Ask the Veterinarian!

[Xana44]

@Seaine - Hmm. Sounds interesting. I am glad to hear that your vet has covered the bases.

I have found that sometimes eye medications for bacterial infections need to be given for two to four weeks, even though the symptoms resolve quickly. Also all affected animals need to be treated so there is not reinfection. Granted, I have dealt with more contagious eye infections in cats than dogs, but I assume we may be dealing with something similar.

I am glad that the lipoma seems to be decreasing in size. Sometimes weight loss works to decrease them, sometimes it does not.

Keep me informed on how things continue. Thanks!

[SheriBerryBoo]

My mom found an unusually well-tempered kitten at work last Saturday, and yesterday she started to show signs of distemper. My mom said she was probably dumped there because her litter mates had it, too. Today her health declined sharply, and my mom took her to the vet, she had no symptoms up until about eleven last nght, so we just thought to wait it out. Anyway, she was in such bad health, she had slim chances of survival, so my mom had to have her put down. My question is, are Feline and Kanine distemper different, and can full grown dogs contract it? Because I have 3 full size terriers, and I know distemper is quite contagious, and I couldn't bear for one of them to have to be put down, because we caught to too late.

[Lovable_Sinner]

xXCaptain_TerrorXx

My mom found an unusually well-tempered kitten at work last Saturday, and yesterday she started to show signs of distemper. My mom said she was probably dumped there because her litter mates had it, too. Today her health declined sharply, and my mom took her to the vet, she had no symptoms up until about eleven last nght, so we just thought to wait it out. Anyway, she was in such bad health, she had slim chances of survival, so my mom had to have her put down. My question is, are Feline and Kanine distemper different, and can full grown dogs contract it? Because I have 3 full size terriers, and I know distemper is quite contagious, and I couldn't bear for one of them to have to be put down, because we caught to too late.

Canine and feline distemper (aka: feline panleukopenia) are caused by two completely different viruses, so your dogs cannot get it from the kitten. Both are very serious diseases, and canine distemper can affect both puppies AND adult dogs, though puppies are more susceptible. But luckily, it can be very effectively controlled as part of your dogs' annual vaccination program. Therefore as long as your dogs are vaccinated, they are protected.

[Xana44]

Thanks for covering for me Lovable_Sinner! She knows her stuff.

I have had an extremely sore neck this week which has been keeping me from any non-work related activities.

[Mahrahia]

My dog is 11 years old and sometimes she starts shaking violently and tilting over. She doesn't breathe much during the shaking and afterwards she recovers and can walk around fine but shakes a little after trying to get up if she was lying down. I give her water so she won't be dehydrated at least. Did she have a seizure or a stroke? And what can I do about it?

[Xana44]

Mahrahia

My dog is 11 years old and sometimes she starts shaking violently and tilting over. She doesn't breathe much during the shaking and afterwards she recovers and can walk around fine but shakes a little after trying to get up if she was lying down. I give her water so she won't be dehydrated at least. Did she have a seizure or a stroke? And what can I do about it?

It certainly sounds like a seizure. Has she done this all her life? Or is this something that has developed recently?

Strokes are very rare in dogs. They don't get the same types of cardiovascular disease that people do that leads to strokes.

I would definitely recommend that she see her vet. Development of seizures in older age can be a sign of brain disease, liver disease or something else. Even if there is no treatment for her primary disease, there are medications that can help control the seizures. I hate to say anything more without seeing the pet myself. It is no emergency, but should be done as soon as is reasonable.


I am sure you know all this stuff, but a quick review of what to do if your pet has a seizure:

1. Do not touch your pet unless you need to move him or her out of a dangerous situation. Sometimes pets having a seizure will bite, being totally unaware of what is going on. Vomiting, defecation, and urination during a seizure are normal, but do not always occur.

2. Look at the clock. Most seizures last no more than 90 seconds (although the after seizure strangeness may last longer). If your pet is seizing for more than three minutes, Ignore rule one and take your pet to the vet or emergency clinic.

3. Comfort your pet. After the seizure has passed, it is ok to talk to your pet in a low soothing voice. If the pet seems calm enough, you can pet her. Some pets will have post-ictal (after a seizure) effects (blindness is not uncommon) that can last for up to an hour after the seizure. Keeping the pet in a dark quiet environment will help with recovery. [It does not sound like Mahrahia's pet has much of this, which is good. Some pets are perfectly normal right after an event]

4. Write it down. Keep a seizure log or journal. Make sure everyone in the family knows about it. This way you can tell your vet definitively how often the seizures are, and can keep track of any changes in the frequency or intensity of the events. Be sure to note anything in the environment that may have been a trigger (unusual or stressful event), the length and severity of the seizure, and the time of day it occurred.


Please tell me what your vet had to say about your pet's events. Sharing information is a great way to learn.

[Lovable_Sinner]

Xana44

Thanks for covering for me Lovable_Sinner! She knows her stuff.

I have had an extremely sore neck this week which has been keeping me from any non-work related activities.

Hehe thanks, I have been occasionally butting in... I get excited when I know the answer. This thread is a good study tool!

[Mahrahia]

Xana44

It certainly sounds like a seizure. Has she done this all her life? Or is this something that has developed recently?

Strokes are very rare in dogs. They don't get the same types of cardiovascular disease that people do that leads to strokes.

I would definitely recommend that she see her vet. Development of seizures in older age can be a sign of brain disease, liver disease or something else. Even if there is no treatment for her primary disease, there are medications that can help control the seizures. I hate to say anything more without seeing the pet myself. It is no emergency, but should be done as soon as is reasonable.


I am sure you know all this stuff, but a quick review of what to do if your pet has a seizure:

1. Do not touch your pet unless you need to move him or her out of a dangerous situation. Sometimes pets having a seizure will bite, being totally unaware of what is going on. Vomiting, defecation, and urination during a seizure are normal, but do not always occur.

2. Look at the clock. Most seizures last no more than 90 seconds (although the after seizure strangeness may last longer). If your pet is seizing for more than three minutes, Ignore rule one and take your pet to the vet or emergency clinic.

3. Comfort your pet. After the seizure has passed, it is ok to talk to your pet in a low soothing voice. If the pet seems calm enough, you can pet her. Some pets will have post-ictal (after a seizure) effects (blindness is not uncommon) that can last for up to an hour after the seizure. Keeping the pet in a dark quiet environment will help with recovery. [It does not sound like Mahrahia's pet has much of this, which is good. Some pets are perfectly normal right after an event]

4. Write it down. Keep a seizure log or journal. Make sure everyone in the family knows about it. This way you can tell your vet definitively how often the seizures are, and can keep track of any changes in the frequency or intensity of the events. Be sure to note anything in the environment that may have been a trigger (unusual or stressful event), the length and severity of the seizure, and the time of day it occurred.


Please tell me what your vet had to say about your pet's events. Sharing information is a great way to learn.

I want to take her to the vet but we can't afford it T crying T even after she's recovered, she acts like nothing happened.

[Xana44]

Mahrahia

I want to take her to the vet but we can't afford it T crying T even after she's recovered, she acts like nothing happened.

I am sorry to hear that. Things are rough financially all around.

If the events are not bothering her, don't worry too much, I guess. Do start keeping a journal though. If nothing else, you need a record for the next time you go to the vet.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your girl. heart

If there is any more information you need that could help, let me know.

[Crafty Swine digs 6 9]

Xana44

Jamie_667

Actually I do have a question. This might sound silly but really I'm serious. My 2 year old fed my bunny goldfish crackers a few hours ago. I don't know how many or if he ate any before I caught her (it wasn't more than a couple of 2 year old handfuls in his cage).
Will this make him sick? Is there anything I can do?

This should not cause your bunny any problems. I would not make it a regular part of his diet wink , but occasionally should not be a problem. I had a bunny patient who would only take his meds when on a potato chip.

That's interesting! o.o

[Anonymousx19]

My two dogs got in a fight a day or two ago. The small one got a small piece of her scalp bitten off. It scabbed over but today she came running down the steps, bleeding all down her face. She won't stop picking it apart. I don't have a driver's liscence, car, or adult nearby. She's hiding in an inaccesible part of the house and I have no idea what to do.

[Xana44]

Anonymousx19

My two dogs got in a fight a day or two ago. The small one got a small piece of her scalp bitten off. It scabbed over but today she came running down the steps, bleeding all down her face. She won't stop picking it apart. I don't have a driver's liscence, car, or adult nearby. She's hiding in an inaccesible part of the house and I have no idea what to do.

Oh dear.

Well, the first thing to do is to get her out of her hiding spot. Try coaxing her out with a treat or some food, Lock the other dog away temporarily if you can. Often cheese or peanut butter is good to try getting her out with.

If the wound is not still bleeding, wash the sore off with mild soap and water. If you have some neosporin (or other triple antibiotic cream or ointment) put that on the wound. If it is still bleeding, apply pressure firmly to the wound with gauze or a paper towel (not tissue) for ten minutes NO PEEKING! This should stop the bleeding. All head and scalp wounds bleed copiously, even if they are not severe. That being said, she should not bleed to death from it. After the bleeding is stopped, apply the ointment.

Give your dog some benadryl at a dose of 1mg per pound if you have it. This does nothing for the wound, but will mildly sedate the dog and she will rest. Keep her in a kennel or crate if you have one. She needs to be kept quiet for several days to let the wound heal. Continue to wash the wound regularly and apply the ointment. The benadryl can be given twice daily if needed.

Do not give aspirin or tylenol or any other over the counter human pain reliever.

THIS IS JUST FIRST AID!!!
IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOUR DOG CAN BE SEEN BY A VET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

If the wound begins to get red, swollen, or ooze yellow or green, take her to the vet immediately.

[Franciselle]

I was wondering if you had any advice on keeping dogs cool. I've been helping to pet/house sit this past week for a bunch of animals (two dogs, three cats, five horses, and a bunch of chickens) while their owners are on vacation. The dogs spend most of their time indoors while their owners are home. However, while the owners have been on vacation, the dogs are kept in a kennel outside during the day since no one can come by at midday.

I go over in the evening to feed the animals and to give the dogs a chance to stretch out their legs. (Someone else handles the mornings.) I have to bring the dogs indoors to feed them, and I usually leave them inside in the AC for a couple of hours to cool down a bit. Temperatures lately have been in the 90's. I was wondering if leaving them in the AC for a while does more harm than good. Is there anything else I can do to make sure they stay as cool as possible? They do have shade throughout the day, and I make sure they always have fresh, clean water. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Lovable_Sinner]

Franciselle

I was wondering if you had any advice on keeping dogs cool. I've been helping to pet/house sit this past week for a bunch of animals (two dogs, three cats, five horses, and a bunch of chickens) while their owners are on vacation. The dogs spend most of their time indoors while their owners are home. However, while the owners have been on vacation, the dogs are kept in a kennel outside during the day since no one can come by at midday.

I go over in the evening to feed the animals and to give the dogs a chance to stretch out their legs. (Someone else handles the mornings.) I have to bring the dogs indoors to feed them, and I usually leave them inside in the AC for a couple of hours to cool down a bit. Temperatures lately have been in the 90's. I was wondering if leaving them in the AC for a while does more harm than good. Is there anything else I can do to make sure they stay as cool as possible? They do have shade throughout the day, and I make sure they always have fresh, clean water. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

A few hours of AC shouldn't do any harm, my family's dogs spend all day inside with the AC in summer (virtually essential here in Australia!). Shade and water should be enough, but if you are concerned, you could give them a hose down in the heat of the day (I work in a boarding kennel on my summer break and if any of the dogs seem to be particularly susceptible to the heat we administer regular cool showers!) alternatively plastic baby pools with a couple of inches of water are great (my Greyhound adores her pool and would even lie in it in winter if she had the chance!). If you are going to try the pool though, I would supervise to start with just in case. If you are feeling particularly creative, ice blocks with treats frozen inside can be fun too!

I'm sure Xana will have some good suggestions for keeping dogs cool too!

[Anonymousx19]

Thank you so much for your help. The bleeding stopped after a short while and the wound's slowly healing. The only problem is she's now very fond of her new hiding spot; when i try to put neosporin on her she darts away. She won't be like, scared from now on because of this, will she? sad