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  (through Sunday, February 17, 2002) By Dr. Kelly Brodnik 1) Poodle with Congestive Heart Failure Question: Our 12 yr old Poodle was just diagnosed wtih the beginning of congestive heart failure. We were given torbutrol for her cough. We gave it for 3 days and then discontinued because the cough stopped. She is coughing again. What is it? C.B., Chesapeake City, Maryland. Answer: When you are dealing with
congestive heart failure, you can see signs such as coughing
(the number one sign of pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs),
edema in the legs or belly, weakness, decreased appetitie, syncope
(passing out), cyanosis (white or grey mucous membranes/gums),
etc. As for the cough recurring, it is because of the disease.
Ask your vet about using Lasix or other diuretic to decrease
any edema or pulmonary effusion, if present. Also, you didn't
mention why the dog is in congestive heart failure such as where
in the heart the disease is located (valves, muscles, arteries,
veins, electrical conductivity). Depending upon where the disease
is centered, there are many heart medications that will help
reduce the load on the heart and make the dog live more comfortably.
Question: I've taken in a stray kitten and it seems healthy but my older cat has gotten irritable and developed some sores around its mouth possible inside too. Could the stray have given him something? I also have another cat with no symptoms. What should I do? S.F., Chesaning, Michigan. Answer: It sounds as if the only cat with the problem is the one with the mouth sores. This cat I would take into your vet and have it checked over. Mouth sores can be from biting through electrical cords, eating or playing with a mouse or another type of animal or insect that has "fought back" and injured your cat, some poisons can present with mouth sores, it may just be bad dental disease. You need to take the infected/affected cat in and get a diagnosis, that way your vet will be able to tell if it is contagious to your other cats.
Question: My 2 yr old Shepherd should
weigh 75 pounds but only weighs 53. Vet says she has pancreatic
disease but I don't think so. Has energy of 2 yr old happy shiny
coat, but is not eating much. I think the medication she is taking
is affecting her eating. She is on Viokase (2 pills a day) can
you help me? D.C., Damascus, Maryland. Answer:
The highest incidence of exocrine pancreatic deficiency ( I am
assuming that is the diagnosis with the prescription you have
been given) is in the German Shepherd breed and seen before or
at 2 yrs of age. Treatment may need to be adjusted to a powdered
form of Viokase vs. tablets (which sometimes aren't as effective),
diet change to a higher fiber/lower in fat food such as Hill's
prescription I/D, and possibly some supplements such as vitamin
A,D,E, and K as well as some medium chain triglycerides. Other
potential changes could be adjustments of diet, enzyme brand,
dosage, the use of antibiotics (if bacterial overgrowth is suspected),
and an H-2 blocker (such as Tagamet) to reduce acidic inactivation
of enzyme replacement. Good luck and don't give up, your dog
hasn't. Question: As I mentioned before, my leopard gecko won't eat. I tried to feed him waxworms but he did not eat them. I even cut off the legs of the crickets. His shedding is fine and he sheds with no problem, but this eating thing concerns me. What can I do? M.G., Toronto, Canada. Answer: As I mentioned before, in
answer to your question of an earlier date, you need to take
your gecko into your vet to find out why the gecko is not eating.
It could be a problem with husbandry (temperature, humidity,
substrate, light exposure, etc), as well as a parasitic infection,
bacterial or viral infection, blockage of the intestinal tract,
etc. There is only one way to tell what the problem is and that
is to have your vet examine and test your gecko to find out what
is causing the problem. There is no way to diagnose over the
Internet, an animal that cannot be seen, touched or tested. For
more information check out: The
Leopard Gecko Manual Question: What is cold tail syndrome? My dog's tail is limp and she can't pick it up. (Shar Pei/Lab mix) Answer: I personally have never heard of this syndrome but it does not mean it does not exist. I must say that the only thing that would come close in comparison would be "cauda equina syndrome" in which there is compression on the nerves that supply the tail in the spinal cord and it needs to be evaluated and treated. You would need to have xrays of the lower back done on your dog to document the problem and possibly a myelogram to designate exactly where the problem lies. Your vet will then be able to help prescribe a treatment program for your dog.
Question: My hamster has been scrathching for the last week or two. She keeps rubbing her back against the cage and going around in circles. Could she have fleas or some kind of skin disorder? What should I do? K.B., Baltimore, Maryland. Answer: You need to take her in an have her evaluated for parasites, fungal infection, staph infection, allergies, fleas, mites, etc. Get her in today as she is suffering if she is going around in circles, probably very frustrated. Get her in so the problem can be properly diagnosed and treated.
Question: My Beagle has started having an itchy red smelly rash coming from his ears, started in one now is in both and I am not sure what it is or how to treat it. Sometimes gets a fever in it. M.L., Weatherford, Texas Answer: Sounds like the dog has an infection in the ears that can be bacterial, fungal, or secondary to a foreign object in the ear canal. Parasites and hypothyroidism as well as allergies must be ruled out. Take your dog in for a proper physical examination and the vet can check inside the ear canal, perform cytology under the microscope to see what is in the ear, and possible a sensitivity/culture to determine what type of bacteria (if any) are present and what antibiotic they would respond to. Good luck.
Question: My 5-6 yr old cat (Manx mis) goes outside unsupervised for a few hours a day and has a polyp like appendage protruding out about 1 inch below the anal opening. Looks like a human appendix and less than 1 inch long. Covered with fur, skin underneath is normal, "balloon" shaped and very tiny piece of skin connecting it to body. Exhibits all normal behavior. C.H., Baton Rouge, LA Answer: You need to have this looked at. Any growth-type of lesion you are describing is not normal and should be examined. It may be cancerous, therefore you should not wait and get the cat in today and have it diagnosed. I can't think of any type of tumor that would be present right there off of the top of my head, and this definately sounds unusual. Are you sure it is not a hairball stuck to the cat's rear end by a piece of hair? (No, I really am not joking, I have seen this type of thing)......
Question: My puppy is 4 mo old and her left ear is drooping and stands up every so often. Her right ear stands straight up. Should I have concern or should I wait to see what happens? It doesn't look nice and seeing her mother having the droopy ear, is it hereditary? Can there be something done to stand up? L.M., EHT, NJ. Answer: I believe that heredity is a big part of whether or not ears will stand as you will see in mixed breed dogs that have mixed with one dog with stand up ears with a dog with no stand up ears-you can get either one or one of each. So, I believe it is possibly inherited that your dog's ear won't stand. I have seen them stand as early as 12 weeks and as late as 6 months. I would give it time. No, there really isn't much you can do to make it stand up at this point. Just love her anyway.
Question: Dog testes are descended at birth but every article I have found indicates that kitten testicles are not descended at birth. At approximately what age do kitten testes descend? Please? B.D., Yucaipa, California. Answer: They are similar to dogs in that they should be descended by birth, but that doesn't mean they are easy to feel! They are very small and you can have a difficult time feeling them even when they are about 5-8 weeks of age.....Keep in mind though, that some testes will never descend and this is an inherited condition and these animals should not breed and pass on this undesirable, dangerous (cancer causing) trait. Good luck to all and thanks for the
questions! You can always join me on Wednesday from 2:00 PM -
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