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  (through 04/11/01) By Dr. Kelly Brodnik 1) Dog Needs Recheck Exam After Emergency Spay Question: My daughter has a pet Eskimo Spitz and she had to have an emergency hysterectomy due to a very complicated pregnancy. The puppy was too large to be born. The dead puppy and the afterbirth stayed in for a day later before the vet did surgery. My question is this: Snowball isn't very active right now, but I know that is to be expected. Should she be given any type of vitamins or estrogen since this surgery? We are finally able to get her to drink water but for now, that is all. Do you have any recommendations? The vet we took her to is a very good vet, and I know that he did all he could. Please help. B.H., Raven, Virginia. Answer: The best thing to do for
your little dog (sorry to hear about the loss of the puppy) is
to have her rechecked by the vet that did the surgery. You want
to make sure she isn't running a fever or has an infection from
the surgery. It may also be necessary to provide her with some
pain medication based upon what your vet finds and he will be
able to give you a prescription that is right for your dog. Question: I was just wanting to know if cats or dogs can carry head lice? L.B., Madison, Tennessee Answer: Generally, lice are species
specific, meaning they prefer one species over all others. If
that particular species is unavailable, there is a small chance
that a small number of lice may try to live on an animal of a
different species. Question: My question is, what are your likes and dislikes about Bil-Jac dog food? I have my overweight dog on the reduced fat BJ and he isn't losing any weight at all and has been on it for awhile now. He is given a cup to a cup and a half a day. Is this too much? I am going by what it says on the bag. Thank you. Lisa, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Answer: I am not personally familiar with Bil-Jac dog food so I cannot tell you about any pros and cons. As for weight loss in dogs (or cats) it must be a combined effort between ruling out medical causes of obesity (such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, etc) and then concentrating on overall weight loss procedures such as increased exercise and decreased caloric intake. If your dog is severely overweight, there are some prescription foods that are reduced fat that are very successful in taking weight off but must be prescribed by your vet. In addition, you must cut out any canned foods, treats, etc that the dog is given and combine this with increasing walks, exercise, playtime, etc. Some prescription foods that have worked well for some of my clients are Hill's R/D (reducing diet) and Hill's W/D (weight control diet). Iams also makes some reducing diets that are also very good and available only from your vet. Good luck!
Question: Our 10-month old female kitten is hyperactive, even after being spayed. She is driving us nuts! What can we do? Thanks, M.C., Rio Rico, Arizona. Answer: You need to set aside some
time to play with her and try to tire her out using her own toys,
a flashlight (at night) on the walls, or consider getting a second
kitten for something for her to play with. For more information
on cat and kitten behavior, check out: Twisted
Whiskers : Solving Your Cat's Behavior Problems
Question: My 1-yr-old male Boxer has developed blister spots on his chin and muzzle, which sometimes "weep". What are these and are they serious? Can I do anything to help or will I need to see my vet? J.G., Lossiemouth, Moray Answer: Your dog could have a number of things causing blisters such as contact allergies to food and water bowls (plastic a big culprit), parasites that are in or under the skin, drug reactions (to pesticides, etc), or may have a simple skin infection or virus (that can lead to warts). You really should have the dog checked out by your vet because anything that "weeps" is open and bacteria will use the opportunity to "set up shop" and result in an infection. Good luck and get your pet in today.
Question: We just had 6 pups that are full-bred Rottweilers and they are three weeks today. Some are walking, some look like Bambi on ice. Should I be concerned about hip dysplasia at this early age or do they need a couple more weeks to get sturdy? D.J., Scottsdale, Arizona. Answer: Puppies are very precarious
when they are learning to walk and appear very weak and wobbly.
Hip dysplasia can be present in puppies but usually you don't
see signs of problems until they are about 6 months of age. Signs
can be hopping (while running), limping, difficulty going up
or down stairs, difficulty getting up from sleeping, etc. If
your puppies don't seem normal in every way, then you may want
to have a vet check them over just to be sure they don't have
any problems that could cause them to be weak such as bacterial
or viral infections, parasitic infections, or some type of metaboliic
problem. For more information on raising puppies, check out:
The
Art of Raising a Puppy
Question: My cat appears to have rice size, dark red worms? Appearing from her vagina. They are very soft when first appear and harden considerably. My vet doesn't know what they are after looking at them under a microscope. Any ideas? L.S., Kelowna, British Columbia. Answer: Sounds like your typical tapeworm problem, but your vet would be able to diagnose that. If you AND your vet are stumped you should send a fresh fecal sample to the laboratory and also send a specimen to a veterinary teaching hospital near you. The parasitology department should be able to identify the parasite. Good luck!
Question: My 7-yr-old Golden Retriever fights other dogs and is very territorial. Will neutering him now prevent him from fighting or am I too late? P.P., Hurricane Mills, Tennessee Answer: Neutering him now will definately
help your cause, but you may also need to get him into some type
of training or obedience classes to help with the problem. Unneutered
males WILL be territorial (more often than unneutered males)
and some of this is due to testosterone surging through his veins.
It takes about 30-90 days for the levels of testosterone to drop.
Often, many dogs will develop "habits" of being territorial
for so many years and will need help learning how to be a good
boy. For more information from a certified animal trainer, join
our Live Chat with Terri Desnica on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Mountain time for some free advice. Good luck and check out:
Dog
Problems : A Professional Trainer's Guide to Preventing and Correcting
Aggression, Destructiveness, Housebreaking Problems, Excessive
Barking, Dogfights, Tugging, Jumping, Shyness, Stealing, Begging,
Car Chasing, Fear Biting, Object Guarding, and much,much more
Question: Two things. I noticed two lumps or fatty deposits over my 11-yr-old female Basenji's sternum. Is this indicative of something? The deposits are soft and do not feel like they have liquid in them. Any advice would be appreciated. Also, one of your readers asked about the BARF diet. Bones and Raw Food. The Raw diet. Many owners, breeders and vets think this is the best diet for dogs as it is similar to what a wolf would eat in the wild. There's two camps on this, no need to debate if it is right or wrong. Just giving you an FYI. J.W., New York, New York. Answer: In answer to your first question, lumps are ALWAYS indicative of something. You should have them checked out due to the age of your little dog and statistics that show that 50% of any animal over the age of 10 WILL develop some type of cancer. As for the information you provided on the BARF diet, I understand the debate. According to the USDA Meat Inspection Department, raw meat carries many bacteria that can prove deadly to humans and to animals if not handled or cooked correctly which some people are not aware of. Bones can and do become lodged in intestinal tracts, as I have removed some myself in life threatening obstruction cases. As for the wild dog story, dogs are no longer considered wild animals that is why they are "domesticated". We no longer eat raw meat and bones as our only source of nutrition much like we did many years ago and we are living much longer, healthier lives. Thanks for the information, though.
Question:We are currently expecting our 3rd child and my two older boys are asking for a puppy. Is it better to get a puppy now, before a new baby and have it trained and housebroken, or wait until after the baby? What type(s) of dogs would you recommend? We desire small (under 25 pounds full grown) and tolerance to young children. They are asking specifically for a Jack Russell, but other breeds and mixes would also be considered. C.P., Sarasota, Florida. Answer: Congratulations on the coming of your third child! As for timing when to get a puppy, you need to do what works best for you. As you know, with a new baby, much of your time, effort, and sleep revolves around the baby and you wouldn't have much time to train a puppy, so you may be better off getting it before the birth (in my opinion). Just be sure you introduce baby and puppy slowly and be sure they are NEVER left alone unsupervised. There are some breeds that are better "family" dogs than others but many could argue that there are "rotten apples" in every breed. Watching the puppy interact with your older boys, with other dogs, etc. before selecting one (and after a clean bill of health from a veterinarian) only then should you select a dog. Personality is often more important than breed. Jack Russells are great little dogs, as well as Pugs, Corgies, Terriers, and many mixed breeds to name only a few. For pet selection, check out Are You the Pet for Me? : Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family Good luck to all and thanks for the
questions! You can always join me on Monday evenings from 9:00
PM - 11:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 - 8:00 PM (Pacific) on our
website at www.petservice.com for our Ask the Vet Live. We would
love to have you join our LIVE CHAT! |
A Book Worth Owning...  ...Click to Purchase! Sponsored by:  Retractable Leashes Ideas for New Pet Owners & Pet Lovers Dr. Kelly Brodnik D.V.M.  Chat Live with PetService's ASK THE VET Dr. Kelly Brodnik D.V.M EVERY MONDAY NIGHT! ASK THE TRAINER Terri Desnica Certified Trainer EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT! Please tell your fellow pet loving Internet friends about PetService.com! Click below and email a few...  Receive weekly pet health tips for dog, cat, bird, reptile and small animal lovers from PetService.com    Gifts Galore!  Arrive  Electronic Gear  Learn It Time  MaxiSport 
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