Q. Mimi is a lovely black and white cat who came to us when she was about three.

From the start she drooled and the vet said she had gingivitis so she had a dental and a couple of teeth out.

In November, a different vet said she needed more teeth out. We plan on taking her to a different practice.

How we can help Mimi with the gingivitis? We put toothpaste on her paw but don’t often give her dry food because she never drinks water.

S STEVENS, Oxford

A. The key with this disease (inflammation of the gums) is to start treatment early and it sounds like the disease may have been advanced when you first had Mimi. When the disease is chronic it is very difficult to treat, and changing vets may not help.

Good dental care is essential, for regular veterinary cleaning and removal of diseased teeth.

Toothpaste on the paw will not help, you need to actually clean her teeth if her gums are not too sore.

Don’t use human toothpaste – there are plenty of strong and flavoured pastes designed for cats e.g. CET toothpaste.

Diets designed for dental care include Purina Veterinary diet DH, Hills t/d.

These are dry diets and I suspect your cat will drink water if you feed one of these; the most likely reason you don’t see her drink now is because she gets enough water from her wet diet.

I suggest you take her to your vet, tell them your concerns and they will advise on a dental care programme and diet.

Q. I have a Chinese water dragon which I keep in a glass aquarium in my room.

He seems to have a sore nose and he keeps banging it on the glass.

Should I worry about this or is it just his way of getting attention?

R HAMPTON, Chipping Norton

A. Yes, you should have his nose checked by a vet as this damage can lead to infection with skin loss and bone damage.

He is probably banging on the glass because his aquarium is too small, he is trying to get out or he may even be picking a fight with his reflection.

You can cover three sides with paper and move some plants along the edge of the front glass panel to help hide it.

A water dragon home should be spacious – ideally 6ft x 2ft x 4ft.

He will be happier in a fab home and spend less time banging the glass.

Q. I have a cairn terrier who wants food all the time. Our vet said he is just greedy. He is six.

P CARTER, Barton

A. It may be purely a behavioural issue in that he has trained you to feed him when he yaps.

Ignore him when he yaps to teach him fussing is not rewarded by food.

However, there could be medical reasons, which would bring symptoms such as diarrhoea. If so, take him to your vet.