Clip wayward budgie's wings.

Q Our budgie Rambo is constantly pooing on my dad's bookshelf. He loves flying around the house. I've heard of wing clipping. Is it painful?

A Wing clipping is not painful when done by someone who knows what they are doing. Just clipping one wing will make the budgie lop-sided and unable to fly, so it will reduce Rambo's ability to fly around and foul on your dad's book collection. Visit your vet to be shown how it is done. Then after the next moult (usually a month or so later), if you feel confident enough and have an adult to help you, consider trying it yourself.

Q My cat is putting on weight around her belly but otherwise seems a little thin. She is 14 and still eats very well. Is this a problem?

A This is a worrying sign and something I would definitely get your vet to assess. To be thin apart from an enlarged abdomen is not normal. Fluid accumulation there can be the result of an inflammatory disease or tumour development.

Q Our German shepherd stinks like a wet dog even when it is not raining. We have tried shampoos and sprays.

A This musty smell is very likely Malassezia, a yeast which develops naturally on the skin of canines. When growing in excess, it can lead to the 'wet dog' smell. Your vet will stock a medicated shampoo to keep your dog, and home, smelling better.

Q Our border terrier Alfie had grass seed removed which had gone between his toes and up into his leg. How I can avoid this happening again?

A Wheaten coloured dogs often fall foul of lodged grass seeds which are not easy to spot. From now until autumn grass seeds tend to lodge between the toes or in the ears. These evil little arrow-headed seeds then burrow into the body and can cause severe damage. The best way to avoid it is routine examination after every walk, checking between his toes and in his ears, what would be his armpits and groin, and around the face. They are easily removed at this point, so get in the habit of checking him and hopefully this painful condition will not recur.

Q My Yorkshire terrier pup has started coughing like she wants to bring something up. Should I be concerned?

A Your vet will want to check her over to make sure it is not something lodged or an injury, though it does sound like kennel cough. With such a young puppy, it is likely she caught the virus where she came from. Visit your vet for a check-up. Sometimes antibiotics are needed to avoid a chest infection.