Question:

We took in two de-clawed cats that we found wandering around. Both cats have black gunk in their ears and they shake their heads constantly. What can we do about this situation?.

E.M.W, Jewett City, CT Dec 26, 2004

Answer:

Both of your rescued cats have chronic ear infections that should be seen to immediately by a veterinarian. There is no simple home remedy for your cats'' ear disease, which is most likely due to ear mites. These can drive cats crazy, causing them to scratch raw spots behind their ears, damage the ears by constantly shaking their heads, and result in secondary bacterial and fungal infection and loss of balance and hearing.Please do not hesitate to take both cats in for immediate veterinary treatment.NUTRITIONAL HELP FOR CANINE KIDNEY DISEASEA team of veterinarians, led by John E. Bauer at Texas A&M University, has confirmed the benefits of giving dogs with chronic kidney disease some safflower oil in their food (about 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds of body weight).This vegetable oil improves the filtration in diseased kidneys, helping to rid the body of toxic metabolic wastes.Most dogs with chronic renal disease should be on a low-protein diet and (if not given phosphate-uptake inhibitor drugs) should also be on

Question:

As a regular reader of your column, I often see your advice that yearly vaccinations of our pets into old age is ill-advised. It is advice I sincerely appreciate. However, as long as I have been reading your column I have yet to see mention of that other medication vets routinely prescribe for dogs -- monthly heartworm preventative.Some of these are geared strictly toward parasites such as hookworm, roundworm and whipworm. The newest, which my vet is now recommending, targets these parasites as well as fleas, ear mites and deer ticks.I am truly at a loss since I do not want to put my two small dogs (now 5 and 6) at risk; but neither do I want to ply them with unnecessary drugs. What is your recommendation on monthly heartworm medications? If it matters, I am in an area with many mosquitoes, and my dogs are out with me for walks and play for perhaps an hour a day.

B.R., College Park, Md Dec 26, 2004

Answer:

These newer, "broad spectrum" anti-parasite medications are costly, and I do not see the need for them for most dogs. The majority of dogs primarily require only the tried-and-true monthly heartworm preventive medicine that should only be given after a blood test confirms that they do not have heartworm infestation.I am concerned about the frequent reports of adverse reactions to some of these broad-spectrum pesticides and parasiticides in companion animals, and about the little-reported but highly probable adverse environmental consequences of these chemicals, which are passed out in their excrement. All feces from dogs and other animals being given these kinds of drugs should be handled as hazardous waste, and should be carefully collected and disposed of rather than left on sidewalks, in yards or at local parks.I err on the side of caution with any new medicines that offer no more than convenience over older, established ones. The Food and Drug Administration, for example, recently required one drug compa

Question:

I have a wonderful, loving 11-year-old Black lab. She has very few bad habits, but this one has me stumped. When I put her food down, she will eat a little then rub her nose against the floor toward the dish. It is almost as if she is trying to cover it. She continues to eat, but will stop and perform this ritual until she finishes. Any ideas as to what she is doing?

D.H., Clemmons, NC Dec 26, 2004

Answer:

Dogs behave the way you describe when they want to cover their food -- which, if they were eating outdoors, would soon be covered with nose-pushed soil and vegetation. Maybe your dog does not like the smell of the food, or is not very hungry. You may want to gradually put her on a different diet (I have made a basic home-cooked dog food recipe). You should also consider the possibility that you are either overfeeding your dog or that her appetite is off because she is experiencing some nausea, one possible cause of which (considering her age) being chronic kidney disease.

WINTER WATER WARNING: Animals who are out in the cold increase their metabolism to keep warm, which also increases their need for water. The notion that animals only need plenty of water in the hot summer months is therefore untrue. So be sure to provide plenty of fresh water for companion animals who spend time outdoors in freezing weather.

Question:

I read your column all the time and hope you can help us resolve our dog''s health problem.Fritzy is a 9-year-old terrier mix who weighs 65 pounds. Her weight is under control. For over two years she has been on a homemade diet of meat and vegetables (but no grain) supplemented with flaxseed and flaxseed oil, acidophilus and, recently, vitamin C. Since early spring, she has been sneezing, snorting and snoring. She has been on antibiotics since May and we recently changed to Clavamox after a nasal swab showed a bacterial infection. Her sinuses were X-rayed and showed no obstruction. Her condition has improved over 50 percent with the antibiotics, but the sneezing and so on continues, especially in the morning when she goes outdoors and in the sunlight. When I apply warm compresses to her snout and put a few drops of warm saline water in her nostrils she sometimes sneezes up ropes of mucus, noticeably from just one nostril.I was told that if she doesn''t improve she should go to a respiratory specialist. I do ho

C.H., Ijamsville, Md Dec 26, 2004

Answer:

Your dog clearly has a chronic nasal infection -- a combination, it would seem, of sinusitis and rhinitis. Such infections can be very difficult to treat, especially when some of the inner nasal cavity bones become infected.As in afflicted humans, a small hole or two in the infected sinus may have to be made (under a general anesthetic) and a catheter inserted to allow frequent irrigation. More extensive surgery may also be called for following an examination of the nasal cavity. In some instances, dogs with symptoms like the ones you mention have been found to have a grass seed lodged in the nasal cavity.Alternatively, a warm vapor dispenser of essential oils (such as eucalyptus, lavender, frankincense and hyssop or sandalwood) may provide much relief if set up in Fritzy''s sleeping area.

Question:

Our dog is an English setter who is about 30 pounds and 15 months old. He sleeps in the kitchen at night and he is out all day in a fenced-in yard. The problem is that he runs around the yard nonstop. When I''m home, I bring him in and make him lie down.He''s so skinny from running you can see his ribs. He''s fed twice a day, plus treats. Any suggestions on how to slow him down and put some weight on him? I can''t leave him in the house all day -- it''s too hot and he is a chewer.

J.F., Ocean, NJ Dec 19, 2004

Answer:

Your dog is seriously underweight and should first be tested by a veterinarian for intestinal parasites.His constant outdoor activity (as is often seen in poorly managed zoo animals) may well be an obsessive-compulsive disorder. This can be triggered by boredom, confinement, fear and separation anxiety.Before deciding on a course of treatment with an anxiety-reducing psychotropic medication, try behavior modification by changing your dog''s routine. Let him be in the house when you are away, leaving a radio or television on (and a fan out of his reach in hot weather) for company. Also have a dog walker come by (initially 3 to 4 times a day) to give him a few minutes in the yard and then a walk on the leash around the block.

Question:

I have a 1-1/2-year-old male Lhasa apso. He recently developed what the veterinarian described as a "hot spot." I had never heard of this before. Our vet prescribed a cream and a steroid in tablet form.Can you comment on hot spots? What is the typical treatment? Are there any home remedies that will relieve the itching?.

S.W., Charlottesville, Va Dec 19, 2004

Answer:

"Hot spots" is the common name for an all-too-common skin reaction in dogs to certain allergic substances. These can range from the saliva of fleas to various pollens, food ingredients and household materials, including wool blankets, certain floor cleaners and even tobacco smoke. While allergy-prone people tend toward asthmatic attacks, allergy-prone dogs have hot-spot skin attacks due to the way their bodies respond to certain histamine-triggering foreign proteins.Steroid creams and pills help in the short-term, but are harmful when used over the long-term. So you should thoroughly check for fleas (even one flea can trigger a hot spot) and conduct skin tests for specific allergens.A change in diet to natural, whole-food ingredients (different from what your dog is normally given) and nutraceutical supplements (to help boost your dog''s immune system) would be a more holistic approach to his problem.

Question:

I recently read in your column (with great interest and a few tears) the story of two retired workhorses, Pete and Florie -- when Florie fell over and died one day, Pete examined the situation and died right next to her moments after.I had two wonderful dogs, Lady and her runt-of-the-litter daughter, Sissy. Lady lived to be 17. After she died, Sissy became completely disoriented; she almost ran away several times because she suddenly didn''t recognize me -- the only way I got her back was by voice-coaxing her. The only life she ever knew was at her mom''s side, and that was gone. I think she was devastated by the loss and constantly looked for her mom but never found her; thus, she decided life wasn''t worth living anymore.Sissy became instantly old and died less than a year later. I''m sure she just wanted to be with Mom again. I buried her next to her mom and planted bleeding heart flowers above them. Every time I saw that bush I imagined the roots intertwining among the remains of these two beautiful creature

T.U., Minneapolis, MN Dec 19, 2004

Answer:

Thanks for your sad and moving account of Sissy''s grieving. What you describe is also inspiring in a spiritual sense, and helps deepen out appreciation of the emotional lives of our fellow creatures.

Question:

My 15-year-old cat, Cato, tries to wake me up every morning by nipping at my armpits. Why armpits?By the way, he also loves cantaloupe seeds. What''s with that?.

J.W., Charlottesville, Va Dec 19, 2004

Answer:

Your body chemicals (or pheromones) could be attracting your feline companion to your armpits. But certain deodorants can also be attractive to some cats, too.Cantaloupe seeds (like pumpkin and sesame seeds) are a rich source of vegetable protein and oils -- your cat''s enjoyment being a reflection of his instinctive nutritional wisdom. Your armpits are another story, however.SOME NEW YEAR''S RESOLUTIONS-- Get a healthy and compatible feline companion for your live-alone cat.-- Get a scratching post or jungle gym for your cat(s) to enjoy.-- Get a dog-walker to come over and take your dog out when you are away at work.-- Get out more with your dog and find an off-leash park where he or she can run and play with other dogs.-- Get a same-sex cage-mate who is healthy and friendly for your lonely guinea pig, lovebird, goldfish and/or other small, socially deprived animal. While you''re at it, get a larger cage or other living space.-- Get a good book on the proper care, behavior and needs of your animal companion(s)

Question:

I have had several pairs of parrotlets in the past, but I recently got a new pair, male and female. They are in a nice size cage, but they have picked all the feathers from each other''s head.Why are they doing this? What can I do to fix the problem? Even if I put them in separate cages the feathers do not seem to come back.

L.W., Fort Worth, TX Dec 12, 2004

Answer:

Birds normally engage in social grooming or preening, and it is likely that your pair has become fixated on this activity because they have nothing else to do, what with being caged together 24/7.They may have damaged the feather follicles so, even after separating them (as you have found), the feathers will not grow back. But before you give up, have a veterinarian check their heads for feather mites and give them more time-out from being confined in the cage. Also, make sure that their diet includes fresh fruits and seeds and a multimineral/multivitamin supplement that your veterinarian can prescribe.

Question:

I have a rather embarrassing question. I am the "mom" of two wonderful female cats, each over a year old. One of my girls likes to sniff, rub her face against and roll on my dirty underwear. Why does she do this? Also, I would like to make them some homemade cat food. Can you suggest a recipe?.

L.G., Alexandria, Va Dec 12, 2004

Answer:

Your cat''s attraction to your dirty underwear is not perverse, but quite natural. You produce various pheromones, some similar to other mammals. Cats rub against each other to share their body scent, a socially bonding ritual. That''s probably what she''s doing when she''s rubbing on your underwear.For a basic cat-food recipe from which you can build a varied, healthful whole-food diet, see my Web site at http://www.DrFoxVet.com/info/Dr-Fox-Cat-Food-Recipe.