DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz WE have a long-haired Persian type cat, Leo, who often gets his coat matted. Sometimes we have to get him clipped by our vet as he is difficult to handle. Is there a cheaper way to keep his coat free of matts?

It is often difficult to manage the coat of long haired cats as many do not like being combed when their fur becomes matted. Cats will often allow you to comb them for a short time before becoming aggressive. So try to do very short periods of grooming with a comb frequently each week. Once matts form there is no simple way to comb them out and clippers are needed. There is a cheap and efficient cordless clipper available, which your vet can order. This makes minimal noise and, with practice, you may be able to clip Leo without an anaesthetic.

Recently when my 9-year-old Huntaway-cross dog, Ben, was lying on his back I saw that his right testicle was almost twice the size of his left. He seems fine otherwise though he does have skin irritation and hair loss. Do I need to get him neutered in case he has cancer?

Difference in size of the testes in an older dog is certainly a matter for your vet to consider. The most likely cause is the result of a growth or cancer in the testicular tissue. There are three types of tumours that commonly occur in dog testicles, and fortunately they are usually benign and do not spread to the rest of the body. One type of tumour can produce female hormone oestrogen, which leads to skin changes and hair loss, which may be occurring with Ben. Your vet will check Ben and do some presurgical tests before having him neutered. The testicles are then tested in the laboratory to diagnose the type of tumour.