General Health

• Should I have my dog spayed?
• Is ovary removal necessary?
• Why is my dog's skin rash back?
• Why are my dog's eyes cloudy?
• Why is my dog sneezing?
• What causes a dog's nose to turn pink?
• Cold, wet noses are good, right?
• What can I do for a dog with smelly ears?
• How do I get rid of my dog's bad body odor?
• Why does my dog's breath smell so bad?
• My dog has a temperature of 101.5 degrees. Should I call the veterinarian?
• What is the normal blood pressure range for dogs?
• What causes a dog to have seizures?
• What food can I fix for my dog that needs a salt free diet?
• How can I help heal my dog's cracked paw pads?
• My dog always throws up when we go for car rides. How can I help him?
• What do I do about a dog that constantly urinates?
• What can we do about our dog's anal gland problems?
• How can we tell when our female dog is in heat?
• For how long is a dog pregnant?
• Why does my cat have a fat lip?
• Cold, wet noses are good, right?
• What's wrong with an old cat who has lost eight pounds in three weeks?
• Can a three-legged cat live a normal life?
• Our cat constantly sheds. Is there something wrong with him?
• Can you give me a remedy for my cat's constipation?
• What can I do about my cat that vomits regularly?
• My cat has developed raised black spots on his chin. What are these?
• What causes my cat's foot pads to swell up and bleed? He doesn't have any cuts.
• My female parakeet has a lump under her tail and sits on the floor of her cage a lot. Is this normal?
• What do I do about my iguana who's shedding all the time?
• Can a male guinea pig be neutered?
• My hedgehog has been balled up for several days and now his eyes don't look right and he's dragging a hind leg. What's Wrong?

There are no predictable behavior changes in the female dog or cat after ovario-hysterectomy. Male dogs, however, often become less dominant and aggressive with other dogs and roam less after neutering. Male cats generally do less territorial fighting and roam less, which dramatically increases their life span.
There are many solid health reasons for spaying and neutering our pets. Early spaying prevents mammary cancer and a uterine disease called pyometra. Both of these conditions can be fatal in the female dog. Neutering male dogs reduces the incidence of prostate and testicular disease.

Preventing unwanted litters is another common reason veterinarians recommend spaying both cats and dogs at six to 12 months of age, preferably before the first heat.

Keeping our pets at home and healthy will provide longer and more pleasurable companionship!

Removal of both ovaries is done for several reasons in dogs and cats. Most owners want cessation of heat periods that attract male dogs and cats, which does not happen if ovaries are left in. The other major benefit is that if a dog or cat has removal of both ovaries and uterus before the first heat cycle, then we can reduce the incidence of mammary cancer to close to zero. The additional benefit is that we almost never see ovarian cancer with the exception of rare cases in dogs kept for breeding purposes.

Skin diseases in dogs can be frustrating and can take a bit of detective work to both diagnose accurately and treat successfully. In addition to a thorough physical examination it is common to have blood work, skin scrapings, fungal cultures, allergy testing, and skin biopsies done before treatment can be started. Some skin conditions require four to six weeks of treatment while others need life long management. It is not unusual to find combinations of problems acting together, such as allergies and infection. Getting an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible is the best help you can offer your pet. If a problem clears up and then reoccurs, let your veterinarian know as soon as possible so that there can be appropriate follow-up.

Your dog's cloudy eyes could be cataracts or it could be a normal aging process of the lens of the eye known as nuclear sclerosis. Nuclear sclerosis causes the lens to refract light. It's like looking into a dirty fish tank—you can see, but not clearly. It is best to schedule a veterinary exam to determine the problem.

There are many upper respiratory viruses and bacteria that can cause sneezing in dogs. These dangers are in much higher concentrations at boarding kennels. Therefore, it is possible that your dog caught the “cold” from her friend. The good news is that these upper respiratory infections are usually self-limiting in otherwise healthy adult dogs. In other words, the symptoms should be mild and pass quickly.
There are, however, many things that may cause sneezing in dogs. Among them would be foreign bodies and allergies. If your dog's signs get worse (lethargy, not eating) or you see mucus or yellow-green discharge, contact your veterinarian.

A more common malady after a trip to the kennel is kennel cough. Kennel cough also results from any of a multitude of viruses and bacteria. Dogs exhibit various coughing symptoms, from a mild hack to a very strong cough (which may sound like choking). If you suspect kennel cough in your dog, make sure to visit the veterinarian for treatment.

There are numerous conditions that can cause loss of pigment in a dog's nose. Allergies, infections, and immune mediated diseases are the three big groups that could commonly be involved. The best thing to do is to have a thorough physical exam to find out what's behind the change.

A cold, wet nose is one sign of good health in dogs and cats. However, even a healthy pet can have a warm, dry nose on occasion. On the other hand, really sick pets can also have cold, wet noses. What does all this mean? Simply that any one indicator of health is not 100 percent accurate all the time. Sick pets with cold noses should be seen by your veterinarian. And by the same token, pets with warm, dry noses that are showing other symptoms such as lethargy or not eating should also be seen by a doctor.

Smelly ears are a clear sign of an ongoing ear infection problem. Dogs with floppy ears are notorious for getting very chronic ear infections. Regular cleaning with veterinary approved cleaners can help, but often antibiotics are also needed. When pets continually get bad ear infections despite good at-home care and veterinary medications, a special surgery to open up the ear canals and allow more air flow is an option. It's best to first get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medications and cleaning supplies before considering any other alternatives.

Many blond cockers are afflicted with seborrhea, which is a skin condition producing excessive oil and odor. The ears can also be affected, adding to the smell. Seborrhea can be primary, or secondary to such conditions as hypothyroidism. A complete physical examination will be helpful in your diagnosis and management plan that may include tar shampoos on a regular basis, as well as other medications. Please consult with your veterinarian as soon as you can. There are effective therapies available, which will make her a more appreciated member of the family.

Most often bad breath is caused by dental or periodontal disease. Some dogs do not adequately chew their food; thus they don't clean their teeth naturally by the chewing process. Also, some dogs and cats are just prone to dental plaque, tartar and disease. These pets may need more frequent dental cleanings and treatments.
Internal diseases such as kidney disease can also cause bad breath. A trip to your veterinarian is recommended in order to pinpoint the cause of your dog's bad breath and to ensure he is in good health.

Lucky for you. Your dog has an absolutely normal temperature. As long as he is happy and eating OK. I would forget the call to your veterinarian.

Mean arterial blood pressure in the dog is 90-110.

A seizure is the result of excessive stimulation to parts of the brain that control muscle activity. All people and animals have the potential to seizure. We all have a threshold of stimulation over which we would experience a seizure. For healthy people and animals, it might take trauma to the head to induce this activity. For others, like epileptics (who have lower "thresholds"), it may be sudden noises, the stress of company, or other mild stimulations. Pressures from brain tumors, hemorrhage or infection can also contribute to a jump over the normal threshold, resulting in seizure activity. So can being deprived of oxygen, as can happen with heart conditions where there is sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain. Exposure to toxic chemicals can also result in seizures.
Any dog that has a seizure should have a complete examination. Your veterinarian will evaluate heart function and general body condition. A complete history is also taken to rule out trauma and toxic exposure. If the physical examination is normal, blood profiles are generally administered to rule out diseases of the kidneys and liver. If the profile and exam are normal and the dog is under four years of age, epilepsy is generally the diagnosis. Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs. Medications may be prescribed for these cases.

Older dogs that have normal lab and exam findings may be referred to a neurologist for a second opinion, as these dogs can have brain tumors and other conditions.

If your dog has a seizure, make sure to schedule an examination with your veterinarian to keep your pet in good health.

You can make your dog a low salt diet by combining ¼ pound of lean beef, 1 cup cooked rice, 1 cup frozen corn, 1 tablespoon corn oil, and 2 teaspoons dicalcium phosphate, which you can get from a pharmacist. Cook the beef in a skillet until brown, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. A dog should eat approximately ½ pound of the mixture per 10 pounds of body weight daily. Keep leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator. Along with a balance vitamin-mineral supplement made for dogs, this will provide good nutrition that is pretty tasty.

Pad wounds are slow healers. The healing process is hampered every time the dog walks on the foot (the walking constantly pulls on the healing edges, and this delays healing). The pads can easily get infected, as there is contact between blood and the surface where your pet walks. These wounds are best treated by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian can clean the wound, bandage it with antibiotic ointment, give oral antibiotics, and rebandage the wound every three or four days until it is healed.

It sounds like your dog is experiencing typical motion sickness, just like some people do. Motion sickness usually begins very shortly after starting the car ride. The dog will begin to drool and then vomit. It's not serious, but certainly not something that we like to clean up!
To solve the problem, first try acclimating the dog to car rides. Do this by simply putting him in the car for a few minutes each day without going anywhere. Then try just going down the driveway and back, and the next day going around the block. Gradually build up the distance and time the dog rides in the car. Sometimes this will help to decrease the dog's anxiety over riding in the car and may help to decrease vomiting.

If that doesn't work, there are some over-the-counter medications you can try. The medication will need to be given about an hour before the car ride. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation as to what drug to try and the dosage for your pet. (Never give any medications to your pet without your veterinarian's advice!) These drugs are very safe, with drowsiness usually the only major side effect. But since your dog isn't driving the car, that shouldn't be a problem!

If over-the-counter drugs don't work, then your veterinarian may be able to prescribe something a bit stronger.

The problem could be either medical or behavioral. Urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing's disease, and other medical conditions will certainly cause frequent urination. Intact male dogs also mark their territory by urinating on it. Any urination problems in your pet should not be taken lightly. A visit to your veterinarian will help determine the cause of the problem.

Anal glands are two paired glands located within and below the external anal sphincter muscle and can often be a problem in dogs. They produce a thick substance that may have at one time been used to mark territory when dogs were wild. They serve very little purpose in the modern domestic dog.
When the anal glands become full or impacted, the dog may experience some discomfort. The glands become VERY itchy and irritated. Actual pain is difficult to assess, but some believe that they can be painful in some cases. When the dog licks, chews or scoots on its bottom, it is attempting to express the glands on its own.

To express anal glands does not require a veterinarian. Many groomers will do this as part of their service, and some pet owners will do it themselves. However, expressing anal glands is not a very pleasant task to perform, and many pet owners will give up after one try. Before trying this on your own, ask your veterinarian for a demonstration.

If anal glands become a common problem, they can be surgically removed. The glands serve no real purpose and, like a human appendix, the dog may do much better without them. Many veterinarians are uncomfortable performing this surgery; however, many others do the procedure with a great deal of success and minimal complications.

Intact female dogs will normally come into heat (estrus) once every 4 ½ to 12 months with the average for most breeds being once every 6 months. You will probably notice some bloody discharge from the vagina and a swollen vulva when your dog is in heat. You may notice "mounting" behavior, also. The heat period can last from 8 to 30 days with an average of about 20 days. Most female dogs will be willing to stand for a male dog and permit breeding around 10 to 16 days after the beginning of their heat period. Some females will be a little more aggressive during their heat period, but most show no change in behavior and interaction with their owners.
Having puppies is great if you want the puppies or if you're trying to develop a special line of dogs. But there is no behavioral benefit in letting the female have a litter before spaying. The normal canine companion will benefit greatly from being spayed at an early age before she has her first heat cycle. Problems that can develop later in life, such as mammary cancer and uterine infections, are virtually eliminated if an ovario-hysterectomy (spay) is performed before she experiences her first heat cycle.

The duration of pregnancy from conception to birth is called gestation. The length of gestation in dogs is normally 61 to 63 days.
While most dogs will have an uneventful pregnancy, sometimes problems occur that may necessitate early birth or a veterinarian-assisted birth (such as a caesarian section). For instance, toy breeds that are bred with larger dogs may have puppies that are too big to pass through the mother's birth canal; bulldogs may have complications because they have large heads relative to the size of the birth canal; and death of one or more fetuses can cause complications warranting early removal of the puppies.

If your dog is pregnant, or if you're planning to breed her, be sure to talk with your veterinarian so you know what to expect and what changes you may need to make in your dog's care and feeding.

A swollen lip in a cat may be A swollen lip in a cat may be caused by such things as chin acne, tooth root infections, tumors, insect bites, etc. For an accurate diagnosis, it's best to visit your veterinarian for a good look at your cat's lip. After a complete exam, treatment can be started to target the underlying cause. diagnosis, it's best to visit your veterinarian for a good look at your cat's lip. After a complete exam, treatment can be started to target the underlying cause.

A cold, wet nose is one sign of good health in dogs and cats. However, even a healthy pet can have a warm, dry nose on occasion. On the other hand, really sick pets can also have cold, wet noses. What does all this mean? Simply that any one indicator of health is not 100 percent accurate all the time. Sick pets with cold noses should be seen by your veterinarian. And by the same token, pets with warm, dry noses that are showing other symptoms such as lethargy or not eating should also be seen by a doctor.

Any cat that shows a sudden and severe weight loss should be tested for abnormalities of the thyroid gland, for diabetes, and for kidney disease. If your veterinarian has not yet performed a geriatric blood profile and urinalysis on your cat recently, then you should request that it be done immediately. There are many conditions that are very treatable in older cats if they are diagnosed in time and treated aggressively.

Because of their small body weight, cats do very well after the loss of a leg. Their human friends often take longer to adjust to the change than they do. It might help, however, to make the cat an exclusively indoor cat. It's reflexes and ability to avoid predators may be a bit hampered. Another helpful move might be to provide a few stools where the cat chooses to get up and down from things, such as beds or a favorite window sill. If a front leg has been removed, jumping down can be painful if one leg has to catch the fall from three or more feet up. If a rear leg is missing, it may be difficult to provide the torque to jump up onto high things without a stool halfway.

Hair shedding is considered a sign of health in the cat - sick cats don't shed. Although the excessive hair around the house can be a nuisance, consider it a sign of your cat's good health. To reduce the amount of hair shed on furniture and your household surroundings, comb your cat daily with an appropriate comb or brush. Your veterinarian can recommend one of the many types that is suitable for your cat.

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to what seems like a very straightforward and simple question. Constipation in cats is not a disease in and of itself. Rather, it is a sign or symptom of another problem. Causes of constipation will vary depending on the age and overall health of your cat. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a food intolerance or a diet that is insufficient in fiber. Most often, however, constipation can be indicative of something else that is going on.
In older cats, a common cause is a difficulty in maintaining adequate levels of hydration. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but usually low hydration levels are due to problems with the kidneys-they can no longer properly concentrate the urine, and an overall loss of fluid occurs.

Another possible cause of constipation in cats is a disease called "megacolon." Megacolon is a muscular disease of the large intestine in which the intestine cannot contract properly, leading to a backup of feces and thus, constipation.

So you see, there is no simple remedy for constipation without finding out specifically why the cat is having trouble with its bowel movements. Your cat should be taken to a veterinarian for a complete physical. The doctor may recommend some tests based on what he or she finds. Reasonable tests include bloodwork to check liver and kidney functions, and perhaps X-rays to look for megacolon. In the meantime, a high fiber diet can be fed to help promote intestinal (colon) motility.

Cats, as you're witnessing, have a much more sensitive vomiting reflex than we do, so it isn't unusual for cats to vomit when they don't appear sick. I assume your cat has a healthy, but not excessive, appetite; isn't losing weight or acting lethargic; doesn't have diarrhea; and that parasites have been ruled out. If any of these symptoms are present, or if he's vomiting green or orange liquid (bile), a medical problem is likely and should be investigated.
The two most common scenarios in which well cats vomit are (1) from eating too much or too fast, which results in vomiting undigested food very soon after eating, and (2) hairballs, which usually cause vomiting of the hairball itself. Hairballs have no sure-fire remedy, but the most popular thing to try is a hairball lubricant (make sure you give this on an empty stomach, not with food); also frequent combing, brushing, or even a "lion clip" (for a long-haired cat) will be helpful. Any hair you can remove is hair that your cat will not end up swallowing. There is also a new hairball formula cat food on the market that may help. Ask your veterinarian about this.

As for eating too much or too fast, this problem is usually worse in cases where cats have their food taken away and are only permitted to eat at certain times of the day, causing them to gorge when food is available. Trials of different brands of food may help. Anything else you can do (portioning the food out gradually, for example) to encourage eating smaller amounts frequently might also be helpful. If the vomiting is daily, you might want to try medication. However, most people don't want to medicate their cats daily if vomiting only occurs once a week or less.

If these ideas don't help you, the only way to get a certain answer as far as any medical cause, such as inflammatory bowel disease, would be to have biopsies of the stomach and intestinal tract done. Your veterinarian can tell you more about this.

It sounds like your cat may have a common ailment known as "feline acne." This condition is often treated with a topical cream or shampoo prescribed by a veterinarian. Using stainless steel, ceramic or glass food and water bowls is also recommended, as plastic bowls may be harder to keep really clean and, thus, may contribute to the problem. There are certainly other skin disorders-some that are potentially serious-that mimic the signs you describe, so it's important to consult your veterinarian and have your cat examined.

A cat's feet can swell for many reasons, from walking across hot asphalt, to trauma from climbing fences in a hurry. Sometimes things like allergic reactions to bugs, medications, etc. can also cause swelling. I would get her examined by a veterinarian because some of these problems need medications to get better.

You should seek veterinary care for your bird immediately. Sitting on the floor of the cage is never normal, and it sounds like your little parakeet is "egg-bound." If this is the case, then her life is in danger.
Female birds (most commonly budgerigars/parakeets, cockatiels, finches and some other species) can become stimulated to lay eggs without breeding. This can happen in response to the presence of a male, hormonal imbalances, exposure to constant periods of light and dark that mimic springtime, or actual breeding with a male bird. The eggs are often sterile; i.e. they contain no viable chick.

This egg laying will often continue if the egg is sterile, or if the egg is removed immediately, but the stimulus to lay still exists. Such chronic egg laying can deplete the female bird's stores of calcium and other nutrients. Calcium is necessary for muscle contractions, which push the egg through the birth canal. Therefore, lack of calcium from chronic egg laying can potentially result in the egg becoming lodged in the birth canal because the muscles no longer work well enough to push the egg out. The final result: a bird in dire need of immediate veterinary care and a break from laying eggs!

Iguanas generally only shed as they grow. The skin comes off in response to them growing their own skin. If you feel that you have seen excessive changes in the skin molting pattern, have a veterinarian examine your iguana.

Male guinea pigs (boars) can and should be neutered to decrease unwanted guinea pig pregnancies. You should seek a veterinarian who is familiar and comfortable with the special scrotal anatomy of the guinea pig boar and has already performed several successful guinea pig neuters.
Neutering can be performed at any age. It's a good idea, however, to wait until the guinea pig has reached his mature weight. This way his organs will be developed enough to process the anesthesia well. The guinea pig will feel some discomfort at the surgery site for about a day or so, but these pets, like most other animals, usually don't let a little pain stop them from taking part in all of their normal daily activities. Talk to your veterinarian about providing post-surgical pain relief so that your guinea pig is as comfortable as possible.

Hedgehogs can suffer from tooth infections, eye problems, skin mites, and many other physical problems. It's very important that yours be examined by a veterinarian that has a background in exotic pets. Most large cities have veterinarians with these qualifications. You might ask your current veterinarian for a referral. If your current veterinarian doesn't know of someone with this experience, you can call your local or state veterinary medical association office for a referral.