Answers to Your Pet Healthcare Questions at VetAsk.com
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| how can i get rid of a tick on a dog |
| Category: general | Submitted: 31-Jan-07 | viewed 4732 times |
Carly asks: |
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My dog has a white bubble skin tag on his collar, someone said it might be a tick. If so, how do I get rid of it?
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 Samantha says: Frontline will kill ticks. If you spray a small amount of frontline onto a piece of cotton wool you can then hold this over the tick for a couple of minutes to kill it. Only once a tick is dead should you remove it with tweezers or tick remover. If the tick is still alive when you try to remove it the head may be left in the skin once the body of the tick is removed. This can lead to infection. You should be confident that it is actually a tick and that it is dead before you make any attempt to remove it. If you do nothing the tick will drop off on its own in around three days when it has finished feeding. Ticks can occasionally spread other diseases to pets.
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| Breathing problems. |
| Category: general | Submitted: 31-Jan-07 | viewed 4651 times |
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Michele asks: |
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My dog appears to be having 'breathing attacks'. He starts breathing very quickly through his nose as if he is having trouble - it lasts for a minute or 2 and then he is OK - any ideas?
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Samantha says: Sometimes dogs can breathe quickly when they are fearful, anxious or have exerted themselves. If this only happens occasionally and he breathes normally otherwise it may not be anything to worry about. However if he does it frequently or has any other problems such as difficulty with exercise, a cough or nasal discharge he should be taken to your vet for a check-up.
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| Eye discharge |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 31-Jan-07 | viewed 3600 times |
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Ian asks about ned (dog - Lab, M) : |
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My 6 year old lab has started to develop yellow-cream gunge out of his right eye. I have cleaned it with warm salty water. What needs to be done?
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Samantha says: Ned may have conjunctivitis if it does not seem to be clearing up he should be taken to the vet.
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| Itching head and chewing paws |
| Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 31-Jan-07 | viewed 6020 times |
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Gary asks about storm (dog - bull mastiff x english mastiff, F) (age 6 years, 2 months): |
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My dog has been itching and scratching herself to the extent of her bleeding. I have given her Frontline thinking it was fleas, but this has not done the trick. I have been told it could be due to too much protein. Could this be possible?
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Samantha says: It could be many things. As Storm is itching so badly it would be wise to get her checked for other external parasites such as sarcoptes. It may be due to her diet (dogs can develop food allergies) in which case it is more likely to be due to the type of protein in her diet rather than the overall amount. You could try feeding her a protein that she is unlikely to have had before (such as rabbit or venison) if the problem gets better you would know that the diet had been the problem. You can also get hypo-allergenic diets from vets and this might be easier than trying to do it yourself. She may also have atopy which is an allergy similar to eczema in humans. As she is in such discomfort she should see a vet.
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| cat vomiting |
| Category: general | Submitted: 31-Jan-07 | viewed 5015 times |
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Michael asks: |
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My 7 year old cat from a shelter vomits a small amount of undigested food after she has a meal. No other symptoms. Is there a simple explanation for this?
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Samantha says: It could possibly be that she has become used to eating too fast, perhaps because of competition from other cats in the shelter. You could try giving her smaller amounts of food but more frequently through the day. She might be better with tinned food rather than dry biscuits. Also, you could make sure that she is wormed regularly (every three months). If there is hair in the vomit you should treat her with a gentle laxative for hair balls. If this problem persists, she starts to vomit everything up or she seems unwell you should take her to the vet since she may have a gastrointestinal or oesophageal problem; possibly including serious problems such as infections or a tumour.
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| Excessive drinking |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5738 times |
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Heather asks: |
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My dog is drinking a lot of water lately, is this OK?
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Samantha says: Possibly it is a sign that there is something wrong. Drinking and urinating excessively in dogs can be a sign of many different diseases and needs to be investigated by your vet. The list of diseases which it may be a sign of is very long but common problems in which a dog would drink more than normal include diabetes, kidney disease, Cushings disease, hypothyroidism and liver problems.
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| What is FIV |
| Species: gerbil | Category: petcare | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5533 times |
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Lynette asks: |
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What are the symptoms of FIV?
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Samantha says: FIV or feline immunodeficiency virus can cause many different signs in cats. This disease suppresses the immune system so cats with FIV often show recurrent illnesses. If a cat has many episodes of respiratory infections or gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea FIV might be considered. Recurrent gingivitis may also be a sign of FIV as may fever, eye and skin problems.
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| Skin problem on snake |
| Species: reptile | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5468 times |
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Asha asks about steve (reptile - royal python, N) : |
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The skin on my royal python's belly is dry, brown and flakey and seems to be dead.
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Samantha says: There are several different problems which snakes can get with their skin. Does it look as if your python could be shedding the skin? Sometimes the process of shedding the skin can fail. If this is the problem you could try placing the snake's body in a wet towel "sandwich" in a box (obviously make sure your snake can breathe). As the snake moves around the towel the retained skin may come off. If this does not work or you do not think that it is a problem with shedding then you should seek a consultation with a vet who specializes in exotics. Most vet practices will know of a local vet who they can refer you to if they do not treat reptiles themselves.
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| cat eye problem |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5379 times |
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Marian asks: |
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My cat is six this year. For the last two days she has had a problem keeping her right eye open. I have been bathing it with boiled tepid water. There is no discharge and the eyes look clear. Can you advise me what to do? She is eating well and shows no other sign of anything being wrong. Thank you for your help.
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Samantha says: Sometimes cats can get a small ulcer in their eye which vets can detect with a special stain. If you take your cat along to the vet they will be able to examine her eye for you. Hopefully she has a minor problem such as conjunctivitis but it could be more serious and her inability to keep the eye open indicates that she is probably in pain.
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| Dogs penis not retracting |
| Species: dog | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 4655 times |
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Roger asks: |
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Our 6 year old terrier has a persistent problem with his penis in that it rarely retracts. He did have an infection but this cleared up with the vet's treatment. Although it is no longer infected he spends a lot of time licking it and we think it has become a habit. Do you have any tips for encouraging his penis to retract and advice on how to discourage him from licking it?
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Samantha says: If your dog cannot retract his penis at all he will need to be seen by a vet. However if he can retract it, but keeps licking at it then you could try distracting him with a game, walk or novel toy. Try to encourage him to take an interest in something else but do not punish him for licking at it. If the penis does not retract when your dog stops licking it (and therefore stimulating it) take your dog back to the vet.
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| Scratching Ears |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5435 times |
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Robyn asks about Alfie (dog - Miniature Schnauzer, M) (age 0 years, 4 months): |
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Every now and again he scratches his ears. We've given him ear-drops but they don't look red, just waxy. I would like to know what to do and if the hairs in his ears should be plucked/cut?
Also what should his stools be like? Sometimes they're soft and some is left on his fur. What does this mean and is it normal he should sometimes be nibbling his stools?
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Samantha says: Most dogs will scratch their ears from time to time and this is perfectly normal. However if Alfie is scratching his ears frequently or the scratching is prolonged then he may have an ear infection which would require antibiotics from a vet to treat effectively. As his ears are not red you could try ear cleaners for him provided his scratching does not seem too frequent. It is possible to have the hair in dogs' ears plucked. This does help the air to circulate in the ear canal so infection becomes less likely. As for Alfie's stools they should be reasonably firm and well formed. However it is not uncommon for dogs to occasionally have softer stools; it may just mean he been scavenging and picked up some food he is not used to. However if it is diarrhoea it may require treatment. Dogs do sometimes eat their stools; unless he seems unwell I wouldn't worry about that too much.
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| Green faeces |
| Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 4283 times |
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Heather asks about jack (dog - GS X, M) : |
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Why does my dog have green faeces sometimes?
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Samantha says: He may have some kind of low grade intestinal problem. It is possible that he is producing too much bile or that he has a bacterial overgrowth in his intestines. If he is otherwise well you could try making sure his diet is fairly constant and don't swap or change his food around too much. If you find a type of food which really suits him then stick with it. If you are concerned about his health then you should take him to your vet who will be able to investigate further.
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| upset stomach |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 6029 times |
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Karen asks about oscar (dog - lab, M) : |
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My dog's poo is runny most of the time. We keep him on the same food. We have only had him since October last year. We took him on as a rescue so we don't know any background on him. Is there any medication he can have to make his poo harder?
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Samantha says: Some dogs are prone to getting diarrhoea and they may also get irritable bowels similar to the problem in humans. You should make sure he is up to date on his worming and then you could try a bland diet. Some dog foods are very rich for dogs with delicate stomachs; you could try something like Chappie or James Wellbeloved which are quite bland. Vets can also supply prescription diets for dogs and Oscar may be suited to one of these. Make sure he cannot scavenge when out and about as this will often cause problems. If a bland diet and regular worming does not work then you should take Oscar to your vet who will be able to give further advice.
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| black spots on skin |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5464 times |
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Connor asks about Paddy (dog - West highland terrior, M) (age 8 years, 6 months): |
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Black spots have started to appear on my dogs hind legs and along his back. They come and go. What could this be and what is the best way to treat it? Could it be serious? Thank you.
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Samantha says: I need a little bit more information to give you an answer. Is your dog itchy (scratching/licking/rubbing the area)? Are the spots small, large, flat or raised? Is the coat normal or is there any hair loss? What do the spots look like when they first appear, do they change and when do they go?
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| sedation |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 6039 times |
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Paul asks about boss (dog - not known, M) : |
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Is your animal supposed to be weighed before an operation especially if they haven't been weighed recently?
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Samantha says: In most veterinary practices I have worked in we did weigh animals prior to surgery because it helps us to work out the dose of anaesthetic drugs which may be required. However it is far more important to monitor an animal's response to anaesthetic drugs and base the dose on this, since animals may have very different reactions even if they are the same weight. With many anaesthetics and sedatives it is best to give the dose "to effect" rather than just giving a routine dose on the basis of weight alone.
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| Foaming at mouth when in car |
| Species: dog | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5611 times |
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Denise asks about scrappy (dog - wire hair jack russel, F) (age 0 years, 10 months): |
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Can you please give me advice? Is there anything I can give her prior to travelling? As just recently when she is in the car and in the carrying cage she foams at the mouth and licks everything.
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Samantha says: This could be due to travel sickness which is most likely, or it could be that she is becoming fearful of car journeys as well. If you have to go on a long journey with her, your vet may be able to provide a sedative for Scrappy so that she does not get so upset about travelling and some sedative drugs may also help to reduce motion sickness. If she is getting travel sickness it may help if you do not to give her any food for a few hours prior to travelling. If this problem is due to Scrappy's fear of the car and you need to travel often with her you may need to try behavioural therapy.
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| great discomfort when trying to sit down |
| Species: cat | Category: general | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5261 times |
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Selina asks: |
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We have only had Lilly for 9 days. For the past two days she is crying on and off through the night. A lot of tail twitching. She is eating and drinking well.
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Samantha says: Is Lily a young kitten? Is she generally well otherwise? You say she is still eating and drinking well which is good, but is she sleeping more than normal? Is she active and/ or playful? Does she seem to be in pain when you touch her? Sometimes cats do try to get attention in the night because they get bored and want to play when everyone else wants to sleep! If she seems completely normal in the day it might just be that she need lots more play and stimulation in the early evening so that she gets tired when you do.
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| loss of fur & eye discharge |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5937 times |
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Rachel asks about Tigger (cat - tabby, F) (age 3 years, 6 months): |
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My cat has lost fur around her tail and back as well as her belly. She also has a black crusty discharge from both eyes that looked as if it could be blood once I had cleaned it.
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Samantha says: Your cat might have an allergy. This is quite common in cats and often fleas are the culprit even when you don't see any! Of course it could be due to other things too such as a food allergy or dust/pollen etc. If you take your cat to the vet he or she will be able to help reduce the discomfort of itchy skin for Tigger and check the eyes too. It would be a good idea to get some really good flea control going for Tigger, since even if they are not the main cause if she does get fleas it will exacerbate the problem.
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| pancreatitis |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jan-07 | viewed 5919 times |
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John asks: |
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We have a 10 year old shepherd who we think has pancreatitis. How is this treated and is it life threatening?
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Samantha says: Pancreatitis can be quite serious; the prognosis depends upon what type of pancreatitis it is (acute/chronic etc) and any complications which may arise. Your dog may require intravenous fluids and antibiotics; other medications may also be necessary. The exact treatment regime will be specifically tailored to your dog's requirements. You should take your dog to your vet as soon as you can; they will be able to tell you what the most likely diagnosis is and start any necessary treatment. Complications of pancreatitis may include diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (where the pancreas can no longer produce the digestive enzymes which are needed to digest food). Both of these conditions may require long term treatment.
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| Sexual behaviour in a dog |
| Species: dog | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 29-Jan-07 | viewed 6135 times |
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Lisa asks about MILO (dog - STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER, M) (age 11 years, 1 months): |
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My 8 year old dog is trying to mount my leg on a daily basis! We are thinking of getting another dog to keep him company since our other dog died recently. A friend brought her 6 month old pup round to see how he got on and he spent an hour trying to mount him. I wanted to know how to deal with it as I didn't want to get another dog for it to be harassed. Milo is a lovely friendly dog but he can be a bit in your face.
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Samantha says: He sounds like quite an active dog! Part of the problem may be Milo's natural male need to perform this type of behaviour so castration may help. If this seems like a difficult step for you then you could ask your vet to give him an injection which would give you a short term indication of how he might behave if he were castrated; this is possible and available in most practices. If he were to respond well then it might be worth considering having the surgery. The other component is the behavioural side and you could try getting him to feel more submissive towards you since mounting is generally performed by dominant animals. You should make him watch you eat and finish your meals first before he eats and never feed him tit-bits from the table. You should not let him sleep high up such as on beds and sofas and ideally he should stay downstairs. You should get him to perform a few basic obedience commands as well. Changing behaviour such as this can be time consuming and frustrating so you might need help from your local behaviourist. Milo may well spend time mounting a new dog so you should try to correct his behaviour with you first; even then the new dog may be dominated by Milo and this might be a problem.
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Your Questions Answered
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Hi Sam
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White Gums and Dark Stool 02-Nov-07
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My dog is around 11 years old, possibly older (we received her as she was taken from a bad ... view
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behaviour 31-Oct-07
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Hi Max is very lively of course but he seems to get very excited and bites the children, not ... view
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Blood in dog's stools 31-Oct-07
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Hi. We recently got a 3 year old Labrador from a friend. From what we can see she has ... view
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Blood in Poo 28-Oct-07
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Treacle is now 9 wks old and had her first vaccination two days ago. I have noticed that at ... view
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Ordering Insulin Online 26-Oct-07
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Purdie is diabetic and I'm keen to find a way of reducing the cost of the treatment. Currently ... view
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Fleas and skin problem 26-Oct-07
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I have two cats, a neutered tom and his sister. They are 6 and a half yrs. old. They ... view
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My cat has a hole in its stomach! 23-Oct-07
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My cat has a hole the size of a dime in its stomach. He doesn't seem to be ... view
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labrador vomiting bile and nearly passing out 22-Oct-07
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Guinea pig fits 22-Oct-07
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My guinea pig is acting strange. I've only had him around a week and he's running as if spooked ... view
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feeding 22-Oct-07
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Is it safe to feed my GSD raw chicken wings, he is 16 months old and is 37 kg? ... view
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