VETERINARY SERVICES
Q & A: Ask the Veterinarian
Dr. Robin Brennen weighs in on your pet health questions.
Dr. Brennen joined Bideawee in April 2006 after over 14 years in private veterinary practice in New Hampshire and New York, and consulting to veterinary practices and shelter operations nationwide. She is also a Commander of the United States National Disaster Medical System's Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, a group of highly trained veterinary professionals deployed to assist local governments in the face of federally declared disasters (Katrina, Rita) or foreign disease outbreaks.
She speaks nationally on the subject of disaster preparedness and animal welfare. Dr. Brennen received her DVM from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Brennen is a proud adopter of Alvin, a deaf Boston Terrier, she fell in love with at Bideawee.
Why does my dog chew on his feet? He just goes to town on them!
One of the most common causes of feet chewing in dogs is allergies. Food is a big allergy culprit. Allergies can cause the skin to become inflamed and itchy. I imagine it is much like having poison ivy. As the dogs continue to chew, they sometimes end up causing mild secondary bacterial infections that are also itchy. It is a repetitive cycle.
Certain parasite infections like mites, fungi, or yeast can also cause inflamed feet.
And then there are some dogs that chew because they have a sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Allergies in dogs can be challenging to treat, and often times it is a problem that flares up over and aver again. Work with your vet to get this puzzled solved.
To schedule an appointment with the Bideawee Veterinary Practice nearest you, please contact us.
My cat is 19 years old. Lately she will meow loudly and lose control of her legs. We took her to the vet and were given high blood pressure medication and the doctor told us that her retinas have detached. Could my cat be having a stroke as often as once every two days? Or can a heart condition cause these actions?
Hypertension (high blood pressure) can affect all organ systems and is a problem in older cats. Sometimes this just happens and other times it can be attributed to other diseases such as hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. You always want to search for an underlying cause.
While you are looking, however, you should also take steps to decrease the blood pressure. Hypertension is very damaging to a cat's body. High blood pressure causes small blood vessels to leak or even rupture. This is especially evident in tissues like the eye (leading to detached retina) or the brain (resulting in stroke = cerebral vascular accidents). Hypertension also increases wear and tear on the kidneys and the heart, compounding problems for cats with kidney or thyroid disease. So yes, I would say it is possible for some of your cat’s symptoms to be caused by this disease.
The good news is, hypertension can be controlled with medication and sometimes goes away by itself if you treat the underlying cause (if there is one). Left managed, however, it can be quite serious.
Are there any special considerations I should know about when spaying a very small Chihuahua? She was a rescue and we think she's about 2 to 2 and a half years old, and about 3 lbs. I wonder if there are any issues relating to operating on a dog this small, i.e., taking her to a vet that regularly cares for small dogs, etc. I've also seen mention of laser surgery and its benefits in terms of reducing discomfort, healing time, etc. and am curious to know your thoughts on that as well.
With any animal regardless of size, a thorough health evaluation is necessary. Lots of vets do pre-anesthetic blood work to also assess risk.
We frequently spay/neuter 2 pound animals, so size isn’t so much the issue as health is.
Anesthesia is risky business no matter how old/young or big/small an animal is. I take it very seriously. Knowing as much as you can about your patient helps you assess risk and minimize it but you never alleviate it. There are always unknowns. Good veterinary hospitals prepare for those unknowns by placing catheters, administering fluids, keeping their patients warm, using monitoring devices to measure heart rate and oxygenation levels and blood pressure, and having experienced staff in the surgical suite monitoring the patient.
We don’t routinely use laser for spay/neuter in our practice, but we do practice balanced anesthesia and pain management to minimize discomfort.
When I woke up this morning and I went to let my two dogs out, I noticed that there were two piles of throw up; both were extremely watery with a little bit of food in it and there was a pool of blood by itself. What does it mean that one of them threw up blood? I have looked it up and got a whole range of answers. I am not sure which one did it, so should I take them both to the vet or watch them to see if it happens again? Please let me know, thank you so much!
Vomiting, with or without blood, is a sign of either primary gastrointestinal disorders, or metabolic disease. Because there is an endless list of possibilities ranging from good to bad, it is best that you seek council of a veterinarian that has the benefit of examining your dog and getting a better history. Of course, you need to know which dog is the one vomiting. Vomiting can be self limiting as in the case of "a stomach bug," but can also be a symptom of a more chronic disease and it is best not to assume either one. Just get him to the vet and work with him to figure out the problem. The blood makes me a bit more nervous. It could be that it is actually bloody diarrhea rather than vomit. Either way, both can lead to dehydration and other problems if not tended to promptly.
This disease can be serious, but it also can be treated. I would ask the vet what to expect in the short term, what needs to be done in the long term (as this can re-occur) and what to look for that should concern you so you can catch an any set backs early.
My 10.5 yr old rat terrier, Annie was just diagnosed with anemia. I have limited resources and am told by some that diagnosis can be
costly. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
There are many causes of anemia, the most likely may be Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, which is where the body attacks its own red blood cells for no apparent reason. Any internist is going to want to rule out other causes (tick borne disease, bone marrow problems, cancer, etc). What you need to do is be up front with the vet about your financial capabilities and construct a program that will give your dog the best chance of recovery. In return, by not being able to complete a full complement of diagnostic tests you have to accept that they can only treat what they suspect and sometimes this doesn't work.
This disease can be serious, but it also can be treated. I would ask the vet what to expect in the short term, what needs to be done in the long term (as this can re-occur) and what to look for that should concern you so you can catch an any set backs early.
For the past 2 weeks, my kitty has barely been eating and I just noticed his nose is white. Is he sick? Should I bring him in to see the vet?
Any time your pet acts out of his normal character, it may be cause for concern. Cats in particular are creatures of habit. Skipping several meals is a good indicator that something may be wrong, as is increase in water consumption, changes in elimination patterns, and alterations in behavior.
Sometimes not eating is a result of stress, abrupt changes in diet or dental problems. However, lack of appetite is a very general symptom of many feline illnesses, like kidney, liver, or intestinal diseases. It will take a trip to your vet and probably some diagnostic tests to figure this out.
Cats can become quite ill from prolonged anorexia on top of what ever it was that stopped him from eating in the first place. Feline Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver Syndrome) is a direct result of such "starvation". In order to produce energy for important physiologic body functions cats that don't eat are forced to mobilize fat stores. Unfortunately the kitty's liver doesn't process the transformation of fat into utilizable energy very well and the liver becomes overloaded with fat, which prevents it from doing its job. This is a life threatening problem.
So bottom line is, please seek veterinary attention to get to the bottom of this.
My Puppy has lots of blood in his stool, and I am going to bring him to the vet. Usually what causes the blood in his stool other than parasite? Can stress or food cause that? Does your Vet Practice do blood work?
Blood in the stool is caused by colitis. Colitis is an inflammation/irritation of the colon, the colon being the last part of the large intestine that is responsible for absorption of water, fecal storage and a tiny bit of digestion. When any part of your body is inflamed, you can see bleeding. Lots of bacteria live in the colon and they are responsible for breaking down the stool contents even further to produce products that actually nourish the cell of the colon. They also are responsible for gas production.
A few things actually can cause colitis, or it can be a disease in and of itself, like in people (Crohn's disease) or in Boxer's (Histiocytic colitis). Whipworms and Giardia both intestinal parasites, are common causes especially in puppies. Dietary changes, stress (boarding is a big stressor in some dogs) and garbage ingestion are also common and are usually short-lived and easily treated.
If this has been going on for awhile, usually a month or more, or it has been unresponsive to various treatments, further investigation is warranted. Some animals have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or food allergies that need more in depth diagnostics to figure out. Polyps and intestinal tumors are less frequent causes of blood in the stool. Furthermore, Bacterial overgrowth with Clostridium organisms can complicate matters and should be ruled out.
I suppose a brief mention of Hemmorhagic Gastro-Eneritis is in order, however, that is a pretty dramatic presentation that you have not described. The stool is all blood, very foul smelling, the dogs are generally very ill and it warrants immediate veterinary care to prevent dehydration.
Taking your dog to the vet is the best advice and should never be substituted. Without having the pleasure of meeting your dog, it is impossible for me to make a diagnosis.
My cat is always "blinking" one of his eyes and it's always quite watery. Sometimes I need to blot it. Should I take him in to be treated for something? It's been a few weeks now. Also, his ears are quite dirty. We clean them then they are dirty again in a couple of weeks. Not sure if that is normal? Thanks so much!
Your cat may have an eye infection which is often caused by a Herpes Virus. It is quite common.
It is also possible that there is a scratch on the surface of the eye. Squinting can indicate pain and these scratches can be quite painful.
Either way, it is worth a trip to your vet.
Dirty ears can be caused by ear mites or an ear infection. It is best to find out the cause. You can damage the ear by over cleaning and you should never put any liquids into the ear of a cat unless instructed by your veterinarian. Certain cleaning agents, like chlorhexadine, can damage the ear drum of cats.
What favorite people foods can harm my pet?
Several foods that we like to munch on can actually be harmful to your pet. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure, onions and garlic can affect red blood cells and cause life threatening anemia, chocolate can be mildly toxic but consumed in large quantities can be fatal, bakers chocolate is 8-10 times more potent. The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine and that affects the central nervous system, heart, and blood pressure, much the same way caffeine does to some people. Certain brands of gum containing the ingredient xylitol can cause a life threatening drop in blood sugar. It is always important to remember that foods that are tasty and safe for humans are not always safe for your pet.
Can I give my pet an aspirin if he isn't feeling well?
Because pets are not people, it is not recommend you administer any human prescription drug or over-the-counter medication to your pet. Always consult a veterinarian first. Tylenol is extremely toxic to kitties and can cause death from even one tablet. Sometimes our curious critters can get into our medication even if we think it is out of reach. Never assume they will be fine, always consult your veterinarian or call Poison Control.
How do I take care of my dog's teeth?
It is important to take care of your pet's teeth. Your veterinarian or vet technician can show you some techniques, like using a toothbrush or washcloth to rub the outside surface of the teeth; this is where tartar and plaque can accumulate causing gingivitis, dental disease, and bad breath. This source of infection can, over time, cause problems with his kidneys and heart. There are special types of toothpaste formulated for doggie and kitty use-using "people" toothpaste, which was meant to be spit out and not swallowed, is not good for pets.
Why do I need to spay or neuter my pet?
The reasons behind spay/neuter are threefold. First, by spaying your female pet or neutering your male pet, you are doing your part to decrease the number of unwanted animals brought to shelters each year. Secondly, you are limiting the chance that your pet will get sick later on in life; sex hormones can contribute and actually increase the likelihood of certain diseases in dogs and cats. Life threatening uterine infections and mammary cancer in females and testicular cancer in the male dogs can result. Thirdly, certain behavior issues may be curtailed when your pet is spayed/neutered. Unless you want to breed your animal, spay/neuter is the responsible thing to do and is ultimately in the best interest of your pet.
Should I microchip my pet?
In a word: YES. A microchip is smaller than a grain of rice and implanted in it is an identification number that can be "seen" by using a hand held scanner that most veterinary hospitals and shelters have. Having your animal permanently identified increases the chances that you will be reunited with your pet in the event that he or she is lost, stolen, or displaced in a catastrophic event. These chips can be easily implanted by your veterinarian, and when you register your pet, the data is kept in an easily accessible database that will facilitate you if your pet is recovered. Bideawee advocates universal micropchipping. Every animal we adopt is microchipped before leaving us and our vet practices only charge the public $20 for the procedure. For more on our microchip program, please click here.
Why is my dog rubbing his bottom along the carpet?
There may be different reasons your pet is scooting along the floor. Some of the more common things that can cause this behavior are fleas, tapeworms, a skin irritation, vaginitis (in female dogs), or a problem with the anal glands. Cats and dogs have an anal gland located on each side of the rectum. When the stool exits the body, it presses on these glands, which secrete a liquid onto the stool. This liquid has a very distinct odor and we believe the purpose of the odor is to mark the stool and thus mark the animal's territory. Sometimes these glands can overfill and then your dog will then try to put pressure on the glands by scooting along the floor or larger dogs may try biting at the area. Sometimes anal glands can become impacted or infected by these irritations, so if you see your dog scooting, you should make an appointment to see your veterinarian who can manually express the glands and make your dog more comfortable.
How will I know if my cat is sick?
Cats are creatures of habit. You should consider taking your cat to the veterinarian if: she misses more than one meal, shows a sudden change in eating habits, drinks excessive amounts of water, stops using the litter box, develops puffiness or a lump under the skin, hides for more than a day, becomes suddenly short-tempered or intolerant of attention, shakes his head frequently, changes his routine or loses interest in his favorite games, stops grooming.
One question is chosen each month to be answered for this column. As always, if your pet is experiencing an emergency or displaying physical symptoms or any out-of-the-ordinary behaviors, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
Bideawee is not responsible for any medical information provided to you by this feature and is not liable for the health or well-being of your animal by virtue of making this feature available to you.
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