YourPets.

Q: MY 10-year-old daughter has just bought two gerbils. She spent time learning all about them and so is upset as each time she picks them up, they seem scared. Have you got any tips on how to get them used to being handled?

A: GAINING a gerbil's trust can take some time. It is won through patience, gentleness and positive reinforcement. Make sure your daughter handles the gerbils carefully and does not squeeze them too hard.

Small pets may think that a hand approaching them from above is the shadow of a predator, so this can make them scared, and may cause a gerbil to become aggressive.

Make sure the gerbil is awake and alert before trying to handle him. Soft, soothing sounds from you can help. Place a closed fist in front of him and allow him to approach. If he looks confident, unclench your fist, and he may crawl on top of your hand. You can then scoop him up gently, making sure there is no danger of him falling.

You can also use small amounts of savoury treats, letting the gerbil take it from your palm in his own time.

Stress and illness can also cause aggression, so you should get the gerbils checked by a vet to make sure that this is not the cause of the gerbils' behaviour.

Q: MY cat seems to have spots of blood in her eye. Is this a cause of worry?

A: WITH any eye problem, it is better to be on the safe side and get your cat checked by a vet. Lots of things could cause these symptoms, such as bleeding into the eye.

Causes of this include:

Trauma'

A tumour in the eye'

Inflammation of the iris and associated tissues'

Predisposition to abnormal bleeding, such as a deficiency in clotting agents'

Hypertension (increased blood pressure)'

Detached retina'

Chronic glaucoma.

Q: MY hamster appears to be very stiff and moves around dragging his hind legs. Why?

A: CAGE paralysis may be caused through spinal trauma, normally from a fall, lack of exercise or muscle degeneration through a diet deficiency.

Lack of exercise can be corrected through adding a solid-tread exercise wheel or other activities to the cage. The vet may also advise supplementing the hamster's diet with vitamins D and E which can usually reverse the muscle problems, although hamsters that eat a specific hamster food are unlikely to suffer from this deficiency.

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

CONTACTS

The RSPCA Animal Centre, Coundon Wedge Drive, Coventry, 11am-4pm (closed Tuesdays) 024 7633 6616.

Dogs Trust (formerly NCDL) Honiley, near Kenilworth, noon-4pm (closed Fridays) 01926 484398.

PDSA, Barkers Butts Lane, Coventry 024 7659 0298, general inquiries 0800 917 2509.

Cats Protection League (Cov) 024 7625 1491, Mid Warks 01926 334849.

Petseek 01926 814883.

Petsearch (Cov dogs) 01676 540341, (cats etc) 024 7676 5639, Nuneaton Bedworth area 01827 713681, Balsall Common and N Cov 01676 540341.

Animal Welfare Office/Dog Warden 024 7683 1832.

Cats Action Trust 1977 024 7634 7738.

Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary 024 7634 5243.

Mercia Ferret Welfare and Rescue 024 7661 4811 or 07967 103503.

For info on rescued greyhounds www.coventrygreyhound.org.uk

CAPTION(S):

... with PDSA vet Kurt Vandamme