Vet's Corner

According to John Hart, DVM and Emergency/Critical Care Specialist at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Sorrento Valley, spaying or neutering is usually safe when your pet is at least 8-weeks-old and weighs at least 3 pounds.

Life-saving Benefits of “Fixing” Your Pet:

Most people know the benefits of spaying and neutering your pet include preventing overpopulation, saving the cost of caring for a litter and diminishing a host of unattractive behaviors. But what many pet owners may not know is that “fixing” a pet could save his or her life.

Risk of several dangerous and costly medical conditions in dogs and cats can be eliminated by spaying or neutering the animal early in life. Testicular torsion, pyometra, urethral prolapse, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, and breast cancer are all potentially life-threatening conditions that can be prevented.

For a referral to a veterinary clinic that provides reduced cost spay/neuter fees, contact SNAP (Spay Neuter Action Project) at (619) 525-3047.

Traditional snail bait contains a chemical called metaldehyde, which is poisonous to dogs and cats. Snail bait releases the active ingredient (metaldehyde) for up to ten days in relatively moist conditions. Ingesting snail bait poison can cause death in less than 24 hours. Less severe cases can cause liver damage within two to three days of ingestion. For your pet’s best chance at a full recovery, immediate veterinary care is needed after exposure. 

Signs of snail bait poisoning include:

Depression

Salivation

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Lack of coordination

Tremors

Seizures

Elevated temperature

Increased respiratory rate

Increased sensitivity to stimuli

--Janan Abed, DVM

Rattlesnake bites can be life-threatening and should be treated as an emergency.  Animals will start showing signs 15-30 minutes after being bitten.  The swelling can progress very rabidly.  If bitten on the face it can constrict breathing.  There is a new type of toxin we're seeing called Mojave.  Some animals may exhibit neurologic signs and can only be treated with human anti-venom.  The sooner you bring them to the vet the better. 

You may have heard or read about a rattlesnake vaccine.  There is no evidence that it works.  There is no FDA Control and there is no control study.  Someone can claim they have a flea vaccine; it doesn't mean that it works.  A lot of vets don't recommend the vaccine.  UC Davis doesn't recommend the vaccine.

--Monica Clare, DVM, DACVECC

A cataract, which is technically an increased opacification and calcification of the lens in the eye, can occur at any age. Puppies and kittens can be born with congenital cataracts, and dogs can develop cataracts as a result of diabetes. However, most cataracts are senile cataracts that develop in older pets, usually 10 years of age and older. Particular breeds such as poodles, cocker spaniels, and other small breeds are more commonly affected than other breeds. While various herbs and homeopathies such as bilberry or cineraria might slow down the growth of cataracts and are always worth trying, in cases of severe cataracts (mature or hyper-mature cataracts) surgery is usually necessary in order to restore vision. A much more common problem in older pets is called nuclear sclerosis. In this very common condition in older pets, the lens starts to look a bit cloudy. However, vision is not interfered with and the condition does not progress. Usually, your veterinarian can tell the difference with a simple ophthalmic examination.

--Shawn Messonnier, DVM

 reprinted with permission from www.petcarenaturally.com

The problem you describe is very common in puppies. Puppies are teething for the first 6 months of life, and chewing helps relieve the discomfort that goes along with this. Also, many breeds of dogs (especially retrievers and some other larger breeds) are “mouth-oriented” and always need to chew something. The best way to help is to do your best to limit his exposure to things you don’t want him to chew. This is not always easy but you need to treat a puppy like a baby: keep your eye on him and keep things out of his reach so he won’t chew things like socks and shoes.

Regarding rocks, don’t let him have access to the outdoors unless he’s leashed so you can prevent him from getting rocks, wood chips, and similar objects. Most dogs will grow out of this problem by 6-8 months of age after the adult teeth have erupted. This is also a good time to teach him to accept a tooth brush, as brushing of the teeth will help prevent periodontal disease. Finally, provide him with plenty of acceptable chewing toys, large fresh bones, and other objects your veterinarian might suggest.

--Shawn Messonnier, DVM

 reprinted with permission from www.petcarenaturally.com

This is a very common problem. If the litter has recently started to have an odor, some type of disease is most likely. If a disease is diagnosed, have it treated appropriately. Second, make sure the box is cleaned frequently (this means daily for many cats.)

For those cats that always seem to have a smelly box, here are some tips that may help. Use a clumping litter; these seem to produce less of a litterbox odor than other litters. Various natural additives can be mixed in the box with the litter. This will help freshen the box and attract the cat to use the box. Finally, various oral supplements can be helpful in reducing litterbox odor. The supplements seem to make the feces and urine less smelly.

He’s doing that because, as disgusting as it sounds, the feces taste delicious to him! Keep in mind that fecal material reflects the diet. For example, since a cat’s diet is higher in protein and fat than dog foods, most dogs prefer to eat cat food over dog food. This also means that cat feces are quite appealing to dogs. To get your dog to stop eating fecal matter, make sure he is taking a good multivitamin-mineral/health maintenance formula. Also, you might want to add additional enzymes that would increase digestion of the food, as your pet may have decreased digestion and absorption of nutrients.

This depends upon a number of factors. As a rule, the more natural, chemical-free the diet, the better. Diets full of chemicals and preservatives often lead to increased health problems in our pets. Diets full of inexpensive fillers such as plant and animal by-products are also less desirable than healthier, more natural diets. Learn to read pet food labels so you can tell if your pet's diet is really as healthy as you think.

No this is an old wives’ tale. It is true that some sick dogs do have drying of the nose, but most of the ill dogs I treat do not. However, if the dry nose is a new condition for your dog, I would certainly have this checked out as it might be a sign of illness.

If a pet really needs these chemicals, use them short term (1-3 months as needed). Prevent fleas and ticks by treating the yard with beneficial nematodes (they work better than chemicals; natural pyrethrums or diatomaceous earth can also be used). Use herbal flea and tick shampoo containing citrus oils; bathe your pet 1 to 2 times weekly for several weeks until the parasites are controlled. Remember that fleas and ticks do not die upon contact with shampoo. Rather, the shampoo works over time so leave the shampoo on for at least 20-30 minutes before rinsing. Pay special attention to the area between the toes and around the ears; ticks love to hide there! Between bathing, use an herbal collar or powder to prevent fleas and ticks. If you see a tick on your pet’s body, it’s a good idea to remove it. To remove a tick, here’s an easy idea that really works. Grasp the tick as close to the dog’s body as possible using tweezers. Gently but firmly apply a continuous pulling motion until the tick loosens from the pet. Place the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Never handle the tick as it can transmit the same diseases to you (Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease) as to your dog. It is a good idea to get your pet’s blood tested 30 days after the exposure to the tick to make sure no diseases have been passed on.

Regarding regular heartworm prevention: keep it up! In most areas of the country this means monthly administration on a year-round basis (check with your doctor to determine the recommendation for where you live). There is no proven natural preventive, so we need to use the approved medications. If you use the oral monthly products, these are quite safe and only remain in your pet’s body for a few days following administration.