Dog Is Always "Going" in the House

Question:

My dog Daisy is always going in the house. I can take her out and 30 mins later she may go in the house. I don't think she drinks a lot of water, but she does drink more than normal. Can her liver be causing this?

- Linda

Answer:

Linda,
Increased water consumption and urination can be a sign of a number of different metabolic problems, including diabetes, kidney, and even liver problems. If she is urinating that often she could have one of these problems, or something as simple as a urinary tract infection. You should have your veterinarian run a blood profile and urinalysis as soon ad possible, especially if this behavior is new.

Good luck,
Sara F. Jennen DVM

Cat with Fluid Filled Ear

Question:

3 weeks ago my cat's ear was puffy on the inside of the ear lobe. The vet took 2 syringe full of fluid out. He called it a hematobia. He said it would probably came back which it did within a couple of days. He's OK but my question is what causes this and should the ear be lanced. I had a tomcat several years ago with the same thing and his ear was lanced and it didn't come back. Thank you.

- Regina

Answer:

Regina,
I am sorry your cat is having trouble with his ear. A hematoma is what results when the skin of the ear becomes detached from the underlying cartilage and some type of trauma, usually head shaking, causes the blood vessels in the ear to fill with blood. The most accepted treatment for this is surgery, in which a slit is made in the skin of the ear and stitches are placed to adhere the skin back to the cartilage. This usually provides for a more cosmetic repair than draining or lancing alone. Without placement of sutures, it is likely that the pocket will fill back up and result in a scarred ear flap that is unsightly, or worse, bends over and blocks the ear canal. Your veterinarian can assess the ear and make the best determination as to what steps should be taken next.

Good luck,
Sara F. Jennen DVM

Dog Wont's Stop Whining in Kennel at Night

Question:

My dog, Rosey, always scratches and whines in her kennel at night. It is keeping my family up and we would like to get some sleep! What could help her stop whining in her kennel?

- Lexus

Answer:

Lexus,
The only way to remedy this problem is to ignore the behavior ENTIRELY. ANY response to the whining and scratching is considered to be positive reinforcement. You should put her kennel in an area that you cannot hear her and do not interact with her until the next morning. You might try a special toy, possibly one that is like a puzzle to distract her, or a chew stick, that is only given to her when she is in her kennel to alleviate her boredom. The most important thing is to not respond to the protesting, NO MATTER WHAT!

Good Luck,
Sara F. Jennen DVM

Fat Cat Refuses to Eat Any Other Foods

Question:

My cat is overweight but will not eat any other make or flavor of food besides Sea Blend Whiskas. I have tried following vet instructions and she will either drive me crazy with her howling or starve before eating anything else. Any suggestions?

- Sharon

Answer:

Sharon,
Thank you for your question. You are dealing with a very tricky situation and although it is a very common suggestion from veterinarians or well-meaning friends to "let them starve, they will eventually eat it" this can be a very hazardous thing to do with an overweight cat. A fat cat that suddenly goes off his feed for any reason can develop a condition called "hepatic lipidosis" whereby the fat that is suddenly "lost" rapidly infiltrates the liver and can actually cause the liver to cease performing its very important functions, or "fail". This is one reason that gradual weight loss is very important in an overweight cat, especially one with arthritis.

A prescription diet for weight loss would be recommended. The customary high fiber, low fat diets may not be as palatable (tasty) as the high protein diets that are normally used for helping to correct diabetes. These high protein diets are more appropriate for cats, which are carnivorous by nature and usually very agreeable to the cat. The food should be 100% refundable as well, should your cat not eat it.

As with any diet change, it is very important to do it gradually in order to avoid upsetting the cat's stomach. The gradual change may help your cat accept the new food more readily.

Good luck with this very difficult endeavor,
Sara F. Jennen DVM

Cats with Black Eye Discharge

Question:

We have 5 male and 4 female cats. All are healthy and playful but have developed a black discharge from their eyes over the last year or so--what can this be? It doesn't seem to bother them as much as it does us.

- Terri

Answer:

Terri,
There could be a number of things that could be causing a dark ocular discharge. Most likely it is a part of the feline upper respiratory complex. It is most likely contagious, since all cats are showing signs. Your veterinarian may want to try a broad-spectrum ophthalmic ointment or do a culture and choose an appropriate antibiotic based upon the results.

I wish you luck with this problem,
Sara F. Jennen DVM

Cat with Hard, Bulging Stomach

Question:

My cat's stomach is always so hard and bulging out makes her look like she is pregnant. She has a good appetite and drinks water everyday. When she has bowel movement it is hard can you tell me what possibly could be making her tummy bulge and feel so rock hard?

- Lisa

Answer:

Vickie,
It sounds like your cat may be constipated. This is usually due to ingesting hair from grooming. A simple fix may be to give hairball remedy, which is a mineral oil gel. If this does not help the situation you may need to take her to your veterinarian and have an x-ray taken to make sure there is no fluid or other problems in her abdomen.

Good Luck,
Sara F. Jennen DVM