Pet subjects: swimming cats, roaring dogs and aggressive rabbits

By Pete Wedderburn Published: 3:18PM GMT twenty-six February 2010

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Relax: a little cats love baths Photo: ALAMY

Q My Bengal cat likes carrying baths and I"m not certain if I should let him. I initial detected his surprising slant when I was luxuriating in my own comfortable bath. After sitting on the corner of the bath for a while, the cat jumped in next to me. Is it OK for me to give him comfortable baths on his own? Should I shampoo him? SS, by email

Video: Vet Pete Wedderburn on your pets health Pet subjects: residence house pet ferrets, generous dogs, confused cats and a spaniel driven funny by object Pet Subjects: residence rabbits, flea control, scavenging Labradors and should a cat splash treated with colour pool water? Pet Subjects: rabbits, people allergic to cats and guide dogs for the blind Advice on pets: portly rabbits, cats, territorial dogs, Pet Care Team

A While majority cats have a healthy be vexed of soak in water, a couple of cats love it. If you go to YouTube and poke for "swimming cats", you"ll even find a video of a cat who goes scuba diving with his owner. When you see this, you"ll feel that your own cat is reassuringly normal. Yes, it"s excellent for you to give him baths (not as well hot), but I wouldn"t have have use of of shampoo on him routinely. A cat"s skin and cloak has a ethereal change of oils and alternative healthy secretions. Shampoos might frame these off, causing his cloak and skin to turn dry. Save the shampoo for occasions when he is murky or has a skin disorder.

Q I have a 12-year-old Labrador who has grown a uncanny habit. Each dusk he wanders from room to room, looks at me and gives a really low resounding sound. He seems anxious, scratching in the corners of bedrooms and deleterious the wooden flooring. Even though his poise seems agitated, he is still regularly a really peaceful and great natured dog. Can you insist his actions? PG, by email

A Older Labradors are disposed to building a condition called "laryngeal paralysis" when the muscles that open and close the larynx stop operative properly. The larynx (the opening of the windpipe at the behind of the mouth) usually opens halfway, spasmodic causing an influenced animal to have a shrill resounding noise. Their respirating is restricted, so it"s no consternation they begin to feel concerned when carrying an part similar to this. Sometimes owners additionally notice that their bellow changes pitch.

The diagnosis needs to be reliable by a vet, after visualising the opening and shutting of the larynx underneath light anaesthesia. Treatment is by a surgical operation that allows majority dogs to lapse to utterly normal, loose lives.

Q I have had my seven-year-old Westie for 3 months and he keeps removing dissapoint stomachs. I hold this is due to his welfare for unwashed reservoir H2O over daub water. Is there anything accessible that might have daub H2O savoury to him? CM, Bristol

A Water from opposite sources might see the same to us, but to dogs, with their ultra-sensitive clarity of smell, there might be thespian differences in taste.

Tap H2O is processed, sterilised with chlorine and contains countless alternative organic and fake chemicals. It"s protected for us (and dogs) to drink, but it"s probable that a amiable spirit of chlorine to us could ambience similar to a swimming pool to dogs.

Many people have have use of of H2O filters to have daub H2O some-more pleasant, so you could try this. Alternatively, suggest him cooled fully cooked H2O from the kettle. Perhaps the most appropriate choice would be to set up a rainwater pick up tub outward your house.

The H2O that you pick up will be the same as the H2O in the puddles but but the murky decay that could be upsetting his system.

Q Four years ago, the dual womanlike rabbits were visited by a wild masculine rabbit, and subsequently constructed thirteen babies. We kept one of the immature (Mr B) and he lived happily with Mum and Aunty, nonetheless he has regularly been a shaken creature. Sadly Aunty and Mum have both died in the past 3 months. We feel he needs someone but think that he would be assertive towards an additional rabbit. SC, Bedfordshire

A Rabbits have developed to live in groups. I"m certain that Mr B would conclude the company. There"s less risk of fighting if they have friends when they"re young.

Make certain that both Mr B and the new rabbit are neutered or spayed to equivocate fighting. A spayed womanlike crony is some-more expected to be excusable to him than a neutered male. Also, deliver them slowly, with the rabbits in corresponding cages until they get used to the sight, receptive to advice and smell of each other. For some-more report see rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Raincoats for dogs

Doggie Macs (doggiemacs.com) offers made-to-measure waterproof rainwear in a range of colours, together with purple, burgundy, stately blue and timberland green.

Send your residence house pet problems to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk He regrets he cannot answer all readers" letters personally. All ill animals should be taken to see a vet.