Is my hamster allowed to chew things like cereal boxes or will the ink harm her?
Good question! It's great that you know your hamster needs things to chew on - they have to chew to wear down their teeth which just keep growing.
However, hamsters can be sensitive to some dyes, so it is best to avoid cereal boxes. You can try plain dog biscuits or whole-wheat pasta, you can also buy safe chewing blocks from pet shops.
I have a 4-month-old kitten. At what age should we have him neutered?
Katie Jarvis
Dear Katie,
It's best to discuss this with your vet, but often kittens are neutered at about 6-months-old.
Neutering is important for cats as it can stop them from straying too far, and prevents them from fathering unwanted kittens.
What age do you have to be to help out at your local vets?
At PDSA PetAid hospitals, volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and spaces are limited. Your local private vet or animal shelter may have different age guidelines, so it's always worth asking if they need help after school or at weekends.
My dog barks if it's left alone. How can I stop this?
Your dog might be upset because she thinks you aren't coming back. Try to reassure her you will. For example, leave a light or radio switched on, and make sure your dog is warm, comfortable, fed and has fresh water.
Start by leaving your dog for a short time and praise her when you get back as a reward for not barking. As time goes on, gradually increase the amount of time she is left alone, still making sure you give praise for not barking when you get back.
This method might take a lot of time, but stick with it. You and your dog will be much happier when you get this problem sorted.
Is it ok to bath my guinea pigs as they don’t like being brushed?
Its fine to give your guinea pig an occasional bath, but keep her calm and get an adult to help you.
Its best to choose a warm day, as as a guinea pig’s body temperature may become too low in the winter. You must also make sure there is no danger of falling and make sure the amount of water in the bowl is safe, yet enjoyable.
As you have more than one pig you would like to bathe, it is best to do them all on the same day, as bathing the guinea pigs will get rid of their individual scent. With this in mind, if you only bathe one of your guinea pigs, the other one may not recognise her old friend and they may start to fight. The other guinea pig may also be dirty, and snuggle up to the one that has been bathed!
Collect the towels and shampoo you are going to use before you start, and you should be able to get special guinea pig shampoos from the vets or larger pet shops.
Gently wash and rinse her fur. Wrap your pig in a towel, leaving her head poking out, for several minutes, then unwrap her and let her sit on a fresh towel.
Get an adult to help you set your hairdryer on a low setting and temperature, and gently dry her off. Keep the dryer moving around all the time to avoid any chance of burning your guinea pig, which is surprisingly easy to do. Finish everything off by brushing gently in the direction of the hair.
You must make sure that your guinea pig is thoroughly dry before putting her back into the hutch. If you are unsure about the weather, it is better to let your guinea pig stay inside in a box for a few hours, or even overnight, to prevent her from getting cold.
You will also want to make sure that your clean guinea pig can go back into a hutch that is spic and span, so take this opportunity to clean the hutch out thoroughly, as well.
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