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  (through Wednesday, January 9, 2002) By Dr. Kelly Brodnik 1) Sarcoptic Mange in Puppy Question: I purchased a puppy for my wife for her birthday and several days later discovered it had sarcoptic mange. We are getting treatment but her hair loss is heartbreaking. Will her hair grow back? We have come to love this puppy very much. S.M., Miami, Oklahoma. Answer: If the sarcoptic mange can
be treated, the hair should regrow. Mites live and can destroy
some hair follicles and it could depend upon the severity of
the infection and if the follicles are still intact. If your
vet is unsure, ask to see a veterinary dermatologist for the
best information. Question: We have a 3 month old kitten with what appears to be healthy gums and teeth but also rotten breath. Please, is this a food problem or are we stuck with the stench? Three more months of this and she'll be an outdoor kitty. J.F., Montebello, California. Answer: It very well could be a food problem if you are feeding canned foods or semi-moist food. Dry food still can give a fishy smell to cat's breath, but it is usually not severe. You should have your vet check your kitty at the next set of shots (which should be coming up) and evaluate if there are any abnormalities that may be exacerbating the problem.
Question: What are the possible behavioral side effects associated with DES (diethylstilbestrol) for the treatment of hormone responsive urinary incontinence in a spayed female dog? M.M., Owen Sound, Canada. Answer: DES is an estrogen related
agent that has a host of medical side effects such as bone marrow
suppression, blood disorders, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, abnormal
vulvar discharge, excessive water consumption, and abnormal urination
habits, etc. Behaviorally, there are none listed, but I would
assume similar side effects of that of a bitch going into estrus
such as wanting to be bred, anxiety, etc. Ask your vet about
your dog's dose and any medications that are also be given and
there interaction. Question: My dog found my hamster that had escaped his home the other day and the hamster's foot was a little sore and his baby toe was gone. Can you recommend to me what I can put on his toe while healing to prevent any infections? P.B., Brockway, MI Answer: You are very lucky to still
have a hamster! As for preventing infections in hamsters your
vet will need to apply topical antibiotics which are safe in
hamsters (many are not) and possibly a bandage. Many antibiotics
commonly used in people, dogs and cats, can actually kill your
hamster because of the balance of normal bacteria in the intestinal
tract of hamsters required to break down their food. The hamster
should also be checked for possible internally injuries from
escaping its cage. Question: I have some friends that think it is okay to give their dogs beer, but I tell them it is not because it is dangerous to their health. They asked be for specific reasons and I was not able to tell them why. Could you please explain to us what is does to their health? Thanks, L.C., Muldrow, Oklahoma. Answer: I could not find any information on animals converting alcohol to any type of toxic substance which doesn't mean the problem may not exist. As for obvious reasons not to feed your pet any alcoholic beverages is because it can cause decreased awareness, confusion, ataxia (inability to walk straight), blurred vision, slowing of respirations, slowing of heartrate, and alcohol poisoning even death (with very small doses). Any of the above symptoms can result in death should the dog fall down a flight of stairs, get hit by a car, become lost, etc. Besides being medically not sound, why would you expose something so innocent to something so potentially dangerous when you don't have to?
Question: One of my long-neck turtles has what looks like swollen back legs, seems like he is shedding his skin on parts of his neck, and has a fungus problem on his shell. Are these things something to be worried about? The other turtle is in excellent shape. Thanks, K.W., Lara, Australia. Answer: Yes. If your other turtle
appears normal and is in the same environment, then you are probably
experiencing a medical problem with the other turtle that is
resulting in these signs. You should take the turtle into a veterinarian
that specializes in reptiles and have this little guy checked
out. It could be a parasitic infection, metabollic problem, vitamin
problem (if it prefers certain foods over others), etc. Get him
in today. For more information on turtles check out: Turtles
and Tortoises : Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition,
Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
Question: First time I've had a female dog. How long do they menstruate and how often? Thank you. Gayle, Arcadia Township, Michigan. Answer: They begin having their first
"estrus" cycle at about 6 months of age and will actual
have bloody discharge anywhere from one week of that time to
several weeks. They will go into estrus about every 6 months.
If you are not interested in breeding her and she is not from
quality blood lines, then consider having her spayed and not
having to worry about any of it. Plus, it is healthier for her
to be spayed because she has less chance of developing mammary
cancer, uterine cancer, uterine infections, etc. For more information
on dog breeding and female estrus cycles, check out:
The Complete Book of Dog Breeding
Question: What is the treatment for feline bordetella? S.G., New Germany, N.S. Answer: I would treat a case of feline bordetella much like any other upper respiratory disease (assuming more severe viral infections have been ruled out such as distemper, leukemia, etc). Antibiotics, sometimes oral sometimes intravenous (depending upon severity of infection), cough suppressants (if coughing), fluids if dehydrated, and rest. Careful monitoring of the patient with blood testing may also be necessary depending upon the severity. Isolation of an infected cat from other cats is also necessary as well as cleaning up the environment with a 1:32 bleach to water solution. Good luck.
Question: My 6 yr old Lab/Chow mix has had problems with her anal glands stopping up and had them expressed about 6 times in the last month and 1/2. Antibiotics have been injected into them and now she is on oral antibiotics and prednisone. Any suggestions that would be causing this? Could it be allergy related? My vet told me that was not the case. She is most uncomfortable with this problem. Can you give my any advice? D.M., Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Answer: Anal gland problems can occur because of the conformation of the ducts that empty the glands normally. Genetically, some dogs will be born with ducts that don't empty properly because of the shape of the duct or the area in which it empties. Trying higher fiber dog good such as prescription W/D from Science Diet may help as well as learning to express them yourself from your vet so that you can keep them from becoming infected and impacted. There is a surgery to remove them, but I don't recommend it because many dogs will become fecally incontinent following the surgery because of the close proximity to the anal nerves. Good luck.
Question: My 5 mo old kitten is fixed and healthy but her poop and gas small really bad. She is on dry food and has always had smelly poop. I have owned many cats and never had one smell this bad. Can you help? K.M., Richmond, California. Answer: I would recommend having
a stool sample checked for parasites such as worms, bacteria,
protozoans, etc can all cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal
tract producing more mucous plus or minus blood (even microscopic)
which can all lead to odor. Anal glands should also be checked
because cats can have anal gland impactions as well. Trying different
brands of food or switching to Hill's I/D will decrease any inflammation
in the gut. Your vet may also prescribe something such as Flagyl
to try especially if there are any parasites or protozoans in
addition to any deworming medications. 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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