Answers to Your Pet Healthcare Questions at VetAsk.com
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| Delaying Neutering |
| Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 31-Aug-07 | viewed 26020 times |
Carolyn asks: |
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I have two british shorthair cats, a little 10 month old girl who has been spayed and a 6 month old boy. I shall have the little boy neutered but have been advised that I need to leave this as long as possible so that he develops the british shorthair characteristics. I am concerned that as he matures he might take an unwanted sexual interest in the little girl. Can you please advise me on this. Thank you.
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 Samantha says: Opinions may differ on this but if he were mine I would get him castrated sooner rather than later. If you want to show him you might be wise to leave it longer but if he is purely a pet then there is really no benefit in waiting in my opinion. I should think that "the British Shorthair characteristics" referred to are the well developed facial features, especially the cheeks. This is also a characteristic of entire males of any breed so if your male is left entire he will develop these more prominently (as would any male cat). However other aspects of his "maleness" will also develop including the desire to mate, the need for territorial marking (such as urine spraying around the home) and if he is allowed out he will be more prone to wandering in search of a mate (making him high risk for road accidents) and fighting with other cats in his area. Many of these "male characteristics" are undesirable in the average pet and can be difficult to eradicate once they develop even when the cat is eventually neutered.
Hopefully this information helps you in your decision but of course you must take into account the lifestyle which he will have i.e. indoor/outdoor cat, show cat/ pet etc before you reach your final conclusion.
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| rabbit pregnant |
| Species: rabbit | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 27-Aug-07 | viewed 24513 times |
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Robyn asks: |
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I have a doe rabbit she is 6 years old. We recently got a dwarf lop buck and they have been together for 6 months. We have noticed fur in the hutch and her nipples are larger and she has yellow stain marks over her coat. Could she be pregnant and will she be able to have them normally? Should they be separated?
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Samantha says: Yes, she could be pregnant but it would be sensible to take her along to your local vet to be checked just to make sure. It would be wise to separate the buck and the doe at this time. Most rabbits give birth normally but pregnancy and birth are always a risky time for mothers and their offspring so there is no guarantee that things will go well. Keep an eye on her but try not to disturb her unnecessarily since some does will eat their kittens if disturbed too much in the first few days. It would be a good idea to speak to your own vet or an experienced rabbit breeder in your area to get more advice and information.
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| Small Black Worms |
| Species: cat | Category: parasites | Submitted: 24-Aug-07 | viewed 24705 times |
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Louise asks about Chili (cat - British blue, F) (age 1 years, 4 months): |
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It has been noticed on Chili's bed that there are lots of small black worms sometimes and others flea size. I have groomed her but nothing comes from her fur. What could these be and how do I treat them?
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Samantha says: Could they be flea faeces? Are they comma shaped? If you make them damp on a moist piece of kitchen roll does a red ring appear around them? If so they are flea faeces- otherwise I could not say what they might be. It would be best to take a small sample of them along to your local vet for identification.
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| fleas |
| Category: general | Submitted: 19-Aug-07 | viewed 23780 times |
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Lisa asks: |
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I have treated my house for fleas but can still see them. How long does it take to rid my home of them?
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Samantha says: If you can actually see the fleas in your home then you probably have a large population of them. It will take a long time (allow several months) to get rid of them all since some of them will be in the pupal stage where they are just about impossible to kill. Please download my free flea e-book- it will help you understand the flea problem and deal with it more effectively.
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| loose stools, lethargic |
| Category: behaviour | Submitted: 19-Aug-07 | viewed 23547 times |
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Sabrina asks: |
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We purchased this pup 1 week ago. The owner said he had been dewormed, but he has had very loose stools over the weekend and now has become lethargic to the point of barely moving. I have not seen any worms or other parasites in his stools. We also gave him a dose of dewormer. What is wrong?
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Samantha says: It sounds very serious from what you have told me. Pups which are barely moving as you have described need urgent veterinary help. Take him along to your nearest vet as soon as you can.
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| Pookie the cat has a tail that is hanging down |
| Species: cat | Category: other | Submitted: 19-Aug-07 | viewed 24558 times |
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Alice asks about pookie (cat - persian, M) (age 13 years, 1 months): |
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Pookie is not raising his tail as he normally would. He is 13 years old. He's pretty spunky most of the time. I just never have seen his tail down before. I am concerned that it might be broken or one of my other cat's might have injured him. Help!
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Samantha says: It does sound as if it needs attention. Often the tail hanging limp and not moving is a sign that it is broken, but there are other possible reasons (for example, an abscess or other type of lesion causing pain when the tail is raised) - so you should take him along to your local vet to find out what is wrong.
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| Don't know what's wrong with my dog |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 17-Aug-07 | viewed 24995 times |
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Gemma asks about Stanley (dog - Yorkshire Terrier, M) (age 1 years, 12 months): |
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Hi,
I have an (almost) 2 year old Yorkshire Terrier named Stanley who has had the runs for about 4 days now, I went out yesterday and when I came back he was shaking, he had done a poo in the kitchen so I thought he was shaking as he knew he'd done something wrong (he gets very worried, bless him) as he's had the runs I didn't tell him off and then I noticed he was walking very slowly and I thought maybe he had a sore tummy and that was why but within 2 hours he was struggling to walk on his back legs they kept falling underneath him and by yesterday evening he couldn't walk on them at all but by about 9 pm he was walking on them again, still not right though. This morning he's been running up and down the stairs and in the garden too but we can see he's still not himself. He keeps flicking his ears all the time as if they're irritating him. He's definitely not right, he's very quiet and just wants to lie with us all the time, I went to the toilet and he lay between my feet and then when I moved he followed me and did the same again. Do you have any idea what could be wrong with him?
Thank you, Gemma.
PS. I have added a picture of him yesterday just before his legs went.
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Samantha says: You really should take Stanley along to your local vet since such signs could indicate that he is in pain or discomfort. It is impossible to make a diagnosis over the internet. This service is intended to let people know if it is appropriate to seek veterinary attention and in this case it definitely is. Go along to your local vet who will be able to examine Stanley and give him any help he needs.
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| name change |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 16-Aug-07 | viewed 25051 times |
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Melanie asks: |
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I was thinking of purchasing an 11 month old american bull do. It already has a name, do you think it would be inappropriate and confusing for the dog to change its name. Also how would a dog of this age adapt to a new master?
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Samantha says: I should imagine that a dog of this age would generally adapt quite well to a change of home and owner, as well as the name change if you wish to do so. Dogs react to our tone of voice more than the words themselves and can also pick up very subtle body language from us- all these things are probably much more important to the dog than what we actually say or even what we call them. Of course, how well things go will depend upon the temperament of the individual dog so make sure that you are getting a dog who will fit into your lifestyle and family reasonably well.
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| panting and not drinking water |
| Species: rabbit | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 13-Aug-07 | viewed 24812 times |
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Claire asks about smokey (rabbit - not known, N) : |
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Hi, I took Smokey my rabbit to see an out of hours vet last night as I was very worried as she was panting very heavily, also she had not touched any of her water for three days. The vet said that she is not dehydrated but did also say that he was not sure if rabbits pant like dogs to cool themselves down. He gave her some antibiotics. I have been feeding her fresh greens and putting a lot of water on them so that she is getting some. Is it normal for rabbits to not drink water and is there any medical reason you can thing of that she may have caught. Smokey is my only rabbit.
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Samantha says: It is possible for rabbits to develop respiratory and other infections- so if that is the case with Smokey then the antibiotics should help. Watch Smokey carefully for the next few days and see if she starts to drink again; if not return to your vet to get her checked once more (rabbits need water but they may get some of their daily requirement from moist foods). Your vet will be able to tell you if she is getting dehydrated or not. Go to see your vet when the antibiotics are finished (or before if you are concerned about anything) to make sure that Smokey is recovering normally.
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| Eye injury |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 10-Aug-07 | viewed 24989 times |
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Betty asks: |
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Yorkie, 4 months, 1.7 pounds. Fell off back of couch on to left-side of face. Eye is all red in it.. I put ice on it. Can I do any more till I get her to the vet tomorrow? Please help me..
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Samantha says: It would be best to take your dog to the vet today. There is not much you can do at home, but you do need to find out how serious this injury is, and the sooner it is treated the better.
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| Suckling behaviour |
| Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 09-Aug-07 | viewed 23610 times |
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Leanne asks about Marley (cat - Tabby, F) : |
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My almost 12 week old kitten came to me four weeks ago along with her brother. When they are curled up sleeping (usually when its near us) Marley will often begin suckling her brother. This ends up with him pushing her away and then suckling on himself. It can last for quite a while and he generally ends up quite wet underneath. I have tried to dry him a few times and at the moment there doesn't seem to be any skin problems but I am worried that it may lead to. Why are they doing this as they seem very happy and contented and its usually as they awake from sleep and whilst purring!
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Samantha says: Remember that these kittens are very much still babies and, just like human babies, derive much comfort from sucking. I would not worry too much about it at the moment- they will probably grow out of it. If you do become concerned that there may be some sort of skin condition developing take them along to your local vet.
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| coughing and gasping |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 06-Aug-07 | viewed 24988 times |
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Danny asks: |
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Murray has a gasping for air once to twice a day and a cough off and on daily. Maybe a reverse sneeze I heard. I have spent 600.00 and special vet wants 3000.00 I can't afford.
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Samantha says: Sorry to hear about Murray and I completely understand your dilemma. Unfortunately this type of service on the internet is unable to take the place of proper veterinary care which your pet obviously needs. I would suggest that you speak to your own vet about this and explain the difficulty you face. Ask if there are any other options available. I hope it all turns out well.
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| skin problem and effect of medication |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 06-Aug-07 | viewed 28012 times |
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Marion asks about oscar (dog - not known, M) (age 2 years, 5 months): |
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My dog has been diagnosed with eczema, there is a large clump of dried sticky hair and the vet put him on tablets, they are pink in colour but can't read the name. He was also put on prednoleucotropin as his back knees keep dislocating, this has all happened in the space of 3 weeks. I have noticed he is drinking an awful lot of water and panting a lot, it is really worrying me, his appetite has increased, his bowel movements are very runny too and I would like to know if this is another underlying problem or if it could be as a result of the tablets. I have stopped the prednoleucotropin on vets advice but the problem still continued. I would also like to know if an operation is advisable for his knees?
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Samantha says: All these questions should really be directed to your own vet. It is impossible for anyone who does not know your dog and is unable to examine him to answer your queries. It is really important that you talk to your vet about all of this. Usually vets are happy to answer some questions over the phone but it may be necessary to book an appointment to get your dog seen- I hope all turns out well and I am sorry I can't give more help.
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| Mass under rectal area... |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 05-Aug-07 | viewed 28204 times |
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Ing asks about Diddy (dog - Brussels Griffon, M) (age 0 years, 11 months): |
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Diddy has had a protruding mass under the rectal area since as long as I can remember. At first, I thought it was normal but he just recently got a hair cut and when you look at his rear, it's protruding.
I picked him up to feel it and it feels like it's part of his private that extends that far back to where you can see it protruding from his rear. Is that normal? Or can it be some kind of cyst or tumor attached to that area growing outward?
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Samantha says: It is difficult to tell from the photograph as often so much is gained from palpation of these masses. It could be any of the things you mention and a hernia might be a possibility too. This mass should be investigated further by your local vet who will be able to perform a proper examination and let you know if any further tests are necessary to find out what this lump is.
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| Lump on leg |
| Species: rabbit | Category: general | Submitted: 04-Aug-07 | viewed 24325 times |
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James asks: |
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My rabbit Smokie has has got a lump on his leg, I noticed it today. He is still running around as normal I am just worried; it has 2 scabs on it. Could it be a bite or worse?
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Samantha says: Lumps and bumps on rabbits should always be taken seriously- so do take your pet along to your local vet. Hopefully it will be a minor problem, but if it does turn out to be something more serious such as an abscess or tumour, the sooner it is treated the better.
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| I've been given Synulox to give to my cat |
| Species: cat | Category: petcare | Submitted: 03-Aug-07 | viewed 24577 times |
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Kev asks: |
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Is it OK to give my cat Synulox in his food? It's 50mg tablets to be taken twice daily to start from tomorrow.
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Samantha says: Often giving tablets in food is the only way to get a cat to take them! Generally speaking it is safe to give these tablets in food, but you should check with your own vet.
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| small brown lump on ear |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 02-Aug-07 | viewed 24390 times |
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Mandy asks about Ruby (cat - seal point birman, F) (age 8 years, 10 months): |
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Whilst combing my cat I noticed a small lump on the top of her ear ( almost like a mole). At first I thought it was a small clump of fur as its hard, she doesn't like me touching it and it seems to have a small bit of dried blood at the base of it. She doesn't go out with other cats so I know she hasn't had a fight. Any ideas what it could be?
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Samantha says: It could be anything from a simple wound (perhaps from a scratch) to a small tumour. It is impossible to tell you without examining her. Call your vet and let them take a look at it.
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| Millie had a road accident on Monday |
| Category: general | Submitted: 02-Aug-07 | viewed 22637 times |
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Susan asks: |
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She was knocked down on Monday. The vet says she is blind. One person says its possible she may see again and then other people say unlikely, obviously she was hit face on, she broke her jaw but that's OK. I'm just very confused and want the best for Millie.
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Samantha says: I am very sorry to hear about Millie's accident. It is impossible for me to say if she will regain her vision or not since this will depend upon the nature and extent of her injury. You should speak to the vet who examined Millie and get their opinion about this. If Millie does have a permanent problem then you should be reassured that many blind animals are able to live fulfilling and happy lives. Try to keep things as normal as possible and get her used to her routines of feeding and going to the toilet in the same places- keep things as consistent and constant as possible and be aware that if you move furniture around or have house guests etc Millie may find it more difficult now than when she had normal vision.
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| Stitches after spaying |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 31-Jul-07 | viewed 26039 times |
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Michele asks about DJCat (cat - Long haired all black, F) (age 1 years, 10 months): |
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My cat has just been spayed today and she was fine on the journey home but when I let her out of the cage for a drink she went wild. Tried to bite and scratch me and leapt outside and started growling and biting at her stitches, the vet didn't put a collar on her to stop this. Now she's vanished and I'm concerned that she's pulled stitches out and laying somewhere. Anyone else had this happen to them...? Will she be OK...?
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Samantha says: Sorry to hear about your cat, I hope she has returned now. Try not to be too anxious about the sutures- usually there are internal sutures as well as the ones you can see in the skin. If the skin sutures do come out they should be replaced as soon as possible but it usually looks much worse than it really is and your cat is unlikely to come to serious harm from this. Vets often refrain from applying collars to cats unless they are seen to be obviously licking or biting at the sutures, this is because cats often find the collar itself very stressful and the majority of cats do fine without one. As she was fine on the journey home she had probably been fine all day at the vet's too- so it would have been difficult for the vet to foresee this outcome; also if she has gone missing she is possibly much safer without the collar since she will be able to see hazards more easily and will be able to drink and eat which the collar may have prevented. When she returns call your vet to find out if they would like to give her a check up and try to keep her in for a few days.
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| First vaccination reaction |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 30-Jul-07 | viewed 26049 times |
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Leanne asks about Murphy (cat - Tabby, M) (age 0 years, 3 months): |
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My two nine week old kittens have just received their first vaccinations. Both were incredibly docile afterwards, did not eat for at least 24 hours and were very sleepy and lethargic. After about 36 hours they appeared to be back to normal but little Murphy was sick about 12 hours after the jab. I am dreading taking them back for their second round in three weeks time! Is this a normal reaction?
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Samantha says: It is normal for kittens to be a little bit quiet and off the food for a short time following vaccinations and you should be aware that this may be the case again following the second vaccines. Let the vet know that they had this reaction to the first vaccines. Adult cats are generally less affected in this way than kittens so for subsequent boosters as adults things will hopefully be a bit easier.
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