DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz SOPHIE, our 1-year-old speyed cat, has started pooing in the house. Her motions are mostly firm and she does have a litter tray. We have recently placed our house up for sale so there are people visiting. She also gets beaten up by her brother. Can you help?

Is seems there may be a variety of causes for Sophie’s house soiling. Initially get her checked for any problem with her digestive tract, especially if she has loose motions. She should be up to date with her worm treatment and you may need a special diet to keep her motions firm. Have more than one litter tray and always change it whenever used. Give Sophie her own room in the house where she can be secure and away from her brother; also feed her there and have a litter tray. Give her a box to hide and sleep in, placed up high. Use Feliway spray, the cat pheromone, to help her through this stressful time.

My 3-month-old labrador has had his first vaccinations and is on a good puppy diet but he has a problem with his skin. He scratches a lot about his lower chest and has some flaking skin. Should I change to a different food?

There should not be a problem with his food as long as it is balanced for a growing puppy. Get your vet to check his skin at his next booster vaccination. The vet will ensure there are no fleas and will test for mites as they can cause flaking skin and itchiness. Use a good dog shampoo to wash him once a week to keep his coat clean. An allergy causing skin problems is less likely in puppies but can occur. If your vet finds that there is no infection or presence of mites then she may try a supplement of essential fatty acids added to his food daily to help with skin health. Flax seed oil is one such supplement.