Questions and Answers:  Part 1

Sick Puppies

From:unknown

I am currently fostering some pups for another rescue group. Last week, two of the pups started having seizures out of the blue and had to be put down, they progressed extremely fast and within an hour were beyond helping. The rescue refused to vet the two remaining pups and said that it was my fault because I was not feeding them store bought puppy formula, but instead feeding them goats milk mixed with a spoon of yogurt, karo and one egg yolk (to about 2 c goats milk). They refused to vet the remaining two, so I took them to my vet. He said what I was feeding was fine, and could find nothing wrong with the remaining two, besides the loose stools I told him about. (not diarrhea, just not hard) He said without doing a necropsy (sp?) on the two dead pups (which had been disposed of by another vet) and running numerous expensive tests (which I could not afford and the rescue refuses to pay for) just to watch them. They are still fine except for the soft stools. Any suggestions?

Reply:

Hi. I talked to JoAnne (Dr. Roesner) and she expressed concern about the diet. She said that biotin (a B vitamin) is made unavailable by a substance in raw egg yolks and that this can have a negative impact on neural development. She also noted that unpasteurized milk and eggs can be a source of salmonella. You may eat this same diet and not have a problem because your immune system is more developed than that of a puppy. She also said that diarrhea or loose stools can be a problem from unbalanced home diets because the concentration of nutrients is not right for a puppy. She strongly recommends use of a store bought food. We bottle feed many, many puppies around here and that's what we do.

Dr. Roesner also noted that seizures are a "terminal event." In other words, it is common for an animal to seizure when they are dying for any reason. She wondered about distemper, a GI infection, or parasites. She would recommend blood work on the living puppies and a fecal exam. At our clinic we have several different blood tests that tell different amounts of information. The cheapest one we do is about $25.00 and I think a fecal is around $12.00. There certainly are some expensive tests but it might be useful to try the most basic ones if that is possible.

Of course, the biggest suggestion is to change to a commercial diet with the understanding that what's good for you may not be safe for the puppies.

Let us know how this goes. Dr. Leck may respond too but I wanted to get you an answer as quick as possible. - Tom Denham

Reply:

Well, it has been almost two weeks since the two puppies died. The remaining two puppies are doing well and are on puppy food. They have been wormed. They are frisky, etc and are normal puppies. The two that died were okay and were playing just up to an hour before they started seizing. It started out of the blue and they seemed healthy. They had already been started on puppy food and had been on it for about three days before they died. They were eating well and had also eaten a few hours before they started seizing.

I just wanted others opinions on what may have happened. I still don't think it was what I was feeding, they had been eating the puppy food and were having no problems. They came in contact with no poisons and were staying in the living room.

The loose stools have let up as of Tuesday night and are now normal. If anything, I think it may have been worms.

Thanks for your response back, and in such a quick time!

Reply:

My wife just told me about http://www.PetDiets.com. A site that offers pet nutrition information and guidance by Ph.D. veterinary nutritionists. You might want to check in there to get more information. I have created a link to the site from our Pet Health Library. - Tom Denham

Spindle Cell tumors

From: Dana

Well Maggie's biopsy results came back, and it was determined that she has a form of sarcoma in which the tumors can reoccur. Her vet suggested radiation treatments to rid the sarcoma. That's a very drastic step, something I know I can't readily afford. Most pet insurance companies won't give me a policy for her cause she's over 10 years old. Now I'm really depressed. Can you or anyone offer suggestion? The vet told me that for right now is pretty much keep an eye on her.

Thanks, Dana

Reply:

I am so sorry to hear about Maggie's tumor. I would have your veterinarian investigate the cost and treatment options for the specific type of tumor Maggie has. Important considerations are WHERE is her tumor on her body, and is there any evidence that it has spread (chest xrays, bloodwork, and ultrasound may be necessary to look for other tumor sites). If radiation therapy has a decent success rate for her type/location/stage of cancer, please give it a consideration. Many universities will work out payment plans with you to help you better afford the treatment that she needs. My experience with the university of Georgia has been that radiation therapy usually costs around $1200 to $1500, but this could be way off the mark, so do not take this as an exact quote from me! Pursue your options - radiation is probably best - ask your vet about what the prognosis is (life expectancy with treatment versus without treatment), quality of life with and without treatment, and other options that might help. Chemotherapy might or might not be useful, and is usually less expensive than radiation therapy. Last, but not least, consider natural alternatives. If Western medicine cannot help Maggie, perhaps her quality of life could be prolonged and improved with non-traditional approaches like acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine. These are definately not a substitute for radiation therapy, but should never be left out of consideration. Please let me know if you have any other questions, and let us know what you decide for Maggie. Susan Leck, DVM

Reply:

Hello, Dr. Leck:

The tumor found on Maggie, which has been since removed, was on her left side, probably about an inch from her leg. There didn't seem to be any evidence at the time of surgery that there was any spreading. I'm taking Maggie to her follow up exam next Saturday, so hopefully I will get more information. I'm just a worried mama right now.

Thanks for your insight. - Dana

Elizabethan collars

From: Dana

Hi, My 11 y/o mixed tabby, Maggie, had surgery yesterday to remove a tumor for a biospy. She's doing fine now, but has to wear an Elizabethan collar for two weeks. Problem is, she won't and strongly resents it. I tried to put it on securely, and she either slid out or fights with it. With her present condition, I don't want her struggling to remove the collar. Unfortunately, I live alone and have no one watching her while I'm at work, so I just covered the incision with gauze and collar be damned.

HELP!!

What should I do? Thanks, Dana

Reply:

Hi Dana,

I asked JoAnne (Dr. Roesner) about the E-collar and she suggested instead of a gauze wrapping putting the area in an athletic sock with the end cut out or in a doll Tee shirt. I am assuming the area where the tumor was removed was on Maggie's body rather than a leg. There is also a product called Bitter Apple than might discourage her from licking. The problem you describe is unfortunately common. I hope wrapping the wound works. That's what they do in the clinic when an e-collar is not feasible.

Dr. Leck may respond as well but I wanted to give you an answer quickly. - Tom Denham

Reply:

Tom,

I'll try that tonight, but as of right now Maggie's wearing the collar and extremely p'd off about it. Her vet strongly suggested it. The tumor was on Maggie's side and there's a 2" incision there.

Perhaps Maggie will adjust to the collar anyway, hopefully :-)

Many thanks, Dana

Reply:

Hi Dana,

Most animals are resentful of the collar and will pout for the whole time. But if the will quit struggling to get out of it and will eat with it on it is best, as your vet says, to keep it on. The sock trick is when they simply won't deal with the collar at all. Good luck.  Tom

Bunny Food

From: Donna Walker

I am cautious to experiment with the trend in feeding bunnies vegetables. Mine eat collards, parsely, sweet potatoes. I've tried celery,but pulled the strings. I know that mine like pinapple. The House Rabbit Society and the Bunny books/magazines I've read say mix vegetables,dark green and yellow. Are there any forbidden foods?(I know cabbage is questionable, and no rubarb.)Thank you. DW

Reply:

Hi Donna - It sounds like you take excellent care of your bunny, and I commend you for doing research to be sure you are doing everything you can for your bunny. The most important factors I have found with rabbits and food is consistency in what you feed (do not make changes - keep it the same day to day with minimal variation), provide alot of fiber every day (timothy hay is a must - avoid alfalfa hay in adult rabbits as the calcium content is too high and may form bladder stones), and do not oversupplement with fresh vegetables (vegetables are important, but too many can cause diarrhea). Which veggies are OK to feed? Alfalfa sprouts, basil, beet greens, broccoli leaves, brussels sprouts, carrots and carrot tops, cilantro, collards, endive, green peppers, parsley, romaine lettuce, kale, outer cabbage leaves, wheat grass, pea pods (not the peas) squash,raddichio, and dandelion leaves are all good choices. One source I have recommends that you feed 1 cup per 4 lbs of body weight and the you select 3 different types daily (include dark green and dark yellow in the 3 types). The rule of thumb on feeding pellets is no more than 1/8 cup per 5 lb body weight (non-breeding house pet) - be sure your pellets are high in fiber (at least 18% or more). Good luck with your bunny! - Susan

I need a non-allergic small dog that is good with young kids.

From: Carolyn Canouse

I had a Yorkie that I had to find a new home for because he bit my daughter twice. I am looking for a new dog that is child-friendly and about 1 year old. My husband and I are allergic to cats and dogs that shed. Any suggestions??

Reply:

HI, I am allergic and also looking for a nice breed for my young son...did you have any luck? :) thanks - char

Reply:

Hi Carolyn - sorry this reply is so late - I have had more computer problems than I care to think about! Depends on the age of the kids - small dogs have to live with children who are old enough to know how not to hurt them - we see many toy breeds that are dropped by young children who are trying to carry them and do not have a secure enough grip - some hit their heads, others break their legs. Adult supervision is mandatory around pets and small children at all times to be sure nobody gets hurt. The "non-allergenic" breeds are those that need grooming - Maltese, ShihTzu, Bichon, Poodle, Schnauzer - look into breed rescue organizations - I know there is a website for Atlanta listing these, but unfortunately I do not have the address handy. Talk to breeders about how their breed interacts with small humans. Consider adopting a mixed breed from the pound also. Good luck and let us know if you need more information. - Susan

Feline CRF - Complementary Care

From: Elisa Yochim

I have two female burmese cats, who will be 15 years old on August 31 of this year. Recently, they were diagnosed with CRF. They are now eating dry KD, but refuse to eat the wet KD or similar types of products. They refuse all wet food that I offer them, including their former favorite, IAMS Oceans Fish Formula, and they refuse their most treasured treat, Starkist in water. Both cats are hyperthyroid, and each gets 5 mg Tapazole for this daily. They also each get 1/4 Pepcid AC daily, which has stopped most of their nausea and vomiting. In addition, one cat gets 150 ml ringers solution daily, and that same cat gets 1 mg valium twice a day.

I am interested in finding about about nutritional supplements or homeopathic remedies that may help their condition.

I am also interested in natural remedies to control vomiting and nausea, as an alternative to the pepcid, which could have bad side effects.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Reply:

Hi Elisa! Sounds like you are taking excellent care of your kitties, and I applaud you looking into alternative treatments for them. Consult a veterinarian that is trained in this area! One website you can try is www.altvetmed.com - see if there is anything helpful there - you really need to find an alternative medicine veterinarian in your area to consult so that they can examine your kitties and determine what additional treatments may be beneficial. You can also go to your search engine on your computer and type in "alternative veterinary medicine" - I tried this and got many animal hospital listings. Sorry I do not have anything specific to offer - if you are in the Atlanta area, we have a veterinarian at our practice named Dr. Karen Ellis - call and make an appointment to see her and discuss your kitties with her. Good luck and keep us all posted! Let us know any good tips you discover. - Susan

Cat urination

From: Rob

Hello, Once again I must write to you about my cat urinating on the carpet. If you remember I posted an article about a month ago about my cats' UTI. Well, since then the doctor evaluated my cat, did an ultrasound, prescribed the antibiotic macrodantin, and also prescribed ammonil to keep the cat's urinary pH less acidic. Well, I have given the cat the antibiotic and have faithfully given her the ammonil but the cat is still urinating on the carpet. She will urinate in a fresh litter box but as soon as it is used no matter how many times she goes back to the carpet. This has to stop. I need some help please. (The ultrasound was normal).

Reply:

My cats name was spook and she would use her box once and then the carpet. I battled this for nine years and many vet visits. Not a single vet could figure out what was wrong with her. They all claimed she had a "mental" problem. When she came down with congestive heart failure low and behold the first thing they said was she didn't absorb "taruine" not sure if I spelt it right or not but I then asked them if this would have helped her with her urine problem and they simply said "yes". Nine years Spook and I battled this, she could have been with me a lot longer if someone had done a taurine test on her. It can't hurt for you to try this, taurine is a necessity in a cats diet and you can get it from a vet. I have another cat now and were battling urinary tract infections. That is how I came across your sight. I wish you luck.

Reoccurring UTI's in cats

From: Rob

Please help me I am desperate....I have a cat that has chronic urinary tract infections. These have been going on for about four years. I have tried many different special foods designed for cats with UTIs. I even fed her a special vitamin from my vet and she still gets them. She is a fixed female about 4.5 years old. Clavimox seems to work the best but my vet won't always give that to me. The cat is urinating on the carpet and is ruining the house. Any and all help would be appreciated.

Reply:

Hi Rob! Your question is not easily answered, and I have some questions for you: 1. Has your cat ever been xrayed to look for bladder stones? 2. Has your cat ever been ultrasounded to look for stones or bladder or kidney problems? 3. Has your cat had a full blood panel? 4. Has your cat's urine been cultured? 5. Has your cat had repeated urine tests to look for infection/inflammation/crystals?

If the answer to any of these is no, get it done today! We have found that many cats have sterile (non-infected) urinary tract flareups as part of a syndrome called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease or FLUTD for short. Antibiotics such as Clavamox may not really help, your cat may just "get better" coincidentally. I am NOT saying that your vet did anything wrong, I am just saying that if the problem is not clearing up, you may need to try alternative treatment rememdies. Ask your vet if Elavil will work for your cat. I suspect your cat has or had FLUTD and developed a behavioral problem secondary to that condition. FLUTD cannot be cured, but understanding the disease process will help. Talk to your vet - get the tests done that I asked you about. See our section on feline elimination disorders that should be posted elsewhere on this website and follow that information for your cat. Good luck, and please let me know if you need more information, or let me know what you find out! Susan Leck, DVM

Reply:

Rob- go to the Pet Health Library, then Loving Hands Cat Pages, then LItter box problems - this is the information I referred to in my above answer. Read it all carefully - I would suggest confining your cat to a bathroom to see if your cat will urinate and defecate in the litter box - if not, you might need to offer several different brands of litter in separate boxes to determine what type your cat prefers (usually clumping is the preferred type - unscented). Some people have to cut carpet remnants and please these inside a box without litter if the cat has developed a preference for going on carpet. You may also need to replace your carpet and padding if it is destroyed. Be sure you are using an odor-eliminating cleanup product designed to get up pet urine odors, or your cat will return to the scene of the crime time after time! Again, good luck and talk to your vet! Susan Leck, DVM

Reply:

When this first started so many years ago I had no idea what was going on. It took a while before I found out the cat had the worst UTI, the vet had ever scene. Since then I have developed a system to check to see if the cat is urinating in the "special" spots. It seems to come around every few months. I confine the cat, get a urine specimen, take it to the vet for analysis, and he determines the cat has a very minor UTI.

The current one was not cleared up by the Cefadrops the vet prescribed but since I have asked for the Clavamox and have been treating the cat she no longer is urinating in those special spots.

I also noticed during these UTIs she will not urinate in a used litter box but if it has been freshly changed she has no problem using it.

The cat is a fixed female about 4.5 years old.

Thanks again for any help on this matter.

- Rob

Reply:

Rob - What a mess! It sounds as if your kitty has never had xrays, ultrasound, or a culture. If there is truly an infection, you may not be treating long enough with the antibiotics - cultures let you know what is growing, what antibiotic kills it, and when the infection is gone. For a culture to be accurate, you must take the cat in to the vet and have them perform a cystocentesis to collect a clean sample - a voided sample, or one you collect at home, is contaminated and not the best for culturing. Why does your cat keep getting repeat infections? Are her teeth bad? It has been shown that tartar on the teeth can lead to urinary tract infections. Does she have bladder or kidney stones? These will harbor infection and cause recurring problems. Are you treating with the wrong antibiotic? Are you not treating long enough (sometimes 6 to 8 weeks or even more is necessary). In the meantime, keep multiple litterboxes available so she always has a clean one, and limit her access to spots she likes to wet. Or put litterboxes at all the places. I think you need to investigate what is actually going on - your vet can help you do this. Please take her in for a full exam and the tests I have mentioned so that we can stop this problem (hopefully)! Good luck, and keep us all posted! - Susan

Reply:

We took our cat to the vet today. The ultrasound was negative. He said her urine is clear. He prescribed ammonil for the rest of her life and he called in a prescription for Micronase. Make that prescribed medication macrodantin. Thanks again.  Hopefully this will take care of the problem for good. Thank you very much for your help. - Rob

Reply:

Rob - thanks for the updates! You are a good kitty dad! Keep us posted - Our hope is that others can learn from these message board postings, so any updates you can offer are much appreciated - we hope your kitty does well! - Susan

How long is a cat pregnant?

From: Eleanor

How long does a cat carry it's babies?

Reply:

The average length of pregnancy for dogs and cats is 63 days, or about 2 months. Just before they are ready to give birth, they will start to produce milk. If you have a pregnant cat and do not know what to expect, please call the clinic so someone can discuss this with you around the time your cat is due. If you have a female cat that is not spayed yet, please get her spayed as soon as possible. We have over 20 kittens at the clinic right now that need homes, and hundreds more will be killed in animal shelters and on the streets because there are not enough homes for them all. I heard a story today about a man who was going to shoot 9 kittens because he could not find homes for them! Female cats usually become pregnant by outdoor male cats, who are the primary disease carriers in the cat world. It would be terrible for the mother cat and her litter to become infected with feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus (feline aids) - there is no cure for these diseases, and they are eventually fatal conditions. If you have any other questions, please call us at 770-667-9022 or email me again - I will be happy to answer any further questions! Thanks - Susan Leck, DVM

Cat foaming at the mouth

From: Connie

I have a male Cat domestic short hair, neutered, almost one year old. He has foamed at the mouth...???...what is that...it freaks him out...and he runs around...this has happened twice...about 2 months ago and then again today...the only thing i noted about todays episode...is that he drank water prior to...btw...he has had all shots and is up to date...and he is both an inside/outside cat...if you can answer my question...i would appreciate it...thank you...

Reply:

Cats drool and foam for some common reasons - stress (car rides to the vet is a good example), possibly nausea (which I doubt in this case), or a bad taste in the mouth (which is what I suspect from what you are describing). If your cat will allow you to, try to examine the inside of the mouth. Lift up the lips and look at the teeth and gums. Check for any foul odor. You can open the mouth by pressing into the corners of the mouth with one hand and pulling the lower jaw down with the other hand - do NOT get bitten! Be careful - some kitties do not like anyone doing this to them. We want to be sure your cat does not have a foreign object stuck in his mouth, or any sign of oral disease (gum inflammation, ulcers on the tongue or roof of the mouth). If you cannot see inside your cat's mouth, or if there is a problem, please see your veterinarian and explain the problem and let them check for any problems. Good luck, and let me know what happens! - Susan Leck, DVM

Cat sneezing blood sometimes

From: Kelly

My 8 year old male cat has been sneezing for about a month or two. He looks and acts normal,but even though he seems fine I've noticed he sneezes blood sometimes. I should probably take him to the vet but he is so afraid it's unreal.I sure would appreciate any advise you might have. Thanks Kelly

Reply:

Hi Kelly!

Get your kitty to the veterinarian right away! Many problems can cause these symptoms: nasal polyp (benign growth), foreign body in the nasal cavity, severe tooth infection, sinus infections, or more seriously, nasal cancer. You owe it to your kitty to try to get some help for this problem since it does not seem to be going away. Your kitty will not have to stay scared, as it is best to give a calming sedative to do some of the tests that will be needed to evaluate your cat. If the teeth are bad, they can be cleaned and pulled if necessary. A nasal or sinus flush may be needed, and xrays of the sinuses are a must. Your cat will have to be sedated for these procedures, and at the age of 8 I would recommend doing some bloodwork (liver and kidney tests) to be sure that his internal organs are functioning well before sedation. At Loving Hands, we use gas anesthesia (Isoflurane) which is the safest anesthetic agent we have. Your kitty would breathe the gas in and go to sleep, and we would keep him asleep while the tests were performed, and then he would breathe out the gas and wake up within 5-10 minutes. There is always a risk with sedation and anesthesia, but it is very minimal and should not prevent you from seeking answers to your kitty's bloody nose. Good luck, and please let us know what you find out. - Susan Leck, DVM

Taking a Pet to Another Country

From: Emmi

You know how when you used to bring a pet from outside of a country, to another country, that pet would have to be in Quarantine? Well I have heard different things, but do you still have to do that? And if so, for how long?

Reply:

I do not have the phone number available right now, but the quarantine information is available through the state veterinarian's office in Conyers, Georgia. If you cannot find it in the phone book, call the clinic at 770-667-9022 and we can get the number to you. Every country is different with their quarantine requirements. - Susan Leck, DVM

Adopting a male kitten

From: Kelly

Hi! I am planning on adopting a kitten soon. I really want a female but have found a "smokey" grey kitten that is a male. People warn me not to get a male because they "spray" and there is nothing you can do about it. Is this true of all male cats? If so, what can be done to protect your house? Thanks for any info you can give me!

Reply:

Super question, Kelly! Go ahead and get that beautiful male kitten! If all male cats were sprayers, nobody would have male cats in their houses! Obviously, this is not the case. These people are misleading you! Cats spray to mark their territory, not as their normal urination process. The best thing you can to do insure a cat will not spray is to have it spayed or neutered. Removing the hormone source can go along way to preventing spraying. Sometimes neutered adult cats will start spraying, but it is usually in response to some trigger (too many cats in the house, strange cat hanging around the house outside where the cat can see it, etc). Most cat owners never have to worry about this problem. If it does occur, a full health examination should be performed by your veterinarian, including urine tests. If anxiety over territory is causing a cat to spray, medication can be prescribed to get the cat to stop spraying in most cases. As a side note, anytime pet "accidents" occur in the home, be sure you use a product that is designed to neutralize the odors of pet urine or other wastes. You must remove the chemical scent cues that will draw a pet back to that same place. Also follow the general rule of 1 litter box per cat per floor of the house should always be adhered to so that there is minimal competition for fresh litter - daily scooping of the boxes is a must, with weekly overhaul cleanings. If I did not answer all of your questions, please write back! - Susan Leck, DVM

Cats with shrinking kidneys

From: Lisa

A friend has 2 female cats. Not very old. They recently lost an older cat. A month or so later, the other 2 began losing weight and fur. One is a maine coon and her tail has lost most of its fur. Her veterinarian told her that both cats' kidneys are shrinking. Can you explain this? Her vet cannot. Seems strange both cats have the same problem. The cat that died was about 13 and had undergone thyroid treatment a year or so before she died. The two remaining cats are about 5+ years old. Any information is appreciated. I myself have a 1 year old and am concerned. Someone mentioned the new cat litter that clumps may be causing some of the problems. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Reply:

Hi Lisa! Sorry for the delay in answering - bad weather and a computer class kept me busy the last 2 days! I would need more information to be able to provide a definite answer for you: 1. What did the 13 year old cat die from? Do we know? 2. What is the feline leukemia/feline immunodeficiency virus status of all the cats? 3. Are the 2 remaining cats related? 4. Have any tests been run to determine kidney function (bloodwork, xrays, ultrasound) or did the kidneys just feel small?

If the kidneys are abnormal, ultrasound is a very helpful tool to determining what is happening - a biopsy can be done with light sedation, a local painkiller and a needle designed for biopsies. Please email me back with more information and I will try to help further. If you can provide any bloodwork results that would also be helpful. If you are not able to get answers to these questions, I would advise your friend to get a second opinion to be sure that all avenues have been utilized towards getting a diagnosis. Thanks! Susan Leck, DVM

PS - I do not think the cat litter is a factor

Kitten Drools on Me

From: Jeannie

My 9 mo old kitten chews, kneeds, drools and purrs in my hair. He doesn't do it to anyone else.  Is there a reason for this?

Reply:

Hi Jeannie! It sounds like your kitten loves you! Some kitties get fixated on hair and love to chew it - be sure he is not eating it or leaving you with bald spots. Kneading is used in kittens to massage the mother cat's mammary glands to stimulate milk letdown, so I think you may be a new mama to this kitty! The purring is a sign of contentment, and I suspect the drooling may also be for this kitty. Give your kitty as much love as he is giving you, and let me know if you need any more information. Thank you! - Susan Leck, DVM

Acne on cat

From: Lynn

I have a 6 year old male, flame point himalayan named Luchie. Over the past several weeks his chin has become black and crusty with what looks like scabs. His gums are affected as well, in fact this black stuff has now just about ringed his entire mouth. Luchie will allow me to pull the scabs off for a very short period of time before he becomes to annoyed and struggles to be let go. I imagine it is somewhat uncomfortable for him and because he has claws and has never liked being held, cleaning him up in this manner is quite unsettling for him. He seems to be eating well, is active and seems normal in every other way. What do you suppose this "acne" is? Will it affect his over all health? Why is this developing? How can I get rid of it and how can I keep it from coming back?

Reply:

Let me start by saying that without seeing Luchie, I obviously cannot diagnose what is wrong with him and I highly recommend that you take him to his veterinarian to be examined as soon as possible. Feline acne is a possibility - not all the reasons for its development are known, but an unclean chin area is one. Topical gel (available from your vet) and daily washcloth bathing of the area can help. If your kitty has the entire mouth area involved, antibiotics and possibly even pain medication or anti-inflammatories may also be helpful. Do NOT medicate your cat with human preparations without consulting your vet first - Tylenol is fatal to cats, so do not use any aspirin/tylenol/ibuprofen type products in your cat ever without veterinary advice. Your cat could also have a rarer condition such as an autoimmune disease - sometimes skin biopsies are necessary to diagnose this type of condition. An autoimmune disease occurs when your cat's body attacks its own cells, in this case part of the skin layer, and it can cause ulcers, crusts, and pustule-like swellings. These types of conditions can be quite serious, which is why your kitty should see a vet. If his gums are affected with ulcerated areas, autoimmune disease is EXTREMELY likely - see your vet tomorrow! Other causes of reddened gums are tartar on the teeth, gingivitis,and stomatitis (severe swelling and redness of the gum tissues). Again, this can be painful and your vet needs to examine your cat to see what treatment will be necessary. Good luck, please email me with further questions if you have them, and please email me with the results of your veterinary examination! Thanks - Susan Leck, DVM

Taking Care of New Kittens

From: Carla

My female cat has (4) 3 week old babies. Since I have never been responsible for kittens I need to know (1)how long do they stay nursing. (2) when should I offer them food.(3) when will she want to take her babies out of the closet to show them outside? (4) When will she want to take them to the litter box? (5) What age should they get their shots? They are all very healthy looking. The Mommy cat is doing a great job. Thank you in advance for your help. Any information site I should know about would be appreciated.

Reply:

Hi Carla! Kittens (and puppies for that matter) nurse for about 6 weeks - yours are old enough to start offering them soft food (canned kitten food). Be sure your mamma cat is eating kitten food also - those little tykes put a tremendous strain on her. I would have a litter box handy in the room the cats are in - the kittens might do better in a shallow aluminum baking pan as their litter box (or a shoebox lid, or other shallow container) since their little legs are too short to get into an "adult" sized litter box. In the next couple weeks Mom should be getting away from them more for some quiet time, and they will start exploring more. Be sure the area they have access to is kitten-proofed for their safety - keep string, thread, electrical cords, and small possibly edible items off the floor! At 6 weeks of age, the kittens will be old enough for their first distemper shot and their first deworming at the veterinarian. If they show any sign of illness before that time (listlessness, diarrhea, weakness) take them to a veterinarian immediately. Kittens will continue to nurse Mom if they are allowed access to her far past the 6 week old mark, so once they are eating solid food well on their own they can be taken away from her (after the 6-7 week old age) and placed in new homes. Be sure you get the mother tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus if an outdoor male cat impregnated her - mating is one way disease can be spread. If Mom is positive, the litter could be positive. At Loving Hands Animal Clinic, we encourage owners to have all pets spayed and neutered to help prevent pet overpopulation and to protect the health of the animal. Enjoy your litter, but please get Mom spayed - we rescued over 20 kittens that would have been killed at shelters in our care waiting for homes when they are old enough. Kitten season is here, and many will die from disease and be euthanized due to lack of homes. I will get off my soapbox now, Carla. Whew! Please email me back if I did not answer any other questions you may have. Good luck with the babies! - Susan Leck, DVM

Reply:

Thank you for your information. It was very helpful. We will be getting Mom spayed ASAP. We planned this set of kittens. We live on a 10 acre farm and have 4 horses. We needed some barn cats and my grandchildren will each take one to name and call their own. 2 of the children live with us. We were going to adopt but in Chester County they want $75.00 per kitten. Our Vet will spay for $35.00. I think that more people would adopt if it were a little less expensive. I do understand your point. We have 4 adopted McCaws that people bought and couldn't handle. We also have a pond and get every stray or wounded duck,swan and goose. My husband gets 500 loaves of stale bread a week for our ducks. We have about 50. - Carla

Reply:

That is wonderful! Sounds like a great situation for you, and alot of fun also! That is also an excellent spay price - very discounted. Sadly, most people do not realize how much kitten vaccine series cost, so they adopt a kitten for $75 and then get hit with another $200-300 in veterinary bills for vaccines, deworming, spay/neuter. If the $75 adoption fee includes your spay/neuter, first shots, first deworming, and possibly an examination and rabies vaccine, it is a good deal. Good luck with your menagerie, Carla! - Susan Leck, DVM

Training a Dog in Two Languages

From: Emmi

This summer I am moving to Europe, and I am probably going to adopt a dog when I get there. But I was wondering, if I was to adopt a dog from Atlanta, who was a Rescue, and had already been through training one time in English, could I re-train it in another language? And if so, how could I approach this kind of thing? Thank you.

Reply:

Hi Emmi! Interesting question! If you trained the dog yourself, you could retrain it in exactly the same way, but using the new language. Your dog might be confused at first, but if he were a good learner the first time around, the second time should be easy. Remember to reward with treats and praise, and be consistent with your commands that you are using. If you need basic training information, there are many excellent books available that give detailed instructions on training dogs the basics. Looking for an obedience class where an instructor aids you in training is another option. Good luck, and if you have further questions please write back! - Susan Leck, DVM

Reply:

I had a miniature schnauzer (ex has custody... <GRIN>) who I trained to sit, stay, lay, roll over, speak, etc. I had him obeying the same commands in Spanish in under three days. The way I accomplished it was to give him the command in English and then -immediately- give the command in Spanish. As soon as he executed the command, I would pet him and give him a treat. He caught on -very- fast. I think the key was the fact that he already knew the commands in English and was able to pick up an alternate word for the action easily. - David Reeves