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Welcome to the vet is in, where Betsy Brevitz, DVM, author of the Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy & Active (Workman Publishing 2004), answers hound health questions.

Do you have a Hound Health Question? Carefully search our vast library of information by scrolling down this page and using our Hound Health search engine (in a box to the right). Though Dr. Brevitz can't actually be on call to answer urbanhound readers' individual questions, new Q&As—drawn from her years of veterinary practice—are posted here regularly. For the most complete guide to your dog’s health, please consult Dr. Brevitz's authoritative Hound Health Handbook.

And remember, while Dr. Brevitz is a first-rate vet, she is not a substitute for personal, one-on-one medical attention. Our lawyers urge us to tell you that urbanhound's service column " the vet is in " is not giving you medical advice; it's simply an educational resource. Which is to say, if you think your dog is ill, call your vet or an emergency veterinary clinic now!

health questions from urbanhounders


	BARF and Other Raw-Food Diets
	Three days ago, I started to give my dog a raw-meat diet, and the following day she developed a small amount of light greenish, sticky discharge from her eyes. Does this have something to do with a lack of certain nutrition? Answer>>

	My dog was diagnosed as having hookworms. Is it possible that the parasites are the result of feeding a raw-food diet? Any general advice for avoiding them? Also, is there an over-the-counter remedy for them? My vet’s prescription is expensive. Answer>>

	Are you familiar with the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet espoused by Dr. Ian Billinghurst or other natural diets by other authors, such as Dr. Pitcairn? If so, what is your opinion on their safety and benefits? Answer>>
	Bones, Joints, and Arthritis
	My dog has begun showing stiffness in the hips when she gets up. Would the human over-the-counter joint supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate help her? Answer>>

	When my older dog got stiff and sore on his front legs, I took him to the vet. She took x-rays and said she saw changes in the leg bones that made her concerned about lung cancer. Can you explain the connection? Answer>>

	We want to get a Lab. But we’ve heard Labs have hip dysplasia. How serious is it? Can we find a puppy that doesn’t have it? Answer>>

	I recently heard that studies indicate that hip dysplasia responds well to vitamin C and baby aspirin. Is this true? Answer>>

	I’ve been told I shouldn’t let my Dachshund jump on furniture or climb stairs because the length of her back makes it weak and easily injured. Is this true? Answer>>

	My 10-year-old German shepherd has hip dysplasia and has to pull herself up with her front legs. I hate to see her in pain, but she gets diarhea from Etogesic. I've heard bad things about Rimadyl. She's been taking glucosamine/chondroitin supplements for about a year, but they don't seem to have helped. What else can I do? Answer>>

	My 7-month-old Border collie mix has just been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. I've been told that she needs surgery—a triple pelvic osteotomy. She doesn't seem to be in pain, and I walk her a couple of miles a day. Does she really need this surgery? Answer>>
	Cancer and Cancer Treatment
	My 12-year-old pug has been unable to hold down solid food for a month—he vomits if he eats anything besides liquids. X-rays of his abdomen looked normal. Could it be cancer? Answer>>

	The prognosis for my dog is not good. We are waiting for test results to come back, but it appears to be a cancer. What questions should I ask my vet after the diagnosis comes back? I love my dog but don't want it to suffer. How will I know when it's time to say good-bye? Answer>>

	Dogs don't smoke cigarettes, so how do they get lung cancer? Answer>>

	When my 5-year-old Lab lost her appetite and started limping, I took her to the vet. I was shocked when tests showed that she has leukemia. Can you tell me more about the prognosis? Answer>>
	Car Sickness
	Is there anything I can do for my dog who always gets car sick? I've tried Dramamine about an hour before a trip—and no food for at least 5 hours before—but the poor thing still gets sick. Any suggestions? Answer>>
	Colds, Coughs, and Respiratory Problems
	My 7-month-old chihuahua sometimes makes a strange coughing sound, usually when he is excited. I was told this is typical with chihuahuas because they inherently have a collapsed trachea. Is this true, and if so, is it something to be concerned about? Answer>>

	My pug is susceptible to breathing problems. Will the summer heat be bad for her? Answer>>

	My six-year-old Cocker Spaniel coughs every day, especially in the morning. My vet says she has chronic bronchitis. What can be done for her? I’m worried about this hacking cough. Answer>>

	Why does my dog pant so much? Does it mean he's sick? Answer>>

	I keep hearing about canine influenza. I’m worried. How dangerous is this new strain of dog flu? Can it jump from dogs to humans? Answer>>

	My dog seems to have a cold. She is sneezing and sounds a little congested. Can I give her something over-the-counter for it, or do I need to take her to the vet? Other than those symptoms, she seems fine--playful and eating right. Answer>>

	How serious is kennel cough? The place where I board my dog requires dogs to have had a kennel cough vaccine. Does the vaccine really keep dogs from getting sick? Answer>>
	Diabetes and Other Endocrine Diseases
	My Portuguese water dog, who’s 3 years old, always seemed to get sick easily—she would vomit, have diarrhea, and seem really ragged out. I thought maybe my kids were feeding her things they shouldn’t. Then, one day, she got so weak she passed out. The emergency-room vet did an EKG and some blood tests and discovered my dog’s adrenal glands aren’t working. How did this happen? Will she be all right? Answer>>

	I thought my 12-year-old poodle might have a urinary-tract infection, because she was drinking a lot of water and peeing in the house. Along with checking her urine for bacteria, my vet wants to run some blood tests to check for diabetes and other diseases. What’s the connection? Answer>>

	My 10-year-old Scottish terrier had blood tests before being anesthetized to have a benign growth removed from her neck. One of her liver enzymes was 2 to 3 times higher than normal. Could this be anything else other than Cushing's disease? What is the typical treatment for Cushing's? Answer>>
	Diet
	What table food should I not feed my dog? My vet said feeding her table food was OK, but I'm sure there are things she shouldn't have. Answer>>

	For the past two weeks or so, my dog seems to only want to eat breakfast and not dinner. She has always liked to eat grass and usually vomits about once a week. She's not lethargic, and everything is moving through her fine. Should I be concerned? Answer>>

	My shepherd mix is chubby. I try to give her enough execise, and I don't give her table scraps. I think I need to cut back on her kibble rations, but she already seems to be hungry all the time and is constantly diving into the gutter to find chicken bones and pizza crusts. Also, I've heard that dogs will simply lower their metabolisms in response to lower caloric intake and not lose weight. How can I slim her down? Answer>>

	My 3 1/2-year-old male Rottweiler seems very thin. He is 28 inches tall and weighs only 83 pounds. Two different vets said not to worry, but I can't help it. Answer>>

	I recently heard that grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs. Is this true? I give my dog grapes all the time. Answer>>

	My 3-year old Doberman/German shepherd mix sheds quite a bit. I feed him Purina Dog Chow, and I have been told that higher-quality dog foods might reduce his shedding. Is that true? Answer>>

	I recently gave my dog a hot dog, and the vendor told me that dogs should not have bread because the yeast in it can kill them. He said his dog died from eating bread. Can this possibly be true? Answer>>

	I am a committed vegetarian, and I would prefer not to feed meat to my dog either. Is a vegetarian diet healthy for dogs, or do they need meat? Answer>>
	Ears
	I have a 4-year-old King Charles Spaniel, and for a while now I have noticed that her ears smell. Could it be health related? Answer>>

	Every summer my dog gets an ear infection in his right ear, and every year my vet prescribes the same antibiotic ointment. Can I get an over-the-counter ointment, or must a vet prescribe it? Answer>>
	Eyes
	Our black Lab is 1 1/2 years old and very active. For the past couple of days, she has had heavy thick matter around her eyes. Do we need to be concerned about this? Answer>>

	I have a 3-year-old, unneutered male Havanese whose eyes failed a CERF exam. What does this mean? Answer>>

	I have a white-faced Corgi with “poodle eye”--runny dark discharge that creates a half-inch stain under her eye. She has had this for many years. Other than frequently cleaning the area with a wet towel or commercial eye wipes, any suggestions? Answer>>
	Finding the Best Vet
	How can I find out which vets are the best? Answer>>
	First Aid
	My two-year-old Lab mix goes to a day-care facility in which he can play with other dogs all day in a huge yard. Recently the yard was changed from gravel to concrete to make it easier to keep clean. Now my dog’s feet are so tender, he can barely walk. What can I do? Answer>>

	My vet has prescribed a long-term medication for my dog. She quickly grew tired of eating it concealed in peanut butter and now is growing tired of hot dogs. Would it be bad to hide the pill in raw ground beef? Answer>>
	Fleas, Ticks, Worms, and Other Creepy Crawlers
	My dog and I just returned from a vacation in the mountains. Since we got home, we've both had diarrhea. The vet says my dog may have gotten 'beaver fever' from drinking from streams. What is that, and could I have it too? Answer>>

	My puppy got several ticks after a week in Connecticut. I de-ticked him with a tick "spoon," but I suspect I squished all sorts of horrible tick innards into him while removing one of them. I washed the area with hydrogen peroxide--is there anything else I should do to keep it from becoming infected? Answer>>

	It's time to think about flea prevention again. Vets love Frontline TopSpot, but my dog freaks out when I put it on, running around and trying to rub it off. In past years I've given her Program, but it doesn't kill fleas before they bite and it doesn't prevent ticks. So—must I submit and use Frontline? Or is there another option? Answer>>

	Is it necessary to use flea and tick prevention in the colder months? We will be traveling to Pennsylvania and New Jersey this winter. Answer>>

	In fairness to those of us who are interested in more natural approaches to pooch problems, it would be really great to have some holistic, nontoxic flea prevention suggestions. Answer>>

	Can a person get fleas? Answer>>

	Why does my dog scoot his bottom along the rug? My neighbor says it means he has worms. Answer>>

	I think my dog has fleas. I think they’re all over the house. Help! Answer>>

	My 5-year-old Shetland sheepdog has gotten ticks on the sheath of his penis. Can I remove them with tweezers and alcohol without hurting the delicate skin? Answer>>

	Does a tick bite make the bull's-eye mark on a dog? My Yorkie has a small bull's-eye on his stomach--no evidence of a tick, just the mark. Answer>>

	Is heartworm treatment very dangerous? Answer>>

	My 3-year-old Boston terrier has had recurring Demodex mites since she was 9 months old. I keep dipping her with Mitaban, but within days she is scratching again. Isn't there another treatment? My vet said that because the Demodex persisted after she was a year old, she will probably have it for life. Answer>>

	Are all the once-a-month heartworm preventives—Heartgard, Interceptor, and Revolution—equally effective? Why the huge difference in cost? Answer>>

	My dog just went hiking and came back covered with ticks--all different sizes and colors. I think I got them all off, but she has big welts in a few places where they were attached. What should I do? And how do I know if she has Lyme disease? Answer>>
	Good Grooming
	My springer spaniel loves wading in the creek behind my house, which means he is often wet and smelly. What type of shampoo can I use once or even twice a week to reduce his odor without drying out his skin? Answer>>

	In the past I’ve always had a groomer trim my 4-year-old Rottweiler’s nails, but I would like to do it myself. Please tell me how to do it properly, without scaring her. Answer>>

	How often should I bathe my dog? Answer>>

	How can I remove pine sap from my dog's fur without harming his skin or cutting the fur? Answer>>

	On long car trips my dog seems to have an odor coming from his anus. On the seat I noticed a smear. Occasionally I also smell this odor in the house. What is it? Answer>>

	I’ve heard that it’s important to use dog shampoo, not people shampoo, on dogs because the pH of their skin is different from ours. But I asked my vet what the pH of a dog’s skin is, and he didn’t know. Do you know? Answer>>
	Holiday Health Hazards
	I know that chocolate and poinsettias are poisonous to dogs, but are there other hazards I should be watching out for during the holidays? Answer>>
	Injuries and Emergencies
	Is the hot weather dangerous for my dog? Answer>>

	My dog got bitten on the tongue by a garden snake. It looks like the bite went all the way through, and the underside of her tongue is badly bruised, but she seems to be fine. Is it OK that I didn't take her to the vet? Answer>>

	A Bernese mountain dog I used to see in the park just died of bloat. What is bloat? How do I know if my dog has it? Answer>>
	Itching, Allergies, and Other Skin Problems
	What’s a hot spot? Answer>>

	I just noticed that my 5-month-old puppy has a couple of wart-like growths on her lip. Should I be worried? Answer>>

	My terrier mix has two warts. He is chewing at them, leaving open sores. He had one removed two years ago, but it grew back. What else can I do? Answer>>

	For the last four years my dog has licked her paws incessantly. I've examined them and found nothing. Is this some kind of nervous tic? Answer>>

	My Wheaten Terrier is being treated for a bacterial skin infection. What causes such an infection, and could it be secondary to allergies? My apartment is very clean and so is he, so I'm perplexed. Answer>>

	I'm fostering a bulldog who has skin problems, mainly on his feet. The vet suspects a yeast infection. He is now on Keflex and eating a venison-and-potato food. I bathe him with a coal tar/salicylic acid shampoo 3 or 4 times a week, followed by a sulfur dip. Is there anything else I can do? Answer>>

	We've been treating our 2-year-old dachshund for skin allergies for more than a year. The previous owner never had a problem, so it has to be in our home. What are the most common causes of skin problems in dachshunds? Answer>>

	My basset/shar-pei mix has been scratching his belly and unmentionables constantly. Allergy medicine doesn’t help. We think it could be a behavioral problem—-specifically, separation anxiety. Any ideas? Answer>>

	My dog’s foot pads are hard, dry, and cracked. Should I soak them or put moisturizer on them? Answer>>

	I have a 10-month-old Lab with extremely dry, flaky skin with scabby-looking areas. She is also losing hair in handfuls. I know shedding is normal, but how much? She doesn't have fleas, and she doesn't scratch at any one spot. Can you tell what's going on? Answer>>

	In a fit of spring housecleaning, I washed my Labrador Retriever’s bed, gave her a bath, and used a dry carpet freshener on the rug. I also dusted the dog’s bed with a little of the carpet powder to keep it smelling nice. A couple of days later, my dog got a scabby red rash on her belly, and she’s licking and scratching constantly. What should I do? Answer>>

	My three-year-old yellow Lab's nose has gradually changed from black to pinkish brown. I don't think he ever injured his nose, and it doesn't look sore. What could have caused the color change? Answer>>

	My 10-year-old shepherd mix has what looks like the world’s worst case of dandruff. Some of the flakes are as big as a dime. He also smells so bad no one wants to get near him. What can I do? Answer>>
	Leptospirosis
	I heard that a dog in my New York neighborhood recently died of leptospirosis. What is lepto? Should I be worried? Answer>>

	Can a cat get lepto and give it to a dog or a person? Answer>>

	Is it really necessary to booster the new lepto vaccine every 4 to 6 months, given that the disease is pretty rare? Answer>>
	Limping Hounds
	My 8-year-old Jack Russell terrier has started skipping on his right hind leg. He doesn't seem to be in pain, but it is noticeable even to casual viewers. What might be wrong? Answer>>

	My boxer, who is almost 12 years old and arthritic, started limping on a front leg. After examining her, our vet suggested aspirin and a dog food supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Wouldn't it be just as effective to do the food or the aspirin, but not both? Answer>>

	I have an 11-month-old Lab puppy with terrible elbow dysplasia. He has developed arthritis, and the elbow is quite swollen. He is taking Etogesic, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, MSM, and natural foods. Nothing seems to be working. Should I make him take it easy, and can I expect him ever to stop limping? Answer>>

	My 2 1/2-year-old Lab mix has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right hind leg. We’ve been giving her glucosamine for the past 6 months and restricting her activity. She was doing much better until 2 weeks ago, when she started holding up her foot constantly. We can’t afford the extreme cost of surgery. Are there alternative treatments we can explore? Answer>>
	Mental Health
	My 5-year-old Peke-a-Poo is the sweetest dog in the world to me and my roommate, but if anyone else comes over, she barks hysterically at the door and then runs and hides. She has even hidden under the dining-room table and nipped at our guests’ feet! How can we get her to stop? Answer>>

	Do some dogs get senile when they get older? What are the symptoms? Is there any treatment? Answer>>

	My Cocker Spaniel is petrified of thunderstorms and fireworks. She trembles and whines before I can even hear the thunder, tries to burrow into the closet, and urinates. I used to give her acepromazine when I knew a storm was coming and on the Fourth of July, but that makes her groggy without seeming to really ease the fear. Is there anything else I can do? Answer>>
	Miscellaneous
	I just read about a cart that allows a dog whose hind legs are paralyzed to get around. Do you know where I can find one of these? Answer>>
	Puppies
	I have two very small Chihuahua puppies. They both eat very well, but one is just not gaining weight. She's a nervous type, unlike her sister. What can I do to ensure that she gains a little weight? (They both have been checked for parasites.) Answer>>

	My 16-week-old yellow Lab seems to get the hiccups all the time--after eating and drinking, and sometimes when just lying there. Is this anything to be concerned about? Answer>>

	I have a 7-week-old German shepherd puppy, and sometimes when he sleeps, he shakes a little bit. Is this normal? Answer>>

	Our dog is about to deliver pups, and I need to know what to expect and what to do if the puppies seem lifeless. Answer>>

	Is it normal for my dog to eat her pups' feces and urine? Answer>>
	Seizures and Other Neurological Diseases
	My dog has been having seizures for about 5 years now. The vet has never been able to diagnose why she has them. They have increased from twice a year to about once a month, lasting up to 10 minutes. She also has a somewhat high liver count, and I have been told the anti-seizure medication might damage the liver more. Can the seizures hurt her, as in brain damage or any other damage? Answer>>

	I told my chiropractor about my Golden Retriever, who started having seizures when she was about 18 months old, and the chiropractor said food allergies could be the cause. Is this possible? Answer>>

	Several days ago, my 12-year-old retriever mix fell over when she tried to get out of her bed in the morning. She was holding her head tilted to one side, and her eyes were flicking back and forth. I was terrified and rushed her to the vet, who said the condition wasn’t serious, would get better on its own, and was fairly common in older dogs. Can this possibly be true? Answer>>
	Spaying and Neutering
	I have a 14-week-old male Lab who can be quite a handful. My wife wants us to neuter him when he is about 6 months old to help calm him down. Will this work? What are the positive and negative effects of neutering? Answer>>
	Teeth
	My dog is about 3 1/2 years old, and her teeth are very worn down, especially the lower canines. The other day, another dog owner said that this is caused by playing with a tennis ball, which we do all the time. Is there any validity to this? Answer>>

	My dog has terrible breath. Is there anything I can do? Answer>>

	I noticed about a week ago that the entire point of one of my dog's canines is gone. I'm worried because the tip is turning brown, and an acquaintance told me that chipped teeth can become infected. Answer>>
	Urinary Tract Problems
	What makes a dog’s kidneys stop working properly? Answer>>

	How would I know if there was something wrong with my dog’s kidneys? Answer>>

	My dog is recovering from two bladder infections this summer. My vet noticed crystals in her urine. I have heard that crystals if untreated can produce bladder stones that have to be removed surgically. Is this true? If so, what warning signs should I be looking for? Answer>>

	My dog has been squatting a lot, and there is blood in her urine. She has been on 3 antibiotics with no change. What could be the problem? Answer>>
	Vomiting, Diarrhea, and Other Digestive Ills
	My 4-year-old Brittany vomits repeatedly every time I leave town (she stays at home with my husband). Have you heard of otherwise healthy dogs doing this? Any suggestions? Answer>>

	My dog has a bout of diarrhea every other month or so. Do I need to take her to the vet every time, or can I treat it at home? Answer>>

	My dog vomited three times today. Should I take her to the vet, or should I wait it out? Answer>>

	Why does my dog eat poop? And how can I stop this habit? Answer>>

	My five-month-old puppy has diarhea with some blood in it. I'm scared to death she might have parvo. what should I do? Answer>>

	After we ate in an Italian restaurant, we gave our Schnauzer some leftover veal parmigiana, which he loved. That night, he woke us up with his vomiting, and when we took him to the vet, she’d said he’d have to stay in the hospital on IV fluids for a few days! What’s going on? Answer>>
	West Nile Virus
	Can my dog get the West Nile virus by being bitten by a mosquito? Or how about a tick? Answer>>

	How dangerous is it for dogs to play on the grass after a park has been sprayed for the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus? Answer>>
	When the End Is Near
	I have a 13-year-old Samoyed who is very arthritic, deaf, and senile. He is on arthritis medication, but lately his hind legs have been giving out. Also, when he is lying down, he sometimes whines. Other times, he runs a few feet just like a puppy. How do I know when it's time to let him go? I don't want him to be in pain, but I don't want to lose him either. Answer>>
	Winter Weather
	Is there anything special I need to do to keep my dog healthy in the wintertime? Answer>>

	I have two Dalmatians, ages 3 and 7. How do I know if they are cold? At what temperature would they need a coat? Answer>>


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