PDSA weekly Q&As

Dear PDSA, my dog Pippa recently ate several stones from our driveway. I spoke to my vet and thankfully they passed naturally, but why did she do this? And what can I do to prevent it in future? Adrian

Dear Adrian, dogs eating things that aren't food is  fairly common - they explore things with their mouths and can accidentally swallow them. This can cause life threatening blockages, so it's best to prevent if possible. However, dogs who obsessively eat things that aren't food, may actually be suffering from a less common behavioural problem called Pica.   If this is the case for Pippa, and she has been checked over by your vet to make sure there are no underlying health issues, she may need to see a behaviourist. Try teaching Pippa commands such as 'leave' and 'drop', to prevent her swallowing anything harmful. You may also want to consider using a muzzle to keep her safe while out on walks. For advice on how to muzzle train your dog, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/MuzzleTraining

Dear PDSA, my cat, Bing, hates going out in the wet and cold. He gets very lazy – just staying indoors and sleeping. I'm worried he'll put on weight, is there anything I can do to help keep him active during bad weather? Luke

Dear Luke, many cats don't enjoy being out in the rain, but there are plenty of things you can do to help keep Bing active. Get him toys that encourage chasing and pouncing – fishing rod-type toys or ones that move unpredictably are ideal. Try to play with him when he's most active, usually in the mornings and evenings, in short bursts of 5-10 minutes. As he's choosing to stay in more, make your home more cat friendly - cat shelving placed so they can be used as ladders to access dens in high up places can encourage exploration. Also, make sure you feed a complete diet suitable for his lifestage, weighing out his food and avoid giving too many treats . For more advice visit www.pdsa.org.uk/CatExercise

Dear PDSA, my hamster, Cynthia, smells – should I give her a bath and how do I do this? Ronnie

Dear Ronnie, hamsters stay clean by grooming themselves, so generally don't need to be bathed. If Cynthia does seem particularly dirty then it's a good idea to get her checked by your vet as that could mean she's unwell. A dirty bottom or an inability to groom herself isn't normal and she may need urgent treatment. If your vet does advise you to wash Cynthia, then this needs to be done very carefully to avoid her getting cold. Wiping her fur with a warm, wet flannel is the best approach – avoiding a bath. Once clean, towel dry her, and keep her in a warm room with no draughts until she's completely dry.

Dear PDSA, My dog, Captain Jack, loves drinking from puddles, but I'm worried he will catch lungworm. What are the symptoms, and can I protect him against this? Harley

Dear Harley, lungworm is a parasite which develops inside slugs and snails. Dogs can become infected if they eat an affected slug or snail, and this is also possible if Captain Jack drinks from puddles or eats grass, as these can contain the larvae of the parasite. Signs of a possible lungworm infection can include difficulty breathing, coughing (possibly coughing up blood), weight loss, nosebleeds and lethargy. Not all dogs will show these signs though, so if you are concerned something may be wrong it's important to take your dog to your vet, as lungworm can be fatal if not treated. The best way to prevent lungworm is to make sure your dog's worming treatment protects against lungworm, so speak to your vet about what the best choice is for Captain Jack. For more advice go to www.pdsa.org.uk/lungworm

For more information visit pdsa.org.uk

PDSA is the UK's largest vet charity providing a vital service for pets across the UK whose owners struggle to afford treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn. Support from players of People's Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital advice and information.