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swallowed a AAA battery

Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 02-Mar-07 | viewed 5417 times

Pam asks:

Will this pass or do I need to seek help?

Samantha says: Although this type of object may well pass through the intestines without a problem it would be wise to let your local vet know so that they can examine your dog if they feel it is necessary. If your dog is vomiting, off his food or otherwise unwell seek help as soon as you can.

straining to urinate

Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 02-Mar-07 | viewed 6184 times

Helen asks about Tawny (cat - not known, F) :

My cat is constantly going in the litter tray and only producing a small amount of urine after being in there for ages - sometimes nothing. What might be the problem? We have noticed there is quite a strong smell to the urine she produces.

Samantha says: Most likely in female cats is cystitis, but you should take her to your vet anyway just in case it is something more serious such as a blocked bladder (although this is generally a problem in males). Crystals in the urine may also be a problem and your vet will be able to check for this. Stress can cause signs of cystitis in cats so you could try to think whether anything is upsetting her at the moment.

prostate or urine problem

Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 5516 times

Rosemary asks about Berkley (dog - black labrador, M) (age 6 years, 8 months):

Berkley has on 56 occasions had a very enlarged penis which swells out and he drips urine. He then licks himself and after 10 - 15 minutes the swelling subsides, he potters in the garden and all is well again. Can you please give any indication as to what you think this may be and what is causing the problem and what action needs to be taken. Thank-you

Samantha says: So long as the penis seems to retract properly after these episodes there is probably little to worry about. You should also check that he is passing urine normally too. He may just be getting "excited" which can occur even when dogs are castrated. If you think it is more than this then you should take him along to your vet who will be able to check for infections etc.

small hernia

Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 5828 times

Henrietta asks:

This person has a yorkie puppy that has a small hernia. They said they were giving it away because they couldn't afford to pay the vet bill to get its hernia fixed. From what I understood they said getting it spayed would fix the problem. Could you tell me if this is true? Thanks!

Samantha says: If hernias are small and not causing any immediate problems vets will often wait to repair the hernia until the puppy is neutered. If the puppy is female, the hernia repair may be done when she is spayed although you should check with your vet in case there is an extra charge for doing this.

Aggression towards us and agitation

Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 6723 times

Sally asks about Max (cat - European stray, M) (age 8 years, 6 months):

Our cat Max has recently started to get very agitated and threatening if we do things like sweep the terrace. He is very vocal generally but lately seems disoriented and agitated. It is almost as if he doesn't recognise us any more. I notice that he seems to be sniffing almost every thing he sees on the floor. We haven't yet taken him to the vet but she gave me some Kalm Aid to give him which does at least relieve whatever stress he is under. Nothing has changed in our circumstances and he seems to be eating, drinking, defecating etc. normally and interacting with out other cat Sam. It is just in relation to us that he seems strange.

Samantha says: The first thing to do is to get Max checked over by your vet just in case their is an underlying medical problem. You mention that Max seems "disoriented and agitated". These signs can be caused by problems such as metabolic or neurological diseases. If you take your cat to the vet and nothing medical is found then you can start thinking about behavioural techniques. Try to avoid the situations which tend to provoke Max such as sweeping the terrace since this will provoke the aggression which is a behaviour you want to avoid. Next you need to try to find out what type of aggression Max is showing. Cats can exhibit play aggression (playful situations) fear aggression - (cats have crouching posture, ears back, fearful facial expression etc), predatory aggression, petting induced aggression, assertive aggression, and pain induced aggression. Although it is impossible to make a definitive diagnosis over the internet I would be most concerned about medical problems which cause confusion leading to fear aggression or painful conditions such as arthritis which lead to pain induced aggression. Get him checked by your vet then you might need the help of a good animal behaviourist in your area since these problems need ongoing support. You could also try Feliway which is a spray or diffuser of artificial feline pheromone which can calm cats and make them feel more relaxed and less anxious. You spray it around the house or use the plug in diffuser. This is available from most vets. You are welcome to get back to me about Max once you have had him checked over by your vet. I hope this helps.

dry nose

Category: general | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 5569 times

Paul asks:

My dog has a dry discoloured nose and very sleepy what could be wrong?

Samantha says: These are very common signs in dogs and could be a sign of many problems. It does sound as if there is something wrong though, so do get your dog along to your local vet for a check up.

dog flea problem

Species: dog | Category: parasites | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 6655 times

Jim asks about angel (dog - sheba inu, F) (age 2 years, 3 months):

Angel has fleas around her tail and we have tried sprays shampoos drops and collars, she has chewed at her upper tail to the point where she will not let us touch it and it is very raw.

Samantha says: Download the free flea e-book which will tell you why fleas are such a problem and how to set about getting rid of them.
Take Angel to the vet to get her raw skin treated in case it is infected.

recurring urinary infection about every 6 months

Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 5194 times

Nina asks about easter (dog - lurcher, F) (age 10 years, 3 months):

Hi, my lurcher has been getting urinary tract infections about every 6 months for past 2 yrs., there has been blood in urine. Treated with antibiotics it clears up in couple wks. She drinks a lot when it happens, but apart from the patches on furniture and wetting her bed displays no other signs of illness, either when its happening or after. No weight loss and energetic. The patches always have a yellowish stain in the middle? Vet wants to do ultrascan in case its the kidneys packing up. But wouldn't there be other symptoms ? Another vet at same practice said it was a nasty infection, and the raised levels of chemicals in liver/kidney normal for dog her age. Have you come across this before please ? Worried sick. Thank you. nine

Samantha says: If your dog is getting recurrent infections it sounds like a good suggestion to do the ultrasound scan just to ensure that there is no underlying problem either with the bladder itself or the kidneys. An ultrasound scan is painless for your dog and will show up any abnormalities if they are present. If nothing is found you will have peace of mind and if there is something else going on at least you will know.

health problems

Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 5838 times

Helen asks about MUTTLEY (dog - ROTTWEILER, M) (age 9 years, 9 months):

Keeps choking at least twice a day very rarely vomiting, if he does its yellow bile. He is also off his food he will eat a few mouthfuls but is very fussy which isn't like him he has 1 50mg rimadyl which has been lowered a few months ago this is for arthritis.

Samantha says: If your dog is vomiting it would be wise to stop the rimadyl until you can get him to your vet. He should really be seen by your usual vet if he is off his food and sometimes vomiting or retching.

I can't find a vet

Species: reptile | Category: petcare | Submitted: 01-Mar-07 | viewed 5299 times

David asks about lizard (reptile - bearded dragon, M) (age 0 years, 4 months):

hi, I am new to having a reptile (bearded dragon) and I was wondering if anybody knows of a vet for reptiles in North Yorkshire please help me just in case thanks very much david =)

Samantha says: Call your local practice; if they do not treat reptiles themselves they are very likely to be able to give you details of a local practice which does.

front right leg

Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 28-Feb-07 | viewed 6776 times

David asks about holly (dog - not known, N) (age 0 years, 3 months):

Her leg looks as if it has been broken, it has a bad twist.

Samantha says: She does need to go to a vet urgently. If your own vet is not open they will usually have details of the local emergency service on their answer-phone.

lumps

Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 28-Feb-07 | viewed 7304 times

Clare asks about bailey (dog - cavalier king charles, M) (age 0 years, 6 months):

When I was examining my puppy Bailey I noticed he has two lumps each side of his neck just below his ears. Is this normal? He's absolutely fine, he eats well, drinks and plays all the normal stuff puppies do. But am very worried about these lumps. I have also noticed that he has a slight smell to his breath, but is teething he is 6 months old at the moment and wondered if the lumps had anything to do with the smelly breath I am experiencing. Could you please get back to me a.s.a.p. thank you for your help.

Samantha says: Bailey looks like a lovely pup! It is difficult to know exactly what you are feeling - if the lumps feel bony and hard they could be part of the skull or vertebrae. As a very general rule if lumps are the same on both sides of the head they are likely to be normal. However if these lumps are lymph nodes and they are both increased in size it may indicate a problem such as an infection. It is worth getting the lumps checked by your vet to make sure. Many pups get slightly smelly breath as they teeth and it will most likely pass but your vet will be able to check this too if you take Bailey along about those lumps.

Katie only has 3 legs.

Species: hamster | Category: petcare | Submitted: 28-Feb-07 | viewed 6161 times

Nicola asks about Katie (hamster - Syrian, F) (age 0 years, 2 months):

Katie only has 3 legs it didn't seem to bother her, so that didn't bother us. She has been home with us for 4 days and is doing well but today I decided to remove the wheel (which she loves) - I have noticed that the area her leg should have been looks a bit sore. How can I treat this or do I need to go to see a vet?

Samantha says: It would be a good idea to get this checked by your vet just in case it is infected. Hamsters can very rapidly become very ill if problems are left so it is best to be cautious. Could the wheel be causing abrasion of the skin in this area? If this is the case she may need to be given other things to explore and play with. Tunnels and things she can run through and climb over might be fun for her instead of the wheel.

blood in urine

Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 28-Feb-07 | viewed 6478 times

Tracy asks about zak (dog - japanese akita, M) (age 12 years, 6 months):

Zak has suffered blood in his urine for 9 months now. He is currently on antibiotics which are helping his whining but still blood remains in his wee. Cystitis was mentioned but should have been cleared up once on the tablets but didn't. Tests have shown high protein and white blood cells but no vet has been able to stop his condition. Please have you any advice on his condition?

Samantha says: I would recommend that you go back to your vet and talk to him or her about the problem again. Discuss what further procedures or tests may be necessary to sort this problem out. Sometimes it can take a while to find out what the problem is if a case is unusual or complicated and other tests may be needed if your vets think it is necessary. Hopefully your own vet will be able to help Zak further.

bearded dragon

Species: reptile | Category: petcare | Submitted: 28-Feb-07 | viewed 5403 times

David asks about lizard (reptile - bearded dragon, M) (age 0 years, 4 months):

What temperature should the tank be at?

Samantha says: Bearded dragons need an overall ambient temperature in their enclosure of around 25-30°c during the day; this temperature can fall a little at night so long as it stays above 18°c. It is important to provide a basking area with a higher temperature of around 31-37°c and a cooler part of the enclosure so that the lizard can move between these areas to regulate its own temperature.

insurance

Species: cat | Category: general | Submitted: 27-Feb-07 | viewed 5014 times

Kellie asks:

What pet insurance would you recommend for my cats ?

Samantha says: Because of the rules about financial advice I am not legally allowed to give advice regarding insurance policies- sorry! However you would be wise to shop around and get the information about several different policies/companies before you make a final decision.

cat not drinking enough water

Species: cat | Category: nutrition | Submitted: 27-Feb-07 | viewed 6294 times

Susan asks about jeni (cat - not known, F) (age 7 years, 4 months):

I am not sure my 8 year old, 18 lb. spayed female cat is drinking enough water. I have dry food out all the time and feed her a small amount of canned food twice a day. I see her go over to the drinking fountain but just sniffs it and walks away. What are the signs I should be looking for to indicate that she is not getting enough water? (she could be drinking it when I am not home or asleep). She seems to be still active and eating and plays with my other cat. Does cats water consumption slow down in the winter? Thanks for any help.

Samantha says: Cats often seem to ignore water and many people worry about it. We vets worry more about cats who are seen to be drinking lots of water rather than those who don't. I suspect your cat is normal and healthy and unless she is showing any other signs of ill health you probably have little to worry about. If she is lethargic, losing weight has diarrhoea or vomiting, if her coat looks dry and her skin does not seem supple (tents up and does not spring back into position quickly when you gently lift up the skin on the back) you should take her to the vet.

Over grooming

Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 27-Feb-07 | viewed 6559 times

Michele asks about Suki (cat - Shorthair, F) :

Thank you for your response. My cat has had a once over by vets and no flea problems. Her hind legs and stomach are bare due to over grooming. The vet suggested Feliway which I sprayed on her bedding and had no effect. She was rescued from a farm left to die under floorboards about 2 1/2 years ago approx. and has always been a nervous cat but suddenly got worse. She hates going out and is found under the bed most of the time but has no problem when it comes to food. Is there anything else you can suggest we do, please? Would it be beneficial for her to see an animal behaviourist?

Samantha says: If your vet thinks this is a behavioural problem then there are many things you could try to make her feel more safe, secure and happy. Is she the only cat in the household? If not you might need to think about all the cats and their relationships to each other. If she is the only cat things may be a bit easier. Try to make sure no wandering neighbourhood cats can get into your house as this can often cause problems for nervous cats. Ensure that she has plenty of hiding places she can get to in your house when she feels she needs them. Provide high resting places/ shelves for her so that she can look over the room and feel safe up high. Keep changes and visitors to the house to a minimum and with as little noise and disturbance as possible. Use the Feliway all around the rooms where your cat goes, not just on the bedding (a diffuser may help). These are just a few suggestions but if you need further help ask for your vet to recommend a good animal behaviourist in your area.

Lump on chest started weeping

Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 27-Feb-07 | viewed 5683 times

Jo asks about Georgie (dog - Rottweiler, F) (age 10 years, 11 months):

My elderly Rotty developed a kind of flappy skin tag on her chest, recently it has got larger and redder and looked as if it has weeped today, I bathed it with salt water in case she has just caught it. Should I be worried, could it be more than a tag ?

Samantha says: I would recommend that you get this checked at the vets. The signs of growing, looking inflamed or red and the weeping should be taken seriously. Hopefully it will only be a minor problem but it would be best to check it.

update on dead kittens

Species: cat | Category: other | Submitted: 27-Feb-07 | viewed 6774 times

Dawn asks:

Kitten taken for p.m. this morning, showed acute bacterial pneumonia infection which spread throughout kittens bodies attacking all their organs etc. down to 2 babies now but smallest still hanging on somehow by tiniest thread, showing signs of real distress when passing urine or faeces other survivor has not gotten quite as bad and hopefully the synulox drops everyone ( queens incl.) have been put on will work quickly and keep my last two babies alive. My imminently pregnant cat still has not delivered so I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will hold on for a couple of days yet, to give her babies a better chance. I will be sorting outdoor cattery out asap after cats in better health, brought them all in when wind blew cattery onto wall, (takes 4 men to lift it, shows strength of wind) thought I was doing best for my cats, obviously very wrong.

Samantha says: It might help to keep your pregnant queen separately from your other cats, especially the obviously sick ones if you can. This might help to prevent the new kittens becoming infected. If possible use different equipment for her and her kittens and feed and care for them before going to care for your sick cats. Use an apron and possibly gloves when you nurse sick animals; of course be diligent about hand washing. If you can, try to increase ventilation- so long as cats and kittens will not get chilled or escape. I hope your new litter is OK.


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