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Answers to your Vet Questions insect repellents •|• spindle cell carcinoma •|• back + leg problems •|• blood in urine •|• going grey fast Aggressive Behavior Hi, I am the proud mom of two westies, Duncan and Kayla, who are 8 years old. They are twins and have always been together. Recently Kayla has out of nowhere been attacking Duncan. It is really scary and I worry that something is wrong with her. They are well cared for, have all their shots, are house dogs and this has never happened before. How would you begin to find out what is wrong with her? Thanks -Eileen Answer: I am Dr. Carolyn Evans, a veterinarian and owner of Quioccasin Veterinary Hospital, and serve on the medical advisory board for FETCH. I received your question and hope I can help out. I am assuming that Duncan is a male dog and both are spayed and neutered. If this is correct, then you may dealing with "interspecies" aggression. It is very common in dogs who are siblings, have grown up together and have reached there "sexual" maturity. Sort of think of teenage children and Behavioral issues, regardless of cause, often take a lot of action on the owner's part. I would suggest contacting a behaviorist or certified dog trainer to help you confirm the cause of the aggression and then get some training techniques. If needed, I'd be glad to make some recommendations of I hope this helpful and thank you for visiting FETCH'S website. -Dr. Carolyn Evan Pet-Friendly Insect Repellents Now that it's getting warm outside we have quite a few spiders coming in the house. Could you recommend a safe insect repellent that's safe for our indoor pets? - Kristen Answer: Thanks for visiting the FETCH website and thanks for such a timely question. We definitely see more insects around this time of year and like with humans, they can be quite botersome to our pets as well as potential for allergic reactions if bitten. A nice OTC product is Burt's Bees Insect repellent. There is also Avon's Skin So Soft which many have advocated as an insect repellent. Both are safe for dogs. Thanks again! -Dr. Carolyn Evans
Bailey is our 6 1/2 year old neutered male Wheaten Terrier. Since he was about a year old he has had intermittent anal sac problems — trouble expressing the glands, infections. During a recent exam the vet felt a small lump in his rectum which she removed about 2 weeks ago. The biopsy report came back as spindle cell cancer. The vet says it is slow growing and he could have had it as early as 6 months old. It was located about an inch up in his rectum. The vet used a laser but did not get it all out. She suggested we return in 3 months for a re-check, and then if she finds anything more, will refer us to a specialist. Our questions are: Please let us know what you think. Thank you very much for your help, Answer: If the margins of the excision did contain tumor cells, it is probably better to assume that the entire tumor was not removed and make decisions based on that assumption. It is a good idea to have X-rays taken of the chest looking for spread of the tumor. It is best to take three views, a view with the patient laying on his right side, then left side and a view taken with Bailey lying on his back or upright on his chest. Taking three views gives the best chance of finding a tumor if one is there. Spindle cell tumors are more likely to spread to the spleen, liver, and regional lymph nodes. An ultrasound evaluation along with a pathologist's review of organ aspirates is also warranted in order to fully stage Bailey's condition. If Bailey's chest radiographs and and abdominal ultrasound evaluations are free from evidence of tumor I recommend that you have your veterinarian contact a canine radiation oncologist such as Dr. Nancy Gustafson at The Regional Veterinary Referral Center (703) 451-8900. Best Wishes for you and Bailey, Huntington is part Shepherd and part Golden Lab and is beginning to have problems with her back legs. She is almost 14 years old. Got some pills from the pet store I have to put in lunch meat & mix in her food to get her to take them. They halp some, I think. What else can be done? We walk everyday. She also has some problems with her sight and hearing. I guess it is all about her age. Answer: More than likely, you are seeing some signs of arthritis in her hips and her lower spine. Certainly keeping her at her ideal weight or working on getting her to her ideal weight is really important at this stage of her life as well as keeping her active with short walks and swimming. I would definitely recommend that you bring her to your veterinarian for a senior check up. Depending on the physical exam findings, she would probably be a good candidate for a nutraceutrical. Glucosamine HCL, Chondrotin Sulfate and MSM is just one of many combination products currently available. She may also be a good candidate for some prescription NSAIDS, and other pain relievers recommended by your veterinarian. Acupuncture may also be another option for helping with her assumed arthritis and stiffness. Good luck with Huntington and congrats for getting her to her Golden years. Kim Kuhn DVM I took Murphy (6 yrs., neutured male) to the vet yesterday due to blood in his urine. The urinalysis was normal (no crystals), the urine they took from his bladder was normal. They ruled out UTI. They think there may have been some trauma to his penis while being kenneled and put him on Amoxicilan and Rimadyl. He took his meds last night, this morning and want me to administer this evening. If there is still blood in his urine in the morning they want me to bring him back for futher testing (x-rays for kidney stones & prostate exam). He is experiencing incontinance but that may be due to the subcontanious fluids they admin. at the vet yesterday. He is eating well and doesn't seem to be uncomfortable. FYI..last year I took him to the vet due to excessive water intake and incontinance. The vet did a full blood panel work up and ruled out kidney malfunction and diabetes. They speculated it was behavioral. I discovered that dog food with lamb has a higher sodium content so I switched his food back to chicken/rice and it stopped. I'm concerned that last year's issues and what we are currently dealing with are somehow related and that scares me to think it has gone this long undiagnosed. My question to you is what would you recommend as the next series of testing to rule out any cancers; we keep getting blood tests with no answers... I anxiously await your thoughts on this matter. Answer: I concur with your veterinarian's suggestion of radiographs and prostate exam as the next diagnostic tests to run. The only other recommendations I would make if the above tests come back fine would be: Good luck with Murphy! ------- UPDATE He is in his second week of medication, his urine has cleared and appears to be doing much better. He's eating and seems normal in behavior. We are still perplexed as to what could have happened to him to generate blood in his urine. He was boarded over the July 4th holiday and they did not experience any aggressive contact with another dog or anything for that matter. I was really concerned because of his issues last year and was thinking that it might be something that had gone undiagnosed and had gotten serious in nature. I really appreciate you responding to my note. My husband and I attended Pups on Parade to support FETCH because we truly see the need in our area. I was hoping not to have to use it as a resource but my gosh, I'm so glad it's available. I am so grateful to you and FETCH for its service. Alice is an American Staffenshire Pitbull, black with a white chest and the tips of her toes are white. over the last 4-6 months she has started to get grey/white patches of hair all over her face. Her eye brows have turned white and she now has one small patch on her side. Alice is only 5 yrs. old. What is happening to her? She is looking scary! Answer: Dogs are genetically programmed for hair color.? Just as some young people Dr. Lori Elliott, DVM My Greyhound/pit bull mix, Fitzwilly, was diagnosed with amelanotic melanoma in March. He has a mass in his mouth towards the back on his right side. We were considering the new vaccine treatment but we were advised against it because they felt the cancer was too far along. The surgeon felt it was unnecessary to remove it because it had metastasized into his lymph glands and he felt that Fitzwilly had only about 2 months to live. It has been 4 months now and Fitz has put on weight and looks great he seems healthy. I would really appreciate your opinion and feedback. Answer: Yeah for Fitzwilly! My recommendation would be to check back in with your regular vet for his/her assessment and consider consulting with an oncologist. The melanoma vaccine has only limited licensing, so I do not have direct experience with the product. In talking with other colleagues, there have been mixed Again, consultation with a veterinary oncologist or internist would be wise. Good Luck, I just noticed a large lump on my Chihuahua, Chico's, chin. It suddenly appeared and is noticeable ata distance. There is nothing else out of the ordinary. I am extremely concerned. Answer: If Chico's lump or swelling came up very quickly, it could certainly be inflammation or a localized infection. You may want to closely observe the area for 1week and follow up with your Veterinarian if the lump continues to grow. If the lump came up more gradually, I would recommend you get Chico in right away to see your Veterinarian. Good Luck, Answer 2: A suddenly appearing lump on your pooch is concerning! The lump could be attributable to numerous things depending on your dog's age and lifestyle. Could he have been bitten by an insect? Are his teeth in good shape (may be a tooth abcess)? How old is your dog (maybe a form of neoplasia in an older dog)? Any mass shold be evaluated by your veterianarian as soon as possible in order to provide immediate treatment if necessary.
Lindsey is a Bichon Frise who has skin allergies. She scratches at herself and chews herself raw. I can't afford the expense of a trip to the vet. I want to treat her naturally rather than steroid injections. I recently purchased Tea Tree Oil and am blotting that on her several times a day but even that is getting expensive. Plus, I don't know how much or how ofter to apply the Tea Tree Oil. Any suggestions? Answer: If the skin seems to be inflamed and itchy all year round, you may want to consider putting her on an all natural food, such as Avoderm, Wellness, Wysong etc. Sometimes allergies to different foods or ingredients in the foods can cause dogs skin to become inflamed and itchy. If you decide to change foods, make sure to add the new food very gradually to the current diet. Sometimes making the transition too quickly can cause gastrointestinal upset. As far as using products on the skin, I am a little concerned about making recommendations without seeing her. Good Luck with Lindsey,
My dog ate a toothpick...Could this be harmful? Answer: If your dog has eaten a toothpick, DO NOT induce vomiting. Watch for blood in the stool, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. If either of these symptoms are noted, see your veterinarian for an exam and possible abdominal radiographs. Is it okay to take heartworm pills and lymphoma injections? Lucy, an AARF foster dog, has lymphoma (and heartworms) and is on the COP protocol. She gets weekly injections at the vet. And is also on pills (Cyclophosphamide) that she takes every Thur, Fri, Sun, Tues. Is that correct to take it every week? I've been reading differently. She is also on 2.5 mg prednisone twice a day. Her lymph nodes have gone down some, but not as much as we'd hoped. We're also worried about complications. What should we look for? We also keep an eye on her temp. Its usually around 102.6 Is that normal for her? Its always seemed to be around there. How long until (if) we see remission? Thanks for you time. Answer: Thank you for being a foster home for the challenging little Lucy! There are many different treatment protocols for lymphoma (also known as lymphosarcoma).? Each protocol has many variations.? You are correct that normal COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, pred) protocols use cyclophosphamide?every three weeks.? You might?double check with your vet about the dosing of this drug.? Client-vet communication is imperitive to the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy for pets. It is difficult to predict when or if a complete remission will be achieved.? We hope that it will occur soon after induction (week one).? Factors that can influence remission include stage and grade of the lymphoma, previous drug therapies (especially steroid use), and the dog's general health.? We sometimes increase doses of chemotheraputics if the dog's blood counts hold and side effects are minimal. Sometimes different drugs are introduced; however, Lucy's heartworm disease will limit some of the chemotherapy drugs available to fight her cancer. Side effects of the chemotherapy include gastrointestinal upset, infections due to impaired immune function, and haircoat changes.? The cyclophosphamide can cause a sterile cystitis (urinary bladder Hope this info is helpful. Good luck with her treatment. Lori L. Elliott, DVM Heidi has a malignant cancerous right eyelid... Heidi, our mini schnauzer, has a malignant cancerous right eyelid that looks like a brown bubble. We came home tonight and it's wet with a dark brown fluid. She's very lathargic and I cant see her eyeball. What should I do? —Larry Answer: Hello Larry, I'm sorry Heidi is having trouble with her eyelid. If Heidi is lethargic and the eye cannot fully open, I strongly recommend she be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible as there may be infection or another disease present. I'm curious to know by what means you discovered the eyelid has a cancerous growth as many (but not all) eyelid growths are benign. The brown fluid may be due to infection or cyst formation, but it may be from the eye itself (as apposed to the lid). Please get her checked as soon as possible. Thanks, Lori L. Elliott, DVM
I have a boerbull and took him for a jog one day and after that his hindlegs became weak, what do I do and what do I give him... —Jerome Answer: Hi Jerome, You should definitely take Boetie to your vet to be checked out. Your question did not give me info on his age or general health. The things I would want to check into include: orthopedic (bones and joints), neurologic (spinal cord and peripheral nerves), muscular, heart/lungs (heartworm status, etc.), or metabolic status. I would NOT recommend giving him any medications until so advised by your vet. Hope this helps, Lori L. Elliott, DVM
I noticed my spayed 10 year old mutt (chow/lab??? mix), Louis urinating frequently on Wed. Took her to the vet on thursday am and she found no bacteria in her urine but did see an increase in white blood cells. She prescribed tetracycline for two weeks for a possible UTI but also stated that Louis' spleen felt slightly enlarged which could indicate cancer. She suggested we monitor Louis and get blood work later at her yearly in November. My question is — should I be more proactive and get her checked out now? She has stopped the frequent urination, she is eating well and active and no changes in her stoole. The vet also noted that her "tummy" doesn't seem tight. I have not noticed any changes as she has a weird shape. —Rebecca Answer: Hi Rebecca, Thanks for your excellent question regarding your canine pal, Louis. It is never wrong to be proactive with regard to your pet's health. It would be wise to return to your vet when you finish Louis' antibiotics for the urinary tract infection. At that time, your vet can recheck the urine to be sure the urinary abnormality has resolved as well as pursuing the potential spleen issue. The diagnostics used for an enlarged spleen include some or all of the following: blood-work (CBC/Chemistry), abdominal x-rays, and abdominal ultrasound. If these non-invasive tests confirm an enlarged spleen (splenomegally) or irregular spleen, surgical exploratory is often performed. Occasionally, surgical biopsies of the spleen can be obtained leaving the spleen in place. However, the spleen is an organ that dogs can easily live without. So, if there is an abnormality, the spleen is often removed (splenectomy), and sections from the removed spleen are sent for biopsy. Many things affect the size and shape of the spleen including benign and malignant growths, infections, immune system disorders, and injuries. Louis is lucky to have a Mom like you! Let us know if you have further questions. Lori L. Elliott, DVM
Should we still get the lymph node biopsy originally suggested by our vet? Last week my dog, Buster, became gradually sick. First of all he would cry when I rubbed behind his ears. Then it became worse where he wouldn't eat, his face was extremely swollen and he would just get up to go outside to use the bathroom. He couldn't bark and would cough and was running a fever of 103º-104º. We took him to the vet (Monday) where she put him on baytryl. He seemed to get worse so we took him back to the vet (Tuesday) and he was then put on amoxicillin and some pain medicine along with the baytryl. They gave him fluids and put a catheter in his leg and soaked him in a cool tub to try to get his fever down. The Vet wanted to check on him again Wed. She looked at him and he wasn't much improved but they thought he looked a little more alert and he would eat a little canned food and I would give him his medicine in ice cream which he ate. The vet told us to come back Saturday and get the catheter out of his leg and and she would check him again. We went in Saturday and he was still the same, coughing and not eating well and swollen. They then prescribed prednisolone 20mg. We gave him one pill Saturday morning at 11 and by 4pm he was MUCH better. By the end of the weekend he was almost back to his normal self...barking and begging for food. His face is not swollen and he looks really good. The vet wanted to do a biopsy Tuesday on his lymph nodes but we took him back today (Monday) and she says that they don't need to do one now. They tested his blood the first time we took him and they said it looked ok. My question to you is...should we still get the biopsy or should we trust the vet that it was just and inflammatory infection in his lymph nodes? I am glad he is much better but I am scared it could still be cancer and it is just the prednisolone that is making him better. Thank you for your time!! —Christy Answer: There are a few reasons for a swollen head. These include allergic reaction (i.e. spider bite, bee sting, snake bite, etc), blocked lymphatics by an enlarged lymph node or blocked blood vessel. The lymphatic system parallels the blood vessel system and is responsible for draining the body of toxins, supplying inflammatory cells that fight infection. Lymph nodes (can be thought of as houses for inflammatory cells) can be enlarged due to infection or cancer. Blood vessels draining the head can also be blocked by enlarged lymph nodes.
I have recently taken my dog, Pepper, to the vet she is 13 years old, over Thanksgiving break I discovered a nice sized lump on the left side of her stomach area that protrudes some inside of her. The first thing the vet said was he believed it to be a tumor and to come in the next day for x-rays. When I arrived back he said it is a tumor and gave me options. Prior to this she had no signs and three months ago she had a vaginal infection reoccurring and was placed on a diet food that could have been brought at my vets called C/D that wouldn't have anything to do with the tumor would it because he told me to discontinue giving that food to her without any reasoning? Also now I am canceling out dog from since now she is diagnosed and already has a heart murmor and is old, and surgery was said to be risky. I am currently doing a low carb/protein diet with senior vitamin supplement is this good in her time being? Also is there any type of medication that can help stop the growth of the tumor? Last she goes to the bathroom regularly but sometimes has accidents inside, she has some difficulties moving her bowels because the mass has pushed all her intestines up and back is there anything I can do to help assist her with this issue. Your help will be greatly appreciated because I have been doing research and some things are just overwhelming, and times are difficult right now to continue taking her to the vet and get different responses every time until my pockets are drained with no answer or help for Pepper. Thank you I just want to keep her as comfortable and healthy as long as possible. —Karen Answer: Dear Karen, I just received your e-mail about Pepper and you certainly do have a lot of information to "digest". I can understand why it is so overwhelming. Let's take it one item at a time: 1) The mass. You found it but part of it is "inside" Pepper too-is that 2) The C/D diet. This is a prescription diet often used for recurrent 3) Present diet. So I assuming she is not on C/D now as you mentioned a low 4) Growth of tumor. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop progrssion of 5) You mentioned a heart murmur. Is that being addressed? Just curious and Thanks so much for inquiring and my best to you and Pepper. Please keep us Sincerely, Dr. Carolyn Evans
River is a 3.5 year old golden retriever. He's itchy. I've been reading about food allergies and about 6 months ago switched him to Nature's? Lamb & Rice with no wheat, corn, additives or meat by-products but he's still itchy. He does not have fleas. He does have dry skin although it's much better since I switched his food. Any suggestions...what else might help? He's a healthy, trim 96 pounds and table food is an exception...not a daily routine. —Donna Answer: Hi Donna, Thanks for your question about River's itch problem.? Assuming River does not have mites or a skin infection, it sounds like he, like many Golden Retrievers, may have skin allergies.? There are three main categories of itch-producing allergies.? Flea bite allergy dermatitis causes severe itching? around the rump. Dogs that are allergic to fleas can be intensively itchy for up to two weeks after a single flea bite.? Because it only takes one bite, many of theses dogs do not appear to have a flea problem.? The second category of itch-causing allergies is atopy or inhaled allergic dermatitis. Atopy, like human "hay fever", is caused by inhaled allergens.? These allergens cause itching often around the face, feet and rear end.? Atopy is generally a seasonal problem that slowly goes away when the source of the allergen is gone.? Medications help with the symptoms.? The third major cause of canine skin allergies is food allergy.? Unlike atopy, food allergy symptoms are non-seasonal, but cause itching especially around the face and rear area.? Some dogs require a special prescription diet to slowly eliminate the symptoms of food allergy induced itching. For River, I recommend you take him to your vet to check his skin.? First, your vet will determine if he has an infectious cause (bacterial, fungal or parasitic).? ?Then, based on history,clinical signs, and distribution of lesions, he or she will prescribe a treatment plan for River.? Board Certified?Veterinary Dermatologists can be found in most moderate to large cities.? If your vet cannot relieve River's itching, you may want to see a Dematologist. Thanks for your question, and good luck with River's itch! Lori Elliott, DVM
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