DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz MY 16-year-old cat, Beau, has always slept on my bed and likes to snuggle up near my face when I am asleep. Recently a friend said it was dangerous to have a cat share your bed as they could pass on disease. Should I be worried?

Pet owners often confess that their pet sleeps on their bed when I raise this topic. Despite this there is only a small risk of being affected by disease from your cat, with very young or very old people being most at risk. Ensure Beau is regularly treated for fleas and worms and that her coat is well kept. As cats regularly groom themselves there is minimal risk of faeces being on their body. This is important if you feed Beau uncooked meat as she could carry salmonella or campylobacter. Cats may carry antibiotic resistant bacteria in their mouth or nose and this could be spread to you. Protect yourself by never kissing Beau and always wash your hands well before eating.

I am the proud owner of a 9-week-old poodle cross puppy called Xena. She is so cute but is not responding to our efforts to house train her.

The most important aid to house training a new puppy is the use of a crate and being consistent with your training. Invest in a crate large enough for Xena to stand up and turn around in. Her crate is a safe place so always reward her when she goes in. Start by feeding her in the crate with the door open and build up to short periods with the door closed. Whenever she wakes up, or shortly after a meal, take her outside to some grass. Give a command such as ‘‘be busy’’ and when she passes urine or poo, reward her with a treat. As the crate is her den she will not want to mess in it as long as she is not left for too many hours.