Pet’s Corner Q&A

My eight-year-old Jack Russell Tommy squeals at other dogs when we go on walks. He was a stray for a long time before we rehomed him. How can we get him to stop?

Unfortunately there is no overnight fix to this problem and you’re best off seeking advice from your vet to get professional help with understanding and treating Tommy’s behaviour.

Your vet may recommend referring him to an accredited pet behaviourist.

To understand more about the high-pitched sound Tommy makes, the professional will look at his body language and may ask you questions to find out more about when he’s most likely to do it.

This will help them interpret whether he’s excited or aggressive.

Then they will discuss behavioural techniques, either to reduce his aggression (if this is the cause) or to be more relaxed when he meets other animals.

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My rabbit’s face has swollen up on the left hand side, I was wondering if you could tell me what might have caused this?

One of the most common causes of swelling to the side of the face in rabbits is an abscess (a pocket of infection) caused by dental issues.

Rabbits often have problems with their teeth, as they grow continuously and need to be evenly worn down as they graze.

Sadly rabbits that are bred with flatter faces, such as lops, may be even more at risk of not achieving balanced wear on their teeth due to their face shape and possibly misaligned teeth.

Even with the correct diet, they will likely need regular vet treatments to prevent dental problems.

Skin wounds, cysts and other types of lumps are also possibilities, so it’s important that you take your rabbit along to your vet to find out what has caused this swelling and be treated.

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My dog Archie has piled on weight since he was neutered. He’s three. What and how much food should he have?

Sadly Archie isn’t alone – vets estimate that nearly half of dogs in the UK are overweight.

Firstly, neutering can reduce a dog’s calorie requirements, but this doesn’t mean that weight-gain is inevitable.

As Archie has ‘piled on weight’, you will need to change his diet to get excess weight off and stop him putting on any more.

You will need to know Archie’s ideal weight.

Your vet will want to body condition score and weigh Archie to work this out.

Your vet may advise changing to a diet food, this can make weight loss much easier for you and Archie.

They’ll also be able to advise you on any changes that you may need to your exercise routine.

For more advice please visit the PDSA website.

 

Picture: Pixabay/GeorgeB2