My hamster, Cynthia, has started to smell unpleasant. Should I give her a bath?

Hamsters are usually very good at keeping themselves clean, so this smell may be an indication that Cynthia is unwell. Its best to get her checked over by your vet as she may need treatment. Hamsters can find bathing scary and it can also make them very cold and potentially send them into shock. Unless your vet specifically advises a bath, its best avoided. To give her a clean, wipe her fur with damp cotton wool or a flannel and gently pat her dry with an absorbent cloth. Make sure that the water is tepid and that you keep her out of draughts while you dry her.

My cat, Jack, has been a bit off for the last few days. I can’t see anything visibly wrong with him and he’s eating and going to the toilet ok, but he just doesn’t seem his usual curious, happy self. Could there be something wrong?

Cats can be very good at hiding when they are ill or in pain – this is a natural instinct for many animals. So by the time you notice something unusual in their behaviour, they can often be quite unwell, or uncomfortable. I’d definitely recommend taking Jack to your vet for a check-up, and would suggest doing this any time you notice a change in his usual behaviour, even if the change seems subtle. Your vet will thoroughly examine Jack and advise if he is under the weather.

My 12-year-old dog has a little lump on his jaw. It doesn’t move or seem to hurt when touched and it hasn’t put him off his food. What could it be?

Dogs can often get lumps and bumps, particularly as they get older. There can be several different causes, such as fatty lumps, cysts, an abscess or a tumour. Most lumps are nothing to worry about, but it’s always best to get them checked out by your vet just in case. They can check the lump’s appearance and size, and it’s also useful if you can note if there have been any changes to this. They may want to do some further tests, so they might take a small sample. Depending on the results, your vet may recommend treatment, removal of the lump or, in some cases, leaving it and continuing to monitor for any changes. More info is available on our website www.pdsa.org.uk/lumps

My Westie, Baba, had really dry, itchy skin last year and my vet diagnosed him as having atopic dermatitis. We changed him onto a hypoallergenic food, which really helped but it has come back again. What else can I do?

Do get Baba checked over by your vet as soon as possible as skin conditions quickly become uncomfortable and can get infected. Westies and some other breeds are prone to the skin condition called atopy, which means they’re allergic to certain things in their environment or food. Avoiding the allergic triggers can help but, for many dogs, the source of the irritation might never be found, so the best we can hope for is to manage flare-ups as they occur. Your vet will be able to tailor a long term plan to help keep Baba’s skin healthy and comfortable.