DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz I have a 12-week-old kitten, Tess, who has had her second vaccination and needs just one more booster. I still have not let her outside and am wondering at what age should I do this?

This depends on your home situation and whether you have an enclosed garden or not. It will be safer to wait until she is 15 weeks after her last vaccination, so there is no risk of the common cat viral diseases. Ensure Tess is identified with a collar and your phone number is on a tag plus a microchip for permanent identification. Initially supervise access to a deck or safe garden area and never leave her outside when you are away. Longer term consider getting a cat flap which also reads her microchip to exclude strays entering your house. Most importantly, have Tess speyed at no later than 5 months as some kittens can come into season at 6 months.

Max, our 3-year-old bichon frise, has a tendency to chew his paws. It is more of problem lately as his white fur is stained and even though we shampoo him once a month it does not seem to help. Our vet said he may be bored so he should get more exercise. Should we see a skin specialist?

Boredom can sometimes be involved in chronic skin licking but usually only one to two areas are involved. Treat Max, and any other pets in your house, for fleas. Excessive licking of paws can lead to bacterial and yeast infections. To treat both, use a medicated shampoo on the paws twice a week. An allergic reaction to food or inhaled allergens such as pollen can cause paw irritation. A careful trial with a prescription food should be managed by your vet. If this is negative then referral to a skin specialist for skin testing would be advised to get an accurate diagnosis.