FAQs

12.I have a cat whose young, about three years old, but it seems that her whiskers are falling out. Should I be concerned about this?
A.13 Cats will lose a few whiskers from time to time. However, if they're losing a lot of whiskers or if the condition seems to be prolonged, it can be an early sign of illness. In that case, you'd want to have your cat examined by your veterinarian, particularly if the whisker loss is accompanied by other symptoms like bad breath, other hair loss, or discharge from the eyes, ears or anus.

13. How can you get an overweight cat to lose weight?
A.14.A reduction in caloric intake is necessary for an overweight cat to lose weight and, if possible, an increase in activity. You can start by reducing the quantity of your cat's food by one quarter. It may also help to divide your cat's food into several small meals given throughout the day if he seems overly hungry once you've decreased the amount. Also be aware of the amount of treats you're giving to your cat on a given day and try decreasing these as well.

14.Do rottweilers have violent instincts it them or does it depend on how they are raised?
A. 15 Rottweilers were created and bred to be a working dog that was not too large. One of their normal chores was to keep an eye on children. They were bred to be strong, gentle, intelligent dogs who would be willing and able to work cooperatively with people. But inbreeding and bad breeding by people who believe that only those dogs with a fierce temperament should be allowed to live have created some bloodlines and individuals who are less true to type. As a rule, no dog is born aggressive or negatively head-strong. Human error and stupidity accounts for most aggressive behaviours in animals, dogs included.

15. My cat attacks me (only me) violently and without provocation. His pupils dilate and he latches onto my arm or leg. Why does he do this and how can I get him to stop?
A.16 Cats often jump people or things that, to the average human observer, do not necessarily deserve such an attack. Often they think they're playing. Cats have thicker skin than humans, and they don't realize how much their claws hurt. Hyper cats zoom around the house, chase anything that moves, and often jump their humans. It's normal cat behvaior, although you can send "this is inappropriate" signals to a cat by either saying "no" very sharply (you have to use the same word consistently, and you should never use the cat's name because it will confuse these admonitions with other times when you're just calling him) or by keeping a spray bottle on hand and hitting him with a quick squirt of water (this has to be done immediately, so the cat associates the punishment with the behavior).

16. Could my neutered male cat harm new-born kittens?
A17. This would depend on the cat. If hes the father he will be tolerant of them. But you must see how he acts with them. Some mothers don’t want the male cat near their kittens so you have to play it by ear. Not all male cats kill their babies,it depends on the cat's temperament.There are instances where a male cat has assisted the birth and cleaned the babies.

17. Can guinea pigs eat bread?
A.18 Guinea pigs should only eat fresh hay, vegetables and fruit. They should not eat foods such as chocolate, bread, pasta and any other food deemed to be a treat. Such treats may create toxic bacteria within the guinea pig's intestinal tract.

18. I have a female rabbit and she loved to be petted and played with. She has now turned into a biting, growling and temperamental bunny in the span of a few days.
A.19. Your bunny is most likely maturing sexually and is temperamental because she has hormonal "issues". Rabbits are territorial and usually females become aggressive if they are not spayed. Spaying your bunny will be the best thing for her- she will be happier and healthier. Females have an 85% chance of getting uterine cancer so it is worth getting her operation done. She will relax and it will prevent her desire to do any further damage such as chewing and digging.

19. Why does my guinea pig sometimes chatter his teeth?
A.20.It means aggression, threat, and warning. You should stay away because he is angry and warning you. This is actually one of the few times a guinea pig may bite, usually from fear. It could also mean that he is challenging another guinea pig as a male dominance thing. If he is alone maybe all he wants is a room-mate

20. My 3 yr old dog has developed a few red spots here and there around the ribs, a little like red purplish bruises. What can this be?
A21. It sounds like your dog has contracted Ringworm, characterized by a reddish to brownish raised or bumpy patch of skin that may be lighter in the center, giving the appearance of a ring. Ringworm is a fungal infection. The fungus thrives on skin that is moist, hot and hidden from the light and is therefore normally first found on the underside of dogs. Most adult dogs have some resistance to ringworm and therefore do not develop any symptoms after coming in contact with infected animals or items. Your vet will need to take a sample of skin cells from around the infected area and create a cell culture to identify the infection. In most cases, small infections will heal on their own within a couple of months, but only if the infection did not take hold because of an underlying deficiency in your dog's immune system. Use a topical anti-fungal treatment, anti-fungal shampoo or oral anti-fungal tablets.

21. My dog has started foaming at the mouth whilst playing with a ball/stick. It doesn't happen at any other time and it has only occurred in the last 6 months (he is 6 years old).
A22. This type of foaming at mouth is quite common and is normally a result of the dog's state of mind rather than what they are playing with. Some dogs show this phenomenon when excited, scared, or stressed. Others show it as a sign of heat stroke from lots of running around. In most cases it disappears when the strong inducing element stops and is nothing to be concerned about. If however your dog shows these symptoms in one particular location then it could be something more obscure, such as a reaction to a specific vegetation or smell.

22. My puppy loves raw carrots, are they ok for her? Are any other vegetables suitable for her? At the moment we feed her on pedigree and cooked chicken.
A23.It is an excellent idea to supplement your dog's diet with fresh vegetables. Many dogs like carrots. Their diet, as in humans, should consist of a lot of different things . Your dog can eat most vegetables that humans eat, provided that they are in moderation. Vegetables known to be toxic to dogs include onion, garlic, green parts of tomato plants, potato peelings, raisins, grapes, broccoli and pips or stones from many household fruits.

23. My dog has a lot of wax in his right ear and always shaking his head, is that a sign of an ear infection, and what can I do at home to relieve him?
A24. Other important factors in the diagnosis are needed such as the colour and frequency of any discharge if any, how often the ears are cleaned, how often your dog is in the water and more. This makes it difficult to put forward ideas as to what is causing this specific case.
Ear problems are one of the most common ailments dogs are taken to vets for, and can be caused by infection, trauma, parasites and various other reasons. The first sign of a problem is usually excessive wax production or discharge. In many dogs a little discharge is normal: compare the ears to see if one is producing significantly more that the other. Head shaking and scratching if usually the next sign of a problem, and this is when yeast or bacteria has started to feast on the excess wax. Dogs with floppy, hairy ears and dogs that swim are predisposed to developing ear infections and ear discharge. Diagnosis by your vet will usually include an x-ray of the middle ear and a culture of the bacteria found in the discharge to determine the best treatment.
Once this particular infection is dealt with, take steps to prevent recurrence. If your dog is a floppy eared dog who is always playing in water either reduce his water time or make certain you clean and dry his ears after every occasion. To clean your dog's ear, take a moist cotton ball and gently rub away visible dirt from the ear lobe. Using a moist Q-Tip, next clean between the protruding cartilage of the ear, being careful not to probe the ear canal. Never put the Q-Tip in so far that you cannot see the tip of it. After this cleansing, it is recommended that you towel dry the ear and apply an ear-drying powder to prevent microorganisms from growing in the affected area.