A: This certainly is unusual. Sometimes with infections dogs can get rashes and you can get involvement of lymph nodes that can lead to swelling of a limb. There are just so many causes of skin lesions and so many causes of limb swelling that this needs to be examined by your veterinarian. Good luck to you.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog Scuffle Results in Swollen Jaw

Q: My dog got in a scuffel with the neighbor dog. only had a little scrape that bled. now his right jaw and neck are noticably bigger like almost a harder knott. im worried its infection, and cant make it to the vet right now.

A: This could just be tissue swelling or as you suggested this could be an infection. I know you said you can't get into the vet now but if this needs medication that's really your only option. It's difficult when unexpected expenses happen with our pets. Please review some of my previous posts for suggestions about various methods to handle veterinary expenses. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Cat Breathing Problem

Q: hi i really hope you can help 15 days ago my cat got rushed to the vet he could breath had fluid on his lungs they sent him home with injections of lasix furosemide i gave him al his doses went back to the vet and they said he seemed to be fine but kept him on the lasix but in pill form and enacard which is in pill form also...he was getting better then relized that he had large scabs with a white kinda bubble on some of there is 4 and lumps under his skin could this be because of the injections of spent so much money already and i just wanted to see if you could give me some advice..they really dont seem to be hurting him and lets me pet him and look at them please could you maybe give me some advice thank you so much for your time

A: I cannot say for sure what this is. Certainly animals can get areas of inflammation under the skin after getting injections but it's pretty unusual. I would at least call your veterinarian and just ask what he or she thinks.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Constipated Puppy in Discomfort

Q: My puppy (Pepper Ann) has been whiny, and drawn up for 2 days not i noticed she was constipated the day before yesterday, she is drinking in little fluids of puppy formula, she is peeing but no bowel movement. i have tried mineral oil and a couple small drops of kayro syrup, she is a chihuahua pikanese mix i feel so bad its hard to get her comfy please help guide me in the right way,

i have noticed when she tries to eat she swallows then it sounds like air bubble in her belly and she does not want to be on her back she wants to stay curled up with her head far back crying soft then louder. Lethargy-Trembling-Crying, Whimpering. please help sincerely, Pepper Anns mom

A: In situations like this there is really not any advice I can give you to do at home. It sounds like your poor little puppy is feeling pretty poorly and is uncomfortable. It would be best to get her to your veterinarian to help make her comfortable and figure out what is going on as soon as possible. Good luck to you and Pepper Ann. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Sick Hamster

Q: my hamster has yellow fluid coming out of vagina, won't drink for 4 days, sleeps all the time,no energy! Wakes up, digs in her bedding and goes bak to sleep. Tries to get on wheel and falls off! She was perfect and full of energy 5days ago! What's wrong with my baby?!!!

A: Like you I am very worried about this hamster. Try to find a veterinarian willing to see small mammals. I am particularly concerned about an infection but cannot say for sure until she is examined. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog Urinating on Furniture

Q: A friend of mine has a dog that had started urinating on her bed. She closed her bedroom door so she didn't have access to the bed. At that point she started to pee on the couch. She is a mixed breed, has been spayed and is a young, healthy girl. I would love your thoughts on this. Thank you.Vicky

A: Inappropriate urination can be medical or behavioral. First we need to rule out medical issues that affect the urinary system. I recommend bloodwork, urinalysis, and urine culture/sensitivity. Sometimes I will also take X-rays to look for abnormalities like bladder stones. If all checks out medically that's when we start addressing behavioral issues. Make sure to clean the areas in the house with an "enzymatic cleaner" to prevent the dog from being drawn back to these same areas due to smell. I know this is frustrating and wish you luck. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Should Feral Cat Stay on Lysine

Q: I have a feral cat who has recovered from a severe eye infection. It was a challenge, all products used had to be put in his food because he cannot be picked up. I am now giving him Viralys L-lysine supplement. suggested dose is 1/4 tea 2x a day . He is getting I dose daily. (sometimes I only see in in the morning) Is it harmful to cats to continuously give this product as a daily supplement? Should it only be used as needed.? Thank-you, -- Karyn

A: Wow, you have been wonderful to this cat. I would continue the lysine very long term. When it works it keeps the immune system stronger to help prevent infections. I know if he or she could speak this cat would thank you!.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Chihuahua Has Several Swellings

Q: Hello, I have a 4 month old chihuahua and I noticed one of her eyes was swollen and later under her ear was swollen too. Also I noticed her vulva is red and swollen too. She seems fine and active with my other dog too. Any advice on what this could be? Thank u in advance!

A: As far as the swellings on the face this could potentially be an allergic reaction of some sort. Sometimes with bacterial infections like conjunctivitis or ear infections you can get facial swelling too. The swollen vulva could be due to horomonal changes or potentially an infection/vaginitis. At any rate, if this is abnormal for her and has persisted, your veterinarian needs to examine her. .-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Chihuahua-Maltese Mix Has Health Problems

Q: I have a chihuahua and Maltese mix and I have always had some concerns about her health. She is a little over 8 months and is no more than 4 pounds. I got her when she was supposably 6 weeks old and she has never had the appetite that I thought a dog should have. I feed her wet Purina puppy food in the pouches whenever she will actually eat it..I sit it in front of her in a comfortable place and leave because that seems to be the only way she will eat is with me out of the room. Sometimes I even have to feed it to her. Other than her eating problem she has been a healthy regular puppy. She is very active, but just last night I woke up to her throwing up or dry heaving because I don't think anything actually came up. I finally got her to fall asleep. And she seemed fine this morning. But when I came home later today and tried to pick her up she yelped. I didn't know what was wrong in till I touched her stomach and she yelped again. So, her stomach seems to be sore and she has not eaten all day because her food has not been touched. I tried to feed it to her but she will not eat it. I know the best answer is to take her to the vet. I have an appointment already to get her fixed and was going to get her a check up then, but I wanted to make sure that it was okay to wait or if I needed to take her sooner. Thank you for any advice you may have.

A: With small dogs I worry more about them not eating. I really don't think this needs to wait. If you haven't already gone in please get her to your veterinarian.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Lab Puppy and Grown Maltese

Q: I want to get a black Labrador retriever(puppy only a few months old) and I have a seven year old Maltese do you think that's okay or will I have problems with them getting along?

Ivanna

A: This is a great question and the answer is that this totally depends on the temperaments of the dogs. If your older dog tends to do well with other animals then I would expect that the introduction will go smoothly. It would be a good idea to have a practice meeting where they could meet before you actually bring the puppy home to see how it goes. Good luck!-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Terrier Mix has Problem After Grooming

Q: I have a 7 year old terrier mix. I took him to the groomers for the first time 3 days ago. They cut his hair, nails, have a bath and cleaned his anal glands. Ever since he has been licking his butt tons more than usual. It looks a little red and I'm worried the groomers either cut the hair too short back there or if it's from cleaning his anal glands. Is this normal so soon after going especially if it was a new experience for him?

A: It is not normal but it is relatively common for dogs that have sensitive skin to experience some irritation after being groomed. This does not necessarily mean that the groomer did anything wrong, but you should mention it so maybe next time they can not shave so close. It's not unusual after such situations to need to get to your veterinarian for medication to make the skin more comfortable and to make sure there are no problems with the anal glands.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Boston Terrier Puppy has Lump Under Skin

Q: Hello, my boston terrier puppy has something underneath his skin that I can move, it feels like a ball and I can move it from his ribs to his low side. He is 15 weeks and updated on all shots.

A: Sometimes puppies will get lumps underneath the skin where they have received vaccines. However your veterinarian needs to check this go rule out infection or any other abnormal growth. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Golen Retriever Eating Other Dog's Poop

Q: I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER AND A 1 YEAR OLD PUG. MY GOLDEN HAS JUST STARTED GOING THROUGH THE YARD AND EATING THE PUGS POOP. NOT HIS OWN. WHAT DO I DO?

JO ANN

A: This is a relatively common issue in dogs. One way to handle this is to pick up the fecal material (being extra careful to wash your hands afterwards) so that it is not on the ground to be ingested.

Another option is to ask your veterinarian about a medication that you feed to your pug to alter the taste of the stool and deter you other dog from eating it. Sometimes this works great and other times it's not as effective.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Chihuahua with Painful Lump

Q: Thor is a 9 year old chihuahua. No past medical issues. In the past two days, he has been whimpering when he moves a certain way. When he jumped on my lap, I noticed a soft lump about the size of a quarter that wasn't there a few days ago. The lump is on his ribs right by his shoulder It's obviously tender because he cried when I touched it. I hate seeing him in pain. Do I take him to the vet, or is a bump that he got from a fall?

Any help you give me would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you.
Shannon

A: I'm sorry that there is no way for me to know the origin of this bump. It could be related to the injury or might be incidental. My biggest concern is for Thor being painful. If you haven't already, let's get him to the veterinarian for examination of the bump and to possibly get a safe pain medications.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Mini Dachshund has IVDD

Q: My mini dachshund was diagnosed with severe IVDD yesterday. Vet says she should have surgery but odds are not good that she will recover and it is expensive. I am not financially able. I don't know what to do. Vet has given us medication for her for 7 days. She is not eating. She does drink her water. I am worried about her pooping and peeing. Vet is hinting that we should have her put to sleep. I just can not do this. I don't know what to do. Can you help us?

A: This is such a hard decision. The best chance for a favorable outcome would be surgery. The bad thing about surgery is the expense, and not all dogs that have the surgery will improve. There are no guarantees.

There are some dogs that will slowly start to gain use of their legs again without surgery. The benefits of steroids are controversial but I usually try them just in case.

For dogs who do not recover on their own, some clients make the difficult decision to euthanize them due to concerns over quality of life. Others look into getting one of the carts that you can custom order for your dog.

Of course, being able to go to the restroom on her own is an issue too. Sometimes we teach clients how to express the urinary bladder.

Bottom line is that there are no right answers. You have to consider all of the options and do what is best for your individual dog. I will keep you in my thoughts.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

15 Year Old Cocker Spaniel Loses Control of Bladder

Q: My dog Jasper will be 15 in March. He no longer is capable to hold his urine. He goes into the kitchen when he has to go. I was concerned and of course took him the vet. He had a complete exam,blood work. His blood work came back remarkably well for a dog his age. That was a relief but I'm still dealing with cleaning pee all the time. At this point I'm thinking of getting diapers. I'm clueless. Thank you,Amina

A: If he knows that he is urinating he may have something called canine cognitive dysfunction. This is similar to dementia or senility in people. If you do an internet search for this disease the company that makes a medication to help treat it has a website with a checklist to help you know if your dog may have this.

Also make sure a urine culture and sensitivity has been done to absolutely rule out urinary tract infection. Make sure to tell your veterinarian if your dog is drinking more water as there are some diseases that can cause increased water drinking that may not readily show up on labwork (urinary tract infection, Cushings disease).

If you and your veterinarian decide that this may be cognitive dysfunction there are medications available that can help as well as certain specialty food with antioxidants.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Aussie Mix Drools Too Much

Q:Hi: We have recently rescued a wonderful Aussie cross - Lily. She is one year old and as is typical for her breeds (husky and aussie) she is busy, smart and a temptress to her friends at day camp - we take her once a week so that she can socialize with other dogs and to get used to being away from home in case we need to go away unexpectedly.

So here is the thing... Lily will sit on the chair and watch the world go by. We live on a very quiet street so there is rarely anything going by but she loves to look... while she is surveying her domain, she will start to drool ...not too excessively..looks like only one shoe lace coming from her mouth ( side of mouth changes) but we cannot figure out what is happening.. she also does this if she is outside running about. Also as expected she is quite the chewer!

Again, it is not excessive but it does make us wonder. We trust our vet implicitly as he has walked us through a dog with allergies from adoption to end of life - he and his techs are fabulous. So we know Lily has had a good examination or two so far.. just searching the web and found this site with your address..just wondering if you have any thoughts? thanks so very much --Sue

A:Dogs tend to drool when nauseated, nervous/anxious, or if there is some abnormality in their mouth. Some dogs just seem to tend to drool more than others for no known reason. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Q:My 4 month old dog is having mucous coming out of her private parts. why? Thanks

IA:t is probably no big deal but if it's a relatively new development for her you should have this looked at my your veterinarian. I suspect that she has vaginitis but she needs to be examined. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Recently Spayed Chihuahua Licks Incision

Q: Hi my names Carly and I own a 1 year old Chihuahua named Lucy i just got her spayed a week ago. Like the vet said i waited a week to take the cone off. The entire time she had to cone on her she was doing great. But the incision looked weird to me the day i got her back.The incision was a long slit and on on side of the slit was the stitch and on the other was a piece of the thread going through her skin. As she started to heal i continued observing her incision everyday to insure it was clean. About 5 days after her surgery i noticed that what appeared to be either dried blood or a scab was in the middle of her incision.

After I took the cone off of her i left for about an hour the same day thinking she would be fine since i waited the allotted time the vet told me to. After i got home i immediately checked her stitch and the "scab" was gone. It appears she has licked her stiches clean and even though the two stiches on the side are still there the scab in the middle is not and im beginning to worry that the "scab" was actually a stitch covered by dry blood, that she pulled out. The incision does not look infected but she is acting extremely strange. I took out her favorite treat and enticed her to walk over to me. Every other couple of steps she took she would stop and go to lick her incision. She is acting so weird im so worried that something is wrong with her. Should i take her to an emergency vet? Im so worried. Thank you!!

A: I don't know that this is an emergency (obviously I cannot say for sure since I cannot see her) but she needs to be seen. Incisions can become infected and sometimes animals can have reactions to the suture. There is also a chance that you will get her in and this will be no big deal. Thanks for being so vigilant with your dog. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Look-Alike Cat Raises Questions

Q: i really need some advice. i had this stray outside cat that i fed for quite sometime. he was not fixed, lean and long looking. i finally found him a home and after about 5 days in his new house he ran out and went missing. i found out about this about 8 days later and went out to look for him (i live about 18 miles from his new home) about 3 houses from his new home i found a cat that looked very much like him. he had the same hair loss on the back of the legs, same bump on his neck. he however looked a bit different. i noticed that the cat was neutered, his head looked a bit smaller, and he looked a bit thicker in the middle area. i asked the lady if this was her cat and she said yes. i explained that i lost a cat that looked just like this one but she just insisted that the cat was hers.

my question is after about 7-10 days after a male cat (4-5years old) has been neutered (and probably de-wormed) can the cat undergo these types of changes. the cat seemed to run up to me and acted like it knew me. he is in a good home, looks well cared for, and i would not take him away. but i feel that the lady is not being honest. i have been driving out to this neighborhood for about 6 weeks looking for him, 4 times a week at least. i just was wondering if this cat could be the one i've been looking for all this time. thanks --sandy

A: I'm sorry that it's impossible for me to answer this question. I would be surprised to see such noticeable changes in appearance so quickly but it could be possible. For the future, please be aware that you can have your pet microchipped. A microchip provides a means to permanently identify your pet if you were ever separated. Thanks for your concern over this kitty. !-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dachshund Treats Hing Leg as "Phantom Puppy"

Q: I have a female dachshund. She is around 9 years old. Within this past year, she started acting like her hind leg was her puppy. She has never had a litter, however, every so often she starts tugging on her skin above her hip and starts trying to walk while pulling. She is not biting herself, but she does whine the whole time because she can’t get her "puppy” to cooperate. She ultimately just ends of walking in circles trying to place the “puppy”. I have checked her from head to toe and she does not have any injury and does not do this all of the time. We have toys for the dogs to play with and would have thought if she was going through a “phantom pregnancy” then she would have picked one of the toys up to be her “puppy”, but she would rather grab her skin instead. Is this normal for a dog to do? I have had A LOT of animals in my life and I have never had one do this before and when I googled it, nothing came up.....HELP! What is going on with her????

A: I have never seen this either in a dog. It sounds to be more of a discomfort/possible skin issue. Try to video your dog doing this and take the video with your dog to the veterinarian. !-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Unspayed Lab Problem

Q: I have a 8 year old female lab who is not spayed. One of her utters has become hard and leaking fluid. I have tried using warm compresses and massaging to try and break up the lump and relieve some of the fluid. But it comes right back. Is there something I can be doing to clear this up at home?

A: I'm afraid that there is nothing to do at home. If she is uncomfortable you could apply warm compresses to the area for a few minutes at a time several times daily until you can get her to the veterinarian. Please don't do this if she is painful enough to get grumpy and bite you!

Since she is not spayed she could potentially be lactating (they can do this even when not pregnant), have an infection, or potentially a tumor. I recommend getting her into your veterinarian, it would also be a good idea to consider having her spayed.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

11 Year Old Rottweiler Problem

Q: My 11 year old rottie has 4 scabby sores that appear to be taking off the skin..one is half off and under it is white skin (hair and all coming off) they are also tender..what could it be? thanks!

A: This could be any of a number of things including allergy, infection, skin mites, or even skin cancer. You need to get to your veterinarian for an exam and possibly a skin biopsy. Good luck!-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Great Pyraneese Puppy Problem

Q: Hello, We have a 7 week old great pyreneese. She has been licking her rear and after checking I see that it is very red. We haven't taken her to the vet yet and will be doing that tomorrow. I just want to make sure this isn't an emergency. Her nose feels warm and dry I am worried she has a fever. Any help or advice would be great. Thank you.

A: When dogs lick at their rear end I think it's important to rule out presence of fleas, anal gland issues, and intestinal parasites. If your puppy is eating and feeling ok otherwise this is not an emergency but you do need to keep your appointment that you mentioned. Please try to take a fecal sample to the veterinarian with you so that they will have a good stool sample to examine.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Back Pain in Maltese

Q: Hi I have a 6 year old Maltese. I took him to the emergency vet last night. He was uncomfortable and would yelp if you tried to touch his lower back or stomach, but I was able to pick him up with him not yelping. They told me they were 80% it is back pain and gave him 2 shots, a muscle relaxer and pain killer. I took him home and when I woke up this morning, about 6 hours after shots, he is still uncomfortable. Able to walk on his own and go outside to go pee. Do I wait a couple days to take him to the vet or should I take him back asap? I am a struggling college student so money is a concern. I will obviously pay anything to make sure he is ok. Just want to make sure taking him back to vet is what I should be doing. Thank you!
Molly

A: It's difficult in these little dogs to differentiate between abdominal pain versus back pain. If only they could talk to us! If he is eating and there is no vomiting or diarrhea, chances are this is more back pain. Sometimes dogs can get herniated intervertebral discs that can require long aggressive treatment and sometimes surgery to heal. I think you need to get your little guy back to the doctor. Good luck! -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Havanese with Drool and Dandruff

Q: Hi, My havanese has 2 issues. Since being groomed about 3 weeks ago he has what looks like dandruff on just his head area. Also, a few days ago I noticed him drooling. Ha is 4 years old. Has never had these symptoms. Could it be stress related? Hes a very clingy dog. Usually only behaves for me. Hates to be left at home alone. Although we do have another Havanese. His mother. Shes is fine. No flaking or drooling. Much less stressed out personality. Also, a member of family just moved away for a couple of years. Could that absence cause this?
Thanks,
N. Thomas

A: Sometimes dogs with sensitive skin can get skin irritation after being groomed. It's not that the groomer did anything wrong, just some dogs can get sensitive skin. I cannot rule out a skin infection though either. I need for your veterinarian to take a look to know exactly what this is.

The drooling could be nausea, oral abnormalities, and potentially anxiety. It sounds like you need to get your dog in to be examined to rule out medical problems. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Yorkie Puppy could have Respiratory Problem

Q: Hi my yorkie puppy (8 weeks old) seems like he has phlem in his throat and he coughs it up but then he swallow it, and he also sounds congested ( when he plays, growls I haven't herd him bark yet either? But the only other thing is he has the Hic-up's at least 3 or 4 times a day! Which Is weird to me but maybe I'm wrong! He has only had his first round of shots he goes to vet for his 2nd round in a few weeks! I'm think he might have a respiratory infection of some kind? Any info would be helpful I just don't want him to die!! Please help!! Thanks alot !! Please respond a.s.a.p

~Lindsey~

A: The hiccups aren't uncommon in puppies. He very well could have a respiratory infection. Puppies have an immature immune system so you are right to be concerned about infection. Let's get this puppy into your veterinarian to see if antibiotics are necessary.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Shih Tsu Sneezing

Q: Hello, I have a 10 year old Shih Tzu, and for the past 2 weeks he has been sneezing a lot. He will sneeze constantly for a few seconds, then stop and a few minutes later...he would do it again. He also keeps moving his tongue around his mouth, while he sneezes (it almost looks like he is trying to get something out of his mouth). He does this almost everyday, several times a day. He has never done this before, and I have checked his temperature..and it was normal. We have changed his diet, because he is overweight. We changed from Pedigree to Blue Buffalo, and he has been on Blue for about 3 weeks.I just want to know if this is something serious, before I pay a lot of money for a vet visit and it not be urgent. Thanks for all your help. Amber :)

A: My first reaction is to wonder if he has a problem tooth. The tooth roots on the upper half of the mouth are very close to the nasal cavity. An infected tooth root could cause the symptoms you describe.

You also need to have your dog examined to rule out tumors or foreign bodies in the mouth or nose. I appreciate you writing in and this is a case where you need to get your dog in to your veterinarian.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Weimaraner Puppy with Bumps on Back

Q: My 10 week old Weimaraner has 3 unusual bumps on his back the are under the skin. They don't seem to bother him even when I touch them. Do you know what they may be? Thanks a bunch,
Robert Ackerman

Q: Has this puppy had vaccines recently? Sometimes I see puppies with bumps under the skin from vaccines. Tumors are unlikely in young puppies but it's not impossible. Also sometimes skin infections or even allergies can manifest as bumpy skin. Have it checked out particularly if these bumps persist. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Pomeranian Pup Limping

Q: Hello, I have a 7 month pomeranian male, and a few weeks ago my daughter dropped him and he started favoring his left hind leg. At first he would not put any weight on it. Now he still "hops" around on 3 legs, but when he's playing he runs full speed on all 4 and will stand on both hind legs when he wants my attention with no obvious signs of pain. There is no swelling, but I did notice that his paw pads on the favored leg have a white, almost chalky looking growth(?) On them. Any idea what this could be? He is an indoor dog but plays in the backyard, and we live Pennsylvania. Your thoughts are very much appreciated. Thank you.

A: If he is able to put weight on that leg it is likely not broken but x-rays would tell us for sure. More commonly with these symptoms we see soft tissue injuries like ruptured ligaments. It is important not to encourage heavy activity as rest would allow any injury that could heal on its own ( and not all of them can) to heal faster.

I'm not sure about the growth on the paw pad unless he's been licking at that area a lot from pain and has inflammation. This puppy needs to be examined by a veterinarian. I'd hate for an injury at such a young age to potentially result in lifelong problems. Just make sure that there is nothing else that needs to be done.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

2 Yr Old Chihuahua Has Hypoglycemia

Q: I have a 2 year old Chihuahua who seems to have only recently acquired hypoglycemia. He had an episode in August of 2011 where he became wobbly and his legs gave out on him. When I gave him Nutrical he was fine. He has remained problem free until December when he proceeded to have 5 more episodes within 3 weeks. I asked his vet if this had anything to do with the fact that he has developmental issues such as his reluctance to jump, poor eye/ paw coordination and a skip in his back step. The vet assured me that he was ok and that as long as I feed him every 4 hours he will live a long and healthy life.

I got a second opinion yesterday from another vet who told me that Hypoglycemia is very dangerous. She told me to give him Nutrical in the morning and the evening along with his 4 meals a day. She also sounds as if he has neurological and skeletal problems.

I would like a final opinion because I don't know what steps I should take. I am so worried that my dog will have an episode during the night and that I will lose him because of what the second vet said. I would also like to know what I should be feeding him to prevent another episode. He currently eats Natural Balance "Small Bites". I also leave food and water for him at all times.
Please advise.
Thank you,
Sharon

A: You are correct that we worry more about hypoglycemia in little dogs and that it can be very dangerous. I always like to do a test called a bile acids test (after routine bloodwork including a complete blood count, serum chemistry, and thyroid test) has been performed. This bile acids will help us know if your little dog could have something called a portosystemic shunt. Some dogs are born with a shunt and it can affect their blood sugar. Although rare, I have had dogs that presented to me with low blood sugar and the cause was found to be a rare disease called Addison's disease. There are a couple of ways to check for this including a test called an ACTH stimulation test. Obviously make sure that your dog is not getting into things like sugar free gum that can affect the blood pressure and have your dog checked for intestinal parasites. I wish you the best of luck. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Siamese Cat

Q: I have a siamese indoor cat approx. 6 years old (adopted from a shelter so not sure exact age) and all of a sudden he started not allowing me to pet his back. When I would touch him in the "wrong" spot he would immediately start licking his side. I found that he has tons of little black tiny hard pebbles all over the back part of his back. It does look a little like "flea dirt" but he doesn't show any signs of having fleas now (winter) or this summer and neither do the 2 other indoor cats or our dog. He let me remove a good amount of the black pebbles (they are almost like grains of sand) and seems to be more tolerant of being touch in that area but he is still licking quite a bit. Do you know what this is or what is causing it? Should I try to give him a bath to get rid of the rest of them and if so what type of soap should I use? Thanks for your time.

A: I agree with you that this sounds suspicious for fleas. Cats with fleas are difficult because since cats are such wonderful groomers they often will pick off the adult fleas leaving only flea dirt. To know if it is flea dirt I recommend taking some of the black particles, putting them on a paper towel, and dripping some water on the paper towel. If it turns red then what you have is flea dirt, which is digested blood. Flea allergy dermatitis will make cats itchy to the point of acting really strangely when you touch them. I have even had cats brought to me because they owners think this behavior is a seizure. Check to see if this is flea dirt and remember that with cats you have to be extra super careful about what to use on them as a flea prevention. I definitely recommend talking to your veterinarian and getting a prescription strength flea product for your cat. Some over the counter products and especially products made for dogs can be deadly to cats. By the way, if your cat is really uncomfortable you may want to get him into your veterinarian to see if he/she can give your cat any medication to alleviate the itchy symptoms while you start to attack the fleas. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Chihuahua Eye Problem

Q: Earlier today I picked up my 10 week old chihuahua to take him outside. While doing so I tripped and his reaction was to jump out of my arms. I think he fell on his head or face. He screamed for a few minutes till I picked him up and calmed him down. I looked him over and his eye is a little swollen and red in the inner corner where it should be white. He seems fine other than that but I tried to put a warm moist cloth over it and he screamed again. I dont know what to do! And I dont have alot of money to take him to the vet at the moment. Im worried he may have a burst blood vessel in his eye. Is there anything I can do for him at home?

A: Even if he had a burst blood vessel there's really nothing that you can do about that. I worry about him getting a scratch on his cornea (surface of his eyeball). Usually dog with a scratch/ulcer will squint the affected eye a lot or it will be very oozy. With an ulcer that really needs to be seen. However, if there is just mild redness and swelling but he seems fine otherwise it could resolve on its own. I cannot tell you exactly what is wrong over the computer but if he is eating and not squinting too badly then it is probably ok to just monitor your dog. Good luck!-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Rescued Boxer Drips Blood From Mouth

Q: Recently we found a Boxer dog on the side of the road and picked her up. She seems to be healthy, but a little skinny. I believe she is around 1 year old and she constantly drips a little bit of blood from her mouth. She doesn't like me touching her mouth to try and see where it's coming from. When she sleeps at night she drools and leaves blood stains. It looks light colored so I think it's only dripping after she drinks water or drools. We're finding little red spots dripped through out the house and I think we found a tooth in the floor. I'm not sure if this may be the cause of this, but I'm concerned and was wondering if you could help. Thanks for your time.

A: That was nice of you to pick this dog up. If you are not aware of her previous history be extra careful with her as dogs can carry diseases that can be passed to humans like certain intestinal parasites and even rabies.

A bleeding mouth could be from a bleeding tooth, growth in the mouth, trauma, a foreign object, or even a bleeding disorder. Certain toxins like rat poison can cause bleeding tendencies as can certain autoimmune diseases.

Bottom line is that she needs to get your veterinarian anyway to check for a microchip, heartworm test, fecal test (take one with you to have her checked for intestinal parasites), and for a good physical exam. Good luck! -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog Loses Bladder Control After Spaying

Q: My female was spayed and the vet cut into her spleen. I've notice she loses control of her bladder which before the surgery she didn't.

A: Bladder control issues could be a result of several potential issues. I don't thinkit is at all related to the spleen. I typically like to do bloodwork and x-rays to rule out urinary tract infection, other systemic diseases that can affect the urinary system (like kidney disease or diabetes), and bladder stones. Remember that certain medications like steroids can sometimes affect urination.

If no obvious reason can be found she could be having a very common condition in spayed female dogs called urinary incontinence. In some spayed dogs the muscles in the urethra lose their tone and allow for leakage of urine. There is medication available for this. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

When Is It The Right Time To Put Your Dog Down?

Q: Hello my name is Stacie, my question is how to know when it's time to put your dog down? Daisy our lab has a large tumor in her spleen and several fatty tumors all over her body. She has always been a very good dog that has always been healthy. For a few years now she has slowly become arthritic and has a hard time walking and sometimes stumbles.

Recently she has started chewing and scratching in certain areas on her body. Which I think she is trying to get to the pain possibly? She chews on her front knee joint and hips to the point wear she has created a sores that bleeds. She also seems to be loosing an abundant amount of hair in chunks. I can't stand the thought of her suffering and at the same time when I look into her eyes can't stand the thought of putting her down yet.

I need help on knowing when it's "the right time to put her down." You should also know that she has seen her Vet regularly and it is my decision not to do any medical proceedures, given her age and the many things she has developed. Your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time and input --Stacie

A: This is such a common yet heartbreaking question for pet owners. The truth is that there are no clear cut answers. Having said that, I will share some of my opinions with you.

Make a list of things that your dog has always enjoyed. The list for some dogs can include things like eating, playing with a favorite toy, greeting you when you arrive home, going in the car, etc. When you start to notice that many of these things are no longer able to be enjoyed I seriously consider quality of life issues.

Remember that sometimes the greatest gift we can give to our beloved pets is to realize that if they are not doing well we can intervene to prevent them from having to get worse. It's very difficult for us to make this decision but when our pets are painful we have to make sure we are keeping them with us for the right reasons.

I can not tell you the answer for your specific dog. It sounds like there are issues with pain and discomfort. Sometimes in such cases when the owner is struggling with this decision I recommend a trial of pain medication for palliative care. If that doesn't seem to help then we know we cannot let the animal continue in pain. I will keep you and your dog in my thoughts. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog Show Signs of Some Injury After Fall

Q: My dog was dropped on the brick of my fireplace, about 3 ft. high. She yelps sometimes when she walks, but she doesn't have obvious broken bones. She doesn't limp, but she's walks with her tail tucked in and her back has a curve, like she's not relaxed. She also yelps when I pet her on her forhead. (She didn't land on her head, she landed on her chest or possibly tummy or both) if its a fractured rib what could the vet do and why is she sensitive to me petting her on her forehead? What do I need to do

A: I'm sorry that this happened with your dog. Obviously your dog is experiencing discomfort. Please call your veterinarian to get your dog in for an exam and to likely get pain medication. Remember never to give human pain medication to dogs as certain ones can be extremely dangerous. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Older Sheltie Has New Lump on Hind Leg

Q: My Sheltie is 10 years old and we noticed a lump the size of a nickel on her back hind leg last weekend. It's raised, pink and has no hair on it. I took her to the vet and they put her on antibiotics to rule out infection. Today I noticed her hair is falling out in clumps just on her two hind legs, leaving an almost bald spot where the hair has shed.

Could these two things be related? The vet said it would cost $600-$700 to surgically remove the lump - we just don't have that kind of money. Do you have any idea what this could be? Please help.

A: This is a good question. Not all growths are necessarily cancers but dogs can get tumors. Unfortunately tumors are sometimes more common in older dogs. I like to surgically remove any growth that is not going away on its own.

Some masses need general anesthesia for removal and others can sometimes be removed with a local anesthetic. As far as the hair loss on both legs go, without knowing what this growth is its impossible for me to say.

Consider talking to your veterinarian to see if he/she offers payment options like Care Credit. I wish you the best of luck. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog With New Pups Acts Strange After Fall

Q: I don't know whats wrong with my dog. She had puppies three weeks ago. She fell off the bed the other day ever since then she has been using her back legs she is letting a liquid come out which has a really bad oder she doesnt let you move her or she bites you. We are a very less fortunate family we want to take her to the vet but its too expensive right now until friday but i want to know if you know whats wrong with her. She also wont sleep has her eyes wide open, but she lets you pet her anywhere and move her legs. Please if you could tell me whats wrong with her fast that would help a lot i love her a lot and i dont want her to go away yet! Thank you -- Renee T.

A: This could be caused by any of a number of problems including nutritional deficiency or infection. Having puppies is very hard on her body and proper veterinary care is essential both before and after having puppies. I know that it can be expensive to own a dog, and if you read through previous posts on this website I have mentioned potential ways to help with veterinary bills. I would recommend having her spayed after she gets better and her puppies are weaned. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog Seems to be in Pain Frequently

Q: My rat terrior his name is junior, he just started yapping real loud and panting.. His penis seems to stay hard. I wish I knew what was wrong with him, the vet is so high.please help. He acts like hes in so much pain but not all the time.

A: This is not a situation where you should avoid going to your veterinarian. If he has repeated episodes of pain you need to have him seen. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Yorkie Showing Signs of Agression

Q: Hi there, I recently acquired a 7yr old Yorkie and while I am sure she has not had time to adjust to her new environment as of yet, some of her behaviors are concerning me. I got the dog from her original owners, a family that allowed her to "rule the roost" when they were home. When they weren't at home she was left for long periods of time in the laundry room with her food, potty pad and a bed. She is a sweet dog, however when she wants attention, she will growl and bark at me. I spend long hours on the computer being a college student and this becomes quite annoying and distracting. I spend plenty of time with her cuddling and petting but I do it when convienent for me, not her. I also have a mixed breed neutered male that is almost 5 yrs old. I can see that the Yorkie is challenging his Alpha authority over her and I somewhat expected that given she needs to find her place, as well as her breed. We have had 3 altercations between the dogs thus far, two of which were instigated by the Yorkie. First time she became aggressive was when my other dog went over to her and attempted to play. I know it was play because he was crouching with rear in the air and tail wagging strong, head down, mouth closed and relaxed. She quickly made a growling noise and attacked him. After a short scuffle he put her on her back and held her there for a short while. Next scuffle was over the bed. My mixed breed sleeps at the foot of my bed. I know this is controversial for many people but I have well established my Alpha status over him and am comfortable with the arrangement. He would never attempt to sleep up by the pillows with me, he knows that is my place. My Yorkie was attempting to jump up onto the bed and was growling while doing so. My mixed breed got down off the bed and went over to her and as if to give her a warning growl to let her know he wasn't appreciating the growling and didn't want her on the bed. Next thing you know, my Yorkie attacked the mixed breed...a small scuffle with once again the mixed breed coming out on top and the Yorkie retreating. Then last night we had another potential scuffle I was able to prevent entirely. We were on the bed, Papi at the foot. Tiffany jumped up on the bed (this time no growling involved) close to the top. Papi saw this and instantly growled as a warning for her to get down. I could sense he was moving onto phase two of the warning when he turned, stood up and growled again this time tucking his lip up. Just as he was going to lunge I lifted my leg (covered in the blanket) and blocked him from getting to her. She instantly got down and went in the other room. This time I know that Papi was the aggressor. Papi doesn't particularly mind the presence of Tiffany. He has no problem with her on the couch, playing with toys, getting attention from me or my husband, nothing. Most of the time they are living in harmony occasionally taking a sniff at the others behind and generally ignoring each other. Tiffany has also randomly attempted to attack the cat when the cat is minding its own business just sitting somewhere. When that happens Papi takes off after Tiffany almost like he is attempting to protect the cat?? Are these behaviors actually aggressive behaviors or am I being paranoid? Is she just unsure of her environment and attempting to find her place in the pack? Am I doing the correct thing by paying her no attention when she growls and barks at me? I have gone as far as removing her from the room and closing the door and she will stand at the door repeating the same behavior. She is also a terrible beggar. She was free fed in her old home a commercial dog food. She is quite portly at the moment having an obvious pot belly. I have taken her off the commercial food and switched her to the same homemade food that my other dog eats and feed 2x a day. She seems to have an allergy to something, likely her food as the previous owners said she has scratched since they have had her. This poor doggie has sores all over from scratching and biting all the time. In changing her food and adding the supplements I have already noticed a slight reduction in the scratching. She is not food aggressive with humans but since I know my mixed breed is with other dogs I just feed them in separate rooms to be safe. If she sees someone eating anything she begs. I mean all out on the hind legs, jumping up and down, growling and forever staring at you and your food until you are done eating begging. Again, I ignore this behavior but it does make for a rather unpleasant meal time. I don't want to isolate her during meals because I really don't have the space in my small apartment to do so and I want her to learn that is not acceptable and she will not be rewarded for it. Any suggestions??? We have only had her for 3 days now and while I am not jumping to any conclusions, I want to be able to nip any potential issues in the bud.

A: Wow, it sounds like you have your hands full! It is very very common for animals to have to establish or re-establish a pecking order when initially introduced. As the days pass, your pets should settle into a system that works for them. For example, "Who will sleep next to mom?". Having said that, I have also had clients who have had serious problems with their dogs fighting to the point of hurting each other. There are some good sources of information related to such behavior issues. Get online and do a search for an organization called Animal Behavior Network. Please note that this company is not affiliated with this website but I have had experience with my clients using the services provided by that company. I'm not sure where you live but if you happen to live in my area of Savannah, Georgia please contact me and I can give you information on an amazing local behavior expert.

As far as her skin goes, food is one of several things that dogs can be allergic too. If this is allergies ( and your veterinarian would need to rule out other skin issues like mange, etc) often there are secondary infections. Therefore I'd have to defer to your veterinarian to know the best way to handle the skin issues.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Blue Heeler Mix has Problems Getting Up in the Mornings

Q: We have a wonderful 6 year old Blue Heeler/Dingo Mix as a family pet. He is a one of a kind. He Loves to Play and run, he does not like to stop! We have noticed the last couple of weeks when he plays hard or when we take him out running; the next morning his side swells up and has some lumps like someone may have kicked him in the side. When he does try and get up the next morning he yelps and screams in pain until he gets moving. Then he seems fine. It does not seem to hurt him when we rub it. In fact he seems to like it when we massage the area. Has he maybe torn some muscles in that area? Please help me figure out what I can do to help him. Thank You!
Karen

A: I have not ever treated a dog for development of swelling on its side after being active. The particularly concerning part is that it is uncomfortable to your dog. I would like for your veterinarian to evaluate the swelling. Could you perhaps record an episode of your dog acting painful and get photos of the swellings to take with you to your veterinarian?-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog has unpleasant Odor and Eye Discharge

Q: Hello,

Hope this works. My Tabbi-girl is really exuding quite an unpleasant smell from her body especially when she is warm, which she is a lot. She mostly has a lot of brown eye goop which needs wiping off maybe 3 times a day, a lot of it which will fly up onto the top of her head if not wiped off. It is brown when I get it on a kleenex.

I have used my own eye drops from the cabinet on her, several times. One was for pink eye and the other for dry eyes? I am careful! It doesn't look like a conjunctivitis. But she has those dark brown eyes so it is hard to tell!

She seems thirsty!

Does this sound like anything in particular to you? The vet bills are so high, I just couldn't take her in right now!

She also lived with our other jack russell, which my son has right now. He had a bone infection because of an abcessed tooth. It was removed and he alone was put on antibiotics. Could she have that same bone disease now? I don't remember Kipper having the goopy eyes though. This seems unusual.

Concerned,
Liza

A: When dogs (I'm assuming this is a dog?) have an extra unpleasant smell it usually indicates an overgrowth of bacteria and/or yeast on the skin. Such overgrowth is often related to skin allergies. Some of these dogs can become itchy.

As far as the ocular discharge goes, there are many reasons for dogs to accumulate matter on the eyes. This could be anything from infection to dry eye to ulceration to allergy, etc. I cannot stress enough that you shouldn't give your dog any medication at all without consulting with your veterinarian as often human medications are not safe for dogs.

The excessive water drinking that you mentioned could be normal for her or there could be a disease process going on such as kidney disease, diabetes, etc. I'm not telling you that she definitely has a significant disease but if she came to me I would want to do bloodwork to rule out such issues.

I cannot say for certain but it is doubtful that this is related to the other dog's dental disease.

I think you should consider getting your dog to the veterinarian. I realize it is an expense but if you scan through some of the previous posts on this website I've included some good information about options for paying veterinary bills. I wish you the best of luck.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Shaking Maltese

Q: Help please! My 8 mounth old male maltese Flurry is shaking. This isn't the first time, this is the second time he has done this. I dont know why, but there are some people working outside(cutting grass ect) and it scared him a couple of times. Is that why he is shaking?

A: Some dogs do tend to shake when they are nervous. I suspect this is the issue with your dog. If this starts to happen more frequently or if your dog displays any other abnormal symptoms please take your dog to your veterinarian to rule out possible diseases.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Older Cat Starts Losing Weight

Q: Hello, I was given your website by my brother. I wanted to tell you what is going on with my cat, Murphy. He is 11 years old. He started loosing weight even though he eats and drinks just fine. I took him to the vet who did the senior wellness tests. The only test he didn't get was the urine as he was empty.( The still haven't done this one). The results all came back fine. I was feeling better, but he still did not gained weight and he started having diarrhea. He always had diarrhea when he got into or ate something he shouldn't, but it would only last one or two days.. but this diarrhea was ongoing for about a week. We took him back to the vet and he said that since he had good test results, it looks like it's intestinal. He first suggest that maybe it had to do with the pancreas.. so he gave him the Pro-pectalin gel for the diarrhea and also some prednisolone. He also told me to put in his food a pack of FortiFlora and Prozyme for the pancreas. After, he stopped taking both the gel and the prednisolone.. he started having diarrhea again even though he did gain a little weight. We took him back to the vet and he said that since the diarrhea had come back, it was probably not the pancreas so to stop giving him the prozyme.

He said that it left 2 things it could be. IBS or lymphoma of the intestines. He said that the only way to truly find out if it's cancer, is to do a biopsy and he didn't recommend it. So, he gave me more of the pro-pectalin gel and the prednisolone. taking 1/2 a tablet a day and also to continue that FortiFlora. He as been doing well, but when the pro-pectalin finished, he sometimes still gets diarrhea. He will on the same day, do a normal stool and then later some diarrhea. He still eats and drinks water and no vomiting. Do you have any idea what might be going on, is there something I should tell the vet to do?? Should I get another opinion. If it's cancer, should he be having any other signs? There just has to be something I can do... anything you can advise will be most appreciated. Sincerely, --Nelly M.

A: This is such a common complaint in older cats and it sounds like your veterinarian has done a great job. You mentioned that bloodwork has been done and I'm assuming this includes a thyroid level. Make sure that your cat has been checked for this. Also just to be complete make sure a feline leukemia/FIV test has been done.

Also I think it's a good idea to send multiple fecal samples off to a reference laboratory because sometimes if parasites are present you have to check multiple samples and often it's easier for reference laboratories to pick up on certain parasites like Giardia.

Having said that, it is likely that this will have to be narrowed down between inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. There is a test called a GI panel performed at Texas A&M University. This test requires a blood sample from a cat that has been fasted for 12 hours. This can check for multiple causes of diarrhea. The panel checks the pancreas, small intestine, etc. I think that this is a great test but it does not always give an answer. It's just something you may want to ask your veterinarian about. If you have access to a veterinarian who performs ultrasounds sometimes this is a useful non-invasive tool to evaluate the abdomen too.

There are many cases in older kitties where we find a combination of medications such as probiotics and steroids that work and we decide to keep them on that medication even if we don't know the exact cause of the diarrhea. I wish you the best of luck. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Is this Dachshund pregnant?

Q: My dachshund got tied with another dog around October 15th and her teets are filling up & She's has gotten a little bigger belly. There are no other signs that's she's pregnant & if she is she would be over due what should I do

A: If she became pregnant on October 15 th she should have gone into labor between December 15-20th. Dogs can have false pregnancies that can make them lactate even when not pregnant. You asked what you should do. I recommend getting this of to your veterinarian to make sure that she is definitely not pregnant. (Could she have been accidentally bred at a time you we're not aware of?) I also think it would be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about having her spayed to prevent potentially serious problems in the future. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Is This False Labor?

Q: Hi, I emailed you a while back about my dog pooping and throwing up blood and also having puss all over her bottom. Well, she has gotten a lot better and has not thrown up or pooped blood. I have noticed she has milk coming out if her nipples. Could this all have been from a false labor? Or a miscarriage of some sort? Because she did not pick up weight or anything. Thanks, Megab

A: False pregnancy or pseudo pregnancy can cause lactation and symptoms similar to pregnancy (nesting, protective behavior). The puss and vomiting/diarrhea likely cannot be attributed to just a false pregnancy. I'm very pleased that your dog is doing better. Please talk to your veterinarian about having her spayed. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Dog Has Red Eyes After a Fight

Q: My dog was in a fight now he's got red eyes what can be wrong?

A: A lot of dogs will get redness on the white part of the eyes (the sclera) from excessive straining or excitement. The blood vessels can fill with blood or even sometimes burst. Keep in mind that dogs can also get actual trauma to the eyes during a fight. Your veterinarian should check the eyes to make sure there are no ulcers. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Cocker Has Persistent Ear Infection

Q: Hi We have been rotating ear gtts to oral antibiotic to the flush (blue diluted thing) that the two diff vets have recommended. The oral antibiotic is 500 mg ciproflaxin twice a day. My dog is only 30 pounds. My husband is 210 pounds and takes the same dose of the same drug when he is sick. Since the dog seems to get an upset stomach with this dosage I decreased it to half as much. But the infection gets so bad and it appears there are two growths that are actually blocking any view of the ear canal. She is 11 and I would like to avoid surgery and am starting to loose faith in the doc who said we just have to treat like this once a month forever. Do you think I should go back up to 500 mg? Thanks. Eileen

I'm so sorry for your dog having to go through this. Obviously I cannot give you specific advice about your dog because I don't know the exact nature of the infection or any other potential health issues that your dog has. I am able to outline what I normally do for these chronic ear issues.

First I try to determine the type of infection (yeast and/or bacteria), and rule out ear mites. If I am able to see into the ear canal I like to see if the ear drum is intact because sometimes it can affect which topical medications that we use. Often it is impossible to see deep down into the ear canal. With inflammation and swelling of the ear canal I typically put these dogs on steroids (unless there are other health problems keeping me from doing so).

Depending on the amount of debris in the ears it is important to keep the ear clean. Sometimes it is necessary to sedate for a really good deep cleaning.

If there are bacteria seen on my cytology I will use topical and oral antibiotics in addition to the steroids. If I am not making any headway with the antibiotics I will submit a sample to the lab for a culture/sensitivity. Not every infection will respond to every antibiotic and sometimes after the culture I completely adjust the type of topical and oral antibiotics that I use.

Some of these dogs are on medications very long term. Lastly, there are very refractory cases that I do sometimes refer to board certified veterinary dermatologists. You could always look online or ask your general veterinarian if there are any in your area. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Pekinese Seems to Have Acid Reflux

Q: I have an 8-yr old Pekinese. She eats her fur and throws it back up. When she drinks water she throws some of it back up. She doesn't throw food up just water and fur. Its wierd she has acid reflux is what one vet said but shes keeping food down just fine. We've been going through this for about a year with no answers. Please help.

A: First of all, if she is eating her fur (I'm assuming you mean from chewing at her skin) that is abnormal and needs to be addressed. I see many animals with skin issues, especially allergies get stomach issues from ingesting hair.

Perhaps if she did not swallow so much hair this would not be an issue. If this turns out not to be the problem I recommend having bloodwork and x-rays done. Sometimes with chronic vomiting or regurgitation I do a test called a barium series where I give the dog an oral liquid and take x-rays through the day to make sure there are no obstructions.

This could be anything from irritation from the hair to food allergies, to inflammatory bowel disease, etc etc. Usually with long term problems I systematically perform diagnostic tests to try to rule in or rule out the cause of the problem. Good luck! -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Yorkie/Maltese Has Eating Problems

Q: I recently was given a 2 year old Yorkie/Maltese and am having a time getting him to drink more and eat more than a few laps and nibbles. He appears to start shaking at times for no apparent reason. Is this quite common for a small dog? The reason for the person giving her dog away, is that she has 4 others of the same type and he wants to be what she called the Alpha dog. We take him outside every 2 hours during the day and crate training him at night so that really is the problem. Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

A: Please keep in mind that some dogs do prefer to just "graze" or eat very small amounts through the day. It may be normal for him. Perhaps his former owner could give you an idea of how he normally eats and drinks.

As far as the shaking, some dogs do tend to do this but it could potentially be a sign of a problem. In this breed I particularly worry about neurological disease sometimes associated with liver issues.

If you haven't already, it is a good idea to take your new dog to the veterinarian to become an established patient. Even if these problems were not occurring a good exam needs to be performed. Good luck! -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Yorkie Has Soft Lump

Q: My little Yorkie has a soft lump in her right crotch area. Is this something to worry about? She doesn't act any differently

A: Obviously a veterinarian would need to examine her to know what this could be. This could be anything from infection to hernia to a mass or abnormal growth. She needs to be seen to say for sure. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Black Lab Vomiting

Q: Hello my 3 year old black lab has been vomiting off and on for hours she hasn't been able to hold down water and hasn't ate in a day or so what do you think

A: You need to get your dog to a veterinarian. If your dog cannot keep anything down there could be dangerous dehydration that may develop. Also if we can determine the cause of the problem, proper treatment can be administered. If possible try to take a stool sample with you to examine for parasites.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Soft Red Bump on Pitbull

Q: I just found a small soft red bump under my dogs from leg like in his arm pit? He is a little over a year old male pitbull puppy and I already have a big vet bill from my other dog that had a huge softball sized bump in his neck, so I really don't want to take him to the vet since I already owe money. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

A: I cannot say exactly what this is. In a young dog the chances of a cancerous growth are low but possible. My thoughts are that this could be skin irritation or a growth of some sort. I know you were hoping to not take your dog to the veterinarian but that's the best way to figure out what this is.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Cat with Skin or Hair Problem

Q: My cat had fleas at the begining of last summer and he was the only one we would find the fleas on, not the dogs or the other cat. So to get rid of the fleas, we treated all the pets, sprayed the house furniture and we also sprayed the yard, even though the cat does not go out side. It seemed like that cat was the only animal that they liked so after everyting we did, I decided to shave off all of his hair and did the same to the other cat too. The other cats hair has all came back but the one who had the fleas the worst is comming in in patches and I want to know if he has an alergie form the flea saliva like my moms cat did or if it could be a different problem with his skin. He does not over lick spots it just grows really slow and he looks kind of bad. What should I do?

THANK YOU

A: It does sound like this could be an allergic skin condition. Fleas are one of many many things that can cause allergies. Remember that not all animals are allergic to fleas and it is very common to have some animals that seem to not be bothered too much and others have a terrible time. Fleas are very hard to find on cats because cats are such groomers.

Besides allergies there are other skin conditions that can cause hair loss. I think that this is a situation where your cat needs to be examined by your veterinarian.

Also keep in mind that shaving the hair in some animals that have sensitive skin can cause some irritation. Good luck. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Cat With a "Stinky Bottom"

Q: Hello. Thank you for this, first of all. The problem I am having is with my cat Play. He is neutered and is 4 and a half years old. I have noticed that his rear has been stinky for as long as I can remember and until recently thought that he was just a stinky cat. He is having either diarrhea with bloody mucus or has had an anal sac abscess. It smelled bad, not like poop, just bad and looked like what comes out of a bad staff infection. Then just after I cleaned that up, he urinated on the bathroom floor and it didn't smell like urine, it smelled as thought he was spilling protein- like he had just ate a bowl of cereal.

He has been using the bathroom in odd places, which isn't like him at all but he doesn't really act much different than he normally does. He did throw up last night and it was just food- hard food. No blood, foam or mucus at all. Just looked like moistened hard cat food. I don't know if this is a factor, but we recently lost his brother, Doc (he was an external extension of my being and I miss him dearly). He has shown signs of missing him. I can not afford to take my sweetie to the vet due to the high cost of the office visit that the vet will not waiver for the healing of my pet (aren't doctor's supposed to say some type of doctor's oath to promise to give help regardless of the patient's ability to pay?) Anyway, I can afford to order medicine online if I know what to order. But to do that, I need to know what is wrong with him. Thank you so much with any helpful advice you can offer. I greatly appreciate your help and your time in reading this letter. Have a great day! -- Christina K.

A:I'm sorry that you and your cat are going through this. Obviously without seeing him I cannot tell you exactly the cause of the problem. As you mentioned, it could be an anal gland abnormality or there could be stool with an abnormal texture. Often pain can be associated with animals urinating and /or defecating outside of the litterbox. The urine smell may or may not be abnormal for him. I think that you need to have this cat examined and please take a stool sample in with you so that it can be examined under the microscope for parasites.

You mentioned in your post that expense is an issue and I completely understand that. I know that you also understand that veterinarians have to pay their staff, pay for medication and other supplies, etc etc. I mention this only because as much as I would love to be able to treat every animal for free I just can't. There are a few ways that the veterinary industry has tried to address this problem. Many veterinary clinics are equipped to accept credit lines (such as Care Credit) that helps pay medical bills in installments. There is veterinary medical insurance available, and you could always call around to other veterinary clinics to see if there are any that have special funds set aside to help. You should be able to find a veterinarian who can discuss these options with you.

If this is an infection, it is likely that your cat may need medication available on the Internet. Remember that your veterinarian would need to give you a prescription first. As far as the oath that veterinarians take, it is easily found on the Internet by doing a search for veterinarian's oath. I wish you and your cat the best of luck. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Pit Bull Puppy Has Unusual Spots Q: Hello my name is Tim I had a question about my 7 week old pit bull puppy, and was wondering if you could answer it. She has circular shape spots under or on top of her fur on her face and neck. She has 3 on her face and 2 on her neck. A few of them have a hair growing out of it. I'm thinking they are just moles and nothing to wonder about. She doesn't scratch them and they don't seem to bother her. Is this common in pit bulls? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

A: Hi and congratulations on your puppy. It's hard for me to say exactly what the problem is but it doesn't sound normal. Obviously it is very important to get puppies into the veterinarian for her series of puppy visits. Ask your veterinarian to take a look at these areas. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Golden Doodle Stepped on Mouse Pad

Q: I'm sorry that you don't know me but I have a big question. My miniature golden doodle stepped in a sticky mouse pad and well we took it off and we found out she was licking the stickiness off of her fur and also found out that she got the stickiness on her nose and mouth. We cleaned everywhere and got it all off but I really want to know is it poisonous to her that she lick it and that she got it on her nose? If so, you can type back ASAP when ever you get a chance thank you

A: Whenever we have exposure to products that you have purchased I recommend looking for a contact number on the label to call or better yet, you can call ASPCA Poison control. The toxicologists at poison control could let you know if there is a risk. You should have as much information about the product as you can when you call them. The ASPCA Poison control has a website with contact information. It is impossible for me to say if harmful or not without knowing the exact product.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Sick Dog

A: I have a question about my dog. She recently got sick and I don't know what could be the cause of her sickness. She has been vommiting and pooing blood. Her entire bottom is covered in puss because her vagina is leaking puss. She has been drinking water but will not eat. She does get up and walk some but she lays around mostly. It all started last night and I do not know what is wrong nor do I have the money to bring her to see a vet so I figured I would try asking around first.

Thanks,
Megan

A: I'm so sorry that your dog is so sick. My biggest concern is a pyometra, which is an infected uterus. This can happen in unspayed female dogs and often is life threatening. It can make the entire body sick and it is common to have inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and stomach upset. You need to do everything that you can to get your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Good luck to you and your dog.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Four Year Old Dog has Knee Problem

Q: I brought my dog to the vet for his distemper shot and heartworm test and the vet checked him over and the vet gives me all his results on paper and one was Musculoskeletal (abnormal)and under that it said Medial patellar luxation, right, grade 2 out of the 4. Patella (knee cap) moves out of intertrochler groove when the knee is flexed and extended. this creates increased instability in the knee and may require surgery to correct. When I left his office I forgot to ask him if this surgery wasn't done would if it would harm the dog because I can imagine this type of surgery would be very costly. Is there medication for this type of problem? He is 4 years old. Thank you as always Angela

A: This is an excellent question. Luxated patellas are very common especially in smaller dogs. Basically it means that it is easy for the kneecap to "pop out of place." There are varying degrees of severity ranging from very very mild with hardly any signs of lameness (Grade 1) to horribly lame and painful on a regular basis (Grade 4). The only way to correct the actual problem is with surgery. Surgery makes the knee joint more stable so that there is less discomfort.

Some owners tell me that their dogs are hardly ever lame. In those cases I have them monitor the dog and call me if problems start. I do like to consider starting any dog with any joint abnormality on a quality glucosamine supplement made for dogs and an omega fatty acid supplement. There are wonderful prescription strength foods amazing for the joints as well. Please discuss these options with your veterinarian before starting them.

If this is a situation where your dog shows signs of lameness on a regular basis I do think it is justified to consider surgery. If surgery is not an option I will put these dogs on an appropriate safe pain medication made for dogs and of course the supplements listed above to at least control the pain. I have seen dogs that seem fairly comfortable develop worsening lameness and arthritis the longer this condition continues. Let us know how it goes.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

Cat Problem

Q: Hello. Thank you for this, first of all. The problem I am having is with my cat Play. He is neutered and is 4 and a half years old. I have noticed that his rear has been stinky for as long as I can remember and until recently thought that he was just a stinky cat. He is having either diarrhea with bloody mucus or has had an anal sac abscess. It smelled bad, not like poop, just bad and looked like what comes out of a bad staff infection. Then just after I cleaned that up, he urinated on the bathroom floor and it didn't smell like urine, it smelled as though he was spilling protein- like he had just ate a bowl of cereal. He has been using the bathroom in odd places, which isn't like him at all but he doesn't really act much different than he normally does. He did throw up last night and it was just food- hard food. No blood, foam or mucus at all. Just looked like moistened hard cat food. I don't know if this is a factor, but we recently lost his brother, Doc (he was an external extension of my being and I miss him dearly). He has shown signs of missing him. I can not afford to take my sweetie to the vet due to the high cost of the office visit that the vet will not waiver for the healing of my pet (aren't doctor's supposed to say some type of doctor's oath to promise to give help regardless of the patient's ability to pay?) Anyway, I can afford to order medicine online if I know what to order. But to do that, I need to know what is wrong with him. Thank you so much with any helpful advice you can offer. I greatly appreciate your help and your time in reading this letter. Have a great day! -Christina Karlson

A: I'm sorry that you and your cat are going through this. Obviously without seeing him I cannot tell you exactly the cause of the problem. As you mentioned, it could be an anal gland abnormality or there could be stool with an abnormal texture. Often pain can be associated with animals urinating and /or defecating outside of the litterbox. The urine smell may or may not be abnormal for him. I think that you need to have this cat examined and please take a stool sample in with you so that it can be examined under the microscope for parasites.

You mentioned in your post that expense is an issue and I completely understand that. I know that you also understand that veterinarians have to pay their staff, pay for medication and other supplies, etc etc. I mention this only because as much as I would love to be able to treat every animal for free I just can't. There are a few ways that the veterinary industry has tried to address this problem. Many veterinary clinics are equipped to accept credit lines (such as Care Credit) that helps pay medical bills in installments. There is veterinary medical insurance available, and you could always call around to other veterinary clinics to see if there are any that have special funds set aside to help. You should be able to find a veterinarian who can discuss these options with you.

If this is an infection, it is likely that your cat may need medication available on the Internet. Remember that your veterinarian would need to give you a prescription first. As far as the oath that veterinarians take, it is easily found on the Internet by doing a search for veterinarian's oath. I wish you and your cat the best of luck.-- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM

What Causes Cat to Lose Weight?

Q:/b> A friend gave me your email address and suggested I email you about my Sister's cat who has lost a lot of weight, but he eats and drinks well. He does throw up about once a day... He is eating the same food he always has. The vet has checked and it is not worms nor bugs.

I would greatly appreciate any information you can share. I figure the more minds working on this the better the chances for the cat. Regards, -- Luis M.>

A: I'm glad that you wrote about this cat. The first thing that came to my mind when I read this post was that this cat needs to have bloodwork done. Starting off with checking for parasites was excellent as well. I like to do a laboratory panel in cats that includes a complete blood count/serum chemistry/thyroid/urinalysis. I am particularly interested to see if this kitty is hyperthyroid. Have some bloodwork done as a next step and we can go from there. -- Allison K. Witherow, MS, DVM