Unhappy tail of a bored cockatiel

May 18 2008 Scott Miller

Q My cockatiel constantly pulls out her tail feathers. We have tried giving her more attention and letting her out of the cage but she keeps doing it.

A Sounds like you need to provide more things for her to do in her cage. Consider placing blocks of balsa wood to chew, notebooks to rip up or seed toys to destroy, all of which should take her mind off her regrowing tail.

Q My 12-year-old springer spaniel urinates constantly. She is thirsty all day and her appetite has increased. She is on one 50mg tablet of carprodyl, two of incurin and four 1/2ml urilin daily. Can you suggest any other medication?

A The combination of incurin and urilin tends to be quite effective in controlling incontinence in speyed older females while carprodyl eases inflammation. I'm more concerned about the excessive drinking and appetite and would recommend blood tests to check kidney function and hormonal imbalances.

Q My sister-in-law's baby is due in June but I'm worried about hygiene as she has two house cats which both use litter trays. Will this be safe with a baby in the house?

A Forget any old wives' tales about cats and babies. Most cats are not keen on the noises and smells that a baby emits and will generally give them a wide berth. Toxoplasmosis - a parasitic condition which can be passed on to an unborn child - is found in cat faeces. To lessen the risk your sister-in-law should get someone else to clean out the litter trays and do the gardening until the baby is born.

Q My 10-year-old cocker spaniel has had regular fits over the last two years which have gradually got worse. He has also turned very contrary. What can I can do to help him?

A He needs to see a vet immediately. Seizures in an older dog are never a good sign, and could indicate anything from tumour development to liver or kidney disease. A dog with constant fits will show a change in personality as his brain is damaged due to a lack of oxygen. Get him to the vet now.

Q My shih tzu puppy pees on newspaper but will not use them to mess on and he won't "go" outside either. Help.

A He is still a baby and may need more time to become relaxed enough to "go" outdoors. As the weather warms up and you spend more time in your garden, try to keep him outdoors for longer, being quick to reward him with lots of praise and treats when he eventually does what you want.

Q I treated my four-year-old lab with Frontline Combo flea and tick compound and Epi-soothe shampoo but she still scratches constantly. A friend says anti-histamines could be the answer. What do you think?

A It sounds like a contact allergy. Grasses and flowering plants can cause itchiness and antihistamines can help to reduce this but discuss it with your vet before medicating your dog. Also try to wipe down your dog with a wet towel after every walk, potentially removing many irritating pollens.