There has been massive innovation in flea control over the past 20 years: powdering pets with toxic dust is now consigned to history. Fleas don't drown easily, so even if your dog dipped his head under the surface of the estuary, the problem would not be solved. There's a general rule that the most effective products tend to be released via vet clinics first, before trickling down to pet shops. There's a wide choice, from spot-ons to sprays and once-monthly tablets. Discuss the situation with your vet so that the best product can be matched to your needs. By the way, vets are often cheaper than other outlets for many retail products: do a price comparison and you'll see what I mean.
You discussed travelling with dogs the other week, but what about cats? We are moving 200 miles to a new house. We have a 15-year-old Siamese, Cleo, who has never been in a car except to the vets (she cries all the way). What can you recommend - for our sanity as much as Cleo's - for a four-hour car drive?
K & JJ, Somerset
Create a cat-friendly space for her to travel in, rather than squashing her into the cat cage that she associates with the vet. Try a big wire cage, with plenty of her favourite bedding and a microwaveable heat pad (e.g. Hotties, from petlifeonline.co.uk) to keep her snug during the journey. Put brown paper on the windows beside her so that she can't see the world rushing by. Use cat pheromones (Felifriend spray) to make the car more welcoming. Provide soothing sounds for her: you can buy CDs or MP3 downloads of 'music cats love' if you search on Amazon. When you reach your new home, don't let her outside for at least a week, and make sure she's identifiable in case she gets lost. Visit icatcare.org for more tips on travelling with cats.
I have had two Miniature Appleyards (a duck and a drake) since last summer and we have had no eggs. When will she start to lay? I want to hatch ducklings and try to plan dates.
CD, Wexford, Ireland
Ducks are sexually mature by six months of age, but egg laying is affected by ambient temperature and day-length: the cold, dark, winter months have delayed your duck's egg laying. She'll start in the springtime, with the arrival of warmer weather. Offer her a breeder/layer feed, so that she has plenty of protein vitamins. Appleyards are excellent egg-layers, producing around 250 eggs every year if you keep removing them from the nest. If you leave the eggs in the nest with her, she'll turn broody when she has a dozen or so, sitting on the eggs for four weeks when (hopefully) your ducklings will hatch.
Keeping an eye on your pets using technology
Motorola have just launched the Scout 1 Pet Monitoring Camera, which uses your household Wi-Fi to send video images and sound to your smart phone. The two-way audio system even allows owners to talk to their pet. Scout 1 is widely available at £99.99, and Motorola will be donating a percentage of each sale to the RSPCA.
Rescue pets of the week
Dasher, Frost and Noel are eight-week-old guinea pigs which can be rehomed separately. Contact Bath Cats & Dogs Home on 01225 787321 or see bathcatsand dogshome.org.uk
Send pet problems to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a vet.To discover the outcomes of the rescued pets featured in this column, see Pet Subjects Rescue
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