Good reasons to spay

Q: My pet is a 14-month-old Cairn terrier named Hailey. She was in heat 2 to 3 months ago. I noticed a week or two ago that her belly seems to be getting fuller. I took her to the vet last week and he said that she doesn’t appear to be pregnant. I read an article about uterine infections –does this seem serious to you? She eats and plays, yet she doesn’t seem to be quite herself. She is spending a lot of time alone in her crate. I am so worried! I appreciate any advice you can give me.

A: Based on your description of Hailey’s behavior and physical appearance, two possibilities come to mind. The first is indeed a uterine infection, called pyometra. Typically pyometra occurs about 8 weeks following a heat cycle. A pyometra is an abscessed, pus-filled and infected uterus. Bacteria leaks across the uterine walls and into the bloodstream causing life-threatening toxic effects.

A pyometra can be classified as:
Open – having a dilated cervix that allows the infection to drain from the uterus.
Closed – the cervix is not dilated. Infection and discharge are contained and build up in the uterus.

A closed pyometra is more immediately life-threatening to the dog, but harder to diagnose due to the lack of discharge. Surgery (an ovariohysterectomy or spay) to remove the infected uterus is the only effective treatment option. Antibiotics are a necessary part of treatment but will not eliminate the infection if used alone.

The clinical signs of pyometra include: lethargy, fever, an enlarged abdomen, possible drainage from the vaginal area, and increased thirst. A pyometra usually occurs in a dog that has undergone several heat cycles. X-rays, blood work, and even an ultrasound may be necessary to diagnose a pyometra that is not draining.

Based on her age, a more likely cause of Hailey’s symptoms is a false pregnancy. When dogs have a “heat” cycle, hormones behave exactly as they do in a pregnant dog, whether or not pregnancy actually occurs. Symptoms include nesting behavior, mothering stuffed toys or other objects, production of breast milk, an enlarged abdomen, and even signs of labor in some dogs.

False pregnancies can occur in any age dog, and usually happen 6 to 12 weeks after a heat cycle. In most cases, a false pregnancy will resolve without treatment in 3 to 4 weeks. If symptoms do not resolve hormone treatment may be needed.

The good news is that spaying – ideally at 6-months – your dog can prevent both of these conditions. The recommendation to let your dog have one heat cycle before spaying her is simply an old wives’ tale. Spaying before the first heat cycle can reduce your dog’s chances of getting breast cancer by nearly 95 percent. The more heat cycles your dog has before spaying, the less benefit she has for preventing breast cancer.

Each heat cycle also increases your dog’s risk of getting a pyometra. Even older dogs benefit from being spayed. The risk from spaying at an older age is far less than the risk of performing an emergency spay in a potentially unstable dog with an infection. I recommend spaying Hailey 2 to 3 months after her heat cycle or resolution of a false pregnancy.

Christy L. Shoup, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Savannah kitten

Q: I am interested in buying a Savannah kitten soon, but I am worried about state laws. I know Bengals are bred in Maryland, and I can’t see why owning a Savannah would be any different. I wanted to verify this before acquiring my new pet, and I thought perhaps a vet would know the answer.

A: The Savannah is a relatively new breed of cat that was developed in the 1990s by crossing an African wildcat, called a Serval, with a domestic cat (usually a Bengal). Because this is a hybridization of two different breeds of animals, the males produced are usually sterile for the first 5 generations—similar to crossing a donkey and a horse to create the sterile mule. The amount of “wild” cat in the Savannah becomes diluted with each successive generation.

The Bengal is a hybridization of the Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat, and was developed in the 1970s. Most kittens being bred today are several generations removed from their wild ancestors - legal concerns about Bengal ownership are less likely for this reason.

To find out if owning a Savannah is legal in your area, contact your local government officials as there may be county-wide (or city-wide) legislation not present at the state level. Laws may vary depending on which generation of Savannah you intend to purchase.

Before the purchase of a Savannah kitten, I would recommend visiting and talking to several breeders to see if this pet is right for you.

Christy L. Shoup, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Thirsty puppy

Q: My Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is 12 weeks old and has great thirst, always looking for water. She also urinates quite often like what she drinks goes straight through. Is this something to consult the vet about?

A: It is normal for puppies to drink a fair amount of water, but this seems to be beyond what is considered normal. Some basic blood tests and a urinalysis are in order. With those results a bladder infection or possibly congenital kidney disease could be ruled out. If those results do not show a problem, more advanced tests can be done to look into other causes of excessive thirst. In the meantime, do not limit her access to water. If she is unable to concentrate her urine, she needs to drink a lot to keep from getting dehydrated.

Francine K. Rattner, VMD.
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Cat has wound

Q: My cat spends part of the time indoors and part outdoors. He came in with some type of wound on his hip tonight. I have cleaned it off and it doesn’t look deep. Is there anything else I should do?

A: When an outdoor cat has a wound, we always have to suspect he was in a fight with another cat or other animal. You should have your veterinarian examine the wound and look for others- when there is one, there are often more. He may need to be put on antibiotics to try to prevent a common occurrence in cat bite wounds, an abscess. An abscess is a bacterial infection that forms under the skin.

The other very important issue is that of the potential for rabies. If your cat’s rabies vaccination is not up to date, and he was bitten by an unknown animal, the county requires a 6-month quarantine. If his rabies vaccination was current, he will need to be quarantined for 45 days. These regulations are in place to safely monitor the cat for sign of rabies which can take months to develop, while protecting the humans that the cat might contact.

As you can see, whenever you let a cat outdoors unsupervised, the potential for serious consequences is very high. If you are going to continue to let him out, always make sure he has had the proper rabies vaccinations.

Francine K. Rattner, VMD
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Puppy with hernia

Q: We were going to buy a shih tzu puppy that has a hernia. The breeder said the mother has one as well as 4 of 7 puppies in her litter. She said it wouldn’t hurt the puppy. Please let me know if this could be a problem.

A: There are several types of hernias puppies can be born with. The most common type is an umbilical hernia, which is a bulging or out pouching near the puppy’s umbilicus. This is the dog’s equivalent of a belly button.

An umbilical hernia is actually a defect or hold in the muscle layer of the abdominal wall, such that contents of the abdomen may poke through it under the skin layer. Usually, it is just a small amount of intra-abdominal fat that protrudes, however occasionally important structures such as a loop of intestine may poke through the defect. If this happens, the animal potentially could get quite sick, with vomiting, poor appetite, and abdominal pain noted as the intestine is trapped and strangulated.

Hernias in puppies are usually congenital and believed to be inherited in nature. Thus it is not surprising that the mother and several offspring have them. Animals with congenital hernias should not be bred as this results in perpetuation of this negative trait.

Generally we do recommend repair of hernias, although I have seen adult dogs with small umbilical hernias that have never caused problems. Most likely this is because the muscle wall defect is small and there is only a small amount of fat protruding through it. However, as affected puppies should be spayed or neutered anyway and because these hernias are generally easy to repair, it makes sense to do both surgeries at the same time.

Justine Annillo, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Cat has respiratory infection

Q: We have a 9-year-old part Maine Coon cat that we adopted from the SPCA. He was 6 months old when we got him, and he immediately came down with a serious respiratory infection. He recovered from it, but ever since then he sneezes very often, and usually expels quite a bit of mucus when he does. It sometimes has a bit of blood in it.

A long time ago we tried antibiotics prescribed by the vet, with no improvement. Other than the fact that he is congested and has a runny nose, he seems normal and healthy.

Should we try a decongestant or antihistamine? Can we use people drugs, or are there special feline versions of these?

A: Upper respiratory tract infections are fairly common in kittens, particularly those that come from shelter environments. Most often these infections are viral in nature, but they can become complicated by bacteria.

While these infections are often self-limiting, as described in your cat, the predominant virus responsible for such infections, feline herpesvirus, remains in the cat's system throughout its life. In some cats, it continues to be a source for chronic respiratory disease, often with a secondary bacterial component.

Although your cat failed to respond to antibiotics a long time ago, I feel it is worth trying another course. For nasal disease, particularly of a chronic nature, it is important to choose an antibiotic that works against the major pathogens in the nasal cavity and to treat for at least 30 days.

When a primary herpesvirus problem is suspected, as I would suspect in your cat, we will also administer a supplement called L-lysine. This is an amino acid which interferes with replication of the herpesvirus, thereby keeping the virus in check.

People often take this nutritional supplement when they have cold sores, which are due to a human herpesvirus.

Cats that respond to treatment should remain on lysine long term. You mentioned decongestants or antihistamines. If your cat's signs were due to allergies, these might be appropriate; however, it is unlikely that these classes of drugs would be effective. Decongestants can actually worsen nasal congestion if not used properly.

I strongly urge you to address this topic with a veterinarian. The good news, as you mentioned, is that your cat otherwise seems normal and healthy. This makes serious diseases such as nasal cancer quite unlikely. I do, however, think your cat can be made much more comfortable.

Good luck!

Heather L. Myers, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Q: My dog was diagnosed with an immune system that destroyed his platelets. Unfortunately, it was too late to save her, once we found out what was wrong. Can you tell me more about this terrible disease?

A: I’m very sorry to hear about your loss. I want to assure you that you did nothing to cause your dog’s illness. From what you described, it sounds like your dog had a disease called Immune mediated thrombocytopenia.

This disease occurs when the dog’s immune system does not recognize its own platelets and begins to attack them as if they are foreign. Platelets are necessary for proper blood clotting and when there are too few of them spontaneous bleeding can occur. Nose bleeds often occur secondary to this disease. Sometimes the immune system will also destroy the red blood cells and anemia will occur. When both thrombocytopenia (low platelets) and anemia (low red blood cells) occur together, the disease is called Evan’s Syndrome.

It is unclear what causes this disease, but certain breeds do seem to be affected more frequently than others. Sometimes there is a link to the use of a drug or vaccination. More often, no initiating cause can be found. Cocker spaniels, Old English sheepdogs, and poodles are the breeds most commonly affected, but any breed (even mixed breeds) can be affected.

Treatment involves suppressing the immune system so that it will not destroy the platelets and/or red blood cells. Prednisone will suppress the immune system at high doses and is often used with another immunosuppressive drug.

Treatment with doxycycline is often used to rule out an infectious cause of thrombocytopenia called Ehrlichiosis, which is transmitted by ticks. Treatment with prednisone is usually required for many months with frequent blood tests to monitor the number of platelets. Sometimes, the dog becomes so ill that a blood transfusion is necessary. If treatment is successful, the dog is typically weaned off of medications over a period of time.

Heather Myers, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Golden balding

Q: My golden retriever/lab mix (8 years old) has had a balding patch since last summer. He has been to the vet twice and is on thyroid pills. His general health is good, but his balding patch is growing. Please advise me as to what else I can do.

A: When a dog loses hair in a specific area, there can be many causes. Hormonal imbalances such low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) or high cortisol levels (hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s syndrome) could be the problem. If he is already on thyroid supplementation, maybe the dose is too low. A simple blood test can check on that. Other tests that need to be run are a skin scraping to look for mange (mites that burrow under the skin) and a fungal culture to look for ringworm. If these tests are all negative, then allergy testing and skin biopsies would probably be the next step. Most of these diagnostics can be done at a general veterinarian’s office. There are board certified veterinary dermatologists who can also be of assistance. Good luck.

Francine K. Rattner, VMD,
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Kitten has lumps

Q: I have a 4 month old kitten. I was petting her tummy today and felt two lumps under her skin. She doesn’t seem to mind when I touch them, but I am concerned about what they could be. What should I do?

A: When trying to diagnose any lump that is found, the next step after the physical examination, is to perform a fine needle aspirate. This is a test that requires a small needle be inserted into the lump to draw some cells. The sample is then applied to a slide and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Once it is determined what type of cells make up the lump, your veterinarian can help you decide the next step. If the lumps are due to an infection or abscess under the skin, antibiotics or surgical drainage may be needed. If they are some type of tumor cell (very rare in a young kitten) the results will often differentiate between benign and malignant. Based on that information, if malignant, surgery may be needed, or perhaps monitoring for any changes if benign.

Heather Myers, DVM,
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Cat loves water

Q: My male cat is about 4 years old and weighs 20 pounds. He is a pretty big boy. I have noticed he loves water, drinking a lot more than my other two cats. About once a week he vomits liquid. He acts normal, active, and likes to play. Should I be worried?

A: There are several medical conditions that cause a cat to drink a lot of water. Excessive thirst is usually accompanied by excessive urination. You may have noticed a lot more urine in the litter boxes also. Some of the most common diseases that result in increased thirst include diabetes, urinary tract infections and kidney problems. Overweight cats are definitely at risk for developing diabetes. You should have your cat examined by a veterinarian. He or she will likely recommend blood work and a urinalysis be done to check for a medical cause for your cat’s increased thirst and vomiting.

Heather Myers, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Low-dander dog breeds

Q: Are Rat Terriers low-dander breeds? We have dust mite allergies in our family and I am searching for a dog that will keep us low on hair being shed and dander. I have looked at pictures of Rat Terriers and they look cute too.

A: Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog! You can find a wide range of degrees of shedding in dogs, but all dogs shed skin cells (dander). However, some types of dogs have dander that is easier to control than others.

A better breed of dog for your family to consider might be one that has a hair coat that stays in what we call an "anagen-phase" growth pattern most of the year-where less than 50% of the hair is in a shedding phase. These types of dogs include Poodles, Bichon Frises, Old English Sheepdogs, and the "corded" breeds like Pulis. With weekly bathing, many families with allergies find these types of dogs very easy to live with. However, they do have haircoats that require regular maintenance!

The rat terriers do not have this type of anagen-phase growth pattern to the hair, and so shedding can be seasonally heavy. Short-coated breeds do have the advantage of being easier to maintain between weekly baths by wiping down the fur to remove dander and loose hair with a damp cloth. This would prove difficult with longer-haired breeds like Huskies. Huskies are referred to as "telogen-phase" dogs-they have more than 50 percent of their hair in shedding phase at all times.

People with true "dog allergies" are actually allergic to the dog's skin cells, saliva, and sweat (which is released from the pads of the feet). In these situations, both regular bathing and wiping down the fur between baths (to remove saliva and dander from the fur, as mentioned above), is also helpful. In order to limit a person's contact with the dog's allergens, dogs should be prevented from sleeping on beds or furniture. Good luck in your search for a dog. I would encourage you to consider your local shelters and rescue organizations when looking!

Christy L. Shoup, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Foot pad problems

Q: I have an 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel with very thickened, crusty foot pads. She licks at them a lot and some days I see her limping when she walks. Is there any cure for this problem?

A: I'm sorry to hear about your pup. It sounds like she is pretty uncomfortable. Disorders of the skin, feet, and nails are very common in our veterinary patients, but unfortunately they can be challenging to diagnose conclusively. Dogs exhibiting signs, such as yours, could be suffering from food or environmental allergies, parasitic or infectious disease, autoimmune or immune-mediated disorders, liver disease, nutritional deficiency, cancer, or idiopathic disease (unknown cause).

Diagnosis of skin and footpad diseases often requires multiple visits to the veterinarian, and any number of diagnostic tests. Skin scrapings, bacterial and fungal cultures, blood tests, allergy testing, and surgical biopsies are frequently needed to rule in and rule out possible causes. Sometimes a diet trial or empirical medical treatments are employed to discover the cause of the problem.

In an 11-year-old cocker spaniel, I would consider allergies, autoimmune disorders, and idiopathic digital hyperkeratosis as the most likely causes of your pet's discomfort. However, significant liver disease and cancer are real possibilities, so evaluation by your veterinarian is critical. Idiopathic digital hyperkeratosis is a condition where the footpads and/or nose of the dog develop a proliferation of hard keratotic material with cracking that may result in pain, bleeding, or infection. Keratin "feathers" often form on the edges of the foot pads or nose. Certain breeds, including cocker spaniels, seem to be predisposed. The excess material can be removed and some dogs respond to keratolytic medications.

Soaking of the feet and application of certain creams or balms, such as Bag Balm (Dairy Assoc. Co, Inc.), has been useful in some patients. Vitamin A and oral retinoids have also been used to treat this disorder, but should only be used at the advice of you veterinarian. Secondary bacterial infections should be treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, these treatments do not always provide complete resolution of the lesions. Depigmentation of skin, erosion or ulceration of skin or footpads, or lesions elsewhere on the body (ears, mouth, etc.) may suggest other significant disease and should be evaluated by your veterinarian. The time and effort needed to find the correct and effective treatment for your pet with skin disease can be frustrating for the client and veterinarian alike, but ultimately leads to a happier and healthier pet.

Zaun Kligge, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Can dog spare a leg?

Q: My seven-year-old male Golden Retriever was limping on his left front leg. I took him to my vet and he was diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma). We have been to an oncologist and he was given about 2 months to live. Even with amputation and radiation therapy, he may not live much longer than that. Do you think he could get along with 3 legs?

A: As a large breed dog, it would be important to know how his hips are. If he has arthritis due to hip dysplasia, he may have trouble standing and walking as the hind legs have to take on more of the job of supporting him if a front leg is amputated. If his hip joints appear normal on x-rays, you could experiment by having his front leg put up in a sling for a few days to see how he adjusts. Most dogs seem to adjust quite well to an amputation, but it is easier on small dogs than large ones. Good luck, you are faced with a very difficult decision. Try to get all of the information you can so you can make a rational choice for what is best for him.

Francine K. Rattner, VMD
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Dog loves drinking water

Q: My older dog has recently begun drinking a lot of water. I have restricted the amount I give her so that she doesn’t have accidents in the house. Is this a normal aging change?

A: Excessive thirst is both dogs and cats is a very specific sign of an underlying problem. Normal water consumption in a dog should not exceed 50 milliliters (a little less than 2 ounces) per pound of the dog’s weight in a 24-hour period. A 50-pound dog, for example, should drink no more than 2.5 liters (10.5 cups) of water a day.

Measuring your dog’s unrestricted, natural water consumption daily for several days to get an average daily amount will allow us to determine if it is truly increased.

There are a number of medical conditions that cause an animal to drink excessive amounts of water. Fortunately, most of these conditions can be identified with some basic blood urine tests. Just like people, dogs can develop diabetes mellitus, a lack of insulin production by the pancreas. Excessive water consumption and subsequent excessive urination is the most common sign noted by pet owners whose dogs or cats have this disease. It can be treated with changes to the pet’s diet and insulin injections.

Kidney and liver disease can also cause excessive thirst. Chronic kidney disease is quite prevalent in older dogs and cats, often due simply to age related loss of function. The kidneys lose the ability to concentrate their urine, so the animal loses more fluid than it should. To compensate, they must drink more water to prevent dehydration. Because of this physiological need for water, it could be very dangerous to restrict the amount of water you offer your pet.

Another cause of your dog’s symptoms included pyometra, which is a very serious uterine infection seen in females that haven’t been spayed. Emergency surgery is the preferred treatment. A quite common hormonal disease in older dogs called Cushing’s disease is another possibility. This disease is due to an overactive adrenal gland producing excessive amounts of cortisone, a steroid. In addition to thirst, these dogs may lose their fur, pant a lot, and have muscle weakness.

More involved testing is required to diagnose this disorder, but it is often successfully treated with medication. In a cat with similar symptoms, an overactive thyroid gland is often the underlying problem. Such cats often will also lose weight despite an excellent appetite. Treatment options range from medication to surgery to a radioactive iodine treatment. Age alone should not cause excessive thirst. We must always remember that age is not a disease, and that having your pet examined by your veterinarian is the first step in helping her enjoy her “golden years”.

Justine Annillo, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital

Cat licks concrete

Q: I have a cat who is about 12 years old and she is acting very strange. When she is indoors she either sits on the floor in a hunched position or wants to be up high on furniture. When she goes outside she constantly licks the concrete. What could be wrong with her?

A: The licking of the concrete could be a clue that she is anemic. Cats with a low red blood cell count may eat clay litter or dirt, or lick bricks and concrete. When you take her to your veterinarian, make sure she has blood tests done to look for evidence of anemia and two viruses, feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. There are other possible explanations for her new behavior that could be related to a brain or liver disorder. If no physical cause is discovered, she may be helped with behavior-modifying medication.

Francine K. Rattner, VMD
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital