pellets are a supplement to hay – and only one tbsp is needed daily, unless your rabbits are above 3.5kg, when they’ll need two tbsp. As Tally seems to be leaving her food, you must get her checked by your vet as soon as possible.

Rabbits need to eat frequently to keep their gut moving, this is vital for their survival.

Dental issues are common for rabbits, signs that problems are developing include dropping food when eating, drool around their mouths, a reduced appetite or they may stop eating altogether, causing gut stasis which is potentially life-threatening and needs urgent vet care.

 

Picture: Pixabay/TidgyWidy