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Ask The Vet

This is where our Pet Protectors Club vet, Sean, answers your pet care questions!

You can also see some of the questions that other Young PDSA supporters have sent in and read Sean's answers.

You can even send him one yourself and if you are lucky it might be answered on the website!

To ask Sean a question, please fill in this contact form and he will answer as many as possible on this website.

Sorry, but Sean cannot respond to questions individually. If you think your pet is sick or injured you must get an adult to take them to the vet as soon as possible.

This section is for young people to ask questions about the pets they care for. If you are aged over 18, please use the PDSA Vets on the Net form on the main PDSA website.

Dear Sean,

My mum has bought a border collie and he’s now 9 weeks. He’s not a pedigree. We have had him for 2 days and now he’s growling, biting my clothes and barking. He’s acting quite aggressive. We play with him all the time, is this normal? Oliver

Hi Oliver,

At this age it is common for puppies to bite and mouth in play. But as they grow older they need to learn that biting is unacceptable. The best way to do this is to say a sharp “ow!” and pretend you’ve been hurt when your puppy bites you. Then, importantly, ignore him for a short while (don’t look at him or talk to him). Keep doing this and make sure everyone does the same. Eventually, he will link the bite with something that he doesn’t like (being ignored), so this should make him less likely to do it.

Dear Sean,

My cat eats too much human food and he sleeps an awful lot, can you please help me out! Nouara

Hi Noura,

Unfortunately, lots of cats that we see nowadays are overweight or obese, and this is causing weight-related diseases like diabetes (a hormonal condition) and arthritis (a painful joint disease). The main reason for this is that cats are eating too many calories and not doing enough exercise to burn the calories off. It sounds as though this might be a problem for your cat. You should cut out any human food your cat is getting, and just feed cat food instead. Read the feeding guidelines on the packet and weigh the food out to check you aren’t feeding more than you should be. It’s normal for cats to sleep a lot, but when he’s awake, encourage exercise by playing games with him. Toys that encourage chasing are best, such as fishing rod-type toys.

Dear Sean,

My cat and the next door neighbours’ cat fight a lot at night. My cat is covered in scabs and she is losing fur on one of her paws. Is there anything I can do? Emily

Hi Emily,

First you should get your cat checked by your vet in case there are any wounds that need treatment. Solving the problem is more difficult. Cats usually avoid each other outside, but if their houses are close together this can be difficult for them. If your parents know your neighbours they could arrange to let the two cats out at different times during the day. This can work quite well.

Hi Emily,

A lot of dogs that growl at people and other dogs are actually scared of them, or unsure about them. If your dog is growling at little children this could be dangerous and you need to get expert advice. The problem can usually be solved but you’ll need to be patient. Your vet will be able to help, or will point you in the right direction. In the meantime, don’t leave her unsupervised with children, just to be on the safe side.

Dear Sean,

Can hamsters moult? My hamster seems to be losing fur on her backside. What could be causing this? Lauren

Hi Lauren,

Hamsters can moult some of their coat but if she is losing fur you need to get her checked for a possible medical cause. Mites (little bugs that live on the skin) or a skin infection can both cause a hamster to lose some of their fur. She may need treatment to make her better, so make an appointment for her to see your vet.

Dear Sean,

I have a 2 year old chocolate Labrador. She has epilepsy and I was wondering if getting her neutered might have any risks? Could she have a seizure under the anesthetic? Ailish

Hi Ailish,

If her epilepsy is under control, the risk of giving her a general anaesthetic should be no higher than in any other dog. You will need to speak to your own vet though, because he or she knows your dog best. General anaesthetic drugs reduce activity in the brain, so a seizure while she was anaesthetised would be extremely unlikely. It’s good that you are thinking of getting her neutered because this will protect her from some nasty conditions.

Dear Sean,

My 1 year old chinchilla is very grumpy and he bites me. He gets let out and I give him fresh food and we try to hold him once a day, so he has lots of company, but he seems not to like me. Please can you give me some advice? Meg

Hi Meg,

Chinchillas, and other pets, usually behave like this because they weren’t handled enough when they were young (e.g. at the breeder’s) so they didn’t get used to being handled. This makes them scared of being handled now and causes them to bite. Always be very calm and gentle around him. When he’s out, in a room where he can’t escape, put some food on the floor in front of you and let him take it. Gradually move the food closer to you each day. As he gets more comfortable near you, offer him some from your hand. When he’s happy with this you can try to stroke him. Then you can move on to picking him up. It takes patience but is worth it.

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Last Updated: 9 February 2010