DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz RECENTLY I had to seek medical treatment when my cat bit my arm after I had been grooming him with a comb. It happened once before five years ago. Now I am afraid to even stroke him. How can I handle this in future?

It is upsetting when your normally sweet-natured cat attacks you. Any bite from a cat can be dangerous so always seek advice from your doctor as often antibiotics are needed. Usually cats will tolerate a short period of grooming before becoming upset. Look for signs such as flattening of the ears and swishing of the tail, both signals saying it is time to stop. Do very short periods of grooming followed by food or a cat treat. Engage your cat in play, ideally twice a day for 15 minutes. This will tire your cat making it safer to engage with him later. Reward friendly encounters with treats and punish any aggression with a water squirt.

My male Shi Tzu-cross dog called Baxter has recently been leaking urine when he lies down in our house. He seems to be able to go normally when I take him for a walk. Is there some medication I can give to control this?

You will need to have Baxter checked by your vet. Check Baxter does not have a urinary infection by having a sterile sample of his urine checked at the lab. Blood tests will also need to be done to ensure he is in good health plus an X-ray in case he has bladder stones. If these investigations do not show any problems and his prostate is normal then it may be a case of bladder control weakness. This is more common in speyed female dogs which often respond well to medical treatment. A drug that helps increase bladder muscle control will sometimes help in male dogs.