Cockatiel of 31 no longer rules the roost; WEEKEND: YOUR PETS.

Byline: with PDSA vet Kurt Vandamme

Q MY parents have a cockatiel that is the grand old age of 31. He is still very chirpy, feeding and drinking well but on a couple of occasions, he seems to have 'got stuck upside down'. They think that he may have a form of arthritis in his feet. What should they do?

A A NUMBER of things can cause lameness in birds, so it's best to get the bird checked by a vet, preferably one with a special interest in avian medicine. Conditions affecting a bird's legs include:

Pododermatitis, or bumblefoot. This starts as a penetrating wound on the underside of the foot. It can be caused by flakes of iron oxide rust picked up as the bird walks on a rusty iron grille on the cage floor, or through clinging to rusty bars. This may not apply in this bird's case, as I am sure your parents look after their cockatiel if he has lived to 31.

Contributory factors may include a lack of vitamin A in the bird's diet or obesity. Quite often an affected bird will try to take the weight off the leg, possibly by leaning against the corner of the cage. If untreated, it can spread up the leg and the affected bird can go off their food and develop septicaemia.

A tumour in the abdomen can also be associated with lameness and paralysis, due to an increased pressure on the nerves to the hind leg or an alteration in the bird's centre of gravity.

Physical damage such as a fall or collision.

Nutritional problems affecting the bones, such as calcium deficiency.

Pressure necrosis of the foot, caused by unsuitable perches.

Gout. This is quite commonly seen in psittacine (parrot-like) birds.

Q WE are thinking of buying a guinea pig for our daughter who is seven. The pet shop advised that they could carry diseases that humans can catch. We have a one-year-old daughter who has problems with immunity, so are guinea pigs a bad idea?

AMOST people with a robust immune system are resistant to most diseases, but the risks are higher in very young children or if the person has an illness already.

The most common conditions that people can catch from guinea pigs include ringworm, mange and salmonellosis. The last two conditions are rare. Some owners can develop allergic reactions to guinea pigs and show asthma-like symptoms.

Take a look at Diseases of Small Domestic Rodents by VCG Richardson published by Blackwell Science. This has a chapter on zoonoses (diseases that pass between animals and man).

Q I HAVE a miniature dachshund puppy who will eat two mouthfuls of dog food and then won't touch the rest. The only things she will eat are boiled eggs, lentils (her favourite) and cheese. I am worried because I know this is not a balanced diet. What would you advise?

ATAKE your dog to the vet to rule out any medical problems, such as dental disease. The vet will also be able to advise about diet. If it is not a medical condition, the problem may be behavioural.

At feeding time, your dog may be trying to get your undivided attention. Owners also get great satisfaction from feeding their dogs. When this mutually happy interaction is replaced with reproachful looks or whining from a dog, it is often hard to resist doing what the pet wants.

Alternatively, you may be so worried about your dog not eating that the whole feeding situation becomes stressful for her. If so, offer appetising food at set times, perhaps four or six times a day. Leave your dog to investigate it on its own and remove the food after five to 10 minutes.

Check that food bowls are not tainted with other tastes and smells.

If you have a question for the vet, write directly to: Kurt Vandamme, PO Box 5987, Chelmsford CM1 2GP.