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  By Dr. Kelly Brodnik Too Old To Breed? 1) Question: My Husky is 12 years old, had 3 puppies only once before, when she was 3. Is she too old to have puppies again? How long after bleeding can she mate? R.R., Miami, Florida Answer: Your dog became too old to breed around 6 years of age. I would definately NOT recommend breeding this animal, but will recommend spaying her to prevent cancer of her reproductive tract and to decrease the likelihood of her having other problems or diseases involving her uterus, mammary glands, etc. Persian Losing Fur 2) Question: My Persian cat is about 5-yr-old and has never had hair or skin problems, but recently I noticed a dark discoloration on the back of her neck that was dry and scaly. The vet said it was a skin allergy, but two weeks later is has become larger-from ear to ear, and the hair has all fallen out in the area. She doesn't seem sick or bothered by this, do you have any thoughts? We are going to the vet again, but wondered if this was common. M.C., Fort Worth, Texas Answer: Food allergies in cats can present with fur and coat problems, especially lesions that appear symmetrical (the same on both sides of the body). You didn't mention if you had started any form of treatment for the allergies, and what the treatment involved and how the cat responded. Treatment for food allergies involves ruling out other causes such as parasites, fungal infections, bacterial infections, immune deficiencies, feline leukemia virus, etc., and then diet trials, response to medications, and possibly allergy testing. You need to go back to your vet and get the cat on appropriate treatment. Turtle Not Eating 3)Question: My turtle doesn't move or eat as much as it used to. What should I do? Micheal, Hemet, California. Answer: Any change in the habits of any pet is a reason to become concerned. The turtle may be suffering from environmental problems such as too much heat or humidity or not enough. Other medical causes of decreased appetite in turtles can range from infections, mouth problems, intestinal problems, diet deficiencies or overdose, parasites, or many, many other possible causes. For more information on turtles, check out: Turtles and Tortoises : Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)   Cat Needs Grooming ASAP 4) Question: My cat's fur is impossibly matted, in huge, nasty patches. We brush him daily but can't seem to stay ahead of the matts. We have another long-haired cat who doesn't suffer from this problem at all. Do we need to be doing anything different for our matted cat--diet, special brushes, hair products? He is a happy little guy and he does clean himself regularly. We are lost.....K.P., State College, Pennsylvania. Answer: Your cat needs a professional grooming in which the fur is clipped off. The reason is that when fur matts up, it creates an extremely warm, moist environment right next to the skin, which results in staph bacterial infections of the skin. Most people don't even know their animal has the infections, until the animal is shaved and the lesions are visible, often blaming the groomer for causing the "wounds". Medical causes of your cat's inability to groom itself should be investigated, as sick cats may not groom well, as well as obese animals. There are many grooming tools available to aid in decreasing matt formation such as a "matt comb" available at any pet supply store. Check your local Petco store. Also, conditioners will help to decrease the fur's ability to stick together and may help decrease matt formation. But right now, the best thing to do is to have the fur shaved and start fresh, grooming every other day to keep the furcoat healthy and matt-free. One Flea and Tick Prevention vs. Two 5) Question: I just wanted some information on the new prevention Revolution, for fleas and heartworm disease. Is it better than using two different medicines for these needs? T.W. Pasadena, California. Answer: Revolution is a new product that is applied to the skin and absorbed into the body to prevent fleas, ticks, heartworms, some forms of mites, and some intestinal parasites. This product works wonderfully in areas in which all of these parasites are present or are problems. If fleas and ticks are not a problem in your area, but heartworm is, then maybe your pets would not need the full spectrum of protection that Revolution supplies. Revolution is often priced higher because it offers more protection, so if cost is an issue, then you must consider the needs in your particular area. Most have been proven safe to use, so you must weigh your risks and benefits when choosing your prevention plan. Talk to a veterinarian in your area (Check your local PETCO store for a Vetco full-service veterinary hospital near you!) about the incidence of each parasite and what the best protection would be in your particular area. Good luck and good question. Cat with a Fat Lip 6) Question: My 9-yr-old cat recently has gotten a swollen bottom lip but his teeth and gums appear to be fine. What do you think the problem could be? Kim, Bel Air, Maryland. Answer: It is possible that your cat may have suffered some form of trauma to the area, recieved an insect bite or sting, is suffering from inflammation due to feline acne, or has some type of growth in the area. Either way, the cat needs to be examined so that proper treatment can be implemented. Good luck! Herbal Dewormers 7) Question: Twice a year, my dogs get round worms. Is there natural herbs they can have to rid them of these worms? T.W., Brantford, Canada. Answer: Yes, there are, I will direct you to a recent article on our website involving the use of natural remedies posed for the purpose of preventing and treating worm infestation. Keep in mind that most current medications for the treatment of worms are proven to be very safe and effective and should be used if and when herbal supplementation is not effective. Also, check out this book: Herbs for Pets 
Reviewed:  Heartworm Disease, Symptoms and Prevention 8) Question: What are the symptoms of heartworm disease and why is it required to test for heartworms instead of just putting them on the prevention? Jay, Coventry, Connecticut. Answer: Symptoms of heartworm disease can vary from none, to full blown congestive heart failure. Coughing is one of the most common signs, along with exercise intolerance, etc. Testing for heartworm disease is necessary because why would you want to prevent a disease that an animal already has? The other reason, is if your animal has heartworm disease and you are giving him the medication (and don't know he has it), he is allowing several hundred animals to become infected when a mosquito bites your dog and travels to the next animal for its next meal. Ethically, this is not acceptable. Do the right thing and have your animals tested and placed on prevention today! Check your local PETCO store for a Vetco vaccination clinic offering heartworm testing and prevention at reasonable prices. Dog Getting Heartworm Without Prevention 9) Question: What is the likelihood of a dog getting heartworm diseas if NOT given prophylactic treatment? Heartworm prevention medication makes my dog ill for almost a week, but I continue to give it. I'd like to evaluate the options.....J.F., Capitola, California. Answer: You would need to check with a veterinarian in your are and find out the incidence of heartworm disease there. It varies from state to state, even city to city. In general, however, we are seeing increasing numbers of cases of heartworm disease because of the many dogs who are not tested and placed on prevention, because the owners did not feel their animal was at risk, when in fact, it is their animal that is positive and is propagating the spreak of disease by not getting treated. Ask your local Vetco veterinarian (just inside your local PETCO store), for information about heartworm disease in your area. You did not mention how many times you gave the medication, but it is possible it may be a reaction to the medication and other forms of prevention could be tried, such as pills, chewables, or the kind that is applied to the skin, such as Revolution. Good luck! Puppy with Heart Murmur 10) Question: I have a 12-week old puppy that has a serious heart murmur and I was told there is an operation to fix it, but this will shorten her lifespan. If I decide not to operate, what are her chances and is there any medication to help her? Thanks, T.O., Syndey, N.S.W. Answer: There are several types of defects that puppies can be born with that are called "whole s in the heart", such as a PDA, VSD, etc. Most cannot be treated with medications, but medications can help reduce the side effects associated with the disease, but the animal will usually expire from congestive heart disease in the end. The prognosis depends upon the type of murmur (location) and the severity--which should all be evaluated prior to making a decision. A second opinion might also be helpful in answering your questions.....good luck! |
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