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Pregnant kitten problems

Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 6403 times

Denise asks about toffee (cat - not known, F) (age 0 years, 9 months):

Toffee is 8 months old. We took her to get spayed and found out she is pregnant. She is approximately 4 weeks. She cannot settle, she is meowing all the time. The vet said "keep an eye on her" but I feel so useless as she is so unhappy.

Samantha says: Sorry to hear Toffee is unhappy. Usually cats have uneventful pregnancies and births. However this news was obviously a surprise for you and perhaps you were not prepared for it. She may be crying all the time because she is hungry. She is having to eat enough for her kittens as well as herself and she still needs to grow too. She should be given food ad-lib now. You could try feeding her main meals twice daily but also leaving some dry biscuits down for her so that she can snack as she wants. Obviously water should always be available. She should be given a kitten/growth diet since she needs extra energy during pregnancy. Give her a pleasant box or basket with comfortable bedding where she can settle down and perhaps later have her kittens in; she will like it best in a quiet area and possibly hidden away under a bed or behind a chair etc.
You need to keep an eye on her just as the vet said but hopefully all will be well and she will have a healthy pregnancy and kittens.

Skin problem

Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 5995 times

Sharrice asks about harleyandcharley (dog - german shepardxrottweiller, M) (age 0 years, 2 months):

We have only had these two pups for 2 weeks. They have scabs, are itching like mad and Charley has bald patches appearing on his back.

Samantha says: In young pups it would be worth considering parasites as a possible cause of these signs. I would be concerned about fleas or perhaps sarcoptic mange (a mite which burrows in the skin causing intense itching). It could of course be something other than these two things but it definitely needs to be investigated and treated at the vets.

Spider bite

Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 4031 times

Paul asks:

Sorry did not specify type of spider - not known but in UK so not venomous - we are about to purchase a burmese kitten which has been bitten by a house spider and has experienced an allergic reaction. This has been treated by a vet with anti inflammatories - could this result in ongoing problems?

Samantha says: It is unusual for house spiders to bite and hopefully the kitten would not experience such a problem again. It is difficult to know if this kitten is going to have ongoing problems or not. You would be wise to make sure that it was definitely due to a spider bite and not a problem caused by something else. Only the vet who treated the kitten will have a really good idea of the problem so perhaps you could request the breeder ask the vet for some written information about the problem so that she could pass it on to you. I personally would always be cautious if buying a pet which seemed poorly.

Spider bite

Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 4690 times

Paul asks:

What are the short/medium term effects of a spider bite to a kitten?

Samantha says: What type of spider? We do not have venomous spiders in the UK. The effects of a spider bite will depend upon what type of spider it was and could potentially be serious. For example Black Widow spiders can cause death often preceded by paralysis and other unpleasant signs. If your kitten is showing signs of distress get to a vet quickly.

Help me with Cassie

Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 4916 times

Shane asks:

Why does my kitten cry and lift her bum up while she lays down? It has only just started tonight.

Samantha says: Cassie may have "pulled a muscle" while she was playing or could have impacted anal glands. She might have hurt herself in some other way. If she has just pulled a muscle the signs may be gone by tomorrow. If your kitten seems well otherwise you could see how she is in the next day or so. If you are at all worried go to the vet.

Urine

Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 5319 times

Dawn asks:

Hi, l have a 7 month old labrador his urine is sometimes dark yellow is that OK? Also l have noticed he has a green discharge coming from his willy sometimes. Thanks, Dawn

Samantha says: If he is otherwise well these signs may not be much to worry about. The colour of the urine may be due to it being concentrated because he hasn't been drinking so much at that time. It is not unusual to see a small amount of creamy discharge around the prepuce either. If your dog seems to be uncomfortable or licking his penis or prepuce excessively he may have an infection. Likewise if he is urinating very frequently or is straining to urinate it would be best to get him checked by your vet. If you are concerned your vet will be able to test the urine to help make sure that there is nothing wrong and also check the discharge.

Blood in puppys poo

Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-07 | viewed 5572 times

Jason asks about Daphne (dog - Rottwieller, F) (age 0 years, 2 months):

Daphne is 6 weeks old and has had the runs for the last 24 hours but I have started to find blood in it. It is also jelly looking. She isn't off her food and is still a typical lively puppy. Have put her on rice and chicken, what can be causing this?

Samantha says: Although I cannot make a definite diagnosis on the internet these signs sound like colitis. Daphne is a young puppy and if you have recently acquired her she will have been through a lot of changes in the past week or so. Often puppies get diarrhoea around this time of weaning and changing homes because their food changes and they are also a little bit stressed. A small amount of blood and mucus in the faeces is not unusual. Chicken and rice will be a good start to help her. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water available all the time and allow her to rest if she needs to. Do not give her any food treats or scraps from the table. Hopefully the signs will resolve over the weekend but if they do not it may be wise to get her checked at the vets. She is still very young and you need to make sure she is not getting dehydrated so if you notice that she seems quiet or she starts to vomit or deteriorates in any way get her to the vet promptly.

Loneliness in Guinea Pigs

Species: guinea pig | Category: other | Submitted: 02-Feb-07 | viewed 4923 times

Dawn asks about gerty (guinea pig - short haired, F) (age 2 years, 2 months):

We have had Grace and Gerty for over two years, we got them as a pair from a rescue centre. Sadly our vet has diagnosed that Grace has cancer and we feel we will have to have her put to sleep soon. We are worried as Gerty has never been on her own as far as we know. Do you feel this is a problem?

Samantha says: Animals are all individuals just like us and they all react in different ways. I think that most guinea pigs do enjoy company but you must assess the situation on an individual basis. See how Gerty is once Grace has passed away; you may find she gets on fine. If she seems unsettled in any way you could try giving her more attention yourself or you could try to introduce a companion.

Clicking in the ankles

Species: equine | Category: other | Submitted: 02-Feb-07 | viewed 5270 times

Jemima asks:

Hi, my horse is experiencing clicking in the ankles. When he walks his ankles click; we put boots on him all the time in the field and when riding. He has scabs/scars on his inner legs is this a sign of his legs hitting each other? Please help. I don't want him to get arthritis (is that possible?)

Samantha says: The scabs and scars on his legs could be a sign of his hooves brushing his legs as he moves. Horses, like other animals can get arthritis and the likelihood of this increases with age. Since you can hear an audible clicking in your horses joints it would be wise to call in the vet.

Skin problems

Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5654 times

Brian asks about nasa (dog - weimeraner, F) (age 0 years, 9 months):

My dog has red lumps on her skin and fur is falling out in patches! I have been to the vet; he is unsure. Treated for fleas with no improvement.

Samantha says: It can be really difficult sometimes to diagnose a skin condition and often to get an accurate diagnosis it can take a long time and many tests. Sometimes a referral to a skin specialist might be necessary. You need to go back to your vet and let him know that there has been no improvement. Your vet will be able to discuss what steps he thinks are necessary to take next.

Behaviour change and self harming

Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5916 times

Karen asks about blackjack (cat - not known, M) (age 4 years, 8 months):

We've just moved house last week. Blacky has always been a very brave, inquisitive and loving cat. Since we started packing up boxes and actually moving his behaviour has become a major concern. He bites at his leg which is very sore, has bitten 2 nipples so they bleed and scab. He hides, is nervous and 'cleans' with his paw round the food for ages. He hardly comes near us. How can we stop him hurting himself without traumatising him further by taking him to the vet. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated asap!

Samantha says: Poor Blacky! It can be a major change when cats move house since they are very attached to their territory generally. You should try to keep disruption to a minimum for him by doing as much unpacking and moving as you can quickly so that his environment becomes stable and secure in his eyes as soon as possible. Try to find a room that is already unpacked and provide a quiet place for Blacky to go when feeling stressed. This quiet area should have a basket or box so that he can hide. Make sure that wherever in the house Blacky is he has an escape route to his quiet place should he need it. Also try to give him plenty of places where he can get up high and survey his new home. Giving him his food in his quiet area may help and the litter tray should also be in an undisturbed area but well away from his food. Try to keep visitors to a minimum while Blacky gets settled. A product called Feliway may also help. Feliway is an artificial pheromone product which calms cats and helps them adapt to change. You could get the spray or the diffuser type depending on what you thought best for your home.
Since Blacky is biting himself check for fleas; often when people move house there can be a resident flea population just waiting to pounce on a new arrival! If Blacky continues to make himself sore he will need to go to the vet.

Lumps

Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 6403 times

Helen asks about Lottie (dog - not known, F) (age 10 years, 9 months):

She has a number of lumps, some soft, some hard. One is on her chest. Is there a way of telling whether she has cancer and at 11 is there any treatment or is she best left alone. How aggressive is cancer in dogs of this age?

Samantha says: Since the lumps you describe are different they may not all be the same type of lesion. Tumours (or cancer) in dogs can be benign ( does not spread or invade the body) or malignant (which is more serious). Without taking a biopsy of some kind it is impossible to tell you what kind of lumps these are. Although, when you take her to a vet they may be able to give you an indication of the possible seriousness of the condition once they have examined her. In general a lump which is smooth and feels rounded in the skin is less likely to be malignant than a lump which feels bumpy and firmly attached to the tissue beneath the skin. However as I mentioned only a biopsy could confirm any diagnosis. The prognosis for her will depend upon the type of tumour present and her general health.

Scabs on my cat's body

Category: general | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5347 times

Kevin asks:

There seems to a general scattering of scabs all over but there seem to be more of them near the base of the tail. What could be the cause of this? We've been treating for fleas but it doesn't seem to be helping and I would like to know what could be causing this.

Samantha says: It could still be fleas which are causing the problem although other things are also possible. Download the e-book on fleas for more information about them and why treatment sometimes may seem not to work (even though it really is). If fleas are not the problem it can be really difficult to find the cause; the next thing to try might be the diet but speak to your own vet about this.

Strange behaviour

Species: dog | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 6000 times

Jemima asks about Joe (dog - Black labradour, M) (age 5 years, 0 months):

Hi, my dog has been acting rather strange and not coming into the living room. He usually has fits every 3 months and ever since we put the wall up in our house he won't go in the room and we have to get him on a lead to bring him in. We are not sure whether he's a bit wrong in the head because when he was a puppy he bumped it on a metal chair and now he has a big lump there. He has fits as I said and he just acts very strange and skitty. He's a lovely dog but this problem is getting out of hand.

Samantha says: Sometimes dogs can develop a fear or aversion to a particular place and it is not always possible to work out why. Perhaps something frightened him in this particular room or maybe he had a fit here and was upset by that? You can help him get over the problem though. It would be best to completely ignore his aversion to this room and stop forcing him in there against his will. Do not try to coax or encourage him in when he does not want to go because this will encourage his behaviour; likewise do not get cross or shout at him. Encourage him when he comes a little closer to the doorway to the room- perhaps you could use a food treat. If he does not feel brave just ignore it and get on with something else. Eventually you will be able to get him closer and closer to the door and then into the room. Behavioural modification can be very difficult on your own so you may want to contact your local behaviourist for help.

What are these spots on her back?

Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5801 times

Jemima asks about Looby Lou (dog - west highland terrier, F) :

My dog has had these spots for a couple of months now and they are lumps cross spots. We are not sure if it is the new Frontline that we are using because it is stronger. A little while ago we washed her and these brown specks appeared in her hair, they were not fleas but she has dirty skin because we got her from a place were they were breeding and she was kept in a cage. We are very concerned about these spots because they seem to be irritating her. Thank you, Jemima

Samantha says: West Highland Terriers are unfortunately very prone to skin conditions. I doubt it is the Frontline causing the problem but it is impossible to make a diagnosis without seeing her myself. Since the spots seem to be irritating to her it might indicate that she has some kind of allergy. It will be necessary to take her to see your vet to get help for her. Often Westies need on-going care to help their skin problems and some conditions of the skin can only be controlled not cured. I hope she feels better soon.

Skin problem

Category: general | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5490 times

Caroline asks:

Could it be my puppy and what could I do for him?

Samantha says: I think it would be unlikely to be due to your puppy. You should treat any cats, dogs and rabbits in your house for fleas. You should also spray the house for fleas since most fleas live in the environment even in the cleanest of homes. Your cat should be taken to the vet who will be able to diagnose the problem properly and probably give some treatment to make Tigger more comfortable.

Urinating In The House

Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5653 times

Sacha asks about Spike (cat - not known, M) (age 9 years, 8 months):

Spike has suddenly started to urinate all around the house. He is just under 10 years old and has never done this before. He has access to a cat flap. It is becoming a big problem - particularly as he is currently doing this on cleanly washed laundry... Help ...

Samantha says: This is an awkward situation for you. Often when cats start to urinate in the house it can be a sign that they are feeling stressed about something. Could there be a new cat in the neighbourhood or changes in your household which could be making Spike feel insecure? Cats scent mark with urine to mark their territory and make it feel like "home". If they start to do this inside the house there are several measures you can take to help the situation, but it will probably require quite a bit of effort on your part. The first thing you could do is try Feliway which is a pheromone which makes cats feel more secure; use it in areas where he is urinating. You can also try to deny access to the areas where he is urinating. He might not like the smell of your fresh laundry because it no longer smells like "home" to him. The easiest thing to do would be to deny access to the laundry basket in this case. Also try to ensure that no other neighbourhood cats can get through the cat flap so that when Spike is in the house he feels safe from feline intruders. To be on the safe side it might be a good idea to get him checked by a vet to make sure that it is not due to a medical problem such as cystitis. I hope this helps; if not get in contact with a behaviourist because there will be other things you can try according to the particular circumstances of the case.

Skin problem

Species: cat | Category: petcare | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5520 times

Caroline asks about tigger (cat - not known, M) (age 3 years, 11 months):

Tigger has got some really red sores all over him and he will not stop cleaning them. I really would like to know what they could be before I take him to the vets.

Samantha says: Tigger may have an allergy to something which is causing him to have sore itchy skin. The constant cleaning you describe may be because they are itchy for him or they could be infected. The most likely explanation would be an allergy and one of the first things which vets would think about might be a problem with fleas. Of course it could be something else entirely and obviously he is uncomfortable so you should take him to the vet soon.

Constipated Hamster

Species: hamster | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 5979 times

Irene asks:

We got a hamster last week, he has hardly eaten or drunk water and seems to be constipated with poo stuck to his backside. We have tried to clean this but he seems very withdrawn and getting thin.

Samantha says: If he is constipated it could be due to his bedding or diet. Cotton wool should not be used for hamster bedding since the hamster may eat the bedding and become constipated. Also if a completely dry diet is offered constipation may become a problem. If the problem is mild your hamster may respond to having some green vegetables or small amount of fruit added to his food. Obviously make sure your hamster is able to drink, if you use a drinking bottle ensure that it is not blocked and that the hamster is able to reach it.
If the problem is severe your hamster may need to be treated by a vet. Also if you think that the faeces are more like diarrhoea than well formed or hard ones see your vet promptly because hamsters can get a condition called "wet tail" which can be fatal.

Wounds come up on head; round and blood red

Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 01-Feb-07 | viewed 6265 times

Charlene asks about marmalade (cat - not known, M) (age 1 years, 4 months):

My cat has come up with round blood patches on his head; what are they? He is on antibiotics for a virus is this connected?

Samantha says: It is impossible to say what these lesions might be because I cannot see them or examine the cat myself but I can give you some help in assessing the problem. If these lesions actually look like open wounds or scabs the most likely explanation is some sort of trauma, such as a cat bite which is quite common. However it is also possible for any animal to have a reaction to any antibiotic. Do these lesions look like blood is collecting under the skin with no evidence of a wound? In this case stop giving the antibiotics and call your vet as soon as you can.


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