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Week 4 - Nov 08, Weekly Ask a Vet Q&A

 

  • Q: My mini schnauzer, Teddy Bear, has what looks like piled up skin cells in patches running up his back and in dots on his sides. It doesn't seem to itch him and our vet seems to be puzzled on what has caused it, but has given me a steroid to give him. I have concerns about the long term damage to Teddy because of the steroids. Does this condition sound familiar to you? (Question of the Week)
     Connie C, Tracy,  CA

  • A: The symptoms you describe are a bit unusual. Miniature Schnauzers are prone to a few skin disease. There is a disease called Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome where comedones or blackheads form along the back. They can feel like small bumps. Teddy Bear’s symptoms sound a bit different from that. You could discuss with your vet a few options, such as having a skin biopsy done or referral to a specialist veterinary dermatologist

 

  • Q: My Pekingnese has had periods of being normal while on a walk and then suddenly coughing a couple of times, stopping, sometimes laying down and takes a few minutes to get going again. It is usually slowly at first. She was just to her Vet's a couple of months ago and got a clean bill of health. (heart is fine and don't see any collapsed trachea going on) The only unusual thing that has happened is that she has had 2 seizures over a 6 month period. I know this is not a lot to go on and if she persists she is going back in to get checked. She also is not really gun ho on the food, which is a bit unusual for her. Do you have any suggestions?.
     Lou Anne K, Powell River, BC

  • A: One thing that may cause these signs is an elongated soft palate. Mouth breathing, snoring and snorting are characteristics of this condition.  These characteristics become even more pronounced when the dog is hot or during periods of exercise.  The dogs frequently cough or gag in an attempt to clear the airway. The harder the dog breathes, the greater the swelling and elongation of the soft palate. The next time you are at the vets ask them to check this out.

 

  • Q:Hi This past Saturday my husband found a abandoned kitten. She was starving and limping. We fed her and named her HOPE. Monday morning I took her to the vet and for shots and exam. The doctor thinks maybe her pelvis had been broken (he did not x-ray) . She was badly bruised on her side and had a funny odor coming from her. The vet said to bring her back in 10 days if she survived with love and TLC. That night she abscessed on the bruised side (there’s the smell) My 12 year old daughter has become the mama nurse, cleaning her wound, feeding her, taking her to the litter box, she is now walking a little on her own but mostly lying around but eating and drinking heartily. I opted to put her down but the family says please give HOPE a chance!!Hope is not crying and she purrs every time someone loves on her, please help me make the right decision, help her through this or let her go to rest peacefully. The abscess sight is about the size of a half dollar. She is also about 12 weeks old. Please any help would be grateful.
     Trish, MI
  • A: While a fractured pelvis is certainly very serious, kittens do often recover very well with this condition. Most times the kitten will recover to have normal movement. Abscesses need to be treated. You should flush the abscess with a mild disinfectant wash and apply an antiseptic cream such as the Dermaclens cream.

  • Q: I would like to try the product Advocate on my cats. Do they need to have a heart worm test prior to using this product? We have always used regular Advantage however, it didn't work well last time. I think the fleas are resistant to the product
    Reve C, FL

 

  • Q: I have a large cat (22 lbs.) and although I use Frontline Plus for flea control he still seems to get fleas. Is it save to use 2 units on him.
    Linda R, VA
  • A: He certainly is a big fellow. Yes, it would be advisable to use 2 units on him because of his weight. One unit is probably not enough. I have had a number of customers who tell me that they are finding that Frontline Plus is not working as well as it once was, in which case it may be worth trying Advantage or Revolution.


  • Q: I have a lapso apso and the last time i gave him frontline plus his back legs gave out and he could not walk. He seems to be getting better now. I may have given him a dose that was for a bigger dog. Is this possible? He is fenced in the yard so he could not have been hit by anything. He does not hurt in any place. He just has a little trouble walking.
    Jim R, Sth FL

  • A: That is a very unusual side effect for Frontline to be the cause. I would suspect another cause. An injury or back problem would be more probable. Dogs may experience some temporary irritation and itchiness at the site of Frontline application. Other suspected adverse reactions are extremely rare but may include transient local reactions at the application site (scaling, local hair loss, itchiness, redness) and general skin itchiness or a hair loss have been reported after use. Other suspected adverse reactions which occur extremely rarely are hypersalivation, reversible neurological signs (hyperaesthesia, depression, nervous signs) or vomiting have been observed after use.
     
  • Q: my dog is a English cocker spaniel bitch she is 3 years old and her heart is going too fast she has been for a run but that was nearly 3 hours ago, and it hasn’t slowed down. Her eyes are slightly red. I am slightly worried can you please help me. Sorry but she also panting very fast.
    Donna M, Preston

  • A : You should take her in for a check up by a vet. The symptoms you have described are not normal.
     
  • Q: My husky is 4 yrs old and is constantly scratching around her eyes as well as digging her ears. Her left ear is scarred quite a bit and scabbed. what can i do to help her with this? the right is isn't is bad but im sure isn't far behind.
    Steven, PA
  • A: With the symptoms you have described I would suspect a mite infection, allergy or ear infection. The best thing would be to have your dog checked by a vet to determine the exact cause. Then the appropriate treatment can be started.
     
  • Q: My Teripoodle has been exposed two days ago to fleas. I washed him medicated shampoo designed for flea removal that same night and removed about 25 adult fleas from him. He still is scratching his neck and shoulder areas. My concern is that I want to use Flea Medication to control the problem but he's weights only 3lbs. and is 15 weeks old. What do you recommeded to stop the infestation?
    Roberta C, Sacremento, CA

    A: Most of the better topical once a month flea treatments such as Advantage, Frontline Plus and Revolution can be given to puppies from 8 weeks of age. Advantage is very safe, effective and comes in a small dog size, for dogs between 1 and 10 lbs. Revolution comes in a puppy size for dogs up to 5lbs.
  • Q: What can i do for my cat that is having siezures?
    Myless Mommy, Cincinnati, OH


  • A: The first thing you will need to do is have the cause of the seizures determined. There are many different causes, either originating in the brain such as brain tumours, or outside the brain such as liver and kidney disease, or low blood sugar. Epilepsy is rare in cats, unlike people and dogs. You should take you cat to the vet for a check over. While your cat is actually having the seizures, try not to handle your cat, unless there is a risk of it harming itself by falling. Cats do not swallow their tongues so do not try to open the mouth. After the seizure, let your cat recover in a quiet, darkened environment.
     
  • Q: My cat has a swollen upper lip attributed to an allergic reaction to a rodent bite. It did not alleviate after being treated with antibiotic. Any ideas? Otherwise, she has recovered from the bite.
    Sherri, Minneapolis, MN

  • A: The lump may be due to scar tissue that has formed at the site of the bite. There is not much that you can do for this, however usually the lump will reduce in size over a period of time.

 

 

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