DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz MY 5-year-old burmese cat, Chico, sometimes has a black accumulation at the inner corner of both eyes. He does not seem irritated by it. An antibiotic paste given by mouth from my vet clears it, but it always comes back. Should I worry about it?

It is important to be concerned about any abnormal eye discharge. A clear discharge with no redness to the eye is probably a drainage problem with tear ducts. If there is a clear discharge with squinting then an ulcer to the cornea may be present. A yellow discharge with reddened eyes indicates conjunctivitis due to infection. In Chico’s case there may be a low-grade inflammation of his tear ducts which temporarily responds to the antibiotic paste. Try regular cleaning away of the material with moist cotton wool, wiping in the direction of his fur, and try to avoid use of regular antibiotics.

Our chocolate labrador, Taz, is 11 years old and has been struggling to get up on his back legs. If it is due to arthritis what can we do to help him?

The first thing you should do is have Taz checked by your vet to confirm he has arthritis in his joints. Feeling the joints and taking X-rays and tests will help your vet give you the best advice. To help Taz, make sure he is at an ideal weight to lessen pressure on his joints. Give him daily exercise at a level that he can manage. Make sure he has a comfortable bed to sleep in and keep him warm over winter. Lessen use of stairs by providing ramps or moving him to a ground level room. Your vet will advise on supplements that help maintain the cartilage in joints and the use of omega fatty acids in food to lessen inflammation. Antiinflammatory drugs are helpful for pain relief.