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Overweight Pets
2) Question: How can I tell if my dog is overweight? And if she is what should I do?

ANSWER: First, a complete veterinary exam is really essential in evaluating whether or not an animal is overweight. Weighing the animal and "comparing" it to others in its breed category--would not be accurate. These written "values or standards" are just for guideline purposes. But, your veterinarian can take into account bone structure, age, dietary needs, animal's purpose (hunting dog, working dog, sleep-on-your-lap dog, protection) etc to recommend the ideal weight and condition of your pet. For general purposes, a dog-when viewed from above, should have a slight indentation just behind the ribs and widen at the hips (kind of an "hour-glass" figure!). Also, you should just be able to feel the ribs under the skin without much pressure. This does not evaluate the "pot belly" that can hang down on some animals that are obese but would pass both of these tests! This is why the veterinary visit is ideal. Diet is important and your vet can recommend the best diet taking into account the aforementioned factors used in consideration of an animal's weight. If an animal is overweight, try to stay away from dog biscuits, switch to a lower calorie form of food (Science Diet makes "light" formulas, Iams makes "less active", etc). These foods are higher in fiber and lower in fat and calories; yet are balanced. There are even some animals that may require a prescription food to help it to lose weight--ask your vet if your pet is a candidate. Stay away from tablescraps, but if you must then give ice cubes, rice cakes, unbuttered popcorn, fruit and vegetables (without seeds, pits, butter, gravy, etc.). Also, increasing exercise is a must (but get your pet in for a complete physical before starting an exercise program as obesity may be caused by an underlying health condition). Also, see our Disease Library under Dogs and Obesity at www.petservice.com. Your local Petco store can supply you with any necessary pet food that you would need--speak to one of their representatives! This is a great question and a very common problem. People assume that by having an overweight pet that they are somehow "spoiling" their pet with love; when in fact, they can be contributing to poor health and eventual painful problems/death. Good luck!

Cat/Mammary/Tumor
3) Question: My cat just had surgery to remove a mammary tumor, which developed a little over a month ago. Though the doctor succeeded in removing the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue I've been told that there is a high possibility that the tumor will grow back. What is the likelihood of this happening? How effective is chemotherapy and how long would she have to endure it? Is chemotherapy the best option? What's involved and how effective is it? I would really appreciate any information that you could provide me with, I'm just so worried! J.H., Chicago, IL.

ANSWER: It will be difficult to give any information regarding recurrence, treatment and prognosis without knowing the actual histopathological diagnosis of the "type" of tumor that was removed. Hopefully, you agreed to have the tumor sent to the lab for identification. The most common tumor found in the mammary chain of cats is called mammary adenocarcinoma. This type of tumor tends to be malignant in 80% of cases. It is recommended to remove the entire chain of mammary glands on the affected side that the tumor was on. Also, a blood chemistry profile, urinalysis and chest xrays are recommended to help stage the metastasis of this type of tumor. Treatment is evaluated based upon the results of staging and can involve chemotherapy. 60% of mammary tumors recur and early metastasis is common with this type of tumor.

The only way to determine what type of treatment is best for your cat is to know what type of tumor we are dealing with. The histopathology results and staging (bloodwork, xrays, urinalysis) are all necessary to determine treatment thus prognosis. There is a slim chance that this mass could be just a benign mass, cyst or other abnormal growth--which would also show up on the histopathology report on the "mass" that was removed. Good luck!

New Puppy/Vaccinations/Deworming/Heartworm/Physical/Dental Care/Neutering/Training
4) Question: I have a puppy that is approx.10 weeks old. What are all the things I need to do for him health wise? What are the best tips you can give me for my new puppy? Thanks for your time. Chris, Buena Park, CA.

ANSWER: In the essence of saving time and space, I must suggest a complete physical exam to rule out any medical problems, congenital problem, and mostly to get all of the information you need to start down the road to providing your puppy with quality care. Things you should discuss with your veterinarian are:

Vaccinations-get the necessary vaccines he is due for now, and get him on an appropriate schedule. After the original veterinary visit, check with local Petco stores (or our website at www.petservice.com) for a Vetco vaccination clinic near you.

Deworming-have a fresh (24-hour) stool sample checked for parasites and have him dewormed if necessary.

Heartworm-since you live in California, I know that heartworm (transmitted by mosquitoes) is a problem and your vet can get your puppy placed on preventative medication (such as Heartgard or Sentinel) so that your puppy will not contract heartworm.
Flea and Tick Prevention-Also, being a California resident, your puppy will need to have some form of flea control (such as Advantage, Program, Frontline or Sentinel) that will prevent flea infestation.

Neutering-assuming you are not planning to have the dog out on the dog-show circuit; I suggest getting him neutered (I do them around 12 weeks of age--some vets wait a little longer) so that he is not subject to problems with cancer, territorial problems/development of bad habits, or does not produce unwanted litters.

Dental Care-discuss brushing the animal's teeth and the proper way to start this procedure so that they puppy will always have fresh breath and good dental hygiene.

Training-have your veterinarian refer you to a reputable training facility (like the one available in Petco stores) to get you and your puppy off to a good, working relationship.

That should help you off to a good start. Congratulations on your new puppy!! Some Petco stores now have full-service veterinary hospitals ran by Vetco within them, check www.petservice.com for locations. Check for the one in your area!!

Cat Dry Heaving
5) Question: My 14-yr male Burmese has a constant problem of "retching". Hunches down and has
symptoms of dry heaving. Periodically, he will throw up but nothing comes out. I have tried Nutri-cal, Petromalt and Laxatone. Also, have checked for worms but is negative. Other than this, he is very healthy. He does this at least 3 times a day. Thank you. MC., Oshkosh, WI.


ANSWER: Your cat definitely needs to see your veterinarian. Vomiting or "retching" is not normal and can signify many things such as chronic hairball problems, obstruction of the digestive tract (partial or full), parasites such as heartworms, roundworms, giardia, viral or bacterial infections of the trachea, throat or lungs, thyroid disease, and even cancer. Your vet will want to take xrays of the throat and chest (possibly the abdomen) and will run some blood work to check for other diseases such as heartworm infection and feline hyperthyroidism. Good luck and don't delay! Get your cat in today!

Cat with Gum Disease
6) Question: Our cat, Astrolabe, has a gum disease, which we are keeping under control with prednisone (5 mg every other day). We are concerned with the long-term effects. Any ideas? He is neutered and is now otherwise, very healthy. H.B. Machiasport, ME.

ANSWER: There are several causes for stomatitis/gingivitis in cats ranging from: viral (feline leukemia virus/herpes virus/feline immunodeficiency virus), bacterial infections, fungal infections, toxin or drug induced problems, physical injury (foreign objects, fiberglass, etc.), chemical injury (acids, alkalis, petroleum products), metabollic problems (kidney failure, diabetes, hyperthyroidism), auto-immune disorders (Lupus, pemphigus, etc.), underlying cancer, or idiopathic (no one knows the cause). So, for every different cause there is a different treatment. The last category (idiopathic) is diagnosed only after all other possibilities have been ruled out.

Treatment for this type is aimed at supportive care and control. Some things to try (if not tried already) would be a complete dental cleaning, antibiotic therapy, steroid therapy, and often whole mouth dental extraction (removing all of the teeth) in cases that are refractory to treatment. There are other drugs that can be tried in place of steroids, but they are not without more serious side effects and problems. Over time, steroid use has shown to have some deleterious effects on the liver IN SOME ANIMALS and there is a possibility that they may shorten the lifespan of these animals over time. Some animals must be on similar/higher doses of steroids for allergy/auto-immune problems and live full, healthy, pain/itch-free lives. If you follow your veterinarian's orders and go in periodically (1-2 times/year) and have bloodwork done to check liver enzymes; you should be able to monitor the status or note any changes.

Ask your vet about the possibility of removing all of your animal's teeth (they can still eat fine-just canned food instead of dry) as a possible option in place of the steroids…. For those of you with animal's with bad breath--be forewarned--your animal is probably suffering from infected gums and the buildup of plaque and tartar that help hold bacteria. This bacteria gets into the bloodstream and can cause heart valve problems, liver problems and kidney problems. Keep your pet's teeth healthy and also enjoy the benefits of sweet breath! Good luck!

Heartworms at any Age
7) Question: Can a dog get heartworms at any age? What About Cats? T.C., Hickory, NC.

ANSWER: Dogs and cats can get infected with heartworms at any age. They may not show symptoms of infection for weeks to years after the initial infection. Larvae (baby heartworms) are injected into an animal's bloodstream when an infected mosquito bites your pet. They travel through the body until they come to rest in the right side of the animal's heart, where they will become adult worms and reproduce. When they reproduce, they put many baby heartworms into the bloodstream that will eventually return to the right side of the heart to become adults and reproduce again. After awhile, the right side of the heart will become "clogged" with worms and will not function properly and the pet will suffer from heart failure and die.

Heartworm prevention medication can be given to animals that test negative for baby heartworms in the blood. It takes 6 months for the baby heartworms to become adults/reproduce; which is why dogs are not heartworm tested before 6 months of age. There is not enough babies circulating in the bloodstream to show up on the test for a positive result prior to 6 months of age. Some heartworms cannot reproduce but will continue to live and grow in the right side of the heart. The pet will be negative on some heartworm screening tests; but will show symptoms of infection such as coughing, exercise intolerance, etc. This is called "occult heartworm" infection and a different test is used to confirm this problem in animals that are showing signs of infection. This is the type of heartworm infection most often seen in cats. Cats can also be infected with heartworm even if they are indoors because mosquitoes don't just stay outside, as we all know.

Pets with Ear Inflammation/Possible Infection
8) Question: I think my dog has Otitis Externa, the discharge is black. What specific drug is usually prescribed for this condition? R.W., Long Beach, CA.

ANSWER: It depends upon what the cause of the inflammation is. If it is a foreign body then sedation and removal may be all that is necessary. If it caused by a yeast or bacterial infection, then the ear is cultured and the appropriate antibiotic or antifungal (or both) are prescribed to control the infection. Cleansing of the ears twice a day is imperative in severe ear infections and your veterinarian will be happy to prescribe the best cleaning solution that is pH-balanced for pets and proper medications. See our web site at www.petservice.com under the Drug and Disease Library under Ear Infections in Dogs and Cats. This will give you more information regarding causes and treatments for ear infections.

Cat with Hot/Bald Spots/Dermatitis
9) Question: Cat gets occasional hot spots, balding on middle back and loses chunks of fur. Vet said she has miliary dermatitis, but there was no specific cause. Is there any way to verify specific cause? Any topical ointments for bald spots? Should she be bathed and/or groomed frequently? Any special shampoos? Please help!!!! M.R., Austin, TX.

ANSWER: The causes of miliary dermatitis can range from flea bite allergies, staph infections, food allergies, endocrine (glandular) disorders, thyroid problems, other parasites, viral and fungal infections. If the problem has not cleared up with treatment prescribed by your vet, you need to return to your vet for a recheck and possibly more testing. If your cat does not improve, contact a veterinary dermatologist in your area for a consultation. In the mean time, try your local PETCO store for an oatmeal-based shampoo product that may help reduce irritation until a diagnosis can be reached.

Rabbit with Hairballs
10) Question: Is there a medicine to get out the hairball in my rabbit stomach and if not what should I do? S.W., Fishkill, NY.

ANSWER: Rabbits can get hairballs just like cats (see question number one). Any of the hairball remedies can be safely tried in your rabbit. However, rabbits are more prone to obstruction because they are not able to vomit and pass the hairball in this fashion. It must be passed completely through the digestive system. Please seek veterinary advice and get a positive confirmation of the problem before trying treatments that can be both detrimental and a waste of time/money. Some rabbits may have to have hairballs surgically removed depending upon the severity of the problem. Good grooming habits are important to keep the amount of hair shed down to a minimum.