Ask
the Doctor: Current Q & A
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Q: What
are the reasons for having my dog spayed and what is the best
age to perform the surgery?
A:
These are questions that we hear frequently. There are several
reasons for having your dog or cat spayed (ovariohysterectomy).
Non-breeding pets of course.
These can be divided into 2 groups-
Social
•
Stops your
pet from coming into heat (estrus).
•
Upsets the
household, with lots of unwelcome visits from neighborhood dogs
etc.
•
Bleeding during
the pre heat cycle etc.
Medical
•
Greatly reduces
the development of mammary gland tumors and eliminates tumors
of the ovaries and uterus.
•
Eliminates
infection of the uterus --mild form called an endometritis to
the more serious life threatening form called a PYOMETRA.
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| This
photograph is a good illustration of the size to which the
uterus can expand. This is a picture of a surgical removal
of a pyometra. |
Pyometra
is a hormonal induced problem with the uterus resulting in death
unless caught early and removed. What you see here is a uterus
that has enlarged by 100 times and is filled with pus!
The age we
recommend to have your pet spayed is about 6 months.
Q:
My dog and cat are getting older, what can I expect and what is
the best way to keep them healthy?
A: Old
age is not a disease but is a stage of life which is accompanied
by a slowing of all physiologic processes and a gradual loss of
body functions and adaptability. Dogs and cats are considered
old after 8 to 12 years of age. Cats and small dogs generally
live longer and age later than large dogs. Owners may notice a
decline in activity level and mental alertness, hearing and/or
sight loss, and a loss of fastidiousness in excretory habits,
as their pet ages.
Body fat increases
and lean body tissues decrease. All of these things limit the
physical activity level of older pets. The body's ability to regulate
its own temperature is decreased, and older animals will often
seek warm places to rest. They are also more subject to intermittent
sleep. Older pets may have increased blood pressure and increased
cholesterol levels. Their immune system also becomes less responsive,
and they are less able to ward off infection. The incidence and
malignancy of tumors increases with age. The signs of age are
more evident when the pet is in a poor nutritional state or when
the level of stress is increased.
There are
several things owners can do to keep their older pet in good condition.
Providing a high-quality diet formulated for older pets will ensure
balanced nutrition without extra calories. Moderate exercise helps
maintain healthy heart and lungs and muscle tone. Proper diet
and moderate exercise will also help keep off extra pounds that
could contribute to other health problems, the same as older humans.
Older pets have become creatures of habit and enjoy predictable
days. Stress can be prevented by not making changes in your pet's
environment or daily schedule. If changes are necessary, make
them gradually and maintain as much of the usual routine as possible.
Sudden changes
in an animal's condition, behavior, stamina, or appetite indicate
a health problem and not simply aging. Daily grooming will help
locate bumps, changes in the color or texture of the skin, and
hair loss, which can indicate a problem.
REGULAR CHECKUPS
are recommended for older pets. A complete physical examination
with blood tests can detect many problems, such as with the heart,
kidneys or liver, in the early stages when treatment is most successful.
Often overlooked
by pet owners, is the importance of dental health. Severe tartar
and rotten
teeth can lead to a deterioration of the organ function of the
body especially the kidneys.
With the proper pre anesthetic precautions, your older pet can
have excellent dental care.
Q.
My dog just got sprayed by a skunk! What should I do, and how
can I get the odor out of his fur?
A.
Check to see if the spray came in contact with his eyes. It is
very irritating and can cause damage to the cornea. If your dog
is squinting or rubbing his eyes, try to rinse them out with saline
solution (the kind you would use to rinse off contact lenses).
If you have no saline solution on hand, use cool tap water. Rinse
as thoroughly as you can, and contact your veterinarian, who can
check to make sure no major damage has been done.
Next, try to see if there are any lacerations or puncture wounds
that might indicate that the skunk bit or scratched your dog.
Skunks are carriers of rabies, and if there is any chance at all
that your dog got bitten, he should get a rabies booster immediately,
even if his vaccines are current. This will ensure that he is
protected against the rabies virus. And of course, if he was bitten
or scratched enough to tear the skin, your veterinarian will want
to check the wounds to see if they need to be sutured, or at least
administer some antibiotics to prevent infection.
Getting the odor out of his fur will take some effort. There are
several specialty products on the market that are formulated to
remove the smell, but often the dog and skunk tangle at night,
when pet stores are closed. If you can get to a drugstore, Massengill
vinegar and water douche sometimes does the trick. Tomato juice
is a well-known remedy for skunk odor, but many people find that
it doesn't do a complete job - the odor may return the next time
the dog gets wet. One recipe that has worked wonders for a lot
of people (and is made from readily available ingredients) is
as follows: ¼ cup baking soda + 1 quart hydrogen peroxide + a
couple of teaspoons of dish soap. Mix immediately before using.
Shampoo your dog thoroughly with a mild dog shampoo, and rinse.
Pour the above mixture over him just as you would with a dip,
making sure to cover the entire dog (to treat his face, dip a
sponge or cloth in the mixture and rub it over his face, avoiding
his eyes). Leave on for about 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
You can reapply it if some odor remains, but usually one application
takes care of the problem.
Q.
I just noticed a large red moist area on my dog's hip. She
is chewing at it all the time. What causes this?
A.
This is what is known as a "hot spot", or acute moist dermatitis
(eczema). Hot spots can form anywhere on the body, but seem to
be most common on the hips, near the tail, and near the ears.
They are usually triggered by an initial irritation. Some common
irritants are flea bites (even a single bite can set off a highly
allergic dog), anal gland impactions, and ear infections.
Unfortunately, the triggering event then sets off a vicious cycle.
The more the dog chews at itself, the more irritated and itchy
the skin becomes, which then leads to more chewing, and before
very long the area may become infected. You may see oozing and
even bleeding from the area, and it may be hot to the touch and
quite painful. Long-haired breeds such as golden retrievers may
have a large patch of matted hair over the hot spot, which can
sometimes prevent you from discovering it until it becomes seriously
infected. (This can end up as a major disaster if not treated
- if the dog is lying down outside, insects such as flies can
lay their eggs in the moist area and set up an infestation of
maggots. This is not only disgusting, but it is a threat to the
dog's health.)
The first thing your veterinarian will do when you bring your
dog in for treatment is to attempt to determine the underlying
cause of the hot spot and eliminate that. This may involve treating
your dog for fleas if present, expressing the anal glands if full,
cleaning and medicating the ears, or looking for another cause
of itchy skin such as inhalant allergies.
Long-haired dogs should have the hair clipped in the affected
area, in order to expose the skin to the air so it can dry out.
Your veterinarian will clean the area and show you how to keep
it clean and dry, perhaps with an antibiotic spray or powder.
Drying up the affected skin is the most important factor in stopping
the spread of the hot spot, and therefore the skin should not
be covered or bandaged. Usually, antibiotics are administered
(by injection and then by mouth at home); and very often a steroid
injection will be given to break the cycle of itching and chewing.
If the area is very large or severely damaged, your dog may have
to wear an Elizabethan collar ("cone") or a T-shirt to keep it
from reaching the hot spot.
Once the dog stops chewing and licking, and the skin starts to
dry out, healing is fairly rapid - the redness and rawness is
gone in a couple of days - but the skin may take as long as a
few weeks to heal entirely. The hair will grow back in 4 to 6
weeks, as long as the underlying skin is not too badly damaged.
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