Pets Q&A

A Your kitten could have an infestation with ear mites. These make the ears uncomfortable and itchy and they may also cause the ears to discharge a dark brown wax. You need to get treatment for your kitten because an untreated infection could cause long-term damage to her ears.

You should take your kitten to your vet. If ear mites are diagnosed the treatment might be in the form of drops you put in her ears, or a spot-on placed on the back of her neck.

Q Since my rescue dog was attacked by another dog he's become extremely nervous. He was already nervous and this has made him worse. How can I help him?

A It will take time and patience for your dog to regain his confidence and you may need some specialist help. Don't force him to do anything he doesn't want to and don't lose patience with him. In cases like this, behaviourists often use a technique called "desensitisation and counter-conditioning". This means gradually exposing your dog to something that he is nervous about (which must be done very slowly, over weeks) and then, when he is more relaxed, he can be taught to like what it was that previously made him anxious.

To undertake this technique humanely and effectively, you should ask at your veterinary practice for advice.

Q We've recently taken in a stray dog that is very thin and malnourished. We are taking her to the vets but is there anything we can do to help build her strength up?

ATake your dog to your vet, as they will check there aren't any medical reasons for her being underweight. When she's well enough they will also be able to discuss preventive treatments, such as vaccinations, worming, flea treatment and neutering.

To build her strength up she will need to gradually increase the amount of exercise she does and be fed a good quality complete commercial dog food. It is a good idea to go for check-ups at your vet during the months when she is gaining her strength, to check that she is staying healthy during this period.