My rabbit's teeth are quite long and are starting to stick out of her mouth. Is this normal? Donna

Dear Donna, your rabbit’s teeth grow constantly throughout their life and need to be worn down naturally by eating the right kinds of food like hay or fresh grass - they need to eat at least their body size of this every day! Without the right diet, your rabbit could start suffering from dental problems which can be really painful and might cause other health problems too. It sounds like your rabbit has a problem - if she is having trouble with their teeth, or isn’t grooming properly, it is essential to speak to your vet and get her teeth checked. If the teeth get so long they interfere with your rabbit’s eating, then this is a real emergency. Long-term management of their teeth is important, especially if your rabbit is prone to dental issues. But feeding rabbits a high quality and nutritious diet, and providing opportunities for chewing can help to alleviate these problems.

Dear PDSA Vet, My two-year-old Australian Kelpie, Kerry, is terrified of the street cleaner that comes round – she hides in the corner shaking and drooling. How can I help her? Roly

Dear Roly, the most likely reason for Kerry’s fear is because she wasn’t exposed to noises similar to the sounds that a street cleaner makes when she was a young puppy. When puppies are very young it is especially important that they experience a variety of things, such as vacuum cleaners, TVs, cars and different types of people so that they know they are not a threat and are confident around them in later life. It is also possible that she had a bad experience with a street cleaner at some point in her life which has created this fear. An effective treatment for fears and phobias is a behavioural technique called “desensitisation and counter conditioning”. This involves gradually getting her used to the thing she is scared of, in a calm and controlled environment, and teaching her that this can lead to good things (like a reward), rather than creating fear. The best chance of success is with professional guidance. You could ask your vet practice for advice, or look for an accredited pet behaviourist in your area at www.apbc.org.uk. Kerry’s fear won’t be cured quickly, but with patience and the right help her quality of life can be significantly improved.

Dear PDSA Vet,

After a lot of thought we’ve decided to adopt a cat. Our children are very keen and we know we can care for it properly, plus afford the costs involved. I wanted to get it as a Christmas present, but I know animal charities often advise against this. What would you suggest? Belinda

Dear Belinda, pets bring companionship and enjoyment to millions of people but they are also a big responsibility, and you must be able to care for their welfare needs. They rely on their owners to provide them with everything that they need during their whole lifetime. Visit www.your-right-pet.org.uk to check that you can provide everything a cat will need to be healthy and happy. If you are still sure you want to go ahead then consider the timing – Christmas is a chaotic, noisy time of year and this can be a very stressful environment for a new pet so it isn’t the best time to bring them home. Perhaps wrap up a photo of the cat you intend to adopt, or make a short video for your family to watch on Christmas morning. You can then bring your new addition home after the bustle of Christmas is over, and you have more time to help your new pet settle in calmly.

Dear PDSA Vet,

My Springer Spaniel puppy, Derrick, is three months old and is constantly ravenous and hyper. We feed him the recommended four times a day but he eats it in seconds. Am I feeding him enough? How can I calm him down a bit? Tina

Dear Tina, it is best to feed dogs according to their specific life stage i.e. giving a tailored food depending on whether the dog is a puppy, junior, adult or senior. You should be feeding Derrick a puppy food as these contain higher levels of calories and protein to support activity and growth. Follow the packet feeding guidelines on the amount to feed and use some electronic kitchen scales to check you’re getting it right. Puppies that are allowed to become overweight are more likely to become obese as adults, which can increase their risk of developing significant health problems. Springer Spaniels are very energetic so you need to make sure that he’s getting plenty of exercise and opportunities to play. This should help calm him down. I would also recommend taking Derrick to puppy training classes to help with socialisation. Visit www.apdt.co.uk to find a reward-based training class in your area.