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  (through Wednesday, January 2, 2002) By Dr. Kelly Brodnik 1) Inbred Dogs Not Considered Pure Bred and Can Have Significant Problems Question: I am looking at getting a Great Pyrenees puppy, but am concerned because it's parents are mother and son. Will this puppy have health and/or medical problems because of this? A.L., Clancy, Montana. Answer: It is VERY possible that
this inbred dog could have multiple problems now and in the future.
I never recommend breeding back to any member of a dog's "family"
as this only increases the chance of recessive genes being displayed
which can carry many types of defects including heart problems,
eye problems, kidney and liver problems, as well as some neurological
conditions. Question: We have a 6 mo old kitten that had an abcess on it's tail. It burst and we have tried to keep it clean. She has gotten weak and we need to get her help with not a lot of money. Please tell us what we can do for her in this case? L.T., Crossville, Tennessee Answer: You need to take this kitten into the vet! There is a possibility that your kitten may have bacteria in the bloodstream from the abcess, may have gotten infection with leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis, or feline immunodeficiency virus from another cat or from its mother. Veterinary medical is not cheap, just as any medical care, but is necessary when you take the responsibility of owning an animal.
Question: My 2 yr old dog was just diagnosed with Lyme's disease. I had brought her in to see the vet because she had severe pain in her hips and legs and I thought it was related to her mild hip dysplasia. Is it likely that her pain or lameness will recu? S.B., Boston, MA Answer: With proper treatment and
a good response to treatment I would say not likely. Human, however,
do tend to develop some chronic arthritis from the infection,
but we don't usually see this in dogs and cats. Question: My iguana fell and injured his mouth because he had a scab along one side of his mouth with alot of mucous and blood. This has seemed to cause him to not eat. I have little money right now and don't know if I can afford a vet, but what is it and what should I do? Pat, Tampa, Florida Answer: You really shouldn't wait
to take him to the vet. Chances are he may have an infection
(especially if you are seeing mucous and blood) and he needs
to get treated appropriately. If not and he continues not to
eat, he will only deteriorate and possibly die. When you take
on the responsibity of pet ownership you also agree to take on
whatever costs are associated with proper care. Question: How can a cat's tail be severed at the spine without any other signs of trauma to the body? My cat was found with her tail hanging by the skin , but bones were not broken and no fur missing. Any ideas? P. Cambride, Ontario. Answer: It is possible that something very sharp injured your cat's tail such as a fan belt inside an automobile, a sharp object falling on the cat's tail, or possibly some form of mistreatment from someone (if the cat goes outside). Lawn mowers can also cause such injuries. It could also happen if the cat tangled with a wild animal, other dog, or even other cat, that had a sharp enough bite and strong enough to rip the tail clean off. Get the cat in for antibiotics and an exam if you haven't had one already.
Question: We have a 7 mo old Yorkie and when he was brought he had a pet ID in the neck and he has gone insane with scratching at site. Is it possible to have an allergy to it and should it be removed? V.F., Helena, Montana. Answer: I have never heard of this but suppose it could be possible. You need to have your vet identify the type of chip that was put in (brand such as Avid or Home Again). Once this is done then you can contact the manufacturer (or your vet can) and inquire about any known allergic responses to their particular chip. Good luck!
Question: My dog ate a large knuckle from caw-raw, now has explosive diarrhea and bleeding. Help. Thank you. G.S., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Answer: This is the number one reason why I never recommend feeding any type of raw meat (or bones) to dogs! It is possible that your dog may have E.Coli, Salmonella, or other types of bacterial poisoning that can become very serious very quickly if not treated. Some forms of bacterial poisoning can be transmitted to people from infected pets. Get the dog and a fresh stool sample into your vet immediately!
Question: My cat will flick her tail, frantically lick herself then run. Stop and do it again. Mainly back half of body and belly. Sleeps more than normal and not eating normal. No fleas. Blood and urine tests ok. Had a cortizone shot but not really any improvement. J.K., Delton, Michigan. Answer: I suppose the next step would be to have her evaluated by a neurologist and possibly some xrays of her spine, hips, etc. The flicking of the tail and licking herself can indicate itching, pain, or tingling, etc. As for sleeping more than normal and not eating normal these are big concerns and should be worked up with more tests from your vet. Good luck.
Question: I have a 4 month old Chihuahua that was bitten multiple times by fire ants and he is presently running a fever and experiencing pain. What can I do for him? R.A., Graford, Texas Answer: He should be seen by your vet to evaluate the possibility of infection or allergic reaction from the bites. Your vet may be able to give him a shot that will help with the pain, or possibly some medications to take orally.
Question: 5 kittens were abandoned on our back porch and 2 have died. Their eyes are all gooey and shut and their little noses are a mess. What can I do without going to a vet as my husband is not working and I can't afford a vet bill. What is wrong with them? They are eating and drinking a can of mother's mile substitute. Please help, thanks, S.F., Patterson, California. Answer: If you cannot afford to take
them to a vet for proper treatment then you need to call animal
control and have them picked up where they will receive proper
medical attention. Good luck! Good luck to all and thanks for the
questions! You can always join me on Wednesday from 2:00 PM -
4:00 PM (Eastern) 11:00 AM - 1:00 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! |
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