Vet Questions

If you have a question for Dr. Chris please e-mail it to us, post it to us, telephone us on 26 946461, or drop it at the clinic.




Q.FUR LOSS I have a husky looking type dog with a heavy course coat. When I brush her it comes out in droves, especially at her rear end?

A. Losing fur from the rear end is often a sign of flea irritation. Dogs with very thick fur tend to harbour fleas more than other dogs and they can easily go unnoticed.
Look for tiny black specks in the fur similar to black pepper. This is flea dirt and is a sure sign of fleas even if you don’t see any live fleas.
Applying regular flea control treatment is extremely important for the comfort of your pet. You can obtain flea treatments from the Clinic Centre.


Q. TENDER PAWS My dog has started licking one of his paws all the time. He won’t let me touch it but it looks like there is a lump between his toes. What could it be?

A. Your dog has possibly fallen prey to a grass seed. This is a relatively common problem in the summer and particularly in dogs with very hairy feet.
The seeds are barbed and work their way through the hair and into the skin between the toes. This causes a big reaction as the body tries to wall off the offending object.
It is very annoying for the dog and the dog licks the paw because of the pain. You should have it investigated by a vet. If there is a seed in his foot it should
be removed as soon as possible to prevent it tracking further and further up the leg. If it is not a seed you need to know what the cause of the discomfort is.
Your vet will probably need to sedate him to investigate his foot due to the discomfort.


Q.CAT EAR PROBLEM
Our cat has a problem with her ear. She sometimes shakes her head and rubs at the ear. When you manipulate the ear, you can hear a clicking sound.
I am presuming that it is full of wax (there is quite a lot of black "stuff" in the visible part of the ear. Is there anything we can do to help her or is it strictly a job for the vet?

A.We would recommend a visit to the vets. It is important to make sure there is no problem with the ear drum or canal before applying any sort of drops or cleaner.
Cats also often get ear mites and these cause irritation and wax build- up. If this is the case she will need specific medication to get rid of the mites.
If wax alone is a problem your vet can recommend a suitable cleaner to break up the wax and show you the best way to proceed.

Q. DOG EAR PROBLEM

A.Ear infections are very common in dogs. Among all dog breeds, Poodles and Cocker Spaniels are the ones most prone to this type of health concern
due to their long and hairy ear.Yeasts or bacteria are the common causes of these infections. And this condition could make your pets uncomfortable and very irritable.
Symptoms of Ear Infection in Dogs
You'll know if your dog is suffering from ear infections if its ear canals seem to be very sensitive.
Normally, your dog will shake his head frequently in the attempt to get rid of the fluid or debris present in its ear. You will also see your dog scratching his ears
habitually or tilting it to one side. As a result, its ears would get red and even seem swollen. You may also notice that your pet's ears are slowly developing a foul odor.
Yellowish or black discharge could also appear from time to time.

Causes of Ear Infection in Dogs
Ear mites can possibly cause ear infection in dogs. However, mites are more common to puppies than adult dogs. Adult dogs would only develop ear mites
if it gets associated to puppies that have them. Ear mites could trigger the infection because they become carriers of fungi and bacteria.
Aside from ear mites, the accumulation of wax in the dog's ear could also be the reason why dogs develop ear infection.
This only goes to show that regular cleaning of the dog's ear is very important. Proper hygiene is still the best way to preventing ear infections.
Aside from these two causes, a foreign body finding its way into the dog's ear may also be the culprit. Any debris in the dog's ear, such as matted hair or tumor,
could possibly lead to this health concern. Impaired ear drainage is also one reason why dogs develop ear infections.

Diagnosis for Ear Infection in Dogs

Diagnosing the severity of the disease and the reasons why your dog had developed ear infection is very important
so that the veterinarian can administer the right cure. To check the dog's ears, an otoscope is used, which is a medical instrument equipped
with both light and magnification powers for proper viewing of the ear canals. With the otoscope, the vet can easily see if there's any foreign object
or debris present in the dog's ear. Some dogs would find this procedure painful. For them, sedation may be required.

The vet could also get a sample taken from the ear canal to check what it is made of. He would analyze it using a microscope, following the basic cytology process.
Here, the vet tries to determine which organism had caused the infection. It could help him prescribe the right medicines to counter the disease-causing elements.
Further lab tests and x-rays may also be required, depending upon the severity of the infection.

Treatment of Ear Infection in Dogs

To treat ear infection in dogs, the vet may prescribe medicines designed to counter attack bacteria or fungi, depending upon which organism triggered the infection.
If one or more of them are present, several drugs may be given. Regular cleaning of the ears will also be advised. If your pet's ears are infected,
it should be cleaned everyday for two weeks. If you can't clean the dog's ear yourself, you can ask the veterinarian to do it for you.
However, for more severe cases of ear infection, surgery might be required.

Prevention of Ear Infection in Dogs

Proper hygiene is your first step to keeping your pet healthy. If your dog has pendulous ears or if they tend to grow too much hair in these areas,
you have to be specifically observant of their ear's hygiene. Make sure that you inspect them everyday after their baths.
Clean them as per your vet's instructions. Have your pet's hairs cut and plucked regularly, especially on the ear part.
Dogs that have allergies and those with other health problems could also be prone to ear infections. Try to take your pet to the vet weekly for ear cleaning.
You might also need to apply some ear cleaning solution so that infections would be prevented.

Q. MY PET HAS BAD BREATH. WHAT CAUSES THIS?
A. Bad breath medically termed ‘Halitosis’, is a common problem reported by pet owners. The most common cause of Halitosis is some sort of dental problem. Bacteria, saliva and food particles can form plaque which causes bad breath. This can further develop into gingivitis, or worse, periodontal disease, which will make the breath even more unpleasant. In addition to dental problems, other causes of bad breath include: Diabetes / Kidney disease / Gastrointestinal disease,
including cancers & obstructions / Infections of areas around the mouth, such as folds of the lips / Respiratory disease, e.g. some sinus infections / Dietary “indiscretions” such as eating stooler spoiled garbage / Other oral disease,
such as tonsillitis, cancer, trauma and some autoimmune diseases.
Any pet with bad breath should be examined by a veterinarian, unless you know it is caused by something the pet ate. Some causes of bad breath can cause severe and even fatal complications, if not treated promptly.


Q.WHY DOES MY DOG BARK WHEN LEFT ALONE?
A.The most common reasons that dogs bark in this situation are anxiety and boredom. It is often the case that owners feel guilty about leaving their dog when they go out so they lavish attention on them when they are at home, this creates a dog that is over-attached to its owner and cannot cope alone. The results vary from barking and crying to house soiling and even destruction of furniture. The way ahead is to cool the relationship with the dog and allow it to develop some independence. Ignoring it for 20 minutes before leaving instead of long goodbyes will help enormously as there will not be such a stark difference between the owner being there and being gone. It is also important that the dog understands that it is bottom of the pack, after all if the dog thinks it is the leader it is going to be mighty stressed if its subordinates have gone out without it!
The other major cause is boredom, this can be alivated by using interactive toys filled with the dogs food and giving plenty of exercise before leaving.

Q. OUR 12 YR OLD CAT HAS STARTED DRIBBLING?

A. The most likely thing to cause these signs in an otherwise well cat is gum disease. Cats, especially older ones are very prone to gingivitis, tartar, receding gums and rotten teeth. Dribbling and bad breath are usually the first things you will notice before the cat stops eating. There is a chance that it could be related to early kidney failure, which is also quite common in older cats. We recommend a trip to the vets to have her teeth checked out and possibly a blood test to make sure she is healthy internally. If she has got bad teeth she will be much happier and more comfortable if she has them seen to under anaesthetic.


Q.WHAT IS FELINE ENTERITIS?
A. The most insidious of all the cat diseases is feline enteritis, a highly infectious and quick-killing disease. All breeds of cats are susceptible,
including wild cats and while the disease appears to be more prevalent among kittens,it is not uncommon in older cats.
Feline enteritis is caused by a filterable virus which cat can pick up by coming into direct contact with infected cats or by entering a room, cage,
box or other place where infected cats have been kept.
When one cat suffers from the disease, it is imperative that any new ones brought into the home be protected with enteritis serum or vaccine.
All toys, dishes, trays, bed and other equipment used by a cat with enteritis should be discarded. The incubation period from enteritis,
the time elapsing between initial contact with the virus and appearance of the typical symptoms, is from four to ten days although this period may vary.
The disease comes on quickly,some of the symptoms, especially violent vomiting, resemble those of acute poisoning.
One of the most noticeable signs of feline enteritis is that of a cat sitting with its head hanging over the water bowl which it may or may not attempt to drink and lose of appetite.
A cat with enteritis runs a high temperature, often as high as 104 degrees F. It may cry out in pain, vomit a yellowish or greenish fluid and have severe diarrhoea.
The speed with which the disease progresses is amazing. A cat may be lively and playful one day and be very unwell a few hours later.
Your cat should receive annual and booster vaccinations to avoid this disease and If you notice any of the above symptoms bring your cat to the vet without delay.

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