AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: white worms in poopPuppies are often born with internal parasites. Many of them they can contract...
Puppies are often born with internal parasites. Many of them they can contract when they are still in the uterus or from mother's milk. The worms need to be at a particular stage in their life cycle in order to be passed in the stool or vomit. They also have to be of an age to respond to the deworming medication. In my practice, every time a pup is vaccinated, we precautionarily deworm the pet. This may result in 3 to 4 dewormings every 3 to 4 weeks. I would recommend that you take a fresh stool sample to your veterinarian for analysis. Be sure to pick up the stool at least once daily to deter the pet from reinfecting itself. Also follows mom's recommendations....wash your hands with soap and water after playing with the pet and especially after cleaning up the poop. For more information go to http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=560
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: 8 month GSD not gaining weight!! Any help apreciat...One of the most frustrating conditions I treat is unresponsive diarrhea. It...
One of the most frustrating conditions I treat is unresponsive diarrhea. It sounds as though you and your veterinarian are doing a fabulous job of trying to get to the bottom of this issue. Repeat fecal anaylysis, trials with novel protein diets (take to your veterinarian about what constitutes this type of a diet...no treats or snacks when you are using this approach for at least 4 weeks) and/or a referral to a board certified veterinary internist with abdominal ultrasounds, endoscopy and intestinal biopsies may be needed. I wish I could give you a simple, straightforward answer but alas you have ruled out the easy problems at this point. I hope this helps....
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: Dog head tremorsThis must be so distressing to observe. What you are describing could be a form...
This must be so distressing to observe. What you are describing could be a form of seizures. Seizures can be due briefly to issues inside of the head or out. Liver problems, kidney issues, heart conditions and even toxins can cause a seizure. From the history, I would suspect an issue inside of the brain. One of the most common causes of a seizure is idiopathic. This sounds like idiot....becasue even with all of the advanced diagnositic equipment available to veterinarians, we can't always find the cause of the problem. A seizure can be very mild...a pet seems to lose focus to what we more commonly associate with convulsions...falling over, urinating, defecating and possibly vocalizing. We can honestly say that seizures are not painful because people do not report pain or discomfort when they experience them. I would strongly recommend that you consult with your primary care veterinarian. A general physical exam, blood panel and urinalysis would be a good starting point. Medications are often used depending on the severity and frequency of the occurences. I hope this information was of assistance. You can learn more about seizure by going to http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=560
Dr. Bernadine CruzView Thread
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: white looking maggot in dog poopBowie...what you saw may have been a maggot. With summer temperatures, flies...
Bowie...what you saw may have been a maggot. With summer temperatures, flies will lay their eggs on stool and over time they emerge as fat, small, mobile, cream colored critters. You mentioned that you found them on the inside of the stool...this is a bit unusual. I would recommend that you take a fresh stool sample to your veterinarian for analysis. There are several internal parasites that are transmissible to people. The best way to safeguard your family is to pick up the stool daily...keep your pet on a monthly internal parasite preventive and have at least once yearly wellness examinations....and oh yes, follow mom's advice...wash your hands after playing with the pets, especially before eating.
Hope this helps to put your mind at ease...
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: My dog keeps sneezingSounds like your pup has a great life of being able to run around and get a lot...
Sounds like your pup has a great life of being able to run around and get a lot of exercise. Yes, it may be allergies and as with people, there are a myriad of antihistamines because one doesn't work for everyone. I would hope that you are giving an apppropriate amount for your dog's weight. Too many folks will under or over dose thinking that they are little people. The best person to assist you in determining the correct dose and the appropriate medication is your primary care veterinarian. It is also possible that she may have inhaled a plant awn (weed) that is irritating her nasal passages. This can be very serious because pets can inhale these plant pieces into their lungs. Please make an appointment to have your pet examined ASAP.
Wishing you a speedy resolution....
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: Stinky UrineCat urine is not the best smellig liquid in the world but I would wonder if...
Cat urine is not the best smellig liquid in the world but I would wonder if this is something new or if this has been a long standing issue. The safest thing to do is to have a good wellness exam for your cat...one that includes a blood and urine examination. If your cat is an indoor cat, I would question you as to how often you clean out your cat box. Open boxes are best...ones that are cleaned out at least once daily is optimal. Try to observe if your cat is drinking more or less water and let your Dr. know. I sincerely don't think that diet is the answer to the stinky pee.
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: Heart DiseaseYou sound like a very dedicated owner. Congestive heart failure is such a...
You sound like a very dedicated owner. Congestive heart failure is such a frustrating condition. Some pets can be stabilized and stay so for an extended period of time. Some sadly never seem to respond to therapy and decompensate rapidly. There is a marvelous article at Veterinary Partners.com Please go to http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2515
It sounds as though you have a good working relationship with your veterinarian. If you want a second opinion, you may ask to be referred to a board certified veterinary cardiologist. If there isn't one in your area, your veterinarian may still be able to consult with on over email or the phone.
My thoughts are with you...
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: Dog Food for Kidney StonesKidney stones are usually not treated with dietary manipulations. Prescription...
Kidney stones are usually not treated with dietary manipulations. Prescription diets are used for bladder stones if they have a chemical composition that is amenable to dietary manipulation. There are thankfully several manufactures that produce diets for crystal control. I would ask your primary care veterinarian for clarification of what are your pet's concerns and alternative diets. If the commercial diets are not agreeing with your pet's GI tract, you may need to consult an on-line nutritional company such as 'BalanceIt.com'. This is a site run by board certified veterinary nutritionist. They can give you direction on how to home cook for your pet.
Hope this helps...
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: Cat carriers of step???I agree with my colleagues, that the majority of the bacteria that affect...
I agree with my colleagues, that the majority of the bacteria that affect people don't affect animals and visa versa. This is not 100% but generally true. If you want to learn more about Strep in particular, you can read... http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/streptococcosis.pdf
You can have your cat cultured...throat would be the most common site. What antibiotic would be dictated by what organism is found and its susecptibility.
As mom always said...wash your hands after playing with your pets. Smoochy, wet kisses should probably be avoided.
Dr. Bernadine CruzView Thread
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Reply: Odd mark on dog biting her hipsSara, Thank you for taking a photo and posting it...very helpful. Glad you...
Sara,
Thank you for taking a photo and posting it...very helpful. Glad you checked for fleas. You are smart to think of this as one of the most common reasons for your Lab to be fussing with her hind quarters. Some dogs are so sensitive, that it may only take a bite or two from the flea to set off a mad chewing rampage. The bump in your photo appears to be a wart but be sure to check to see if it has any legs...it could be a tick! Use a bright and a magnifying glass if necessary to check for legs.
You did not mention how old your pet was. Chewing on both hips may be an indication of underlying hip pain...does your dog have any history of rising more slowly or showing any hesitancy to jump?
Even though you were recently at your veterinarian's .... sounds like it is time to see him/her again.
Best of luck...
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