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Welcome to Savannah, America's Most Beautiful City
| Most of us have questions from time to time about the health and care of our pets. But we often hesitate to call our veterinarian with what seem to be minor questions, and may be reluctant to pay for an expensive office visit unless it seems serious. SavannahBest launches our new AskTheVet column, where top Savannah veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Peeples, will answer questions about your pets’ health, care and behavioral quirks. Just email your questions to askthevet@savannahbest.com and you’ll have your answer soon! |
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Rachel Peeples earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in May 2000 at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens. She now works with Liberty Veterinary Clinic, just outside of Savannah.
Dogs are a special interest of Dr. Peeples. Her own family currently consists of a chocolate Lab, two Akitas, and two cats. She also has a large extended family of many animals who live with various members of her human family. Animal behavior, and canine behavior in particular, fascinates Peeples. She helped form two new clubs in 1998 at UGA's CVM -- the Canine Club and the Behavior Club, and continues this interest in her veterinary practice. She is also very involved in dog obedience training and has recently become involved with agility training. |
Send your question to askthevet@savannahbest.com
Please note that sometimes we post more than one question at a time.
If you don't see your answer at the top of the page, simply scroll down.
| Search Help!You can search this file by using the Find function under Edit. Click on Edit and then on Find and enter the words you are looking for. These can be breeds, symptoms, treatments ... in fact any word in the text. |
| If you are a pet lover and you don't have pet insurance for your pet yet, you should seriously consider getting pet insurance. Even if you are to compare pet insurance and see the benefits of pet insurance for your pet, you'll see that it is very benefitial and relatively inexpensive. |
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Kittens and Clavamox |
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Q: I have 62.5mg pills of clavamox that were given to me for an adult cat that I took in with an upper respiratory infection that someone dropped off on the front steps of the president of our rescues' house. Well that cat got better, but I now have a kitten that is under 1 lb. that I took in and it has an upper respiratory infection and I know she needs the antibiotics and I can't get a hold of anyone right now as the vet's office is closed right now. I was wondering if you could tell me how to dilute the pills and dose this kitty as she is very sick. She has green snot blowing out her nose and really weepy crusted shut eyes. She weighs 12oz. I'm not sure how much water I dilute the pill with and the amount to give her. I know I give it BID but just not the exact amount. If you can help me I would really appreciate it!!! Thanks! Jessica
A: Dose of Clavamox is roughly 62.5 mg per 8-12 lbs. So a 3/4 lbs kitten needs about 1/8-1/10 of the tablet. These tablets usually quarter pretty easily and then try to halve/third the quarter to get 1/8-1/10 tablet. Clavamox does come in a liquid form which is much easier to dose tiny kittens -- I would recommend as soon as you can getting her into the vet for some eye ointment and antibiotic suspension.--Rachel Peeples, DVM
"Pregnant" Great Dane" Q: Hi there, My 2 year old unsprayed female Great Dane has begun having a false pregnancy. She carries toys around with her and tries to make them nurse. I noticed that her teats were getting swollen and today I noticed that one of them is quite large and there is milk in that one for sure. I read that you shouldn't touch the teats or her belly as this will stimulate milk production. This has been going on now for about 5 days. I ordered a homeopathic remedy that is supposed to help dry up the milk but that won't be in until next week. Is there anything that I can do for her in the mean time? She seems a little depressed and is acting quite primal. I noticed during her second heat (she has had 4 now) that she was showing some similar signs of a false pregnancy but it wasn't this severe. I was told to put her on vitamin Co Q10 for one week after her heats and I have been doing so. I don't know what else to do, I would take her to the vet but I would rather treat this naturally. Any insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time. --Adriane A: Every female dog irrespective of whether or not she gets pregnant will undergo the same hormone changes as if she were pregnant. This means every female dog after every heat has psuedopregnancy. HOW clinical this psuedopregnancy is (ie how much we see) is highly variable. Because this is a NORMAL part of dog physiology there is nothing medical that will stop or prevent this that does not also have a devestating effect on the body. My best suggestion if the pseudopregnancy is becoming problematic is to have her spayed. This will also prevent risk of pyometra as well as other medical problems. If spaying is not an option, then it is strictly management to help control/alleviate the symptoms until the hormonal levels return to normal. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
8 Month Old Chihuahua Q: My chihuahua is 8 months old and is a male. He has not be neutered and only just started getting erections a week ago. At that same time he began acting timid and scrunching up, not moving around. It worried me and I took him to the vet. He said that my boy has a slipped disk in his back that was why is was not moving much and hunching up funny. He was given a cortisone shot and an anti-inflammatory shot. I am still continuing that treatment with varied results, Superoxide dismutase shots every other day. The vet also brought up the pup's recent erections and them possibly being inside the sheath and causing pain. He switched to the disk after a physical exam. I haven't notice the dog in pain and I find a slipped disk in a puppy a little strange. I have noticed 98% of the time he's acting weird he does have an erection and that it doesn't completely emerge, it's usually just the tip. Also he had two ball shaped swollen things on the outside of the sheath, near the base on either side. I have heard of bulbis glandis, I believe is the term and that they are used during mating to keep the animals together. I am however worried that he shrinks up and shakes, only acts strange when he has an erection and his facial expression conveys pain and even embarrasment. I know that's silly, he doesn't know to be ashamed of it, there's no reason to be, but I feel the source of his discomfort has to do with his penis staying nearly completely inside the sheath and it usually happens when someone comes home and he's excited to not be alone anymore. He used to jump up and lick you but now he cowers down and he is "excited". I don't think neutering him will fix it because I think they can still get erections, just not pollunate. He only weighs 4 pounds and because he is so little, the neutering surgery is expensive. I wasn't planning on having it done because he doesn't go outside and he'd be hard pressed to find a feral bitch his size anyway. A: Most erections are testosterone driven so actually neutering him will tremendously reduce the number and frequency of the erections. From what you describe especially the very close connection between the erections and the discomfort I too would think it most likely that they are the source of his problem. Without examining him, though, I cannot say it a slipped disc is NOT likely as it can cause very similar symptoms although they tend to be more constant.--Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shih-Tzu with Vision/Balance Problems Q: Gizmo, our 18-month old Shih-Tzu is having vision and balance problems. He stumbles, walks in circles and has difficulty locating and recognizing us. His appetite is good, but he is definitely not his usual self. The Vet says he has elevated liver enzymes and likely needs more blood, x-rays and neurological tests. Can you tell us what these symptoms usually indicate? A: All I can say is nonspecific liver dysfunction. This could be hepatitis, a liver mass, a liver shunt, gall bladder blockage, etc. Some poisons will also cause these symptoms. I definitely concur with your veterinarian that additional tests are needed to determine what can be done to alleviate the current symptoms and correct the underlying cause! --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shitzu with Swelling Above One Eye Q: I have a Shitzu that is 18 months old. All of a sudden she has swelling right above one eye. It is red. Do you know what I could do for this? A: There are many things that can cause swelling in this area. The most common is an insect bite/sting -- usually this is raised, red, warm, and often itchy. Benadryl both topical and oral is the best option to help combat this. Other possibilities are trauma, abscess, a growth, etc. As sensitive as eyes are in general ESPECIALLY in the "flat-faced breeds" I would strongly recommend getting your veterinarian to look at it as soon as you can to be sure the eye itself is not in danger. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
5 Year Old Portuguese Water Dog Not Peeing Q: We just adopted a retired breeding dog. We are away on vacation and she had diarrhea in the house a few nights ago. I went to Kmart and got her a Hartz worm tablet in case she had worms. She has peed a few times since then, but not pooped and yesterday she only peed once. She has not peed yet this morning. She is behaving absolutely fine and seems happy as can be. Should I be concerned? A: Unless the formulation has recently changed the Hartz worm tablet only takes care of roundworms which are rarely a problem in adult dogs. Whipworms and hookworms are most often the worms of concern in this age group so if you suspect worms I would definitely recommend seeking a broader spectrum dewormer. As to the urination - if she is not straining or seeming uncomfortable I would give her 24 hours and see. If no urine in 24 hours OR if she starts to feel poorly or uncomfortable get her in to see your veterinarian Rachel (bless you for adopting an 'older' dog -- if more people would rescue it would be so much better. Most people don't realize that older dogs bond as or more strongly than pups and are SOOO much less work! Give me the adult/older dogs to adopt and foster any day!) --Rachel Peeples, DVM
English Setter with Extended Abdomen Q: I have a 10 yr old English Setter, who in the last month has lost weight, drinking excessively and has a very hard extended abdomen. Still eating fine, but getting pickier. The vet suspects cancer. There are no swollen glands, and all his blood work comes back normal, except his RBC, HCT and HGB are low. The vet does not suspect cushings because of the lack of hair loss. I am currently experiencing a lack of funds, and would appreciate any insight or advice you may have. Thank you! --Susan Tesreau A: Susan -- there are limited reasons for a hard, distended abdomen. Fluid retention, mass, and enlargement of existing organs. At his age and with lack of other problems on bloodwork I would concur that cancer is my first thought and specifically with the anemia -- hemangioma or hemangiosarcoma are my top two considerations (spleen or liver or both). Frustratingly what can or can't be done to help him out depends entirely on what the cause is and finding that out means more testing. So not much insight or advice other than to try high calorie foods to help maintain body condition and get ultrasound and radiographs done as soon as you can. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Female Boxer Vaginitis Q: I just noticed that my four month old female boxer has green gooey stuff coming out of her vagina and was wondering if I need to be worried? Thank you --Sarah A: Mild vaginitis is common in adolescent female pups. If she is urinating normally and does not seem uncomfortable in that area keep it clean and you can flush it with a small amount of plain douche. If she seems to be straining when urinating or uncomfortable take her in to see your veterinarian as it may be ascending into the bladder.--Rachel Peeples, DVM
10 Year Old Shiatsu Q: I have a 10 year old Shiatsu who was going to have laser soft palate surgery because of snoring and loud breathing. The blood test beforehand showed high lipase and amalyse. Surgery was thought to be to dangerous until blood test showed more normal results. Latte has been on low fat diet since but he now seems to get episodes where he goes very quiet and does seem to be in some distress but gets tremors or pulsing in his throat and down the front of the chest. He also raises his right leg slightly at times and his head has a slight movement. This sometimes happens after he has eaten and sometimes after he gets off the bed in the morning. These have become frequent recently but previously he had a couple of episodes then nothing for a month or five weeks. In between these episodes he is quite normal, excitable when someone comes to visit or knocks the door. I am baffled, so is my vet. Can you shed any light on what might be the problem? Thank you A: I am afraid I really have no more insight to offer you without seeing the episodes. It could be mild seizures, it could be muscle spasms, it could be . . . It might be worthwhile to visit a neurologist to rule out any neurological problem --Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherds with Yeast Infections
Q: Both my German Shepherds have skin yeast infections right now. My vet
gave one of the dogs antibiotics that made him sick so he can't take
them. It's too strong. I threw out their old beds, got them baths and
now I have decided it has to be their food. I had started feeding them
Beneful some months back. So I changed their food over the weekend to
Nutro Natural for skin and coat. I have been mixing in yogurt. What
else can I do? I read today on some sites that some other people had
problems with Beneful because it didn't have enough fatty acids. A: If they were diagnosed with a skin YEAST infection then they need to be on topical antifungals and maybe oral antifungals to get rid of the yeast. What caused the yeast infection is hard to say...could be food sensitivity or external allergen or . . . The underlying cause can be hard to downright impossible to diagnose. General symptomatic treatment with skin supplements (fatty acids especially), Nutro is an excellent food choice, antihistamines can help with itching, and medicated shampoos,topical sprays/creams can help relieve the symptoms as well. Skin problems can be very difficult to deal with I know. It is a frustrating step by step process -- formulate a good plan with your veterinarian and start sorting through the possible causes.--Rachel Peeples, DVM
Loose Tooth in Elderly Greyhound Q: Hi, hoping you can offer some advice. My 11 year old greyhound has a loose tooth. It's the very back tooth. I've been using a dental product on her teeth to avoid a cleaning because I am afraid of the anesthetic risks at her age and with her breed and of course the cost. Her teeth are all clean but the very back tooth on either side didn't clean up as well and I noticed today that one is loose. Will it fall out on it's own or should I be concerned? Thanks so much A: The main concern is infection that can set in around a loose socket/root. I would talk with your veterinarian about doing pulse antibiotic therapy to help offset the risk of infection and maybe too about anesthetic/sedation alternatives that might allow lower risk for the procedure. Once the root is damaged enough the tooth will fall out the concern is the damage to the jaw until then AND the possibility of local and systemic spread of bacteria from the mouth. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Female Bassett Hound Q: I have a 2 year old Female Bassett Hound who is spayed. Yesterday while lying at the foot of the couch sleeping she woke up yipping very loud and biting at her privates. She then started favoring her left back leg. This was very strange considering she acted o.k. all night up to that point. I let her out during the night and she threw up and then again today. What could this be? A: There are so many different symptoms here it is hard to pin it down. It could be anal glands or spinal/nerve inflammation, several different/separate issues, etc. I definitely think a trip to your veterinarian is in order especially with the repeated vomiting.--Rachel Peeples, DVM
9 year Old Basenji Q:I took my Basenji to my vet on May 23. He was biting his butt, scratching and whining/squealing. No fleas noted. He was given Dexamethasone IM, 20 Cephalexin 250mg, and had anal sacs expressed. He is also on 25mg Benadryl twice a day. He does have seasonal allergy problems. He's still biting his butt, and scratching. Do you have any suggestions as to what else it might be? One of my vets suggested Cushing's but we haven't tested for that as of this date. Thank you for any information you can provide. A: Well certainly topical irritation has to be the first thought. It might be worth talking with your vet about trying a short round of prednisone to see if that will short-circuit the itching. Have you tried any topical medications such as hydrocortisone sprays or wipes, benadryl sprays/wipes, etc?? Other possibilities are a pinched nerve or nerve inflammation. Often times nerve irritation will present as "paraesthesia" meaning abnormal sensation which the brain can translate into itching. I have not seen Cushings present like this but if other symptom suggest Cushings it is worth checking into. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dachshund with bloody stool Q: Hello There, My boyfriend and I are animal lovers and have three rescued cats, three rescued birds and 2 dogs ( 1 a rescued Shepherd and the other a Dachshund named Austin, given to us 6 years ago from a family friend) It is Austin we are worried about. Currently as he has had loose, bloody stools. We took him to our vet and he had a fecal and rectal exam, the fecal was negative for parasites but while doing the rectal exam it was discovered that he had an infection in one of his anal glands. He was put on baytril and I compresssed the area twice a day with a Nolvasan-sp? until the abscess burst. He seems to have great energy and no more infection now, eating normally, but still the loose stool and some blood and mucous. The vet and I are worried about Colitis and I have had him on a chicken and brown rice diet with organic chicken broth and steamed veg over a little bit of kibble, but still the loose stool. He had blood tests 7 months ago before having dental surgery and the results were normal. Our vet suggested a Dye test. He would have to be left all day and I was wondering if there is some other dietary change we could try first, he is terrified of strangers and the vet and it is very stressful for him and I worry about that. Our vet (Dr. Werber / Century Veterinary Clinic CA) also mentioned some kind of colitis where Austin would have to be on IV fluids for a few days to flush him out, what is this? The less invasive the better, and I am not into a lot of drugs unless really needed...........................any ideas, help!! Sincerely --Mary A.K.A. Austins Mom A: Mary - I will certainly defer to your veterinarian regarding what treatment is best given the fact that he is observing and examining the dog. That said, have you talked or has he mentioned trying metronidazole (flagyl) for 2-3 weeks? Sometimes a mild bacterial colitis or a subclinical giardia infection will present with chronic diarrhea. Whipworm infestations can also present like this - whipworms are notoriously hard to find on a fecal examination. A three day round of panacur would not be a bad idea either to rule out whipworms as a possible cause. Something else to consider is water -- I find some dogs do much better on distilled water than on tap or even bottled water. Some interesting research into the effects of fluoride on the human body shows inflammatory bowel disease as one of the more common effects of people sensitive to fluoride. NO such research has been done in animals but as mammals are mammals it is a logical conclusion that some dogs MIGHT have a similar sensitivity. That is where I would start and based on his response to the medications decide what tests would yield the most information. Good luck and hope he gets to feeling better soon! --Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherd Pup has One Descended Testicle Q: Hi, my German Shepherd is 7 months old and is very healthy apart from only having one descended testicle. Our local vet didn't seem to concerned and says it can take up until 12 months for both testicles to descend. My concern is that if the other testicle does not descend, can it be surgically descended or will it need to be removed? I would prefer they both remained, as I'm sure he is. A: It is not impossible or unheard of for testicles to drop up to a year of age. That said, MOST that have not descended by this age will not. As to surgically "descending" them - this is usually not advised b/c of the risk of trauma to the urethra and penile tissue in that area. I would recommend a specialist if you are going to attempt this. Removal out of the body (to scrotum - not advised - or completely) is imperative because if it remains at too high of a temperature (ie body temp rather than outside temp) the testicular tissue runs a significant risk of turning cancerous. From an ethical/responsible owner viewpoint - it is best to neuter dogs whose testicles did not descend normally. They run a VERY high rate of producing male offspring with NO testicles descended and other reproductive tract problems. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
7 mo old Mastiff Mix Q: Hi there, I wondered if you could help me. We have a 7 month old mastiff cross American Bulldog pup who is extremely loving and loyal. Unfortunately, two weeks ago we noticed he had red patches on his stomach and around the base of his penis which has gotten progressively worse. It now looks like he has some blisters or sores. Our vet advised is that it could be an allergy to his food or even hayfever and that it is not uncommon and didn't seem worried about it. We were told to change his diet to chicken and rice twice a day and to give him piriton to fight the allergy. That was 5 days ago and it seems worse than it was. I don't think it's helping that he continually licks the affected area, however he doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort with this , but as you can imagine it is quite alarming and we are getting extremely worried about him. Have you ever dealt with or heard of these symptoms before? Is there anything we can do to help this at all?? We would be grateful of any advice you could give us. Kind regards --Gemma A: Red bumps anywhere on the body but especially on the thinly haired area of the abdomen is not uncommon. It is usually an irritative/allergy reaction to something topical but it can be a mild skin infection and/or food allergy. I would definitely have him rechecked since it is getting worse b/c it may be getting infected. Until you can get him in (it being a holiday weekend) clean it gently with a weak betadiene solution and then apply a topical hydrocortisone cream/spray. Distract him for a few minutes to prevent him licking the cream off before it can be absorbed. Do this two to three times a day until you can get him rechecked. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Can Fox Terrier be Pregnant Q: Thank you so much for your time in answering my question. My kids are grown so I decided to go to my local shelter and give a loving dog a good home. I brought home a 6 to 7 yr old Fox Terrier mix with the sweetest personality she is only about 10 pounds. I noticed while rubbing her belly there was a very noticeable lump (I did not see it at the kennel nor was I told about it). Well while she laid there I happened to notice that it moved so being in shock I realized she was with pup I made a vet apt but don't go for 3 days that's as soon as they can get me in because we are a new patient. But I'm worried because the pup is so noticeable it seems to be just under her skin not down in her belly. I'm new to this so are pups that noticeable in little dogs and it lays right where her leg crease is and I have know clue to any signs if she was to go into labor. Should I call and try to get her into a vet sooner? I can send you a pic so you can see for yourself cause I have already taken many pics to pass on line to welcome my new girl to the family. A: Given the location I am somewhat suspicious about it being a puppy. Not saying it isn't but the uterus is inside the belly and should not be right under the skin. I am more suspicious that it is an inguinal hernia (likely a birth defect) and you are seeing intestines there (the movement is the contractions of the intestines). Can you feel legs or nose or any structures or it is just mush? As to signs of labor - very intense panting like she cannot catch her breath, nesting (scratching sheet, blankets, etc into a pile), not eating/drinking, and then contractions are the usual warning signs of whelping. Rachel Peeples, DVM
When Should a Kitten be Declawed Q: How old should my kitten be before he gets declawed? A: Routinely we do not like to declaw kittens until they are spayed/neutered (4-6 months) so they do not have to undergo a separate anesthesia. Anesthesia is the main concern in determining a minimum age for any surgical procedure. Until then or instead of the procedure do consider management steps such as lots of scratching posts all around rubbed with catnip to make them attractive, the claw covers called soft paws, etc. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
How Do You Treat a Dog with Liver Problems Q:I recently noticed that my 12 year old mixed breed dog was showing signs of swelling. I took him to my vet suspecting congestive heart failure. He did some blood work and said it was the liver that was causing the problem. Three of the numbers he got back from the blood work, all related to the liver, were triple their normal levels. He advised me to get a ultrasound performed, but I don't have the fiances to cover such an expensive procedure, especially when he gave very little hope that even with the ultrasound we would find anything treatable. Without the ultrasound, he said all he could do was treat him symptomatically. He is giving him lasix for the water retention and SAMe to help the liver function. I was wonder if you could recommend anything additionally.Any suggestions/ideas you may have would be greatly appreciated. Also, about six months go, he started licking and gnawing his front paws and hind legs profusely. I often find large wet spots several feet wide from his constant licking. I was wondering if this could be related to his other symptoms in any way. -- Darren S.) Q: Milk thistle is an excellent supplement to help the liver. Otherwise, no suggestions other than what you are currently doing. Re: licking: Possibly - the liver filters many things out of the body and when it is not doing its job things can start to go wrong in all sorts of places. More likely tho is that the itching is infections/inflammation/allergy related and probably not related to the liver disease. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Swelling in Greyhoud Comes and Goes Q: I have an 8 ˝ year old Greyhound that we rescued from the tracks. He has developed a pocket under his throat. I appears to come and go and does not bother him when he eats or drinks. When I grab it, it feels firm but mushy sort of. It is not a defined lump at all. Is this something that I should be concerned with? Can you give me some ideas as to what it could be? Thank You, A: Maybe on the concern factor. It sounds a lot like a cyst or maybe an area of fluid accumulation. Most fatty deposits (often in that location and feel that way) do not come and go. I would have your veterinarian check it at the next opportunity. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy Poodle has Major Itching Problem Q: I have a CKC registered 7 month old Toy Poodle. It is a male and we have had him for about three months. The first week we had him we noticed him constantly biting on his tail (its docked). when we took him to the vet they gave him all the shots he needed checked for worms and after my husband insisted on something for itching he was given a steroid shot. Nothing has helped now it seems worse, he is now biting on his paws too and he doesn't stop until they are raw. He is an inside dog that gets regular baths very seldon do I even see a flea. Please I'll try anything it makes me feel horrible when he starts whining and scratching. -- Melissa J. A: I would definitely recheck with your veterinarian and have some diagnostics ran to see if they can determine what is occuring. Sarcoptic mange can present like this - it is relatively easily treated with ivermectin injections, Revolution applications, and some dips. Allergies especially food allergies can cause intense itching especially of the feet. Skin infections, demodectic mange, ringworm, etc can all lead to itching as well. Until you can get into see your veterinarian -- topically you can try any of the hypoallergenic/soothing shampoos, hydrocortisone sprays/creams, "benadryl" sprays/creams/gels, and orally you can give benadryl at 1 mg per pound (children's is 12.5 mg per dose and adult is 25 mg per dose) up to every 6 hours. But definitely get him back into your veterinarian. Itching can be caused by so many things - what helps one will make another worse. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Local Doggy Daycare Q: Are there any good Doggie Daycare or Pet Walking services in the Savannah area? Please let me know! Thanks. A: Since leaving the Savannah area to work in Hinesville over 2 years ago sadly I have not kept up with the pet services in that area. To my knowledge there are no doggie daycares but I may very well be wrong on that. I do know there are people who will do Pet Walking and Pet-sitting but no longer have the list of those doing it, sorry! I would recommend calling one of the area veterinary clinics (such as Georgetown Veterinary Hospital - 927-3900) and ask. __ Rachel Peeples, DVM
Q: Can ducks get Lyme Disease? A: To my knowledge Lyme Disease has never been reported in any non-mammalian species. Therefore I am going to say NO b/c as far as I know no reptiles, birds, amphibians, etc can be infected with it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cavalier Pups Responding to New Diet and Filtered Water Q: Thank you so much for responding! I am the one that had two Cavalier pups with salmonella/bloody mucus diarrhea. I have taken your advice and switched to the rx diet (EN), using filtered water and so far so good. Diarrhea comes and goes but so far no more mucus present. I am pleased that the stools are mostly firm and when it is loose, there is no mucus present. They are healthy otherwise and gaining weight as they should be. I can handle the on again off again diarrhea as long as it keeps clear of the blood/mucus! Again, thank you so much for your advice and caring enough to answer my email!! -- Marie A: Marie - I am so glad that they are doing well. As an interesting "footnote" to this that may be relevant - in doing some research into various things related to your pups and some other health conditions I ran across a study linking irritable bowel syndrome in people to excess fluoride in drinking water. NO studies showing this in dogs but it might explain why the distilled water helped. Even if it isn't the answer I am glad that they are doing better and I hope they continue to do so. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy Poodle Recuperating Slowly After Spaying Q: We got my toy poodle spayed today. Everything I am reading says they bounce right back. She does not look or act like she feels good at all. She is not drinking water. I did get her to eat a little. But how long will this last? And how can I get her to drink.I'm praying that in the morning she feels some what better. About how long does it take if your dog does not bounce back ? Thank you A: "Bounce right back" is somewhat of a subjective phrase. It is usually meant in comparison to us humans who often take weeks to recover from major abdominal surgery. It is very normal and common for dogs to be sleepy, inappetant, and not their "usual" selves for 24-48 hours after surgery mainly due to the lingering effects of the anesthesia. Also, while dogs deal very well with the associated discomfort that comes with surgery they still experience it. So some tenderness and ouchiness is not unexpected. I usually tell people to give their pet 36 hours to get back to normal as far as appetite and overall mentation and 3-5 days to get back to relative normalcy after surgery. Every dog is an individual and just like some people tolerate pain better than others so too does this happen in the dog world. It is not uncommon for some dogs to take 10-14 days to get back to normal (energy and activity) after surgery. Do not worry about eating or drinking until tomorrow. If she does before then - great! If he is not eating okay in 36 hours; does not drink for 12 hours; starts vomiting or has trouble swallowing; incision is markedly swollen, red, open or oozy; or continues to feel poorly after 2-3 days then definitely start to worry and get her into see your veterinarian. --Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog That Swallowed Plum Seed Doing Fine Re: Swallowed Plum seed in our 2 and 1/2 pound tea cup. Thank God the plum seed broke down and has came out. We took her to get X rayed and it is gone . Thank you so much. Rachel's response: I am SO glad to hear that it has passed and that she is doing well! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cavalier King Charles Puppies Q: Hello! I appreciate your taking the time to read this question, I hope you can shed some new light on my problem! We have aquired two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels from a very reputable breeder in Atlanta. They are now 6 months and 4 months old. When we got our first one, she had solid stools for the first 4 or 5 days she was home. Then she got bloody, watery diarrhea. A fecal analysis came back positive or giardia. We treated that with Flagyl and her stools firmed up. Then a few weeks later, we got our younger pup. He had solid stools for about 3 or 4 days and he,too, got bloody diarrhea. All of his fecals came back negative. By this time, our first CKCS also had the diarrhea back as well. After putting them on the Rx diet, Purina EN Dry, per our vet. their stools still were still loose/watery/bloody and now had VERY large amounts of mucus in it. We have a fenced yard, but back up to the water, so I am wondering if some of the "bugs" have come from wildlife passing through. After several failed attempts to isolate anything in a regular fecal exam, and courses of Albon and Fenbendazole that were unsuccessful, our vet sent off a sample to UT Knoxville. It came back negative for parasites, but positive for corona and salmonella. Our doctor did not want to treat with any antibiotics and said to just let it run its course. So after 4 more weeks of constant diarrhea/mucus/blood (the pups were playing and eating/drinking normally during all this time) We had another sample sent to UTK to recheck for the salmonella. It came back negative, but we still had the same blood/mucus/runny stools. She suggested another fecal sample to check for parasites. By this time we had spent over $400 on fecal samples and we took them to another vet for a second opinion. He suggested putting the pups on Flagyl 1/2 of a 250mg tab twice daily for 10 days. Their stools firmed up after 3 days on the meds. They have been off of he Flagyl for about 1 1/2 weeks now and the diarrhea/mucus is back! No blood as of right now, but definitely diarrhea, with just a little yellow mucus. Would this be caused by a bacteria since the mucus/diarrhea has come back after stopping the meds?? I have them on a pro-biotic every day per the suggestion of our new vet. I am running out of money and ideas as to what this could be other than a bacterial infection. I wouldn't think it would be a pancreatic insufficiency since they are both growing and gaining weight at a normal rate. During our initial visit with our new vet, he suggested if the anitbiotics did not help, then we should test for pancreatic problems or a endoscopy or ultrasounds, etc. If both dogs are displaying the same symptoms, would an ultrasound be useful? I could see an endoscopy if it were one dog only displaying these symptoms, but what good would it do if both dogs are displaying the same symptoms? It is all very expensive to have these test. Due to unfortunate circumstances, our funds are now very limited for all of these test. If the stools firmed up before on the Flagyl, would a endoscopy be necessary? We will do the test if we have to, but would rather avoid them. Any suggestions/ideas you may have would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you!! Marie A: Marie - I am with you in that I would be thinking dietary, infectious, or environmental before I was thinking something pancreatic or intestinal seeing as how BOTH pups are affected. Just one I would think more the other. Have you had the water tested? Maybe try filtered or distilled water to see if that helps? And what about a different food - the EN diet is one option but if it is more a food intolerance or allergy (coming from similar lines it is possible both are sensitive to the same thing) a hypoallergenic diet might be a better choice. How long have they gone on the metronidazole (Flagyl)? Sometimes it can take 3-4 weeks to "knock" out an infection. That would be where I would start - 3-4 weeks on metronidazole, distilled water, consider a diet change and see what happens. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
American Eskimo with Degenerative Myelopathy Diagnosis A: Hello, my dog (Cobie) is 10-1/2 years old. She's an American Eskimo and an AMAZING dog. She's great with our young son and daughter and I can't imagine losing her yet. Around the beginning of this year (2008), I noticed her back right paw dragging a little. I did not think a whole lot about it because she was so active and has always been very healthy. Over the past few months, she has slowly gotten worse. Now she has trouble with her stability and she struggles to walk because she's losing control in her entire back side. We went to our vet about 1-1-/2 months ago and had some x-rays taken. Everything looked fine. We gave her some anti-inflamation medicine for 10 days but she did not show improvement. We recently had tests done (physical exam, CT scan and others) and the results are "degenerative myelopathy". There were no slipped disks present or tumors on or in her spine area. One thing that intrigues me though. The vet shaved her right front leg area and the skin is VERY bruised. They called me and let me know of this situation. They did some kind of blood clotting test and everything turned out normal. Cobie is regressing very fast and I can't quite let go without asking more questions. Do you have any suggestions for me? Have you seen a correlation between a bruised leg and the loss of controlling the hind legs? In any way, shape or form, could this be a misdiagnosis or do you have any recommendations because she's declining very fast. Thank you! Brian Raugh A: I have not seen a correlation between bruising and DM except when it progresses to the point the leg is not controlled well and bumps into things. I sadly do not have a whole lot more to offer than what has been done. The degenerative conditions are so frustrating because it is the body that is the problem so we have a hard time fighting/correcting it. There is always the possibility of a misdiagnosis but what you describe and the lack of other problems detected by the extensive tests certainly make DM a very likely diagnosis. I am so sorry she and you are having to go through this. I lost my 10 year old Akita to the same thing and it is so very heartbreaking to see them go through this without a way to make them better -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Is Nose Color a Problem Q: I have a question concerning the pigment on the nose of my new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, now 2 months old. The breeder has told me that the spotting (black with too much pink) is because she is young and that it will likely fill in all black by one year. I am concerned because at 4 weeks of age, she seemed to have more black in her nose & in different places. Now, her nose seems to have less black and the black has moved around to one side so that the left side is pink. Is this permanent? He also told me that sea kelp and sunlight would help bring in the black. I have included photos. Both mom & dad have all black noses. Do you have any information on this or know where I may obtain it? Many thanks, A: First off what a lovely pup - I ADORE all the toy spaniels :-)! As to your specific question -- there is not a lot of research into how nose pigment fills in. I can tell you from personal experience it can take a while. One of my Akitas had a speckled nose and it slowly filled in to become solid black over the course of a year! The breeder knows his/her line best to know if "mismarked" noses are a likely problem or not. I commonly see the slow to fill in noses with dogs who have white markings on the face (like my Akita). Sorry to not have more scientific answers for you or links to send you to. I would not be worried about the pigment right now. See how it changes over the course of the next couple months. IF it continues to lose black pigment then it will likely end up pink or mostly pink. If it starts to gain black pigment then it will likely fill in. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab's Tail Droops Is It Limber Tail Syndrome? Q: I have a seven year old female black lab. Yesterday we gave her a bath and she was fine, then this morning I woke up and she was acting strange. Holding her tail in between her legs, walking a few feet then laying down. She acted like she had to go to the bathroom so I let her outside and she appeared to try to lift her tail to go, but couldn't and laid down instead. Now I've already called the vet and I have an appointment this afternoon, but I've been doing research and have learned about limber tail syndrome and was wondering if that's what it could be? I really can't afford to keep bringing her to the vet so any help you could offer or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much -- Jessica C. A: The tail staying drooped could definitely be limber tail syndrome. The only walking a few steps does have me concerned about something more serious. I would have her checked for any signs of neurological problems or spinal abnormalities. If those seem all okay (ie there are no neurological problems with the rear legs) then it probably is limber tail. Limber tail usually resolves within 7-10 days left alone. Sometimes medication is needed especially if they seem painful. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Older Rat Terrier shows Signs of Arthritis and Internal Bleeding Q: We got a rat terrier in 1992 from the animal shelter. She has been through a lot with us and she seems to be sick. We took her to the veterinarian, after the threw up, staggered and collapsed. He seemed to think it was a heart arrythmia, which developed from a Level II hear murmur. The arrythmia smoothed out after a week of medication however, there were no other improvements. She seems to have stiff back legs, is hunched over, it seems like she has to stop and thnk before she is able to move her legs. She also has black gooey stools, no appetite, her teeth seem to be highly discolored (we thought they were due for a cleaning, but the veterinarian stated that they were fine) and her tail is between her legs. She did jump off the bed and landed wrong, as well as trying to jump into the camping trailer we have and landed wrong there too. Other than that, everything has been normal up to 3 weeks ago. Do you have any idea what could be going on? We would appreciate any input you could give. Thank you, -- Tamara and Richard B. A: Wow - if she is 16+ years of age that is wonderful! She has definitely had awesome care especially with her rough start in life. Unfortunately her age also means there are a lot of problems that could be developing that are very serious. I am quite concerned about how dark the feces is as that indicates bleeding into the intestinal tract. The stiff legs COULD just be arthritis as could the hunched back. The tail between the legs can be associated with spinal arthritis or full/infected anal glands. A partially herniated spinal disc could also cause the problems that you are seeing with the legs and tail. None of this somewhat "normal" or routine problems tho would really account for why she does not want to eat and why the feces is so dark -- that makes me very concerned that she is losing enough blood into the intestines to cause her to be anemic. I would STRONGLY recommend bloodwork (complete blood count and full chemistry profile) on her as a starting place. Abdominal radiographs (Xrays) and/or ultrasound may be needed. Organ failure, cancer, ulcers, etc all have to be considered as likely possibilities given her age and the clinical signs. Hopefully it is "just" arthritis with a severe anal gland infection but I definitely think with the severity of the problems it is a good idea to look a bit more to sure things are okay internally! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Young kitten May Have Intestinal Parasites Q: My children were given a kitten at the park a week ago, the people that gave them the kitten believed it to be about 8 wks old. He was doing really well, very playful, he started acting strange yesterday, he was sluggish, and had a clear to whitish discharge coming from his anus. This morning he had a little more energy but he is purring really loud and vibrates alot when he purrs. Also, he is meowing squeaky and kind of weak. Please help we've become very attached to him and are very happy to make him a part of our family. Let me add that we don't believe he has been vaccinated and he is an outdoor kitten, he lives in the garage which opens up to a covered patio. A: I would be very concerned about intestinal parasites such as worms and coccidia AND/OR an intestinal infection. Both of these can progress to cause severe weakess, dehydration, and even death in the very young animals. My best advice is to get him into your veterinarian for a fecal check and appropriate medication from there. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Maltese Swallows Tampons Q: I have a 9 pound Maltese that knocked down the garbage can in the bathroom and swallowed a few tampons and paper! What can I do? Tampons are one of the more frequent items requiring surgical removal mostly due to the shape and the string associated with them. The only thing you can do is wait to see if she can pass them on her own and if not she will need surgery. I would give your veterinarian a heads up and discuss things that might help their passage as well as what to watch for and when it is time to intervene with radiographs (Xrays) and surgery. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Rottweiler Puppy Late in Dropping Testicles Q: I have a four month old Rottweiler male puppy. I took him to a show and was told by a trusted breeder there that the testicles should have dropped by 8 to 12 weeks. When I got home I called the breeder I bought him from and told him about the problem. He told me he has the brother from the same liter and has the same problem. He told me that I should take mine to the Vet and he would do the same and that maybe they could be late bloomers. Is this possible? A: Testicles normally have dropped by 8-12 weeks. Most responsible breeders will consider anything after 4 months as worrisome even if they do eventually drop. Worrisome because that means they have a high likelihood of having offspring whose testicles do not descend at all. So while it is still possible that the testicles will descend it becomes increasingly more unlikely each week that they are not descended. Furthermore with a littermate also having this problem I would be concerned about genetics in this line concerning this issue. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Very Young Kittens Aren't Moving Their Bowels Q: My wife and I have three 15-day old kittens that we are fostering and they just don't seem to want to poop, any tips or suggestions or do the need to go see the Dr . They are being fed KMR . Thanks -- John A: If you are gently stimulating the area around the anus (rub from the belly toward the anus) and nothing is coming out then likely it is because nothing has moved thru the intestinal tract to be ready to come out. KMR usually either gives kittens diarrhea or constipates them initially and then everything seems to start to get on track. IF they have not pooped in 72 hours (assuming they are comfortable and not displaying signs of distress or pain) then get worried. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Older Pomeranian has Continuing Gastro-intestical Problems Q: My 10-year-old Pomerian with history of gastric problems seems to be having a reoccurance. Her bloodwork is normal, she does have a history of eating foreign objects and sometimes having mucus rings around large stool. She also was doing normal but hard round stools and sometimes skipping a day and some had pieces of mucus on the stools before this started. However she had a great appetite and no vomiting before this illness. Since it started on February 9 and it is now April 26 I am really worried. Do you have any suggestions. I have lived at my vets going almost every week and spending thousands of dollars and while she was much better for almost a month, she was not eating dog food and obviously the problem is still there. Also can you suggest a dog food that is good for this problem maybe a hollistic food. Thank you. -- Liz M. A: I think the best option is to see an internal medicine specialist. It sounds to me very much like she has developed either small bacterial intestinal overgrowth OR inflammatory bowel disease but with her propensity to ingest things she should not it may also be something stuck in her intestines that has not shown up on tests thus far. And then there are many other rarer conditions that can have these symptoms. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab/Golden Retriever Pup Throws Up Bile Q: Dr. Peeples, I have a 3 month old lab/golden retriever mix. He threw up some bile yesterday and then all of his dinner last night. He also threw up some more bile during the night. He has not pooped since Friday night. He still has enough energy to play with my other dog. He is now in his crate sleeping and he has very shallow heavy breathing. Do I need to contact the vet on call immediately or can I wait until tomorrow when the vet is open? Thank you SO much in advance! -- Heather A: Heather - frustratingly it MAY be able to wait but then it again it MAY not. I would at least call and talk to the vet on call and decide that way. Vomiting can be part of very mild disease or very, very serious disease! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shephard Needs Enzyme Supplements Q: Dear Dr. Peeples -- My German Shepard mix dog (mostly German Shepard) has been diagnosed with pancreatic enzyme insufficiency -- He is extremely thin and does not gain weight no matter how much he is fed. He also gets sick if he has any people food. What can be done for him? Appreciate your advice. thank you, -- Tony O. A: Has he been put on any of the enzyme supplements? If not that needs to be started ASAP. His problem is that he does not have the ability to digest so NO food is going to help. He needs the enzymes that will allow digestion to happen. IF he is on an enzyme supplement and still having trouble - talk with your veterinarian about changing the enyzme type (plant origin vs animal origin), brand, and amount. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Overweight Lab Suffers Q: Dr Peeples, Our lab is about 8yrs old, a retired guide dog. He is about 10 lbs overweight, but his arthritis has gotten really bad. Is there anything we can do to relieve his pain, short of putting him down? Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. -- Paul Q. A: There is lots that can be done to manage arthritis these days in canines as well as humans :-)! The first step is to get some weight off of him - just like us being overweight makes arthritis worse and progress faster. If you are having trouble getting him to lose weight with a strictly regulated diet have his thyroid level checked. Low thyroid is VERY common in older retrievers. The second step is to start a joint supplement - ideally one designed for dogs but the human products work okay. Glucosamine, chondroiton, MSM, Vit C, etc are all supplements that help the joints. There are several veterinary diets that are designed specifically for arthritis. My favorite is the Royal Canin Mobility Support as it contains high levels of fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroiton, and, most importantly, green mussel extract which contains a natural anti-inflammatory. The third step is to get some bloodwork done through your veterinarian to make sure his organs are still working okay and then to start him on "arthritis medication" -- Previcox, Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Etogesic, Metcam, etc are all examples of these medication. These all work very similarly to ibuprofen or Celebrex is humans but are designed specifically for the dog metabolism. The fourth step is to continue low impact exercise such as walking on soft terrain and swimming. This strengthens muscles and helps provide some support to the joints. And finally IF you can find a veterinarian trained or an acupuncturist/chiropractor willing to work on animals -- both acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments can help tremendously with joint problems. I hope some of this helps. Unfortunately, like us, age tends to bring a host of problems with it and for our larger dogs arthritis is the most common thing! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Puppy Suddenly Stops Eating Q: my 3 week puppy seemed fine on 4/22/08 by this morning she stopped eating and her stomach is tight. Her gums seemed to be a little pale but her tounge is still real pink. she has been moaning, just wants to sleep. Her poop was a little firm and then runny but has only pooped twice all day. I checked it for worms- none. A: Just because there are no worms in the poop does NOT mean she does not have worms. I would absolutely get her checked for intestinal parasites and dewormed with something that gets roundworms and hookworms. Another possibility is parvovirus - we are seeing a LOT of that right now (saw three today alone) in my area. It can start with feeling poorly and not eating. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
7 Year Old Boxer Q: My 7 year old boxer Tyson has been drinking excessively and urinating over the past few months. She will follow me around the house panting just wanting more and more water. They did a urinalysis and everything was negative except the microalbuminria was a 2.7 which I believe is on the low side of high. Specific gravity was 1.021. So my question is with everything else coming out negative (protein, crystals, bacteria ect.) could there still be a chance of kidney failure? Thank You in advance -- Karly Cleveland, Ohio A: Kidney failure is still possible although very unlikely with the overall normal findings. I would be much more concerned about other things that cause increased thirst and urination like diabetes (would expect to see glucose in the urine) and more likely (in my opinion) Cushings disease. I would definitely recommend general bloodwork and Cushings specific bloodwork-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Panalog Ointment for German Shepherd Q: My German Shep. has had eye infection for years (allergies) he has been on Panolog Ointment, I can't seem to find it without a prescription, is there another medication that I can buy over the internet that would work as well for eye infections that is under another name? Thank you --Olga A: I do not know of anything available over the counter that is analagous to Panalog. I do not know of any eye products for humans that are not safe for dogs but will any of them help with an infection - probably not aside from flushing the eye out. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Great Dane Puppy Still Seems Q: I bought a Great Dane puppy over a month ago and her anal glands where swollen and when I took her to my vet the 1st time he overlooked them and then the 2nd time I pointed them out and he said he could express them and clean them out - so he did. Well they are still swollen. Maybe its not her anal glands now maybe its her butt thats poked out. I will attach a picture. The vet said something about it could be from her having diarhra when she was younger and she pushed it out but then he never said anything else about it. Most people say if that's the case then she would need surgery. I am thinking about changing my vet because he does not seem to be of much help on this issue. Please let me know what you think could be wrong. Also it does not seem hard for her to go poop and its not runny. Thanks Amanda A: Amanda - without doing a physical examination I cannot say for sure but this appears to me from the picture to be more a simple excess of tissue around the anus than any swelling or medical problem. You could have a biopsy of the area done to make sure the tissue is okay. She may grow out of it as she grows and matures. Or she may always be "poochy" back there. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Anal Carcinoma Can Cause High Levels of Calcium Q: My dog was recently diagnosed with anal carcinoma. The tumor was removed but could not get good margins. Our vet said this was a very aggressive form of cancer, it would return and she had about 3-4 months. Prior to diagnosis she was suffering from hypercalcemia (?), drinking a lot of water and urinating frequently. Will these symptoms return and is there a way to treat these symptoms so she is not constantly running to the bathroom? I want to keep her happy and pain free. Thank you for your assistance. A: The high levels of calcium are a direct result of the tumor. I do not know of anything that consistently suppresses the elevated calcium levels. That said, high calcium does not ALWAYS accompany the tumor so there is certainly a chance it will not recur. I would definitely recommend a consult with a veterinary oncologist regarding this matter though because there are always advances in this area that I may not be aware of. - - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shiatsu has Skin Growths Q: I have a 14 year old Shiatsu and she has these growths on her back and side. They are cauliflower shaped wartlike and pinkish in color. Should I be concerned? --Janice Black A: Most likely not, but do have your veterinarian check them out next time you are there OR if they double in size in a month, are ulcerated/bleeding, seem painful, or bother her. They sound most like papillomas which are benign "warty" type growths very common in older dogs. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
9 Year Old Yorkshire Terrier
Q: Hi, Day 1 Stops eating but continues to drink water. Spits up mucous containing many specks of red colored pin point sized blood specks ? Urinates but no bowel movements Day 2 Continues to drink, but will not eat. No bowel movements. Acts sick and sleepy. Day 3 Continues to drink but will not eat. Sudden onset of large amounts of tar looking stools, followed by very watery stools and then water stools accompanied with blood stain mucous. Day 4-7 periodic bouts of water stools with urgency to go again accompanied by bloody mucous. Day 8-21 Normal eating and sleeping patterns. Normal stools once in the morning and once at night. Then this same cycle starts all over once again. I feel frustrated for him. Do you know of any parasites or worms that would cause him to have the same predictable symptoms over a 21 day cycle? Any information that you can offer is greatly appreciated. Sincerely --Lori & Brutus A: Nothing that comes to mind with that predictable of a pattern. But there are many things that can cause these symptoms. I would recommend sending a fecal out for a parasitology specialist to look at - there are some parasites that the "normal" fecal cannot detect. I would also recommend a TLI, cobolamin, and folate test to screen for exocrine pancreatic insufficieny/pancreatic problems, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and inflammatory bowel disease. Based on those results additional tests may be needed - intestinal biopsy, ultrasound, endoscopy, and/or contrast radiographs would all be appropriate tests. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Siamese Kitten with Head Tilt
Q: Hi, A: An ear infection often affects only one individual in a household, so it could be an ear infection. There is also a whole host of viral and bacterial infections of the nerves and the brain that can also present as a head tilt. I'd have your veterinarian check the kitten out to be sure there are no other neurological problems. Good luck with all the kittens - I have a litter of 3 week old Siamese/Ragdoll kittens that I am fostering. Nothing like kittens to make you smile and even better when they are blue-eyed kitties :-)! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Husky/Lab Mix Eats Chocolate
Q: Hi, We also have 2 Shih-Tzus that weigh about 10 lbs. I would ask the same question concerning them. I thank you in advance for your review of this question as well as your answers! Sincerely, --Charles W. Bass, Jr.(Chuck) p.s. I watched him for the remainder of the night and he seem to do fine! p.s.s. We love Savannah, too! A: Glad that you enjoyed Savannah! The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine. It is present in variable amounts in the different chocolates:
(1) Regular milk chocolate has on average 45 mg of theobromine per ounce ** note I was not able to find a level for the recently popular "extra dark" chocolate. To be safe I would, for now, classify it with the bakers chocolate. It is probably between (2) and (3) Theobromine is in the same family as caffiene so most of the effects are caffiene-like in nature. Hyperexcitability, rapid heart rate, GI upset (vomiting and diarrhea), and in high enough levels cardiac arrhythmias and seizures. For MOST dogs it takes approximately 100 mg per kilogram of body weight (or approximately 45 mg per pound of body weight) to cause toxic levels. There are, however, a significant number of highly sensitive individuals that will reach toxic levels at much smaller doses that this.
45 mg per pound works out to roughly So to fully answer your question I would need to know what kind of chocolate. Assuming milk chocolate - your larger dog would need to eat around 70 ounces or approximately 4.5 lbs and the smaller dogs around 10 ounces or approximately 3/4 lbs. That said IF one of the dogs is a sensitive, individual toxic and even fatal levels will be reached much more quickly. For most dogs some transient diarrhea is the most common effect of chocolate ingestion (high fat content). -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Puppy Swallows Plum Seed Q: Please help. We have a puppy that swallowed a plum seed. The vet did X rays but it looked like half had broken off. She is still playing and eating. But I"m so scared. Will she poop it out? I do not know what to expect and can not find anyone who really knows much. Please help my baby. -- Barbara A: There is no way to know for sure if it will pass or not. Right now the options are to monitor her and see if it will pass, or go ahead and do surgery to remove it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Genetic Heart Problems Plague Q: Good morning. I have a question that has been laying heavy on my mind. My precious dog Bailey passed away August of 2006. He was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he had an enlarged heart. He was 10 when he passed away. My question is this, I had given him one treatment of "hartz" flea ointment about a year before he passed away. I remember him getting very lethargic after the ointment was put on him, and then my husband told me how bad "hartz" products are to pets. I didn't realize that, so we quickly bathed Bailey and he was just fine the next day. I want to be sure that treatment had no effect regarding his enlarged heart. I feel so guilty that I gave him that treatment. Please try and ease my guilty, grieving mind if you can. Thank you in advance. -- Janice Floria A: Janice - his heart problems stem/originated from genetics not from anything external. Each breed carries its negatives and frustratingly heart disease is one large negative for this very delightful breed. For whatever reason in the formation of this breed, the genetics used to form the breed cause a very high rate of cardiac valve dysfunction leading to an enlarged heart and eventually congestive heart failure. I know responsible breeders are trying to breed dogs with healthier hearts but when over 3/4 of the breed is affected it will take many generations for that to happen. Rest assured, you could no more have caused or, for that matter, prevented the heart problem than you could have made him a different color or shape. Put your mind at ease you gave him a wonderful home and a wonderful life and you did not harm him at all. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Boxer with Heart Problems Q: My boxer has cardiomyopathy and slightly enlarged heart. She is 6 years old and is on soldalar 80mg 2x day , enalipril 10 my, l canitine 500 my 2x, taurine 500 2x, she was on 20 my of enalipril but doc lowered it when I called and told him when one if the family go out and return she gets overly excited and gets weak and her gums get very light. He said her blood pressure might be lowering too much and see how she does in a week after lowering enalipril dose if no better might have to tweak meds. She is no better and episodes seem to last longer . Any suggestions would help, I am calling him tomorrow . Another out take would be great. We never leave her alone there is always someone home. She's the best girl ever. We would do anything for our Maggie. My heart is breaking. Thankyou in advance for your response. -- Becky M. In Ky A: Becky while I am certainly NOT saying that it cannot be low blood pressure I am a bit more concerned about intermittent arrhythmias. Usually blood pressure does not drop with excitement -- it increases. If these spells were happening when she was resting or first got up or was relaxed I would lean more toward low blood pressure. But happening when she is excited and the demand on the heart is high sounds a lot more like arrhythmias OR maybe decreased cardiac output (ie the heart cannot pump the blood fast enough to meet the body's needs during times of excitement or exercise). IF she has not already had it I would recommend an echocardiogram to assess output and other functions AND an EKG (a short in house is okay, a 24 hour "Holter" monitor is better). -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Guinea Pig with Discharge
Q: Dear Dr. Peeples, A: Vaginal discharge can be caused by many things -- some mild some serious. I would definitely have her checked by your veterinarian to be sure there is nothing serious occurring. In addition make sure she is getting adequate Vitamin C as scurvy (Vit C deficiency) can cause all sorts of problems in guinea pigs. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
7 Week Old Chihuahua w/Red V Q: My 7 week old puppy has a red rash going from her pee pee up, it starts at the pee pee and is one line then devides into a V and it is perfect in shape. Momma dog was on antibiotics Amox. for 10 days but I think the rash started before the antibiotics. The puppies have been wormed every 2 weeks w/ Safeguard (fenbendazole) for 3 days. The puppy is a chihuahua weighs 1lb. 4 oz. eating Nutro puppy food, still nursing a little. She has two little mates, all girls, and they are fine. She is the smallest. What do you think? The rash gets redder at times. This morning it was red w/little bumps like a rash but this is not normal becouse it is in a line then V's about half way up her little belly. Thank You --Jamie c. A: Sounds more like a contact irritant or maybe an environmental allergen that is causing a reaction (red bumps). It is also possible to be a mild skin infection although it does sound more irritated that infected to me. You can try some topical hydrocortisone cream - if that does not help I would definitely have her examined by your veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Manx Cat with Tail Problem Q: I have a Manx cat approx. 1.5 years old. He has presented with clear fluid leakage from the base of his tail congruent with a symptom of tethered spinal cord syndrome. He has no neurological symptoms at this time. I realize without tests it may be difficult to diagnose; the only time he seems to have a problem is when he receives some sort of injury to the affected area. If this is the above mentioned syndrome, I was wondering what to expect? Is this progressive and is he going to suffer and most of all what should I look for as signs of progression? I am afraid I will not be able to afford treatment for this cat as he is my personal companion this pains me greatly. Hopefully he can live with this for sometime to come and have a normal life. sincerely concerned. --Troy A: Troy - there is really no predictability to how or even IF this condition progresses. Sometimes it will progress to severe neurological problems to the anus and the rear legs and sometimes there is nothing more that develops. I am not aware of anything that will change if and, if so, how it progresses. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat with Purple Nose Q: There is a cat who is long haired and beautiful she is white w/black and gray color. Very big light green eyes. Thing is, the nose is dark purple. It is a stray or someone just left her, and I would like to bring it in but I need to know if a purple nose means sickness or maybe a breed? She seems to be healthy eating and all. And her fur is starting to mat up a little. Can it be bred? She does look like her face is Persian. Thank you --P. B. A: IF her gums are pink and the nose feels normal (not hard or "crunchy") then most likely it is just the color. Certain pigment combinations can give a deep pink-purple color to the nose. I do not know of any breeds with this nose color as a breed characteristic but I do not profess to be as versed in all the many cat breeds as I am in the dog breeds. If the gums are the same color or if the nose feels abnormal I would suspect an illness. I would have it checked at her next veterinary appointment either way. As to breeding her -- honestly in a country that kills millions of animals every year for no other reason than a lack of responsible homes, breeding should only be undertaken in the most responsible manner. Since you know nothing about the background of this cat, there is no way to know what lines she comes from as far as behavioral and physical health and what possible problems her kittens could have. My suggestion is to spay her and enjoy her for her and not contribute to the pet overpopulation in this country. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Elderly Dog w/Neck Swelling Q: Last week, my 14 1/2 year old dog's neck suddenly swelled up on one side. I took her to the vet and they aspirated some of the fluid out and tested it but found nothing definitive. They tried two more times and got nothing better. We were sent home with a course of antibiotics and told we'd check back in two weeks. She has been taking the antibiotics as prescribed. The first day the fluid continued to drain out a little bit and the swelling seemed to be way down. Now it is a week later and it seems more swollen than before. What could the possible causes be? Should I go back to the vet before the two weeks is up? The dog is absolutely unconcerned about the swelling. She seems to be in no pain and is as perky as ever. A: I would at least call your veterinarian and advise him/her of the increase in size. Possible causes -- in older dog cancer always has to be a consideration, non-cancerous growths such as cysts are also common in older dogs, inflammation such as from an insect or spider bite, infection such as an abscess, and several structures in the neck such as lymph nodes and salivary glands can get enlarged/encysted/blocked. Poor lass - I hope she gets better soon! And kudos for having her live to be such a nice age and still be perky and doing well overall! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Older Siamese Shows Signs of Renal Insufficiency Q: Dear Dr. Peeples,I have a 12-year old Siamese cat who appears to be in excellent health. She is still playful and active, and has good eating habits. Since reaching a more advanced age, I've been taking her to the vet every 6 months for a senior exam which includes bloodwork, urinalysis, and a comprehensive physical exam. All the results are normal with the exception of the urinalysis, which shows that her urine is somewhat diluted. This has shown up in all her exams for the past 18 months or so, but the level of dilution has not changed (has not worsened or improved) over the course of that time. Her BUN and creatinine levels are well within normal ranges. The vet suspects chronic renal insufficiency, although she hasn't recommended any medications or further tests. I have not noticed any changes in her thirst level or bathroom habits at all. Because of a urinary tract infection many years ago, I have consistently fed her Hill's Science Diet c/d, although I just switched to k/d. I have recently learned that a diet formulated for urinary tract health may cause or exacerbate kidney issues. Is it possible that feeding her the c/d dry food has caused the dilute urine? Now that I've switched her off that diet, might her Urine Specific Gravity return to normal? Do you concur with my vet's suspicion that chronic renal insufficiency is the likely cause of the dilute urine? And finally, is there anything you could suggest in terms of mitigating a decline in her renal health (dietary changes, supplements, medication, etc)? Obviously, I'm really concerned that this is something that's going to deteriorate. Other than this issue of dilute urine, the vet proclaims her to be in excellent health, although from what I've read online, a diagnosis of chronic renal insufficiency is almost a death sentence. Thanks for considering my question. -- Emma A: Most of the diets that are designed to prevent bladder stones/crystals dilute the urine. The dilution is important to help keep the minerals that form the crystals at concentrations BELOW that needed to form the crystals. IF everything else is normal on the urinalysis - protein especially microalbumin - and the kidney "blood values" are all within normal limits at this time I would not be convinced it is renal insufficiency. It might be but most likely it is the effect of the c/d on the urine concentration. Before getting too concerned I would wait and see what the urine concentration is after being off the c/d for a few weeks. Even if it is renal insufficiency that is by no means an immediate death sentence. With special diets, routine fluids, electrolyte supplementation, etc cats in renal insufficiency and even failure (especially if caught early) can be maintained for years at an acceptable quality of life. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lhasa Apso Starts Bleeding Weeks After Delivery Q: Hi, my Lhasa Apso had a lovely litter of 4 healthy puppies 3 weeks ago. She and the pups are fine and there hasn't been any problems with either.Today though, she has started bleeding as though she is in season.Is this normal or should i be worried? She is eating and has loads of energy . Many thanks -- Olive A: A little bleeding that lasts for a day or so while not "normal" is not uncommon. If it persists for longer or if the volume increases or if she seems to feel poorly I would get her checked by your veterinarian. Don't forget to deworm the pups ASAP - even if they have never been on the ground immature forms can encyst in the muscle of the dam and reactivate and infest the puppies thru the milk. It is ideal/best to deworm (a product that gets hookworms and roundworms) at 2,4 and 6 weeks of age. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lhasa Apso with Kennel Cough or Allergies Q: Is this KENNEL COUGH or is this ALLERGIES? I recently adopted a one year old LHASA APSO from the shelter. I was told that before he arrived at the shelter, he was rescued from a kennel. So I was very surprised at what a sweetheart of a dog he is, and that he was already house-trained! He recently visited the vet for hacking, coughing up white foam, sneezing, and nose running with yellowish mucus. The vet diagnosed with KENNEL COUGH, which I was told would last a few weeks. My concern is that when I take him outside to potty, he starts hacking on flem in his throat and/or coughs up a foamy, white spit?? When I take him back inside he continues to hack and spit up the substance for another 5-10 minutes before he settles down. Is it possible that it's not KENNEL COUGH, but rather allergies? I ask this because when I first took him outside, he seemed unfamiliar with grass. Maybe he spent much of his life on the concrete of the shelter and kennel... As mentioned, he's been administered the anti-biotics for the KENNEL COUGH, I just wanted to clarify if it could possibly be allergies. If so, is there anything I can do to help him? Another alternative for outside potty trips or medications? Thanks! --First time pet owner A: Kennel cough is a broad category of disease not just one disease. It is basically severe laryngitis/tracheobronchitis/mild pneumonia just like us humans get during the "flu" season AND like many people get after allergies lead to sinus problems. Anything that inflames/irritates the upper airways can lead to kennel cough -- viral infections, environmental irritations and most definitely allergies. The yellow discharge from the nose definitely indicates a secondary bacterial infection and therefore antibiotics are most definitely needed. Antihistamines can be helpful as can antitussives (cough suppressants) and expectorants (like Mucinex in people). As to the correlation with going outdoors - it definitely COULD be allergies. It could also be going outside involved activity and exertion and that increase in airflow through the airways triggers irritation and coughing. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Sick Golden Retriever Q: Hi, I am wondering if you can help me with my dog's symptoms. I took him to the emergency room but they couldn't find anything wrong with x-rays and blood work. He is very lethargic, reluctant to move, walks a little stiff when he does move, breathing is labored. He is an 11 year old golden retriever. I just took him to the park a couple of days ago and he was acting normal. Then last night he wasn't interested in his usual chew treat (definitely not him to ignore a treat) and was extremely listless. That is the night I took him into emergency. The vet there ended up saying it was a mystery and he couldn't figure out what was going on. Thank you very much. Nancy A: Nancy - I am so sorry! It is so hard when our older guys start having problems especially when we cannot figure out why. Cancer given his breed and age would have to be my first thought. You did not say what was radiographed (Xrays) but if both the chest and abdomen were not done I would recommend having both done. Was a thyroid level ran with the bloodwork? If not I would recommend having it done as well. If that has all been done it is time to jump to the next level of diagnostics -- ultrasound or possibly constrast radiographs would be my next recommended step. You may want to consider a referral to an internal medicine specialist. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Great Dane Puppy Q: I have a Dane puppy. He has a lump in his sheath about a small gumball size. It's pretty hard but not painful. What could it be? I have talked to my vet and she says it could be a small cyst so I'm kinda confused. He's only 13 weeks old and we are battling a pyoderma dermititas now. Can you help us? You have seen a Dane of mine and you were awesome so if you have any suggestions to help me with my little big guy? lol Talk to ya soon A: I will assume that the lump is not actually part of the penis but in the skin around the penis. If it is the former and comes and goes it is most likely a natural structure called the bulbis glandis. If it is in the skin around the penis (the prepuce) and is constant in size then the primary considerations would be the same as for any other skin nodule - cyst, granuloma (tick bite, insect bite, etc), abscess, infection, trauma, neoplasia. With skin infection elsewhere on the body I would tend toward inflammation or infection but it could be any of these. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bichon Tucks Tail Q: Hello, my 8 year old bichon has been sick for a week and a half. One morning she woke up with her tail between her legs not wanting to go out. When I tried to lift her tail she would growl and snap. I took her to the vet, she did the same when he touched her tail. He took two x-rays of the tail and they were fine? She did not have a bowel movement when in the position to go, she would tuck her tail, wince and then run. Three days later he gave her a enema. Two days later she had a bm in the morning but did the same with the tail tucking and running. Yesterday she had a bm in the morning, makes a piece, runs to a new spot and goes a little more. She usually has 3 bm a day and always at night? My vet does not seem to think it's anything I do. This is not my dog. She is not playing or being herself. So far I have spent five hundred dollars on x-rays and office visits, and I know it is not the tail. I think she is tucking it to protect her rectum. Thank you for your help, Diana A: Have the anal glands been checked? If not, I would definitely have them checked for impaction or infection. Another possibility is a condition called "cold tail" or "limber tail" - research is still ongoing into the cause of this condition but it appears currently to be an inflammation of the nerves that control the tail. This leads to varying degrees of tail paralysis and varying degrees of tail pain. Various spinal conditions such as partially herniated discs in the lumbar region, discospondylosis, etc can also impact the nerves to the tail and rectum. I would recommend a second opinion and possibly a referral to a neurologist. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Doberman Not Eating Q:I have a Doberman male 7 years old that has lost a substantial amount of weight over the past 4-8 weeks. I have recently tried to feed him wet food (he has always eaten dry) to be sure that he is eating properly. At first, he would eat the wet food - I did this for about 4 days. Now he will only eat very little of the wet food and leave the rest in the bowl (which is very unusual - normally he would eat anything in front of him). He is now struggling to pass stool - and mostly is either clear liquid or mucus with some very small amount of diarrhea (maybe a tea spoon). He is looking very skinny and weak, and I am really getting scared. I took him to the vet and they ran both a stool sample and a urinalysis - both came back negative? What do I do.. A: Seven years is unfortunately starting to be geriatric for large breed dogs and with significant weight loss - something "bad" is going on internally (assuming he is being offered adequate nutrition). Urinalysis and fecal check are good starting places but with no answers from there more diagnostics are needed. I would strongly recommend bloodwork (including a thyroid level) and radiographs next and go from there based on those results. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
11 yr. old Minpin with Anus Problem Q: I have an 11 year old Minpin named Cricket. Cricket is extremely healthy for his age and doesn't look a year over 7. The vets are always shocked when I voice my anesthesia concerns when its time for dental work, etc. because they didn't realize he was 11 going on 12. He is not overweight, has a good appetite and still drinks well. My problem is that for the last 6 months or so, he has started licking his anus as well as the area directly above it up onto the underside of his docked tail. Due to the proximity to his anus, I am hesistant to use any of the products to stop the licking. He licks so much that we have had to resort to putting spare quilts over our bed and the couches as there will be large wet spots several feet wide and sopping through from his incessant licking. I have brought him to the vet on 3 separate occasions now and each time all they do is express his anal glands, give him an antibiotic and send him home. He'll be fine for a few days then return to the licking again. He has now started dragging his butt on the carpet to try and alleviate whatever is going on down there. He is litter box trained so I am able to monitor his bowel movements and there has been no change in his feces. He has however, on very random occasions gotten sick first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything. He'll actually jump out of bed from a sound sleep to get sick. The vomit is of a watery consistency with a few small lumps that are light pink in color. He will then be perfectly fine again for weeks/months. I'm at my wits end. My dog has obviosuly got something wrong with him but my vet just keeps expressing his anal glands saying that's the problem. He has never had an issue with them prior and I don't think expressing the glands 3 times in 6 months is the solution. Any advice on where to go from here? A: I definitely think a second opinion is warranted. Licking and scooting IF the anal glands are full are most often anal glands but with the duration of the problem I would be suspicious of another or an additional problem. At his age one my considerations would be what is called paraethesia - this is like phantom pain in amputees - and is caused by nerve irritation. A common aging problem is arthritis in the spine which can manifest as bony projections on the vertebrae that abrade and irritate the nerves as they exit the spinal column. I would recommend trying a combination of topical hydrocortisone cream and the topical anesthetic products (such as the ones in the "sunburn" section or the antibiotic cream with pain reliever). You may want to get him an Elizabethean collar to wear for about 10 min after applying each of these to minimize his ingesting any with licking. There are, of course, many other possible causes of what he is experiencing. I definitely do agree that it is time to look a bit more into it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Finding a Healthy Guinea Pig and Determining Cause of Death Q: Hi - we've just had a sad loss in our family, our grandson's pet guinea pig died. She was only a few months old, and she died of an upper respiratory illness. Since she wasn't around any other animals after we got her at PetCo last February, we're wondering if she could have gotten her illness at PetCo? On the other hand, she seemed healthy and happy the first couple of weeks we had her. How do we find healthy little pets that mean so much to all of us (adults & children, alike)? I've heard quite a lot about where to find healthy puppies & kittens, but not guinea pigs, bunnies, hampsters and the like. Any suggestions much appreciated. Sincerely --Shari Steiner A: The upper respiratory infection was probably picked up the same way we do -- through the air or secondary to irritation of the respiratory tract. Unfortunately, the animals in nature that are prey animals tend to live very short lifespans and as such, tend to have fairly weak immune systems and stress very easily. As a result they are very prone to infections and can have a very hard time recovering from these infections. Unless you can find a private breeder you are pretty much limited to the commercial operations for these type animals. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Could My Animals Be Allergic to Each Other? Q: We have two cats, 5 years and 4 years, a beagle, 11 months and just acquired a fox terrier mix, around 1 year from the pound. Our beagle has had the reverse sneezing since we got him but it seems to be getting worse. And a week ago one of the cats developed a cold with alot of discharge from his eyes. That has cleared up but they are all sneezing, could they be allergic to the new dog. A: Possibly, although it is more likely they are allergic to something ON the dog OR just coincidence. It being spring now pollens and the like are escalating in air concentration. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherd with Foul Odor Q: I have a female german shepherd, 7+ yrs. old, overweight and recently (3wks) I have noticed an ordor coming from her private part. We sent her out to be groomed and received a bath but sometimes she still smells. I know she is overweights because she weights 99lbs. Could this ordor be from not being able to clean herself or do you think something else. For the record, she is not sick, she acts fine and certainly eats good. What do you recommend. A: I would have her examined well for any ear or skin infections -- these are often a source of recurrent odor. If she is clear of those have her urine checked for a bladder infection. In addition with her weight concerns I would also recommend a thyroid test for her to make sure there is not an internal reason for the weight and possibly infections leading to the odor. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Puppy with Urinary Tract Infection Q: My puppy has been on different doses of clavamox for the past 2 months to treat a urinary tract infection, the last one was 1 month of 250 mg of clavamox. She finished her medication but she still seems to pee less than every 2 hours. Since she was diagnosed with the infection I've had her paper trained, even though she does go outside and she'll sleep up to 9 hours in her crate without any accidents. My problem is that she still pees alot. I took the newspapers away and we walk her 3 times a day but she still goes to the spot where the newspapers use to be and pees there about every 2 hours. I had to put the newspapers back, she plays alot with her mom so she drinks alot of water, but now I don't know how to get her to hold it, a couple of days ago I walked her, then I went out for about 3 hours when I came home she had urinated in her kennel which she hasn't done since she has been on the antibiotics. I figured by now she should be cured of the infection, so what can I do to get her to stop urinating in the house, the only reason I allowed her to go on the newspapers was because of the infection. My vet says it just may be a behavioral problem, he hasn't seen her since he prescribed the medication. Could she still have the infection after being on antibiotics for 2 months? A: The infection could definitely still be present IF the antibiotics is not effective against the particular bacteria OR if there is some place the bacteria can hide away from the antibiotics. There are several congenital defects like urachal remnants that can provide such a place. At her age even with drinking a good bit of water she should be able to go longer than 2 hours without urinating. She is making it to the pads so IMO she is doing all she can behaviorally so before I would assume it is a simple behavioral problem I would definitely make sure there is no medical basis. Based on what has been done thus far I would recommend a urine culture and a bladder ultrasound to start. Pending those on results additional testing like contrast radiographs to "outline" where the urine is going may be needed. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Could Vestibular Disease be treated in Old Dog? Q: My dog, Snowy, was 18 years old, the vet said he was 96 compared to humans. The vet put him to sleep a week ago because she said that he had a severe case of Geriatric Vestibular Disease. He was having a severe case of vertigo. The vet said that my dog would have to have extensive medical care for at least 4 days and depending on whether it was a stroke or a tumor or vestibular disease, he probably would not get better. I mistakenly thought that vestibular disease was related to vascular and after leaving the vets office, I came home and went on the internet and found that vestibular is related to inner ear. Is it possible that my dog had an inner ear problem that could have been cured or is this disease so severe that it takes massive medical attention? My Snowy could not walk or stand and he stumbled very badly. He could not see very well and he could not hear at all. He was in terrible shape when I got home from work Friday night and my neighbor said that he heard him crying out which was very unusual. I feel so guilty that I let the Vet put him to sleep without checking further. He had a severe case of vertigo and the doctor said his brain was going in the opposite direction. A hospital stay would have cost a lot but if he were a younger dog, I would have found a way to pay for it. Thanks for any response that you may provide to help me feel that it was time for my Snowy to go to sleep. I am sad and grieve the loss of my Snowy because I let him go too fast because of ignorance. --Anne H. Smith A: Vestibular disease is unfortunately not an uncommon problem in older dogs. No one really knows where the problem arises from. The vestibular system starts in the inner ear but also involves that nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain as well as several centers in the brain. Is vestibular disease a problem in the inner ear or is it one manifestation of a brain tumor or . . . .? It is often impossible to know. Response to therapy is highly variable and the worse the symptoms are initially the much less likely it is that medical therapy will give much to any relief. If your veterinarian felt based on examination that Snowy was unlikely to improve then the loving, human thing to do was exactly what you did. It would not have been fair to Snowy to put him through days of suffering if he would not realistically be any better after those days. It is never easy to lose a loved one and Snowy was with you for 18 years. He was a lucky boy to have had such a wonderful owner and you would not be a good owner if you did not grieve and second guess your decision to let him go. But based on what you have told me, I definitely think you made the right, loving, unselfish decision to end his suffering. That is one of our not so pleasant obligations to our beloved pets and while it can be so absolutely heartbreaking we owe it to them for the years of selfless love they give us. I know it is hard right now but soon the pain will be replaced with all the wonderful memories you have of him. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Schnauzer is Disoriented and Vomiting Q: Dear Dr. Peeples, My little Schnauzer, Gypsy, is 13 years old. She is very agile, running like a rabbit, loved by everybody in the Estate and very gentle and obedient. About 4 months ago, I believe deeple, she had a mild stroke. She walked, head and body tilted to the left, and when she went too quick around a corner in the house, she fell on her side. Then after a while she was fine again. I always watch her closely. She is my one and only. My Vet is a very good doctor, but everything is blamed on her age. Yesterday, I came home, and I saw the vomiting. Fine. They do this once in a while (so do humans). Today (March 21) we went for our usual 45 min. to 1 hour walk, depending on her sniffing and exploring. Everything was fine until 4 hours later. She started vomiting again (she ate some grass on the way home, which is supposed to help clean the stomach?). Then the nightmare started!! She walked around in circles, brought up her food, vomiting, not responding to my calls. I took her outside in the back yard (maybe the fresh air will make her better). She was totally lost, actually falling around, walking in circles and totally disorientated. I got her back inside and she vomited 8 times within 30 minutes. (My whole house looks a mess!) She dosn't even go to her favoured spots, just lays down at a spot she never did, and doesn't move. Does that sound serious? I love her so much, I don't want to lose her, but I don't want her to suffer either. Can you give me ANY advise?
Ingrid Poenitz A: Disorientation, vomiting, circling, etc unfortunately can be indicators of many different problems all of them increasingly more common as dogs get older. These can range from organ dysfunction (liver and kidney particularly) to cancer to vestibular disease (problems with balance control). With the history of the head tilt and loss of balance it sounds MOST like vestibular disease which can be controlled in some dogs with antibiotics and steriods but it can really be any number of things. I do think a good workup (exam and maybe some testing) is definitely in order. You need to have some answers before you can decide what is going to be best for her. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dachshund Back Problems Q: I have a 5 year old female dachshund. This past Saturday she began throwing up and it lasted for about 6 hours on and off. On Sunday she started showing favoritism to her back legs. She now will not lift either of her back legs up any higher than about 2 inches. She has never shown any signs of back trouble so I am puzzled! Can you help? A: Back problems are usually sudden onset so just because she has not had back problems before does not mean it can't be that now. In her breed with her leg symptoms a spinal problem has to at least be considered. The vomiting is not typical of spinal problems, and, therefore, other causes need to be investigated as well. Unfortunately, vomiting and leg problems can be consistent with many, many different illnesses and medical problems. The only way to start narrowing down the possibilities and figure out the best way to make her better is to get her into your veterinarian for an examination and some tests (bloodwork and radiographs and maybe some others). -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Growth on Dog's Anus Q: I have noticed since Saturday that Star's bum looks dirty as if she left some stool behind. On closer examination, it looks like something growing there as when I wiped it with a wet facecloth, it stayed and she jumped out of my arms. It is very dark brown and looks to be growing over her anus on the right hand side. Should I get her to the vet immediately and is this serious - normally her bum is very pink and very clean A: Unfortunately it definitely sounds concerning -- if it is some sort of growth or mass it needs to be addressed right away because the location is hard enough to remove a small growth from - a large growth can be impossible. It also could be an impacted or abscessed anal gland which will only get worse until it ruptures. It sounds painful and that too will likely only escalate. I would definitely have her examined as soon as you can -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Westie Keeps Biting Her Paws Q: Hi. We have a two year old Westie bitch and we have had her since she was 8 weeks old and to be honest she really is boss. Having said that of late she has taken to biting her paws a lot and they have gone a brown colour. Our vet told us that is was mushroom spores and gave us shampoo to wash them each morning. It has helped a little bit but not much. Last week-end somebody told us it is because we feed her roast chicken every day with a little biscuit so now we are trying to get her onto the all in one dried dog food (she will never eat dog food, wet). Is what we have been told correct? Thanks you for your help. -- Rose S. A: They can each be correct or both or neither of them. Licking at the feet is usually an indication of inflamed/irritated feet which can occur because of topical irritants, topical allergens, or sometimes food allergens. Which one it is can be very hard to detect/determine. I would definitely speak with your veterinarain about antihistamine therapy and maybe soothing foot soaks (such as Aveeno , Epsom salts, etc). You can also try an hypoallergenic food trial (speak with your veterinarian about dietary options) Allergies/irritants can be hard to pinpoint exactly and frustratingly allergies can only be controlled not cured. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat with Fur Problem Q: My cat has bunches of her fur together - it looks like dried paint - I have cut off one and it looked like dandruff falling - now she has 3 of these bunches and they all look bunched together with white dandruff in them. She gets very cross when you go up close to try and cut them off - I was wondering if I used Witch Hazel in a cotton ball and spread it over the bunch of hair would it kill off whatever it is. No virus found in this outgoing message. A: Witch Hazel might help but it also might further irritate the skin. Without knowing what is causing the hair clumping and large skin flakes to shed it is impossible to say what will help. I would definitely recommend having your veterinarian examine her to see if the cause can at least be narrowed to inflammation/allergy, infectious, "dry skin", etc -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pug with Laryngeal Collapse
Q: Hello, Can a dog still lead a full life with Laryngeal collapse as long as he is monitored during summer months etc. I haven't been able to find an answer -- Thank you Patti A: Poor lad - sounds like he has been through a lot. I do not know if I have seen any patients with laryngeal collapse - I typically see larger older dogs with laryngeal paralysis and small dogs (and some large ones but mostly small ones) with tracheal collapse. If it is the latter that is meant then absolutely -- I have many patients with this condition that lead happy lives - they are somewhat limited in activity especially in hot weather but no more so than many dogs such as Boxers and English Bulldogs and other breeds with "short faces" If it is truly larygneal collapse then I frustratingly do not have much more information to share b/c I have not dealt with it to gain experience with its particulars. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
18 Year Old Miniature Poodle Q: Our miniature poodle, Coco, is now 18-1/2 years old. Several months ago she underwent surgery to remove some infected teeth. While in surgery, I asked that a culture be taken as she was experiencing constant seizures in the form of her head shaking and vomiting. The culture was taken and the surgery was completed successfully. But from the moment Coco awakened, she exhibited, for the first time, a wheezing that has only gotten worse over time. The results of the culture proved that Coco had been suffering from a serious bacterial infection. Clinda-Guard was prescribed and successfully eliminated the infection and seizures. However, the wheezing continued and has only gotten worse. Whether or not the swabs used to take the culture affected her trachea, I can't say. But given her age, I'm hesitant to bring her back for more testing and possible surgery. Enough is enough. My question is whether you recommend Benedryl (or any other drug over the counter) that would help alleviate her breathing problems. I realize that her symptoms are consistent with an enlarged heart and collapsed trachea, but prior to the operation, she NEVER had such symptoms. But what do I know! Thank you so much for your thoughts. --Peter A: I would definitely speak with your vet about some sort of cough suppressant and/or antihistamine. We have a veterinary product similar to Mucinex and a whole host of anti-tussive (anti-cough) medications. I would suspect that the tracheal irritation from the tube used during her dental probably "tipped" the precarious balance with her enlarged heart and collapsing trachea. OR it could be time of year and increase in allergen load...OR...Anyway symptomatic treatment is definitely available - determining the best choice (most benefit, least risk) is the key so speak with your veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Flagyl Q: Is Fladyl okay to give to nursing bithces? Thank you. A: I will assume you mean Flagyl aka metronidazole. Metronidazole is a fairly strong antibiotic which can cause neurologic side effects in high enough doses. The concern would obviously be the puppies and how much would be ingested in the milk vs their body weight. I would say that it CAN be okay but there are lot safer choices. I would definitely talk with your veterinarian about these other options. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua Sexual Behavior Q: About 3 weeks ago a male chihuahua came to our house. I believe someone dropped him off. I would like to keep him as I am an animal lover. We have tried to find the owner with no luck. I only have one problem. He constantly licks his penis. I know this is a normal way of cleaning themselves. But when he does this, his penis and testicles will all hang out. He then proceedes to hump himself. I don't know if this is normal or if there is something wrong with him.. I had a chihuahua before and have never seen this. I would appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks you so much. A: It is a very normal male dog behavior to engage is "self-gratification" licking. It is self-rewarding and the dog enjoys it and so it continues. It can be hard to break this behavior because it is so enjoyable. I would recommend having him neutered as that will reduce some the drive and intensity of enjoyment. And keep distracting him when he starts this. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Kitten with Tapeworms
Q: Hi,
Praziquantel Feline Tape Worm Tabs, 3 x 23 mg Tabs Any opinion? Thanks in advance. We are planning on getting him to a vet asap to get his shots & get him fixed (he was born September 28th 07) But have not found a cheap enough one yet... and we can not afford too expensive of a place...Thanks again-- Misty A: Praziquantel is a very effective mediation to kill tapeworms. Follow closely the instructions on dosing. Tapeworms come from eating fleas, frogs, lizards, roaches, beetles, etc -- management changes to prevent access to these 'creepy-crawlies' will help minimize reinfestation by the tapeworms.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Itchy Dogs Q: We have indoor dogs who constantly itch, their skin is so dry, what can we do for them? They are constantly scratching? Thank you. A: For really dry skin -- supplements such as Fatty Acids and Vit E are good and topical products like Vit E cream for hairless areas, moisturizing shampoo/conditioners, etc are usually most effective. For the itching you can give benadryl at 1 mg per pound of body weight and use topical antihistamine and/or hydrocortisone products. The big question is -- is there an underlying medical reason for both, like allergies or sarcoptic mange or . . . If there is a medical reason these symptomatic therapies will help but likely won't fix the problem. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Peke's Toenails Q:Hi Dr. Peebles, I have a question about my peke, Ernie. Ernie's toenails have gotten so long that they are curling under, I have only been able to clip them a little at a time because I'm afraid of hurting him, but they seem to grow soo fast I can't keep up. He is extremely aggressive when he's restrained in any way (with other people, not me), so groomers are out of the question. What can I do? Can a dog be declawed? That sounds cruel, but I know he's uncomfortable like this. Thanks, --Ernie's mom A: With them being so long now, I would discuss with your veterinarian about sedation and trimming them back a LOT. Once they are considerably shorter since he will let you trim them a little you can keep them short. Declawing is a VERY serious procedure in dogs and involved a lot of pain and potential for post-operative complications. I do not recommend it except for severe medical reasons when all other options have been exhausted. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Collapsing Trachea in Rat Terrier Poses Continuing Problems Q: What are the options available with collapsing trachea in 8 year old diabetic female rat terrior? Recently her cough is profuse with medication to dialate...Any suggestions? Thank you. A: Unfortunately, because it is a problem with anatomy, surgery is the only real solution. The frustrating part is that in the healthiest of dogs the trachea is so difficult to successfully do surgery on. In a diabetic dog I don't think surgery is even going to be an option frustratingly. So the focus will have to be on reduce secretions in the airway and minimize situations that lead to the collapse, if at all possible. Sorry to not be of more help. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pomeranian Clears Throat Too Often Q: Is it normal for pomeranians to clear their throats often? I have another little dog, a shitzu mix who also clears her throat all the time too. A: All dogs will clear their throats occasionally. Smaller dogs especially those with the flatter faces OR shorter muzzles (both of these breeds) will often do this more often. What causes it is dripping of the nasal secretions into the throat much like a post-nasal drip in us humans. The nasal secretions collect in the throat and the dog has to clear those out periodically. Dogs with allergies (increased nasal secretions) or less room in their nose (flatter faced dogs or shorter muzzles) will have this happen more often and more frequently.- - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat with Watering Eye Q: Our cat has just started having a watery eye. He sorta squints it shut a little. We have another cat and she is alway's swatting at him. Could she have scratched his eye? What do I do? --Diana A: You can flush/clean the eye with anything over the counter for human eyes - clear eyes, visine, saline flush. Other than that, he needs to see your vet for a special eye stain to make sure there is no injury to the eye itself. Based on that will determine what, if any, medications will be needed.- - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua could have Low Blood Sugar Q: I have a 2lb Chihuahua named Tiki. I had to work a twelve hour shift yesterday. My kids were home with the dogs. They are very gentle with her. When I got home last night, Tiki was fine. Around 4:00am this morning, Tiki wouldn't stop crying and whimpering. My husband put her in bed with us, like normal. She kept crying. I thought she was being a brat, so I told her "NO". She didn't stop. I asked my husband to hand her to me. That usually makes her happy. She is a mommy's girl. When I picked her up she was shivering and her muscles, especially her neck, were stiff. I warmed her up, and cuddled. She is still the same. Could she be acting out? If she is mad at me, its not for this long. The biggest red flag is she won't give kisses. She isn't showing signs of stomache issues, her nose is wet, could this be a sign of low blood sugar? I am worried. Thank you, --Tami B. A: Low blood sugar is certainly possible -- I would just err on the side of caution and get some sugar in her. I would also be a bit concerned about some sort of injury with the neck being stiff. I definitely think if it is not better soon she needs to see your veterinarian- - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Maltese in First Heat Shows Teat Discoloration Q: I have a 14 month old Maltese that has just had her first heat cycle. We did not breed her. Her teats swelled up mid way through, which I have heard is normal. But they still have little knots in them and are blue. Bruised looking especially in the back two. Is this normal or could there be something else going on? Thank you. -- Holly A: It could be normal (the blue enlarged veins and the knots areas of gland formation/"drying up") but it could also be indicative of infection. I would have your vet check her just to be sure. - - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog Develops Swollen Ear Flaps Q: My dog who is 65 lbs or over all of a sudden developed some swelling of her ear flaps of which she seems fine except the extra weight and swelling is bothering her and she shakes her head alot, can i give her a dye free alllergy softgel antihistimine it is clear and has p26 on them it is either benedryl or other leading brand antihistimine, to help the discomfort and swelling., She won't sit there and let me put ice on her. Thank you -- Robin A: Antihistamines will certainly help if it is an allergic reaction. Without knowing the actual drug I cannot give you an idea of HOW much to give. For a 65 lbs dog though I cannot think of any antihistamine for which one capsule would be too much. For many antihistamines it would be low and maybe not enough. My concern is that the swelling is not "allergic" but rather a hematoma formation. This occurs when the blood vessels in the ear get broken and the ear turns into basically a "blood blister". If the antihistamine does not help I would definitely get her into see your veterinarian ASAP -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Antifungal Meds can be Hard on the Liver Q: I got a kitten that gave everyone in the home ringworms. The kitten was taken back and my dog has suffered ever since. Vet put her on Ketoconazole 200 mg (2pills a day) for 21 days. The ringworms are gone however she is not the same. She will not eat her regular dry food unless I mix it with other things. (eggs, bread milk, bacon grease) She is drinking water constantly and vomits. Its been clear vomit for the last few days until this morning it was yellowish and had food in it from yesterday. What should I do? Money is tight right now but she has been my best friend for the last 11 years. Any information would help. Thank You A: I would get him into your vet ASAP for some bloodwork. The antifungal medication can "hit" the liver pretty hard especially in an older animal and the symptoms that you describe (low appetite and vomiting) CAN be associated with early liver dysfunction. Now it could be a completely unrelated gastrointestinal problem but it is better to err on the side of caution as the earlier these type problems are detected the more readily treatable they are. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Very Sick Pup Q: My dog Kaiba is a little over a year old. On February 11 he went in for his booster shots but they were canceled due to the fact his temp was 103.5 and the next day it was 103. Since then the last 2 weeks have been hell. He has symptoms which are wheezing, trouble breathing, coughing, a little vomiting, not eating at all except 1 treat in the morning and 1 treat at night to take his last pill for his medication. Other then the 2 treats per day he doesn't eat and he's barely drinking and yet on February 25 he drank a whole bowl like there was no tomorrow. Then when I filled it up he drank a little more but now he's not drinking again. He does sneeze a little as well as shake as if he's cold. I think he has some kind of parasite but I am not sure. Right now he's on the medications Cafpodoxime Proxetil 100 mg-tab, Doxycycline 100 mg tablets and for the cough Gualfensn 100/Dextromethrpn 10 mg. I just lost a dog on March 7, 2007 we don't know what happened, we found him dead on his pillow outside with a distended stomach so we think it was some kind of cancer even though he had a clean bill of health a few months prior. I don't want to lose another dog. Kaiba is my baby but I feel like these medications are not treating the underlined problem just his symptoms, and I know that there are certain parasites that can kill. How can I protect my baby Kaiba? I feel so helpless because I don't know what's wrong? A: Unfortunately, I really am not going to be able to give you any definitive answers. My best suggestion is to take him back into your veterinarian or to another for a second opinion. Tests definitely need to be ran to see if the underlying cause can be identified more specifically and medications altered as needed. Two weeks is long enough to see improvement if it was going to happen with the current medication. I truly hope that a cause can be found and medications started to make him better! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Akita with Large Lump
Q: Dear Dr. Peeples,
Do you have any idea what it could be? Is this common??? She shows no sign
of illness...eating sleeping playing as normal. I am taking her to our vet
in the morning I am just so scared. A: Julie - hopefully your veterinarian has already answered this but in case it is still a concern - unfortunately there is no way to know what a given lump is without removing part or all of it and having a pathologist examine the tissue. That said, this is a VERY common place to see/find a lipoma (fatty deposit) develop. Lipomas are solid but somewhat soft, non-painful, freely moving, and grow very slowly. These are all criteria that indicate a benign growth. My guess would be that it is a lipoma but that is a educated guess at best. Your veterinarian can better assess likely causes based on its characteristics. Please keep us posted and I hope it does turn out to be something innocous! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
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