DR BRUCE CHARD

contact@northharbourvet.co.nz I have a 13-year-old cavalier king charles spaniel called Lucy who is lame in her left back leg. My neighbour saysshe has probably ruptured a ligament in her knee and will need surgery. I am reluctant to seek treatment as she has heart failure. Are there other treatments?

It is best to have your vet check Lucy to make an accurate diagnosis. There are two ligaments in the knee of dogs connecting the femur to the tibia. They stabilise the joint and when one of the ligaments break; usually the front or anterior cruciate ligament, then there is movement in the knee and pain. Your vet will be able to diagnose the break by the amount of extra movement in the joint and pain when compared to the good knee. As Lucy has heart failure and is a small older dog, treatment would probably involve some medication for pain without having to resort to surgery.

We have two cats and recently I noticed our 14-yearold cat, Ben, has been drinking more water. He is still eating, but is possibly losing weight. Could he have diabetes?

It would be most unusual for a 14-year-old cat to develop diabetes but it is possible. Owners will often find it difficult to measure how much water their cat is drinking especially when there are two cats. Younger cats often do not seem to be drinking much at all so it is significant when an older cat drinks a lot. Have Ben checked by your vet, where a urine test will show a high sugar level if he is diabetic. If there is no sugar and the urine is very dilute then Ben’s kidney function will be the most likely cause of his increased thirst. A blood test will show how affected his kidneys are and treatment will include starting Ben on a kidney diet to extend his life.