Q My parrot, a 17-year-old African Grey male, seems to be losing his feathers from his chest and abdomen. I don't think he is feather plucking. Is there advice you can give?
A The pattern of feather loss in your parrot makes feather plucking seem quite likely. Parrots can pluck their feathers in secret, and some will only do it when their owners are not present.
It is best to see a vet with a special interest in bird
s and they can investigate whether there is a medical or behavioural cause.
Q My five-month-old puppy is bleeding. Is it right for a puppy of her age to come into season? If so how long does it last?
ABitches usually come into season for the first time from the ages of six and 12 months of age but this can happen slightly earlier too. However, there could be other reasons why your puppy is bleeding so I would get her checked over by your vet.
If she is in season, there is usually a small amount of bleeding for approximately seven to ten days and her behaviour might be slightly different – a bit subdued or less patient than usual, for example.
When the bleeding stops, she could be willing to mate with a dog for around the next eight to 12 days. It is important to keep her away from male dogs throughout this period to avoid an unwanted mating and pregnancy.
When you see your vet, discuss getting her spayed at the same time which will stop her having seasons in the future. Spaying also has important health benefits for her, including reducing the chances of her getting certain types of cancer. It also helps prevent unwanted litters of puppies.
Q Our son's dog has a large red inflamed lump/spot on her front paw. Could it be a tumour?
A There are several possibilities here. There could be something under the skin that shouldn't be there, such as a grass seed, or the lump could be a small abscess. It could also be a tumour, so it's important that you get it checked out by your vet.
Q Although my cat is just over a year old, I have not had her neutered yet and I've spotted a yellow/green coloured discharge where she sits. Is this normal?
A Discharge like this could be pus, caused by an infection. She may have an infection of the womb, called pyometra, and this can be life-threatening if left untreated so you should get her checked by your vet as soon as possible.
If pyometra is diagnosed, your vet may recommend spaying your cat to cure her condition.
Cats should be neutered anyway, because neutering has many health benefits and helps to prevent unwanted litters of kittens.
