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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.
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Feeding Cat a Pill |
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Q: My nearly three-year-old cat started to sneeze a lot and after taking him to the vet, she put him on Zeniquin tablets of 25 mg., half a pill given once a day for 6 days. It's hard to give the cat his pill. My husband and I had to both hold him and open his mouth for his dose yesterday. Today I gave him the half pill in a little cream cheese, which he ate no problem. Can giving it to him in the cream cheese make the pill less effective? I made a little ball about 1/4 inch round and put the half pill in it.
Thank you, Anne A: Cream cheese is fine to put the pill in. In fact it is probably the best for cats. Other foods that are useful for pilling dogs and cats - "block" cheese, peanut butter, hot dogs, tuna/canned fish, and pill pockets which are made for just this purpose. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bloody Stools Can Mean Serious Problems Q: I can really use your advice right now please on two issues. 1st. My aunt has a 11 yr. old Pekinese. He has been having alot of bloody runny stools he won't eat but will drink water. She said it started off and on for a few days now. He has no teeth and he eats soft foods. A: Bloody stools are always a cause for worry especially in an older pet. Especially if he is not eating he needs to go see a vet as soon as possible. Some very serious problems can start like this and get severe quite quickly!! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM Q: 2nd. My cat has only a few whiskers (eye lashes) and he has been getting alot of goop in his eyes. Would it be because he doesn't have too many whiskers to prevent that to happen. I am cleaning his eyes everyday. And one eye is a little red around the lid area. Thank you and looking to hear from you. --Pam B. Lack of eyelashes normally do not cause a problem. But eyelashes that grow in the wrong direction can often cause problems. Irritation, allergies, infection can cause symptoms like you are describing. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Loud Throat Clearing Sounds Cause Concern A: I have a Brussels Griffon and she is 5 years old. When she was about 3 months old she had a strange attack of some kind where it sounded like she was clearing her sinuses from the back of her throat. It was really loud and continous for about 4 minutes, Her legs actually got so weak she couldn't stand. It has happened maybe 5 times since then and each time I think she is going to die! What could be causing this? Thank you, -- Janice A: There are several possibilities but the most likely/common is a condition called weak or collapsing trachea. Imagine the trachea like a drinking straw. If too much suction is applied to a straw it collapses down and no fluid can pass. If the trachea is not strong enough to withstand the suction of the lungs pulling air in then it will collapse down and the body responds by trying to force air up to open it back up. If it is long enough (duration) or severe enough (multiple areas vs one) then low oxygen can occur making the dog "light-headed" and even faint. Unfortunately, since it is anatomical problem there are no medical treatments. Gentle massage of the trachea and trying to quiet the dog are the two best things to do when this occurs. Another possibility is a "reverse sneeze" which is analogous to a post nasal drip in people. Nasal secretions drip into the throat and cause a partial to full blockage of the trachea. The body responds by trying to expel the material. If this happens commonly or with consistent parameters (ie you can figure out when it will happen) antihistamines can help by decreasing secretions. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Disoriented Shepard Q:I have a 1 year old German Shepard, female, she has been disoriented 3 times since we have had her, we have had her ever since she was 8 wks, this last time she was asleep in her kennel and came out not knowing where she was and wobbling, Please help. I do not want to lose my baby, I thought maybe she was sleeping and just was not completely awake , is this possible, I would appreciate any advice. A: Sometimes dogs can sleep very hard and be slow to wake up so this is possible. I am also a bit concerned that she might be having mild seizures. Hard to tell and know how worried to be about these spells. I would definitely keep track of when the spells happen, how long it takes her to get back to normal, and if they are worsening or happen more frequently you definitely need to get her checked! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM Q: Also, what is the best shampoo to use on a dog, We have tried 2 but our pets skin seems to dry out and become flaky. They have no fleas so we know it is not that. A: There is no "best shampoo" for every dog. What one dog needs for a skin infection is too harsh for a dog with dry skin. If the primary problem is dryness (ie the dry/flaky skin is not due to a skin infection) then an oatmeal/moisturizing shampoo and conditioner is a good combination. In addition I would recommend supplementing with Vitamin E and Omega 3 Fatty Acids -- these both help with skin health. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM Q:Also we have a Maltese and just this past week he has a problem going poop, his anus protruded and was bleeding, How can I help him at home or is this something that has to be seen by a Dr, I am a low income family, but I also love my animals, I take great care of them, they are very much loved, please help if you can . Thank you a loving pet owner of 4 dogs -- lisaann A: Again many possibilities with the difficulty defecating and protruding anus. The bleeding worries me tremendously as that indicates trauma, significant inflammation, etc which usually needs veterinary intervention to address. Once again playing the "probability game" - ie what is most likely - I strongly suspect this is an anal gland impaction/infection/abscess in which case veterinary intervention is the best option. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Is a Swollen Vulva A Problem for a Dog in Heat Q: Hi I have a question about my female boxer. She just went into heat about 2 weeks ago and we just noticed her private area really swollen and enlarged. She looks like she's in a playful mood still, so is this normal? A: Normal estrus, or heat, in female dogs lasts 3-4 weeks. During this time, and often for a few weeks afterwards, the vulva will be very swollen and enlarged. So yes this is very normal. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Gentle Cat Goes to Vet and Comes Back a Biter Q:I recently adopted or rather, was adopted, by a beautiful Russian Blue mix cat. He is an estimated 10 months old. For the first 3 1/2 days he lived with us, he was sweet and gentle and very very affectionate, spending all of his time either in a lap or next to a human being. Then I took him into the vet to be checked over and get whatever shots he might need. While he was there, they tried to get a stool sample. Apparently this was quite uncomfortable for the boy and he clawed the vet's assistant who did it. Two days later I took him back to the vet to have him neutered. He stayed overnight at the vet's after his surgery and then he came home. From that moment on he has been twitching his tail almost nonstop, bites anytime you try to pet him. And although he still keeps his claws in, he will grab your arm with his paws and take your whole arm in his mouth and bites down. So far not terribly hard, but on occasion hard enough to draw a little bit of blood. What might have happened at the vet's to cause this and what can I do about it? I want that beautiful sweet affectionate kitty back again. Clearly there is no problem with his surgery. The incision is healing nicely, in fact, you can barely see it and he doesn't seem frightened. He still likes to be near people. But he is frightened every time you try to touch him. Are there some behavioral techniques that I can use? Thanks. A: Anesthesia, surgery, and the stress associated with it can have a negative impact especially on individuals already prone to timidity or fear. It definitely sounds like he has been through a lot in the last few days. In addition with the neutering he is also undergoing significant hormonal changes as well. Before getting too concerned I would wait and see if these changes are temporary or permanent. For now I would not recommend forcing contact. If he likes to be close try to lure him closer with food. Once he is comfortable being close gently touch - just touch no petting or picking up or anything like that. And then gradually - working WITHIN his comfort level -- encourage him and show him contact is not a scary thing. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Mini Dachshund Has Joint Problems Q: We have an approximately 5 yo mini dachshund (rescue) who last April was seen at the ER Vet for what we thought was her back as she didn't want to move, yelped when moved the wrong way, and hid under the bed; however, xrays showed no disc problem and it was diagnosed as a luxating patella. She was put on Deramaxx and did fine. Ten days ago she started acting quiet and wanting to just lie in her bed so we went to the vet who said it was herkneecap again and gave her Deramaxx. This time it seemed to help for a couple days then she started trembling a bit and was just not herself. We went back to the vet (and saw a different doctor) who upon examination of her back leg (same one) said it was a pinched nerve and put her on Prednisone (after stopping the Deramaxx). He said no steps, etc but that it was ok to take her on walks (which surprised me). She's been better with some days being back to normal but a couple days trembling occasionally. No rhyme or reason to it and no yelping in pain. She finishes the Pred. on Sunday. We've done some short walks and she seems to be ok but I worry that she still seems a bit out of sorts off and on. Any suggestions? I know it's hard w/o seeing her and thought maybe we should see an ortho just to rule out anything. There has been no limping; however, ever since we've had her she has a little "skip" to her walk in that leg when she runs. Thank you for any insight. -- Debbi A: I definitely think that a consult with an orthopedist is a great idea. It is very possible she has both a luxating patella and a pinched nerve. Often the instability from the luxating patella will lead to abnormal movement causing further problems. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Is Ciproflaxin Best for Anal Gland Problem Q: My pet oochie has developed anal gland saccullitis. The vet has prescribed ciproflaxin. Is this the best. I have heard that normally oral antibiotics such as chloromycetin or tetracycline are used. A: Ciprofloxacin is a very good antibiotic that covers the most common bacteria involved in anal gland infections. There are often many antibiotics that can be used to treat a given infection so often there are many "right choices". -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Searching for a Chihuahua Breeder/Vet in New Jersey Q: I live in New Jersey and would like to know if you know any reputable Chihuahua breeders and a competent veterinarian in the New Jersey area. I would appreciate your help. --Gail D.
A:Competent vets:
Chihauhua breeders --
PHILBROOK’S FANCY (p.,d.,c.,A5) Susann Philbrook Annette listed first, was president (still may be) of the Chi Club of America, and has helped me over the years with some small rare breeds like a Xoloitzquintle when one was dumped in a shelter by its own breeder, etc. Annette is very very ethical. The second person is also a member of the NJ Federation of Dog Clubs and her local club in Burlington. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Puppy with Parvo Q: My 9 week old puppy was diagnosed with Parvo last night in the ER. He is being hospitalized. He was vomiting, diahrea, depressed, lathargic, not hungry.....I am so worried about him. What do you think I can expect to happen? -- Krystal Gray A: Krystal I am so sorry some of these emails got lost in cyberspace and I am just getting them. I imagine by now he was able to fight the parvo off or not :( -- I very much hope the former. Parvo tends to be a highly unpredictable disease and, therefore, there is little to no "normal" progression. In general it takes 2-5 days for the disease to run its course and often there are periods of improvement followed by periods of worsening. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Maltese with Stomach Problems
Q: Good morning and thank you for being there to help us with our Maltese, Bandit. She has not eaten anything since yesterday morning. She does drink water and has periodically thrown the water up. She is not totally lethargic. She still wants to play with her laser light toy but not as actively. Bandit is 1 yr. 1 month old. What can we do for her? A: Vomiting and not eating are very vague symptoms that can indicate serious disease or be very mild problems. It is hard to know initially which one it is and therefore to know what is best. General rules are if the dog is keeping water down and, therefore, staying hydrated and feeling okay give it a day or so to see if it will improve. Stop solid foods for 24, offer plenty of liquids and monitor for progression of disease. Brown rice, bland protein like scrambled eggs or boiled chicken, etc are all good foods for upset stomachs. If the dog is not keeping water down or is feeling poorly then it needs to go see your veterinarian right away. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkshire Terrier Q: While I am holding my Yorkie there is a clear discharge that comes from his rectum. It has a fowl smell. It doesn't smell like feces though. What is it? Thank You Teresa McCoy A: Most likely secretions from his anal glands. These glands produce pheromone rich material that scents feces to help dogs "mark" their territory and inform other dogs of who and what they are.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua Breeder Q: Good morning,
I live in New Jersey and would like to know if you know any reputable Chihuahua breeders and a competent veterinarian in the New Jersey area.
I would appreciate your help. A: Unfortunately I do not off the top of my head. I will see though if my rescue friends in that area have any recommendations on good breeders.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
10 Week Old Slovokian Shepherd Q: Hello Doc! I just recieved a pure bred Slovokian German Sheperd (male). He's a great puppy! My only concern is his nose. I know that some breed of dogs their noses are not wet. This breed i am sure are supposed to have a moist nose. Maximus (the pup) has a warm nose as well as a ring of off white around the nose right where it attaches to the snout, and there is an almost constant snot drip. He doesnt cough or anything. The home i got him from usaully donates the pups to the local police academy but she could not keep the pups due to a back injury. so the home that he came from was NOT a pound or a kennel. He has high energy and is a normal pup in every other way. I do know however that he has yet to get his shots, this friday we are going to handle that but should i be worried? thank you Jennifer A: Most likely it is just adjusting to a new environment and an increase in respiratory secretions. He may also have some mild allergies. I would definitely have your vet take a look but so long as the discharge is white, clear, or greyish color and not yellow or green there is no sign of secondary infection. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Are Growling Tummy Sounds in a Puppy Cause for Concern Q: I have a 3 month ShitzShu puppy. She has been doing fine and is eating dry dog food or sometimes I moisten it with warm water and add a teaspoon of canned. Today when I came home from work she has these loud stomach noises. They are constant and sound like when a person is hungry. She did not eat much today and had a bowel movement that was not firm, but not diarrea. She seems ok as far as playing and running around. Her shots are up to date as well as her worming. Should I be concerned? A: Any gi upset is cause for concern in a puppy. That said puppies tend to get GI upset easily because of their "non-discretionary" eating habits. My usual rule of thumb is so long as they are eating, drinking, and playing give it 24-48 hours to improve. If the pup is not eating or drinking or playing then go see your veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
No Easy Prediction for Problems Associated with Whelping Q: My chihuahua is 6lbs and she was bred to a 3...5lb male. Will she be able to deliver her puppies okay since the father is smaller than her A: Unfortunately there is no way to know the answer to that question as it all boils down to head size and the size of the pelvic opening in the female dog. Certainly it is better that she was bred to a smaller dog but unfortunately that does not guarantee the pups will be able to pass through the birth canal. And that all said there is also, unfortunately, many other things from uterine inertia to low calcium to . . . that can go wrong during whelping that has nothing to do with the size of the pups. My best advice is to talk to a local veterinarian familiar with breeding dogs, whelping, and especially with treatment including caesarian section if needed. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Bulldog Maintains Erection 20 Minutes After Breeding Q: I have a male and a female bulldog, they were mating and after they finished it took about 20 min for my male's penis to go back in. He was also bleeding a little. It was his first time and I wanted to make sure this was normal. I care more about them then breeding so if there is something wrong I need get him fixed. I am in Germany and there are no available vets around here so this is my best chance. If it isn't normal I will have to find somewhere to take him. Please let me know if this is normal or not. -- Alexandra R. A: It is not uncommon at all for it to take 10-30 mintues even sometimes an hour for the male and female to "unlock" and/or the penis to return to normal shape. As to the bleeding -- when erect there are lots of blood filled spaces right under the skin of the penis. If that skin gets abraded at all (such as trying to mount the wrong way or the female being fidgety during the breeding or the tie afterwards) very commonly you will have some bleeding on the surface of the penis. So long as it resides when the erection does or soon thereafter again nothing to be concerned about.. If the bleeding persists though after the erection goes away then yes you do need to get him checked. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkie with knee joint problem Q: We have a male yorkie when we got him we took him to the vet the said he was fine and he saw nothing wrong and he was in good health he gave him the shots he was required and we took him home well it came time to get his shots again and instead of taking back to the same vet we went to the local pet center who now has vets working and the shots was cheaper so the vet took him to the back when she brought him out she said that he needed to be sent to an obedience school she said when she touched his knee joint he tried to bite her and she said he has slipped or dislocated knee joint but now i notice at time he will pick his leg up and then set it back down i was told that he would have to have surgery but when we let them out he runs like a deer and shows no problems is there any other way to solve this i am not able to pay what the vet said it would cost to fix the problem iam unable to work to do medical problems tkank you - mike A: Mike having not examined him I cannot say for sure but I strongly suspect that he has a luxating patella aka a slipping knee cap. This is very common in very small dogs because the tendon that keeps the kneecap in place slips out of the groove in the bone it is supposed to stay in because the groove is too shallow. When the knee cap luxates (or slips out of place) the leg cannot bear weight so the dog will hold it up sometimes crying in pain and sometimes not. This usually lasts for 5-10 seconds and then the knee cap returns to proper position and the leg is normal again. Initially this does not cause problems except for the few seconds it is out of place. Over time though this slipping in and out leads to arthritic changes in the joint and tendon that attaches to the knee cap. And eventually there can be enough remodelling of this area from the arthritis that the knee cap is forced out of place permanently and the leg is unable to be used. So while it is not an immediate problem I would recommend as soon as you can getting in to see an orthopedic specialist and based on his/her examination and recommendations go from there. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab with coughing episodes
Q: Hi Dr. Danielle Lee A: Unfortunately coughing can be a sign of very serious problems such as heart failure or it can "just" be a cold or allergy. And it can be very hard to tell the difference. If overall everything else is normal you can try some benadryl and/or robutussin to see if that will help with the coughing. If the coughing does not improve in a few days OR if what she is coughing up appears yellow or green in color she needs to do see a vet as soon as possible.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cats Reaction to Flea Medication Q: We put Hartz Flea medication on cat too low on the shoulder and she licked it. She started foaming at the mouth and we washed out her mouth and washed her shoulder. She licked it again, started foaming at the mouth again and we washed her then all over with baby shampoo. We thought she was okay, but it is now two days later and she is very lethargic and does not want to eat. However, she is really not drinking anything either. She does not seem to be in pain, her stomach is not distended, she is not throwing up and I have not noticed increased urination. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so the vet is not available. How serious is the issue? Is there anything I can do at home for her? A: Hartz flea meds are very bad for kitties. You did the right think washing her but if there is a next time just use cool water and rinse.. After that you really need to get to a vet because this medication can cause serious organ and neurological problems!! I hope the kitty is doing better and recovering. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat Vomits After Eating Q: We have an adult cat, we acquired about 4 years ago & she throws up within minutes of eating.... all the time. She is very healthy, has not lost any weight from this. It doesn't seem to bother her at all. Just a mess for me frequently. We have changed her food to better brands..... Eukanuba or Science Diet, which we currently use & we still have the same results. (She only eats dried food.) Thanks! dweitbrecht A: Many cats will vomit after eating quite often because the eat too fast.. You can try to avoid this by feeding in a larger, flatter bowl with just a single layer of food. You can also put large objects like rocks or tennis balls in there again to slow them down. Royal canin foods have several formulas that really seem to help with this. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Stray Cat May have Parasites Q: We brought home this starving cat from Myrtle Beach. The lady that started feeding him down there took him to the vet and the vet said he was a healthy 5 year old cat that had already been neutered. They gave him a rabies vaccination and another regular shot of some sort. She also said she wormed him just in case. The cat is very skinny and he has lost a lot of his hair on his legs. All you feel are bones. Well, that all happened two months ago. He hasn't gained any weight at all. He won't eat anything but soft/wet catfood and I've been trying to mix the hard food with the soft until a few days ago. He is an indoor/outdoor cat. A few days ago, he started to not eat hard food at all. He seemed sick, like he wasn't feeling well. I gave him a whole can of soft food and he ate it all. A little while later, he went to the bathroom on our floor and it was diarrhea. I didn't see anything in it. It looked normal. And a little while later, he did it again on the floor, just a very little bit of dirrhea. He has barely eaten anything and I don't know if he has drank any water. All he wants to do is sleep and go outside. Today, he has come in, ate a very tiny bit, then went back outside, twice. He is only eating like probably not even a quarter can of wet food. I'm not sure what to do. I can't really afford a vet bill. But I don't know if it is just a bug, and if it is a bug, I'm not sure how to get him to gain weight. He is insanely skinny. I've never seen a cat so skinny, yet, when you pick him up, he's a little heavy. I thought he would gain weight by now. I am now worried because of him being so skinny, not eating, and having diarrhea. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks. A: I would be very concerned about liver, kidney, or thyroid dysfunction with this kitty. Or maybe severe parasites. I am not sure you will be able to help a lot without first determining the problem. I think a trip into your veterinarian as soon as possible is the best course of action. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Golden Retriever has Inflamed Ear
Q: Hi,
Thank You in Advance, A: It probably is no longer an issue and has already been addressed but in case something similar happens in the future most ears respond best to topical medications so a good cleaning is the first thing to do. Benadryl can help with inflammation and itching. Antibiotics are usually not very helpful because most ear infections are more yeast than bacterial. Hope the ear is doing better!!!-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherd with Irritated Anus Q: My husband and I adopted a 5 year old German Shepard from a shelter close to his last days. WE ADORE Loki Pupenstein! He is well behaved, he listens well, is a great dog park friend, very good with people big and small and just an overall perfect canine baby. I noticed that he has been licking his anus alot, so I lifted his tail to see 2 large raw cracks on either side of his anus. He does not complain ever about it. He never cries while having a BM, he licks a bit more after, but all and all he is a happy dog. He "suposedly" was looked at 1 month ago, and his glands had an ok check on his shelter papers. This looks like it has been going on a while. I have never encountered this, and I am honestly very very concerned, if he has to have surgery I am not in a position to do this right now financially, so would need a way to treat or to at least attempt to clear the irritation up myself first. My family has fallen in love with this shelter pup. Any suggestions for clearing this up. Lea & Loki A: If the anal glands are impacted or abscesses then unfortunately he will probably need veterinary care especially antibiotics. The other concern is that this breed is very prone to a problem called perianal fistulas which most experts agree is associated with food allergies. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
1 Year Old Spayed Aussie Q: I recently adpted an aussie that is one year old. She is spayed and my other two male dogs are spayed or neutered. She is constantly trying to sniff or lick their penis particularly one dog and it annoys the other dogs to the point where they bear their teeth. Why does she do this and how can I stop it. Thank You. A: Sniffing private areas is normal for dogs. The smells there give information about the dog to the other dogs that sniff it. Excessively performing this behavior though can certainly be a problem especially to the dogs being bothered. So the why stems from normal dog behavior. As to stopping it - any deterrent (loud noise. NO!, etc) and once her attention is elsewhere give her something else to do and praise her. Now that all said oftentimes dogs will be attracted to body parts inflamed or even infected so it might be worth while to monitor those areas for any signs of problems. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat with Kidney Infection Q: My cat Sox hase been under vets care recently and the medicine she gave me to give her for her kidney infection amoxcillian clava-mox she really hates the medicine and tried to run when she see the syringe I gave her I dose this am this evening she is vomiting white thick forn and crying out once in a while she has done this four times in five hours . Her breathing is ok her heart is not racing she is just very nauseaous what can I do the vet is closed and I am 72 years old my cat is 14 years . I give her a one miter dose help me please right now she is quite resting Patricia A: Unfortunately nausea is not uncommon with that particular antibiotic. Talk with your veterinarian tomorrow about alternative medication. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
What Diet Works for Poodle with Anal Gland Problems Q: I have a 9.9 pound poodle and he had an anal infection which is cleared up with meds. I read somewhere that if you put pure pumpkin pie filling in their food it would help to express his anal glands. My question is how much do you give them, and is this true. I feed him 1/3 of cup of Royal Cain Intestinal HE 2 times a day. I sometimes squeeze the anal glands myself but the vet said they have to be squeezed internally, I do not want to stick my finger up there as I do not want to hurt him. It cost $21.00 for expressing them either method. Also my vet gives him Bordetella Intranasal vaccination. Other pet owners I know said their vet doesn't give their pet that. I found out it is for Kennel cough, but I never board my dog. Is this vaccination a real necessity? Always appreciate your advice -- Angela A: Kennel cough aka bordatella is predominantly a risk for dogs going to a groomers, boarding kennel, doggie daycare, etc. Other dogs may or may not need it so discuss with your vet why Some find that increasing the fiber in the diet will help with anal gland problems. For others a hypoallergenic diet will help. And for others either removal of the glands or regular expression are the only options. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy Poodle Stops Drinking Every Month Q: My mom's 11 month old toy poodle, Buddy, has been having issues with dehydration almost every month for several months now. He had intestinal worms in August, was treated for them, and got better. After getting better,my parents got him fixed. Since then, he's experienced dehydration every month, almost like clockwork. He'll stop drinking water, get very lethargic, and will start sneezing. Then, he vomits, usually yellow bile. He won't drink and has to be rehydrated by the vet. The vet is stumped, and decided to start treating him for IBS when it happened again this week.. Does that sound like an appropriate diagnosis? My parents have to take him to the vet every month and are concerned for their new "child". They are feeding him the same dog food the breeders were giving him, though my mom does give him people food (usually cereal) every now and then. She says that the episodes do not occur when he eats the occasional people food. They've had Buddy since he was 8 weeks old. I should also mention that Buddy is normally VERY hyper and active; he can't stay still. He's also big for a toy poodle, and almost meets miniature poodle status. Any ideas? Thanks so much for your help! That is perplexing. I would think it time for some more diagnostics like bloodwork. Also look for any common things such as flea medication, exterminator coming to treat the premises, heartworm prevention, etc that might be associated with it. I agree very perplexing! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Kitten with Sand Fleas Q: I have a 9 week old kitten that is severely ill. She has sand fleas on her that I'm trying to take care of but in the meantime they are literally sucking the life out of her. There's nothing to her. She also has an upper respiroatory infection so I'm keeping her away from the other cats. I don't know what to do to help her. I don't want her to die or have to be put down. I just found out that 2 of her sisters from the same litter died last week so something has to be wrong with all of them.. I'm making a vet appointment in the morning but what can I do to help her in the meantime? Please respond and give me any advice that you can. A:If she is that severely ill then it is very hard to stabilize her at home. A flea comb and maybe a light spray of flea spray on the comb can help get rid of the fleas. Keep her warm and well hydrated. Other than that not much to do until the exact nature of her problems are detected. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Coughing Dachshund Q: My 4 yr old doxie started hacking yesterday and spitting bubbly saliva on the floor. Nothing in the saliva. She seemed ok otherwise, so I assumed she was clearing something. However she turned down steak bone after dinner,she is not eating..She is drinking. Her cough is loud, and last night (she sleeps with us) she would jump off the bed, go to the hallway, hack and cough, go in the kitchen for a drink of water and then come whine for me to pick her up and on my bed.. Several times it sounded like she was throwing up, but I saw no evidence of that, just that awful noise. This happened 2 x last night before bed, and probably 6x last night. This morning I noticed some dark mustard colored mucus in a small puddle of bubbly spit. I am going out of town, I care for my folks 4 days a week, and Rosie usually comes with me. They have a poodle and a Bengal and I wouldn't want to expose them to anything, but I don't like driving alone if not necessary.I live in a rural area, and my vet is closed on Fri., so I am in a quandary. Are there OC cough meds for dogs? she weighs about 15 lbs Should I be worried that I saw mucus? She follows me around like usual, but a couple of times, last night, she was kind of shivering when I put my hand on her back. Her nose is wet and cold, her eyes are clear. Any suggestions? My last dachshund died at 16 yrs and she never did this. Thanks Cathy A: With her not wanting to eat and shivering I am concerned that she may be getting a significant respiratory infection. Will over the counter medications like robitussin and/or benadryl help - probably with the symptoms but if there is an infection it won't. And respiratory infections can, unfortunately, quickly become bronchitis/pneumonia so I would recommend that you get her into see someone as soon as you can. It may be okay to monitor and treat with over the counter medications but then again it may not. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkie Neck Problem
Q: Hi,
I have a 4 month old Yorkie. Her name is Lola. I was massaging her belly recently & went up to her chin area. As I started massaging down her neck I felt something odd right in the middle of her throat. It feels like her throat isn't in alignment. Almost like the top half sits farther forward than the bottom half or there is a thicker ring around it. I don't know if I'm explaining this correctly. She is a feisty little girl & nothing slows her down. She has a great appetite. Can you give me any insight as to what it is I'm feeling on her neck/throat? Thank You, Kathleen Geyer A: You are probably feeling the structures associated with the larynx (the "voice box in people") this structure has several cartilage and several bony components. If it is lower down than the larynx -- ie middle neck you are likely feeling the thymus. This structure slowly fades away as the puppy gets older but at her age it is likely still palpable. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Rimadyl Problems Q: My dog (a 16-pound Daisy dog) just finished his Rimadyl, only taking half a pill a day. He has had vomiting with dark, soft stool (molasses consistency), loss of appetite, and limping on his left hind leg for the past 3-4 days. Could this be related to the drug? Thanks so much! A: Rimadyl belongs to a family of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Aspirin and ibuprofen are the two most common human drugs in this family. As we all know from aspirin and ibuprofen in humans GI upset, ulceration and inappetance are often associated with the usage of these medications. So absolutely I would think the GI upset is probably related to the medication. this medicine usually helps limping so don't think the limping is a direct result of the Rimadyl usage. It may be an indirect result if he felt better and used it too much and reinjured it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
American Bulldog
Q: HI AIRLIE DI FAZIO A: I am sorry there are just too many possibilities here for me to guide you any better than your veterinarian has. If there is cancer - what type will determine what is the best course of action. I definitely think the best way to get the answers you need are to have some additional tests done - ultrasound will help detect a mass or if there is a problem with the heart. The fluid can be drained by your veterinarian. Any mass can be biopsied to determine what it is. As to what to let her do - unless there is some concern about her bones/muscles there is no reason not to let her be active. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab-Retriever-Beagle Mix in Pain Q: my dog is 15 yrs old he is lab retriever/beagle he has really bad pain in his hind quarters the vet put him on tramadol 100mg 3x day it works for him he does have some kidney probles so he is on a low protein diet he is on royal canine modified but lately he is so very thirsty and I don't know if the medication can cause this or cause his kidneys to get worse please tell me what you think im stumped ive asked the vet all I can get is they want to get him in again yet I don't have the money right now we are on disability and live on 1011.00 per month yet after the bills are paid we have no more money only 30.00 for the rest of the month so we are unable to do this thank you carey gailey and shadow A: I know in humans tramadol can cause dry mouth so that is a possible reason for the increased thirst. My concern though is that with the history of kidney disease the thirst may indicate that the kidney disease is progressing. For now definitely let him drink what he needs to. You can try decreasing the tramadol and see if that helps with the thirst -- but will have to balance that with the pain relief the tramadol gives. And do get him in for a check as soon as you can.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat has Scabs Q: Hoping that you can help me. my cat has scabs around base of tail and neck. Please help A: Most often scabs on kitties is related to some sort of allergy. About 80% of the time it is a flea allergy and the other 20% are food or environmental allergies. Definitely be very aggressive about flea control on the kitty as well as in the environment. Have your veterinarian check to make sure there are no secondary skin infections. And if a cause cannot be found and eliminated there are medications that can help. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
English Bull Dog Q: Hi, my name is Karmella. We just purchased a 15 week old English Bulldog from a breeder in Missouri. Before they shipped him that had to take him to the vet to get a final check-up. The breeders advised us to get the puppy neutered as soon as possible, because his testicles had not dropped yet and that could cause cancer. My husband is totally against getting him neutered, because he feels it takes away the dog's manhood. I don't care either way, but my question is: How long does it normally take for an English bulldog's testicles to drop? Thanks, Have a GREAT day! A: Usually if they are not descended by 3 months you start to get concerned. Now some testicles don't descend for months to years and often they never descend. The problem is that the testicles that are too close to the body are at too high a temperature this renders the dog sterile. In addition the testicular tissue at the higher temperature runs a high rate of becoming cancerous over time so, if the testicle(s) don't drop, then it will be a matter of doing what is best not what we want to do :(!! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Aussie-Terrier Medication Q: hello i am giving my 4/5 year old female aussie terrier 121/2 mg. of proin every other day. it has worked like a charm . my doctor wanted her to have 25 mg. every day, but i did read that if you can give your pet less and it is successful it is better for the animal. today i noticed she urinated outside normally, but she passed spots of blood as well. my vet is not in on sunday and i am worried. A: Blood in the urine is always concerning. It can simply be a low grade infection (which often accompanies incontinence) or a sign of bladder crystals/stones. It can also be a sign of things more serious like kidney stones, kidney infection or a generalized clotting problem. Speaking generally if all else is normal, her gums are nice a pink, and no evidence of "blood spots" on the gums, eyes, skin, ears, etc then it is PROBABLY confined to the urinary tract system. That said if there is any doubt at all I would take her in to the nearest emergency clinic and have them check her out. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
11 Year Old Mini Schnauzer Q: i have a mini schnauzer who is almost 11 yrs. i took her to my vet to find out why she was peeing in her sleep. since she had bladder stones before they did and xray and found she has a large liver. they then took blood from her neck. the very next day she had just under a golf ball size lump about 1 or so inches about where they took the blood. i know for a fact she did not have this lump the day before. now they r telling me they think it is a bad cancer. they just did a biopsy but can cancer masts happen literally overnight??? i wont get the results for up to 7 days and i am worried they might have caused her to bleed internally where they took the blood. what do u think?? she has a great appetite, wants to play and walk. they gave her antibiotics and she now doesnt drink a lot and no longer wets the bed. she had a urinary tract infection. thank u so much ..lisa w A: As to the lump there where the blood was taken - it is not uncommon for some bleeding to occur at the site of venipuncture (where the needle went in). Most often it stops before it is noticeable but in some animals it takes a bit longer. While I won't say it is impossible I HIGHLY doubt the lump in her neck is cancer spreading. Much more likely it is a hematoma (blood pocket) - those usually resolve in 3-5 day. As to the need for biopsy and possible cancer - I imagine they are referring to the liver enlargement. Bleeding is always a possible side effect from biopsy so it definitely can occur. I would strongly recommend that if you have any concerns about internal bleeding you get her in for a recheck immediately. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Airedale with Lumps Q: I hope you can help us, we have a 3yrs Airedale and for the past year she has had these lumps the come up all over her body. They grow larger and then they explode into large open wounds. We are currently taking her to Murdoch Veterinary Hospital here in Perth Western Australia. They aspirated twelve of them and sent them off for bacterial culture only and had her DNA tested. Nothing came back in the tests to tell us what this could be or what might have caused it or even how to stop these lumps at all. Her medication doesn't even help anymore she has been taking Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline. If something is not done urgently to help this poor dog I don't think we have a choice because if these lumps explode all at once there will be nothing left of her. Please give us anything to keep us hoping that maybe this is the cure. A: Have they tested for auto-immune disease? If not I would strongly recommend a skin biopsy and a trial of medication for an auto-immune disease. Many auto-immune conditions such as the pemphigus complex of disease, lupus, etc can present exactly like this. Often the blood test for auto-immune disease is negative or inconclusive even when they have the disease so skin biopsy is the best option to diagnose it. Poor girl - I am so sorry she is suffering like this. I have had two dogs with auto-immune disease one of which had very similar lesions and I know how horrible it is to see them like this :(! I hope an answer can be found and found quickly and medication give her some relief. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Mini Schnauzer has Lump Under Tail Q: i have a 3 year old male Mini Schnauzer and i was grooming him when i noticed that below his tail and above his rectum there is swelling or a lump it is semi hard and he does not seem to be in pain,when i touched it,it didn't bother him at all.he has not been sick and goes to the bathroom regularly and is eating and drinking is that just the way they are and i never noticed or is their someting wrong please help thank you darlene A: Lumps are hard things to know what to do with. They can be benign fatty deposits, enlarged glands, sites of inflammation or infection, and in some cases cancer. There is no way to know what a lump is without examining it and ideally getting an aspirate or biopsy -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pit Bull Pup with Injury
Q: In June of this year we were driving on I-85 in Atlanta and we saw a
puppy running across the interstate. By the time we were able to stop and
pick him up he had already been hit by an 18-wheeler. We immediately took
him to the vet. After a few hours and x-rays they said his leg was broken
and that the best way to proceed would be to perform an FHO surgery. The
surgery was performed and we were able to take him home to recuperate. At
his 1 month check up the vet seemed to think he was recovering well. We just
went back for his 4 month check up and the outcome is not as good. His femur
is not positioned in the ideal place but the vet said that's not the main
concern. Their primary concern is that the x-ray showed a mineralized soft
tissue at the joint site where the femur used to connect to the hip. They
said that in older dogs this could possibly be cancer but since he's a young
dog and it's at the surgery site that it could be an infection. They
recommended having him sedated or fully anaethetised and taking a tissue
sample. If there's an infection they would then either treat it with
antibiotics or perform a second surgery to fully clean it out.
My question for you is do you think this is the only option or the best way
to proceed? He does not seem to be in any pain although he occaisionally
limps on the leg after long walks. I just want to do what's best for him in
the long term but at the same time I don't want him to have unnecessary
procedures. A: If there is infection residing in there it can cause a lot of damage to the surrounding tissue especially to any adjacent bone. You can try treating with antibiotics but if that is "just" scar tissue then he is on a lot of medication for a long period of time for no real reason. Is there any other way to tell the difference b/t infection, scar tissue, and possible cancer - realistically no there isn't. Most often a small incision can be made to obtain the sample and recovery time is minimal. I would recommend that you consult a specialist if you have not. They often have insight based on experience that "regular" vets have not had the opportunity to obtain. You can also request the radiographs be send to a specialist to "read" -- they may glean more from the films that will help decide the best course of action. Good luck with this baby - he is a very lucky dog that someone as loving and dedicated as you picked him up! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkie with Recurring Rash Q: I have a 6 year old male yorkie, who gets a rash from time to time on the lower part of his stomach, almost near his private part. The rash is very red, with red pimples. He licks there all the time, and now crawls on the rugs on his belly to alleviate the itch. We have taken him to the vet more than once on this. He takes predisone for the itch, and is on an antibiotic. He also for a year now, takes eye drops,(He had cataracts and they were corrected with surgery about a year and half ago, he started out with 3 different kind of eyedrops, now he is down to one, which he gets every other day). We just took him to the vet about 2 weeks ago, and the vet said it was a yeast infection. I don't know about that, because it seems the antibiotic is not working as effectively as it did before. We have changed his diet when this first happened to fresh vegetables, lettuce, cucmbers, and apple from time to time, plus he eats special dry food from the vet. Would you know what is causing this? Any suggestions what we can try to do to stop this and clear it up?
Thank you, A: It does sound very much like an allergic reaction in which case, unfortunately, anytime he is exposed to whatever he is allergic to this will occur. Allergy testing may be able to determine the culprit(s). Over time chronic irritation/inflammation and repeated antibiotic usage can definitely lead to a fungal/yeast infection in the skin which will NOT respond to antibiotics (these only address bacteria). So it definitely makes sense if the antibiotic is not being as effective at clearing the infection that there is something else besides bacteria causing the infection and yeast is the most likely culprit. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Australian Shepherd Mix Q: Hi, My name is Meghan and i have a 3 year-old Australian Shepherd mix. Up unitl now he's been a pretty normal puppy and adult dog. However, about 6 weeks ago I noticed a sore spot on the inside of his right hind leg. I disinfected it and bandaged it hoping it was just a insect bite that bothered him or something that would go away. Unfortunetly he would shred the bandage if left alone. But it never went away. At that point I was traveling a little more than normal, but he's never alone (I live with a family member that is always home, but he's very attached to me). About a week ago I noticed a second sore spot on the same leg, only the outside. My fiance moved in about two weeks ago and I'm starting to think that maybe him knawing on his leg is in reaction to my shared attention to him and other things. I dont know what to do. I'm getting so worried. I purchased a dog halo (some people call it an Elizabethian Collar) but he sleeps in a kenel at night and it wont work with him being in the kenel at night with the collar on. So, as of now, during the day he has the halo (and bumps into everything) and at night I have to take it off so he can sleep in his kenel. So during the night without the collar he knaws at his leg, undoing any sort of healing his leg can do. Please help. ~Meghan A: As you are finding self-inflicted wounds can be very difficult to heal since they often keep reinjurying that same area. Figuring out a way he can wear the E-collar all the time would be a big help in the healing process - do note there are other collars that can be used that are shaped differently and might fit with his kennel. Stress/anxiety is a very common behavioral trigger. That said it is important to rule out any underlying medical problem as well so would be a good idea to take him into see your veterinarian to see if there is a primary problem causing the licking/gnawing OR if the licking/gnawing has led to any secondary problems like antibiotics that might need some medication -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Very Ill Kitten Q: She was doing fine before her mother weened her. But after the ween, she has grown very skinny, her gums are white, she hardly eats, she won't play, or move around. She has grown very attached to me, her mother won't have anything to do with her, every time I put her down she starts meowing and trying to climb back up on me.
Her symptoms are:
Her poop is a yellowish tint Please help...I really do not know what could be wrong...and the closest vet is at least a three hours drive away, since I live on a Mountain. I don't want to lose her. A: I would be very concerned about intestinal parasites - hookworms and coccidia can present with these symptoms. And then there are less common problems like liver shunts, heart defects, etc that can look like this as well. I definitely think it might be worth the three hour drive to better define what the problem is. If it is intestinal parasites that can be very treatable if caught in time.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Q: Does my two year old Dachshund need a liver shunt? A: I am sorry but I know of no medical conditions in which one would purposefully create a liver shunt. The liver processes blood coming from the intestines to remove infections and toxins and prepare the nutrients for the rest of the body. There can be congenital problems in which the blood bypasses the liver - ie a liver shunt - and that creates a lot of very serious problems for the body as toxins and bacteria get dumped straight into the body. I cannot imagine a condition in which making a liver shunt would be a good idea -- so please find out exactly what condition they are treating and I will try to get information on that condition and why a liver shunt is needed. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Young Golden Retriever May Have Orthopedic Problems Q: I have a Golden Retriever named Piper, she was the runt of the litter and came to me very sick with skin diseases from the mother. She stayed very tiny but now has became a beautiful Golden at 10 months old. I just noticed when she was sitting next to me and I put my hands on her hips that they clicked with slightest movement. I am afraid to think this is HD, she went through so much when she was little, now this. Could this be a case of delayed growth and she might grow out of it? She does not ever look lame however, I do notice that sometimes she looks weak when she walks in front of me. She is very active and never has a problem getting up. She jumps up for kisses all the time and hugs our legs and hips. She does not hump at all she just stays there with her paws wrapped around us, it is very cute. She is not a high Golden but she is long. The first vet I went to told me she could not be Golden because at 5 months old she weighed less than 25 lbs. I told her she was a very sick puppy and maybe that stunted her growth. Can Goldens have this problem and then grow out of it? I am at a loss can you help? Thanks -- Sally A: I hesitate to get too concerned about a symptom that occurs during growth assuming all else is okay. That said I am concerned with her growth "issues" about dwarfism or chondrodysplasia or a number of other orthopedic problems. It can certainly be a growth phase but she is at the age that dysplasia commonly occurs. I would strongly recommend getting xRays done to detect any problems. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Terrible Cough Shakes Yorkie Mix Q: First Thank You so much for answering my question. I am so worried about my little Tuffy. Tuffy will be 10 in Nov. and he is a 5 pound Yorkie Mix. He is very lively has no problems other than in March he began with a cough where his legs would splay out and it was a terrible sound. I took him right to our Vet Hospital and they took X-rays. Our Vet said there was just a tiny bit of narrowing in the trachea and his esophagus was slightly enlarged but neither should be a problem. He felt it could be simply a bronchial inflammation. He gave us a 10 day antibiotic and a bottle of liquid medication (I think Hydrocodne like humans take for pain.) He also suggested we get an inhaler like people use with COPD. Also give him anti acid before eating and kind of hold him up after eating. The antibiotic did not seem to help at all though I gave it to him faithfully until gone. I wanted to get the inhaler but since the vet told us Tuffy may not use it and we would just have to take that chance (It was $199.00). We did however try hot and cold steam in or room to help that airway. Nothing seemed to help. Tuffy knows when he is going to have an attack so he runs to me and is shaking violently. I have noticed sometime his nose runs when this happens. Now he is down to a very short cough many times a day and then the violent coughing where is legs splay out come 2 to 3 times a day. He does seem prone to having them every night, every morning, and sometimes during the day. The anti acid medication does not seem to make a difference. Now I am concerned he may get addicted to the pain med. still have about 1/8th of the bottle and it is about as tall as a pill bottle at the neck. I give him 2 ml's. I am so frightened if I have to leave him, I give him that as a precaution to his coughing fit. I am starting him on Beanery today 1/4 of a 25 mg. as we were doing that before. I do give him 3 drops of Homeopathic Nose Relief by Homeopet. It seems to help though he sneezes when he first takes it but he actually licks it out of my hand. My concerns are the soft coughing as it reminds me of my Grandma just before she died and she died of congestive heart failure. Also addiction to the pain med, and more frequent violent coughing episodes. One of my Yorkies choked to death on way to the hospital and they believe she had a collapsing palate. Also I lost a tiny Chihuahua to an enlarged heart which had been diagnosed as asthma. He would lay with his head stretched way out. Tuffy seems to want to do that also or to have his head with chin up to sleep. Coughing comes on when he plays, runs a lot, or gets excited. I know this is a lot to take in but I know the last visit wit X-rays and med was nearly $500 and I just don't have that. I can't watch another pet die like Nikki and Taco but I can't give Tuff up either. Any suggestions would help. Thank You, -- M. Anderson
There are lots of good medications to help with this
problem. One of my favorite is a medication called
temaril-P. This medication combines a low dose steroid
(anti-inflammatory) with an anticough medication. Plain
steroids like prednisone can be very effective as well
as brochodilators like theophylline.
My best suggestion is to discuss you'd concerns with
your veterinarian and see if there are alternatives to
the strong narcotic cough medication that can help his
symptoms
Second opinions are always a good idea - two heads are
always better than one :)!! So it might be a good idea
to consult another vet in your area to see if he/she has
any suggestions to help keep him comfortable.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
What May Have Caused the Death of a Jack Rusell
Q: My Jack Russell died this morning he was 6
years old. He was so weak that he could not get up,he
was laboring to breath, stool was blood and mucus. What
would have caused this. Thanks Regards -- D.
Pierce
A: Unfortunately these symptoms can be the ending
for a number of problems ranging from parasites like
heartworm to cancer to severe infectious disease to
organ failure to poisons.
Frustratingly even though they originate from different
problems the end result looks very similar.I am very sorry that this happened. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Ball Playing Gives Rat Terrier Bloody Stools
Q: We have a rat terrier that whenever she plays with her ball, she gets bloody stools afterwards. She gets very intense while she is playing and would continue to play until she collapsed from exhaustion if we let her. The bloody stools correspond exactly to the play time with the ball usually within a few minutes after play ceases. We have asked our Vet, but he did not have an answer. She seems fine otherwise. She has thrown up a couple of times recently, mostly when we are out of the house.
I know one solution is to not let her play with the ball, but she loves playing with it so much. That may be what we have to end up doing. She is slightly under 2 years old and it has probably been 6 months to a year since we have asked our Vet about this. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks for your time and consideration. -- D. Marcy
A: My first thought would be have you tried a different ball? If it some sort of reaction to the ball material maybe there is another ball she can have just as much fun with that won't cause her problems. Other than that would recommend sterilizing that ball if possible in case it has a high bacterial level that bothers her.
Those would be my first two recommendations. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
How Long After Lanced Glands Do Bowels Return to Normal
Q: My rat terrier just had to be put under sedation and have her anal gland lanced. I gave her two sitz baths today. She is having no luck pooping and when she tries nothing comes out yet. She does not seem to be in discomfort. Gave her soft food last night and this morn along with pills. She is very hungry. I suppose this lanced area will remain slightly swollen for a few days? Is this normal not to have a bowl movement yet? -- rat mom
A: It will likely take 2-3 days for the swelling to go down after a procedure like that. I would not be concerned about a bowel movement for another 1-2 days. IF she is straining and trying to defecate then definitely get her into your vet. But if she is not straining and seems comfortable I would just keep an eye on her for now. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab Puppy Has Unexplained Dry Heaves
Q: Hi, I have a seven and a half week old Lab puppy. She is energetic and full of energy, but this evening, she has had diarrhea, and for the second night in a row, she has had dry heaves. She only dry heaves at night, and only once or twice, and her stool was solid this morning before turning soft this evening.
She had her first round of shots and was given a dewormer a week ago, and I thought this may have caused the diarrhea, but I'm not sure. Her temperment hasn't changed at all as she is playful and fun, but the diarrhea and dry heaves have me nervous. I plan on taking her to the vet tomorrow, but I was wondering if you could diagnose the potential problem and if it is serious.
A: Unfortunately vomiting and diarrhea can be associated with very mild problems, like eating something that does not agree with them, to more serious problems like intestinal parasites such as coccidia and giardia to very serious problems like parvoviral infection or intestinal blockage.
At her young age even with a "mild" cause of vomiting and diarrhea she can rapidly become dehydrated so I think getting her into your veterinarian is the right choice. As to causes - really too many possibilities to narrow it down any more, sorry! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
White Boxer with Pinched Nerve
Q: I have a white boxer with a pinched nerve on left hind leg , she is on
monoxin for a touch of hip displacia. Is there any type of natural or
electro therapy we can give .
A: I will certainly defer that question to a neurologist and/or homeopathic veterinarian -- I don't do enough of either to be comfortable making any recommendations. The biggest question would be why is the nerve pinched? If it is a herniated disc then surgery would likely help. If not then acupuncture would likely help in addition to supplements/nutraceuticals/medications. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Miniature Schnauzer with Lumps
Q: My miniature schnauzer,Shelby had a cyst removed on her leg last May. Now she has a few lumps on her,but the 1 under her neck has doubled in size but still the size of a ball u play jacks with. It has a little bleeding from it & it must be painful she jerks away when I try to look at it. I did put polysporn on it to keep her from getting infected. Does this sound like a cyst to you? She is still eating good so far.This is the second day of the bump. I am worried to death.She will be 9 yrs on Oct 8 2009 What do you think. I do not have a job right now. Thank You, Her sad Mommy
A: Bumps can be many things from cysts (usually non-painful, non bloody, and cool to the touch) to abscesses (usually painful, warm, and oozing pus or blood) to granulomas (warm, may or may not be painful, usually no discharge altho can be ulcerated and bleeding from the surface) to growths like adenomas (overgrown glands) with a whole variety of characteristics. I would definitely continue with superficial treatment and if it is not better in a few days OR if it gets worse have it checked ASAP! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shih Tzu with Irritated Penis
Q: My two yr old neutered shih tzu appears to have irritation on his penis. The opening is red and the outside seems a little red. What could this be?
Best regards,
A: It is not uncommon for males dogs to get slight irritation on the end of the prepuce (skin around penis) and even on the penis. Often this is accompanied with a thick, smelly yellow or green discharge. In most cases this is more inflammation (ie allergy/irritant related) than infection but it can be infected. Watch urination closely and make sure he is urinating okay and that the urine appears to be normal. It would be a good idea to catch a urine sample in a small container and take it in for your veterinarian to analyze looking for
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherd Husky Mix
hi
kind regards anita
A: if it is pus that indicates infection. I definitely think a good examination, culture of the discharge, and appropriate antibiotics would be the best course of action. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat's Tail Vibrates
Q: Hi,
Thank you,
PS-She is about 4or 5 years old
A: Vibrating the tail is usually a means of expressing a small amount of anal gland material and thereby "marking" the area toward which the tail is pointing. If there is blood coming from her rectum then it could be her anal glands are infected or she has something going on in her colon. No easy way to tell the difference since they both would appear externally in the same location. I would definitely have her checked as soon as you can as both of those problems can proceed to much more serious conditions. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkie Heart Failure
Q: I have a 12 1/2 year old lovable yorkie who was just diagnosed with an
enlarged heart and now on enalapril and torbitrol (for coughs). She had a
very slight murmur for the last several years with no
adverse effects UNTIL for the last 2 months.
We had put her on Proin for urinary incontinence about 3 months ago and it
seems to me that this is what caused the enlarged heart and coughing.
My Vet said they are not connected and still OK to leave her on Proin. All
the forums I have read say she should not be on it because of the dangers.
She recently started to collapse for no reason, but keeps coming back fro
her collapsing after a short time. I am concerned that the proin is the
cause, although heart failure can also cause this
I am thinking of taking her off the proin to see if she improves. I know
there is no cure for the enlargement.
What do you think??
Thanks for helping!
A: I would definitely stop the Proin and speak with your veterinarian about alternate medications for the incontinence. I too would be concerned that the Proin is causing too much stress for the heart as one of its side effects is rapid heart rate and excitability. I do not know if the Proin caused the heart problems - likely given her age and breed they were already developing - but it probably did not help being another stress on the heart. It makes sense to remove the complicating factor - ie the Proin - and see what is "true" heart and what is drug side effects.
That said I do also think an EKG would be a really good idea. Many times heart enlargements can lead to arrhythmias which result in collapse.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Old English Bulldog in Heat
Q: My old englis bulldogg is not quite a year yet she is on in her first heat. but she seems to be prolapsed from the vagina is this normal. Ithas been almost a week that she has started to have drainage.
A: It is not uncommon to see vaginal hyperplasia (too much tissue develops as a result of the hormone stimulation during heat and has no place to go but out the vulva) and vaginal prolaspe (ie normal amount of tissue just in the wrong place - ie coming out) associated with being in heat. She is reaching peak estrogen levels most likely given the time frame since this heat cycle started and it is the estrogen that triggers the excess tissue/straining that causes both of these conditions. So long as the tissue looks normal MOST often it will regress/return to normal amount and position once the hormones start returning to normal levels. If not OR the tissue looks dark brown/black or appears to be infected it needs to be addressed immediately!
Looking at the big picture - this would concern me a little about her ability to breed or have puppies vaginally. It would probably be a good idea to spay her given this occurrence. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Miniature Schnauzer
Q: My miniature schnauzer,Shelby had a cyst removed on her leg last May. Now she has a few lumps on her,but the 1 under her neck has doubled in size but still the size of a ball u play jacks with. It has a little bleeding from it & it must be painful she jerks away when I try to look at it. I did put polysporn on it to keep her from getting infected. Does this sound like a cyst to you? She is still eating good so far.This is the second day of the bump. I am worried to death.She will be 9 yrs on Oct 8 2009 What do you think. I do not have a job right now. Thank You, Her sad Mommy
A: It could be a cyst (ie fluid-filled) or could be an inflammatory knot (something bit or stung her there) or could be a mass. It does concern me that it has some bleeding as this suggests the skin is abnormal over it resulting in an opening that might lead to secondary infection. I would definitely put some triple antibiotic on it and maybe also some hydrocortisone cream. Ideally get her in to see her vet as soon as you can. If it double in size again she needs to go in immediately! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog has Cherry Eye
Q: Good morning: I adopted a dog 6 days ago from our local shelter and took her to a Vet who diagnosed her (red eye) as either conjunctivitis or "cherry eye". In looking on the web, I found that it really isn't necessary to operate. Is it necessary to take this 3rd eyelid out if it is indeed "cherry eye". Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Suzanne
Suzanne T. Skibinski
A: The need for surgery varies tremendously. IF the third eyelid is causing irritation to the eye itself then yes it needs to be tacked into place so it cannot cause futher damage. If it is not damaging the eye then it is more a cosmetic concern than a medical one. Sometimes they will come and go and other times they remain out permanently
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog's Toe Amputation
Q: My dog had a portion of his toe amputated 3 1/2 days ago. Bandages came off last night. He keeps using that paw to scratch himself. I can't always stop him. Will that pull stitches out. They are healing very nicely.
Thank You.
A: It might if he catches it wrong. But stopping him may be more difficult. I would keep an eye and if the incision looks swollen or stretched or excessively red then talk with your veterinarian about maybe rebandaging the foot.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Jack Russell Mix Won't Eat from Food Bowl
My five year old Jack=mix has eaten out of the same two-part dish since she was a puppy. It's a stainless tell dish, one side for water and the other for food. Recently, we were away overnght and took her, as we always do, to my grandmother's to spend the night. She is happy there, wth a doggie friend to lay with. She did enjoy herself and had no problems there....
But since we came home (a couple weeks ago), she has refused to eat anythng out of her food bowl, not even her favorite in the world treat, Cheese!
We've tried letting her skip a couple of meals in hopes that hunger would drive her back to her food. No luck!
What could have hapened, and what do we do? I hate to throw out that expensive bowl!
A: It is very hard to say what triggers an aversion to a once favored item. Sometimes the best thing to do is not make a big deal about it. Find a dish she will eat out of and slowly move it toward the old bowl. Then put it on top of the old dish and then see if you can removed the new dish. Otherwise maybe see if a rescue or shelter can use the dish.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Fleas!
We have two dogs and two cats. And about a million fleas! All four animals are on prescription flea medication and always have been. We have been spraying the rugs and all the furniture daily with flea spray. And we've ben giving all the animals flea baths regularly. Nothing has worked! What can we do????
A: Unfortunately with all the rain this year the fleas have been out there in record numbers. You are doing many of the right things. Treating the environment is a very, very important part of the process. It sounds like the house is being taken care of (although there is a chance that the spray you are using is not effective enough and you may need to get a professional to come in with newer, stronger sprays) but are you treating the outside? Fleas can live outdoors under the right conditions and we as well as the animals can bring them in from outside.
As to the flea medications - be sure you are using it correctly. It is very easy to not get all the way to the skin especially on thick coated animals. Also do not bathe the animal for a MINIMUM of 24 hours before or after application -- ideally 48-72 hours. Baths with soap based shampoos will weaken the topical medication making it last less time. It may be helpful to change to a different medication than you have been using and see if that is more effective.
Other things you can do in the environment -- dry on high any bedding, sheets, rugs, etc. Placing a flea collar or mothballs in the vacuum cleaner bag will help kill any fleas sucked into the vacuum cleaner. Drying agents like boric acid can help make the environment less hospitable to the fleas. Try to avoid areas with fabric piled up (like the bottom of my linen closet) as that is a haven for fleas.
Good luck -- it is a very hard battle to fight sometimes. Do not hesitate to call in professional exterminator -- they have the more powerful medication and can help make a big difference.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab Found Mysteriously Dead
Q: I found my Labrador retriever dead this morning. I could find no signs of
damage on the dog anywhere. There was a puddle of blood on the ground at
his anus, blood on his anus, tail and hind legs. There was blood on his
penis and coming out his mouth. There were several puddles of blood in his
area where he had been moving around and bleeding.
What in the world could have happened to him???
Lamar Grimsley
A: Unfortunately bleeding is the end stage result of many different conditions. There are poisons and diseases that cause the body to be unable to clot. This results in general bleeding out and death. Heart problems that lead to an intense spike in blood pressure can rupture vessels and cause bleeding. Severe generalized infection can damage blood vessels leading to bleeding. Many different conditions can cause the body to go into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) which ultimately results in bleeding.
I am very sorry that you had to find him like this and I wish I had some definite answers for you. Unfortunately I do not. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Baby Pomeranian
Q: Hello,
My Baby pom 16 wks old was spayed on tuesday 9-1-09. Today when i got hom from work there is a "bubble" protruding out of her incision . She has no fever, no redness, is acting fine, do i need to get her to a vet immediately or after the holiday weekend???
A: I am sure this has already been addressed but for general information and/or future reference -- it is not uncommon for an incision to have some redness or swelling. Sometimes as the incision is healing and the body starts breaking down the suture material sometimes a "blister" will form. That said if the suture material is starting to prematurely breakdown then you can get a bubble if the internal structures are starting to come out. How concerned to be depends a lot on the appearance and what the bubble consists of. When in doubt definitely seek veterinary care.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy Poodle with Anal Gland Infection
Q: my 9 pound toy poodle was licking his behind and penis I took him to the
vet and they said he had an infection in his anal gland (anal sacculitis)
they gave him 2 shots (antibiotic injection and anti-inflammatory injection
for immediate relief. and gave him an antibiotic called zeniquin once daily
for 2 weeks, they took a culture test (culture/Sensitivity-Micrim) and that
test came back saying he had 3 different anal infections. they put him on
Clavamox 62.5 tablet 1 tablet by mouth twice daily. and 1/2
zeniquin/marboflaxacin once daily. they said if problem persist the next step may be
anal gland flushing or removal. I was wondering what caused this to happen
and if they flush the glands can this re occur again? and is this harmful
to remove his anal glands? All this testing and pills and visits cost me a
fortune 459.00 so far. I have to take him back 4 days after he finishes
these meds. which will be in 3 days. Should I get another opinion if he has
to have his anal glands removed? scares me. I thank you for your advice.
Ann
A: Anal gland problems are very common especially in smaller dogs. The anal glands' function is to produce a very pungent smelling material that "marks" the feces. It contains high levels of pheremones and other individual scents. For some reason especially in the smaller dogs (small volume of feces or abnormal gland shape or . . . ???) the glands do not empty fully or at all when they defecate. The partially to full anal glands are at high risk for infection because of their location and they are full of fat and protein rich fluid.
As far as prevention is concerned - most vets, groomers, etc can empty them out. Some dogs need them emptied every month, every 6-8 weeks , every 3 months, . . .
Removal of the glands is involved and there is a significant risk of damage to anus and secondary infection. Once the area is healed tho there are no long term issues from the anal glands being removed.
Hope your baby heals quickly and gets back to normal soon! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Can Small, Growing Mass in Bladder Be Cancer
Q: My dog has been diagnosed with a small mass in her bladder. The sonogram shows that it is slow growing. When she urinates she bleeds a lot. Can this be cancer?
A: Unfortunately bladder cancer has to be the most probable explanation. If it is still small surgical intervention and removal may be the best route to go. Definitely consult with (directly or through your veterinarian) an oncologist to determine the best treatment if it is cancer.
Transistional cell tumors which are the most common bladder tumor often respond very well to a combination of surgery and medicine. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
'Neutered' Male Cat Appears to Have Testicles
Q: I am taking care of a male cat who is one year old.I only agreed to care for him if he was neutered.
The owner assured me he was neutered 4 weeks ago but he
still appears to have testicles....is this possible?
how do I know for sure he was neutered?..the owners say he was and it was done "from the inside" so he still has testicles. I've never heard of such a thing on animals
A: My best suggestion is to have your vet examine him. Yes usually the testicles are removed but alternate methods do exist. Also note often older males when neutered still have scrotums with scar tissue present that may feel like testicles. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Older Minpins Have Eating Problems
Q: I have tow Minpins ages 10 and 14 who both have diabetes and cushing disease. My problem is, my male Minpin "schultz" doesn't want to eat. I am feeding them three small meals a day and it has become a real challenge lately.
My female "Maggie" is starting to get picky too. What can I do? I worry cause they need the nourishment.
A: I would definitely check with your veterinarian to be sure their diabetes is still regulated. Another concern is organ dysfunction secondary to these conditions and/or as another developing age related problem. So while decreased appetite in and of itself is concerning, it is more worrying what it might be indicating.
So I strongly reccommend rechecking with your veterinarian and making sure the low appetite is the only new problem developing. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkie with Loose Stools is also Starting to Vomit
Q: I have noticed this week my Yorkie (14 months) has had some loose stools, some consistency at first then diarrhea. Not often but a few times this week.
This morning was the same and then just a few minutes ago he was vomiting some whitish-yellowish foamy or bubbly liquid. What could possibly be wrong and does he need to go to the vet, or is there something I can do at home to help?
Thanks -- Christine
A: Gastrointestinal upset is hard to know how serious it is -- it can be very simple such as eating something that did not agree with him or as an early sign of something more complex and serious.
If overall he feels okay and is eating/drinking then you can withhold food for 24 hours and then slowly start food back.
If that does not help then take him in for an exam, fecal check, anal gland check/ empty if needed, etc.
Hope he gets to feeling better soon. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dachshund Pup Collapses on Walks
Q: My stepfather has a friend with a new (10 mo) old longhaired dachshund that collapses on walks. He is down and then if you pull on leash he gets right up again. This does not sound right to me. Any ideas? I think he
needs a vet yesterday. Thank you in advance for your time and caring. Best Wishes,-- Annette R.
A: It may just be that the new pup has not been used to walks and is tiring out. Or possibly overheated. If there is any question at all about spine or orthopedic problems getting a good exam is very important. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Abandoned 10-Week-Old Kitty Slow to Respond to Treatment
Q: Hello, I wanted to know if you could give me any advise on what to do with a 10 wk. old kitten. I work at a shelter and this kitten was brought into us very sick. Looks like the kitten was left on the road side and is extremly weak. Right now omost having him for 24hrs. I have been giving him 20cc of sub fluids. 3x a day and syringe feeding him Gerber chicken baby food with a syringe 3mls as much as he will consume through the day in small amounts. He has urinated but no bowl movement that I can see.
He has stood up several times here and there but cannot seem to lift his head to eat on his own. He only weighs 1.1lb, but his breathing seems to be normal and he sleeps. His gums are very white and he is so fragile. He has been treated with advantage for fleas, which did'nt seem like he was infested just a few that I saw. I have him resting in a clear tub with a hot water bottle and clean towels in a warm and dry area.
Not sure what I should do just yet? Should I wait another 24hrs. before taking him to a vet? Since the shelter is non-profit it's hard with funds. I'am doing what I can do now but wanted to know if there was any other advice you can share to help this little kitty?
Thank you for your time,
A: Jacqueline with the pale gums anemia would be my first concern followed by dehydration, heart problems, and low body temperature. Definitely a good workup to narrow the possibilities down is the place to start. Many intestinal parasites will cause anemia especially hookworms. There are several blood cell parasites like hemobartonella that cause anemia as well. And simple lack of adequate nutrition will lead to chronic anemia. If the kitten is not anemic then the other problems would need to be investigated.
As it is 24 hours since your post (sorry was out of town) I imagine you have already addressed this but speaking in generalities -- it is hard sometimes to know what is an emergency and what is not. And there will be times when mistakes are made and there is no way to avoid that. In general IF the animal is stable - good breathing, decent heartrate, good color, good temperature, etc then it is probably okay to wait to seek veterinary care. If the animal is not stable it is best to see immediate care.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pomeranian Itching
Q: sir , my pet dog a pomeranian or German spunk is having itching fever & loose motions. ba course of cephalosorines have been given pl advice treatment
A: Unfortunately there are so many possible causes for the symptoms you describe there is no way to narrow down possibilities "long distance". The fever is the symptom that worries me most as that suggests the problem is affecting the whole body and the inside as well as the outside.
I am sorry to not be much help but your dog really needs a good exam and some tests most likely to determine what is the likely nature of the disease so that treatment can be decided. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Sick Pound Dog
Q: We saved a dog from the pound earlier this week (she was set to be put
down within the hour). When we brought her home she was VERY skinny and
breathing hard. She wouldn't eat or drink much either. But I figured it
was just due to being in the pound or where ever she was before that.
But only a day later she started dry heaving, coughing, and having
yellow snot. She still went potty, but had become constipated. We put
Echinacea and garlic in her food and started giving her pepto. We called
a vet and the pound and they said to give her robitussin and benedryl.
She still is losing weight because she'll only eat and drink after we
give her pepto. She has only thrown up twice, but is still dry heaving.
I can't believe she's made it this far shes definitely a fighter and
we're determined to do everything we can. But I'm afraid she's going to
get dehydrated.
Any advise would be very helpful!
A: Dehydration is definitely one big area of concern. A quick test for dehydration is to pick the skin up on top of the shoulders and let go. It should fall back into place in no more than 1 sec. If it takes longer than that or stays pulled away - serious dehydration is setting in.
As to her symptoms - definitely kennel cough syndrome has to be at the top of the list but with the vomiting that worries me we also have a second problem OR something really broad hitting like distemper :(!
My best advice is keep her hydrated as best you can and get her into your vet - she'll likely need an antibiotic and maybe an antiemetic as well. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Female Pit Bull
Q: Hi i have a female pit who is almost two. after she recently was done with being in heat I noticed two bumps on her vagina that look like pimples or ingrown hairs. now there are a total of four. they look like they popped but can you tell me what they are? or what should I do? thanks for your help.
A: They could possibly be small pockets of infection, impacted follicles, or mild vaginal hyperplasia. If they are popped and healing I would just monitor to make sure they clear up. If any more show up I would at least have your vet check to be sure nothing more serious is going on.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Malitpoo just Spayed
Q: It's 2:30 in the morning and my maltipoo was spayed 5 days ago and it took
all of 5 minutes of me not watching her to lick her womb the stitches are
still there but the top part of skin ripped opened and there is a little
blood I put a bandage on do I need to go to the emergency vet right now or
can I take her to her vet in the morning ???
A: Likely you have already addressed this problem but in case it is still relevant -- so long as no tissue is protruding, no bleeding is happening, and she is not swollen put some triple antibiotic cream on the incision and get her into your veterinarian.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Poodle Terrier Mix
Q: Dear Vet Doctor:
My dog is a male poodle terrier mix and is ten years old and weighs 23 lbs. For about 3 and a half weeks he has been having trouble sitting down and when he does sit down he has trouble standing up. At times his back legs shake and sometimes his front ones do too. He seems to have lost his appetite a lot too. He will eat when someone gives him a dog treat but won't walk over to his food or eat his food. I took him to the vet on June 29th and the vet gave me some metacam for him but it didn't help so I took him to another vet on July 15th. My dog's temperature was 104 so the vet gave him a shot of antibiotics and gave me some Amox 200 pills to give him for a week. I am going to call the vet again on July 22nd but I am even nervous about doing that as I have had him for 8 years now and want to keep him a lot longer. Any help as to what I am possibly facing would be appreciated.
Thank you very much
A: If it is some sort of bacterial infection (fever can definitely cause weakness and loss of appetite) then it should get better with antibiotics. There are certainly other types of infection that can occur as well. None of us want bad news but knowing what the problem is will allow you to determine what the best treatment is to make him better. As to thoughts - infection has to be the first thought with the high fever. Other possibilities especially at his age are organ problems, hormonal imbalances, and cancer. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dachshund with New Pups
Q: My daschund had 7 pups 5 days ago. She now has a huge knot on the left side of her chest.
A: She definitely needs to go in and be seen - knots can be many things from hernias to abscesses to trauma. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bichon-Poo Puppy with Allergies
Q:Hi,
I have a 5 month old Bichon Poo. For the past month she has been knawing at her front legs, her back paws, under her tail near her anus and scratching the side of her belly with her hind leg, to the point that her hair is alot shorter in those areas. I took her to the vet, he found that she had dermititis (hot spot) under her face. He gave me cream for that, he gave her pills and 2 needles. He said it might be allergies. She has been off of the pills for over a week and she is still doing the same thing. I had her on Iams puppy food and just changed her food to Merrick Organic food. If it is a food allergy, how long will it take for me to see a difference? Do you have any suggestions? I really do not want to rush to the vet, he himself did not know what the problem is.
Thanks,
A: A food allergy can take up to 3 months to clear up when switched to a new diet. Sometimes with a food allergy you will need a prescription hypoallergenic diet. At her age it could also be just a primary skin infection (very common in adolescent pups), a topical allergy, airborne allergy, flea allergy, etc. Allergies can be very hard to diagnose and allergies cannot be cured only managed. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shih Tzu Puppy Potty Problems
Q: we just bought a 5 month old shih tzu who is use to going potty in a caged area with pee pads.. he had never been outside..he does not like the grass and we can spend hours with him outside and he will not go..we bring him in and he pottys in his crate even his small nigth crate.we put pee pads outside hoping to eventually take them away.. we take him out and take him out.. he will not go outside. we are very frustrated what can we do?? he also whine alot..wants to be held i just cant hold him all the time. donna
A: It is going to take a lot of time and work to get him okay outside. Until then a compromise using the wee-wee pads inside is likely the best route to go. Remember the canine/pup socialization window starts closing around 16 weeks. After that it takes much longer for them to adapt to and accept new things. It might be helpful to add a second crate to put his wee-wee pads in and keep his other crate closed when he is not in it. You could also try putting a crate with wee-wee pads ;outside to see if he will go in it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Very Sick Puppy
Q: I adopted an 8 week old puppy from the dog pound, and he's mixed with
blue heeler and shepherd. I had him neutered last month when he reached
6 months old and his testicles had dropped.
This month he stopped eating about 4 days ago, was vomiting and only
drinking some water. He appeared weak and like he could hardly walk on
his back legs. He started squatting to urinate like he was in pain. He
is now on IV at the Vet and has been there since yesterday.
The Vet ran some blood work and he had some high numbers for pancreas
but the other numbers were good including the other numbers on the
pancreas. They did an Xray and couldn't find anything. The vet tried to
get him to eat some today but he refused. She said he vomited a little
bit last night when she took him out for a quick walk.
They are thinking about running some barium dye through him to see if he
has some sort of blockage but they haven't done that yet.
I'm so worried about him, and he isn't eating. Just got an update, they
did the barium dye and there are no blockages.
What is going on? I need some help. I took him off the Science diet food
he was on, and I'm going to start him on some Wellness or Royal Canin
when he ever starts eating again.
I just don't know what to do.
Terry L. Maki
A: Terry I hope this problem has been resolved and your baby is doing well. As to potential causes there are so many possibilities that I think you and your veterinarian are on the right track doing tests to determine things it is or isn't while treating the symptoms -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pomeranian in India
Q: Dear Vet Doctor,
Please reply as early as possible to save my Jimmy.
A: Kavita - the Norflox TZ is an excellent broad spectrum antibacterial and antiparasitic medication. If it has not helped him then the problem is likely not a simple infection or parasite that will easily be treated. Unfortunately his problems (weight loss and diarrhea) can be associated with a great many problems ranging from cancer to hormonal imbalances to food allergies to digestive problems. If it is available and possible I would definitely recommend taking him in to see your vet and having some tests ran to check for these problem. Unfortunately since there are so many possibilities to his problem there is no one therapy I can suggest that is likely to make him better. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
3 Year Old Maltese
Hello ...
2 weeks prior to getting this maltese at 1.8 pounds (teacup Maltese ...
but now 6 pounds) I brought my cat to the same vet because one morning
when he sneezed, blood flowed from his nose. I rushed him to the vet,
they kept him for 2 days, did xrays and told me (after $2,500) that the
xrays were clear and gave me antibiotics and nose drops. I adhered to
his instructions and 2 weeks later had to take him back in with his
difficulty breathing and whistling sound in his nose. They kept him
again, did more xrays, and all of a sudden they tell me he had malignant
nasal cancer ... how strange that he all of a sudden developed nasal
cancer in 2 weeks. That cost me another $3,000 and then he had to put
him to sleep which cost another $500 ...
This vet has received a fortune from these 2 pets and being that he has
not taken the xrays that he included in my price of $1,700 I am calling
him and telling him that I want the xrays taken and do not appreciate
his cavalier way of persuading me that this is normal. She sounds as if
she has phlegm in her throat and is constantly trying to clear it ... I
know that there is something wrong aside from her labored breathing and
I can only assume that if I wait even a month longer, all of a sudden
she will have some sort of CANCER ... and conveniently they would have
to keep her for a few days and do more extensive testing.
Do you agree that I should demand these xrays be taken at no charge
(WHICH IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO) and WHAT DO YOU THINK OFF THE TOP OF
YOUR HEAD ... could be the problem?
I would appreciate so much you reply,
Thank you,
Nora McGuire
A: Nora -- you definitely need to go have a serious talk with your veterinarian and address these concerns. Oftentimes miscommunications can happen and one should always give the other party a chance to explain and/or make things right. IF after giving this chance you still do not feel as if you have been treated appropriately then there are official channels you can go through to lodge a formal complaint
As to the problem with your dog - I definitely think at minimum radiographs (xrays) would be an appropriate first step. Dogs can suffer from a variety of chronic respiratory conditions including allergic bronchitis and collapsing trachea syndrome.
A second opinion is never a bad idea or a wrong choice to make. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Q: I have a male 3 year old rat terrier. He is not neutered.
He is being treated by a vet but she has figured out what we are dealing
with yet. He was having trouble walking, not eating or drinking. The vet
gave him an IV because he was dehydrated. His white cell count is normal
and no sign of infection in his urine. Rectal exam revealed his prostate was
sensitive when she touched it. She gave him a pain shot and an antibiotic
shot that works for two weeks. He felt better yesterday but seems to be
backsliding a bit today. Next is a sonogram. Are we going the the right
direction. Should Prednisone also be given??
thanks,
Herb Dulzo
A: Hard to say what will be the best medication without knowing the exact problem. IF it is a prostatic infection then predisone will cause more harm then good as it lowers the immune system's ability to fight infection. It sounds like you and your vet have a good plan in place - I see no reason to deviate for it.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy Poodle with Diarrhea
Q: Hi Dr.
My 11 yr old toy poodle recently got diarrhea due to having Giardia. She is taking metronidazole and pro-pectalin. Her diarrhea has cleared up so my question is whether she has to finish the complete dosage of pro pectalin? She has 4 more days worth of pro pectalin to go. She is an 8 pound dog taking 250mg pro pectalin 3 times a day. Thank you!
Steve
A: Best give it as prescribed often illness is still lurking even after the signs appear to have stopped. Discontinuing the medication too soon will frequently allow a relapse to occur.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Benadryl
Q: I have a large (60 lb) German Shepherd-Lab mix. He has allergies and as a result bites and scratches so much he gets hot spots. His Vet suggested giving him two benedryls a day and that seems to help.
However, I recently read that preparations with benedryl in them, if taken for more than 90 days, can cause an increased likelihood of Alzheimer's or other cognitive dysfunction in humans. Does this apply to dogs as well?
A: The dose on diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl) is 1 mg /lb up to every 6 hours. As to long term use causing any problems none that I have seen reported or documented in veterinary literature. That said if you are concerned about it there are lots of other antihistamine options that can be used. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua
Q: My 8 mth old chihuahua has two lumps about mid way his penis on yesterday morning when he had a bowel movement he howler-ed a little bit and did not do very much but after running awhile he did his normal amount but a few hours later he vomit and continue to be his playful self this morning when I gave him his food he did not want to eat it he just walk away and he been playing a little bit and I was rubbing him and felt these lumps mid way his penis and then I went back 15 minutes later and they were gone He did not eat his dog food but went outside and ate grass he has been getting this bear toy of his every since I've had him (2 1/2months) I've been thinking about getting him FIX because he's so playful someone said I need to clip his Balls.
A: The lumps on the penis are normal structures called the bulbus glandis. When engorged with blood these structures balloon out and are part of the mechanism by which the "tie" happens in canine reprodution. Given his age it is very expected that hormonal fluctuations cause increased bloodflow to the penis periodically and therefore lead to enlargement of these structures.
I doubt this has anything to do with the other clinical signs that you note - difficulty defecating, vomiting. I suspect either a GI upset or possibly full/infected anal glands -- regardless of the cause if these signs have persisted definitely get him in to see your veterinarian.
Having him neutered will certainly help with the "lumps" on his penis. Is doubtful it will help with the other.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bladder Problem in Mini-Schnauzer
Q: Hi,
Thanks,
A: Tracy - so sorry your message got lost in cyberspace and I am just now getting it. IF it is still relevant first off - OWWW!! Poor baby! Secondly yes she definitely needs to be on strong antibiotics. I would recommend some urine being send out for a culture and sensitivity and a very close eye kept on the bladder to be sure there are no stones forming/formed or abnormalities in the bladder that are making her so susceptible to this severe of an infection. Close watch also needs to be kept on the kidneys - infections can ascend from the bladder into the kidneys. Also, if it has not been done, have her checked for cushings disease, diabetes, low thyroid, etc as all these can lower the immune system and directly or indirectly disrupt bladder health and immunity. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
American Bulldog with Signs of Illness
Q: Hi,
When we first got her a few years back, she was healthy looking and very playfull and active. She was a very fun dog. Now she just sleeps all day and seems to mope around. We have another dog, but he hasn't changed much. When I come home, instead of jumping around and wagging her tail, she barely makes an effort to move.
I have a feeling she's sick and I want to fix that problem. Please help.--Kerrick.
A: Kerrick -- there are so many possible causes of the symptoms you are seeing from low thyroid to cancer that it is impossible for me to advise you on how to help her other than getting her into see a veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
13 Year Old Toy Poodle with Collapsing Esophagus
Dear Savannah Vet;
Q: My dear little Top Poodle, Daisy-Mae has a collapsing esophagus and she
has that awful honking, gagging cough. Our vet has given a bronchial
dilator but that doesn't seem to help with the cough. It makes me so sad
to see her start to play with her doggy-siblings and then be brought up
short with the coughing. She recently had a physical and she is healthy
(other than a little arthritis, she's thirteen and one half years old)
other than being a little overweight, just like me.
Do you have any suggestions as to how I can help my beloved "puppy"?
Thank you
A: Did you mean a collapsing trachea? If it is that then medication will only help so much since it is a fundamental problem with the actual anatomy of the trachea. So there is not anything medical that will strengthen the trachea. Other causes of coughing such as allergic bronchitis, heart disease, allergies, respiratory infection can all aggravate a collapsing trachea so definitely consult with your veterinarian about the possibilities of any of these affecting her. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yellow Lab Mix with Strange Bowel Sounds
Our Yellow Lab-cross is about 9 yo. She has always been very healthy.
Summer is here in hot & dry west Texas - 103 degrees yesterday evening at 7:30; today is similar (already 103 degrees at 3:00 p.m.).
She came in the house an hour ago when we got home for the day - she plopped on the tile floor and has loud bowel sounds (gurgling, etc.) about 1/2 of the time. I have gently palpated without any unpleasant reaction from her. She turns her nose up at the fresh water bowl and did not eat this morning at all.
Are we in trouble here? I am going to cool her off with cool water from the hose after I send this. Thank You!
A: Probably not - a little upset tummy is not terribly uncommon amongst dogs especially this breed that has a tendency to try to make the inedible edible! That said do monitor her closely because some very serious conditions such as gastric dilation and volvulus can occur with an increase in gas production in the gastrointestinal tract.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Swollen Nipples on Staffordshire Bull Terrier Pup
Q: Good afternoon,
I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier pup, she's 7 month old and just had
her first season, which was pretty heavy but she seemed fine, she
finished her season about 2 weeks ago now but she still has swollen
nipples, both the actual nipple and underneath, Ive had a squeeze on
them to see If she is producing milk as Ive been told if she does she
may be having a phantom pregnancy and I should get her into the vets
asap, she isn't producing milk but she has just started going off her
food which is not like her at all, she seems fine in herself but im
getting a little worried, should I get her to a vets or wait an see for
any more symptoms?
Kind Regards
A: Every female dog after a heat cycle experiences the same hormonal changes NO MATTER whether or not she is pregnant. This means that ever intact female dog has a phantom or false pregnancy after each heat cycle (this incidentally is the reason for the high rate of mammary cancer in dogs as well as the significant risk of pyometra). How much is seen clinically varies tremendously between female dogs. Some have little to no outward signs. Others get milk, have contractions, treat socks/toys like puppies, etc. Again all of this is caused by NORMAL reproductive physiology so unless there are other issues such as not eating/drinking at all (a slight decrease is not unusual), diarrhea, vomiting, etc then it is nothing to be alarmed about. In 9 weeks the hormones will start to subside and in 11-12 weeks she'll be back to normal. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Mini Schnauzer with Blocked Intestine
Q: Our mini schnauzer apparently has a blocked intestine. We don't have the
funds to continue spending on him. If he has surgery to remove whatever is
blocking the intestine will he have complications from the surgery? We've
already spent 300 dollars.
A: Unfortunately there is no way I can answer this question for you. There is ALWAYS the possibility of complications from even the simplest/most routine of surgeries and removal of an intestinal blockage is definitely a more involved surgery. If he is healthy overall, has a good immune system and heals normally then he has a very good chance of undergoing surgery and healing quickly. But even the healthiest of dogs can have problems secondary to a procedure like this. I wish we had guarantees in life but we don't. All medical and surgical therapies come with associated side effects and risks of complications. One can only try their best to minimize the negatives and maximize the positives. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shihtzu with cough
Q: I have a 10 year old male shitzhu that has a confirmed crushed trachea and is taking 100 mgs of Theophylline every day. The dog has acquired a terrible cough. What can I give him to relieve the cough. He has this cough quite often and it sounds like he is trying to cough something up but nothing comes up.
A: Speak with your veterinarian about the most probable cause. If it is allergies/irritation especially allergic/chronic bronchitis then steroids like prednisone are usually the best choice. If it is mechanical irritation - each coughing making the airways more sensitive -- the antitussives like tussigon are particularly effective. There is a product called temaril-P that combines a nice antitussive medication and a low dose steroid - I have had good success with it.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pomeranian Puppy
Q: we got ellie our 5 mo old pomeranian puppy from a pet store about 2 months ago and are having a hard time housebreaking her. she wont use pads(she chews them up)or newspapers and while she will go outside, she would rather go inside. any tips on training her
A: Nothing much other than patience and persistence. Try to set her up to succeed (ie don't give her too much freedom to make a mistake). Some dogs that do poorly with the pads work well with the canine litterbox system. And contact a local trainer/behaviorist to help you.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
5 Week Old Puppy
Q: I have taken in an orphaned 5 week old Bullmastiff/Great Pyrenees. The lady
that had him said that he was healthy but my sister in law came over last
night and said that she did not think it was normal for his tummy to be so
round and firm? He is happy and doesn't seem to have discomfort. He pees
regularly and poops before and after he eats. I did notice a bit of clear
mucus in his poop today. His poop is firm not hard but not really mushy, I was
feeding him formula and then the lady told me to soak puppy food in water
puree it and then mix in some formula 4 times a day. Is this what I should
be doing? He eats it all and drinks water. I am new to all this so I just
want to make sure he is ok? What do you think? I do have to take him in for
his shots at 7 weeks so I just can't really afford to take him in to the
vet 2 a month unless it is absolutely necessary. I also wanted to ask since
my puppy did not get to nurse from his mother and I am still nursing my
daughter should I maybe pump him some milk? Please help, Nicole
A: At 5 weeks he can certainly digest puppy food - the mixed in formula will add extra calories and nutrients - so I think is a fine diet. A firm tummy after eating is normal. All the time suggests intestinal parasites. I would definitely recommend having him dewormed. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
dog with damaged esophagus
Q: My dog was diagnosed with a damaged esophagus and was put on some meds to
coat the injury to aid in healing along with some acid inhibitors to stop
the vomiting of bile which he was experiencing. How long will it probably
take for him to overcome his lethargy and get back to normal?
A: That is a hard question to answer. Bodies heal at different rates and individuals respond to pain levels differently. Healing should start in 3-5 days but it will likely take a bit longer for the tissue to get back to a relatively normal state. My usual recommendation is -- if there is no improvement in 72-96 hours recheck.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
6 year old Yorkie
Q: My 6 yr, old Yorkie was taken to the vet to have her teeth cleaned under anesthesia and they called and said they could not do it because of her high creatin count,53.0 mg/dl and immediately used an Iv to flush her kidneys out, we picked her up that nite, and they put her on Hill's KD 2 weeks ago we tried canned also dry she eats very little but does drink water, is there any thing that can be added for taste to the food, other than diluted chicken broth so that she will eat? Also is there a chance of that count coming down? Thank you so much Jeanshackleford@cox.net
A: The goal of a kidney diet is low protein and low sodium. Anything that has these characteristics is fine. If she is having difficulty with this diet there are other kidney specific diets. I have better luck with the Royal Canin and the Eukanuba diets when it comes to taste-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
14 year old Pomeranian with collapsed trachea and 3 months ago suffered with pancreatitis
Q: Please help,
The vet gave Temaril-P for the collapsed trachea, and id and wd from prescriptions dog food. He was doing ok
but like today he is sitting in the corner and just breathing, he is drinking water but does not want to eat. Sometimes
with his prescription dog food I will give him a tablespoon of natural food which the other dog eats. I am getting
emotional exhausted worrying about the dog. He has good days and bad days. I love him, could you suggest
another medication for collapsed trachea without predisone. I just don't know what to do anymore.
Thank you for any advice that you can give me. Diane B
A: Unfortunately because collapsing trachea is a problem with anatomy there is no medication to directly treat it. The medications indirectly help - antihistamines help reduce respiratory secretions, antitussives reduce the coughing, bronchodilators help open the lower airways, etc. If the coughing is the main problem then one of the stronger antitussives like tussigon would be my recommendation. If he seems to be congested then an antihistamine like benadryl might help. If he is struggling to breathe than the bronchodilators like aminophylline might help. I would definitely discuss with your veterinarian your concerns and alternative medications.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
kittens
Q: Can Pro Pectalin gel be used safely in very small dosages for 8 week old kittens?
A: I have not every used it as such nor seen it reported being used. That said I know of nothing in the product that would be harmful.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherd mix with hip problems
Q: My 13 year old German Shepherd has serious hip problems. He often limps, sometimes simply collapses can't seem seem to walk at all until after resting awhile. The vet says he needs two hip replacements at a cost of $5,000 each. Further, he says he's not sure if the dog could handle the surgery due to his age.
Brutus (my dog) means everything in the world to me. I don't have, nor could I possibly get, $10,000 even if it was safe.
I love him desperately, and I can't stand seeing him in pain. He has pain pills and they help some, but not always. What can I possibly do for him?
A: Not sure what all has been done but I too would be very concerned about putting a 13 year old through tremendously major surgery like this. Our older dogs, particularly the older large breed dogs, are so very prone to arthritis and rear leg degeneration. There are several excellent supplements out there - Dasiquin and Vetridisc are my personal favorite but there are lots of options -- to help with joint health and with spinal health. Then there are medications - the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Previcox, Deramaxx, Rimadyl, etc. Tramadol is often used in conjunction with these medications to help with pain. If the spine is involved often the stronger steroids like prednisone are needed.
The goal is optimizing quality of life for as long as possible. And when it is no longer there to gently say goodbye.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Badly behaved Shitzu-Poodle mix
Q: My dog is a shitzu-poodle mix whose only redeeming attribute is ridiculous cuteness.
The bad manners, refusal to be potty-trained (coming up 2 years), not heeding even the nicest of commands, running into the street. Well, is there any hope for this dog?
A: Not knowing what has been done it is hard to say. Some dogs are more challenging than others to train to a desired level. My best suggestion is to locate a trainer/behaviorist nearby and discuss the problems with him/her and go from there. Make no mistake though it will be a lot of work and not be a quick fix.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Domestic Shorthair Tabby has beer belly
Q: My three year old tabby, neutered male, has what looks just like a beer belly! But he is far from a beer-swilling couch cat. He only gets two carefully measured meals of Iams per day. He romps and plays indoors, chasing balls, toys, socks, whatever. Outside, he climbs trees , chases squirrels and birds, performs what appear to be incredible gymnastics up in the tree branches.
Any idea why he has this big belly? He's a tall, long cat, and weighs only 11 lbs.
A: Mother nature designed felines to be amazing efficient metabolically. Think of the feline in the wild - it has to survive on the small number of calories it gets in the mouse or bird it eats minus all the calories spent stalking, pouncing, and killing the animal. Most domestic kitties - even the active ones - have a tremendous excess of calorie compared to what mother nature intended and as a result store that excess energy. The body stores excess energy as fat and in the cat the first place it deposits in the "belly". You can try switching to a lower calorie - indoor, less active, etc - food OR reducing the amount of food he currently gets. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua Puppy
Q: Dear askthevet@savannahbest,
I bought my Mom a 9 week chihuahua puppy last Wed. from a man I thought was
a reputable dealer.
He gave us a ziplock bag of the feed he had been feeding but said not to
worry if she didn't eat the first night or until she got comfortable
in her new surroundings. That night every time we offered the feed (which btw
was a cheap brand) to the puppy she would look at it a kind of gag.
She ate a few bites, but threw most of that up. We called the breeder and he
said she was fine, that she just missed her family and she would eventually
eat.
By 1:00 p.m. the next day I knew she wasn't getting any better and she
seemed a lot worse to me. She was just laying in her bed, very lethargic
and wouldn't make any effort to eat, but was still drinking when we put
water in front of her. Within the next hour her body temp had dropped until
she felt like she was freezing and she wouldn't even try to get up. Her body
was beginning to draw in a strange arch with her head and upper body area
drawing around to the left and her rear area, her hips, left leg & tail were
all being pulled around to the left. She looked really strange. At this point
we surely didn't think this was normal and rushed her to the vet. The vet
said she had low blood sugar but it was so bad he did't know that he could
save her. She also had a body temp of 94 (even after we had been trying our
best to warm her up for the past hour). He said the temp was result of low
blood sugar.
He kept the puppy at the vet all night in a warning pen, giving her karo and
what hever else he thougt might help her chances. My younger sister went
with me to take her there and she was so upset the doctor said he would try
everything he could to save her - but nothing worked and he called us aout
7:30 A.M. to tell us she was gone. We called the breeder as soon as we found
out. The man's wife answered the phone - she is also a breeder and involved in
the busuiness.
My voice cracked when I told her the puppy had died and what the vet said,
she could also hear my sister and Mom sobbing in the background.
She was very sympathic and said when we bought the puppy she was supposed to
tell us to feed the puppy some fruit loop cereal to boost his tendency to
experirence a dramatic drop in blood sugar. She said she just forgot to
mention it and that she was sorry. No one said anything about blood sugar
issues,
we would not have bought the dog, we haven't had any dealings with something
like that! She said they had one more female puppy and they would replace
the one that died because she felt responsible for not telling us about the
blood sugar issues.
We reminded her (which she already knew) that we had bought the dog for my
ailing mother (at the doctor's suggestion) but my mom had gotten so upset
over this puppy that she was refusing to have another one. We then asked that
under the circunstances could we not just get a refund instead of another
puppy, but she refused to return our money. Which I think is very unethical
especialy after she even said she forgot to mention the blood sugar issues
to us. Plus the fact that instead of creating a positive experince for my
Mom and one that might bring her peace and encouragement this had actually
gotten her so upset that she was worse and the Dr. had to call in calming
medications for her after she got so stressed out over this puppy. However
the breeders are still insisting we must take another puppy and my Mom has
absolutey refused to have it. I can't take it (nor do I even want a
chihuahua. I have no place for it, we already have one spoiled Maltee -poo
and two very aloof Cornish Rex cats that rule our home. My single sister -
mother to 3 sons already breeds and sales Corgie's so she always has a house
full of babies and kids all the time and she can not take another dog she
never wanted.
Dear *askthevet@savannahbest.com*if you can offer me any advice on getting
these breeders to return my money it would be greatly appreciated.
Or if we are in the wrong for expecting a refund please let me know.
I apppreciate your time.
Thanks,
A: This is a much better question for someone with legal expertise. I can tell you that the Department of Argiculture is the first place to report such an occurrence to -- breeders in most states are required to be licensed and the sale of any sick or unhealthy puppy is something that they investigate. You can also report to the Better Business Bureau and even enlist the local media outlets to publicize what happened - sometimes public outcry will force responsible behavior.
Some states have "lemon laws" that cover puppies - others do not.
My best suggestion is to contact someone with a legal education or background for further legal steps you can take. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Green Poop
Q: My 8 year old female rat terrier sometimes has olive green poops. She has no other symptoms. Could she be sick?
A: Possibly yes and possibly no. What comes in affects what comes out so if what she is eating is green either naturally or dyed (some dog foods) then that may be discoloring the feces. If in doubt take a sample in for your veterinarian to examine for problems like parasites or high bacterial levels. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
6 Year Old Yellow Lab
Q: We moved from AZ. To central Florida in November 08.
We have a huge green and grassy yard. About 2 months ago, Boone was walking
and sniffing outside and began to bleed from his left nostril. It was very
scary but it stopped in about an hour. I called our vet and she said not to
be concerned.
Last Thursday evening, Boone was licking his feet and the same nostril began
to bleed. Again, very scary. It took about 2 hours to get it to stop
totally. Took Boone to the vet to be checked the next morning. The vet did
blood work and all was good. He did a visual of his teeth and nothing
significant. He said if the nose bleeding happens again he would need a
full x-ay under general anesthesia. He gave us some antihistamines and Cipro
for the next 10 days. I am concerned because the vet said it could be nasal
tumors and they are generally cancer.
The last several days, Boone is sneezing when he goes outside and hacking
occasionally when he is outside. He is licking his feet but not excessively.
Boone does have a history of ear infections.
What do you think is going on?
Thank you for your help. I am scared to death.
Donna Salak
A: A couple thoughts - there are several western plants that are prone to causing foreign bodies in the nasal passageways of critters. Foxtails are one of the most common but there are several others. It could be that something of this nature got lodged in his nose leading to the bleeding that you are seeing. Severe allergies or allergic reactions with intense inflammation can also lead to nose bleeds because of the increased tenderness and bloodflow to the surface of those structures. And yes nasal cancer is a thought - he is a bit young and the wrong nose shape for the common cancer presentation but anything is possible.
My first two ruleouts with this presentation is foreign body and fungal infection. Severe allergies/sinusitis next and then cancer. Nasal Xrays. endoscopy, nasal wash, etc are all appropriate next diagnostic steps if the situation does not improve. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Elderly Yorkie with Urinary Incontinence
Q: Our 14 year old (8 pound) Yorkie was just prescribed 25 mg Proin chewable tablets for urinary incontinence. Directions are 1/2 tablet every 12 hours. My concern is that a friend of ours, gives her 30 pound Springer Spaniel the same dose. Is this too much medication for our 8 pound dog?
A: There is a dose range on Proin - usually the higher end is started at and then dropped back once it is starting to be effective. That said if you have any questions at all please get back with your regular veterinarian that prescribed the medication.
Incidentally, there is also a liquid formulation of Proin that is vanilla flavored - your vet should be able to order it -- if long-term liquid is easier to admister than pills. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
8 Month Old Maltese
Q: 8 mo old neutered male sometimes wakes up with hard knot at base of penis. He sometimes hops and limps on his back legs and then lays down to lick his private area. The area looks somewhat ash color a little. What could this be?
A: There is a structure called the bulbis glandis that is at the base of the penis. It enlarges to a ball like structure in the excited penis and is the structure that is responsible for causing the "tie" that occurs with canine mating. In the neutered male the reproductive hormones are gone but tactile stimulation as well as non-sexual stimulation can trigger engorgement of the penis and enlargement of this structure. This is very similar to erections that prepubescent male children get when they have to urinate. The ashen color occurs b/c the bloodflow is somewhat redirected to the penis and less to the skin. I am sure it is a tad uncomfortable and unusual feeling hence the odd walking and the licking.
Assuming that all else is normal (no troubles urinating, normal urine, etc) it is a normal part of being an adolescent male. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Very Ill Silky Terrier
Q: Dear Doctor, I find myself in a very helpless position. I have never had a problem making sure my dogs health is a priority. 4 months ago my husband lost his job of 26 years and we have rapidly gone thru our savings. I myself am heart patient now with no insurance. My best friend of 10 years, K.C. a silky terrier, is sick. In the last 4 weeks she has been losing weight.She has been overweight and had a hearty appitite. Now, she eats with no enthusiasum. She's had strange cough/hacking/dry heave episodes and goopy eyes. She's very sluggish and I've noticed she's had diarrhea the past few days, maybe longer as I wasnt paying attention before. I gave her a hair cut the other day-thats when I noticed the weight loss. I put her on the scale-16 lbs. 2 mos ago I weighed her routinely and she weighed 22 lbs. I can you can't diagnose via email but can you tell me anything encouraging as I feel the vet will want a lot of money I don't have. Thank you
A: The weight loss and appetite changes concern me the most. The hacking cough could JUST be upper respiratory (like a cold or sinus infection or allergies) but the other definitely suggests something more serious is occurring. The first thing that comes to mind with the symptoms you describe is heart disease but frustratingly there are many other possibilities that would present exactly like this. It may be beneficial to take her in for an exam and hopefully the veterinarian can detect a likely problem and maybe minimize testing to just that likely problem.
I wish I had better information to give you but sadly there are just too many possible causes - some mild, some serious, some critical - that can present like this that I have no way of differentiating which one it likely is! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Little Chihuahua
Q: My daughters chihuahau started this cough it sounds like she coughs inward in stead of outward what may be causing it? She would do it once in a while when she seemed exited but now it is for longer times.
A: This is a very common phenomenon in smaller dogs and in dogs with flatter faces. It can happen in any dog but these seem predisposed.
There are two underlying causes to this - one or the other alone may be causing it or most often the two in combination.
(1) Reverse sneeze - this is analogous to a post-nasal drip in people. Respiratory secretions from the nasal passage way have two options they can drain out the nose or into the throat. If they drain into the throat in sufficient volume or if they are excessively thick then the body has to clear out the secretions (think of clearing your throat) which often has this type of inward cough. Anything that increases respiratory secretions such as a cold or high levels of pollen in the air will make this happen more frequently/more severely.
(2) Weak trachea syndrome - the trachea is the primary airway from the mouth to the lungs. Think of it as a straw. The trachea is help open with rings of cartilage that normally are strong enough to withstand the suction placed on the trachea when the lungs expand to bring air in. IF the cartilage rings are too few, too small, or not strong enough then like the straw that is sucked on too hard, the trachea will collapse inward when the suction is high enough. Exertion/exercise and excitement are too common situations when the airflow/suction is increased. The body has to force air thru the trachea to help open it back up and this too will sound like an abbreviated cough.
Problem (1) is primarily anatomy but external factors such as respiratory irritants can aggravate it. Antihistamines can be helpful to reduce that aggravation and lessen the symptoms. Problem (2) is strictly an anatomy problem and as such there is no medicine that will help it.
Both problems tend to be more aggravations than serious medical problems. Management is the best choice in most cases to minimize the impact on quality of life. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
3 Week Old Bottle Fed Kitten
Q: I have a 3 week old kitten that I am bottle feeding.mommy took off .
My baby kitty seems lithargic her tongue is white she is eating half of what
she normally does.she went from taking the bottle to the syringe.her left
eye seems to be infected.also I noticed that she had a mucus like substance
coming from her anus.help me with something I can do I cant get her to
The vet till thursday.
A: The infected eye is most likely the early signs of an upper respiratory infection which is a very, very common problem for kittens. The mucus from the anus is likely related to her change in diet - the infant intestinal tract is a bit slow to adjust and often some GI upset accompanies the change from "real" to "artificial" milk. I would have a fecal examination done on the kitten though because intestinal worms and other parasites are also very common in kittens at this age. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Westie had a Fall
Q: I have a 5 month old westie....about 1/2 hour ago she fell not even 18
inches off the ground, yelped and is not putting any weight on rear leg....no
longer crying and doesn't appear to be in any pain...i get a little reaction
when i touch the upper part of the leg....she has an appt in the morning
already for shots...do you think she will be ok until then....it is Sunday
afternoon and will be difficult to get her to a vet....
A: Most likely this problem has been addressed already but in case not or for future reference - immediately after an injury it is hard to assess how serious the injury is many times. Think of twisting your ankle - most of the time even if mild it really hurts for 30 min to an hour but is fine after that. More serious injuries are severe initially but do not get better that quickly. Same holds for our dogs. The "ouchiness" initially is often disproportionate to the nature of the injury - it is hurts worse than it is injured. I recommend strict rest and reassess in 4-6 hours. Cold compresses will also help out with pain/swelling.
Of course, this is in general. Some injuries are readily apparent as more serious such as severe swelling, obvious abnormal shape to the leg, bone protruding thru skin, etc. These warrant a much more aggressive approach.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
White Boxer
Q: We have a 1 yr 4 month solid white female boxer.(this is our 3rd boxer-
other 2 were males) We have thought of breeding her and was going to wait till
after her first cycle, but nothing et. Is this normal? We have taken her
to the vet and she has passed all tests and had all updates as far as check
ups with our vet. Should we wait, get her checked, or have her fixed? Do we
need to get her fixed if she isn't having cycles? Thanks for all your
advice.
Rick
A: When a female dog starts having heat cycles is highly variable. The larger more athletic breeds tend to be a bit slower in the onset of "puberty" than the smaller breeds. We see this in the human world as well - extremely athletic female teenagers are often slower to have their first menstrual cycle. The wolf (from which the domestic dog is derived) females often do not start "cycling" until 2 years of age.
I say all this to say that while it is not "textbook normal" it certainly is not uncommon for some female dogs to be "late bloomers". I do not get worried about reproductive problems until they are around 2 years of age and no cycle still. I would recommend NOT breeding her on her first cycle (she needs to be 2 years anyway to be sure she is free of hip dysplasia) to see if her cycles are normal as well as the interval between her cycles normal. This will give a better idea about reproductive health.
Also appreciate that the solid white color in Boxers (and several other breeds) is linked to problems such as deafness and blindness. While she is apparently unaffected her offspring run a high risk of those problems especially bred to a male with significant white on him. I would definitely take a long look into the potential problems of offspring and decide if it is worth the risk of those problems before deciding to breed her. We kill millions of dogs in this country for no other reason than there are no homes for them - - bringing more into the world should be done carefully, thoughtfully, and responsibly. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Boxer Mating Question
Q: Dear Vet
My Boxer was bred to my resident stud for the 2nd time on 28 Feb; 2 and 4
March 2009; The 1st Litter produced 6 beautiful healthy pups + 1 stillborn
(sadly).
She's just had her 3rd estrus and I've mentioned above the dates they were
mated.
However, my Vet says on ultrasound at 40 days after 28 February her uterus
is EMPTY. She's had morning sickness throughout this breeding and is not
interested in her food of any kind. Her basic food is Eukanuba platinum
performance and I've tried (as with 1st pregnancy) adding a liitle cottage
cheese or hamburger or husky or saldanha sardines to give my girl some extra
excitement.
SHE REALLY IS NOT INTERESTED IN FOOD but obliges with 1 small meal daily.
She's also reaching a bit.
Could she be pregnant as I've had a Vet tell me before and I'm an
experienced registered breeder that a bitch of mine is having a "phantom"
pregnancy and then on day 63 she produced 3 x 500gram healthy male Boxer
pups !!!! ????
Please respond to my mail as I'd like to tear my hair out now :- )
Kind regards
Colleen Furrows - GUMBANDEVU BOXERS - KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa.
A: The difficulty with detecting canine pregnancy is that every female dog after estrus goes through the SAME hormonal changes whether she is actually pregnant or not. This means physical features such as mammary gland development, appetite, thickening of the abdomen, etc all occur even if there are no babies. Ultrasound usually will detect feti from day 21 onward - that said no test is 100% and certainly there can be feti in there that the ultrasound missed. How common is this - not very. Xrays done around week 8 will detect developing fetal skeletons.
So the answer is -- she may be pregnant sure. But with a negative ultrasound at Day 40 it is unlikely. The physical signs that you are seeing are the result of the high progesterone which occurs after estrus and is NOT dependent on the presence of feti. Meaning her body "thinks" it is pregnant whether it is or not. Therefore physical signs alone are never enough to determine pregnancy on. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Scottie with Nose Pigmentation
Q: My Scottie is wheaten color and was born with black nose and had a black nose until around age 2. I understand the standard for a Scottie's colored nose is black and should not be any other color regardless of her coat color. My Scottie is healthy and shows no health issues. I've mentioned it to my vet and he doesn't have an answer for me. I would appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks.
Lana Millenacker
A: I am guessing that the nose has changed color from black to another color? It is not uncommon for the lighter colored dogs to get loss of nasal pigment especially in the winter. This phenomenon is so common that it is actually addressed in the Labrador standard re yellow Labs and "winter nose". Loss of pigment can also occur as dogs get older. Sometimes it will be an early sign of low thyroid. And rarely it can be an early indicator of auto-immune disease particularly VKH (never heard of a Scottie with this - this is a problem of the spitz type dogs such as Chows, Huskies, and Akitas). Auto-immune disease is inevitably associated with ulcer type sores so if these are not occuring it is profoundly unlikely.
My guess would be it is simply pigment loss not associated with any medical problem. Again we see this quite often in the yellow colored dogs.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Stray Dog
Q: My husband and I have seen a stray dog, a really beautiful one, a couple of times. He has followed our dog home twice when we're walking with her The dogs like each other, but the stray is clearly terrified of humans, and of cats, too. He's been seen around the neighborhood several times and is clearly a stray. We'd like to adopt him , but can't come close to catching him to get a collar and leash on.
He's hungry, and he'll eat the food we put out for him, but not until we're about 12 feet away. What can we do?
A: Try sitting on the ground or better yet laying down if possible and have some yummy food in hand (those are very low threat positions). You can get a live trap from most rescues/shelters and catch him that way. Whatever you do, don't try to chase him or follow him.... he'll be even more frightened and probably think you're being aggressive or trying to chase him away. If you see him from a distance and want to try getting a little closer to him before sitting or laying down, approach him by walking backwards...That is also very non-threatening, but do it slowly.. Good luck with him - poor lad! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
15 Year Old Scottie,/b>
Q: I have a 15 year old Scottie, Mazel, who is having problems. She is
basically very healthy. Now, in the last three months she is sneezing
and her eyes are runny. We have had blood work done, fine; X-ray of
sinus and teeth, one side of sinus little cloudy; irrigated that side
and got bloody discharge, pretty good bit of it; eyes runny. She has
been on three different antibiotics, and I don't see a difference. Now
she may go a couple of days without eating. The gunk from her nose was
sent to the lab...no cancer cells, not bacteria. I need suggestions on
what the problem could be.
Thank you,
A: Has a culture and sensitivity been done on the nasal discharge or just a cytology? It may be a bacterial infection not responsive to the antibiotics used or a fungal infection. Cannot ruleout cancer just because there were no cells in the irrigation -- some cancers do not shed cells easily. Endoscopy might be helpful to see what is going on.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Abandoned Puppies
Q: Hi
A: Diarrhea is very common in orphaned pups. Pups rely a lot on the surface antibodies present in milk to protect against diarrhea. Also mother's milk is the most easily digestible food for puppy intestines. Other things are digested less well. So long as the pups are eating okay, growing, and there is no blood in the diarrhea other than making sure they have been dewormed properly I really do not worry about diarrhea. Have a fecal check done to make sure there are no parasites like coccidia but most likely it is just a normal consequence of the situation.
As to bottle feeding -- if they are eating out of pans/dishes fine there is no reason to bottle feed.
Good luck with them -- raising orphaned babies is never easy. They are lucky to have you caring for them!-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
5 month Miniature Schnauzer
Q: I have a 5 month old male miniature schnauzer. He is potty trained and within the past 2 weeks he will go outside and then as soon as he's inside will do his business. His stools are loose almost like diarrhea and he has been licking his penis a lot which has resulted in terrible breath. Is this normal?
A: At his age and being a boy dogs - licking the penis is a very normal dog behavior. You can try to dissuade him and teach him not to and you will likely be able to reduce how frequently he does it but unlikely to stop him completely. As to the soft poop - if it persists I would definitely recommend having him checked for intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepherd with Eye Problem
Q: My five year old German Shepherd mix has had for the last few weeks, small amounts of yellowish-white discharge coming out of the inner corners of his eyes. It happens once or twice a day. He seems absolutely fine in all other ways. Could this be a symptom of something serious? Is it possible that its due to the high pollen count? Can dogs have allergies like people?
A: Dogs definitely can have allergies just like people. In areas with extremely high pollen count (such as southeast Georgia in the spring with the pine pollen) even the non-allergic individual can be irritated by the levels of pollen in the air. Eye discharge is usually white, grey, or clear. When it dries it often is a reddish-brown. Any yellow or green color suggests a secondary bacterial infection. The latter will likely need some antibiotic eye drops to clear up. Excess discharge without infection can be managed with frequent cleaning and flushing the eye with artificial tears or saline eye wash.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pregnant Pomeranian,/b>
Q: Hello, my name is Corie and our female pom is pregnant. We had an xray done but I wondered why they don't do ultra sounds?? I mean xrays are supposed to be harmful on human babies right? Which is cheaper and why???
A: Ultrasound can be done and can detect pregnancy as early as 21 days. At 28 days fetal heartbeats can be seen. Xrays cannot be done until 7 weeks when the fetal skeletons start to calcify. Ultrasound helps evaluate fetal viability and confirm pregnancy. Xrays allows for a fetal count (to know how many babies need to come out before the dam is done whelping), evaluation of fetal size (ie how likely is the dam to need a Caesarian?), and confirmation of pregnancy. Repeated exposure to Xrays can be harmful but the amount of exposure in one Xray is less than environmental exposure so is not considered harmful. As to cost - that depends entirely on the clinic and their pricing. In most places I have worked or dealt with Xrays are more expensive that a simply pregnancy confirmation ultrasound. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Spay and Neuter Questions,/b>
Q: I recently read that it is better to give a male dog a vasectomy instead of neutering him. And that it is better to give a female a tubal ligation than to spay her. Both were supposed to be safer and better. Is this true? What are the pros and cons? Thank you. Carleen
A: I am not sure what is meant by better.
For the female dog -- after every heat cycle even if she does not get pregnant her body thinks it is pregnant. The same hormone changes occur stimulating the uterus and the mammary glands in the pregnant and nonpregnant female dog for 2 months after being in heat. This repetitive stimulation causes a very high rate of breast cancer in dogs - one oncologist feels that 99% of intact female dogs will have at least one tumor in the mammary gland. Not sure if it is this high but it is high. The non-pregnant stimulated uterus fills up with secretions and becomes an ideal site for infection to develop. An infected uterus in a dog is very similar to an infected appendix in a person -- it brews slowly and then rapidly progresses to a life-threatening situation. Uterine and ovarian cancer is not uncommon in dogs either. One of my mom's Lab bitches developed an ovarian tumor that by the time it was found had filled the abdomen up with over 5 gallons of fluid and taken her from 78 lbs to 49 lbs very rapidly. There is no doubt she would have died without surgery and she nearly died with surgery!
Spaying reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer to zero because the tissues are gone. Spaying prior to the first heat reduces the risk of mammary cancer to almost zero but eliminating the repetitive stimulation of that tissue. It eliminates the risk of pyometra (uterine infection) completely. And, most importantly, eliminates the birth of unwanted pups.
Compared to tubal ligation - the only thing tubal ligation does is dramatically reduce the risk of pregnancy. All the other concerns from uterine infections to mammary cancer still exists.
Cons to spaying - aside from the surgical considerations are mainly urinary incontinence. Around 5-10% of spayed female dogs will develop incontinence at some point in their life. This readily treated with Proin or estrogen supplementation. I know much has been made about other potential problems but to day NONE have been proven to be directly linked to spaying. Tremendous amount of research into pediatric spay/neuters failed to reveal any other definite health problems caused by spaying.
So, for the female dogs not to be bred or done breeding IMO the pros FAR OUTWEIGH the cons at this time.
Neutering the male dog is not so clear cut regarding health benefits. The health benefits of neutering really do not occur until the dog is around 5 or so when virtually all intact male dogs start to develop prostatic enlargement. Intact dogs are at much higher risk for prostatic infections and abscesses than neutered male dogs. And neutered male dogs are at zero risk for testicular torsion and testicular cancer.
The real benefit to neutering comes from the behavioral effects. And considering behavior is the number one reason for abandonment and euthanasia in this country, behavioral benefits are very important ones. The removal of testosterone reduces tremendously several undesirable behaviors such as urine marking, mounting behaviors, roaming to find intact females, and aggression with same sex dogs. In addition there is some thought that sexual frustration manifests itself in all kinds of destructive behaviors. Neutering removes that sexual frustation.
Again vasectomy while reducing tremendously the ability to reproduce does nothing for these other concerns.
Cons to neutering - aside from surgical considerations - males neutered prior to puberty are taller and rangier than they would have been if allowed to go thru puberty. There is some suggested link between osteosarcoma and the increased height altho nothing definitive has been proven yet.
Again for the non-breeding male or the male does with his breeding career IMO neutering benefits OUTWEIGHS the risks.
There is a misconception that altering causing the dog to get overweight. This is untrue -- the only way they get overweight is to eat more calories than they burn. Altering drops internal metabolic rate which means there needs to be a drop in calorie intake. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Newfoundland with bouts of shaking
Q: Hello,
She does have a urinary problem and takes Proin for incontinence, and now has a urinary tract infection we're treating with Clavamox, but she was not on the Clavamox last week when she had the "first bout", and she has been on Proin for a long time, so I don't think that is it. Any thought about what's going on? Thanks! Lucy
A: Petit mal seizures can present like this - shaking but responsive. So I would definitely make sure you get her into see your vet as soon as you can. Proin can potentially cause overstimulation but it usually presents as rapid heart rate. A good place to start would be general bloodwork and go from there -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shaved Imperial Shitzu
Q: We shaved our Imperial Shitzu's hair off about a week and a half ago. She has been a totally different dog since! She weighs 5 lbs and thinks she is the bomb! She loved playing, running, prancing around almost with a diva attitude and attacking her brother Shitzu who is twice her size. Now that all of her hair is gone she trembles , shakes and doesn't play like she did! It's really quite sad, she looks like she is crushed and almost embarrassed. Is this normal or do you think there may be something else wrong?
Thanks
A: Hard to say - shaking can be stress or a sign of an underlying medical problem. Often times shaving as it alters thermoregulation will cause some shaking. I think to be sure, a trip to your vet is not a bad idea -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Parvo
Q: How exactly does parvo start and what's the cycle it takes in a dog? Also, how old until they outgrow the risk of parvo?
A: Parvovirus (CPV) is spread through oral/nasal exposure to contaminated feces. The virus first infects lymph nodes and then spreads to intestines through the bloodstream. Once in the intestines it spreads throughout the entire GI tract (tongue to colon) AND it also spreads to bone marrow, thymus (if present), and the rest of the lymph nodes. It has also been isolated in the lungs, spleen, liver, kidney, and myocardium (heart muscle). Different strains infect different tissues preferentially -- some strains hit the intestines hard, others hit the lungs hard, and still others prefer the heart. Pretty much any replicating cell will be infected by CPV. Because it hits the lymph node and bone marrow it also causes immunosuppression which sets the animal up for any secondary infections. These secondary infectors often are what lead to fatalities through intestinal damage, bacteria in the bloodstream, endotoxemia, and disseminated intervascular coagulation.
Clinical signs start off with depression, lethargy, and inappetance. Drinking slowly abates and then stops. Nausea is severe - vomiting occurs to variable degrees. And severe hemorrhagic diarrhea develops. Dehydration rapidly develops as well as electrolyte imbalances. Other clinical signs vary with the strain of CPV - cardiac problems, respiratory disease, etc can all develop. And THEN the effects of secondary infections set in.
There is usually an incubation phase of 4-14 days with the average around 7 days between exposure and onset of clinical signs.
There is no magical age at which CPV infection can no longer occur. ANY dog of ANY age who is not protected via past exposure or vaccination can be infected. Older, larger dogs tend to have less severe illness but that is a very general statement. CPV infection is most severe in both morbidity and mortality in puppies less than 6 months old but any age dog can get it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dogs craving peanut butter treats
Q: My three dogs love peanut butter treats and I used to keep them on hand at all times. Then, during the peanut butter scare, I threw out what I had on hand, and they all disappeared on the markets. Now my kids think I'm a heartless mom! Do you know if any have reappeare, what they're called, where to get them?
I thank you from the bottom of my little doggies' hearts for any suggestions!
A: I have not heard of a release date for many of the peanut butter containing products that were recalled. The FDA or the individual manufacturers likely has that info. If you want to make some homemade ones here is a quick recipe
Mix all ingredients together, shape into desired appearance, bake slowly at 325F until outside is hard. Time will vary with size:surface area ratio. Usually 10 min for small, 20 for medium, and 30 min for large but this varies a LOT with the shape.
Of course use a human peanut butter NOT part of the recall for this! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Min Pin with distended diaphragm
Q: Before her first birthday, our min-pin (now six), was kicked across a room by her previous owner. (I don't believe she was ever treated, although he said she was). We've had her for the past five years and other than a little overweight, she's had no problems.
However, a couple of days ago I noticed her diaphragm is extended, the bone right above her tail is sticking out and, she's experiencing on and off lameness in her hind legs. When I tried to pet her today, she screamed.
Please help me help her. Thank you!
A: My best suggestion is to get her into your veterinarian for radiographs. If there is something wrong with her anatomy no medicine will correct it. Depending on what is wrong the therapy could vary tremendously. That said I am suspicious that what you are seeing is not related to what she experienced when she was younger - would have expected to see problems sooner to that if it was related. But the only way to know is to have your veterinarian examine her and most likely need a radiographs -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
10 year old Maltese with CHF
Q: I have a 10 yr. old maltese with congestive heart failure. He is taking
enalapril, lasix and Vetmedin every day. In the beginning, 9 months ago, all the
meds made a big difference. He is now coughing again, sometimes very badly if
he tries to bark especially or gets excited. He recently had a cut on his
penis and the vet gave him a steroid cream. He licked it off for all the five
days I put it on him. He never coughed once in the five days and running
around like a puppy. I know steroids can't be good for him but would it prolong
his life or quality of life? and for how long? Do you recommend any other
medications? Is there anything I can do when he has a really bad day, like
maybe up the dosage of any of his meds? The vet said he could live another
five years with the vetmedin, but another vet told me he may collapse his
trachea due to constant coughing. Any advice would be so appreciated. Thank you.
Barbara
A: Oftentimes chronic bronchitis goes hand-in-hand with cardiac disease in smaller dogs. It is very possible that the coughing he is doing is more from that than the heart. In which case a low dose of steroids (i really like a product called Temaril-P but sometimes straight prednisone is needed) may very well improve his quality of life significantly. Other meds like cough suppressants may be useful but appreciate they are only covering up the problem. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkshire Terrier with red skin spots
Q: Dear sir/madam,
Please please can you help me. My name is Andy and I live in England.
(Birmingham)I own a 6 year old male Yorkshire terrier. He has always been
in good health until now. I brush him every day and bath him every 6-7
weeks. I have just discovered various very small red dots on his body for
example ..his spine, back, neck and around his back legs. It is also causing
his skin to peal and become very scaly almost like very bad dandruff...I
use dog shampoo and he eats a dry biscuit food from my local vets..
He is not in any pain and he eats very well..He just finds it very
uncomfortable when I brush him...
I am worried to death and starting to fear the worst for my little
friend...please please I would welcome your advice on this issue..anything
just to put my mind at rest until Friday when I take him to see my
vet..many thanks for your help..
Kind regards best wishes...Andy Cotterill
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Without seeing the lesions I cannot say with any definite diagnosis but what you describe sounds very much like a mild skin infection or allergic reaction to something environmental. Hopefully the trip to your vet yielded some answers and he is getting better.
In general, topical products for irritated skin work equally well for dogs as for people. Antihistamines like benadryl can also be given to dogs. Fatty acids, Vit E, and Vit C are good supplements for skin -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Scottish terrier eats stones
Q: I have a 3 year old Scottish terrier, who eats stones, any kind, and has surgery 5 times since getting her 3 years ago.... what makes her do this?...Is she deficient in some vitamin? She is a lovely dog, but my husband is getting tired of these expenses. HELP
Thanx, Joyce Kopper
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Pica, eating of non edible things, is not an uncommon problem for dogs. Sometimes it appears to be a mineral deficiency so it would not be a bad idea to supplement her diet with a good broad vitamin/mineral. That said, many times it is a behavioral abnormality rather than a medical one in which case there is nothing medically that will help. Managing her environment to prevent access to stones and having her wear a basket muzzle when in an environment with stones are my two best recommendations. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
dog with problems
Q: Hey I'm Dillan and I need your help. I just got a new dog. His name is Brock. Hes about 6 months old and he has a pus infected scab right above his tail on his back and he keeps chewing on it. He'll walk with a limp every now and then I've had him for a week but I just noticed it 2 days ago. He won't barely let me put peroxide or neosporn on it without him going ballistic and he also has a big boil like pimple on his chin. I want to take him to the vet but my grandma wants to wait 2 days (Tuesday) to take him to the vet because his shots are half off on that day.. I was wondering if you think it might be something serious???
Please reply soon with your opinion
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: I imagine your veterinarian has already looked at these sores and helped your dog get better. From what you describe the spot above the tail sounds like a hot spot. Hot spots are best treated by removing the hair and scab to allow air circulation and treating with a combination of soothing and antibacterial products. Drying agents like alcohol and powders are also important to dry the sore out. The sore on the chin sounds like a deep local infection - very common in that area just like a true pimple in a person. As to the limping -- there are so many possible reasons for occasional limping my best advice is to have a good orthopedic examination done +/- radiographs to determine or at least narrow the list of possible causes. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shih Tsu throws up
Q: My Shitzu periodically throws up just a yellow liquid. It doesn't happen all the time just every so often. He acts fine otherwise. Any direction would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Peggy
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Many times periodic vomiting in our canine and feline companions is just part of being the species that they are. Both were designed by mother nature to be easy vomiters -- the least irritation to the stomach and they vomit. In cats this is most often hair irritant, in dogs it is most often eating something that does not agree with them. Other common causes of periodic vomiting is increased acid in the stomach either b/c of producing more acid or a feeding schedule that leaves the stomach empty for long hours in a sensitive dog; respiratory irritation leading to increased mucous that is swallowed and irritates the stomach; and a food sensitivity.
If it only happens occasionally and he eats well, is in good body condition, and has no other problems it may just be "his normal". If you want to work it up further I would recommend starting with bloodwork and an upper GI series. Ultrasound and endoscopy are also useful diagnostics. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat's jaw won't close
Q: Hello,
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: There are a number of potential causes ranging from autoimmune disease to poison to cancer. The radiographs pretty much ruled out an anatomical problem but nothing else. Unfortunately more diagnostics are going to be needed to find a cause. I hope that he can get better and back to a quality of life! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
12 year old Shitzu
Q: Our Shitzu has small bubble-cyst like things growing on her head and now on her ear. She is almost 12 and wonderful. Needs bathing more frequently Can you help
identify what this is? One gets scabs because she is affectionate and we
have bumped it petting her.
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Unfortunately, the only way to know what a growth is for sure is to have it removed and sent to a pathologist for review. Dermal cysts are very common in older dogs and are usually benign. But some cancers can present initially as a cyst. My best advice is to get her into your vet and get a biopsy done. That is the only way to know for sure what it is. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bichon/Chihuahua puppy
Q: Hi There
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: I strongly suspect the "spell" that you witness was a brief hypoglycemic spell. Low blood sugar is a common problem in young, very small puppies. If he does this again try giving him some sugar water or honey to see if it helps. A petit mal seizure can also present like this and there are many brain and body reasons for seizures. As to the scratching, again, so many potential causes it is hard to say what is causing it - allergies are a possibility although very rare in a young puppy. External parasites, dry skin, contact irritants, etc are all more likely causes.. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
sick puppy
My mothers dog is having some problems.
He is having like phlem come up and tar like stools.
What are these indications of?
Oh and she said two weeks ago he vomited up worms. This is when she gave him
an over the counter worm medicine.
He is not eating or drinking very well either.
Please get back in touch as soon as possible.
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Phlegm is a sign of respiratory secretions and suggest the respiratory tract is irritated. Dark brown or black stools suggest bleeding in the small intestines. Both of these have many potential causes ranging from parasites to allergies to infection to cancer. I would definitely recommend a trip to your veterinarian especially since he is not feeling well. The presence of worms certainly suggests at least part of the problem is parasites. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
collapsed trachea in Toy Poodle
I HAVE BEEN GIVING HER BENEDRYL 25MG 2X A DAY.. WHEN IT GETS REALLY FREQUENT HER VET SAYS TO START HER ON PREDNASONE GOING DOWN ON DOSAGE EVERY THREE TO FOUR DAYS.OTHERWISE HE SAYS DO THE BENEDRYL. WELL I WAS THINKING THE CHILDRENS LIQUID BENEDRYL MIGHT WORK BETTER (USING A MEDICENE DROPPER) BUT MY FRIEND BOUGHT ME BENEDRYL ALLERGY AND SINUS. IT ALSO HAS PHENYLEPHRINE AS AN ACTIVE INGREDIENT! THE BOX SAYS FOR ANTIHISTIME AND NASAL DECONGESTION. SHOULD I GIVE HER SOME OF THIS OR TAKE IT BACK AND TRADE FOR THE BENEDRYL ALLERGY CHILDRENS LIQUID WITH ONLY THE DIPHENHYDRAMINE HCI? THANKS, DONNA AND MY BABY ALI.
Donna Rivas
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: I would stick with the antihistamine alone. There is really nothing that the other medication is needed for. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Llasa Apso not herself
Q: Hi,
-Alyssa
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Trauma is a definite possibility. Full or infected anal glands are another common cause for the symptoms that you are describing. And there are many others - nonspecific pain can arise from many places and for many reasons. My best advice - check her anal glands, empty them if they are full, and if they are not full or that does not help get her into your veterinarian as soon as you can. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
sick kitten
Q: Thanks for your site. I have been reading some thing and they seem around
the same things that are happening to my kitten but some things a little
different. My cat had 4 kittens and one Lily was chunky and eating all the
time. She always was fluffly and playful and loved to crawl up our chest
and go to sleep. On Friday night she started coughing but we couldn't find
any place she vomited. She has started to lose weight but isn't shying
away from food. she eats a little and goes away from it and nurses on her
mom. She then started crying loudly and raising her left back paw in the
litter box. She would poop out a white foamy liquid and it usual would run
down her leg. We tried to clean her with a soft cloth and she would cry
when we touched her bottom area. Once she goes to the bathroom swells and
gets really pick but once she stops and it calms down for a while it is
still pink and irritated but the swelling goes down. The smell coming out
of her is awful and makes you want to gag. You can smell the sickness in
it. She has been currently going to the potty after eating soft canned
food and pooped out the food. She is still feeding on her mother and
drinking water. She seems to run around and play with her brothers and
sister and then gets tired and goes to sleep. She is eating a little
canned food every now and then but nurses the most and they are now 2
months old but we allow her to nurse while the others run around and play.
The mom cat allows her to nurse and she bathes her often. I just don't
know what is wrong with her as when she nurses the poop that comes out is
green/white foamy liquid. I don't know if she is constipated and can't get
it to come out as she shakes when she tries to go which leads me to
believe she is constipated but then the poop is liquid so I thought she
might have diarrhea. FYI, my mother in law gave the momma cat a chicken
and it had bones in it and we think the kittens got into it and wonder if
a tiny bone could be the problem. We haven't had any problems with the
other kittens and I don't know what else to do. I have wormer medicine,
can I give her some of that to see if it is due to worms.
Please help my little Lilly bug.
April
NOTE: My apologies for the delay in answering some of these questions. Apparently they got lost in cyberspace and I just found them. Hope at least some are still relevant and useful.
A: Certainly parasites are always a concern with the little ones. The other likely culprit is an intestinal infection - either viral or bacterial. Sometimes abnormalities in the intestines can prevent proper digestion especially once the intestines start moving on their own (ie as they start being able to poop on their own). Those would be my three most likely thoughts. I recommend a fecal examination to rule out parasites. If that does not yield some answers a mild antidiarrheal/antibiotic for the intestines. If that is not helpful than likely it is some sort of congenital problem with digestion which may or may not be detectable much less treatable. Poor baby I hope she is on the mend! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dachshund with post-surgical problems
Q: Hi- I saw your website and needed another opinion about my daschund who just had back surgery 7 days ago- Took her to the regular vet yesterday and he said she looked good but she was'nt grunting and her abdomen was'nt tight and she was'nt having muscle spasms like she does- he said it was due to the surgery- Does this sound right? PLEASE HELP. VERY UPSET OWNER- Susan
A: I am a bit confused about the question - is she or isn't she having muscle spasms, tight abdomen, and grunting? If she is doing those things they are all very common signs of pain along the spine especially if the nerves are also irritated. So yes these are definitely potential complications from disc herniation and the corrective surgery. She should be on pain medication and a muscle relaxant post surgery. IF she is still painful and having problems WITH medication you definitely need to consult the surgeon.
If she IS NOT having these symptoms then it sounds to me like she is recovering very well from surgery. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Clavamox Dosage
Q: I was giving the liquid Clavamox to my Ragdoll cat, and she was getting very sick to her stomach, diarrhea , drooling and stomach cramps. The Vet suggest the tablets that could be sprinkled on or in her food. She was taking 1.5 ml 2x a day. How much of the tablets 62.5 mg, should she take 2 x a day. I don't know if this is half a pill or a quarter ? Many thanks for your help !! -- Charlene
A: Most clavamox suspensions are 62.5 mg per 1 mL.. In other words 1 mL is equivalent to 1 - 62.5 mg tablet. You can try the tablet - I have not had good success with kitties tolerating the tablet if they cannot tolerate the liquid. Maybe another antibiotic -- either liquid or pill - can be used instead. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Red Nosed Pit Bull Losing Appetite
Q: My pet dog, a red nosed pit bull ate duck poop a couple of weeks ago.
Since then her appetite has decreased. What home remedy do you
recommend to treat her or should I be worried? --Tia Norris
A: I would suggest taking at least a fecal sample to your vet if not taking her in. There are parasites and bacterial infections that she could have picked up. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
10 month old Manx Cat has Breathing Problems
Q: I have a 10 mo old manx who does not have a voice (neither does his sire I discovered) He is happy and healthy except for noisy, rapid breathing when excited or laying in certain positions. His preferred sleeping position is upside down with his neck stretched out. It has not gotten appreciably worse since I brought him home at 12 weeks old. The problem is, sometimes when he has this noisy rapid breathing, he wants me to hold him and I seems to want me to fix it. No nasal , eye or ear discharge. No cough. I have raised show manx for 18 years, and have never had one so docile. His pedigree is excellent, but I will not breed him and have in fact neutered him. He will stay with me forever. My vet says she thinks he has ear nodules. I am inclined toward larangeal collapse or long palate.
A: Certainly something wrong with the anatomy in the larynx is the first thing that comes to mind with the breathing and lack of a voice. Could be any number of specific abnormalities - no way to really differentiate just based on these two symptoms. A laryngeal exam under anesthesia +/- endoscopy would be the best test to yield answers. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
10 Year Old Shitzhu has Bad Reaction to Cold
Q: I have a 10 year old shitzhu that is very active and bouncy. Loves to run and play. Loves the outdoors. He got outside a couple nights ago and before we realized he wasn't asleep in his bed, he was outdoors in the pretty cold temps (30's ish) for about 2 hours. Now today he went out to go to the bathroom and had trouble jumping back up on the porch and when he got inside we threw his favorite toy down the hall and instead of running and grabbing it and jumping around he walked down after it and left it. He has since then been shivering, and pretty much sleeping all day. Something is wrong but don't know if its serious enough to go to a animal hospital or wait till monday and go to a vet then. Can I give him anything? If so how much? --Thanks, Paula
A: If it is still pertinent -- I would definitely recommend no medication at this time b/c there are a wide variety of conditions that could cause these symptoms and no medication that is safe to give with all these conditions. If he has not gotten any better then definitely get him in to see your vet. If he has worsens he needs to go see someone ASAP! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
10 Year Old Lab with Vestibular Disease
Q: My niece, Heather Young, referred me to you and said you may have some
helpful advice. I have a 10 ½ year old lab, Molly. About 2 months ago she
started acting very disoriented and her head became tilted to one side.
About one month ago, she started getting weak in her front legs. This
problem has gotten worse and worse despite all our visits to our vet. He
diagnosed her with vestibular disease, and she certainly fits the
description of this --- except that it is not going away. I read that the
onset of this was sudden, but that I could expect her to get over it in
about 2 weeks. The doctor has given her 2 steroid shots and treated her for
an ear infection…none of which is working.
Do you have any recommendations or suggestions?
A: The therapy protocol that I have found works best for vestibular disease is oral Baytril and oral prednisone for a minimum of 3 weeks. About 70% resolve and usually around 25% get better but don't resolve. The remaining 5% I strongly suspect have something "else" going on in which case I recommend referral to a neurologist.
Not to be pessimistic but I usually do no associated weakness in the legs with vestibular disease - hopefully that is all that it is but if the oral therapy does not work I would definitely be suspicious of some other sort of brain problem.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Hartz Puppy Milk Causing Seizures in Puppy
Q: Hello
A: Krista it is very hard to say what exactly could be the problem. It could be they were not digesting the product well resulting in low blood sugar and resulting seizures. It could have been something in the milk they are sensitive to causing the seizures. Or yes they could have a liver shunt problem -- althoough they are awfully young to be having problems from it already and seizures are usually NOT the first thing we see with liver shunts.
I would definitely alert Hartz -- it might have been a bad batch of milk replacer with something in or not in it that caused/triggered the seizures. It is PROFOUNDLY unlikely that every puppy has a liver shunt. I have learned nothing is impossible but HIGHLY improbable!
Don't forget to deworm at 2,4 and 6 weeks with something that gets hookworms and roundworms.
Also I would start them on a weaning formula or canned food mixed with the milk replacer soon - they should be old enough.
Good luck with them - raising an orphaned litter is one of the hardest and most demanding jobs!-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog with Sore Paw
Q: Hi, I would like to know if I can put a heat wrap on sore joint just above the
paw? He can not put pressure on it. This is a dog. Please respond. Can I
use icy hot wrap?
A: Absolutely -- a towel heated in the microwave OR one of the "rice bags" usually works best. Ice is good the first 24-36 hours and then heat.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Blue Point Siamese Mix and Long Haired Black Pal
Q: Dear Savannah,
Thank you for responding so quickly to my last question on my cat "Smokey's" anal glands. By the way he will be 3 yrs in April, and my other cat (all black longhair w/green eyes-3 1/2 yrs) "Koal" went to the vet Saturday, Jan 10th. This was a follow-up for Smokey.. If you recall he had his anal gland squeezed and a large amount of "green" pus came out. The vet checked his anal glands and he had a small amount of build-up (maybe 1/2 teaspoon) and checked my cat "Koal" and he had about the same. This was the first time for Koal getting his checked. My cats are never sick till this past holiday. I feed the same brand name dry food since I've had both of them and 1 tsp each of moist cat food in morning and nite. They do not eat people food, only occasional bite of canned tuna or salmon. My question is: It had only been 3 weeks since Smokey was released and already had build-up in 3 weeks, isn't that kind of fast?
A: When they have been inflamed or infected or impacted the tissue is swollen and opening is smaller and, therefore, it is very common for them to fill up and not empty out like normal. As the tissue gets back to normal this will often resolve and it go back to normal emptying.
Q: Also both times Smokey wobbled when he walked after having anal glands squeezed, but my other cat seemed to be ok after his first squeeze. Is that also normal to
wobble?
A: Not normal but not uncommon again especially if the glands are full, infected, or otherwise painful.
Q: They are both indoor cats, they are constantly playing and I play with them everyday. They are both neutered and I waited a year for both to get neutered. The dry food I feed them is purchased from the vet. The vet wants to see both every 2 weeks for awhile to see if things get better or worse. Is there anything I am doing wrong
A: Not a thing -- it is just a problem with the glands and we really do not understand why it happens. I would have them checked every 2 weeks and see how things change - hopefully the glands will get back to normal and stop having problems.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Boxer Mix with Ear Problem
Q: I have a 1 - 2 year old boxer mix (possibly with pit bull or boston terrier). She has had a sore in her ear that won't heal. She's gone to her vet 2 times already. She was given Animax cream the first time and put on oral antibiotics the second time. Neither seemed to help her. I have noticed her eyes are leaking a bit more than usual and her breath stinks more than usual. The sore looks like it's got scar tissue around it, but it's still not healed all the way, and I noticed two black, almost lines (like a small pencil drawing) spots above the scar tissue. I have been putting peroxide and Neosporin on it daily. The sore doesn't seem to cause her any pain, nor does it bother her. She never scratches. Any clue what this might be? Thank you --Meg Nicolls
A: Unfortunately nothing specific enough to pinpoint it down exactly. It might be worthwhile to have the sore biopsied to see what is going on in the tissue and the best way to treat it-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat Reacts Badly to Flea Medication
Q: I have recently inherited my daughter's 12 year old cat. I took him to my vet and the technician saw a flea just off him. My vet prescribed Frontline Plus which I administered that evening. Within minutes he began
running furiously throughout the house while turning to look at me as though
he was running away from me, and then under the bed. I looked under the bed
and saw him immobile with long strands of saliva running out of both sides
of his mouth.
Needless to say, I was worried so I got a damp washcloth and reached under
and tried to wipe the chemical off his back. After that he basicly stayed
under the bed and the next day he was listless and seemed afraid of me. By
the second day he was fine.
My question is, what about the fleas? I've tried to use a flea comb on him
and have come up with no fleas. I've also tried the white paper and walking
on the carpet with white socks test that I've read about with no fleas on
the carpeting.
I'm worried about using chemicals on him but I don't want
him to suffer from the effects of fleas and flea bites and my vet has not
given me any suggestions as to whether there is something out there that
works as well as does not cause such a reaction in a pet. Also, let me add
that the cat did not lick the chemical on his back, although he did try to
reach back there when he first had the reaction, I know this as I was
watching him very closely throughout.
A: You can try some of the other topicals such as Advantage or Revolution (just get single doses) - he may tolerate them well. Sometimes they will be okay with all but one of the topical products. If he won't tolerate any of the topical drops then there is an oral pill called Capstar but it only lasts at most 48 hours.
Flea shampoos and sprays also work (you can try the Frontline spray - many animals who are irritated by the topical spot ons are reacting to the "carrier" ie the inactive ingredient rather than the actual meds and do okay on other forms of the product) well - noting their limitations. And sometimes aggressively treating the environment allows you to admister nothing to the animal especially if it is an indoor only cat.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog Attacks Female Cat
Q: Our 7 or 8 year old spayed female cat was viciously attacked, quite out of the blue, by our younger dog. He grabbed her around her middle from the back and with almost her entire midsection in his jaws shook her violently for one or two minutes until we could force him to drop her.
No skin was broken, no bones, as far as we can tell, were broken or even disjointed, she does not seem to have any particular pain anywhere, as we can pet her from head to toe without her flinching.
We made her a little box with a blanket in it and put her in it in the back of a dark closet she often likes to sleep in. Except for an occasional trip to the litter box we put a few feet away, she has not budged from the box in two days now. She may or may not have eaten a few tiny morsels of the food we have near her, and may have had a few sips of water, but so little of either that we can't be sure. Visits to the vet are always terribly stressful for her, so we haven't taken her.
Needless to say, the room she's in, and the adjoining rooms, have been completely closed off to the dogs, so she's in no danger.
But she's clearly miserable. I don't know if it's just from the terrifying ordeal she went through, of if possibly there is something else wrong.
What do you think? What should we do? This little girl has always had the most constant and loudest purr imaginable, but it seems to be totally gone. What can we do to help her?
Thanks, -- heartsick mom
A: It could certainly just be behavioral/mental trauma but there is the very real possibility that internal damage occured even tho the skin was not broken. She may be suffering from internal damage and that is causing her symptoms. I know it is stressful but if she is not getting better I do think a trip to the vet is in order! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Blue Point Siamese Mix Anal Gland Problem
Q: Hi Savannah,
I took my cat to the vet 1 week ago. He had a fever and green pus was coming out of his behind.
The vet squeezed his anal glands and quite a bit of green pus shot out on the wall. When I took him to vet he was having muscle/pain spasms I could feel when I put my hand on his side. My vet put the cat on Baytril 22.7mg 1 1/4 tablet a day for around 10 days. My vet never bothered to explain anything to me and just told me that the amount that came out of his anal glands was quite a bit.. I bring him in for a check up this weekend. How would I know if this is definitely only an anal problem and what should my next step be. I have two cats that get along great together, and both are inside cats. I also have been feeding 6 stray cats that live under the house.
Thanks for your reply.
A: Dianne (incidentally blue-eyed kitties are my favorite and of them blue point are my most favorite :) - I have a lovely bluepoint Ragdoll mix) - so sorry the poor kitty had to go through that. The anal glands are two sacs that sit right at the 3 and 9 o'clock position around the anus. Their job is to produce a lovely pungent fishy material that is used to mark territory AND like unto skunk glands be expelled in times of distress or fear. For some reason (exact cause unknown) in some animals and only some times or one time in many animals that gland gets impacted or "plugged" up. The material is high in protein and fat. The location is not a very hygienic one. Thus once it gets impacted and full it rapidly becomes infected.
Because of its location there is a lot of sensitive nerves nearby and, therefore, the enlargement, swelling, and pressure generate a significant amount of discomfort. Also the location causes it to be very painful when they defecate aka "poop" and many times constipation accompanies the impacted/full anal glands.
Symptoms are usually discomfort -- sometimes local to the anal area, sometimes in general -in all the many ways that manifests (rapid breathing, muscle tremors, hiding, not moving much if any, guarding that area from being touched, not eating or eating less, etc); decreased appetite - pain AND the pressure on the colon AND the secondary constipation; decreased energy/hiding -pain and protection from the "world" since they are not feeling good; sometimes vomiting b/c of the constipation/pressure on the colon. Fever can sometimes occur but not always.
Treatment is to empty the anal glands and, if needed, flush the anal gland. Often oral antibiotics +/- pain medication is needed. Once this infection has cleared up the big question will be -- was this a one time problem or will it recur. If it recurs you can talk with your vet about diet changes, regular emptying, etc to help reduce the occurrence.
Hope he feels better soon!-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
15 Month Old Bassett Hound
Q:Hi, thank you sooo much for this service.
We have a Bassett Hound named Shorty, he is 1year and three months.
He has always had allergy and sinus problems, his little nose will swell on the right side when his sinuses are bothered. He just got over a bout with this a couple days ago, his nose was swollen and actually still is draining. Otherwise healthy.
He is eating, playing, barking, no irregular sleeping, very energetic.
Today we noticed a soft, ball like, size of a half dollar mass in his neck, throat. It has not been there long, he sleeps between us every night, we are constantly touching, petting him, we would have noticed this for sure. It appeared super quick. It almost feels like it is just floating in his throat,It is large and we are very concerned. We live in ST. MARYS , GA. so you know it is impossible to see a vet on the weekend, in fact our vet is gone until next Thursday. We are worried, but like I said, Shorty is acting like nothing is wrong, no problem breathing, or coughing. We would be so grateful for your opinion on this. Is this common, serious, urgent, Shorty is like our baby. Thank you and Happy New Year !
A: I have been out of town so sorry for the delay in response. In case it still is of concern I would suspect either a swollen lymph node (given his overall inflammation w/the allergies that is very possible) or perhaps an impacted gland. It could also be an abscess, growth, reaction to a bite or foreign body, or . . . IF he is eating well, drinking okay, not having trouble swallowing or breathing, and it is not rapidly growing I cannot tell you it is an emergency. I would still recommend getting it checked as soon as you are able. If any of these AREN'T true (ie he is having trouble swallowing or breathing or it is growing) it is an emergency and needs to be seen immediately!-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
9 yr old Weimariner/Pointer Mix has Lumps
Q: I have a 9 year old weimeraner/pointer mix, male, neutered. I have recently noticed a couple lumps on his chest and thighs in the muscle area. I'm concerned about tumors.We recently moved into a house and he has been running around a lot more than he ever has. Just wondering what they may be?
A: Unfortunately, lumps can be anything from fatty deposits to infection to cancer. The only way to know is to have them examined by your veterinarian and some sort of diagnostic test ran (Fine Needle Aspirate aka FNA or a biopsy) to determine what the lump is made up of. More than likely they are fatty deposits as that is VERY common in our older dogs (called lipomas) but they truly could be anything. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Poodle has Soft Stool
Q: I recently took in a poodle who is not updated on her shots. She is having soft stools that are encased in mucus. What could be causing this?
A: GI upset occurs in dogs for the same reason it does in us - it can be dietary, it can be infectious, it can be stress-induced, it can be parasitic etc in origin. A recent change in environment is a frequent cause of GI upset. Given her lack of preventative care, though, parasites and infectious disease have to be a concern so I would strongly recommend getting her into your veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shih Tsu Grooming
Q: I am interested in grooming my shih tzu at home based on two bad experiences I have had at two different groomers. I would like to keep him in a puppy cut or teddy bear cut and not the long style with topnotch sported by show dogs. I have found a groomer that has shown me some techniques and I have read several books on the subject. I am trying to decide on the equipment I will need and having trouble deciding on the brand of shears I should buy. Could you please give me some input on the best brand of shears, straight and curved that will give me a professional looking results, long service life and meet my needs of grooming one small dog? I have already decided on the Oster Golden A5 2 speed clippers and various other tools and equipment. I am just having trouble deciding on shears. Here are a few brands of shears I have looked at...Miracle Coat, Oster, Andis, Double Duck, Miller Forge, Master Groomer Top Preformance and, Kamisori. I am at a loss because the price range is from $19.99 to $275.00 per pair.
A: I am very sorry but as I do not do grooming I really have no knowledge to base a recommendation on. I would strongly suggest talking to various groomers, especially those experienced with your breed, and ask them what brands they have found reliable.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pit Bull Puppy has Lump
Q: I was given a pitbull puppy for free the other day and I got to playing with her the next day and realized a lump in between her front paws and below her chest. it really wonders me cause I'm scared she may have a disease because she came from a pitbull fighting rescue place and she might be sick. If you could let me know what you think I would appreciate it a lot. Thanks, Amber
A: Unfortunately, there are so many possibilities for lumps ranging from infection to trauma to cancer that there is no way to even make an educated guess about what the lump might be. Is it something serious - maybe. Is it something innocuous - maybe. There is just no way to know :(! So my best advice is to have your veterinarian examine the lump and perform appropriate tests to determine what it is.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Beagle Has Cough But No Other Symptoms
Q: My beagle has been coughing - at times nothing comes up, other times it is
this white foamy mucous - his appetite is very good, he is alert and
sleeps thru the night. What is your suggestion - I have amoxicillian. Could this be allergy related?
A: Coughing occurs in dogs for the same reason it does in us. Sometimes it is purely external irritation such as dust or anything particulate that irritates the airways. Allergies or "environmental" sensitivities is another very common reason and much like humans dogs can be allergic/sensitive to just about anything. Respiratory drainage (aka sinus drainage) can also lead to coughing.
Anatomy problems such as weak trachea syndrome and "reverse sneeze aka post nasal drip" is often accompanied by coughing. Coughing is also a hallmark symptom of early heart disease including heartworm disease and can accompany any number of respiratory infections.
I suspect given the lack of other symptoms it is most likely environmental or allergy but there is NO WAY to know. Early heart disease will often have no other symptoms as well. Unfortunately the treatments for these different conditions are vastly different so my best suggestion is to run him in for an examination by your vet and go from there. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dog with Multiple Syptoms Has Inoperable Liver Mass
Q: Thought you might be interested in knowing that our dog's ultrasound showed a multilobed mass centrally located in her liver, inoperable in size and location. Due to this finding, we opted against the biopsy. She started Denosyl for symptom control in addition to her cardiac meds, and her appetite has dropped off. I am having to hand feed her to get her to eat any significant amount. She is not expected to pull through the winter. Turns out that her circulation was not the root cause of her elevated liver
enzymes after all! Poor little thing has some rotten luck. we are cherishing each day,
whether we have only a few or several weeks left with her. Thanks for weighing in on our baby's health. Sometimes it is hard to know what the right thing to do is...how far to go with a pet that already has health problems. -- Whitney
A: Oh Whitney, I am so sorry to hear that the problem is not easily fixable :(! It is so hard sometimes to know what the best option is in regards to when to say goodbye. My best advice is when the good days are outweighed by the bad and she is no longer enjoying the life she has it is the loving and responsible thing to do to let her go. My heart goes out to you and your family and I hope that day is as far away as possible! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Border Collie Chews and Scratches Himself
Q: I have a Border Collie/Husky mix. He is about a year and a half old...he chews and scratches himself all the time...it first started out that he was only scratching all the time, Now he chews on himself to the point that he's losing hair, and he's constantly licking the pads on his paws and chewing on them. Do you have any idea what it could be? Thanks -- Joanne
Q: There are many reasons for intense chewing ranging from sarcoptic mange to severe allergies to fleas to . . . What will make it better depends entirely on what the underlying cause is. I would recommend frequent baths with a soothing/oatmeal type shampoo, Benadryl at 1 mg/lb up to three times a day, and get him in to see your vet ASAP to help start narrowing down the possible causes. Good flea control and treatment for sarcoptic mange is where I would start. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua Mix Has Heart Murmurs, Other Problems Q: Hi, I have a Chihuahua mix that we adopted from a rescue about 7 years ago. The vet estimated her age to be about 3 at that time, which puts her about 10 years old. She was diagnosed with L side murmur 2/6 about 2 years ago, and then 8 months ago the murmur was worse, a 5/6 and she was showing signs of exercise intolerance, elevated respirations, and CHF. An x ray showed cardiomegaly and some fluid in her lungs at the time. We started her first on lasix and enalapril, and then began vetmedin (pimobendan). She had some initial GI upset that came and went but has been essentially stable for the last 8 months. Her maintenance has been approx 4 mg vetmedin (half of 5 mg tab in am and quarter tab in pm) and 2.5 of enalapril twice a day. The lasix we have been able to back off to about once weekly, and she has shown no signs of respiratory distress or cough. Labs in the summertime at her checkup were essentially normal. I took her to the vet last Thursday because I suspected a UTI (urinary tract infection), she was drinking excessively and urinating more frequently, and leaked a few drops of pink tinged urine on her sleeping pillow. Also the other female I own can't keep her nose away from her parts and sniffs her alot. A urine dip showed protein and a few rbc's, so she had an antibiotic shot and has been on clavamox. They sent urine and blood to the lab. Also they took a quick look at her belly with an US (ultrasound) machine due to some distension, looking for ascites, but found hepatomegaly and some splenomegaly instead. Labs came back today and the kidneys are fine, no crystals, only some protein which they say is common in CHF dogs. The concern is her ALK phos level is over 2000 and her ALT is 543. They want to do a more thorough US and a biopsy at the beginning of the week. After looking at some articles online, it appears the liver enzymes could be elevated due to the heart failure. The dog's murmur is no worse, at a 5/6 with no crackles in her lungs. Is it worthwhile to put her through the testing? She does not take any steroids or any of the meds that would seem to cause the elevations, so I don't know that there is a reversible cause. If there is, and it is not overly "heroic" in that we would be putting her through any added duress for our gain of a short time, we are willing. We love her dearly, she does not seem to be terribly uncomfortable. She is eating fairly well, has some muscle wasting, and is having dry heaves on occasion. but she is perky, bounces around several times a day like nothing is wrong at all, and still has much enthusiasm. She has not given up yet. What would you recommend? -- whitney A: Yes liver enzymes can be elevated with heart disease but it is the right side of the heart that impacts the liver. If most of her cardiac disease is on the left side it is unlikely the heart alone is accounting for the changes in the liver. It MAY be but unlikely. There are lots of other possible causes -- some mild, some serious. I think the only way you can know what is going to be best for her is to get more information. A more thorough ultrasound and an ultrasound guided biopsy is relatively noninvasive and, while has some risks, is overall a low-risk procedure. Once you know what is going on with the liver you can better decide what will be the best course of action with her. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shih-Tzu Not Acting Normal and May Be in Pain Q: Hello! I found your website this morning after researching about my little Shih-Tzu. She has been acting strange to her normal self. We were given this dog from a couple who couldn't keep her so I do not know a lot about her history. She's usually hyper and going strong, but the past two days she has laid around. She hasn't ate nor wanted to go outside like she normally does. Also, when you go to pick her up she whines and yelps like it hurts her (and obviously in pain). Can you give me any insight as to what this might be? I don't think she's hurt herself, but not 100% sure. I can't afford a vet bill right now, so any information would be helpful. Thanks! A: Unfortunately there are so many possible causes of not feeling well and non-specific pain that I cannot begin to give likely causes or prognosis. If she is not better quickly I would definitely get her into your vet! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Sick Puppies Q: I recently rescued 7, 5.5 week old pups. I thought they needed to be weaned a bit at this piont so I have been giving him milk, then milk and puppy chow in a mush form. they ate it really well but they all screamed all night long. 2 puppies went unresponsive and one died after throwing up. I fed them HARTZ puppy replacer formula. Have you ever heard of puppies dieing from this brand? I know the flea and tick products are bad. They were all fine yesterday and now they all seem to be dying or sick. Can you please, please help me?HP~ A: I have not heard of problems with the milk replacer but definitely contact the company and let them know. Frustratingly there is a lot that can look like this in puppies -- severe parasites, intestinal infections, etc. I am so sorry that this happened and thank you for rescuing them. How are the other puppies doing? I would definitely get them into your vet for a fecal check and parvo test! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Elderly Border Collie
Q: My Border Collie is 10 1/2. He has severe hip dysplasia with advanced osteoarthritis and
has been on Previcox for about 8 months, after switching from Rimadyl. He also takes
tramadol tablets twice a day. He did have blood panels drawn this summer that were
normal. In October his appetite dropped off and he began eating about half what was
normal for him, so we changed his food to something he found more appetizing. Also
considering his level of tooth wear (he used to carry wood from the wood pile around the
yard) I began mixing kibble with canned. My question is about a recent increase in
appetite over the last week to ten days. suddenly he wants to eat everything he can
scavenge, and will even try to raid the other dogs' bowls for food, which is a definite
change in behavior for a dog that is not dominant in his "pack". He also becomes very
restless and anxious around mealtime (5pm). The side effect profile lists increased
appetite as a warning of problems with Previcox, and I am wondering what it might
indicate? Also the change in behavior is a concern. he has done well with the medical
management we have used for the arthritis and I didn't know if side effects could crop up
after so much time? should I be concerned? he does not appear to be having any other GI
problems or increased thirst. A: It may just be a side effect from the Previcox -- some side effects do not show up for months. It could also be behavioral in origin - early sign of the onset of "canine senility aka canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome". And it could also be an indication of other underlying metabolic or hormonal problems. I would at least consult with your veterinarian and if bloodwork has not been done recently consider having it redone. Recommendations for bloodwork are at least every 6 months for older animals especially those on long-term medication. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Burmese Mountain Dog Q: Hi I have a Burnese Mountain Dog. She just had pups and one of her nipples is hard. What can I do for it. Thanks -- Miriam A: I would be very concerned about mastitis - breast infection. If it is mastitis then the milk in that breast, and if severe enough the adjacent breasts, can become infected as well bringing infection risk to the pups as well as decreasing the nutritional content of the milk. Therefore I would strongly recommend a trip to your vet to determine if antibiotics are needed and if milk supplementing is advisable for the pups. Berners are such cute little teddy bears as pups - give 'em lots of kisses and snuggles! Hope the mom heals and does well! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bassett/Beagle Plagued by Itching Q: Dr. I have a 3 year old female dog half Bassett and half Beagle. She has always had itching problems, on her paws from nail to nail the web part that we don't see, and where the nail comes out of her paw it get real red and puffy, Her female area is really puffy and swollen (she has been fixed) her belly area gets red and itches sometimes. I also have a lot of problems with her ears getting puffy and swollen down inside. I'm not real happy with my vet he says that we will treat her ears and he thinks it may clear up the rest of her problems. Right now he gave me ear drops to use, is their some kind of cream or another type of medicine I can use on her. Please help my female is a itching mess. Thank You A: What you describe definitely sounds like more than ear problems. I would suspect generalized allergies but cannot ruleout other conditions like chronic skin infection or parasites (like mange mites). I strongly recommend getting a second opinion. In the meantime some "over-the-counter" itching reliefs include Benadryl at 1 mg per pound (or one human adult strength capsule per 25 lbs) up to three times a day. Bathing frequently with an oatmeal/hypoallergenic/moisturizing/anti-itch shampoo will help soothe the skin as well as rinse off potential allergens. If her coat/skin seems dry with the frequent bathing add on a good dog conditioner after the shampooing to help restore moisture to the coat/skin. Vitamins C&E as well as fatty acids (particularly Omega 3's) are good supplements for dogs with skin problems. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Is Shih Tzu Going into Heat Q: My female Shih Tzu was born in April 2008, for the last few weeks we have noticed that her genital area is swollen and she is constantly licking her self there even in the night. We know nothing about our dogs menstral cycles patterns or if she is in heat how would we know, or if she is wanting to mate. Is her swelling and licking normal for her age, could she be in heat? Thank you -- Linda A: Absolutely the first thing I would be suspicious of is her having her first estrus or heat cycle. All things you are noticing are very commonly associated signs with estrus. And yes this is the period of time in which a female dog will potentially allow herself to be bred - as she is still very young you need to be very careful not to let her out of your sight even for a moment outside or any other areas where a male dog would have access to her (they will break through fences, screens, even doors to get to females in heat). As young as she is she does not need to undergo the stress of pregnancy at this age. Other possibilities are bladder infection, vaginal infection, and localized skin irritation/allergies. I would definitely recommend taking her in for a quick exam and if she is coming into heat again step up management protocols to keep her safe until she is out of heat (usually about 3-4 weeks). Once she is recovered from this heat cycle unless you are adamant about breeding her with all the associated risks and responsibilites -- we kill over 5 million animals in this country a year, many lovely purebred dogs just like her, so bringing more into the world should only be done responsibly meaning you are committed to caring for the puppies from the time they are born until they die (should their new owners be unable to) so they never end up in a shelter or rescue or worse yet euthanized -- then have her spayed! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bassett Hound Grinds Teeth Q: I hope you can help me! My name is Andrea and I have a 4.5 month old Basset hound named Lady Mae. She has had a slightly popping jaw since the day we got her but just recently, it has turned to a horrible bone grinding sound that makes anyone within a 10 foot radius cringe. My vet told me it would be over $200 to get an xray and I simply canot afford that right now . She also said not to worry unless she started drooling alot or started spitting food out. She drools alot anyway- but more so on that side of her jaw and she has no problems eating. She doesnt seem like she is in pain- but I realize that most dogs have a high pain tolerance. Im so worried that this will cause long term damage and I need some professional advice- please help me! Thank you! -- Andrea L. Andrea - frustratingly the only way to really know what the true extent of the problem is and therefore what the long term implications are is a radiograph (Xray) to see what is actually going on in the bones/joints in that area. There is really no way to know or even intelligently guess about the nature of the problem without them. Best case scenario it is a behavioral thing, worst case scenario there is an anatomical problem in that area. Is it a growth stage and she will outgrow it - very possibly. Will it continue to worsen until it cause permanent damage - maybe. Sorry to not have the answers you need but there is really no way to get those answers without more information about the details of the problem :(! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bulldog Puppy Can't Control Bladder Q: I have the world cutest bulldog. I know "puppy love", what's new. "Jack" has had good bladder control. He's 6 months old and getting house trained. Overnight he is losing bladder control. He will urinate in his sleep, he can not seem to go very long with peeing.In the last two days I keep washing his bedding as he pees on them. He even urinated on the sofa Two days ago he ate leather chew bone (with some liver flavored center). He ate up the leather too. I think he is reacting to the leather/hide (whatever). I think it will pass in a few days as the hide is digested. What do you think? Oh, yes I have thrown out the remaining bones and any item with hide/leather. Thanks -- Daryl T. A: Daryl my apologies for the delayed response was out of town over the ecent holiday and am just now catching up!
To answer your question, in case it is still relevant, is that incontinence can
stem from many sources. Often it happens in developing puppies (just as in
children) when the bladder muscle develops faster (ie is stronger) than the
associated sphincter that keeps the urine from leaking. I have not seen
reported incontinence associated with a reaction to "food" but that does not
mean it can't happen. If it has not resolved by now I would certainly get him
in to see your veterinarian for a full urinary workup! --
Bssett Hound Eats Cotton Sock
Q: On Sunday morning my 13 month old Bassett Hound ate a cotton sock (a
no-show sock you wear with tennis shoes). He has been acting normal and eating
well. I added pumpkin to his diet on Monday afternoon and tonight (Tuesday) I
can see that he is passing the pumpkin in his stool. Still no sign of sock...do
you think he has passed the sock since the pumkin is now showing up? How long
does it take for something like this to make your pet sick? This all started
Sunday around 7am and here we are Tuesday night around 8:30pm... Thank you for
your thoughts....
A: I imagine this has been settled one way or the other by now but in
case it is still in question or for future reference -- there is no set period
of time for problems to show up. With soft, relatively thick (ie not string)
objects often times the stomach and intestine can function around them for a
considerable period of time. Often with all natural fibers like cotton the
acid and digestive action of the stomach and intestines may break it down into
passable pieces. Sometimes not. Frustratingly because it is a soft material
and absorbs water a sock is VERY hard to pick up on Xrays so this is rarely a
helpful tool early on.
Signs that problems are starting to occur are repeated vomiting, not eating,
not drinking, and low energy. Sometime exploratory surgery is the only way to
fix the problem. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
French Bulldog Throws Up White Foam Some Mornings
Q: I have a one year old French bulldog who throws up white foam only in
the morning. She has only done this a couple times. It usually is preceded by
onvulsions in her abdomen and she licks her lips a lot before it happens.
he also clears her throat "hacks" when she plays too much and a couple
times has foamed/excess salivation at the mouth when I take her outside.
Very rarely, she will regurgitate undigested food if she is excited after
she eats. I want to make sure she does not have any congenital breathing
issues. Our vet always says to just keep an eye on it but has not given us
any indication why this happens to her. I also want to know if there is
anything I can do at home to treat this or if she requires medical
attention. Please help. --Cheryl
A: The only way to know if she has congenital breathing issues is to
have her examined for signs of anatomical problems that would impact the
respiratory tract. So definitely talk with your veterinarian about this
concern. It is often hard in our brachycephalic or "flat-faced" breed to
differentiate true regurgitation/vomiting from "hacking" up excess respiratory
secretions.
Because we have so altered Mother Nature's intended structure of the nose and
associated structures in this breed, there is simply not enough room for all
the secretions that are produced. They either have to drain out the nose or
down the throat. If the latter, then just like a human with sinus drainage or
a post-nasal drip, those secretions are often coughed or hacked up.
Regurgitating after eating or drinking a large amount is fairly common in
canines -- they simply put more in the stomach then it is comfortable holding
so it sends some back up. Getting excited increases respirations especially in
dogs with this facial anatomy. The increased effort of the diaphragm lessens
space in the abdomen and can cause the stomach to have too much food for the
space it now has. For this reason regurgitation after eating definitely
happens more often if they are active or excited.
Simply altering feeding protocols to feed smaller meals more often and keep her
quiet after eating will likely help out with this.
Vomiting/regurgitating in the morning often occurs because the stomach has been
empty for a significiant period of time. Just like people with chronic
gastritis or acid reflux, some dogs are very sensitive to the buildup of acid
in the stomach when there is no food to "absorb" the acid. This cause nausea
and associated vomiting. I usually recommend trying to add on a large snack or
small meal just before bedtime to see if this helps. If it does not help then
talk with your veterinarian about giving one of the antacid medications like
pepcid to help reduce acid production in the stomach overnight. -- Rachel
Peeples, DVM
What Causes Cat to Keep on Scratching
Q: Hi Savannah. I love your site so much I sent a link to my sis.
But the reason I am writing to you today is that I have a question on one of
my cats. He is a indoor cat and he has been scratching so much that he is getting some bald spots. Thing is I was thinking it was fleas because I have clients who have animals and they have fleas. So I deflead him and the house but he is still scratching. I do not see any fleas so now I am wondering if he has dried skin or something.
So instead of spending money I don't have to take him to the vet is there
anything I can give him that I have at home to help his dried skin? His skin
is pink so I know he is ok health wise. Thank you for your answer and advice. And happy Holidays too. P. Borgos
A: Just remember like a mosquito bite - flea bites often itch long after the fleas are gone. But as you have observed there are many other reasons for itching. Dry skin is aided by increasing fatty acids, particularly Omega 3s, in their diet. Luckily most cats adore fish and fish is very rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. Vitamins E & C are also helpful in improving skin health. For general mild allergies benadryl at 1 mg per pound up to three times a day can be helpful. IF he is amenable to shampooing - a good oatmeal/hypoallergenic/soothing shampoo can be helpful to rehydrate and soothe he skin. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Is Their a Cream to Remove Bumps from a Boxer
Q: I used to have this Dr. Dolittle like vet who use to give me a cream for lumps my boxer always gets- this cream would make them go away-my new vet doesn't know about this cream and only wants to do surgery to remove the lumps. I can't afford surgery. Do you know what kind of cream my old vet was giving me? He has retired and moved away. Thanks -- carole
Carole - I am sorry I truly have no idea what cream was used. There are so many reasons for "lumps" from allergic reactions to chronic inflammation to infection to cancer that without knowing what causes the lumps there is no way to determine what cream might help. Is there any way you can get access to the past medical records to see if the name of the medication was recorded there?
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Golden Retriever Has Increased Ferequency of Urination
Q: I have a four year old male golden retreiver. He has been in good
health. However, lately, he has been eating much less, and urinating
more frequently. He gets us up in the middle of the night, and I am
finding puddles in our bathroom, in his bed, and he has urinated as we
go down the stairs to take him out. Very strange behavior.
He has been tested for diabetes and a urinary tract infection, and that
came back negative. I am getting very worried. His behavior has been
normal, he plays, goes for a walk, etc. What's up? -- Joanne
A: Joanne I truly have no idea what specifically is going on. You have ruled out the two more common reasons for this behavior so it is time to speak with your veterinarian about testing for some of the less common reasons. A bladder ultrasound is a good place to start to look for bladder stones or masses or polyps or .. . and also to assess the prostate and other urogenital structures.
A urine culture (if that has not been done) is a good idea as some low-grade infections can be missed on a routine urinalysis. He may also be developing incontinence in which case medications like Proin or oxybutynin may be appropriate treatments. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
German Shepard Has Fluid Bubble on His Ear
Q: Hi I have a German Shepard and on his ear he has developed a bubble of some sort and it keeps getting bigger and, its full of fluid. Not sure if he got biten by something or what it is. Any ideas of what it might be and if we should lance it
A: More than likely if the fluid is IN the ear -- ie not a growth coming out of the ear - it is an aural hematoma. This is a basically a blood pocket in the ear.
Essentially the ear is two pieces of skin with a piece of cartilage in the middle. There is little to no connective tissue. The blood vessels that run in the ear are relatively small and delicate so intense shaking of the ear or scratching of the ear can break these blood vessels leading to bleeding in the ear.
Since there is no fat or muscle or other connective tissue to put pressure on the injured vessel to stop the bleeding - the blood continues to accumulate and often the entire ear is involved.
Treatment comes in two basic forms. There is the medical which involves strong anti-inflammatories (usually steroids) and addressing the reason for the shaking/scratching of the ear. The advantage is that is noninvasive with little risk for secondary infections. The drawback to this is that as the body starts to heal the ear is often wrinkled and thickened and in a dog with ears that stand like a GSD the ear may no longer stand.
Surgical intervention is, therefore, sometimes preferred. Every vet has a different method of choice. I prefer to place a drain in the ear just like you would for a large abscess. Other vets like to cut the ear and sew it open. Others like to use a small canula and put it in the ear. Whatever the preferred method the goal is to provide drainage for the blood out of the ear until the ear can heal itself. Drawback to this procedure is anesthesia and risk of infection. Advantage is usually the ear will heal with minimal changes in structure.
IF it is a growth coming out of the ear -- get it removed and sent for a pathologist to look at. Many very "not nice" growths can occur on the ears - melanoma and squamous cell carcinomas (both cancers) being among the more common. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy POodle Has the Shakes
Q: I think your site is great. I have a 9 lb toy poodle, he constantly licks his nose and lately he shakes, It is the same shake they do after giving them a bath. He does it a lot. I am taking him to the vet for his yearly shots but that is a month away. I am just wondering if I should take him sooner.
Two office visits are awfully costly. I had him groomed and the vet looked at
his nose and said it was clear, not to worry and that cost me $42.00 just to
look at him for a second. I would appreciate your advice. I am so glad I
stumbled on your site. We are planning to move to Savannh soon. --ARB
A: The licking and shaking may be medical and may be behavioral. We often see licking as part of "obsessive-compulsive" behaviors and sterotypies. Both of these are behaviors that are performed repeatedly for no physical reason. Often these start for a real reason -- such as a bug bite on the paw leading to licking the paw but once the medical part is resolved the behavior persists.
Constant or frequent licking can also be a sign of dental disease. The licking motion provides soothing massage of painful gums and, therefore, can be seen with severe dental disease, tooth root abscesses, etc. Persistent nasal drainage such as is associated with an allergy can also lead to licking of the nose (ie to get rid of the draining secretions).
I definitely think a vet visit is in order - can it wait until yearly vaccinations. Maybe -- if it is a minor problem then it may be quite okay to wait a few weeks to have it checked out. And it may not be okay. If there is any doubt I would get him in right away! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cavashon Get So Excited He Seems to Choke
Q: Our almost 2 year old Cavashon gets very excited to see my daughter's dog. We had them together today. As soon as I said my daughter's dog's name, mine got so excited. When they were together, my dog seemed to be choking, like she was having a panic attack or something. Fast heartbeat. We brought him back home, he was okay, can dogs have attacks like that from being overly excited? (He's a cocker spaniel/bichon mix) Thank you.
A: You can see true excitement induced syncope or fainting in dogs -- the blood pressure spikes really high and that sets off a chain reaction in the body. This is very uncommon tho. I would suspect that more likely, especially given the two breeds in her background, she is suffering from weak(collapsing) trachea syndrome. Thinking of the trachea as a straw -- it is held open by rings of cartilage. Just as you can suck too hard on a straw and flatten it out preventing anything else from moving through the straw so too can the trachea be flattened during times of extreme respiratory demand (excitement/exercise/etc) if the cartilage rings are not strong enough. This happens very commonly in the smaller breed dogs although it can show up in any breed.
When this happens the dog sounds like it is having an asthma attack and sometimes if it is severe enough the dog will "faint". Usually though it lasts about 30-90 seconds and then self-corrects. Since it is a problem with anatomy medication is of no assistance with this problem. Trying to calm the dog when having an "episode" can help. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dogs and Cats After Owner's Death
Q: Dr. Peeples: Thank you very, very much. I was afraid you might agree with my
mother's vet about putting them to sleep.
I really want to keep them, not just because Mother asked me, but
because they are good dogs and cats (generally). And frankly I have not
found anyone who wants older dogs and cats (I tried when Mother was
sick).
The dogs are now allowed to come in at night again. Unfortunately,
because of the way the house is heated, I can't close the doors between
rooms, but I am installing gates to separate the cats and dogs. Once
the gates are done, the dogs can stay inside the house in bad weather
even if I cannot be there. This should definitely help Punk'n, the nine
year old German Shepherd/Chow mix, who is terribly afraid of thunder
storms and is also arthritic so I don't believe he can stay out in very
cold weather anyway.
And I am trying to change my work schedule so I can spend more time with
them. But I still feel very guilty about Tiger.
A: You are a caring responsible owner so you cannot help but feel guilty. But please do remember we are not all knowing or all powerful and we can only control what we can control. We are not responsible for those events out of our control. You were doing the best that could have been done and it was in no way your fault that animals acted like mother nature programmed them to act. Honor Tiger's memory, love the ones still with you, and most of all forgive yourself as you did nothing wrong!
Good luck with the group and please email back if we can be of any help!-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
9 year old Persian
I am worried about my persians recent obsession with water. She begs for water constantly and will drink as much as you give her.
We took her to the vet a few weeks ago. He led us to believe she was in serious condition,possibly a brain tumor, charged us $700 for tests that were "inconclusive", diagnosed her with urinary tract infection and prescribed her an antibiotic.
Since then we have seen no changes, other that she sometimes urinates outside of her box just a little. She doesn't act sick or seem to be in pain.
Help please I am going thru a box of litter a day.
thanks,
kim mills
A: I would definitely recommend a second opinion. Increased thirst is a common sign of early kidney problems, diabetes, and several other metabolic/hormonal problems. -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Yorkie with blood in urine
Q: I have an 8 year old male yorkie who has blood in his urine. He was put on
an antibiotic for 14 days which seemed to help. He finished the antibiotic
about a month ago and now has blood in his urine again. He has to urinate
more often and seems to strain sometimes to get a few drops of bloody urine
out. This is after he has urinated a large amount. He had this same
problem a year ago. I was wondering if his diet could be the problem. He
enjoys eating the dry cat food we have down for our cat (Iams weight control
proactive health) instead of the dog food we put down. I looked online and
tried putting apple cider vinegar in some wet food for him. It made it
sound like it would help the ph level in his urine. It has not helped.
Should I just take him back to the vet for more antibiotics or is there
something else going on I should know about?
Any info would be appreciated. Karen
A: Karen - more antibiotics may be needed but I would definitely recommend some additional diagnostics like a urine culture or ultrasound of the bladder/prostate. It could be dietary but it also could be a resistant infection, bladder crystals/stones, bladder masses or other abnormalities, etc. Determining the cause is essential to determining the most appropriate treatment.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Chihuahua Puppy
Dear savannah,
Q: I have a niece who happens to own a little chihuahua puppy I'm going to say? The puppy is if not two weeks a month but? My niece has told me that her puppy tends to get swollen? while its cold out like her entire body just bloats up could that be a serious disease or infection that can end?up being fatal to her puppy?or not if so what could be the possible things that she can do to help her puppy out besides pet care.
A:I think that definitely warrants a good examination by her veterinarian. Bloating at any time is cause for concern and if it is happening consistently with a particular environmental trigger like low temperature there may very well be a medical problem that needs to be addressed.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Shih Tsu
A: My 18 months old male Shih Tzu has developed a rash of 7 blackheaded pimples on his chest and adomen area. This occured a few days after he was groomed. It has been a few days now and the rash has not gotten any worse. What could this be? How do I treat it? How serious is this? He eats Innova small bites kibbles and all snacks are vegetables such as raw carrots, canned chick peas, cooked/raw sweet potatoes, boiled chicken, canned salmon, ground chicken/turkey, plain yogurt and natural peanut butter. He drinks distilled water in ceramic bowl along with ceramic plate for Innova kibbles.
A: There are many things that can cause a rash from a local skin irritation to mild skin infection to allergic reaction to fungal infection. IF it is not worsening then you can certainly monitor it and see if it will clear up on it own. If in doubt it is a good idea to have your veterinarian examine the rash and see if it needs medication.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Dog's Anal Glands
Q: I have a 7 year old female Pug. Her anal glads keep filling and leaking. Why?
A: No one is really sure why some dogs seem to have problems with their anal glands while others don't. Some theorize it is one manifestation of a food allergy, others that there is not enough volume of feces to keep the anal glands emptied out, others still that it is a fundamental problem with the anatomy of the anal glands. You can definitely discuss with your veterinarian possible diet changes or additions that might help. Until then keeping them emptied on a regular basis is the best course of action. Anal glands can be surgically removed but as there are a lot of post-operative complications and risks this is usually reserved for severe cases of recurrent impaction and infections.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Dogs and Cats after Owners Death
Q: My mother's neutered and spayed dogs and cats have lived
together for many years. She asked me to take care of them before she
passed away. Slowly they seemed to adjust to being without Mother until
last week. When I came home after work I found Tiger, a gentle 8 year
old cat my mother raised from a tiny kitten, dead.
I do not know which dog is responsible and I hate to punish
all four of them, but they are no longer allowed in the house unless I
am there.
Mother's vet says the chances are good that they may kill
again. With winter coming I am trying to fix up their dog houses, but
they are not used to being out in severe weather. I am also putting up
gates to keep the dogs out of certain areas in the house.
When the dogs are in and start to bark, Mother's remaining
cats hide in fear. They have never been afraid of the dogs before.
Two of the dogs are also starting to growl when another dog or
cat gets near their food bowl. The black lab, Princess, was brought to
Mother six years ago after she was found starving and abused. She now
growls and is becoming very picky about eating. Baby, the beagle, is
also six years old. She also guards her food and steals any treats she
can from the other dogs and then sits on them.
Unfortunately I am away from home 12 to 14 hours a day and I
know they are not getting enough attention.
What can I do to save the dogs and the cats and make the
situation better?
--Letting Mother, the cats and the dogs down in Texas,
A: You are not letting anyone down - it is a high stress time for everyone. I suspect that has a lot to do with the dogs and cats having issues. Would it be possible to allocate a room just for the cats and let the dogs in at night at least? And it may be as they settle in these issues will start correcting themselves.
It is never easy integrating new pets into a household and the high stress of everyone --human and otherwise -- is exacerbating the problem. You can only do your best and do not fault yourself for things you cannot control! -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
11 year old Cocker Spaniel
Q: I have an 11 y.o. female cocker spaniel. She has always had very good
health. On Wednesday of this week, she couldn't jump either up or down to the
sofa, bed, chair, etc. I took her to my vet and X-rays of her legs were fine
other than some mild arthritis and put her on something similar to Rimadil.
She was very lethargic and her hind legs would cross when walking. She also
had a very unsteady gait. This morning (Friday) the same thing happened
although when she went outside, she couldn't even stand and ended up laying in the
wet grass. I picked her up and brought her back inside and sat her on the
rug. She plopped right down and didn't go any further. Took her back to the
vet, blood tests were ran, liver, kidneys, etc., fine. She spent the day at
the vet. Picked her up and now that she's back home she is still just lying
around the house. Even at 11 years old, she has been very active --
swimming, fetch, etc. She is a very important member of our family and I am
concerned as to what step to take next. Is this our new norm? I would appreciate
any help or suggestions you could offer.
Sincerely,
A: Has her back been checked -- Xrays or something similar? It sounds an awful lot to me like she has either a disc partial herniation or possibly severe discospondylosis (spinal arthritis). I would recommend starting there before making any therapy decisions.
-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Dog Coughing
Q: RIGHT OFF I NEED TO SAY THAT MY DOG EATS AND DRINKS GOOD HASN`T LOST
WEIGHT GOES POTTY BOTH WAYS WELL. NO VOMIT, NO DYSENTERY, SHE PLAYS THE
PROBLEM IS SHE HAS STARTED TO GAG/COUGH QUITE A BIT, NOTHING COMES
UP BUT SALIVA. SHE WAS KENNELED IN SEPT FOR 10 DAYS I THOUGHT IT MAY BE
KENNEL COUGH BUT I FEEL IT HAS LASTED TOO LONG. COULD IT BE SOMETHING IN
OUR HOUSE AFFECTING HER? SHE IS 8, SO NOT A PUPPY. CHEM FOR CLEANING ETC?
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN GET TO HELP HER I`M RETIRED AND IT IS VERY HARD
TO MAINTAIN. SHE IS, HOWEVER, VERY MUCH LOVED I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY THING
AT ALL TO HELP HER. THANK YOU SO MUCH -- JANNETT S REED
A: It sounds a lot like a mild upper respiratory irritation or allergy. You can try over-the-counter benadry to help decrease respiratory secretions (much like us with sinus drainage triggers coughing) at 1 mg/lb up to every 4 hours. You can also try Robutussin DM to help with the cough. This will NOT help if the cough is heart related or if she has significant infection. If it is just mild environmental irritation/allergies/sinuses then this may help. Do not hesitate to get her into your vet ASAP tho and have him/her do a good physical examination to be sure nothing more serious is going on.
-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
9 year old Maltese
Q: I have a 9yr. old Maltese. She is fine all day until she moves her bowels. She starts shaking and she walks with her head down. Her back gets hunch back and she also starts breathing hard and fast. She just walks in circles. What can it be and is there anything I could do for her. My name is Nancy. Please answer me back as soon as possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH
A: I would be very suspicious that she has impacted and/or infected anal glands. She could also have a mass around her anus or could have a colon issue. I think a trip to your vet is very much in order. Hopefully it is something minor like impacted anal gland but better to be sure it is not something serious.
-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Q: My 5month old Staffordshire bull terrier has been fully house broken and
never poops in the house but the last week ive woken in the middle of the
nite to him messing his bed in virtually every corner of his cage and its
mushy, His stools seem normal any other time ,He seems normal throughout the
day a little dopey. I'm worried about him as its happened twice now can any
help please
A:I'd definitely take a stool sample to your vet and have it checked - intestinal parasites and/or infections would definitely be two explanations for this. Definitely rule out medical problems before assuming it is behavioral. -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Blood in Stool of Peke
Q: I have a 9 year old pekingese I noticed what looked like blood in her stool what could it be?
A: There are so many possibilities for blood in the stool ranging from ulcerations in the intestines to anal gland infections to bacterial intestine infections to masses in/around the anus to problems clotting. If it persists more than day or so I would definitely recommend taking her in to your vet -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Maltese/Chihuahua Puppy Has Greenish Poop
Q: Hello, We have a 9 week old Maltese/Chihuahua mix puppy who is going on 9 weeks this Friday. He has a great disposition and always bouncing around but every now and then he will poop this weird greenish gel-like substance? I promise it looks like lime-green hair gel (sorry). His nose is always moist and
after he eats then next poop will be normal but I was just wondering why he
could be doing this? He plays around and is doing well training on the paper
but I was curious about this poop? Please advise. Thank you, -- Jenny F.
A: Poop variances are often due to fluctuations in the intestinal bacterial populations as well as diet. It could also be related to something "non-food" that he is eating. I would mention it to your vet next time you talk to him/her and maybe have a fecal examination done to check for anything medical that you need to be concerned about. -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Golder Retriever Vomits Yellow Bile
Q: My golden retriever is 6 years old, started vomiting yellow bile with real small orange stringy pieces in it about a week ago. Her demeanor is happy, tail wagging shyly and a bit disoriented look (spacey?) in eyes.
She turns from food. Vet 3 days in did blood test--the numbers were normal--kidneys/liver OK. Everything normal except her vomitting and not eating. No wretching-just walking along and boom out comes the stream.
She had similar only more dramatic episode eight months ago--then it showed she had eaten either a gecko or scorpion (the outline was visible in x-ray of gut). The costs were astronomical and cannot really afford another bill of this kind.
Have been syringe feeding her pepto bismol once a day. baby food chicken and boullion cube broth also . She is hanging in there--laying around a lot. Today is Sunday . The vet said to bring her back tomorrow for x-rays and more fluids if not better. She is still walking slowly and steadily and is alert. Any ideas? She had some left over turkey the night before this started--carefully searched making sure no bones were in it and only lean white meat.
I am really most worried that even if she is getting water to stay in -she is only getting a couple syringes of broth a day. Is this enough til tomorrow? She walks Ok but slowly and weakly. She is visibly thinner. -- Roger
Roger - my sincerest apologies for the delayed response. I will assume that this has resolved itself and she is on the path to recovery. In case it is ever an issue again (which it hopefully won't be) - the quickest way to check for dehydration is to pick the skin up at the base of the neck (right in front of the shoulders). The skin once released should slide back in place in no more than 1-2 sec. If it is delayed OR if it stays pulled up then there is clinical dehydration occurring and it is time to get the dog into see the vet ASAP.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Older Yorkie Has "reverse sneeze"
I've had people tell me that this could be reverse sneezing which I've
never heard of, or that she may have allergies since she will also let
out a series of loud sneezes and gives anyone near her a shower. I've
given her small doses of children's benadryl, and she does seem to be
better after the dosages. Have taken her to the vet, but of course, she
doesn't have an episode at the time of the visit, and he can't find
anything wrong. Also, if I continue to give her benadryl, I would like
to know the exact dosage to give her (I have a 1 ml dropper from an
antibiotic the vet gave her some time ago).
Any thoughts & guidance on this condition would be greatly appreciated.
I feel like I'm becoming a basket case where she's concerned, as I love
her so much, I just want to get to the bottom of this. Thank you. --
Margie S.
A reverse sneeze is the dog equivalent to a post nasal drip. Basically respiratory secretions are dripping into the throat and the dog is "clearing its throat" of these secretions. This is very common in the "Flat-faced breeds" and in any dog with respiratory irritation or infection. It does sound as if it is allergy or environmental irritation that is occuring.
Benadryl would definitely be my first choice to help -- the dose is 1 mg per pound of body weight up to every 6 hours. Antihistamines are very safe drugs overall and there is little long-term side effects to be concerned about.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
12 year old Schnauzer with Liver Disease
Q: My 13 year old schnauzer has liver disease. It has been a year watching her fade away. Her weight was 18lbs all her life. She is now 12lbs. Doesn't seem to hear, is confused at times, drinks lots of water, and is starting to have pee accidents. She is on Hills prescription diet and a prescription called selegiline twice per day. I got a second opinion with the only difference that the doctor added same, milk thistle,and cholodin. With the new 3 drugs she got bad diarrhea for 4wks. Went back to regular vet and he stopped all 3 new meds. Her stools started as a canary yellow and now are grey-brownish. She poops 4 to 6 times per day.I,am a senior who loves her dearly along with 2 other dogs. I have anxiety and it pains me to see her like this. The vet suggested possibly to put her down because of my health. I just can't Is she in the final stages, what is going to happen? Could she make Xmas. Please help me what to know what to expect. Carol
A: Carol,
One of the greatest responsibilities we have as responsible, loving owners is knowing when it is time to say goodbye. Quality of life is a very subjective assessment and everyone defines it differently. There is a good survey put together by a leading veterinary oncologist:
that might be useful in making the best decision for her. There is really no way to know how long she will continue to be with you. End stage liver disease is very hard on the body and I do think that you want to let her go before she starts suffering that much.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua Going in Circles
Q: Well I have a 4 year old chihuaua and for some reason he won't stop going in circles and crying unless I'm right there petting him his eyes are always buggy but today they seem a little more out there. I thought it was the wind but we have 2 more chi and a yorkie they seem fine.
A: Is it ALL the time or just on occasion. If it is all the time I would be concerned about a condition similar to vertigo in which the brain cannot properly assess body position and that leads to the constant turning in on direction. Severe inner ear infection and brain problems can lead to this.
If it is on occasion I would suspect either mild seizures OR possibly severe sterotypy or OCD.
I would definitely take him in for a good evaluation and discussion of potential causes.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
How to Handle a Bubble Over a Surgical Incision
Q: Hi, I have a 5 year old Chihuahua named Manny. About a year ago, he had to
have emergency surgery because the vet found stones in his bladder.
(actually missed these on the xrays the first 2 times and it got worse
over time till they finally found it) Well, to make a long story short,
they cut him open, they took them out and now a year later, he has what
appears to be a bubble or growth right where his incision was. I don't
know if it is a stitch that turned inward and got infected.
I don't know what to do? Is it dangerous if we let it go? Or should I get it checked
out? Probably dumb questions. But I am at a loss. The bubble is squishy
and not hard so I don't think its anything like a tumor. But wanted to
some insight on if this is common and what they could do without it
costing me an arm and a leg? Sincerely, A concerned mommy
A: There are many possibilites but yes the most likely though it would be that
one of the internal sutures has started to irritate the body and it is reacting to
the irritation. If it is not warm or painful and there is no thick discharge then it
is likely not infected. Warm compresses and gentle massage of the bubble
(encouraging it to open and drain) will help speed up the healing process -- ie the
body expelling the suture material. Often it will take three or four bubbles and
draining to be done. IF there is any question at all along the way though get him in
to see your veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat Stops Using His Litterbox -- Sometimes
Q: Hi Savannah I need your help on this please.. I have cat whom was using
the litterbox every time he needed to and the litterbox is in the bathroom
because I have a small apt. And for the past two weeks he would pee on the rugs
in the bathroom but thing is he will poop in the box. Yes I change litter
but try to stay with the one I like but I had never had this problem with him
before. I don't understand why he pees outside the litter box and poops in
the litterbox?
Any advice I am tired of cleaning it up and washing everything. And I do want to add
is that it is a covered litterbox but he never seemed to mind it until recently.
Thanks and looking forward to your advice so I can fix this. -- Pam B.
A: Oftentimes urinating outside the litterbox is an indication of an urinary
tract infection. I would definitely recommend taking a urine sample in for tests to
determine if there is infection or inflammation present.
If there is no medical reason, then try adding a litterbox that is larger than the
present one and has a different type of litter in in. Sometimes cats will develop a
problem with litterboxes they have used with no problem for years. -- Rachel
Peeples, DVM
Bichon Spits Up Bile-Colored Fluid Some Mornings
Q: Hi, I have a Bichon puppy dog aged 7 months and every so often he seems to
retch and bring up a yellow looking bile. Only does this in the mornings. Maybe once
a month or so. He does not be eating grass.I would appreciate if you could help me.
Thanks a lot -- Geraldine
A: Many dogs will periodically in the mornings, especially if they are fed in
the late afternoon/early evening and, therefore, have empty tummies for 12+ hours.
The empty tummy has a build up of acid and it gets irritated. The first thing I
recommend trying is adding on a small meal or large snack right before bedtime --
this puts something in the stomach overnight to help reduce the acid buildup. If
that does not help talk with your veterinarian about acid reducing medications.
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab Develops Lump on Side of His Penis
Q: I am worried about my 9-year-old yellow Lab who is a male. He acts fine and
is eating well, but I just noticed a large lump on one side of his penis opening, and
nothing on the other. And, of course, it's a Saturday and so I can't call my vet.
Thanks! --Edie
A: Edie -- if it is still a concern (sorry for the delay in response I have
been offline for a couple weeks) I would definitely recommend having it examined.
Just like humans, as dogs get older lumps develop and cancer has to be a concern.
Most often it is something benign but it is better to determine the nature of the
lump so that if it needs to be addressed it can be. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua Has Swollen Nose and Ear Spots
Q: My Chihuahua has a swollen nose and ear spots. Any clues?
A: There are many possibilities, depending on what you mean by ear spots. If
it is red spots then in conjunction with the swollen noes some sort of allergic
reaction would be my most likely thought.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
ShiTzu Puts His Toys in a Circle
Q: Hi Savannah this might sound a little crazy but my folks who are perfectly
normal got a dog (ShiTzu) and when they got him he was a mess and he was
totally neglected. Now he is a beautiful dog with a awesome personality.
Thing is when they first got him, and to this day he still does this -- if he is left in the room by himself for a bit he takes all his toys and lines them up in a circle. All the time. My folks have taken pics of it too show everyone what he does. But the thing is he thinks he is Alien. Because of the way the toys are put. Now remember I told you my folks are perfectly normal NO mental problems of any kind.
But would there be a reason for their dog to do this? I have seen it
myself and it is crazy. He is such a cute dog. It is a little over a
year now.
What would that mean behavior wise? He not mean and has never hurt anyone
and he doesn't even bark or growl unless he hears something outside. He
does tricks etc... And it could be one of his tricks by doing what he does
with his toys.
He even moves his bed from one end of the laundry room to the door that
faces the kitchen so he can see what is going on. He is so adorable.
Can you please answer this crazy question so I can let my folks know what
you think. Thankyou. -- P.B.
A: The question at hand is - why does he put his toys in a circle -- yes?
Without knowing his full history there is no way to tell you for sure but I suspect
it was something that he developed out of boredom or neglect or possibly if there
were other dogs in his previous home to keep watch on "his" belongings so the other
dogs would not get them. Much the way that early childhood behaviors become habits
for us, so too with dogs oftentimes behaviors continue on when there is no longer the
stimulus or reason for it. It does not sounds like it is harming him or anyone -- I
wish my dogs were that neat with their toys :)!! I would definitely chalk it up to a
past learned behavior that has just stuck with him. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yorkie with Slipped Disc Does Not Respond to Treatment
Q: Let me try an explain, maybe you have some answers. I am sure looking.
On Tuesday he (Casey my 7 lb Yorkie) jumped off a bed that was a little
higher than our own. As the day progressed he started shaking and only walking,
on three legs. He has had back problems before, but this time it seemed
worse.
I took him into the vet on Wednesday and they gave him a steroid and
antibiotic shot. Saying he might have neurological damage. Meaning he was having
problems with his back. I took him home and spent the day and night with him
on the couch. He was still shaking and breathing shallow. The vet wanted to
see him on Thursday, so I brought him in. He gave him another steroid shot,
but this time intravenous. I again took him home and stayed very quiet.
Carried him when I moved to anther room. Slept on the couch with him so he would
not jump off. He had a restless night after 3:00am. Could not get
comfortable.
That morning he started throwing up, violently, each time worse than the
last. I had to hold him, it was so bad. Also a little diarrhea. I wrapped him
in a towel and we went back to the vet. While waiting to see the vet, Casey
started to throw up again, and I went to put him on the floor and he was limp
before I got him there. I started yelling and I lost it. I don't know what
they did in the back, but about 30 minutes later he brought Casey in all
wrapped up. He just was not himself, but I said my good byes.
The doctor said he worked on him all afternoon, blood tests and Xrays, all
normal expect he had a slipped disc. He felt he was too weak for surgery. I
agreed. The vet said he was in a lot of pain. Casey might have been in pain,
but usually he yelped loudly. This time it was shaking, not yelping.
The vet asked me many questions, one being what did he eat that was not
good. I was with him constantly and he ate nothing. He would not go outside
even. He said there was nothing else he could do for Casey and he was not in
good shape. It was time to put him down. Casey was miserable, I had seen that
for 3 days and each day was worse. So I agreed. And I knew he had stopped
breathing here at home at least once. But I shook him and he came back.
I really do believe he gave Casey too much steroids, my gosh the little guy
only weighed 7 pounds soaking wet! I may never know, but do feel that
something went terribly wrong. And I lost my best friend.
Your opinion or knowledge on this would be helpful. -- Pam
A: I know we need answers when a loved one is taken from us but sadly too
often there are none. I really have no way to tell you what might have happened to
poor Casey. I definitely concur that the original signs strongly suggest a partial to
full disc herniation. Steroids is the medication of choice for disc herniations. I
have no way to comment on the appropriate dosing since I have no idea what dose was
used.
Usually overdose on steroids will lead to ulcerations and liver damage but that is
usually a slow and gradual process. The sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea is
definitely suggestive of some other problem developing but who is to know what that
is. Was it related to the disc problem and a disruption of nerves to the
stomach/intestines? Was it an infection that got worse with the stress of the back
problem? There are just too many possibilities and not enough facts to make any kind
of determination.
Sadly things take our loved ones from us and we struggle to make it make sense. And
most often there is no reason and no sense to what happened. I am truly sorry and I
wish I could give you the closure that you need. All you can know is that you loved
him, you did everything for him that you could, and in the end you did the most
loving and caring thing an owner can do - unselfishly say goodbye. -- Rachel
Peeples, DVM
Great Dane Loves to Chew Plastic
Q: My 9 month old Great Dane mix constantly chews on and eats anything
plastic! Anything! Plastic knifes and forks, containers, cases... he chews them
thoroughly and usually eats most of them. This has been going on since I got him
three months ago. He's never gotten sick! But it is very strange, and very annoying.
What could cause it and is there any way I can stop this?
A: Chewing is a very normal dog behavior especially when they are getting
their adult eeth in. It sounds as if he simply likes the texture of the plastic for
chewing and therefore has developed a preference for it. It has not caused a
problem thus far but that does not mean it won't. I would recommend being vigilant
about keeping plastic out of his reach and giving him more appropriate things to chew
on like bones and dog chews. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat Has BMs Outside the Box
Q: My cat has started having her BMs outside her liter box. She urinates in
the box. Why?
A:If the feces is normal then the most likely thought would be that she has
developed some sort of problem with the litterbox. Kitties will go years fine with a
particular litter and a particular box and then one day decide it is not good enough.
I would recommend getting another box -- much larger and deeper and use a different
litter- something dirt like that it is easy to bury the feces in.
If that does not help then consult a behaviorist -- there are some marking and
anxiety behaviors that will result in this behavior but most often it is a litter box
issue. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Beagle Seems to Have Recurrent Infection
Hi, I recently just found your website and have found it to be very helpful. I have
a six year old female beagle that has been sick for about three months now. It
started with what we thought was ear mites, but turned out to be an ear infection
that had spread to the rest of her body. She also had pneumonia and a staph
infection.
We took her to the vet who treated her and the ear infection got better
and the staph infection seems to be gone, but she is still not herself. She is very
lethargic and has lost a considerable amount of weight. She also keeps getting these
sores mostly on her ears and chin area that look like hotspots but I think they may
be the staph infection coming back. She is housed with another beagle who shows no
signs of sickness. What could be wrong with our sweet Jessie? I hate to see her
suffer and want to get her better or end her suffering if nothing can be done.
Thanks for your advice. -- Sharron T.
A: What testing has been done? It definitely sounds as if the infection has
lodged in another part of the body or has damaged some part of the body or maybe
there is an underlying problem that led to the infection to begin with. If it has
not been done recently I would recommend general bloodwork including a thyroid level
and go from there based on the results. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
English Bulldog
Q: My year-old English Bulldog started coughing yesterday, would gag and spit out a good amount of white phlegm. He seemed ok otherwise, ate and drank well, and played and followed me around in the house and outside as usual. Most of the day today he did the same except that his coughing was less, he still gagged and spit up a little phlegm and seemed to better than yesterday. I thought he was getting better, but this evening he won't eat, but did drink quite a bit, has just sat around looking sad and is sleeping now making a rattling sound when he breaths. His breathing is fairly fast. I know that I should get him to a vet because he seems truly sick tonight. Do you think it is ok to wait until the morning to see my vet?
A: I am sure that you have already addressed this problem ( my apologies
I was out of town) but for future reference -- one quick check to see
how severely the lungs are affected is to check the gums. They
should be nice and pink - if they are bright red, blue, purple,
white, or grey in color then time to rush in to see someone. If the
gums are nice and pink and he is able to get up to move around then
it is PROBABLY okay to wait a few hours to have him examined. If
there is any doubt at all - err on the side of caution and get him in
to see someone. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Puppy with Runny Nose and Vaginal Pus
A: There are quite a few viruses and secondary bacterial infections that
can affect those two areas. With a fever that indicates that the
infection is affecting the entire body and not just those areas. I
think the best option is a trip to your veterinarian so the best
medications can be determined and started. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
5 Year Old Female Cat has Issues
Q: Hi, I have a 5 year old female cat who's having some issues. I actually have three cats, but I am 99% sure I have narrowed it down to the 5 year old. I started noticing small amounts of clear liquid mixed with blood around the house. More commonly near the litterbox. Just yesterday I noticed two bigger piles, and this time there seemed to be diahrea in it. It's been going on for maybe a year now, she doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort. Just wondering if it's necessary to take her to the vet. Thanks!
A: It is very hard sometimes to differentiate behavioral vs medical causes of inappropriate urination/defecation. I would recommend taking a fresh urine sample and a fresh fecal sample in for your vet to check for infections/parasites. If all is clear then discuss with your veterinarian some behavioral causes and modification techniques for those behaviors
-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Our Stray Dog
Q: Our stray dog has been very sick. His systems are coughing and lost a
lot of weight - he's lost so much weight that he can't is skin and bones
almost. He's very weak. We have tried to get him into a kennel to take
him in but he is fighting and biting so we quite. Is there something we
can buy to help his systems??
Carm
A: Unfortunately there are so many potential things that could be wrong ranging from heartworm disease to intestinal parasites to infectious disease to internal organ problems it is impossible to say what might help him and what will hurt him. Have you contacted a local shelter or rescue to see if they have a live trap that you can use? Good nutrition and vitamins like C, B, and E will help overall health. Depending on what is going on these may help a lot, a little, or not at all! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Dachshund - Pregnant
Q: My moms Yorkshire terrier decided to have a fling with our 5 year old
mini dachshund. She is getting ready to whelp and I just wanted to know
if dachshunds are more susceptible to whelping problems and what I
should be looking for. I have attached a picture so that you can see
her. I am sorry that it is not better.
Thank you for taking the time to answer everyone's questions, it means a
lot to us to have someone that is knowledgeable help us with our pet
problems.
A: Cute names. As to birthing problems - nothing routine with Dachshunds. They tend to be fairly "wide" for their size so the birthing canal is large in proportion to their overall body. Furthermore they have small, narrow heads which are less likely to get "hung" in the birth canal (compared to say a Bulldog's or a Shih Tzu's). All small dogs are prone to fatigue and low calcium during whelping (sugar water/Nutrical and oral calcium can help offset this) and low calcium while the pups are nursing.
Good luck and definitely talk with your veterinarian about danger signs during whelping and who to call if she needs an emergency C-section.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Infection Dooms Puppy with Possible "Swimmers" Condition
Q: I recently bought a Shitzhu puppy from a woman here in Maryland, she
told me that he had a deformity called "swimmers" and that he would grow
out of it. The day after we bought him had gotten progressively worse and
upon taking him to the vet I was advised that I should put the puppy
down, that it's hind quarters were paralyzed and that he had a fever of
105.7 and he was believed to have meningitis (my puppy was in a comatose
state when I took him to the vet).
After I was at the vets office I spoke
to the woman I bought him from and she said my puppy had never actually
been to a vet, she administered his shots herself. Is it possible she
misdiagnosed him? I have looked at so many sites and I keep seeing
different information. Some say "swimmers" is a condition that affects
the development of the diaphragm and spine, others say it affects the
muscles in the legs. Which is it? I know this won't bring him back but
I want to pass this information along. Thank you. -- Kristine A.
A: Kristine -- "Swimmers" is a condition caused by an excessively large
puppy especially on a slick surface. The weight of the pup and its
inability to get traction on the slick surface and raise its body up
results in flattening of the chest which affects spinal development,
lung development, heart development, diaphragm development, etc and
oftentimes deformity in the legs as well (splayed/bow-legged).
There
are many manifestations of this -- some mild, some severe -- and
different body parts can be affected differently in each individual
situation. Swimmer pups are often immunocompromised as well
resulting in increased susceptibility to infection.
It is very possible this pup WAS a swimmers pup that contracted the
infection. It is also possible that it was a genetic/congenital
abnormality and again the infection was secondary. Or it could have
all been related to the infection. Unfortunately there is no real
way to know for sure. I suspect if the physical deformity had been
present for a while (since 1-2 weeks of age or longer) that the
infection was secondary because as you unfortunately found out
infections tend to progress rapidly especially at this age.
I am so sorry you, and even more so this poor puppy, had to go through
this. I know it is heartbreaking but do take some consolation in the
fact that you did the loving, humane thing for this puppy and ended
its suffering. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab Favors Back Leg and Starts Shaking
Q: My 5 year old chocolate lab started favoring his back leg and
crying. I looked over each of his toes and his leg and there
doesn't seem to be any cuts or anything hurting him specifically
when I feel down his leg and toes. Then he started shaking through
his enitire body to his head, a lot like what a person does when
they have the flu, even his jaw shutters. His nose has also become
quite runny. He has become lethargic and sad.
Nothing has changed in our environment. Weather, food, yard,
water, etc... are all the same and my other chocolate lab is
healthy and doesn't show any signs of illness.
A: He definitely needs to go see your veterinarian - many very serious
illnesses including the tickborne diseases like Lyme and Ehrlichia
can present like this. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Larger Beagle Mix Breeds with Min Pin -- any Problems
Q: My male beagle mix bred with my pure bred female min pin. i have
two questions. One is I am affraid the pups may be to big for her
to deliver. She weighs only 14 pounds and he approx. 25
pounds. Also,they bred 3 times that I am aware of but she is still
bleeding. Is this a sign she may not be pregnant and I can prevent
a pregnancy by seperating them or is it to late?
A: The female dog will complete her heat cycle regardless of whether or
not she gets pregnant so the continued discharge is not indicative
either way of whether or not she is pregnant. Further complicating
the matter is that the female dog whether or not she is pregnant has
EXACTLY the same hormonal changes after she has been in heat so
determining pregnancy can be challenging. At this stage if they have
already bred then the potential for pregnancy is there. Not allowing
any more breedings will make pregnancy less likely then if they breed
multiple times but she most certainly can get pregnant from that one
breeding. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Hot Weather Brings on Panting and Vaginal Leaks
Q: My dog is a Husky Shepherd, and when its very hot outside she
breaths heavy and leaks by the vagina, it doesn't look like
urine. My husband was wondering if it's an infection of some
kind. This only happens when she's breathing heavy (panting) and she's
hot. Can you tell me what this is. I'm concerned.
thank you
A: The vaginal tract does produce secretions to lubricate and protect
its tissue from irritants/infecting agents. It may be that when she
pants the increased pressure on the abdomen expels some of that
tissue. But there could also very well be an infection especially
if she has not been spayed. I definitely think it warrants a check
by your veterinarian. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
What are Good Reasons to Neuter My Shih Tzu
Q: I need some good reasons to give my husband for
neutering a 5 month old Shih Tzu pup. We also have a two year old
male Shih Tzu who is neutered. My husband feels having the two year
old neutered messed up his personality. He feels he has no get-up-
and-go and is depressed. He sleeps more than the five month old
and can be a little moody when he wakes up.
He thinks the youngest
will not mark inside if he's potty-trained and should have no other
problems because no female is around. Give me some good reasons
other than marking and competing for females that I can tell my
husband so that I can convince him that this puppy needs neutering
also. I want the puppy to have the best quality of life. Thank you,
-- Lyn
Q: From a behavior standpoint intact males are more likely to
demonstrate dog aggression (particularly same-sex dog aggression),
dominance behavior including dominance related behavior toward
humans, inappropriate urination (lifting the leg or not),
mounting/"humping" behaviors both on humans/other dogs and on
inanimate objects, escaping (to go find females especially if there
are ones in heat) and destructive behavior (sexual frustration often
is redirected into destructive behaviors).
From a medical standpoint intact males are more prone to prostate
enlargement, prostatic infection, and prostatic cysts; testicular
cancer; and several of the cancers in and around the anus like
perianal gland tumors.
As to affecting behavior - most often neutering occurs around the
time that puppyhood is ending and the dog starts maturing into an
adult. There is NO proven effect on personality from anesthesia or
spay/neuter procedure. The changes seen around the time of routine
spay/neuter are linked to growth and mental development. I suspect
your older Shih Tzu would have been like that regardless of neutering
or not. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lethargic Chihuahua Puppy
Q: I got a 4 month old chihuahua puppy today. He was very cuddly when we got him. He has had three sets of shots and has been wormed three times. She does nothing but sleep and does't want to eat or drink although I got a little water down and also a little food. All he wants to do is sleep. He seems very depressed and thin. He also has a discharge from his eyes which the breeder said was tears but it looks a little pussy. He also doesn't have much hair. I think he came from a puppy mill. What should I do?
A: My apologies for the significant delay in response. I will trust
that you have resolved this problem and he is doing much better now.
For future reference -- puppies do sleep a lot, but they should be very
active and playful when they are awake. The stress of going to a new
home can make them "shut down" for a day or so but they should
quickly come out of it. Not eating and drinking at all is always a
sign of significant concern especially in a young, small puppy as
they can quickly get debilitated and dehydrated rapidly worsening any
underlying condition. Hopefully your veterinarian has checked him
out and he is on the road to recovery if not already there! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Beagle / Basset Hound has Accidents
Q:
I have a 10 year old Beagle / Basset Hound female. Within the last 2
months, she's begun having 'accidents' in the middle of the night,
consisting of diarrhea, with noticeable blood and mucous. I've noticed she
is also shedding much more than normal. The accidents have become more
regular in the last two weeks. I have a vet appt next week.
She appears healthy in every other way. No lack of appetite or thirst.
Any advice on what I might be dealing with, would be appreciated.
Thanks so much,
PS: I love Savannah. Planning my third trip for this coming October! :)
A: Glad that you like this area - it is a lovely place to visit
especially in the spring and fall.
My apologies for the delay in response - hopefully this will still be
relevant.
I would be suspicious of a dietary cause for the sporadic diarrhea
and maybe also for the increased shedding. Low thyroid would also be
a top consideration as well as it can lead to both of those. I think
a general workup including a fecal check and bloodwork WITH a thyroid
level would be my recommended starting place. And go based on these
findings. If all the test results are normal I would try a bland
"intestinal" diet to see if it will minimize the bouts of diarrhea. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
One Year and Four Month Old Kitty
He has always been a quiet kitty and not a large eater. I was preoccupied with a dying cat and suddenly realized that my kitty was sick as well. He had upper respiratory congestion and a runny nose. I hadn't seen him eat for days, and I hadn't seen him use the litter pan for days either..
I started him on Klavamox, 62.5 mg twice daily. He weighs 7.8 lb. after the first 2 doses I brought him to the vet. The temp was slightly elevated (103.7). However, the runny nose had already subsided by the time I got him in. The vet didn't see the runny nose, I had seen it the day prior to the vet visit. the respiratory congestion was still there, and the vet suggested that I switch antibiotic to Baytril (22.7 mg tab) , 1/2 tab daily. I continued with the Klavamox, however, and he had 4.5 days worth. Now today, I switched him over to Baytril.
I just found that he's got blood, red blood, on his rectum. Since I don't see him poop, I can't say that he's got bloody stool. I just don't know.
I'm very frightened about this. I am wondering if this could be from switching antibiotic?
Again, he was never much of an eater, but i haven't seen him eat any food in days. i have started giving him nutracal, 1/4 inch twice a day. i see him drink a lot of water. but sometimes find him sitting hunched over the water bowl and not drinking.
i intend on bringing him in to be seen again, tomorrow, but is there something i can do for him tonight? i'm reluctant to force feed him. i have prednisolone in the house and thought it might help with the bowl inflammation, but i am afraid that it might do more harm than good, since no one knows what's really wrong with him.
A: I am sorry it has taken me several days to get to your question -- I will trust that he has been checked and is doing better! For future reference -- I would avoid prednisone/prednisilone when there is an undetermined infection occuring and/or if you suspect GI ulceration as these medications can make both worse. Force feeding done in small amounts and gently can help boost energy and give strength. You do have to be careful to not cause the kitty to aspirate into the lungs any of the food as this can cause severe problems. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chihuahua with infrequent urination
My 1 year old female chihuahua has had a schedule of urinating every 4 to 5 hours - on rare occasions she has gone 6 hours. The last two days she has gone at 7:30 in the morning and not again until 4 in the afternoon. She seems to be drinking regularly. Is something wrong with her? Thank You Debby Ward
A: So long as the urine is normal and she has no trouble urination I would not be concerned. It may just be that her bladder has finished developing and she can "hold it longer" or that now that she is through most of her growth her metabolism is slowing down resulting in less waste including urine. If there is any doubt have your vet check her and/or a urine sample but nothing you describe sounds concerning.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
What is the best amount of dog food to feed a 10 lb dog?
Q: I feed my rat-terriers Science Diet RD (it is the only food they have no problems with and also Thank God,still enjoy eating!) I feed my Capone Boy 1/2 a cup twice a day. I was giving him 3/4 a cup (2xday)but he started gaining weight, so I went down again, but feel that I am not feeding him enough. What is the healthiest and best choice amount? Also he has always been my lover-boy, right on me on the couch, and in bed cuddled in my arms. For the past couple of months though he has started sitting on his own on the love seat, and does not want to cuddle in bed anymore. He whimpers sometimes, and I thought it was his teeth , but we just got them cleaned (and his blood work came back primarily fine, but w/a slightly high calcium read and that he was slightly dehydrated . My vet said not something to be concerned with as an EMERGENCY and that in a few weeks , if I wanted to, we could do
another blood work on him. He also gets , right where his ear meets his head, but still on the ear part, a liquid blister. It is not attached to the skin, and its not the same feeling as fatty deposit's he has on his neck,side areas . It is not hard, it does not hurt, and has no scent. He had this on his other ear , same spot, and I popped it. This one is a little bigger, and I squeeze but am scared to hurt him , though as I said, they do not seem painful, he does not cry or try to get away. The first one I popped is now a little stony feeling thing. Are these scary developments? I would have brought them to my vets attention on the teeth cleaning day, but I forgot. Thanks for your time, and God bless you for sharing your doctoring wisdom. Sincerely, 3 Terriers and 2 Cats owned, Susan
A: There is no set amount to feed - just like in the human world every
individual has different metabolic levels and different energy
demands. Feeding to effect - ie maintaining a proper body condition
is the correct thing to do. If you feel he is still hungry you can
try adding on low calories additions such as frozen vegetables but be
careful that does not upset his stomach/intestines.
As to the blisters - it is very hard to say if they are of concern
or not. They could be small cysts, small inflammatory nodules, or
early growths. I think it may be worth a trip to your vet just to
put your mind at ease regarding the nature of those sores. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Maltese Needs to See Vet
I have a 9month old maltese x poodle she had eaten a couple of bread rolls and has been finding it hard to pass a motion. I have been giving her cooked pumpkin every second night which has helped her to pass but when she passes she yelps her anus looks red.What can i do for to make it more comfortable for her
I think it may be worth a trip in to see your veterinarian. She may have impacted/full anal glands or may have partial to full obstruction of her colon. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
What Causes Constipation in a Shih Tzu?
Q: My elderly mother has a 6 year old Shih Tzu who has been
constipated for two days w/o having a bowel movement.(Snoopy-dogs
name). He is not acting himself, nor has he been eating. Is there
something we can do at home for him? Instead of going to the vet?
My mom nor I can afford to do that, although if worse came to worse
we would have to come up with the money some how because this dog
means so much to my mom.Please respond a-s-a-p.
Thanks Mary
A: Mary - the first thing I would be concerned about are his anal
glands. If you have any groomer friends or vet tech friends they can
show you how to check his anal glands and empty them if they are
full. This is the most common cause of the symptoms that you are
describing. If the anal glands are full, he is not going to get
better until they are emptied out. The fiber laxatives such as
Metamucil and Benefiber can be used -- a small teaspoon per meal --
to help with constipation. Again tho if the constipation is the
secondary problem this alone won't help. And finally there are many
other reasons for the symptoms that you describe - if he is not doing
better soon I would take him in for a checkup. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
9 Year Old Maltese has Hair Loss
Q: Please help I am terrified that something is extremely wrong with my
maltese. She has been slowly losing her hair for several years now and has
very little left. You can see more skin than hair and she has practically
none on her belly. She shakes a lot, always has, could be nerves or stress
and for a few years she moans a lot. Also, I think you should know that I
live in the Midwest with very cold winters and warm summers. My home
doesn't heat or cool well so I have wondered if she just has a skin disease
from the extreme temperatures. In the winter we both practically live
underneath an electric blanket. Please let me know if you can help us.
Thank you for your kindness and this wonderful and informative website.
A: There are so many potential causes of hair loss it is hard to say what are potential/likely causes in this specific case. Low thyroid is one of the most common reasons, allergies, chronic skin infection, nutritional imbalances, metabolic diseases, etc can all disrupt the hair follicle and hair growth. I think it would definitely be warranted to take her in for some general bloodwork including a thyroid level and go from there based on the bloodwork.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
How can you tell if a dog is dead?
Q: How can you tell if a dog is dead? Are open eyes and a protruding tongue classic symptoms? I touched the dog's eye and there was no reflex action, does that indicate death? I recently had my dog euthanized, and for some inexplicable reason I've been worrying that she may have still been alive (I saw no signs of breathing). I was not present for the euthanization, which I now deeply regret. I'm no longer in possession of the dog, as I had her cremated. Please help, this has been bothering me recently.
A: The most reliable way is the absence of a heartbeat for a few
minutes. Deep anesthesia can result in no reflex action but a
heartbeat still be present. I know it is hard not to have doubts and
worries associated with euthanasia -- even when our heads and most
of our heart know it is the right thing to do there is always a
little doubt and guilt associated with the decision. Rest assured
that your veterinarian made sure that your dog was dead before
sending her to be cremated. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Chihuahua
Q: Last night my 8lb. male chihuahua and 14 lb. female Jack Russell got into a fight. Shortly afterwards I noticed that everytime that my chihuahua jumped off the couch that he grunted or groan as if pain. This morning upon rising he acts as if he is very stoved up > and is not moving normally. When the Jack Russel, who is very active, bumps into him he wimpers as if in a lot of pain. I have given him half of a low dose safety coated aspirin and I am alternating cold and heat pad to his back. I am not allowing him to jump up or down from the couch, but picking him up and setting up or down. While laying on the couch he seems to be resting fine. I thinking that maybe he has pulled a muscle or something, what do you think?
A: Soft tissue injury/bruising is definitely a possibility. There is
always the possibility of a more serious orthopedic injury as well.
I would definitely recommend getting him into your veterinarian
especially if he is not improving in 5-7 days. I would not wait that
long, however, if he seems to show NO improvement or if he worsens. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
My Loving Pekingnese
HI, my name is Joy i am a 6yr old pekingese i was adopted here in > tx by a loving lady whom loves me very much but she got in a bind > at the home where we lived and had to let me stay with her aunt > well i recently came back home with her, she took me to the vet and > had me checked out and updated on all my shots and tags. also got > microchipped. but during the vets exam in my mouth he said he > noticed my jaw was not in place or something of the sort . now my > tongue is not hanging out and i do love to eat i dont seem to have > any problems with my mouth but when my loving owner came to pick me > up the vet stated that he thinks my jaw is fractured or i may have > been born with this, and that he would have to exray my mouth. what > i want to to know is could this be possiable is this something that > happens with my breed or is this sighns of possable abuse please > i want to know . so i can give my owner some sort of relief so she > wont be so upset and depressed about me. please email me with > your responce at jessitayl7@verizon.net
> Thank you
Unfortunately it can be hard to differentiate trauma from congenital
with chronic "lesions" -- there are some signs on the radiographs
that can help tell the difference but they are not absolute. So
sadly your owner may never know exactly what happened. Pekingnese
are not at higher risk of congenital jaw abnormalities but that does
not mean it cannot happen. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
17 Year Old Dachshund
A: Injuries (and arthritic changes) in the "lower back" aka the spine in and around the pelvic area can most definitely lead to incontinence both urinary and fecal. There are several good medications that can help relieve some of the irritation/inflammation to the nerves and spine as well as medication to help with the incontinence. I would definitely speak with your veterinarian about an appropriate medical regime to help improve his quality of life.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
French Bulldog Rubbing Penis
Q: I have searched the internet for info regarding my 1 year old frenchies habit of rubbing his penis to see if it is a common trait in frenchies. I haven't found anything other than some you tube videos showing that it appears somewhat common. I assume because they cannot lick themselves, this is what they do. Now, however, one side of his penis is raw and has scabbed over with pussy scabs. Earlier this year I got Animax ointment from the vet and I put some of that on the scabs but it may have made it worse. Any insight on your part would be appreciated.
A: Rubbing the "belly" and/or the penis is a common practice amongst many dogs -- I have not seen a breed specificity to it. If he is traumatizing himself and creating sores then I would recommend checking with your veterinarian to be sure there is not a medical component to it like allergies or topical irritation. If the sores are not healing then he likely needs some oral medication to augment the topical. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Female Bassett Hound with Vaginal Puss
Q: I have a 7 month old female bassett and I have noticed yellowish green puss coming out of her vaginal, what could this be? She doesn't act like she feels bad, but she does go outside and urinate alot but has since we got her at 4months.
A: IF she has recently been in heat then I would be very concerned about a uterus infection - so get her into your vet ASAP as this can be a very serious and even fatal condition (much like appendicitis in humans). If she has not been in heat in the last 2 months, then most likely it is a mild case of vaginitis. Vaginitis can be JUST inflammation - this commonly occurs in conjuction with irritation/allergies elsewhere such as runny eyes/runny nose/irritated skin/etc. The vaginal tract much like the nose produces a thick mucoid material to trap dirt, debris, irritants, etc. Vaginitis can also be infectious - bacterial, yeast, etc. It is VERY important to discuss with your veterinarian treatment options b/c many times oral medications make the problem worse especially antibiotics. I find that a mild douche is often the best treatment for vaginitis.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Cat with Matted Fur
Q: Hi,
My male cat, Tuxie, has developed very matted fur at the base of his spine where his tail begins and then up along his spine that runs about half way up his backbone. The rest of his fur is fine. It is just the area beginning from his mid back to the beginning of his tail and it is hair running along his spine only. It is thickly matted and has the consistency of a thick piece of felt. The rest of his fur is just fine and he seems to be eating well. I don't know if he has some sort of disease or he is just too lazy to groom himself there.
Thank you for any help you may be able to give me. --Helen
A: Without evidence of any skin problems AND especially if he is overweight then most likely it is just inability to groom that area. Oftentimes the skin will be really flaky as well since normal grooming works to remove the dead skin before they flake. The mats need to be cut out and then I would recommend brushing that area regularly to see if that makes a difference. Of course if there is any indication of raw, irritated, infected, or in any way otherwise abnormal skin definitely get him into your veterinarian for an exam.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Shihtzu with Runny Eyes
Q: Hi
I have a 1 &1/2 year old adorable male SHITZU named SIMBA. My problem is that his eyes always appear to be running or wet. There also many times is a white mucous like substance right on one of his eyeballs. I clean his face and eyes daily, but it always comes back. A friend of mine has a female Shitzu and has similar problems with her eyes. He recommends human teardrops. Is this safe? Does it help or should I take him to the Vet?
Linda from Las Vegas
Thank-you in advance I love your website!
A: I am glad that you like the website -- and thank you for the kind comment about it :)!
As to Simba's eyes -- one of the things that we humans created when we took the normal dog skull and flattened it to make all the brachycephalic (flat nosed) breeds was abnormal eye sockets. In the normal dog the eye socket is deep enough for the eye to sit in it and there be a space in the corner of the eye for the tears to collect and drain via the tear duct. In the process of altering the skull, the eye sockets became more shallow and, therefore, the eye sits further forward blocking that space and the tear duct opening. Since the tears cannot drain normally (ie via the tear duct because it is blocked) they have to find some other way to drain and that is why the eyes are constantly "wet" looking. As the fluid in the tears evaporates it leaves a thick white to grey material on the eye and a reddish-brown stain on the fur. Because this is an anatomical problem no medicine is going to make it better. So long as there is no infection (neon yellow or green discharge) it is a normal part of being this breed. Unfortunately all things come with a cost and "tearing"/eye material is the cost of making the face shaped like it is in these breeds.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Cat has Matted Fur
Q: Hi,
My male cat, Tuxie, has developed very matted fur at the base of his spine where his tail begins and then up along his spine that runs about half way up his backbone. The rest of his fur is fine. It is just the area beginning from his mid back to the beginning of his tail and it is hair running along his spine only. It is thickly matted and has the consistency of a thick piece of felt. The rest of his fur is just fine and he seems to be eating well. I don't know if he has some sort of disease or he is just too lazy to groom himself there.
Thank you for any help you may be able to give me.
Helen
A: Without evidence of any skin problems AND especially if he is overweight then most likely it is just inability to groom that area. Oftentimes the skin will be really flaky as well since normal grooming works to remove the dead skin before they flake. The mats need to be cut out and then I would recommend brushing that area regularly to see if that makes a difference. Of course if there is any indication of raw, irritated, infected, or in any way otherwise abnormal skin definitely get him into your veterinarian for an exam. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Cat Biting
Q: I hope you can advice me on this so I can let my client know why her cat
does this to her.
She has a cat that starts licking her and then bites but not so hard that
her skin bleeds or anything. (she has done it too me also) I think it is a form
of wanting attention or play. She also will lay on my clients stomach why
she is sleeping and start licking my clients lips. And sometimes when she is
awake. My client is not sure why her cat bites her even though I gave my
thoughts on this so I am asking you since you know about animals. And I will
let her know what you think. Thankyou --Pam Borgos
A: This is a very common behavior amongst the feline species in interactions with one another and to a lesser extent in interactions with other species. There are many theories on why it happens ranging from sexual to dominance to "that is how they show affection" to . . . In truth we are not really sure why biting often is a part of the feline's attention seeking behaviors. The licking of the lips/face is a common "allogrooming" behavior - meaning one cat grooming another cat. The face, lips, chin, etc is the hardest part of the body for the cat to clean itself so commonly its 'friends' will help it out by cleaning these areas. This is definitely a social bonding interaction (ie affectionate). -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Westie Spitting Up
Q: Hi,
I have a 2 year old Westie with a very weak stomach. We have her on
Evo dog food which stays down great.
However, she occasionally will make a "hacking" sound and then
sometimes spits up a thickish watery liquid - it really doesn't seem
like it is coming from her stomach but just sort of comes out of her
mouth on its own.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you --Judy Kilborne
A: I cannot say with absolute certainty but what you describe sounds more respiratory that it does gastrointestinal. This is analogous to the human with sinus drainage that coughs/clears the throat and brings up phlegm. This is a very common behavior in many breeds, amongst 'allergic' dogs, and it can happen in any individual. If it is happening a lot - discuss with your veterinarian some sort of antihistamine therapy to help decrease the respiratory secretions. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab Mix Exhibits Mixed Symptoms
Q: Hi. I own a yellow lab mix and about 5 days ago she started acting weird. She isn't playful, she won't eat, her stool is very runny but not bloody, she vomits sometimes, and she drools a lot. She does drink water once in awhile, but she puts her nose in it and blows bubbles then she drinks it. Our vet said it might be Puppy Parvovirus over the phone. But when we looked it up over the computer some of the signs that were on the site didn't show up in my puppy.
But recently we have seen a lot of shaking in through her body. It's really scary and she's been really depressed. She's also about 8 months old. What do you think could be the real problem and do you think we should take her into the vet? Please help my puppy and family before its to late. Thank you so much!-- Kirsten
A: If she is not getting any better and from the sounds of things may be getting worse yes I would get her in to see your vet as soon as you can! There are so many causes of these nonspecific signs (diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of energy) that it is impossible to even hazard a guess without an examination and at least a couple of tests. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Could These Be Symptoms of Distemper?
Q: Hi, I have a question about a puppy I just picked up from our local animal
shelter. First I'll give you the time line of events though...
On July 7, I called the pound about a pack of 7 dogs that had been abandoned
for over a week. We were told (just AFTER he had loaded all of them into
the truck), that they were all just going to be put down. There was a 4
month old puppy in that pack, and she was the only non agressive one, and
couldn't see her put down just for existing!
July 8, I went to the shelter to see about adopting her. I was told it
would be 30 days before I could.
July 11, I went to check on her, she was doing fine, same with July 14, and
19th
July 21, I got a call from the shelter supervisor who told me she had
developed a cough. He allowed me to take her home and get her treated.
July 22, I took her to my vet to see what he thought. She had a 103 degree
fever. He couldn't say for sure that it was distemper, but didn't want to
rule it out. He gave her two shots of antibiotics and a 10 day supply to
come home with.
Since then, Her cough has all but gone away, she has never lost her
appetite. (She eats like a horse) No diarea, no vomitting, no discharge from
her eyes or nose. Her fever went away that afternoon, and hasn't returned
(I check it about 3 times a day)
Now my question is, is it possible that she could actually be recovering?
That she may not develop full on distemper? She has a lot of energy just
like a normal 4 1/2 month old puppy. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I
do want to know. Everything I have read online talks about the first signs
being discharge from the nose and eyes, not wanting to eat, vomitting and
diarea. She has none of these at all. What do you think? Thank you so much!
-- Lee C.
A: Lee there are many reasons for a cough and a fever -- kennel cough being one of the most common. The only way to know if it was distemper is to test for it. Given her lack of other symptoms and quick improvement I would lean more toward a "simple" respiratory infection than distemper. The couple cases of distemper I have seen have been very, very sick dogs and they take weeks to fully recover if they ever do! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Toy Poodle Lethargic
Q: We left our little 7 month old poodle home on Friday to enjoy the day at the lake. We came home and she greeted us happily and then wandered into the closet and hid. There was a thunder storm erupting, her first of the season, so we figured she was just scared. The next day she threw up some foamy bile and did not eat and acted like she was very sad that we left her. It's 3 days later, she has no temperature, yet she still does not want to eat and now when she drinks water (she has been drinking fine) it seems she "spits" it back out within about 1/2 hour of drinking it. What could be her problem? Is she just depressed or is this more serious? I thought with no temperature it could not be that serious? Thanxs from ---Zera
A: Fever can definitely be an indication of serious illness but many serious conditions happen without a fever. Given the duration of the clinical signs and especially the fact she is not keeping water down I would strongly recommend a trip into your veterinarian. Dehydration can rapidly develop under these circumstances and cause profoundly serious complications.
As to what it might me - anal gland impaction or infection is my first thought but there are many, many possible causes of the clinical signs that you describe.
-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
King Charles Spaniel
Q: Dear Dr.,
He is an indoor dog i.e. I live in a condo and it rains a lot and he is not
fond of the rain. we take him out for walks but not as often or like other
dogs that live in houses with yards.
He is fine throughout and only when we take him out and after he sniffs
around.
Is this anything serious? Please let me know. Thanks --Rainn
A: If it is mainly happening when he is actively smelling things or even putting them in his mouth it may be a normal psychological response to something that smells yummy OR irritates his nasal passages/mouth. If it is only happening then, I would not be concerned at the moment. Watch closely though that it does not start to happen other times. -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Airdale Biting Paw
A: Excessive licking can be hard to treat/stop because while it often starts for medical reason it quickly develops behavioral components similar to OCD in people. The first thing that needs to be done is to physically prevent her from chewing on it - bandage MAY work but Elizabethean (Lampshade looking) collars are often the only solution. The more she chews the more damage and the more risk of infection and other serious complications. Surgical removal sometimes is helpful but often these dogs chew the incision and cause problems OR allow it to heal and then chew another sore.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Does Tea Cup Maltese Need Nutracal?
Q: Hi. I have a teacup Maltese who is a little over 4 months old and weighs 1
pound, 12 ounces. I got her a little over 3 weeks ago and since I have had
her, she has gained 7 ounces (she came home at l pound 5 ounces). She eats
very well, at least 3 times a day, canned dog food, canned chicken thighs and
boiled chicken which I make, and mix all together. I always have it available
to her in her crate which she goes in and out of (I have her paper trained
as she is so small). The pet store I got her from told me to give her
Nutracal at least 3 times a day. I was doing this but stopped about a week ago
because she eats and drinks so well and I don't want to give her diabetes or a
"sugar high" if she doesn't need it. So, that is my question. I have always
heard that these little teacups need Nutracal 3 times a day but she seems so
healthy and playful I don't think she needs it - am I right? Obviously if
she stops eating at any time or seems weak I would give it to her again but
that hasn't been the case. Please help me - I don't want to do my dog a
disservice by not giving her something she should be getting, but I don't want to
"over do" it either. Thank you so much for your time!
A: If she is eating well and growing well then the Nutrical is not NEEDED. It won't hurt anything and there is no reason not to do it but it does not have to done. The concern with our small/toy dogs especially when little puppies is low blood sugar and regular nutrical helps that. Giving her nutrical WON'T cause diabetes anymore than eating candy will cause it in people. So don't stop out of that concern. So long as she eats regularly there is no need for nutrical but it won't hurt to give it.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
10 yr old Shih Tzu with Liver Disease
Q: My 10 yr old shih tzu male had pre-anesthetic bloods drawn 4 mos ago in preparation for dental surgery. Abnormal liver values were noted and he was put on denamarin after an untrasound revalued nothing alarming. He was diagnosed with reactive hepatopathy. He was just retested after 2 1/2 mos and values were more elevated that at first. He now has to have a liver biopsy but had blood work to check coagulation and that was slightly abnormal. I am now waiting for a decision as to whether or not the biopsy can be done.
There was no tumor observed on the ultrasound. Does that mean there could be one but too small to be detected? What else might be occurring and is it fixable or should I start preparing myself for the worst? Thank you in advance for your response.
A: There are many reasons for liver enzymes to be elevated - liver infection, liver inflammation, liver cancer, etc. Yes, there could be a small tumor or more often infiltrative cancer which does not form one lesion but is spread throughout the tissue. Chronic active hepatitis is another possible condition - - this seems in most dogs to be an auto-immune disease. And there are many other possibilities.
How serious it is and how fast it will progress to impact his quality of life really depends on what the exact problem is. There are lots of things that can be done to help the liver both in supplements (does the denamarin have milk thistle extract in it? If not I would definitely add that on), medications, diets, etc. I know it is hard not to assume the worst but prepare for the worst and hope for the best and hopefully you will have some answers soon. Once you know what you are dealing with then you can determine what can best be done for him! -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Great Dane Just Finished Cycle
Q: Hello, I have a question about my Great Dane she is just one year old . She has just finished her heat cycle, she has a yellowish drainage coming from that area!!
She seems fine in all aspects. Do I need to be worried??? Thank You
A: It really depends on the appearance of the discharge. A thin straw colored discharge is normal from mid-heat through the end of the heat cycle. A thick "neon" yellow or green discharge indicates a bacterial infection and does warrant a trip to your veterinarian. The main concern would be pyometra (uterus infection) which behaves much like appendicitis in humans - filling up with infection and rupturing leading to septic shock and possibly death. Not trying to scare you just saying it can be something very serious or normal depending on how it looks.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Sheltie Anal Glands
Q: I am getting a Sheltie soon. Do they need their anal glands extracted?
I had a cocker that needed it. Thank you, --Melaney Lozier
A: Anal gland "issues" are highly variable between individual dogs. There is frustratingly no real predictability to it. As a general rule, the smaller the dog the more likely they will be to need regular anal gland expression but there are many large/giant dogs that need it and many small dogs that don't. I would have the anal glands checked when ever he/she is at the vet or groomers and based on what they find (full or empty) that will determine IF this particular dog is prone to full anal glands and how often he/she will need them expressed.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Cat Bleeding from Rectum
Q: My 9 yr.old male cat was bleeding from the rectum suddenly this evening. he cleaned himself up and when I looked area over it appears to have stopped. He has never been outside and has been on "CD Feline" dry catfood since the age of 4 because of bladder disease. Could this have been a cyst?
A: There are many reasons to have blood from the rectum ranging from infected/impacted anal glands to intestinal ulceration to infection. I would certainly recommend a trip to your veterinarian especially if it recurs.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Itchy German Shepherd
Q: HI, MY GERMAN SHEPHERD IS 2 YEARS OLD, SHE IS ALWAYS CHEWING HERSELF, WE HAVE HER ON A RAW MEAT DIET AND VEGETABLES, EGGS,FISH OIL FOR DINNER. IN THE MORNING SHE GETS KIBBLES WITH NO GRAIN, COTTAGE CHEESE, ALFALFA AND KELP.PEOPLE STOP AND TELL US THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COAT. IT SHINES,YET SHE CAN'T STOP CHEWING HER FUR. SHOULD WE TAKE HER TO A DERMATOLOGIST? NANCY :-) OUR VET SAID GERMAN SHEPHERDS ARE PRONE TO ALLERGIES, BUT WE DO NOT WANT HER ON CORTISONE SHOTS FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
A: There are many reasons for a dog to be itchy. I will assume that fleas have been taken out of the equation? If not the first step is aggressive flea control both on the dog and in the environment. The next step is to rule out other external parasites. We are seeing lots of atypical sarcoptic mange which presents as just an itchy dog. These dogs are not the traditional "mangy" looking dogs with relatively normal coats and often it is just one dog in the household that is affected (traditionally sarcoptic mange is highly infectious and spreads between dogs). Therefore, it is recommended before pursuing extensive allergy testing that mites be ruled out as a culprit in the itching. There are several options to do this - my preference is three injections of ivermectin 7-10 days apart. Revolution can also be used as can topical products like paramite or mitaban dip. If this does not bring relief then diet is the next consideration. A hypoallergenic diet needs to be used - there are several commercial ones available and there are recipes for home prepared forms. A food trial lasting a MINIMUM of 12 weeks on this diet and NOTHING ELSE ORALLY needs to be done to see what, if any changes, occur. If there is significant reduction of clinical signs then a food allergy is part of the problem and determination of the exact food allergen can be pursued OR the dog can just stay on the hypoallergenic diet. If the hypoallergenic diet does not address any or all of the symptoms then allergy testing either via blood testing or skin testing can be done. This will screen for external allergens such as pollens, grasses, molds, etc. Hyposensitization injections can then be formulated and used to hopefully reduce the allergy symptoms.
There are many medications out there that can be used to help with itching -- antihistamines (benadryl, claritan, etc) are the "first line" of defense. Supplements like Omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants (Vit C,E, etc), etc can help with overall skin health. And the final medical option are the medications that suppress the immune system to reduce its "out of control" response to nonpathogens like pollens and grasses. Steroids are the traditional medication in this class but recent human crossovers provide is with other medications like atopica.
I would definitely talk with your veterinarian about starting a diagnosis plan and go from there. Much can be done by your "local" veterinarian and yes a dermatologist consult would be a good idea but most are going to want fleas, mites, and food allergies investigated first before pursuing other alternatives.
Good luck -- itchy dogs can be very frustrating to control and provide comfort to! -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Poodle with Hunching Problem
Q:: I have two poodles. Lucy will be two on September 26 and Emma will be 1 on December 28. They are very close and play together, kiss and lick each other. I first was acquired by Lucy when she was 12 weeks old, I fell in love and it has only grown. At that time I had a friend living with us who has a nine year old terrier mix, a Bichon-poo age 7, and a part-time visitor Yorkie-poo age 8. Lucy very nearly drove them crazy with her puppy play, but they tolerated and disciplined her with kindness. When their owner accepted a job in Waycross, I got Emma so that Lucy would not be alone. Lucy has always been full of life loving to run, play, fetch, run, swim, run, and eat. Beginning at about 1 year of age she began hunching me and later Emma. I have read this is a dominance thing for the most part, so I would simply say no and move her. Emma now readily resists her and will nip at her (good for her). The other night, however, she jumped up in my lap for her nightly loving rubs and kisses only to look at me with a bewildered look and began hunching my arm. I had great difficulty disengaging my arm (scratches) and she just could not seem to stop. She just had this pitiful look on her face. It really did not seem to be a dominance issue. Could there be some sort of pituitary tumor or other condition causing or exacerbating this behavior? She has always been healthy and was spayed at about 5 months. She has been to obedience school twice and does pretty well as long as she is on a leash, but will bolt across streets, hills, dales and rivers if not restrained. Emma, on the other hand, has not yet been to obedience school and will stay close and follow me around the yard. Lucy seems very sensitive and if I raise my voice at my husband (he has Alzheimer's) she ducks under the bed for a while. I have never over disciplined her. Lucy also seldom uses the pad to poo but will tinkle on the pad most times. Lucy sees her vet regularly and is groomed on a 6 to 8 week cycle with a bath given midway between. She weighs 18.5 lbs and her papers say she is a toy poodle (HA!). She is not significantly over-weight for her height and length, both of which place her in the top end of a miniature poodle. The breeder says that every 7th or 8th generation you will get a throw back when breeding toys and get a miniature. I just want her to be happy, healthy and well behaved- should I be concerned? If so what sort of work-up should be done?
Thank you for the great service you render us overly concerned and zealous pet owners.
Harriett Kirby
Tifton, GA
A: While there are some medical conditions that can lead to specific behaviors I am not aware of any excepting maybe a reproductive hormone imbalance that might lead to this behavior. From what you describe I think MOST of the times it is occurring is in normal behavioral context. I do think the episode that happened the other night may be crossing over into OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder -- like people who wash their hands 30 times). I would recommend stopping this behavior as soon as you get the first clue that it might start (ie look for warning clues) and distract her into some other activity. A full examination and some blood work is never a bad idea but no specific medical conditions come to mind that have this as a "usual symptom."
-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Wet Spots in Cat's Fur
I have a cat who's almost a year old. Recently, Ive noticed spots that are wet in her fur. I dismissed it as where she had cleaned. I woke up today and noticed she has a lot of it, and also she is missing fur. My dad says its white blood cells...Her skin is red and she's constantly messing with it. Is it serious or will it go away?
There are just so many possibilities for skin problems/sores as you describe ranging from allergies to infection that my best advice is to have a veterinarian look at her - it could be mild and resolve itself, it could be serious and progress to infection and other problems.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
5 Year Old Lab and Choking Noise
Q: Hello!!!
I was looking for information on the medicine that was just prescribed to my
dog. Guafensn100/Dextromethrpn 10 mg-1 tablet 3 times daily + Doxycycline
100 mg-2 tablets Twice daily, and happened to find your email. Hopefully you
can give me some advice.
My dog, Rocky is a 5 year old black lab. His health has been perfectly fine
till last week, when I decided to take him to a new vet for his regular
check-up vaccines. After this check up, I decided to buy like a medical
insurance for him and this covered a lot of extra exams. I dropped him off the next
morning and they call me like around noon to let me know he was ready and
that all the tests (rectal, dental, ophtalmic, otoscopic, neurological,
tonometry....), came out just fine. That same afternoon he started doing a weird
noise, like he was choking. I rushed him to the vet's office and he found no
apparent reason. He told us to bring him home and to check on him very
closely. He got a little bit better, but like 2 days later he started doing it
again, but this time sounded more like a cough. He even threw up because of the
effort he made trying to get rid of what seemed was bothering him. After
that, he sneezed and I noticed like mucus with blood came out of his nose...
and he did it again and again with more blood every time. I rushed him again
to the vet, who prescribed what I mentioned above, even though his lungs
sounded perfectly clear. Today he is barely coughing or sneezing but, instead he
seems to have runny nose and of course, his appetite has decreased to the
point that he doesn't want to eat at all and MY BIG WORRY is that we are
boarding him on Saturday. We are leaving on a trip for 2 weeks !!!! First, I
don't know if when I tell the kennel that he is sick and needs this 2 medicines
they are going to take him, and second, my worst worry is that he gets even
sicker while we are gone!!! I feel so bad because he was perfectly fine before
this appointment for the general check-up/vaccines. I'm pretty sure he got
something while he was there.... WHAT SHOULD I DO??? Is there anything that I can
get over the counter for his runny nose?? I don't want to go back to the
vet's office. I don't know how much money I have spent since last week, even
with this insurance. PLEASE HELP!!! --L. Marie
Sorry, I made a mistake with the address yesterday.... Here we go again....
please help!!! The update today is that he is not coughing at all but has a
runny nose, licking his nose constantly, and of course has no appetite at all.
I have to take him to a boarding facility tomorrow... what can I do?
Anything over the counter that could give him like an instant relief??....
Attached is my email from yesterday.....Thanks a lot, --L. Marie
A: The guaifenisen/dexamethropram combination is an expectorant and cough suppressant to help clear all the airways -- it is very similar to Mucinex in people. The doxycycline is an antibiotic.
Unfortunately with the nonspecific signs he is showing there are many problems that could be causing his symptoms. Inappetance can occur for many, many reasons some minor some serious. I think the only way to know for sure is to take him back to the veterinarian's office.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Piebald Doxie
Q: I have an almost two year old mini-doxie. Two years old next month.
She seems to have a health issue and has been taking Metronidazole Tuna Susp 50 mg/ml of 1 ML orally every night for almost year and half. She has had diarrhea and a lot of the time she will throw-up/spit up. They did a look see when she was spaded and I was told she was like a preemie baby.
Every-time the Vet and I've have tried to reduce her medicines and/or change her diet to see if we can take her off within a week she is back to the diarrhea so bad it becomes liquid.
Is it possible to just keep her on the medicines for the rest of her little life? Or is there any other way to heal her? What will happen? Am I shorting her little life? She is so lively except for when we change and/or try to stop/reduce the medicine.
She is very small and only weight 7 pounds 2 oz's. She is called a Piebald Doxie
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. I've even thought of going to another Vet for second opinion only it is getting so expensive I am beginning to think it maybe a problem for me as I am retired and on limited income. Thank you.-- BL Price & "Trixie"
A: Without a specific diagnosis it is hard to say whether or not she can ever be off the medications. Ideally, yes, we would like to wean off the medication and one of the hypoallergenic or intestinal diets MIGHT help that happen but it might not. There are always long-term effects with any medication but metronidazole has few long-term effects so the benefits to her at this stage definitely outweigh the risks based on what you have described. How much further you work this up is certainly up to you -- food trial, blood tests, fecal tests, endoscopy, biopsy, etc may all be needed.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Arkansas Cats
Q: I have several "feral type" cats on our farm. This summer the younger ones are getting matted eyes that get better and worse some days. They seem weak and sickly. What do you think this matted eye sickness is? Thank you
A: Upper respiratory infections are very common in kittens and adult cats too for that matter. The eyes are commonly infected as well (conjunctivitis aka pink eye) with most of the upper respiratory virus/bacteria. Usually a round of antibiotics and eye ointment will clear it up - assuming you can catch/handle them to medicate them. If it does not resolve with a round of medication I would > strongly recommend testing for Feline Leukemia or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus as both can cause recurrent/relapsing illnesses since they damage the immune system. -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Swimming Chessie
Q: Our 2 yr old Chessie, loves the water, but swims a little, then points his nose up into the air and dog paddles, then starts to go under. Why? We are going to get him a life vest. Thanks Peace --Cynthia Roller, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
A: While most dogs innately know how to swim there are certainly some that do not. It sounds like he is one of the latter. You can work with him to help teach him how to swim - sometimes they will learn and sometimes they can't. I think a life vest is a great idea either way.-- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Is it Dangerous to Sedate Shih Tzu with Pinched Nostrils
Q: I think my four month old shih tzu has pinched nostrils. He snores
badly when he sleeps and wakes very stuffy. I have read that he
will outgrow this condition. I would like to have him neutered at
the appropriate time, but I'm afraid that having him sedated will
cause him to have problems breathing during the surgery. Should I
wait for him to outgrow the pinched nostrils before he is neutered?
I also have a two year shihtzu male who is neutered. If I wait to
neuter the 4 month old, will problems develop between my two pups?
Thanks so much in advance, -- Lyn
A: Lyn -- In my experience most of the brachycephalic (short faced)
breeds do not outgrow stenotic nares (pinched nostrils). Now it may
change some and improve a little as they get their adult conformation
but I have never seen it improve significantly. So I don't think
waiting for that is going to be a fruitful wait. You can talk to
your breeder about his/her lines regarding this and I won't say it is
impossible but it is highly improbable that he will be dramatically
different in 4 or 6 or 12 or 24 months regarding the shape of his
nostrils.
Anytime a brachycephalic breed is anesthestized there are additional
concerns about their respiratory tract ranging from their nostrils to
their palette all potentially blocking their airway. With an
endotracheal tube in and oxygen being delivered thru the tube this
pretty much by passes the nostrils as a source of airflow. I would
definitely talk with your veterinarian about how he/she does
anesthesia and if they do not intubate during surgery find someone in
your area that does.
As to will problems develop if you leave your male intact longer than
"normal" -- no way to know the answer to that. Same-sex aggression
and conflict is MUCH more common than opposite-sex issues and one or
both being intact escalates the risk of that significantly. Will
your particular two males have issues if the younger one is left
intact -- maybe and then again maybe not. There is just simply no
way to know. -- Rachel Peeple, DVM
Kitten Starts to Go Outside Her Box
Q: I rescued a kitten from a rescue center and she initially seemed to adapt
well, using her litter box without incident. Her stools have always been
loose. Recently, in the past week she is now defecating in my bedroom at
least once a day. What could be causing this sudden shift in behavior? -- Lori J.
A: First thing to look at/for are issues with the litter box. Did
something scary happen there? Has the environment around/near the
litter box changed? New litter? Different type of litter? Any new
addition to the house hold? Etc.
Defecation only is rarely a marking behavior and especially with her
loose stools it may just be a logistics issue - she can't make it to
the litter box and dribbles where she is. Have you had her checked for intestinal parasites or other possible causes of the diarrhea? -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Can Toy Pom's Sneezing Indicate Heart Problems
Q: I have a 10 year old toy pom his name is Syris. For about 6 weeks
now he has been sneezing and green snot comes out. He sounds so
congested. We tryed Benelyn for kids, then we put him on
antibiotics (seen vet twice, and has been on these twice). She now
wants to do an x-ray of his heart. My question is, I can not see
the relationship of sneezing and snot if he's starting to develop a
bad heart. Advise?
A: If he is congested, especially in the lungs, the heart can be
involved. Has a culture been done of the nasal discharge to
determine what the infection is and what antibiotic would be most
effective? That would be my recommended starting point if it has not
been done. A chest radiograph (X-ray) will help determine if there is
any inflammation/infection in the lungs as well as any possible
heart involvement (heart disease can often be characterized by
respiratory problems). A radiograph of the nasal cavity can help
detect any nasal masses or areas of extreme inflammation. And then
there is endoscopy which can go look at these areas.
Definitely diagnostics are in order - which ones are most appropriate
will depend a lot on what has been done and what the physical exam
findings suggest as the underlying source of the problem. Again tho
if a culture and sensitivity has not been done on the nasal discharge
talk with your veterinarian about maybe starting with that because if
it is a nasal or sinus infection that is the best way to detect what
type of infection and what medication will make it better. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Kittens and Clavamox
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 ½ 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
Westie with Puppy Problems
Q: Hi,
A: The first thing to check for is nutrition. Milk production does not necessarily mean healthy milk production. Were the puppies weighed daily? Did they gain weight daily?
Second thing to look at is environment -- too cool of temperature can affect growth and development, can kill (if cold enough), and can make them much more susceptible to infection especially Canine Herpes infection. Remember puppies cannot regulate body temperature until at least 2 weeks of age.
Third thing is parasites - high worm and flea burdens can kill puppies. It takes a minimum of three weeks for worm eggs to show on a fecal but a fatal load of worm can be present at or soon after birth.
Fourth thing is low/poor colostrum. Colostrum is the antibody rich milk that is produced the first 24 hours of the pups life. This is when the puppy will get all the antibodies to protect it from illness the first 6-8 weeks of life. If mom has poor antibody levels then her colostrum will be "weak" leaving the pups unprotected against all the many viruses and bacteria out there.
Fifth thing is certainly a virus/bacteria that she is carrying and passing along to the pups. Brucella and Canine Herpes virus being two of the more common but there are a whole host of them out there.
The big question is -- does she need to be bred again given the rate at which her pups die? If the answer is no, then spay her and no need to go any further. If the answer is yes then I would definitely consult with a canine reproductive specialist about pre-breeding tests, prenatal care, post natal care, and neonatal care. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pregnant Dog in Distress
Q: Hi,
A: Kathy -- it COULD be normal discharge but it could also be signs of fetal distress. I would have your veterinarian check on her if the pups aren't here by in the morning and the discharge is still happening. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Bullmastif with Wobblers
Q: Hi, we have a bullmastif with wobblers, she has more than 1 lesion and it would cost too much to have her operated on. We have just recently put her on prednisone and she has gone from having to have 80% support and a very hard time getting up, to getting up at will on her own and walking on her own, with a slight drag of the front rt. paw. Her dose from our local vet is 5mgx 2 in 24 hr. The vet that read her cat scan perscribed 20mg in 24 hr. So we have only given her the 5mg, but are now supposed to wean her to 1 a day and then 1 every second day. Because of the low dose, do you think we should follow this advise?
Thank you for your time -- Gail email blairrrc@yahoo.ca
A: The goal with the prednisone is to find a minimal effective dose. So if at the 10 mg once a day she is doing well do try to wean her to 5 mg once a day then 5 mg every other day . . . You may find she can stop the medication all together or she may need to stay on medication for a while. Good luck with her - I am so happy that the medicine is improved her this much! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Colitis or Grain Intolerance in Large Dog
Q: On round three of Flagyl for severe bloody mucous diarrhea in past two months. First, what is the correct dosage for an 85 lb. dog? Have read 15/mg per kg and 15/mg per lb. and worry about long term damage from meds. Seems to reoccur every three or four days.
Tried vet recommended intestinal diet and became worse with scratching and skin bumps. Think it may be grain intolerance. Changed to wheat and soy free low fat food.
My question is, how long will it take if this is the problem for the excessive mucous and blood to cease? Should I continue the Flagyl or will it self correct with time? It begins with normal stool, followed by loud belly grumbling and several squirts of stringy mucous and bright red blood. How long is it safe to let go with diet change before pursuing other tests? Three fecal samples examined with nothing found. Should I deworm with Panacur just to be safe or will that further complicate the situation?
A: There is a very wide range on appropriate metronidazole doses both in terms of amount and frequency hence the various answers you are finding. For an 85 lb dog I would either do 1000 mg twice a day OR 750 mg three times a day depending on how the dog responded.
As to the situation -- discuss it with your veterinarian but a three day round of Panacur is part of any chronic diarrhea workup for me. Whipworms can certainly be missed even on three samples and can cause exactly these symptoms. It should not complicate anything if it isn't whipworms.
Usually with diet it takes at least 4-8 weeks to see significant change. Sometimes it can take as long as 12 weeks. The Hypoallergenic diets are a good choice, Eukanuba Low Residue is one of my favorite, the Royal Canin diets are excellent as well, etc.
That all said, I would also consider having a TLI, Cobalamin, and folate test ran - this helps to screen for three of the more common reasons for chronic diarrhea - small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Dietary intolerance/food allergy can also present with the symptoms that he is experiencing. A food trial is a good starting place but won't be [as] effective if it is one of the former three.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Chocolate Lab has Chronic Ear Infections
Q: We have a sweetheart of a friend; our pet Chocolate Labrador Retriever
who has Chronic Ear infections. She has went through 3 Operations on
her ears already and she keeps getting a swollen ear flap (One vet told
us it was full of blood) they operated and drained the one ear this past
October. It looked great for a few months and here we are back to where
we started. We've tried washing her ears weekly but it doesn't seem to
matter.
The ear gets red and swollen inside, stinks, gets black gunk in it, I
guess yeast in them. It hurts her so bad that she chews her front paws
and scratches her chin a lot. She also has spread scabs to other areas
of her body by scratching her ear and then herself. This is getting
really expensive and we can't seem to get this under control. I read
on line about dermatology and I just wonder if it isn't tied into this
problem too, as the picture they showed looked like her ear. It was red
and swollen.
Can you help us cure our Casey girl so she's not in pain
and we aren't broke all the time. We love her DEARLY. These ear washes
and operations are not cutting it. Any advise you could offer would be
greatly appreciated. She stays in our basement and we let her out every
now and then. She does like to go in the weeds and root around. We
have a lot of acerage behind our house that is all wooded.
Thank you. -- Mindy
A: Chronic ear problems, unfortunately, are very common in the Labrador
breed. Their ear shape and their love of water makes them predisposed to ear
infections. Chronic ear infections can also be linked to food allergies, low
thyroid, environmental allergies, etc. With her also licking her feet and the
sores on her chin and other parts of her body I definitely think one (or combo) of
these three are occurring. I would definitely recommend talking with your
veterinarian about testing her thyroid and EITHER starting on a food trial with a
hypoallergenic diet OR referral to a dermatologist for allergy testing OR both!
While we cannot fix or cure these problems we do have lots of good
management options that can help minimize their physical effects and improve the
quality of life of the animal in question. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pet Mouse has Stinky Urine
Q: Hello, my daughters pet mouse who is just a few months old has had
really stinky gooey urine at times. At first it smelled so bad like when a dog
gets their anal glands squeezed (my mother works as a dog groomer so I know all
about that horrible smell) With this mouse I have not been able to tell if her
urine is normal at other times, but when I change her I notice this "urine" in the
box she is being kept. We have two other females who appear to have normal, clear
urine, it is just this one mouse.
Could this be an infection? Will antibiotics treat? any suggestions?
We keep the cage clean and changed every other day due to the stink from this one
mouse. At first we thought this may have been a male mouse, but the pet store
assured us it is female and only told us to take the mouse to the vet if we have
concerns! She seems perfectly healthy and active otherwise. Thank you!
-- K.K.
A: I would definitely be inclined to think some sort of infection. I would
find the nearest veterinarian that treats rodents and see about getting a urine
test done to check for infection. - - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Yellow Mucus in Stool Persists
Q: Greetings, I've e-mailed you before regarding the whitish/yellowish
puss/mucus-like substance that sometimes appears in my dog's otherwise normal
stool and sometimes can be seen around his anus. At first, my vet thought it
might be due to his diet. He had me add Metamucil to his food for a few weeks,
but after seeing no change I took my dog back to the vet. He was able to get
some of the mucus to do a cytology and found bacteria.
He determined that it's coming from the anal glands, but said it's unusual that
it doesn't have a foul odor. He prescribed my dog two week's worth of
antibiotics and told me to return after he finishes the med. Well, he's done
with it and there has been no change. I'm set to return on Wednesday to the vet.
I'm frustrated because I don't really understand what's going on. Have you ever
heard of this substance coming out of the anal glands, and if so what is the best
course of treatment? Could my vet be missing something? Thanks in advance,
-- Sara
A: The anal glands naturally and normally produces a material that ranges
in consistency (thin to thick) and color (yellow to brown to black). This
material is rich in pheromones and is what gives each dog's poop a unique scent.
It is also what dogs sniff for when sniffing rear ends during greeting. What
typically happens is that a small amount is expressed each time the dog defecates.
So yes it is normal and common for anal gland material to regularly be in the
feces. IF it is his anal glands then it sounds like the material being produced
is abnormal for some reason (may be the gland is inflamed/irritated or the
opening to the gland abnormal or . . .) as normally, yes, the anal gland material
has a very strong odor to it.
If it is the anal glands and the actual cause of the abnormal material cannot be
found then the best course of action MAY be to remove the anal glands. This is a
very complex surgery and has a lot of after care associated with it so is not be
undertaken lightly. The anal glands may just need a good flushing out to help
them get back to normal.
A second opinion is never a wrong choice and you may want that second opinion to
come from a specialist. - - Rachel Peeples, DVM
Lab Gagging
Q: I have a 13 year old Lab. When she gets excited or goes outside she starts to gag and bring up a foamy substance or sometimes pieces of food.
She will lay down until the gagging stops and then get up walk around, go the bathroom and go back inside and then inside she might start gagging again.
She has a great appetite and drinks water. Any suggestions?
A: I would have a thyroid level checked - sometimes it can lead to neurological/muscular disruptions in the throat. I would also have your veterinarian check her for early signs of laryngeal paralysis. This testing usually involves heavy sedation and a complete laryngeal examination. Those would be my first two considerations on a possible cause. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Q: Our older rottie that we adopted has been licking his front elbow callous to where it is lightly bleeding. Is there something we can put on his callous to soften it to where it is not a bother to him?
A: Vitamin E capsules (cut open and squeeze onto the skin) and Fatty acid capsules (same way) and then any of the human "callus" creams like bag balm or udder creme or . . .
You can also protect the area by putting a light bandage over it -- some dogs will tolerate that and others won't. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Persian Cat on Orbax
Q: My vet prescribed Orbax for my male 2-yr old Persian on Thursday; this is Saturday and he still is not peeing a lot at a time. How long does it usually take for Orbax to work?
A: Antibiotics usually take 48-96 hours to start to show appreciable effect. Sometimes it can happen more quickly but this is the average. If he is not showing signs of improvement by Monday I would at least call your veterinarian, if not take him in for a recheck. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Can You Give Flagyl to Chow Chows
Q: Hi I have heard that you can't give Flagyl to chow chows. Is this true? I don't remember the reason why, but I am curious that I am even remembering this fact right.....please let me know. Thanks -- Yvette
A: Yvette - I have never read or heard of any such restriction. I have used metronidazole (Flagyl) in Chow patients and well as Chow mix patients with no ill effects. There may be a certain line of Chow that is somehow allergic or sensitive to the medication but to my knowledge is it not something seen across the breed. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
15 Day Old Kitten
Q: Hi, I have a 15-day old orphan kitten I'm caring for. Just recently he has become constipated (he was able to have a bowel movement today but not without a lot of strain).
I have given him a small bit of lactulose this evening (vet's were closed in my area and live in a fairly remote area... but we do have internet!!)
My question is this: what quanitity of lactulose would you suggest (if I even should be using it at all?). He is a very small kitten, his mom was only 6lbs., he weighs 135grams. Up to this point he has been a very vibrant kitten and we've done a ton of work to keep him nurtured (built a nice incubation nest, dig. monitored temp. etc.,.. he's got the works!!). Tonight I gave him 0.24cc's of lactulose mixed in with 6cc of his formula.
What would you suggest?
Thanks,
A: Lactulose is fine - you can also try the fiber laxatives as they are also very gentle on the GI tract. It is common for kittens and pups fed milk replacer to do this (runny poops then not able to poop at all). Dosing is not exact -- we usually give 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) to 1 tsp (5 mL) to the average size cat (8-12 lbs) depending on the severity of the constipation. I think your dosing is fine for a one time dose. If administering it regularly decrease it to 0.15 mL. I usually give it separate from the food but you can mix it in. Gentle massage of the belly and perineal area (around the anus) and increase fluid intake - maybe add on some clinicare/rebound feline or in the human world some pedialyte may also be helpful. So long as he can go, all should be well. Good luck with the little guy -- it can be tricky to get them to pull through even with the best of care which it sounds like he is getting! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
9 Week Old Kitten
Q: Please help, I found a stray kitten after the December Holidays. She had been locked there with nothing to eat. I adopted her and called her Bubbles. I just have one problem, she urinates on my bedding and even if she licks herself to clean herself, her urine comes out like a fountain. She has no problem with making number two's in the litter tray. She is nine weeks old. I even gave her a place to sleep in our bathroom, but the moment, she gets an opportunity she urinates all over. Thanks --Lee Anne
A: The primary question here is - is this a behavioral problem or a medical problem. If the latter then what the exact problem is (bladder infection, abnormal anatomy, etc) needs to be determined by a veterinarian so it can be addressed. If it is the former (ie behavioral and not medical) then a different approach is needed. I am suspicious that it is a medical problem since gentle pressure in that area via licking is enough to make her urinate.
Hopefully the problem can be determined and addressed. You are a good person for taking this baby on! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Cat Suffers from Repeated Urinary Tract Infections
Q: Hello there, I have a 4 and a half year old male cat. He has been to the vet at least 6 times already, each time we get told it is a FLUTD (feline urinary tract disease). The last episodes were three times in the last month. He is now on Torbutrol and Clavamox. As well as a diet of urinary s/o wet. He lost his sister and litter mate, 2 weeks ago which I know made him stressed out. This time the vet said he has idiopathic cystitis and a secondary bacterial infection. I was just wondering about a raw food diet and if that would help at all? Also how often is too often for him to be getting these infections, especially since its cost me over $2000 already. Please help. Thank you, -- Nadine M. Halifax, Nova Scotia
A: Has he been checked for bladder stones or a bladder mass? If not I would strongly recommend an ultrasound to make sure neither of these is occurring. If not and it is just FLUTD -- we really do not understand the underlying reasons for this condition enough to know what will consistently help and what won't. You can certainly try a raw diet -- just be sure it is balanced properly to cause a slightly acidic urine and has low levels of the phosphorus/magnesium that are the components of the common urinary crystals associated with FLUTD.
As to how often they get infections - it varies tremendously with each case. Some relapse only every now and then, some every few months, some every month, and others seem to keep an infection unless on medication. Very similar to allergies in the sense it is a fundamental problem with a body system so all we can do is manage not cure it. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Male Schnauzer Has Thickened Abdomen
Q: I have an 8 year old male intact Schnauzer who for lack of better words, holds his stomach tight any time I touch him. He hasn't always been this way but he has been this way for several months. He doesn't seem to be in pain or bothered by GI problems so I haven't taken him to the vet. He has gained 7 pounds in the past year though. I thought the weight gain was due to the addition of my late father's male schnauzer to our family (we also have a pug). My schanuzer always seems to be trying to horde all the food from the new guy. Thanks for your help. -- Elaine
A: Elaine - I would definitely take him in and have him examined and maybe bloodwork/radiographs done. A thickened abdomen can indicate enlarged organ or fluid accumulation or . . . he is at the age where "aging" health problems can start to develop. The increased appetite, thicker abdomen, and weight gain can also be associated with Cushings Disease and hypothyroidism.
Best case scenario everything is normal on the exam and test and he is just "stress" eating :-)! But you need to know so that if it is a problem it is caught early enough to help. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Pug With Crooked Testicles Has Anxiety Behavior
Q: I have 2 questions. I have a 7 month old Pug who has crooked testicles. Is this a problem? Can it lead to any medical issues? My second questions is -- he is potty trained and crate trained. If I leave the room or go upstairs, he defictaes on the floor (even if another family member is with him)> He recently began doing it more often since we got another puppy. Does he have separation anxiety. My vet told me to crate him whenever I leave even for a minute. Do you have any siggestion?
A: I am not sure what you mean by crooked testicles. Testicles are round to oval shaped and have some degree of movement in the scrotum so can shift position. They are often not straight or side by side If the testicles are malformed then there could be a problem with the testicular tissue which can lead to infertility and possibly a higher rate of testicular cancer. if the testicles are normal in shape and both in the scrotum then it sounds like he is anatomically normal
It is possible he has some degree of separation anxiety as this is often expressed by urinating/defecating. I would work with him on independence - ie learning to be alone and separated from you -- before it progresses to full blown separation anxiety. How long does it take for this to happen? If it s a while it may just be the other people are not watching him closely or taking him out often enough and is more housetraining related than sep anxiety related.
-- Rachel Peeples,DVM
Brittany with Intestinal Problems
Q: I have a Brittany, 3, that has had intestinal problems for about 1 1/2 years. He is currently on Euk. low-residue dog with the supplement of flortiflora. He was slowly weaned off the Fortiflora and immediately had the same bowel issues as before. My question is: How is the low residue dog food helping him if when I tried to wean him off the supplement he still had the bowel issue? He is now on the low residue food with the Fortiflora once a day in his food and is doing very well. Is there a chance that he could be weaned off the low residue and onto a high quality dog food with the supplement and retain the same results? -- Kim
A: It definitely sounds like the FortiFlora is doing the job. That said it may be that BOTH are needed to keep the intestinal problems under control. I would definitely speak with your veterinarian about trying a different diet. It may very well be fine with a new diet and the FortiFlora and it may not. The only way to know is to try. Another recommendation is to try a hypoallergenic diet to see if the problem is not irritation but true allergy. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Q: I have 2 Maltese doggies. One is app 7 yrs. Old-always been healthy-little overweight-app. 9 ½ lbs. Recently, I noticed she had a problem with her eye. It was watering excessively,blinking, and at one point red and swollen from rubbing it. This went on for over a week and I finally had to take her to an emergency clinic because I couldn’t get her in to any vet in my area.
They were very thourough, stained her eye, rinsed them out, and basically found
nothing to report. They said no infection either. Gave me antibiotic drops
to give her. After a couple days there was only slight improvement, and I
took her to her reg. vet. She was also sneezing, and began making funny
noises with breathing, I don’t know if it’s coming from her throat or what,
as it’s quite strange sounding, almost like she can’t breathe. This really
concerns me.
Her eye is a little bit better. This vet again found nothing
out of the ordinary and said to stop the antibiotic and give her Benadryl.
I’ve done this now for about a week, and the eye is probably 40-50% better,
but the strange sounds, sneezing concern me. She has never done anything
like this before, eats fine,etc. I’m planning on taking her back to the vet,
but in the meantime, hoping maybe you could help. Thanks so much. -- Terry
A: It sounds very much like a respiratory virus or possibly allergies. I really do not have a lot more to offer, sorry! I think getting a recheck is the best option. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
8 Year Old Pug Dizzy and Panting
Q: Hello Please give me an answer to this question soon....
At this time, Bo is quiet and laying down and resting. I asked if maybe he had a different kind of dog food, he was fed fish about 2 nights ago...
Will await your reply, thank you so much. --Gladys Majewski
A: Gladys, I agree with you that he is in distress. From what you describe it sounds most likely neurological but there are many things both in the brain and outside the brain that can cause these signs. He needs to see a vet to determine what is happening and what needs to be done to make him better.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Limping Kitten
Q: Dear Dr Peeples,
I haven't taken him to the vet yet because it just happened last night and I didn't know if it's that serious. It's exspensive to visit the vet and I really don't have the money for that right now, but if I have to I will go. Is there anything that I can do to make it better or help it heal faster like bandaging it, or will it just heal on its own?? Or do you think I should watch him for a few days and if it doesn't get better take him to the vet??? I really just don't know what to do, please help...
A: If he is able to bear some weight on it, I agree that it is unlikely any of the major weight-bearing bones are fully fractured. It could be a full fracture in one or two of the parallel bones in the paw or metatarsal area or could be a partial fracture in any of the bones or could just be soft tissue damage. A radiograph is the only way to know for sure -- is one needed right now? Not based on what you have told me, I would try to bandage the leg to help support that area - just be careful to not make the bandage too tight as that will cause the foot to swell. I would try to keep him as inactive as possible for a few days and if he is not a lot better in 7-10 days get him seen. If it worsens get him examined ASAP! Poor little guy -- kittens do find the craziest ways to get into trouble don't they?? -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
9 Week Old Peke
Q: WE GOT OUR PEKINGESE PUPPY A WEEK AGO. SHE WAS THE RUNT. SHE'S BEEN HAVING NORMAL TO SLIMY STOOL LOGS DIRECTLY FOLLOWED BY SMALL PUDDING STOOLS. SHE HAD HER FIRST SET OF SHOTS AND WORMING THE DAY WE GOT HER. SHE'S EATING IAMS PUPPY FOOD AND IT'S PROBABLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE WAS EATING. SHE'S BEEN DEFICATING IN HER CAGE AT NIGHT AND IS A MESS IN THE MORNING. THIS IS AFTER HAVING A STOOL IN THE EVENING AFTER EATING. IS SHE SICK OR JUST ADJUSTING TO THE FOOD? I READ I COULD GIVE HER CANNED PUMPKIN, IMMODIUM AD, OR TAKE HER OFF THE FOOD AND FEED HER CHICKEN AND RICE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? SHE IS STILL ACTIVE AND PLAYFUL. SHE WIGHS ABOUT 3 LBS. THANK YOU
A: How long is she being left in her cage overnight? At her size and her age 4-6 hours is the longest she can go without needing a potty break. If you are not already doing it, I would add to her schedule a middle of the night potty time. This will likely stop the defecating in the cage (which you want to do to keep her clean AND to stop that from delaying her housebreaking - pups given no choice but to poop where they are sleeping often become impossible to housebreak).
As to the consistency of the stool -- many things could be causes. The stress of adapting to a new environment, new water, different food, etc are all possible causes and intestinal parasites cannot be forgotten (there are common parasites like coccidia that routine dewormers do not take care of. I would recommend an intestinal parasite fecal check by your veterinarian and treating her based on the findings of that test. -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
8 Year Old Cocker Spaniel has Tail Problem
Q: Hi Dr Peeples,
We have a 6 year old Cocker Spaniel who has been acting oddly since last
night. Last night she seemed somewhat withdrawn although she did eat a very
good dinner, drink plenty of water and even took her on a evening stroll. My
husband commented she wasn't "acting right". I woke up at 6:30 this morning
and she was trembling all over. I woke my husband and we both got up.
Decided to give her a baby aspirin as my vet had previously approved that
for minor pain. Within a half hour, the shaking had stopped and she was
sleeping soundly. When she awoke, she ate a good breakfast and again took
her walk. When she returned, I commented to my husband that her tail was
"broken". She normally wags all over including her tail. She is keeping it
tucked tightly to her bottom. We've examined her bottom and there doesn't
seem to be any anomaly (redness, swelling etc.) I can tell you she has a
very low pain threshold and is a scare-dy cat - we've almost rushed her to
the emergency vet on two occasions only to have her get excited to get to go
for a ride. Thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. --SATrista
A: With the pain/discomfort and tail staying down the two things that first come to mind are spinal pain (such as a partially herniated disc, spinal arthritis, etc) and anal gland impaction/infection. A less common possibility is "cold tail syndrome" in which the nerves to the tail become inflamed causing varying degrees of tail paralysis and tail pain. I too have a low pain threshold
Pug Exhibits Pain from Bladder Stones
Q: My pug is eight years old and a year ago she was operated on for bladder stones. The other day she started to act the same as before she was operated on for the stones. I took her to the vet and they xrayed her and found nothing. The next day she was the same. I called the vet and he said to give her 1/2 a baby aspirin and in two hours another 1/2. The next morning she was fine. In about two hours she stated crying and shaking. If I give her the aspirin she is fine for awhile but when it wears off she starts crying and shaking and sits in the corner.
A: It definitely sounds like she is painful somewhere -- where that somewhere is at this stage sounds unknown. I would definitely recheck with your veterinarian and try to localize where the pain/discomfort is coming from. She may need more Xrays or prehaps an ultrasound of the bladder or some bloodwork or all of the above. I hope whatever is causing her to hurt is found and corrected quickly! -- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Is My Dog Sensitive to Greenies?
Q: Hi again,
A: Not specifically with Greenies but I do see, quite often, dogs who are sensitive to all sorts of the chews (rawhide, nylabones, etc). Some are mild with just a little intestinal irritaton and some will develop severe bloody diarrhea. Greenies are similar in composition to several of these chews and it may just be that he has some innate sensitivity to the Greenies.-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Babe has Lesion
Q: My Dog, Babe, is about 12 or 14, and I got him from a home that had lots of dogs. I've had him all that time, wonderful dog, big and beautiful. Anyway, the question I need answered is that Babe since last year has been loosing patches of hair, but this this one patch has a big lesion that is a red open wound , whith some yellow puss coming out , it get's stuck on his hair , i dont think he is frost bitten , but you never know , the bare skin around the lesion is whitish in colour but wound is red , i have cleaned it thoroughly and carefuly , i'm waiting to see what happens to it buy the end of this week , if the wound does not look any better by the end of the week , i will bring him in , to see my vet, but i was just wandering if you've heard of anything like that before, and also the skin seems to be very hard around lesion and not soft to touch
A: Any type of wound like this in an older dog has to be cause for concern because some of the skin cancers will present like this. Another very likely possibility is that this is a hot spot aka acute moist dermatitis. Clipping the hair away, cleaning it regularly, applying triple antibiotic cream, etc can potentially help. I do think your plan to get him examined if it is not improving is a wise one,-- Rachel Peeples, DVM
Scottie has Urinary Problems
Q: Hi, My 11 yr old male scottie (JJ) has persistent urinary straining & repeated visits to vet have not revealed underlying cause? Here is history: Mid Oct 07 was straining to urinate & just "dribbles" came out. Vet visit revealed greatly enlarged prostate & bladder infection. Vet did contrast xray to rule out bladder cancer &/or stones. No cancer or stones were seen, just the greatly enlarged prostate. Antibiotics cleared the infection & neutering resulted in prostate shrinking to 1/ |