Got a question for a Doctor? |
| Posted on: Saturday. May 03, 2008 By: Joshua Jones How much should I feed an 8 week old bassett puppy. and how often? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Joshua, congrats on your new puppy! I would use the back of the food bag as a very rough guideline. Another rule of thumb is 1 cup per 20 pounds. It is best for puppies to grow slowly and to be on the thin side to allow their bones and joints to develop properly, so monitor your little one to make sure he/she isn't getting too chubby. The usual recommendation is to feed 2-3 times per day. I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions please let me know. Sincerely, Dr Stacy Robinson |
| Posted on: Monday. April 28, 2008 By: Melissa What do you feed a 4 week old Shitzu pup, mom is tuckered out and is thin. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Melissa-4 weeks of age is a good time to start introducing puppy food. You can mix it with water or puppy formula to make a "mush". And yes, it will also make a mess! You can also use products like Nutrical (high calorie vitamin and mineral supplement) in small quantities. It is a little early for them to be weaned completely, though. Based on your description I am concerned about mom. Are you feeding her puppy food also? Have you had her dewormed recently and had her checked out by your vet since she whelped to make sure her calcium isn't too low? Ideally she should be able to nourish the pups until 6 weeks of age or more. I hope all is well and that everyone is healthy. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Dr Stacy Robinson |
| Posted on: Monday. April 28, 2008 By: lincarr we have adopted a dachound female. she seems potty trained, however, she poops only during the night when we are asleep. she seems fine during the day with urinating. what would cause this |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: How old is your dog and has she been to the vet for a regular checkup? Is the stool normal in appearance? If there are no underlying health issues, that leaves a behavioral problem as the cause. Depending on her age (younger the better) it may be fairly easy to break her of this. I would start by trying to take her on long walks before bed to see if you can get her to move her bowels before going to sleep. If she refuses to do this, try putting her in a crate at night (comfortable size but not too much larger than she is) and see if she will hold it then. Dogs often will not go in their crate because after they go, they cannot get away from the mess. If neither of these suggestions work email us back for further recommendation including the above questions answered and descriptions of what happened when you tried the initial recommendations. Hope this helps! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Saturday. April 26, 2008 By: Connie I have just brought my yorkie poo puppy home she is 9 weeks old and approx 2and1/2 lbs.I noticed a rattle in her chest the lady said it was from bathing that morning and inhaling water. when she is sleeping no sounds but when i pick her up she gets excited and starts rattling. she is no to friendly yet since i have just had her 4 hours lol just wanted to know if i should hunt vet tonight |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello Connie, If your new puppy has aspirated some fluid during a bath, this could progressively get worse and make her very sick. I would certainly pursue a veterinarian as soon as you can for further evaluation, chest xrays, and potentially bloodwork. Although she seems okay now for the most part, aspiration pneumonia could progress fairly quickly and you want to catch it before that happens. Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Friday. April 11, 2008 By: ali My Enghlish bulldog is 2 yrs old. He had surgery to remove kidney stones in October 2007. Now when he gets excited he acts if something is on his butt. He always scooting on it like something is irritating him. Do you think that something could be wrong with him. He also loses some of his hair so he gets meds for that when that happens. He also just had an ear infection. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Ali, this is actually a fairly common behavior and the vast majority of dogs exhibiting this sign have full or irritated anal glands (glands located near the anus that are supposed to express their contents when defecating). If the glands do not regularly express, they will continue to fill and become irritated. At this point you should bring him to your veterinarian for manual expression of the glands as they will continue to cause discomfort until emptied. This is a common problem with allergic dogs and with the history of his recent ear infection and skin problems I would consider possible underlying allergies contributing to these conditions which your veterinarian can look into. Let us know if you have any other questions! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Sunday. April 06, 2008 By: jane morton Hello, My daughter just got a toy, miniature schnauzer (I know, there is no such thing, but anyway......). The puppy is 8 weeks old, very tiny and not drinking any water. She licks it off your fingers, but will not drink out of a bowl. She is eating and going to the bathroom. She plays and sleeps during the day. Is this something she will to do, drink from a bowl, eventually? Should my daughter be very concerned? She is going to the vet tomorrow, to have Percy looked at and checked over. I just think she should be drinking water. What do you think? Thanks, Jane |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Jane, I hope your visit to the vet went well! I would not be too concerned about your puppy not drinking out of a bowl yet, however it is important that she stays hydrated. Continue offering water on your finger and offer canned food (contains a lot of moisture and will help keep her hydrated) at least until she begins drinking out of a bowl. If she starts acting lethargic, not eating, etc, then I would be concerned and she should see a veterinarian as soon as you can bring her in. I hope this helps! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Friday. April 04, 2008 By: Heather hello, I was hoping you could tell me why my little 3yr old female pek has pimple like things on her back tummy bottom of her paws and inbetween her toes and well just about every where. Plus for no reason she gets diareha and say on the third day or so there will be blood in it. she has had pyametra (sp) so she can't have puppies. Her main diet is boiled chicken and rice. Then as a snack we will give her a bit of cheese and a fig newton. Her sister is a pek-a- poo. not from the same family though. So do you think you can help me? Heather P.S. the pimple are like tiny little white eggs very hard and sometimes when they burst open it will be just like a human pimple and then sometimes it is black. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Heather, the pimple like lesions on your pet's skin sound like pustules, which is just a fancy word for a skin infection. This can usually be cleared up with antibiotics and medicated shampoo, among other things. However, there is usually an underlying cause that has to be addressed. Things that need to be ruled out include mange, fungal disease and allergie. Allergies are very widespread in dogs and the most common ones are to fleas, food, or inhaled particles (like pollen). It sounds like you pup doesn't have a very well balanced diet, so I would be concerned that her skin and her diarrhea issues might all be related to that. I recommend cutting out the cheese and the fig newtons right away. Other things that can cause diarrhea include parasites, pancreatitis, and more serious diseases like cancer. I would recommend having your little girl checked out by a veterinarian-they can help you clear up both her skin and her upset GI tract. Good luck! Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Tuesday. April 01, 2008 By: Tova Hooper I have a question... I have 4 kitties that are in your care: Kali, Toast, Munch and Tina. They have all been seen at your office in the last year, some in the last few months. We found a flea on Munch! AACK! I treated my dog with drops obtained from your office, but am out of cat treatment! What do you suggest? And can I pick some up from your pharmacy?? Thanks! Tova Hooper |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Tova, Thank you for your question!! I would recommend that you treat all your cats with Revolution. This is a great product that can be applied topically to the skin on the back of their neck once a month. It will protect against fleas, ticks and heartworms. You can pick it up at our pharmacy we sell it in six month supplies and in singles. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Monday. March 31, 2008 By: Brook McCollum Our puppy (about 6 months old) has defecated and urinated in his crate for the past 3 days. This is the first time this has been a problem since we brought him home. As a result of the first instance, we have made a point of getting up in the middle of the night to let him out. Regardless, by morning, his crate is a mess and so is he. His stool is soft and green, but not diarrhea. His diet has not changed, nor have any other habits. During the day, his stool is normal color and consistency and he has no problems going outside. Another issue we have struggled with - he will come inside, immediately after relieving himself outside and promptly find a corner and urinate indoors. (He will WAIT until we aren`t paying attention and sneak off, then rejoin the clan as if nothing ever happened. We have not been able to catch him in the act. And we have been trying to in order to correct the behavior!!) Between the past 3 mornings of crate overhauling, constant chasing after and cleaning up of urine spots, etc – we are coming to the end of our rope. Crate & potty training was NOT this difficult with our other 2 dogs. We know it takes work and patience, but this is starting to grate on our nerves. We have done everything the books tell us to and have tried a number of "new" techniques from friends and family. None of it seems to be working!!! Any suggestions would be helpful. I would sincerely hate to part with this pup, as he is a LOVEABLE critter, but he is starting to teach my other 2 bad habits that we have LONG eliminated. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Brook, I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a struggle with your pup. Some dogs just don't learn as quickly as others and it sounds like your little guy needs some remedial education! First and foremost I would want to rule out any kind of health problem that would make it hard for him to control his bowels or bladder (GI parasites, urinary tract infection, etc). Then, I would recommend a lot of positive reinforcement when he does the right thing (uriates or defecates outside). Praise him and occaisionally give him a food reward. You must time this while he is going to the bathroom, not when he comes back to the house, otherwise he may be confused about what the reward is for. You are correct in that you cannot punish him for going in the house unless you catch him in the act, otherwise he won't understand what the punishment is for. Puppie have about a 5 minute attention span and everything before that is forgotten. You can increase your chances of catching him, though, by preventing him from "sneaking off". Use what is call the umbilical technique-attach one end of a leash to your puppy and the other end to you. That way he will have to stick close by your side. If you can't be watching him, then he should go in his crate. If he continues to urinate/defecate in his crate, then you should talk to your veterinarian. Once any health problems have been ruled out, then they can discuss the size of the crate, your feeding schedule, separation anexiety, or other factors that might be causing him to go in his "house". I hope this helps. Potty training can be complicated and require time and patience. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Dr Stacy Robinson |
| Posted on: Saturday. March 29, 2008 By: Stephanie Thompson Can you please tell me what age is a dog considered a "senior?" What age should dogs be switched to senior dogfood? Is there a standard age or does it depend on the breed? I know younger adult dogs usually are eating kibble with higher protein levels. And less protein is needed for less active, older dogs. Just curious when to be making the switch. Thanks For Reading, - Stephanie Thompson |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Stephanie, A good general guideline is "senior after seven", but that is just a starting point. Larger dogs age more rapidly and smaller dogs tend to live longer, so the age that they are considered senior is slightly lower or higher, respectively. It also depends on how active your pet is and if he/she has any special needs like joint disease or kidney disease. Hope that helps. If you are still confused, talk to your veterinarian-they can give you personalized advice based on your pets. Good luck! Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Tuesday. March 25, 2008 By: Cindy My cats both had their annual rabies and distemper shots today. They are 9 years old and in good health. One of my cats threw up 8 hours after I gave her food. Is this a normal reaction to the shot or should I worry. She usually doesn't eat much and sleeps after her shots and is fine by the next day but this is the first time she has thrown up. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Cindy, Vaccine reactions can be very serious and life threatening in certain animals. The most extreme symptoms include facial swelling, hives, trouble breathing, pale gums, etc. Those are signs of an anaphylactic reaction. Vomiting and diarrhea can also be signs of a serious reaction. There are also less severe reactions that can occur. It is not unusual for kitties to be sleepy the day after vaccines or to occaisionally have soreness at the injection site. If your pet only vomited one time, that long post vaccine, I would not be too concerned. However, if she is not feeling better by tomorrow you should contact your vet. Also, at 9 yrs of age she has probably built up a pretty good level of immunity. The next time she is due for vaccines you might ask your vet to do titers (a simple blood test) instead of shots. Rabies shots must still be given due to human health concerns, but there is a vaccine available that is good for 3 years. I hope this helps and that your little girl is back to normal in the morning. Sincerely, Dr Stacy Robinson |
| Posted on: Monday. March 17, 2008 By: Yvette Simba, my domestic tabby, has had constant diarreah for the past few days. She's been drinking a lot of water, too. Otherwise, she seems normal - playing, purring, etc. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is there something I can do about the diarreah? The only thing I can think of is the fact that I've been giving her deli turkey or chicken as a treat (at least twice a day). She's being spoiled, but am I upsetting her stomach? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Yvette, I'm sorry your kitty isn't feeling well. The diarrhea can certainly be concerning because if it is very frequent this can lead to dehydration (hence the increased drinking). Additionally, it may be caused by a more concerning underlying problem that needs to be addressed such as intestinal parasites (which could be passed along to other animals in the house, even people!). The diarrhea may be as simple as the treats you have been giving her but I would recommend having her stool evaluated to rule out other more concerning underlying problems. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr. John Joyce |
| Posted on: Friday. March 14, 2008 By: Eddie lichtman Dear Doctor We have a six year old Shi Tzu. In the four years we have had her,she has had about six or seven episodes of what I call Asthma attacks. She has difficulty breathing and makes this horrible hacking noise. When this happens, I pat her sides and talk to her to keep her calm. It lasts about two or three minutes and she is fine.It happens in the house and out side. At other times, she will through up a clear yellow fluid. She is a good little dog and I would like to help her. Thank you |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello Eddie, We would love to help your little girl! Shih Tzus, because of the conformation of their face (brachycephalic) can have breathing issues from time to time. Some things that are problematic in such breeds include very small nostrils, an elongated soft palate, reduced cartilage support of the trachea (which allows it to collapse), and a laryngeal problem known as everted laryngeal saccules. Her breathing episodes are likely one or a combination of these problems mentioned above which could only be determined with a thorough physical exam and possibly radiographs, both of which I recommend for her. Unfortunately surgery can only correct some of these problems but medications can offer some relief. Additionally, collapsing trachea is a very common problem and signs with this condition can be significantly reduced with use of a harness to walk (rather then a neck lead) and maintaining a healthy weight (obesity further collapses the airway). I hope this information helps. Call us to schedule an appointment if desired! Sincerely, Dr. John Joyce |
| Posted on: Tuesday. March 11, 2008 By: John J. La Spina Dear Doctor: Is there any kind of medicine I could give my dog to calm her down or eliminate her separation anxiety? My two dogs are clients at your Clinic. My one is a Rottweiler and he is PERFECT in every way. My other is a Belgian Malenois/Shepherd mix. She is 6 years old and is pregressively becoming unmanageable in that she shows extreme signs of separation anxiety when I'm gone. I have web cams set up so I can watch my dogs while I'm at work, and this has taught me a lot about my dogs. The melnois/shepherd barks NON STOP almost all day long outside and inside of the house. She never EVER bark while I'm home. She fixates on things like the fact that I'm gone. When I'm home, she fixates on BALLS. I mean FIXATES like she has a disease or something. I have contemplated giving her up because of this, but I really don't want to do that unless it's the last resort. I know that part of her Malenois breed is to fixate on objects like balls, but this separation anxiety is becoming a problem as she disturbs my neighbors. Is there any kind of medicine I could give her to calm her down or eliminate her separation anxiety? Sincerely, John J. La Spina 561-568-6691 jjlaspina@aol.com |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: John, I was looking at the pictures we have of Sophie and she is a beautiful girl! However, it certainly sounds like she has a behavior issue. Medications are available, but there are a few steps that we need to take first. Initially, she needs to be examined and have some rountine bloodwork done to rule out any underlying health issues (and to make sure she can tolerate the medication if it is needed). Then, we would discuss some behavior modification techiques. One thing that is very important is making sure she gets enough exercise (minimum of 30 minutes of hard exercise daily, more if she is a very energetic dog). Some owners have to take their pets jogging, biking, to daycare or to dog parks in order to wear them out enough. Also, using enrichment toys (Busy Buddy, Kong, etc) stuffed with her food or favorite treats when you leave can help keep her mind busy and keep her distracted. In addition, having really low key homecomings and exits is very important. I know it is great to feel missed, but do not get her all excited(IE-ignore her for the first few minutes prior to leaving and after returning home). The use of natural products like the DAP plug in (it releases a calming pheromone) can also be beneficial. Sometimes just taking these simple steps will make a drastic impovement in an animal's anxiety level. It is great that you have been able to observe her via the web cam! That is valuble information to have and will allow you to asses her progress. If she is still showing signs of separation anexiety, then medication would be an option. I would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you. Please give me a call or schedule a time to bring her in. Sincerely, Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Sunday. March 09, 2008 By: Ellen I have a healthy 3 1/2 year old male shitzu and in the last few weeks or so, I have noticed that he is loosing the small front lower teeth (it looks like 3 are gone). He plays quite hard with his stuffed animal (thrashing it around) and I was hoping that these are his baby teeth and will grow back. Thank you for your help. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Ellen, thanks for your question! Shih tzus are what we call a brachycephalic breed, meaning their entire face is very compact (versus say a greyhound, with a very elongated face). Although very cute, unfortunately this compact design can lead to some medical issues such as bad teeth (very crowded in the mouth), narrowed airways, small nostrils, etc. My guess is that your male has some crowded teeth that aren't seated into jaw very well, which makes them prone to loosening and falling out. Unfortunately he is well past the age of losing baby teeth so these are adult teeth. He won't even notice they are gone but we don't want him to lose teeth unnecessarily so make sure you take really good care of the other teeth - brush them regularly and pursue an oral exam and dental cleaning. Tartar buildup and gingivitis will lead to tooth loss and this can be prevented. Please let us know if we can be of any additional help! Thanks, Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Thursday. February 28, 2008 By: janet I HAVE TWO YORKIES, 2 YEAR OLD AND 6 YEAR MALES. THEY BOTH HAVE STARTED PEEING IN THE HOUSE WHEN I AM NOT HERE, WHAT CAN I USE TO PREVENT THIS? I TRIED CLEANING THE BASEBOARDS WITH CLEANERS, ETC. BUT THEY CONTINUE PEEING. IS THERE ANY HOME REMEDIES OR PRODUCT I CAN USE? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Janet, There are some great enzyme cleaners out there that will help eliminate the urine odor, but unless you figure out the underlying cause of this unpleasantness it will most likely continue. First of all, I would like to know if your pets are neutered? Some dogs will mark their territory by urinating on it and intact males are more likely to do that. At 2yrs of age your younger pup is reaching his sexual maturity and your "first born" may be feeling challenged. Having said that, I would also want to rule out any medical problems, like a urinary tract infection or bladder stones. You mention that this mostly occurs when you are not home, so it could also be another behavior issue like separation anexiety. Your veterinarian can help you work through some of these potential medical causes of the indoor peeing and can give you advice on behavior modification techniques like positive reinforcement for going outside, crate training and enrichment toys to use when you are not home. In the mean time, you need to eliminate the smell so they won't be attracted back to the same places. Equalizer is a great veterinary product for odor and stain removal. Just make sure that what ever you use is and enzyme cleaner. Good luck! Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Tuesday. February 05, 2008 By: art marcial i am a first time dog owner and i am looking for a vet to take my pet i was wondewring about pricing on visits and availability... |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Art, Thank you for your question. The cost for a visit is $45 and we are available seven days a week. Our hours are Monday- Friday 7AM-6:30PM and Saturday-Sunday 8AM-5PM. Please call with any questions, 561-439-3220. Good Luck!! Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Thursday. January 24, 2008 By: Darrell Elmer Our dog, COCO, has been treated recently due to weight loss and was provided medication to treat for possible stomach issues. She is not doing any better to my liking as she still is eating minimally. After doing research, it seems like she has all the symptoms of GIARDIA. What can I do to take care of this. It mentions that can be treated, possibly. Please let me know what the next step is as she has completed taking the pills she was prescribed. 740-4472 home phone |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Darrell, I am so glad that you emailed!! I tried calling for an update on Coco the number we had for you was 740-4772 and I kept calling it and there would be no answer!! So needless to say I happy you emailed, but I am not happy to hear that Coco is still doing poorly. As far as Giardia is concerned it is a protozoan which dogs ingest cysts shed from infected animals, often via water. Signs can vary from mild to severe diarrhea and usually does not have mucus or blood, but there can be variations. The treatment is Metronidazole (flagyl) for 7-10 days. Coco was treated with Flagyl I believe for 7 days. We can certainly test Coco for Giardia. Please call me with any questions I want to find out what is going on with Coco. Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Friday. January 18, 2008 By: Donielle ReJune Hi. I will be having a baby in 3 months and my husband and I are greatly concerned how our 11 year old terrior/poodle mix will react to the new baby. He has always had dominance issues with all children and we need some advice on how to go about fixing this problem. We have no intentions of giving him up - he's part of the family but really need help. We have always just kept him away from children to avoid any problems but now we need a solution. Recently we tried to bring him around a friends child and I'm sure if he wasn't restrained he would have bitten him. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Donielle, Thank you for your quesion, unfortunately we are dealing with a serious situation. I would highly recommend that you seek a Veterinarian Behaviorist to come to you your home and evaluate your dog. There are some behavioral modifying medications but I would be hesitant to start him on any medications until a behavioralist could examin him and he has been fully examined by a veterinarian. Please let us know if we can help you in any other way. Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Monday. January 14, 2008 By: Christie Hardcastle Hi there, One of my cats, Ginger, a female approx. 8 years of age, has recently been acting as if she is going into heat. All my cats are fixed and when we found her (6 years ago) we were told by our vet at the time that she looked to have been fixed. However now I'm not sure what to think! She has always been a little crazy but lately, it has gotten quite bad. Is there a way to find out if she indeed was spayed or spayed properly? If she needs to be spayed or respayed, is it safe in an 8 year old cat? Help! I really need to be able to sleep again! Thanks! Christie |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Christie, I'm sorry your cat isn't allowing you to get any rest! We can certainly try to help figure this out for you. First what I would recommend to do is bring her in for an appointment. We will shave her abdomen and look for a spay scar. Based on the behavior information you provide and if there is doubt that she has previouly been spayed based on our exam, the next step would be an exploratory surgery to search for ovaries or ovarian remnants. Please call if you have more questions! 561-439-3220 Thanks, Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Thursday. January 10, 2008 By: angie I have a 6 year old male English Bulldog and an 8 month old female english bulldog. My female was recenly in heat. We kept the dogs separated but while we were out one evening they BROKE the door that was separating them down. My question is - Is it possible for English Bulldogs to become pregnant without artificial insemination? Everything I have researced and read says they have to be AI. If so, what are the chances? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Angie, Broke the door down huh? Sounds like some determined pups! Well since English Bulldogs do have a lot of problems being successfully bred naturally, I'd say chances are in your favor of an unsuccessful mating. Having said that, some are still bred naturally so there is an outside chance that they were successful. If you are concerned an ultrasound can confirm pregnancy around 24 days after mating and an xray can confirm and give accurate puppy count at ~45 days. If you are not planning on breeding your female I do recommend having her spayed as this behavior will likely continue each time she goes into heat. Hope this helps! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Saturday. January 05, 2008 By: Ana Hi! I just added a kitten to my family. She is a Russia Blue mix and we've been finding some odd little yellow dots in our bed where she sleeps sometimes. The dots sort of look like yellowish hamster droppings. We don't know if they are from her or what they are. I think that she has clean fur. Since she has short fur, I didn't see any on her fur, but I'm still concerned that they might be from her. Do you know anything about this? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Ana! Congrats on your new family member. It is hard to say exactly what those yellow dots might be based on your description, but I suspect they might be tapeworm segments. Tapeworms live in the intestines, but they shed off little pieces of themselves which are passed in the pet's stool. Sometimes these segments get stuck to the pet's tail or butt and can fall off into the environment. They are often described as rice-like. How old is your kitty? Has she been examined by your vet yet? That would be the best place to start. They could do a fecal test for tapeworms and also inspect her for fleas (where tapeworms come from). Your vet could also rule out any other conditions that might be causing these yellow droppings if it is not tapeworms. Goodluck! Sincerely, Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Saturday. December 01, 2007 By: Luri I recently added to my family - a purebred Pembroke Corgi-he is almost 12 weeks, came from Alabama.I took him to the vet today to get his rabies, etc. and also due to I kept hearing "rattling" in his chest, could also feel it, some loose like coughing when playing,not a whole lot though-he would sneeze every once in a while, no nose or eye discharge, no fever.Vet checked him and said all was AOK/heart, lungs clear, eyes clear, etc. - He had all his 3 sets of puppy stuff from breeder, all except the Bord which he got today - Vet said he was all done with everything until next year - Just curious, what would cause these symptoms and have nothing be wrong? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Luri, Congratulations on your new family member! Without seeing and listening to your puppy it is hard for me to say what might be going on, but young dogs are very prone to upper respiratory infections (like a cold). These are usually viral in nature, but sometimes a bacterial infection can develop and can even spread down into the lungs. It is possible that your puppy previously had a cold and still has some lingering symptoms. Other potential causes include parasite migration (intestinal worms travel up the trachea and get coughed up), or a heart condition. Was a fecal floatation (parasite test) performed? I would definitly recommend that. Was your puppy dewormed several time? All puppies start out with intestinal parasites and need to be tested and treated. Chest xrays might need to be done as well to check the heart and lungs. If you are concerned, I would ask your vet to take another look. Better safe than sorry! Good luck! Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Tuesday. November 27, 2007 By: Tanya hello, I recently got to rescue pre breed shih tzu 11 mo old puppies. They were in a neglectful environment and had spent therir entire lives outside. One puppy is perfectly fine. Althought he does eat poop alot! The other dog is extremely skittish, nervous won't walk on a lease, won't eat from your had, won't do anything but hide in the kennel and poop ALL OVER THE PLACE if you walk past him, something falls, paper rattles,or LOOK at him. Will poop if you take him out( carry because otherwise he won't come out of the cage) come in the house and the first loud noise immediately have diareah that is uncontrollable. Took them both to a vet had all the shots and everything they needed. The vet said small dog has "stress Colitis" ti think that's what she called it. My husband has had enough of the nervous pooping and is ready to find him a new home. I want to try and keep him but unless the nervous pooping stops he will have to go. He does have intestional paresites and has started meds. My question is will this help with the uncontrollable pooping. It's so much I'm afraid it will make my other dog (Maltese 6yrs) sick. When he alone poops walking in you would think several dogs made the mess. If I slpit the two puppies up how will this affect them. Tanya |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello Tanya! I would certainly like to help you keep both puppies. The chronic diarrhea that your one puppy is experiencing is certainly abnormal and there is likely an underlying condition that needs to be addressed. Parasites, food allergies, stress, and several other underlying illnesses could contribute to this condition. In a younger dog I would expect parasite infestation to be most likely. What was your pet dewormed with? What parasites were found in the fecal exam? Were any other medications prescribed? It sounds to me that your puppy needs further veterinary evaluation including a repeat fecal exam. I recommend that you bring it in for evaluation +/- additional medications. The nervousness may take some time to resolve if the puppy has suffered some traumatic experiences prior to your care. A lot of love and socialization would be my recommendation to help with the nerves. Hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Friday. November 23, 2007 By: Chantel hey it's me again. I want'd to know if there are any commercial products that can help get rid of worms? we're kind of on a budget now my mom is out of town and we can't really make it to the vet. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Chantel, Ideally your pets would see a veterinarian to determine what kind of worms they have and then treat accordingly. There are multiple types of intestinal parasites which are handled differently (different deworming products and/or necessary lengths of treatment). We could certainly offer you an estimate on a hopsital visit, fecal exam, and deworming product so you know what costs to expect. Anything you could obtain commercially would not be labeled for use on a cat or dog and could potentially be unsafe. Monthly heartworm preventions often offer some control of intestinal parasites as well and is highly recommended due to the prevelance of heartworm disease in Florida. Please feel free to give us a call if you have any further questions! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Friday. November 16, 2007 By: Chantel Is it normal for cats to urinate and do their business in the shower or a bathtub? my cat jus startd doing this out of nowhere but i keep his litterbox clean and it's not in the bathroom it's by the door he's never done this before he's always used his litterbox. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Chantel! Although it is not normal for cats to urinate in strange places, it is not uncommon either. Sometimes it can be a symptom of a urinary tract problem and sometimes it is just a behavior problem. It is important to have your cat examined by a veterinarian to first rule out any medical conditions like an infection or bladder stones. Male cats can also develop a blockage in the urethra that prevents them from urinating, and that is an emergency. If it turns out to be a behavioral problem then you vet will make suggestions like increasing the number of litterboxes you have, putting them in different locations, changing your cat's diet, and enriching his environment by adding climbing trees, using products like Feliway, etc. I hope you find this information useful. Inappropriate urination in cats is a frustrating condition, so good luck! Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Wednesday. November 14, 2007 By: Carrie Hello, about 2 weeks ago we purchased a puppy. We already had 2 dogs, in the home so this makes number 3. The new puppy now has diareha (sp) and one of my other dogs has been throwing up consistantly for a day. I gave her pepto this morning and it calmed her belly for a little bit but has since gotten sick. I can't really afford the vet at this current time is there anything I can do for them? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Carrie, Thanks for the question. First how old is your puppy and how old are your other dogs? Has your puppy had any vaccines or had its stool checked for any parasites? The diarrhea could be from a number of things, the most likely causes would be parasites, change in diet, viral disease, and/or stress from coming into a new home. As far as your other dog depending on how old he is and his vaccine status, his vomiting could be unrelated to your puppy. Although you can not afford to take him to a vet at this time I strongly recommend that you do there are a lot of cuases of vomiting and like I stated before it can be unrelated to your puppy. At this time what you can do is to with hold any food or water for 24hours from the last time your dog vomited. After 24 hours you can start offering him small meals of a very bland diet (chicken and white rice). Offer him several small meals for about two days if no vomiting you can start him back on his regular diet on day three, but if the vomiting continues he really should be seen by a veterinarian. If you have any more questions please email us back. Thank you again for your question, Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Monday. October 29, 2007 By: Mery I have a 6 month havanese and he has already thrown up twice in 2 weeks. We are curretntly feedin him pure and natural hard puppy chow form the pet supermarket. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Maria, Is your havanese up to date on vaccines? Has he had a fecal exam? Does he get anything other then the puppy food? If the vomiting continues you should seek further evaluation by a veterinarian. All puppies should see a veterinarian regulary for the first several months for vaccines, stool examinations, and thorough physicals. I hope this helps! DrJ |
| Posted on: Wednesday. September 12, 2007 By: Steph T. I recently read an article about microchipping may lead to cancer in pets. We all know about the benefits of microchipping. But what about the drawbacks or possible health risks? Plus, our one dog's microchip has moved down into her leg instead of staying put back of neck. Is this common or a concern? - Thanks. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Steph, Thanks for asking such a great question! There are actually very few drawbacks to mircochipping-it is safe, inexpensive,and nearly painless to implant. No studies have been done linking microchips to cancer in dogs and cats. In fact, he recent news stories have been based on studies performed on rats and mice back in the 1990's, in which a few of the test animals developed tumors. However, a cause and effect relationship between microchips and the tumors was not confirmed. Millions of dogs and cats have been microchipped here in the US and very few, if any, adverse effects have been reported. The most common are inflammation at the time of implatation, and occaisionally migration of the chip, as in your dog's case. This is not a health concern, but can make it harder to find the chip when the pet is scanned by a veterinarian or shelter. I hope this helps alleviate any concerns you have about microchipping-the benefits far outweigh any of the risks. Dr Robinson |
| Posted on: Monday. August 20, 2007 By: Apryl Hi I have a 6 year old female dachound and I think she is pregnant. On average, about how many puppies per litter does a miniature dachound give birth to? Also, could she safely have puppies without getting the vet involved? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Apryl, thank you for your concern and congratulations on your dog's upcoming litter! Smaller dogs such as dachshunds typically have 3-4 puppies (of course this number may vary greatly). Ideally your girl would see a veterinarian around 45 days of pregnancy. At this time she could be thoroughly examined to make sure the pregnancy is going well and a radiograph of her abdomen could be taken to give you a puppy count. Around 45 days the puppy skeletons mineralize so before this time an x-ray may not provide any information on number of puppies. On occassion, veterinary intervention may be necessary during the birthing process. For example, the puppies may be too large to fit through the birth canal requiring a c-section but usually birthing is without complication. I hope this helps and recommend bringing your dog in for further evaluation and instructions! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Saturday. August 18, 2007 By: Stephanie De La Torre Hello, My name is Stephanie. I have a 3 year old pekingese. She currently eats pedigree canned wet food. I would like to switch her over to the pedigree dry food. I've heard and read that the dry food is better for their teeth. Now she is a very extremely picky eater. What should I do? I also want to start to give her a multi-vitamin. What would you recommend? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Mrs. Stephanie De La Torre |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Mrs. De La Torre, Great questions! I would recommend dry dog food over wet food if you can get your dog to make the switch. Wet food is higher in fat (which is a concern for the obese dogs) and does not promote dental cleaning as dry food does. Healthy teeth are more important than most people realize and feeding dry food can help in this process along with regular dental cleanings (by a veterinarian) and brushing (by you at home). I would try to switch her from wet to dry food very gradually. Start with a few kibble mixed into the wet food and over a course of a week or two gradually increase the amount of dry and decrease the amount of canned in the serving until she is completely on dry food. Most commercial dog foods are completely balanced diets, containing everything in it that a dog would need. If you still desire vitamins to make certain your pet is getting everything she needs, Pet Tabs are a good choice that most dogs will take as a treat and I would recommend trying those. Hope this helps! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Saturday. August 18, 2007 By: Eleanor M. Barneck Is there a medical reason for Copraphagia in a 1 yr old Cairn Terrier. He has been doing this since I got him at 8 weeks. Have tried all the treatments and remedies. It had subsided for a few months but has returned. He is a very gentle loving dog otherwise and gets along very well with adults and children and my 2 yr old ShiTzu. Can there be a medical reason for this condition? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Eleanor, There is no medical condition that is know at this time that can cause copraphagia. This is a behavior that isn't easy to stop without some effort. Taste aversives, diet additives are generally unsuccessful, as you know since you have tried these. What usually works best is a combination of denying access by picking up feces right away and some training. Try rewarding your dog for returning to you right after he defecates. Hopefully you find this information helpful!!! Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Wednesday. August 15, 2007 By: tracy I have a 7 yr old cocker spaniel, the last 3 days he has had loose dark stools some have had blood in them. He is very finicky on what he is eating but at times he seems just fine. Any ideas? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Tracy, Thank you for your question. Things that would be on the top of my list would be irritable bowel syndrome, dietary indiscretion, stress colitis and parasites. I know that this a long list and there is still some rule outs that I did not add, this is why I strongly recommend that you take your dog to your regular veterinarian and have his stool sample checked for parasites and also have some bloodwork ran. These tests will give you a good base line to work on in order to hopefully find out whats going on with your dog!! Hopefully you found this information helpful if you have any more questions please do not hesitate to ask!! Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Friday. August 10, 2007 By: Daby Packowski my pug swallowed a vial of bordatella sterile dilutant. she's acting fine. i have 3 dogs, and this never happened before. she's 10 mos old. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Daby, Thank You for your question!! I have a couple of questions for you in order for me to answer your question. You say that she swallowed a vial do you mean she swallowed the whole container with the sterile dilutant in it? Was the vial plastic or glass? If she just swallowed the diluent then there should not be a problem since it is just sterile water. If she swallowed the plastic or glass vial I would be watching for vomiting and or diarrhea. You want to be sure that she is passing stool and continues to have an appetite. If you see any of these signs I highly recommend that you take her to your regular veterinarian for treatment. If you have any more questions please do not hesitate to ask. Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Thursday. August 09, 2007 By: Jennifer My cat had kittens about 3 or so weeks ago, and now she does not want to feed them anymore. At what age can you feed them soft cat food? Hard cat food? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Jennifer! How exciting to have new kittens! It is usually recommended to start feeding them kitten food around 4 weeks of age. Initailly you can mix the dry food with warm water or kitten formula to make a gruel. For the social developement of the kittens, it is important for them to stay with mom as long as possible. She will teach them manners and how to be a "normal" cat. Good luck with your furry babies. Dr Stacy Robinson |
| Posted on: Thursday. August 09, 2007 By: Bridgett Hughes My miniature Dachound just had puppies on 08/08/2007 she is still discharging some blood. Is this normal and if it is how long will it last? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Yes discharge is normal after birthing for several days. The uterus is often irritated (resulting in the discharge) and continues to contract after the puppies are born to expell the discharge. If a large quantity of blood is being discharged or if this continues to occur well after the birth, I would bring your girl in for further evaluation. I'm sure the puppies are adorable! Let us know if we can be of any more help. Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Thursday. July 26, 2007 By: jimmy hi,i wanted 2 kno how much are the hookworms shots..???he's almost 2months ooo and he's a pit and chow... |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hookworms are one of several types of intestinal parasites commonly found in puppies. To check for these parasites we obtain a fecal sample and look for parasite eggs via a fecal flotation. The cost of this test is ~$25 and the cost of a single deworming is ~$16. Ideally your puppy would get a thorough physical examination with vaccines as well. Hope this helps! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Monday. July 16, 2007 By: Patricia Ernest why are my cat's ears warm to the touch? Does it have anything to do with whether he is feeling well or not? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: That's a very good question! Remember that cats do not have sweat glands all over their bodies the same way people do. In fact, they only have them in their paw pads. So cats thermoregulate (keep their temperature normal) partially by dissipating heat from other areas like their ears, nose and mouth (breathing/panting). That may be why your cat's ears feel warm. I hope this answers your question. If you are ever concerned that your pet is not well, please contact your veterinarian. Sincerely, Dr Stacy Robinson |
| Posted on: Monday. July 16, 2007 By: kris I have a 8 week old bulldog who s nose has started 'running'he has a yellow liquid coming out of hes nose and sounds like a baby with the 'snuffles'. He is otherwise fine,eating normally,playing etc.... |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Is your dog up to date on vaccines? This sounds like an upper respiratory infection but it is impossible to say without seeing him. I would make sure that his vaccines are up to date (vaccines every 3 weeks from 6 weeks of age until 16 weeks of age is ideal) and would bring him in for evaluation of the discharge if it is still present. Hope this helps! Dr. Joyce |
| Posted on: Sunday. April 29, 2007 By: Maida Hello I'm Maida I wanted to ask a couple of questions... I have a female cat that is about 4-5 years old she has never had any shots at all.We've had her for a while,she's pretty healty looking but I think she needs her shots...I want to know if she needs shots and which kind and how much will it all cost,I'd appriciate the help. thanks, maida |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Maida, It depends if your cat is indoor or outdoor for which shots she would need. Definitely she would need her Rabies and Feline Distemper vaccine. If she is an outdoor cat I would also recommend Feline Leukemia virus and Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccines. Also if she has never been tested for Feline Leukemia virus and Feline Immunodeficiency virus I would recommend that you test her for them as well. For all the vaccines plus physical exam and we usually recommend checking a stool sample to check for any parasites, the cost would be around $150. Let me know if I can help you with anything else!! Good luck!! Dr. Questa |
| Posted on: Monday. April 16, 2007 By: Lillian Szpindor My little Yorkie, Maggie, just recently turned 7 months old. I need to schedule a time/date to bring her in to get "fixed". I believe she is at the age to have the procedure done, but I have a couple questions. 1.) How long is the procedure? 2.) I work full time, how many days should I take off to care for her after the procedure? 3.) What is the cost? 4.) Should I have her there this month or do I have next month too to schedule? Please let me know. Thank you. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Lillian, The spay procedure usually lasts about 30 minutes under anesthesia. You will drop her off in the morning with us and pick her up in the afternoon. You dont need to take any time off for her recovery since the newer anesthetic gases wear off quickly and the pets are usually back to their normal self with 24 hours. You can schedule her at any time after 7 months of age and the cost will be between 300 and 350. We can give you a firm estimat when you come in. See you soon!....dr jon |
| Posted on: Saturday. April 07, 2007 By: Amanda What could be wrong with my 7 week old miniture dauchson? He has blood in his stool and its runny even tho he eats solid food. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Amanda, There are multiple things that may cause loose and blood tinged stool in a puppy and include intestinal parasites, viral/bacterial infections,stress,and abrupt changes in diet (just to name a few). I recommend that you have your puppy examined by a veterinarian as well as a fecal sample checked for intestinal parasites. Other diagnostics and therapies can also be recommended at that time. Good Luck! |
| Posted on: Sunday. January 21, 2007 By: Rusty Joyce mY 5 FOOT MALE BOAS HAS A UPPER RES INFECTION (URI). i HAVE INCREASED HIS HEAT 5 DEGREES AND LIMITED HUMIDITY. 6 DAYS AGO HE WAS WHEEZING IN THE CAGE AND WHEN I WOULD HOLD HIM HE WOULD EVERY FEW MINUTES OPEN MOUTH BREATH. HE ALSO HAD VISIBLE MUCUSON HIS NOSE. NOW HE DOES NOT WHEEZ IN THE CAGE...IF I HOLD HIM WHEN HE IS ACTIVE EVRY 5 MINUTES OR SO HE OPEN MOUTH BREATHS AND I CAN HEAR THE MUCUS. NO MORE VISUAL MUCUS AND NO WHEEZING. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I HAVE TYLAN I CAN GIVE HIM OR SHOULD I LET HIM REST AND KEEP THE HEAT UP? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sounds like he may need some antibiotics other than the Tylan. I rarely use this for Reptiles. He also may need a nasal culture. Please feel free to set up an appointment and we can take a look....dr jon |
| Posted on: Thursday. January 04, 2007 By: Joe Bazinet I feed Science Puppy Chow to my dog who is now 8months old and weighs right at 43 pounds. What is the rcommended feeding for this dog? I feed it twice a day. Morning and evening. How much food would you recommend. Thanks for any info. Joe |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The recommended feeding for this dog is Adult diet at this point. Feeding twice a day is ideal and the amount is usually based on the brand of food. The bag will usually have a weigh chart on the back with feeding guidelines. I would recommend 2- 3 cups per day depending on the type of food. Good Luck!...........dr jon |
| Posted on: Friday. December 08, 2006 By: Nancy We just found a tick on our toy poodle. It all came out and I wiped it with H2O2 and antibiotic. Is there anything else we need to do? Also is there something we should be using to prevent a future problem? He takes Sentineal tablets now. Thank you for your help. We have been coming to your clinic since we have gotten Baker and always have found it to be clean and the personal very nice and informed. Baker almost died from nut posioning and your staff brought him back to health. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Nancy. First of all kudos for removing the entire tick. Often the head will remain in the skin and can be a source of local irritation. Usually after removal I disinfect the area with a mild antibacterial soap and watch it for any irritation over the next several days. As you may know certain ticks can transmit disease caused by organisms which include Borellia (Lymes), Ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis, just to name a few. Not every tick is necessarily infected with disease and certain diseases are more prevalent in certain parts of the country because of the species of ticks that live there. Down here I see a number of dogs that have been exposed to Lymes disease (usually dogs from the northeast) and a few that have been exposed to Ehrlichia. Most of these cases do not even have clinical signs-we'll usually find it on the 3D heartworm/Ehrlichia/Lyme snap test as an incidental finding. Dogs that have fevers, are lethargic, and/or have arthritic type pain may be candidates for tick titer tests. Usually it takes 3 weeks after being bit by an infected tick for antibodies to show in the bloodwork. As for prevention, Sentinel only covers fleas, heartworm, and intestinal parasites. It is not designed to treat or prevent ticks. Options for tick control/prevention include Frontline topical, Revolution, or using a preventic collar. Also if you continue finding ticks on Baker's coat it is important to treat the environment (home and yard), especially if any new mulch or wood containing landscaping was recently added to the area. Hope this information helps! |
| Posted on: Thursday. September 28, 2006 By: Lesly Torres I have a five year old,124lbs black lab who's always had gastric problems. As a puppy he used to vomit almost everyday. We changed his food until we finally found one that works for him. He's not vomiting as often but he still does ocassionally. About 10 months ago I noticed blood in his stool and took him to the vet. I was told that he was fine but it continued. Then he also started vomiting blood. I took him back to the vet, they did some tests including a GI study with barium and was again told that he was fine. It's getting to be a year and the problem continues. I just have a hard time thinking that this is normal but don't know what else to do. He is not lethargic, actually lately he's been more playful. Even when he is vomiting he still seems okay. Please help. Should I just accept this as normal for him or do I continue to think that there is something wrong? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Lesly, Your pet could have a condition called Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD). IBD is a condition where certain foods irritate the GI tract and cause chronic vomiting and diarrhea. The only way to diagnose this is to obtain biopsies of the GI tract via endoscopy or exploratory surgery. Once diagnosed this may be managed by a combination of medications designed to combat the inflammatory response as well as a bland diet. Speak to your veterinarian about these additional diagnostics. GOOD LUCK!..............dr jon |
| Posted on: Wednesday. September 13, 2006 By: JoAnn Brown Good morning, Drs. Harejk & Robinson! Since neither of you have a link on the website, I thought I would write here with my gratitude! Your compassion and patience with our old guy means more to me than words could ever convey--we consider ourselves so unbelievably fortunate to have Simmons Animal hospital and its amazing staff look after our pet/family member. Today was a much better today for Barney and thus for us as well. Thank you again for being so wonderful!!!! Sincerely, JoAnn |
| Posted on: Monday. July 31, 2006 By: jack herman I have a 2 year old mail pug. You have emptied his anal gland about 2 weeks ago, and many times previously. What can be done since he is emiting an odor again? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Jack, The role of the anal glands is to coat the feces as they leave the body, and normally they will empty with bowel movements. They will also empty out when the animal is frightened and is usually the source of a funny odor from the hind end.... Sometimes the anal glands will not empty on their own and cause the animal to "scoot" or drag their rear end. These animals require someone to express, or squeeze, the glands gently to release the fluid, sometimes up to a couple times a month or increasing the dietary fiber content to bulk up the stool. The odor that you are smelling may be from your dog expressing his anal glands on his own which can be hard to prevent. It is also important to examine the anal area for any increased redness, irritation or abnormal discharge since the glands do have the potential of becoming infected. There are procedures to remove them however these are reserved for cases that have repeated infections or problems with the glands. Your dog may just need to have his glands expressed more often. |
| Posted on: Thursday. July 13, 2006 By: ally ball I would like to fly from here to Los Angeles with my 40lb dog. What suggestions do you have for me? Also what are the dangers I should be aware of. She is one of your patients and has had a lot of problems with her ears. Please advise on the best thing to do with her...or if you have an airline recommendation? Thank you very much for your time! Allyson Ball RE: Jordan Ball (40lb lab mix) |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Ally, If she travels well in the car she should do fine in the air. In some cases you can give a mild sedative prior to flight such as Benadryl to take the nervous edge off. There really are no dangers of flying in a normal healthy dog. Most airlines will, however require a certificate of health prior to flight. You can get one here at our facility within 5 days of your trip. Have a safe trip!...dr jon |
| Posted on: Monday. June 26, 2006 By: Peggy Overhuls Can dogs get Alzheimers? My male chow, Max, (approximately 7 yrs old) has started behaving a little strangely. He will walk into a corner and put his nose down as if he's being punished. He also gets himself into the smallest possible area he can find sometimes and act as if he doesn't have any idea how to get himself back out!? It almost looks as if he's staring into space at times, like he doesn't know where he is. "Suggestions?" (Otherwise, he seems perfectly healthy, eating, drinking, sleeping, etc.) Just for the record, your facility boarded him and my two other pets recently and you've seen the other two for shots, evaluations, etc. Thanks. Peggy |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi, Peggy! There are several reasons why a dog may exhibit the behavior you are describing. Dogs can have cognitive dysfunction which is similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. Sometimes blindness can cause similar signs. Still other diseases include those of the neurological system, such as brain tumors, or organ dysfunction, such as liver failure. We recommend a thorough exam and consultation with your veterinarian. Bloodwork and other diagnostic tests may be performed as indicated. Treatment is based on the underlying cause. In the case of cognitive dysfunction, there are medications that can sometimes help. Dr. Elaine |
| Posted on: Friday. February 24, 2006 By: Ann Marie About 4 months ago, we took in a rescue dog. She is a terrier mix and is between 2 and 3 years of age. When we first got her home, she did have some issues with indimidation urination. We did some research on that, found that we should not scold her and that it would eventually stop --- which it did. However -- we are now noticing that she is urinating in the house for no real apparent reason. She does ask to go outside most of the time, but for some reason, there are other times when she will just go in the house, or worse, be outside and come in and go. We are concerned about scolding her too much as we don't know that that would not bring back the other problem. We do praise her when she does go outside and if we catch her in the act in the house, we do try to stop her and tell her that it is wrong. Is there anything that we could try with her? We do have another dog (English Mastiff), and two cats in the house. They all do very well together and we love this new addition to the family, but we would like to keep the house from being ruined. Any advise would be appreciated. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The cause of your dog's inappropriate urination behavior may be due to either medical or behavioral issues. To start, I would bring her to your veterinarian for an examination that includes a urinalysis, bacterial culture and sensitivity, and radiographs of the abdomen. These tests would help evaluate if she has a bladder infection, crystals in her urine, or even bladder stones which can cause discomfort and cause inappropriate urination. If after the examination and a course of antibiotics she still continues urinating in the house, I would consult a trainer to help break the behavior. Definately have her checked out by your veterinarian. Good luck! |
| Posted on: Wednesday. February 08, 2006 By: Vanessa I have a three month old Black Lab who over the last 3 days has had trouble going to the bathroom, she tries repeatedly but only has droppings of slight amounts of soft stools. There is nothing in it and she is not whining in pain but is definately having trouble going. I recently changed her dog food, could it be that? She also has a loss of appetite but is otherwise playful as normal. I was also wondering if it's possible is she has swallowed a portion of one of her chew toys if that would creat a blockage. What's the best way to know? Or what other symptoms should I look for? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Any change in the type of food given can cause a GI upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Any time you change foods, you should do so gradually by mixing the two foods together over 4-7 days with increasing amounts of the new food and decreasing amounts of the old food. The signs you see of straining and soft stools may be due to diarrhea, but a physical exam by a veterinarian is necessary to rule out other causes, such as obstruction. Signs of obstruction include vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and/or lethargy and depression. A veterinarian will take an X- ray of the abdomen to look for any signs of an obstruction. Sometimes, a barium series is needed to detect an obtruction. If your dog continues to strain, have diarrhea, start vomiting, or become lethargic, you should see your veterinarian right away. |
| Posted on: Monday. January 30, 2006 By: kathy Any treatments for FIP, yet? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: FIP can be a difficult disease to diagnose. Current tests are not 100% specific or sensitive, and you can have both false positive and false negative results. Generally, a diagnosis is made if a cat has clinical signs of disease in conjunction with rising titers. If a cat is diagnosed with FIP, there are still no currently available treatment options that have shown much success. More recent trials have included the use of interferon, but these have had poor success in improving mortality rates. Interferon may improve clinical signs or extend life for a very short period (ie weeks), but has not been proven to cure FIP, and most cats eventually succumb to the disease. |
| Posted on: Wednesday. October 12, 2005 By: Ashley Morales Hi, We just introduced a 5 week old puppy to Tony our 3 year old pug a liitle over a week ago. They seem to be doing pretty well other than Tony gets a little annoyed with the littl guy when hes nibbling on tonys different body parts, lol. They sleep together often and seem to be doing better every day. Problem: Our first dog Tony will not eat his regular food - he wants the puppies formula or little pebbled food. Will he grow out of this? Also, Tony sees the little puppy peeing and pooping all over the house(we have tile) and im sure hes getting confused. Tony is very well potty trained to always let us know when he needs to go outside but I caught him peeing on a sheet the other day like it was no big deal. I feel bad for him because maybe he is confused. It has been suggested to me to get a puppy pad for the puppy and possibly confining him to a smaller space. What do you think. We love our new puppy but we truly got his as a companion for Tony so I want to make sure I do everything I can to help them. Thanks soooooo much! Ashley Morales |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Dear Ashley, It is normal for Tony to want to eat the puppy's food because it usually is higher in calories and tastes better. Try to feed them separately, because we don't want Tony to start packing on the pounds. In regards to potty training. I do reccomend crate training for the puppy. Crate training will confine the puppy to a smaller space that he won't want to defecate or urinate in. This will work well at night and when you are out of the house. When you are home, take him outside often. Praise him when he goes outside. If either of them go in the house, stop them and move them outside to finish, but do not reprimand them if they are not caught in the act. Their brains will not understand why they are being reprimanded. I think that puppy class would be a great idea for you and your new puppy. He can start after his second set of puppy shots. We have a trainer that gives private and group lessons here. Her name is Susan and you can call and find out when the next puppy class starts. We are looking forward to meeting your new puppy, I'm sure he will make a great companion for Tony. Dr. Kim |
| Posted on: Tuesday. September 27, 2005 By: Nicole W. My 11 month old shih tzu/poodle mix regularly eats poop - his own and his sister's. I have even caught him trying to eat it before it hits the ground! I gave him an iron supplement and have tried those Deter tablets. When I am around and say "no", he knows not to do it but I have caught him red-handed a few times. Any ideas? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Nicole, Copraphagia, or consumption of fecal matter by an animal, is not an uncommon and definately unpleasant behavior, especially in puppies. A couple of other suggestions is to try Adolf's meat tenderizer which is sprinkled directly on the feces, or a product called For-Bid, which is added to food of all the dogs in the household and gives the feces a bitter taste. Also continue telling him "no" when you catch him in the act and remove him from the fecal matter so that he learns that what he is doing is unacceptable. Most of these young ones will outgrow this problem. Good luck.....Dr. Christy |
| Posted on: Monday. September 26, 2005 By: Mike Hello, I have a male lab/chow mix who's approximately 7 years old. In the last 3-4 years, right around August, he starts dropping hair by the handful and he's constantly scratching... scratching to the point where his back end and parts of his tail become bald literally. Another vet said it could be allergies, a thyroid problem or something called Cushings disease. I'm beginning to believe it must be allergies because there are times when his fur finally does grow back in and I don't think a thyroid problem or Cushings would go into 'remission'. Nothing new has been planted around our house and changing foods hasn't made any difference. Does this sound like an allergy problem to you and what might the cost be to diagnose and treat it ? Any help a/o advice is appreciated. Thank you for your time. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Mike, This definitely sounds like a seasonal allergy to me. You are correct that symptoms of thyroid disease and Cushings disease do not resolve and relapse. Thyroid disease however CAN predispose your pet to seasonal allergies since it does regulate the immune system somewhat. Allergies can be managed symptomatically with antihistamines and/or steroids as needed during flare ups OR you can even allergy test your dog and put him on desensitization injections. Have him checked out by your regular vet to see which may work best for you. Thanks!......dr jon |
| Posted on: Monday. August 29, 2005 By: Bryan Gould I have a small red eared slider. Lately his eyes are closed all the time (which i read probably means infection), and he is not eating. Is there a way to treat him at home without a vet visit? How much would a check up and medication cost roughly? He's been lathargic the past couple days so I'd hate to wait any longer to have him checked out or at least do something on my end. Any thoughts? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Bryan, Unfortunately he may have to be seen by a veterinarian. These sliders are often sold too small and too young. They can often develop Vitamin deficiencies or upper respiratory disease due to stress. Without knowing exactly what is wrong with him I won't be able to give you a cost estimate. We typically charge $50 for an exotic pet office call. Meds could range from $20 to $50 depending on the illness. Unfortunately when these small guys get sick they usually don't recover. Lets have a look at him quickly to see if we can help him out.......dr jon |
| Posted on: Monday. August 22, 2005 By: tiffany Dear doctor, i have a question i have a cat that we just got a couple month ago and my mother is just about to give him up because he cries all the time.We put him in our garage and he annoys my mom and the reason we do that is he jumps on my little sisters head when she sleeps what can we do to stop him from doing that please help me out i really dont want to give him up.Thank you for your time,Tiffany letourneau (12yrs old) ps.please............ |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Tiffany, Is this a kitten or an adult cat? Kittens love to play at odd hours during the night and eventually grow out of this behavior. Separation from the family during this "play" period could be a cause of the crying. Also if you got him as an adult cat and ws used to being outdoors at his previous home, he may be uncomfortable being kept indoors at night. Cats are by nature nocturnal creatures and love to hunt and play while we try to rest :-). You may want to consider a kitty door to allow him access to the outside to run off his energy. If all else fails, have him looked at by your veterinarian and make sure he doesnt have any other issues that may be causing him discomfort....Good Luck!!! ...................dr jon |
| Posted on: Thursday. August 18, 2005 By: Elena Our cat Tyler has always had nasal congestion and sneezing problem, ever since we adopted him which was a year ago. Lately we have notice traces of blood in his nasal discharge (snot), when we wipe his nose. Is this an allergy? and if so, how can we treat him? Sincerely, Elena BTW another vet checked him when we adopted him and said there was nothing wrong (the sneezing was there). |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Nasal congestion and sneezing can be associated with a number of diseases. If you are seeing blood in his nasal discharge it may be related to inflammation from chronic rhinitis or indicative of something more serious, such as fungal infection, tumor, foreign body, or nasal polyp. You should have Tyler examined by a veterinarian who may want to do skull X-rays, rhinoscopy (scope of nasal cavity), and/or a nasal flush with culture and biopsies... dr elaine |
| Posted on: Saturday. July 23, 2005 By: Erica Hi i don't live near you but i need a question answered if its possible. My pup which is a little younger than a year old, has only thrown up twice, once when i gave her some table food that didn't agree with her and when she came in from outside on a very hot day and ate right after. Well lastnight and tonight she has gotten sick and there's nothing in it thats weird or something that looks like it would make her sick. Just brown, I think it's just her food but she's been on the same kind of food since she was born, well after being bottle feed and stuff. And i don't know what to do... So if you have any information that could help me out with this problem, or know whats going on with her please contact me. Thanks for your time. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi there...sometimes these guys can get a little gastric reflux or mild gastritis. most of the time this is respnsive to a temporary bland diet and some medicine to help the stomach relax...there are, however, other causes of intermittent vomiting in dogs that can be more serious. I would recommend getting with your veterinarian so that your pup can be put on the proper medicines and food. The brown liquid that he is vomiting up is most likely digested bile that has regurged up into the stomach. hope this helps dr k |
| Posted on: Monday. July 11, 2005 By: Danielle Hi I got a Parakeet and a cockatail and they live in the same cage. A while ago I got like 5 or 6 eggs they didn't hatch but I was wondering if they could hatch and how long it would take them to hatch if they have more eggs. How many eggs do you think they could have. Also have you ever heard of a half parakket and half cockatail bird? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: I do not believe those eggs will hatch. Birds do not cross- breed so the eggs will not be fertilized. The females will continue to lay eggs, but unless there is a male of the same species they will never be fertilized. dr jon |
| Posted on: Monday. July 11, 2005 By: Danielle Hi I have a sun conure, a parakeet, a cockatail and finches. I was wondering if we were to get a paper shredder and give the birds the paper shreds as litter will they get sick? Is it ok to give them the shreds even if it has ink on it? Please email me back. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Shredded paper should not hurt them , but most bird owners lay the paper in sheets, flat on the bottom of the cage. there really is no benefit to shredding the paper. The ink on newspapers is non-toxic and should be fine for the birds...dr jon |
| Posted on: Wednesday. June 15, 2005 By: Sue I am getting a Labradoodle puppy from Austrailia. They recomend the BARF diet consisting of Raw Meaty Bones and other raw foods. What do you think about this diet? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sue, I do not recommend the BARF diet or any other raw diet. There is no advantage to feeding a raw diet, and there is the potential to make your dog very sick from bacterial food poisoning, such as Samonella. All dog foods should be fully cooked. A high quality dry or canned dog food will contain the appropriate nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. For large breed dogs, I recommend a large breed puppy food during their growing stages to ensure the correct calcium:phosphorus ratio required for large breed development. dr elaine |
| Posted on: Tuesday. February 22, 2005 By: Elizabeth Hi. I try to brush my 2-year old Havanese's teeth once a week. Sometimes her gums bleed ever so slightly. Am I just using too much pressure, or is there something else going on that I should be concerned about? Thanks in advance! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Elizabeth, Make sure you are using a toothbrush designed for pets. Sometimes the bristles can be too rough for dogs gums. Also, the bleeding could be a sign of gingivitis. If you are unsure, have your veterinarian check the teeth and gums for signs of infection. Good Luck!!.....dr jon |
| Posted on: Thursday. February 10, 2005 By: Heather Hello Doc... I have an 8 month old english bulldog and I am trying to find a vet that has alot of experience with this type of dog. The vet that I currently am going to stated in the beginning that they have english bulldog experience but after taking him there a few times I don't feel confident that they have enough. Do you have experience with them or can you recommend someone in the area (lake worth) that does? Thank you for your help!! Heather |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Heather, We have plenty of experience with Bulldogs. I beleive there is a lot of unwarrented hype regarding veterinary care of these guys. There is a lot of concern over anesthesia with this breed but we are very comfortable with that as well as their other health issues that we commonly see. We have many bulldog patients here and would love to see more! Give us a call or stop by for a tour of the office!.........dr jon |
| Posted on: Tuesday. January 18, 2005 By: Kimberly Question for ya doc :-) I have a 9 year old pug female that requires Cyclosporin drops twice a day for the rest of her life. She is 90 percent blind. The problem I am having is my vet won't prescribe for me the drops instead gives me the ointment. Sophie has been so well trained by her foster mom that she will come to you when you say "Sophie eyes" and will look up at you to let you put the drops in. She does not seem to like the ointment and fights me when I try to put it in. What I wanted to know is if she were to be a patient of yours could you/would you be able to get the drops for her instead of the ointment??? We use the cyclosporine in the coconut oil. Her foster Mom (in Alabama) has been getting it for us but can no longer continue to get more. Or do you know of some way that I can get it outright???? Any assistance/advice you could give would be greatly appreciated. Kim Royal Palm Beach |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Kim, We have both the ointment and the drops. If you bring her by for an exam we can certainly prescribe whichever you prefer....dr jon |
| Posted on: Tuesday. January 11, 2005 By: Larry Ellis We have a healthy one year old Cairn terrier. I believe he has developed two viral papillomas, one above the upper lip, and one below the lower lip. The liternature indicates these will probably go away on their own in several months. However, I am considering having them surgically removed. Do you have much experience kind of issue? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Larry, I routinely use a laser to cut these little papillomas off. Most of the time we can do it with a local anesthetic. If you are near us I would be happy to do this for you.....dr jon |
| Posted on: Wednesday. January 05, 2005 By: Erika McKenna I'm a vet tech at a hospital in Iowa and we have a situation with a little schnauzer and a bad case of ringworm. We can't seem to get it under control. The whole litter has the fungus and does not seem to be spreading to other canines or humans for that matter. We're treating them with fulvicin and also some are getting miconazole and some are getting ketoconazole topically. They have been treating it for probably 5 to 6 weeks know and there are more lesions appearing. I was just wondering if you had any suggestions of products or methods of treatment would should try. Thank you for your time. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Depending on the age you could do Lyme/Sulfur dips on the pups- I have had best response with this. I would stop the oral meds (fulvacin) - using that in such a young pup makes me uncomfortable. I would only use that as a last resort...dr jon |
| Posted on: Tuesday. January 04, 2005 By: KC I have a new kitten and am seeing different information about the age to get it neutered. Some places say it shouldn't be done before 6 months old. Please let me know your opinion. Thanks. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: KC, I recommend neutering male cats between 5 and 6 months of age. Some animal shelters will neuter as early as 8 weeks, but I feel at that age you increase the anesthesia risk. Marking behavior usually wont start until 6 months so you have some time....dr jon |
| Posted on: Monday. December 06, 2004 By: Kim I have a 3 year old English pointer. She is a female and spayed. She is seen at your clinic. She likes to sleep in my bed under the covers. At times she will get too hot, and jump off the bed, but later back on the bed and under the covers. For the past month, I have noticed she is urinating in her sleep on the bed. She does not seem to know she is doing this. I take her outside before going to bed every evening, and she has no problem urinating when I take her out then, or at any other time. I have recently moved to Florida, and I started walking her every evening. She sleeps through the night after her walk. She is a very active dog, and the walk seems to help her relax at night. She is in the house all day while I am at work, and does not have any accidents. It seems this only occurs at night. I was wondering what your thoughts are on this. Thank you. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Kimberly, Dogs can sometimes lose urinary control as they get older. Urination while sleeping is one of the hallmark signs ofurinary incontinence. You should have your veterinarian check her out and see if there may be an underlying urinary tract infection. We can treat the incontinence fairly easily with a twice a day medication....Good Luck!...dr jon |
| Posted on: Saturday. September 25, 2004 By: stacey gay My dog Sammie was just in there recently with an infection. The question I had was that I am interested in purchasing pet insurance. I found a few on the internet but there was one called "Veterinary Pet Insurance." Have you heard anything about this company? Do you take pet insurance? Thankyou |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Stacey, Pet insurance doesn't work quite the way human medical insurance does. With pet insurance you are still required to pay any veterinary bills and the company will reimburse you a percentage of the total bill. So we as a hospital don't "take" insurance so to speak. We can help you fill out the forms that are required however. Veterinary Pet Insurance is one of the more popular comanies and, I believe, the largest. You may want to call them for more details.Good luck!....dr jon |
| Posted on: Thursday. September 23, 2004 By: Kim Hi, I'm getting a boston terrier pup next week, he'll be 8 weeks old then. The following weekend I have a business trip to go on requiring me to leave Friday afternoon & return Saturday evening. Will he be too young to board? If so, any suggestions as to what I can do? Thank you, Kim |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Kim, Boarding a dog of this age may be very stressful- maybe the breeder can keep him for you instead while you are away? Familiar surroundings may be more comfortable for him....dr jon |
| Posted on: Tuesday. September 21, 2004 By: Joanne Hello, my question is regarding a male un-neutered English Bulldog.When my son has friends over they will go down into a finished basement and watch TV etc. we dont allow the dog to be with them because he will beg for food and jump on couch. After every one leaves, the dog will go to basement and urinate right on the couch. This has happened twice. Also he has urinated on another sons bed after returning home from being absent from the house for a few months.Is this a territorial problem? and is it time to have him neutered?I appreciate your comment. Thank you JS |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Joanne, Neutering him will certainly help with any territorial issues. However, also have him checked for a urinary tract infection. This is also a common cause for inappropriate urination. Neutering him will alleviate any future territorial issues and will also be healthier for him in the long run...dr jon |
| Posted on: Monday. August 02, 2004 By: Wanda Cooke There is a wild kitten in my block. It's probably about 8 weeks. It is probably ferral (spelling?). Very long ears and very skittish. I was able to touch it's head once, so far, without it running away. I thought perhaps, if I can ever catch it, as a kitten, someone may adopt it. But that's a big 'if'. So, the immediate problem is what to do for it? It does eat soft cat food (Fancy Feast), and it eats hard cat food (Purina One). If I thought food was the only problem, I wouldn't be bothering you, but I thought you should know that at least I'm able to feed it. This kitten has lost a lot of hair. I would think Mange, but I'm not qualified at all. I suppose what I'm asking, is there a way to care for this kitten without bringing it in? Can I try? Are there medicines over the counter, or natural, that I can get for the skin condition, and should I think about feeding it something for worms? I can switch the food to kitten food, and hope that will have the bone building and vitamins it needs, but I wonder how much I can do about the rest. Your response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you! Wanda Cooke (guardians for Pitter Patter and Sammie) |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Wanda, Unfortunately without seeing the cat and doing a skin scraping I wouldnt be able to even begin to tell you where to start. There are several different types of skin problems and other diseases that can cause hair loss. If you are at all able to catch her and bring her in we can have a look at her to assess her skin. Good Luck!............dr jon |
| Posted on: Sunday. June 20, 2004 By: Gy Alexander I have a 4 lb. poodle (female) and a 20 lb. "Benji (male) and a 60 lb. Mixed breed and the poodle and the benji bark at every little thing. I have tried all sorts of behaviour techniques, etc. Are the barking collars bad or could you recommend one. Thank you. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Before you try a bark collar I would consider an obedience class. I'm not sure if your behavior technique that you mentioned referred to an actual puppy class or obedience training. If you have had formal training with still no luck, you could try a bark collar. Try the classes first before you try a collar! Treat the disease and not the symptoms..I prefer the citronella collar since they do not use a shock or emit a noise. You can find these at nost any online pet supplier. Good Luck !.........dr jon |
| Posted on: Friday. June 18, 2004 By: sandy I have a 9 year old Llwellin Setter Setter that has a kidney problem. He has protein in his urine, rating of 1. He is on K/D dry and canned dog food for three weeks and he still has protein in his urine. He is on Enalapril 10 mg. once a day. His dinner is canned and dry food, rice with low sodium chicken broth, and Missing Link. What else can I do? Can a dog live with one kidney? Please, please help me. He is my life. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sandy, I don't see any reference in your e-mail to the actual kidney function. There can be protein in the urine with normal kidney function. The problems arise when the kidneys lose over 75% of their normal filtering ability. So technically, as long as 1 kidney is working close to normal capacity, you can lose the other kidney completely!! If the kidney values are normal, I would investigate other causes for protein in the urine. Some of these may be treatable with a normal life span for your pup. Please consult with your veterinarian to discuss these options! I would recommend bloodwork, ultrasound of the kidneys and kidney biopsies. I hope this helps!........dr jon |
| Posted on: Wednesday. June 02, 2004 By: Pat Quinn Hi, I want to get established with a vet. My vet has moved to Jupiter and it is just too far to go. Have heard godd things about simmons Hosp. At present none need check ups. Should I ust wait until next "shot" visit aro should I send records? Thanks Pat Quinn |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Pat, We are glad you chose to consider us for your Four-Legged family members! You don't necessarily need to bring them by or bring records until they need a vaccine or exam. However, if you like,feel free to stop in at any time for a tour of the facility! We love to show off the Hospital and the Barker's Hotel! Hope to see you soon!...........dr jon |
| Posted on: Saturday. May 29, 2004 By: BARBARA LOISELLE MY DOG STARTS SCRATCHING EVERY SUMMER AT THIS TIME. WE LIVE IN HIGH POINT NORTH CAROLINA. HE'LL START BITING ON HIS TAIL AND MAKE BALD SPOTS...WE HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING FROM GIVING HIM BENADRYL TO THIS PURPLE STUFF TO SPRAYS. I'VE BEEN TO THE VET AND HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS...PLEASE HELP!!! HE'S A JACK RUSSELL CROSSED WITH A BASSETT...QUITE A COMBINATION. HE'S 8 YEARS OLD... THANK YOU BARB |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Barb, It sounds as if your pup has a condition called ATOPY., which is basically..allergies. Unfortunately this is a very difficult condition to get under control, no matter what you do. The best way to get an answer is to get an allergy test done to determine the specific allergen he is reacting to. You could then put him on a desensitization injection every week or so to reduce the allergic response. Good luck in your efforts! I know this can be a very frustrating condition so hang in there!...dr jon |
| Posted on: Wednesday. May 19, 2004 By: Barbara Kamakaris To help prevent bloat, do you advise elevating dog food bowls or leave bowls on the floor? Thanks! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Gastric dilatation and volvulus (AKA bloat) is life threatening emergency. The stomach becomes distended with food and/or gas and can potentially twist on itself, cutting off its own blood supply as well as exit routes for the gas that has accumulated. It is extremely painful. Dogs will typically act nausea and retch, but little comes up. They may also pant and pace, and sometimes a distended stomach is noticed near the ribs, but this is not always evident. Risk factors for bloat include large, deep chested dogs especially those with a family history of bloat. Eating rapidly, over eating, over drinking, and exercise immediately after eating may predispose a dog to bloat. Factors that decrease the chances of bloat include feeding 2 or more meals a day instead of one big meal, avoiding exercise immediately after eating, and avoiding rapid eating. Elevation of food has NOT been shown to influence the probability of developing bloat. If you think that your dog has signs of bloat, do not hesitate to bring them to the hospital right away. It is a life threatening emergency that needs to be treated by decompressing the stomach, IV fluids, heart monitoring, and surgery. I hope this helps your understanding of GDV/bloat. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with...dr elaine |
| Posted on: Friday. April 16, 2004 By: Lisa Muzi Hi Dr. Simmons. I have a 1 1/2 yr old female Mini Beagle. She just went through her first heat cycle and I was thinking about breeding her through artificial insemination. What are the pros and cons for AI. I would love to breed her and i don not want to send her away or get another dog to breed her with. Im also wondering of the costs of AI. thank you. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Lisa, Artificial insemination can be a costly and time consuming process. Unless you have a very highly bred beagle and want to breed her to extend the line, there is no added benifit to AI over any other method of conception. If you just want her to have a litter for fun then AI is definitely not the way to go. It can be unpredictable at best and getting the timing right can take several attempts. For these reasons we don't bother with it at our hospital. I would recommend you find a male dog to breed her with naturally. If you don't care to bring in a male dog for her you may want to consult with a reproductive specialist for additional information on AI. I hope this helps!.................dr jon |