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
from Arthritis

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
to have Swollen Anal Glands

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,
We have a 9 yr old Yorkshire Terrier who first began regular bouts of colitis in June 2007. He has been dewormed with Drontal Plus, they have tried changing his diet to Purina HA and Hills ID. When I say a regular bout of colitis I quit literally talking about a 21 day cycle that follows the same predictable pattern each time. This cycle has continued regardless of the food or medicine that he is on:

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,
My 6 wk old kitten, who is a beautiful blue-eyed Siamese, was fine until 3 days ago when it started to tilt his head and walk in circles. Are these possible symptoms of ear infection? The other kittens are just fine and eating and no signs of what this kitten has. What can you tell me about the weird happening? --Ceal

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,
My name is Chuck Bass, and I have a 3yr old Lab/Huskie mix and his name is Ray. We had an occasion the night of 04-14-08 that had me concerned/curious. How much chocolate must a 70 lb dog ingest to reach toxic levels? Although he knows better, while changing the garbage, I had to step away and when I returned he was licking his chops. I didn't actually see him eat anything, but there was chocolate on the top of the contents of the bag. Hence my question above.

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
(2) Semisweet chocolate has 150 mg of theobromine per ounce
(3) Baker's chocolate has 390 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
(1) 1 ounce of milk chocolate PER POUND
(2) 1 ounce of dark chocolate PER 3 POUNDS
(3) 1 ounce of Baker's chocolate PER 9-10 POUNDS

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
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

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
Not Responding Well to Meds

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,
Our pet guinea pig, Rosie, a female, seems to have a discharge coming from the vaginal/rectum region. My children are very concerned about her. Upon noticing it this afternoon, they gave her a bath and notice tonight that the discharge seems to have dried some. What could this be caused by and should she visit the vet on Monday? Thank you for your help.

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
Surrey, BC

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,
We recently had our Pug in for what we thought was routine surgery. He had this nostrils opened up, and his elongated palate cut back. However, while under anesthesia it was determined that our dog has laryngeal collapse as well. He was given a guarded prognosis, as he almost did not wake up from the anesthesia My question is, The dog seems fine, he has now stopped snoring at night ( used to snore loudly prior to surgery)- the surgery really seems to have helped, despite the fact that the veterinarian had her doubts.

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,
I have a question about my cat.. He has a Tapeworm. I do know it is tapeworm due to seeing it before in Diagnosed Cats... Anyway, my question is what do you recommend to get rid of the tapeworm? Right now I am thinking of buying this :

Praziquantel Feline Tape Worm Tabs, 3 x 23 mg Tabs
http://www.dogcatetc.com/016tw-8783.html~~

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,
My 5 year old Akita, Jezzibelle, has a round lump the size of a golf ball in her chest area...well actually near her windpipe. I can feel it through all her layers of loose skin. I found it by accident last night when I went to give her a hug. I can actually put my hand around it and move it.

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.
Thank you so much --Julie Ellis

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,
My westie had a litter of 7 her previous whelping, and we lost 3 the 1st week. I thought it was fading puppy. Her current litter she had 6, and again within the 1st week we have lost all but 1 pup. Could she be carrying a virus, and passing on to pups? Is there a pre-breeding test? Thanks,--Angie

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,
My dog is at the point of giving birth within the next 2 days but she is discharging a thick, sticky, smelly, black substance. can you tell me what it is or why? --Kathy Arriaga ESL Lab

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?
Thank you in advance for your help. --Brian

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,
Colin

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