Sudden bad breathQ: My dog's breath has gotten really bad just recently...it's normally not great but recently has gotten really putrid, almost fishy. this has been consistent for almost a week so i don't think it's something he ate. i'm planning to take him to the vet soon for a check-up but is there anything that you know may be causing this in the mean time? A: Could be build up of tartar on teeth or gingivitis or oral infection. might need teeth cleaning and antibiotic therapy. take to vet when possible
Enlarged nippleQ: My beagle/terrier mix, is almost 9 years old she has had an enlarged nipple once before, we didn't think anything of it, one day it broke and bled, then it was fine. well gradually within the last 3 months its gotten way bigger than last time, what do you suggest we do, or know what it could be, other than that, she is always scratching herself, and has real puffy dry swelled skin above her tail on her back side, we give her baths and treat the puffy area with peroxide. are we leaving something out? thanks A: Could be benign cyst of teat or less likely a more malignant tumor. take and have evaluated at vet. if persists, might want to have surgical biopsy
Ear infectionsQ: My black lab chief has chronic ear infections my husband about every two weeks when it gets real bad cleans them and puts medicine in them. my question is could he take a pill that would actually clear up the infection. i believe he never gets rid of the actual infection. help (he's 4 years old and 115 lbs.) big dog. A: Have him seen by your veterinarian.
Sick puppyQ: I have a 8 month old, 3 lb chihuahua that has been sick since yesterday. she was administered with once a month wormer and squeeze on flea control. the flea control was (unknowingly at the time) for dogs over 33 pounds. we bathed the dog after about 1/2 hour.but she will not eat, drink, and just lies around.she had a very wet, somewhat hard bowel movement lastnight with a trace of blood in it.she has also vomited whenever she drinks water and it looks like human spit. she also gags, and you can hear her stomach gurgling, and she acts like her stomach is sore. she is also running a little fever. i do not have the money to take her to the vet, but i don't want her to die either. do you have any suggestions as to what may be wrong with my little doggie? thank you very much for any help you may give. A: You need to bring her to a veterinarian or veterinary emergency room immediately.
PancreatitisQ: Dear dr., my 8 yr old vizsla suffered an attack of "pancreatitis" on mem day weekend. she was hospitalized and fasted, given iv, antibiotics and carafate. we gradually weaned her from hamburger/rice to dry dog food and she started to suffer again. her lab chemistry reports were all normal including lipase. amylase was 1538 and our vet suggested hamburger/rice and gradually wean to hills id this time. we are doing that but she seems so "depressed". could she be this way due to pain? how long does it take for the pancreas to heal so there is no more pain? should she be taking any other med or supplement to help the pancreas heal? A: Tough to say as each case of pancreatitis is different. despite sometimes even diet therapy some dogs can have relapses. usually most recover in a matter of days to a week. however i would make sure diagnosis is correct by having abdominal ultrasound done as many vets over diagnose this condition based on blood tests. also consider prozyme supplementation from 1800petmeds which can help long term as well as making home made diet as described in book dr. pitcairns guide to natural health for dogs and cats by richard pitcairn, dvm
Shop for: prozyme, 1800petmeds
Chewing and diggingQ: My rot is constantly scratching and digging. her fur is falling out and i don't know what to do. i was told that it was her dogfood because of corn being the main ingrediant. is that a correct assumption? if so what would be a good and affordable brand of dogfood? A: Corn mayor may not be involved. can have allergies to any ingredients. io would try low allergy natural diet such as wellness fish and potato or california natural lamb and rice diet by natura. if no help after 6 weeks, then you might want to have inhalent allergy workup via skin or blood allergy testing at vet dermatologist
