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. . . . . . Frequently
Asked Questions About Dog Health
How
often should my dog get a check up?
Once per year is usually enough unless the dog has chronic medical
problems that require more frequent attention. It would be ideal
for geriatric dogs to be seen every 6 months.
Why
do my dog's eyes discharge?
Dog's eyes may discharge for several reasons. Tearing may be from
an irritant in the area, such as dust. Allergies, viral diseases,
and problems with tear drainage can cause runny eyes. Thick, colored
discharge can be from bacteria, or viruses that unable a dog to
make enough tears. The bottom line is that you should have your
dog's eyes examined by your vet to determine the specific cause
and treatment.
What
can I do about my dog's turned-in eyelids?
This condition is called entropion. A fancy name for eyelids that
are rolled inward so that the eyeball itself can be rubbed by the
nearby fur. If your dog is very young, sometimes stapling the eyelid
in a rolled out position will fix the problem, with the staples
being removed after several weeks. Alternately, or if stapling is
not successful, you can consult your vet about surgery to correct
this problem.
Why
are my dog's eyes getting cloudy?
I would definitely bring her to your vet. Dogs certainly can get
cataracts which impair vision. They can also get something called
"nuclear sclerosis" which is a normal age-related change
and does not significantly impair vision. Please have her checked
out by your vet.
What
exactly is kennel cough and how long does it last?
Kennel cough is usually caused by a bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica,
and the parainfluenza virus. In animals with a healthy immune system,
kennel cough is usually short lived (5-7 days). In young animals
it may last much longer. In some cases, the condition can worsen
into pneumonia and then requires intensive and prolonged treatment.
Can
first signs of parvo be diagnosed as kennel cough?
Parvo's most common clinical signs are vomiting and diarrhea. There
should be no cough with parvo. Kennel cough produces a deep, hacking
cough. This can make the pet gag at the end and they may bring up
white, foamy saliva. This saliva may be mistaken for vomiting, and
thus wrongly diagnosed as parvo. In some cases, dogs with parvo
feel very lethargic and dogs with kennel cough usually are still
energetic.
Is
it possible for puppies from the same litter were fathered by two
different dogs?
Yes. If the female has "relations" with two different
males during the critical time, each male can fertilize different
eggs.
Should
I be worried if my dog swims in very cold weather?
Certain breeds tolerate extreme weather very well and their coats
are usually insulating. Often, the skin doesn't become wet. Unless
your dog seems to be cold afterward, I wouldn't worry.
What
causes yellow vomit in a dog? Is it serious?
The yellow in your dog's vomit is bile. Dogs vomit more easily than
you or I because of the way they have evolved. It is thought to
be a protective mechanism because they will eat anything and that
is not always good. Vomiting up to once a week may be normal for
some dogs. If it occurs more often, please see your vet.
What
do you recommend for chronic ear infections?
Ear infections can be very difficult to treat. The first thing we
recommend is anesthetizing your pet for an ear flush (thorough cleaning).
This is too painful to be done well when the animal is awake. At-home
care is very important, though very time consuming. Those ears need
to be cleaned and treated daily. If the infection subsides, the
ears must still be cleaned for the animal's lifetime. For infections
that do not respond to medical treatment, surgery is the only option.
Depending on the damage to the ear, either a lateral ear resection
or a total ablation is performed. It may be the only way to keep
your pet comfortable.
My
dog has pancreas enzyme insufficiency and is doing well on Viokase.
What signs should I look for that she is having trouble?
After the initial diagnosis we hope that the stool normalizes within
days and your pet gains 1-2 lbs per week until she has reached her
ideal weight. Appetite is often a good indication as well. If the
appetite is normal, rather than ravenous, then your pet is correctly
absorbing the nutrients.
What
is Cushings disease and is it treatable?
Cushing's disease is the same as hyperadrenocorticism. That is,
the adrenal gland is over producing. Usually the corticosteroids
are over produced and this causes your pet to have increases in
appetite, drinking and urinating, muscle wasting and panting. It
can be treated, however it depends on whether the condition is primary
or secondary. It may be the adrenal gland itself that is a problem
or the hypothalamus, which regulates adrenal output. Depending on
the condition, the treatment of choice is either medical pills or
surgery. More often than not, medical treatment is instigated. Consult
your vet for an accurate diagnosis.
Can
I purchase vaccines online and administer them myself?
We do not recommend pet owners purchasing and administering vaccines.
We would not do that for ourselves. Vaccines need to be handled
in a certain manner and injected in a certain manner. Most people
do not know where their vaccines came from (i.e. all vaccines are
not manufactured equally). You rely on veterinarians to provide
you with their expertise. Having your vet administer the vaccine
is worth the knowledge that the vaccine is well-handled and given
correctly.
I
recently found a stray, adult dog. What vaccinations does he need?
We recommend, assuming that the dog has not been vaccinated, Rabies
1 X and 2 sets of distemper/parvo/corona virus given about 3 weeks
apart. Not knowing if the dog is vaccinated is a big worry and there
are big problems associated with not having your dog vaccinated.
Please consult with your vet to find out what's best for your dog.
Which
wild animals are dangerous to pets?
Raccoons, bats and skunks are the most dangerous animals as far
as rabies transmission. Also, typhoid fever is transmitted in rat
fleas, which are also the same type of fleas as cat fleas. Keep
the fleas off your pets to prevent typhoid fever in people in your
home.
What
tests are available to detect deafness in dogs?
The most definitive test is usually only available at veterinary
teaching hospitals. The easiest test is clapping your hands sharply
while your dog is not looking and checking for a response. The fancy
test is called a "Brain Auditory Evoked Response Test"
and it involves using electrodes in the skin over the head and monitoring
brain activity after an electrical impulse is delivered.
Information provided by PETsMART.com's Vet Experts
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