Got a question for a Veterinarian? |
| Post #1401 - Posted on: Wednesday. July 14, 2010 I have a 9 year female rottweiler. She has no appeptite, drinking lots of water, and leaking urine (maybe blood in urine, not sure). What is going on??? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi! It sounds like your dog needs to see a veterinarian immediately. You don't mention if your dog has been spayed or not. If not, there is the potential that she has a uterine infection, which can be life threatening. If she has been spayed, there is the potential that she has a urinary tract infection that may be serious. It's very difficult for me to know what is going on with your dog without getting a more thorough history, performing a physical examination, and running some diagnostics that include bloodwork, a urinalysis, and potentially x-rays. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1400 - Posted on: Tuesday. July 13, 2010 i have a pug of age 2.5 months, and he's got loose motions with mucous and little blood coming out with every motion. Any solutions for the problem? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi, a young puppy with loose, bloody stool should be checked out right away by a veterinarian. It may be something as simple as a diet change or intestinal worms, but it could be something very serious such as parvovirus, which is fatal if not treated. I hope your new pug does well, please give us a call if you'd like to schedule an appointment for him, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1399 - Posted on: Monday. July 12, 2010 I have an 8 month old mixed breed dog and she just got fixed the other day. When we brought her home she seemed to urinate on herself but it didn't smell or look like urin. When we asked the vet she said it could have just been from all the fluids they gave her and the bandages that were wrapped around her could have been applying pressure to her bladder. Well the bandages are gone now and the dog is still urinating around the house and when we let her out she will go three to four times within a few minutes. She goes out often and is outside for the better part of the day. I'm just a little worried and my vet seemed to shrug it off as did the 24 hour clinic. She was house broke before she got fixed I just dont understand why she is having trouble now. Thank you PFC Crouthamel |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi! There are a few things that could be causing your dog to urinate more frequently after being spayed. One of the first things I would think of is a urinary tract infection. This would cause your dog to go to the bathroom more frequently. Another possibility is something called "Spay Incontinence" or "Hormone-Responsive Urinary Incontinence." This is something I would suspect if your dog urinates while sleeping or is unaware of the fact that she has just urinated. You don't mention if she urinates while sleeping, but if she does, this would be very high on my list of possibilities. I suggest asking your veterinarian to perform a urinalysis to look for signs of infection before pursuing further diagnostics. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1398 - Posted on: Sunday. July 11, 2010 Can my 1yr old pitbull dog gt worms frm eatn tabel food |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Your dog CANNOT get worms from eating table scraps, but may get an upset tummy (vomiting and diarrhea) if he or she is not used to eating this food. Table scraps are not recommended for dogs because they do not provide a well balanced diet and can lead to other problems, such as obesity and/or pancreatitis if given in excess. NEVER feed your pet onions, grapes, or raisins because these foods can make your dog very sick and cause organ damage. Your dog CAN, however, pick up intestinal parasites from the environment since the most common worms (hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms) shed their eggs in the soil. These intestinal parasites can be transmitted directly through the skin, including the feet, belly, and any exposed skin touching the ground. In addition, your dog can get "worms" from licking and/or swallowing contaminated soil. Your dog should be on monthly heartworm prevention, which helps to protect him or her from these intestinal parasites. If you are worried your pet has "worms," please make an appointment with your veterinarian. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call us at (561) 439-3220. ~The Doctors at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1397 - Posted on: Sunday. July 11, 2010 My 44 pound pit bull/hound mix was diagnosed with lyphoma in late March. I chose not to do chemo but instead have made her own food and added supplements of probiotics, powershrooms, and a daily snack of cottage cheese and fish oil (all of which she loves and eats with relish)My question is in knowing when it is time for euthanasia. I athought itwould be easy to know when.No appetite, no desire to do the things she loves. It isn't that easy.She still follows me around and wants to go outside and go for rides in the car although her energy level isn't what it used to be. Her respiratory rate at times runs high 30s to low 40s and over this weekend she has had a rare light cough.I don't want to run into a situation where she is in distress or suffering yet I don't want o put her down before it is necessary.Any advice? Thank You Judy and Yoshi |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hey Judy! I am so sorry to hear about your dog. :( It is never easy to let go of a loved one and euthanasia can be a very difficult decision to make. Remember, you know your dog best and it is ultimately your decision in the end. When considering euthanasia, you should ask yourself these questions regarding your dog's quality of life. Is she still interested in eating or drinking or do you have to entice her to eat on a daily basis? Is she able to keep her food and water down? Is she losing a lot of weight? Does she seem painful or uncomfortable? Does she have control over her bodily functions? Does she still interact with you regularly? Greet you at the door? Respond when you call her name? Spend more time close to you than away from you? Overall, does she seem to be enjoying life or if you asked her, would she be ready to say goodbye? Sometimes, we hang on longer than we should because we have trouble letting go. Whenever and whatever your decision is, it should be one that makes you feel comfortable. One that you can always look back on and know that you made the best decision and that you would make the same decision over again. If you have any other concerns, please call us at (561) 439-3220. ~ The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1396 - Posted on: Sunday. July 11, 2010 Hi, How long is a dogs menstral cycle. My dog just got hers for the first time and its been over a week... |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi! The estrous cycle of dogs is very variable and often times difficult to predict. On AVERAGE, dogs display vaginal bleeding anywhere from 7-10 days. Remember, this is an average and individual dogs may have longer or shorter cycles. If the discharge becomes smelly or changes from just blood and clear mucous, this could be a sign of uterine infection. I do recommend spaying your dog to help prevent both infection and mammary cancer. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1391 - Posted on: Wednesday. July 07, 2010 I HAVE 2 PUPS....6MO AND 3MO. THE YOUNGER ONE STILL HAS THOSE SHARP BABY TEETH SO WHEN THEY PLAY THE OLDER ONE ALWAYS ENDS UP WITH SCRAPES AND SCABS ON HIS NECK AND EARS....NOTHING VERY SERIOUS BUT HE DOES HAVE QUITE A FEW SCABS. SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT ANY TYPE OF INFECTION AND IF SO IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN APPLY TO THE SCABS TO HELP THEM HEAL? HE IS NOT IN ANY PAIN AND I DON'T EVEN THINK HE KNOWS THEY ARE THERE. HE INITIATES THE PLAY WITH THE YOUNGER PUP AND I'VE NEVER HEARD HIM YELP. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: If the scarpes are very superficial there is probably no need for concern. A dog's mouth does have bacteria in it so you should monitor for any swelling or discharge which could mean there has been a break in the skin and bacteroa have been introduced. If this happens then the puppy could need to be on antibiotics. With the superficial abrasions you should keep them clean and you can apply topical neosporin which is an antibiotic cream. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1364 - Posted on: Wednesday. June 23, 2010 i have a 9 monyh old yorkie. 4pounds. has a bald spot the size of a quarter, redness all around it. hes getting irritable. but when i rub it it doesnt pahse hime but his attitude is changing.what could this be. my vet said maybe from his vaccination but that was in may its almost july. im worried about him. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi there! It definitely sounds like your dog has a skin irritation. It's difficult to to tell what this spot is without examining it and performing some diagnostic tests such as cytology and potentially fungal cultures. Also, there have been reports of animals getting irritated, bald spots after vaccines, that can occur months after the vaccine is given, so this too could be an explaination for the bald spot. Regarding the change in behavior, knowing how his behavior has changed and what he is doing would be helpful. Nine months is about the time male dogs sexually mature, so if he's not neutered, the change in behavior may be due to hormones. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1359 - Posted on: Sunday. June 20, 2010 my boston terrier beagle mix has dark wet discharge from only one ear. He scratches and shakes his head. We use topical flea/tick ointment. Other than the ear, he does not act like he feels bad. No diarrhea or vomiting and no loss of appetite or activity. Any suggestions? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi! It sounds like your dog most likely has an ear infection. In order to get it properly treated, you would need to take him to your veterinarian, who would perform the necessary diagnostics and then perscribe an appropriate treatment protocol. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1358 - Posted on: Thursday. June 17, 2010 Hello. We are actively seeking a veterinary clinic for our new Welsh terrier puppy. The puppy arrives next Tuesday via the airlines. He is coming to us from Minnesota. My wife and I spent several months looking for a good breeder. Last night we received a phone call from the breeder explaining that there is a mild underbite. This was noticed by their veterinarian and not the breeder. Both the dam and sire have no malocclusions. We are concerned about the underbite. I think the breeder was extremely upfront and honest for sharing this information with us especially before they ship the puppy. We are not looking for a show dog. Do you think that we should be concerned? Is there a possibility that when he starts getting his adult teeth, that the underbite could be corrected on its own? Welsh terriers are not known for having underbites according to the literature we have read. Thanks. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi! I am glad to hear that you are being responsible and researching about your soon-to-be new pet! Underbites are common in some breeds of dog but rarely cause any problems related to eating/chewing. It is unlikely that the underbite will resolve when the adult teeth errupt. Please remember that this trait may be heritable so it is not recommended that you breed your puppy. In fact, spaying or neutering would be recommened anyway because it decreases the risk of cancer. The main concern with underbites is the cosmetic apperance. Since you are not looking for a show dog and the veterinarian said the underbite was mild, I would not be concerned about it. Underbites can actually be pretty cute on some dogs, and I bet your puppy will be one of them! -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1357 - Posted on: Thursday. June 17, 2010 i have a 7 yr old pitt mix he started licking the pad his front foot 3 days ago and now he is limping doesent want me to look or touch it. there doesnt appear to be any cuts or blisters or even a foreign object stuck between the pads. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It was a good idea to check between his toes because foreign objects, cuts, burns, or blisters may all cause your dog to lick at his paw. Although you didn't find anything between his toes, I suspect the licking was due to pain since he appears to be limping now. I would recommend bringing him to your local veterinarian for further evaluation. An orthopedic examination should be done to evaluate the joints for pain and the surrounding soft tissues for swelling. X-rays may be performed in order to look for boney changes that may be causing him to limp. In addition, your veterinarian will likely want to prescribe some medication to make your dog more comfortable. If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (561) 439- 3220. ~ Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1355 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 15, 2010 I took my puppy Ali to the vet today for his wellness exam and the Dr. took a fecal test for worms, he same Ali was negative for worms.Tonite Ali had a poop and it had worms.what should I do? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi! When your puppy Ali was brought to the vet and the fecal test was performed, they most likely performed a fecal floatation, which is the most common type of fecal examination. Fecal floatations look for the eggs that are produced by intestinal parasites. Unfortunately, not all intestinal parasites produce eggs in large enough numbers for them to show up on a fecal flotation. Additonally, many intestinal parasites produce eggs intermittently, and at the time Ali's stool was examined, there may not have been eggs in her feces, but she most likely still had intestinal parasites. I say this because all puppies are born with intestinal worms - they are passed to the puppy both across the placenta while it is in the womb and also through the mother's milk. I would make sure your puppy had a dose of deworming medication while he was at the vet. Be sure to return for his next check-up because he will most likely receive another dose of dewormer at that time as well. It is important to deworm puppies multiple times to catch all of the different stages of intestinal parasites - the dewormers only kill the adults, so if eggs are still present, they will hatch and grow into new adults and you will need to deworm again to kill them. You can also ask your vet for a monthly product to help protect against intestinal parasites - there are lots of fantastic selections out there. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1353 - Posted on: Monday. June 14, 2010 my 10 week old teacup toy chihuahua started getting diarreah today. i recently changed her food completely from oh roys walmart brand wet food to eukanuba wet food...i didnt mix the previous food with the new food...could this cause diarreah a week into the new food? and if i dont mix it will her stomach get used to the new food? Fabian |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hey Fabian! You are absolutely correct. Changing your puppy's food quickly, without slowly mixing the old and new food, is a potential cause for diarrhea. Although I am happy to hear you switched your puppy from Old Roy to Eukanuba (better choice!), I would recommend putting her on a small bites dry food because the wet food may also cause soft stool. In addition, there are many other causes of diarrhea in puppies, including intestinal parasites and infectious diseases (parvovirus, coronavirus). I would definitely recommend scheduling an exam to check your puppy for intestinal parasites, some of which can be transmitted to you. It is also important to make sure all vaccinations are up to date, which will help to protect your puppy from the infectious diseases listed above. If you have any other questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Simmons Veterinary Hospital at (561) 439-3220. :) |
| Post #1342 - Posted on: Wednesday. June 09, 2010 My boston terrier and baby 7 week old pug/boston mix were playing and the boston ran into the baby and she cried. Now the pug won't stop sneezing. Could there be trauma to the snout? Should I take her in? Amanda |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Amanda! If your pug continues to sneeze constantly I would defnitely bring her in for a check-up. Continued sneezing can be a sign of irritation to the nasal cavity, which can be caused by many things including foreign objects (such as grass or hair), allergies, and infection, to name a few. If the episode of sneezing was brief (i.e. only a few minutes) and no more sneezing has occured, I wouldn't worry. -The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1340 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 08, 2010 Hello. I have a 5 year old female cat that isn`t doing very well and I am worried. We got her the end of February from a home where she was neglected. She has never had any of her shots and she was never fixed. She has been in heat off and on for almost the entire time I have had her. I want to take her to get her shots but every time I get a chance she is in heat and the vet said to wait. For the last 4 days she has been in heat but it seemed more mild than usual and last night she began crying and howling constantly for hours more so than usual. This morning I woke to vomit all around my house and I found her sleeping under my bed when I approached her she stood up seeming very weak with her tail between her legs. I then noticed that her fur (tail, rear legs, and lower stomach) was soaking wet. I am not sure what it came from. Although, I thought she peed on herself it doesn`t have a smell almost as if it is water or something but the wetness is only near her rear end. She is acting like she feels ill. She went to her litter box and then got out and laid down right by the litter box as if she couldn`t bear to walk any further. She is not cleaning the wetness off herself and she is just laying there sleeping constantly. I have young children and they usually scare her off with their rowdiness but this time when they approached her she just laid there. I have grown to care about this cat very much and I am willing to do anything necessary to restore her health but before I take her to a vet I am hoping you can give me some insight as to what might be wrong with her. I don't have much money as I am a college student and I do not work therefore I can only afford so much before I am taking food out of my kids mouth. Please let me know what you think as soon as possible. Is her sickness due to being in heat? Few things about her environment have recently changed; she eats the same food and drinks the same water. The only things that I believe it could be a result of other than her being in heat are that I have recently started painting the walls in the house and she got a little paint on her tail and ate it off and I put a pan of paint in the sink where i filled it with dish soap and hot water (sometimes she gets up on the counter and drinks water off the dishes in the sink even though her bowl is full she prefers the water in the sink for some odd reason meaning she possibly drank some of the paint dish soap water). So unless the ingestion of paint or dish soap could have caused this then it has to be from being in heat. Also she is an indoor cat she does not ever go outside and we don`t have mice or any other rodents in our home. She is our only pet. Please let me know what you think it could be. The more information you can provide the better chance I have of saving her life. I am desperate to help her with the limited funds that I have available. Please reply as soon as possible. Also, should I try to get her to eat and drink? Should I try to comfort her or leave her alone? Oh, and she does not have any diarrhea or worms in her feces. Her littler box was normal.Thank you so much for your help. Susan |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The first things I think of with a cat with this kind of behavior is a uterine infection or possible kidney disease. A cat that is not spayed could have an infection that would be draining to the outside- normally I would expect more of an odor because of infection. A cat who is producing a lot of urine from kidney disease could be constantly wet in this area. These cats usually are drinking more water/ possibly vomiting. I worry a little bit about the paint because latex based paints have ethylene glycol in them which when ingested could cause kidney failure. The other concern I have about this cat would be its Leukemia status. There are 2 immunodeficiency viruses which cats can get and because of this cats lack of veterinary care previously we do not know if she is negative or not. This cat really needs to be seen and bloodwork needs to be done to establish what needs to be done for her. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1337 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 08, 2010 my 7 week old yorkie is not eating and voited today abd had loose stool o have had her for 3 days |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The first thing I think about wtih sick puppies that have vomiting and diarrhea is parvo virus. Parvo virus is very serious and he should be seen by a veterinarian to make sure he doesn't have this. However, vomiting and diarrhea can be from many different things such as intestinal parasites and eating things he shouldn't. You should make an appointment to have your puppy seen... the sooner the better. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1330 - Posted on: Thursday. June 03, 2010 My shitzua is 31/2 months old her brother came over for a week now she is vomitting and acting weird is she pregnant |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Most dogs don't come into heat until they are at least 6 months old. So if she is only 3 and 1/2 months old I doubt she is pregnant. Vomiting can be due to many things... intestinal parasites, eating things she shouldn't, viruses, as well as other causes. I would have her evaluated by a veterinarian to be sure she is ok. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1325 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 01, 2010 my puppy got bit by a pitbull i do not have money to take her to the doctor she has lacerated skin and tissue at the base of her front left leg, what can i do? is there a risk of loosing her! i am very worried. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Depending on how deep and contaminated the wound has become, without veterinary care, there is an overall risk for your puppy due to systemic infection, but my biggest concern is for the loss of her leg. Try talking to friends and family to see if they can help you out to get her in to be seen and treated. Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1323 - Posted on: Monday. May 31, 2010 My great dane female weaned her puppies on her own and breasts were totally flat. 1 month later one breast developed a knotty lump. I have been treating her with cephalexin. After 3 weeks some dark blood has started dripping out. Is this mastitis? She doesn't feel bad or have fever. and is eating well. James |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It is possible your dog has a mammary infection. You may consider warm compressing this area or even hydrotherapy (water massage) of this area.It is possible that Cephalexin may not be a strong enough antibiotic and this drainage still needs to be cultured. If she is continuing to have a problem, then she should be seen. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1322 - Posted on: Thursday. May 27, 2010 My 15 year old cat has had her 2nd UTI in 6 months. Both weren't treated with first dose of antibiotics (the shot). This time around she's leaking bloody urine. It's been 5 days since the shot and looks like we'll be taking her back for more antibiotics as it appears the infection is still there (vet said she had a pretty raging UTI when they looked at urine sample and white blood cell count, etc.) She also has lost a lot of weight over the 6 months (from (9+ lbs to 5+ lbs...and a year earlier the vet said she could stand to lose a few lbs as she was about 13-14 lbs), she vomits every few days, she's dehydrated (we just started giving her fluids), she is hungry and eats all the time (but this is all still happening) and her stomach is always rumbling when she's lying down. Her transitional epiphelial cells in urine sample were high - vet mentioned perhaps a sign of a bladder tumor. Anything come to mind for you? We're trying to do what we can to make her comfortable, but, don't want to go crazy with vet bills. Any advice? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Thank you so much for your question. I have a couple of my own. Has any bloodwork, x-rays or ultrasound been done your cat? I worry about her kidney values since she has been vomiting and losing weight. I would also be concerned about bladder stones or kidney stones causing the bloody urine. Also do you know if the urine has been sent out for a culture? Perhaps the antibiotic injection is not the right choice for the bacteria growing? And finally I would recommend an ultrasound or a dye study be done if they are really concerned about a growth in her bladder. I hope that you can answer some of these questions for me so that I could give you better advice. Thank you so much, The staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1320 - Posted on: Wednesday. May 26, 2010 My dog had bad diorrea (wrong spelling) yesterday and he was taking bouts of his head shaking uncontrolably.. what does this mean?? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Diarrhea can be a sign of many things including intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, viral disease. The shaking of the head is probably unrelated. Ear infection and ear mites most commonly cause animalsto shake their head. You do not say how old your dog is or if it has had any vaccines. In our area we are seeing a virus called Parvo virus which can cause diarrhea but it is usually accompanied by inappetance and vomiting. Regardless, you should have your dog seen if signs are persisting. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1316 - Posted on: Tuesday. May 25, 2010 Hi i have a 1 1/2 year old female pit bull and lately she has had a weird appetite like she eats sometimes and then sometimes she doesn't, she threw up some white stuff, she shakes occasionally and she is usually very playful but just like her appetite she sometimes wants to play and then she doesn't. What could be wrong? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It sounds like you have a sick kid that needs to be seen... many different things could make her vomit and not want to eat much. Has she gotten ahold of anything lately that she shouldn't have? Do you keep her on heartworm and intestinal worm prevention? Do you give her table food? Any change in her diet lately? If this continues I would definitely have her seen by a veterinarian. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or would like to make an appointment. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1314 - Posted on: Monday. May 24, 2010 I have a nine week old Lab puppy that I have treated with Hartz worm medicine. How often should I give my new puppy this medicine/ |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Your puppy should be given a heartworm, intestinal worm, and flea preventative once monthly. However, I would avoid using over the counter medications. I have found them to be ineffective and have also found they have side effects that are not desirable. I would avoid this medication all together. I would suggest making an appointment to check a fecal to determine if he has intestinal parasites and then we can discuss treatment if need be and the best preventatives for your puppy. Please let me know if you have any additional side effects. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1306 - Posted on: Friday. May 21, 2010 do you offer International Health Certificates? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Yes, we do! Please contact our office today to set up an appointment. |
| Post #1302 - Posted on: Wednesday. May 19, 2010 My 14 months of shorkie has starting a sporadic cough. What could it be? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Coughing can be due to many things: viruses, intestinal parasites, heart disease, trachea problems, etc. I would have her seen by a veterinarian to determine what the problem is. It may be something simple but you wouldn't want to miss something more involved. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1291 - Posted on: Monday. May 10, 2010 my dog has really dry skin and a lump what is it |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Dry skin can be related to shampoo that you are using but it can also be related to allergies. There are things I can do to help you with this depending on what is causing the problem. As far as the lump goes, there are many different causes for "lumps"... some are benign and others are a bit scarier. You should have your dog seen by a veterinarian to be sure that it is nothing to be concerned about. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1286 - Posted on: Tuesday. May 04, 2010 My chihuahua had puppies 5 weeks ago and in the past few days she has a bloody discharge coming from her vagina. Could she be in heat again? Is this normal? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The average interval between a dog's heat cycle is 7 months, but it can range anywhere between 4-18 months. Some dogs will adhere to this interval after whelping, while others will wait a little longer. So, if your dog's average interval between heat cycles was 4 months, then she is getting close again to potentially being due for her next cycle. If this is not her normal interval, or if it just does not seem like a normal discharge to you, then I would have her looked at by a veterinarian. If there is still any question on the matter, a vaginal cytology could be performed to find out exactly where she is in her heat cycle. Hope this helps! Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1283 - Posted on: Tuesday. May 04, 2010 hi i have a 7 month old female shepard/golden lab mix she is comming into her first heat and a neighbours mature male shepard got into our fence and got locked with her what happens if she gets pregnant? is she too young to have puppies |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Ideally you would not want a dog this young to get pregnant and have puppies as she is still maturing herself. However, she is less likely to have problems that toy breeds have due to her size. Your options at this point are to let her have the puppies and maintain good nutrition throughout the pregnancy (assuming she did get pregnant) or having her spayed. |
| Post #1281 - Posted on: Wednesday. April 28, 2010 When my Lab drinks water, what would be causing him to cough until he spits the water back up. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sometimes they can cough and spit the water back up if they drink the water too fast. However, there are other reasons for coughing and vomiting. If this continues, you should have him seen by a veterinarian to be sure there isn't something else going on. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1280 - Posted on: Saturday. April 24, 2010 Can a dog who is nursing still nurse if she has been bitten by a snake? We're not sure if it is a poisonous snake but assume it is because we live in East Texas. The puppies are 2.5 weeks. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: If your dog has been bitten by a snake, you need to get her to a veterinarian. My concern is more for the mother. If she has poisonous venom in her, she will need medical attention. If the snake is non-poisonous, she still may need antibiotics and pain medications. Either way, she needs to be seen. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1278 - Posted on: Tuesday. April 20, 2010 We have a one year old pit bull that we got from a friend and have not yet had the chance to take him to the vet yet. He had already received his shots before we got him. He know has red circular spots on his groin. They kind of ressemble ringworm. In the one case of ringworm i have seen (on a human)the ring crew larger when untreated. This is multipling. He will occasionally lick the spots but really does not seem very bothered by them. Please help we have 4 children and dont want anything spreading or seriously affectting his health. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: I recommend that you take your dog to your vet. Ringworm is something that is very easy to treat and diagnose. There are other things that could be causing the lesions that you are describing. So I would advise a visit to the vet so that he can be worked up for his skin condition, especially if it is ringworm you want to get him treated as soon as possible is it is possible for your family to contract ringworm from him. I hope this information was helpful please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. |
| Post #1277 - Posted on: Tuesday. April 20, 2010 my dog keeps licking the same spot on her leg near her paw. It looks a littl red but not swollen. She is off and on with a limp on that same leg and has now started to vomit food and water today. These symptoms have been spread out for about 3 days now. Does this sound like it could be an insect bite or sting. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: I would have expected an insect bite or sting to have caused more of a dramatic response initially and then gradually improved, not what you are describing. While not swollen, it would be a good idea to still get it checked out to look for a potentially foreign object like a thorn that entered in 1 spot of the foot and is now trying to migrate out. Also, there is the chance that there is a problem with the bone beneath the lesion. Would be best to get her in to have it checked out and then go from there. Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439- 3220 |
| Post #1276 - Posted on: Monday. April 19, 2010 my chihuahua got bit by a spider and we noticed she has a swolen nose and so we took her to the vet and they gave her benedryl and now this morning she had 3 big bumps on her head and i dont know what they are caused from |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Did she get anymore bites? Are the spots in the same location as the first bump? It is also possible she could have an allergy to something. We would have to look at the skin to be sure. Sometimes they can get bacterial skin infections as well. Please call if you would like us to take a look. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1275 - Posted on: Tuesday. April 13, 2010 How much children Benadryl can I give Jeni Choops she is 4 lbs., she has been iching and has no fleas took her for a bath and the groomer said to check to give her some releif. I have a dropper that goes from .25ML, .5ML, .75ML, 1.0ML Thank You Frank Choops (sunfcc@aol.com 963 8243 |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: She can have about 3-5 mg so it would depend on the concentration of the solution as to how much benadryl to give her. Itching can be from allergies but they can also get a secondary bacterial skin infection. Benadryl will help may help with allergies but will not help if there is a secondary bacterial infection. She may need to be seen. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1269 - Posted on: Wednesday. April 07, 2010 Hello, I just got a seven week old chihuahua puppy three days ago. He wants to be held all the time and he screams at night or when he is left alone. I have a play yard set up for him with his food/water, a few toys, his bed and a potty pad. He will be frantic when I leave him in there at anytime. He will cry for at least 15 min then he will sleep, but then wakes up throughout the night and cryes!!! I have no idea what to do..I do not want him in my bed at night. Is there anything I can give him to help calm him at night???I want him to learn that he will be alone sometimes, but he hates it!!! HELP!!!! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Puppies have to learn this lesson and just like children they don't always like it. When he cries, completely ignore him. He doesn't understand words so even by scolding him for crying you are rewarding him because this is still a form of attention. You can give him a treat when he goes into his play yard so that he associates it with treats if he is food motivated. If you pick him up each time he cries, again, you are rewarding this behavior. So you will have to put him in the play yard and completely ignore him. Eventually he will learn that crying will not get him anywhere and he will adjust. Be patient, because it may take some time for him to figure this out. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1266 - Posted on: Monday. April 05, 2010 HI...My 10 year-old lab leaks urine frequently. I was giving her prolatin (2 tablets twice a day). She still had accidents after being on the tablets for several months. Her blood tests have come back ok. No kidney disease,etc What can we do to stop the urine leakage? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Maybe you are talking about Proin? Proin is a common drug used for urinary incontinence. Proin does take about 6-8 wk to be effective. If it is not working, then I would suggest bringing her in to be seen. There may be something else going on such as a urinary tract infection. There are other options for urinary incontinence but Proin is the safest and would be what I recommend as well. Please call if you have any additional questions or would like us to check her urine for an infection. Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1263 - Posted on: Thursday. April 01, 2010 I have a 3 moth old bull massive and about 3 days ago she started getting all these bumps on the inner part of her skin now she's vomiting and having diarrhea what could it be? please help!! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The bumps on the skin could be related to a bacterial infection called Staph. Unfortunately this could be caused by many different things. Of more concern is the vomiting and diarrhea. A puppy this young does not have a full set of vaccines so viral diseases like Parvo are a major concern. Other possibilities are intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion and stress to name a few. Your puppy should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1260 - Posted on: Wednesday. March 31, 2010 My cat is 13 and he had to have a toe removed when he was about 3 from cancer. He just started having deiarea about a year ago how do i get it to stop? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: I would highly recommend that you take your cat to your vet. There a lot of things that could be causing the diarrhea in your 13 year old cat. I would recommend that you start with a basic work up of bloodwork, exam and stool check. Please let us know if you have any other questions. |
| Post #1256 - Posted on: Saturday. March 27, 2010 Hello I have a 1 year old black female pug that i just adopted in febuary. She has been fine up until two days ago i noticed a strange smell from her doggie blanket. She isnt fixed and her previous owner said she had her first heat in December. The smell is very pungent. Then i noticed on her dog bed where she sleeps was a yellowy mucus looking liquid on her bed. Then I looked on her and all around her butt is where the liquid had crusted. I am keeping her off my couches and beds and just keep bathing her to keep that area clean. What could this be? Thank you |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It is awfully soon to have another heat cycle. Although I couldn't be sure without seeing her, I would be more worried about an infection in her uterus. This can be very serious! Is she eating and acting normally otherwise? You should take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. There are other possibilities of what this could be but you need to be sure that she doesn't have an infection. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1255 - Posted on: Thursday. March 25, 2010 I have a 10 week old Shiba Inu puppy. I have had her now for about 3 weeks. I just noticed today that she is starting to get dark brown spots on her coat. The spots are only on her back and right side. Her skin is clear underneath, just the fur is discolored. What could this be? Is it serious? I have an appointment with the vet next week can it wait or should I bring her sooner? Thanks for your help |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: This may be a pigment change in the fur itself. If the skin looks normal underneath, I would just have this checked next time you go to the veterinarian. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1252 - Posted on: Wednesday. March 24, 2010 Do you think it is better to vaccinate yearly or check the titer levels in the blood? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: There is no clear cut answer to this question. If you have a dog who reacts to vaccines then titering is best for this animal. A titer is a blood test that checks for immunity or protection to different viruses like Parvo and Distemper. The problem with titering is that we really donot know how long the protection lasts unless you do yearly titers and can establish a trend. If you dog has a lot of exposure to other dogs through grooming or boarding or dog parks then we recommend keeping them up to date. Rabies by law is required yearly and kennel cough vaccine is required every 6 months. Hope this helps. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1251 - Posted on: Tuesday. March 23, 2010 my dog is still constantly licking her butt even after being wormed twice and having anal glands expressed.it appears to be very itchey. wht to do ? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It sounds like you dog may have some allergies. Does she itch anywhere else or just her rear end? Itchy skin is common with allergies. However, there are many different types of allergies. We would have to see her to determine if she has allergies or not. Her anal glands may also have an infection. If that is the case, she will need to have them infused with medication. Your veterinarian would be able to help you determine what her problem is. If you have any additional questions or would like to make an appointment to have her seen, please don't hesitate to call. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1250 - Posted on: Monday. March 22, 2010 We have a five week old puppy who was outside with his mom and we ran out because he was yalling! He has a huge knot above his eye could there be more damage than the knot? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Without seeing the puppy it is difficult to say. Is he walking normally, acting neurologically appropriate? Are his pupils equal in size? If not, these would be reasons for concern that there is trauma to or within his skull. Is he holding the eye shut, is it bloodshot, or is he pawing at it? These could be signs that there was trauma to the eye itself. If there is a laceration/puncture wound associated with the knot, he may need antibiotics. If it is related to an insect sting/bite, he may need antihistamines and possibly steroids. It would be best to get him in to see a veterinarian to ensure that there is nothing further that needs to be done for him. Please call with any questions or to schedule an appointment. Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1249 - Posted on: Monday. March 22, 2010 Hello, I have two male potcakes that are about 8 months old. We have had them all checked out and bill of health etc. but we just noticed that one of them has one testicle that has not dropped. Is there still time for it to drop or is it past that time? and if so, what are the next steps? Also, since bringing them to the USA and to doggy parks, they have developed a cough. I read online that this could be Kennel Cough. Is this something I need to bring them in to a vet for? or will it heal on its own? Thank you! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi, if only 1 testicle has descended, this is called cryptorchidism. This is often a genetic trait passed down to offspring, so it is not recommended to breed a male dog with this. At 8 months, they are old enough to be neutered. If the cryptorchid testicle is palpable in the groin region, it may be removed from that location, but if not, an abdominal exploration may need to be performed to retrieve and remove it. As for the coughs, some dogs are able to overcome kennel cough in time, but not all are able to, and some coughs are due to more severe disease process. I would ensure that they are not exposed to any other dogs and have them in to be looked at. They may be prescribed antibiotics and/or cough medication. Once recovered from the cough, you may want to consider vaccinating them for bordetella and canine influenza. (Also distemper and parainfluenza if they have not already received their Da2plP vaccinations). Please contact us if you have any further questions or concerns. Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1247 - Posted on: Sunday. March 21, 2010 Hi, my dog is a 3 year old beagle mix. Nothing is different in her life than it was 3 years ago, e.g. no medications, same living situation, same food etc., but now, and other times she displays moodiness. She was spayed at 7 months. Can she have mild symptoms of a menstrual cycle and is moodiness one of the symptoms of this cycle? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: If your dog was spayed, she no longer produces enough hormones to have mood changes associated with her menstrual cycle. What is she doing that is making her appear moody? Is she painful? Is her activity level and appetite normal? I would be happy to speak with you about this in further detail and take a look at her to make sure there isn't something painful that is making her a little grumpy. Please call if you have any additional questions or would like to make an appointment. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1245 - Posted on: Sunday. March 21, 2010 my pit bull puppy is 16 weeks we just got her yesterday she has a knot on her stomach what could it be? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The knot is most likely a hernia or if she has been spayed it could be suture reaction at her incision site. I would recommend that you take her to your vet to have the knot looked at. I hope you find this information helpful please let us know if there is anything else you need. |
| Post #1242 - Posted on: Sunday. March 21, 2010 Do female dogs have some of the same symptoms as human females when they have their menstrual cycle? If so, can a female dog who has been spayed have any symptoms? Sandy D. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Female dogs come into heat every 6 months starting at about 6 months of age depending on the breed. The heat cycle usually lasts 3 weeks with signs of a vaginal discharge that includes a bloody discharge. During a spay, both ovaries and uterine horns are removed. There is a possibility that if some ovarian tissue remains that there could be signs of heat. |
| Post #1239 - Posted on: Saturday. March 20, 2010 Hi my 1year 8month old male cat simba i feel has been unwell for 2 days now he is still drinking water but hasnt touched any food i havent seen him use his litter box since yesterday his behaviour is the same as always and he has been vomiting up a yellow bile like liquid i have spoken to my vet over the phone when i did this he was still toileting and eating they said it was maybe a trapped fur ball and to try fur ball paste which i have to no effect i am hoping someone may be able to help me here or give me some advice if this has happened to one of your pets thankyou kind regards x |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, it's difficult to say what is going based on the above, but if he isn't eating, and is vomiting, you should get him in to be looked at. When cat's do not eat for 5-7 days they can develop liver disease, so it is important to start treatment sooner than later. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance. Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1238 - Posted on: Thursday. March 18, 2010 My dog is 5 she had her spayed 2 days ago, they diagnose her with anemia and so they had to cauterized some of the veins since they were not closing easily. they did that and also used a pressure bandage and what happen after is that her 2 las nipples have gotten very swollen, we went to the vet today, the surgery was 2 days ago, and he didn't see anything bad. I am concern about the swollen, and don't know if its because of the pressure of the bandage or if it could be an infeccion. the color of the breast are not red but yes very swollen. help Im very concern about my sweetheart |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: I can see why you would be concerned about your baby. This sounds like something that needs to be seen, and the sooner the better. Infection, pressure bandages, swelling from surgery, suture reactions, etc are all reasons for swelling around the surgery site... some more serious than others. I would have to see her to be certain which of these you are dealing with. We are open until 11pm, so please call if you would like to discuss this in more detail. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1237 - Posted on: Tuesday. March 16, 2010 my 7 week old yorkie stopped eatting, he threw up a little and he is losing his balance |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: A small young puppy this age and breed could have low blood sugar. This is a serious condition and the dog needs to be seen immediately. If the dog does have low blood sugar it may be from the inappetance or could mean a more serious problem with the liver. It would be best to have this dog seen as soon as possible. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1236 - Posted on: Monday. March 15, 2010 I have a lab that had diarhea and vomiting during the night. He had some scraps from a prime rib and there was a piece of shrimp that got in there, would this cause the vomiting and diarrha? Now he just walks around with his tail between his legs.Any thoughts on this? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Dogs are unable to handle fatty foods like prime rib. He may have an irritated intestinal tract due to eating things he shouldn't eat. However, the pancreas sits next to the first loop of intestines as the food leaves the stomach. When foods with high fat contents pass by, the pancreas (which is responsible for releasing digestive enzymes passes) works on overload and gets inflammed and irritated. He could have pancreatitis... bloodwork will let us know if we are dealing with this or not. Was there bones attached to the steak? Eating bones can cause big problems also... we may need to take some xrays. You need to have him seen as soon as possible. Please call to discuss. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1233 - Posted on: Sunday. March 14, 2010 HI! My Bichon still has accidents in the house even though she is 8 months old and we are very diligent about training. We are concerned that it may be a urinary infection. How do they obtain urinary samples in female dogs? I do not want to put her through unnecessary stress. Thanks! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: In order to confirm a urinary tract infection, a sterile urine sample must be obtained. This sterile sample is usually gotten through ultrasound guided method by placing a needle directly into the bladder. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1230 - Posted on: Wednesday. March 10, 2010 Hello! I have a 15 week old shih tzu and we are having the hardest time potty training him. He currently uses weewee pads and is being crate trained. He recently started pooping inside his crate and eating it!!!! I then decreased the size of his crate in half. However, that did not work and so now his space in the crate is just big enough for him to lay down. That seemingly solved the problem because now he poops where we want him to. However, recently he was laying on his little donut bed that HE moved about a foot away from his weewee pad and instead of just peeing on the pad, he peed on his donut bed and then laid in it!!!!! Why would he do that? He seems to have no respect for where he sleeps or lounges. How can I correct this since he does it even when he has free access to his weewee pad especially when it is not that far away from him. Please note that at certain time during the day his crate door is open and he is allowed to lounge within a confined space. At this time he lays either in his crate or on the donut bed. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: You did the right thing with the size of the crate... and it is normal (gross but normal) for dogs to eat their poop... many dogs do this. Most of the time animals will not urinate or defacate and then lay in the same spot... he is following this rule except for 1 incident... so keep up with it. He is urinating where he feels b/c you haven't trained him on the pad properly. House training has a lot to do with training yourself. Do not free feed him... this will help as well. Keep him crated when you are away, at night when you are sleeping, and when you are unable to watch him. This way he is unable to have a mishap when you aren't watching. Then, learn his behaviors. He will most likely have to go to the bathroom every time you take him out of his crate and about 15- 20 min after eating. So successful house training depends a lot on the owner. He will get there!! Keep up the good work. If you have any additional questions, feel free to call. We would be happy to discuss in further detail. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1222 - Posted on: Wednesday. March 10, 2010 I have a seven year old Doberman who has had a problem ever since a spay job at one and a half years. She wets her bed quite often at nights. This seems to happen when she is sleeping soundly. She may go two weeks without doing it, and then for NO reason. Like last night I got up at 2am and let her out, four hours later her bed was wet. I have had her on numerious pills from vets to no avail. Any suggestions? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It is not uncommon for a spayed female dog to get a hormonal urinary incontinence. You do not say what the dog has been on. First you must rule out urinary tract infection with a urine culture. If the urniary culture is negative and the dog is urinating at rest or when relaxed there is a medication called phenylproponalamine (PPA) that can be tried. If this is not effective than there is a hormone called DES which is an estrogen based hormone that can be used. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1217 - Posted on: Sunday. March 07, 2010 Hl My name is Sue and my Uncle left his Shitsu dog with me while he went on vacation around 2 weeks ago.I took him to be vaccinacted around 2 weeks ago and the dog was ok. but five days ago the dog started trembling sometimes and eating less and it became inactive hardly moving. What could be wrong please help me. Iam very worried and I do not know what to do. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Sue!! Sometimes dogs will tremble when they are nervous. She may just be sad that her Dad is gone. Sometimes they will also eat less when they are stressed or depressed. However, it shouldn't make her hardly move. I would schedule an appointment with a veterinarian to have her evaluated to make sure that there isn't something else going on. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1214 - Posted on: Friday. February 26, 2010 Hello, I am looking for some advice. I have two female dogs, ages 6 and 7 and recently they have been fighting a lot. It's not play fighting by any means, I fear that they are going to kill each other and it usually ends with injuries. I have a baby on the way and can not risk the baby's safety with their fight to the death battles. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help ease the fighting or is my only option giving one of them up? Thank you for taking the time to review my question. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Are both of your dogs spayed? If not, that could potentially be adding to this new aggressive behavior. If so, other than your pregnancy, are their any other big changes (or what may seem like a big change to them) in your home? Do you know who the instigator is and what the inciting event usually is over? (food, toys, your attention?) Are there any health changes in either of your dogs? These are some of the main questions that I would be asking, and depending on the answers would definitely consider consulting with some specialized dog trainers who can help you to evaluate the situation as well. Of course the health of your pets is important, but to ensure that your new baby's safety is not in danger is even more important. Please let us know if there is anything further that we can do to help, and congratulations on the new addition to your family! Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439- 3220 |
| Post #1205 - Posted on: Friday. February 19, 2010 my dog has had diera and resently started haveing blood in it and she dose not eat any people food wut could be wrong |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: There is a lot of different things that can cause blood in your dogs stool. I would be worried about intestinal parasites, stress, and change in diet to name a few. And depending on your dog's age there are more aggressive things that could be causing the bloody diarrhea. I would highly recommend that you take your dog to her veterinarian where a full physical exam, stool check, rectal exam and bloodwork can be done. I hope this answers your question. Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1204 - Posted on: Wednesday. February 17, 2010 By: Salena Burnette My dog is a 9 year old lab and pit mix who suffers from epilepsy. He is on Phenobarbital and Brohmide. He is also handicapped due to a hip dysplasia and 2 dislocated knees causing him to fall down often. Although he now has a pet companion in our household, he has never been away from home. I may need to board them both next week and would like your honest opinion about it being a good idea or not. When he has one seizure, it is usually followed by a series of seizures over the next few days, or sometimes weeks. Should I risk it? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Unfortunately, stress can be a contributing factor in bringing on seizures. Just the stress of you leaving may be a problem and if compounded with a new environment this may not be in the best interest of the dog. At our facility we have an option to board the dogs in the hospital which is called assisted living. The dogs are monitored closely by the hospital staff and get daily assessments. This may be a good alternative for you although it does not guarantee that a seizure could not occur. The Staff at Simmons Veterinaty Hospital |
| Post #1203 - Posted on: Tuesday. February 16, 2010 By: cate rivad I have a 5 year old "virgin" pitbull who is now in heat. I never wanted her to get pregnant so I keep her inside the house most of the time during her heat cycle. However, she seems uncomfortable and irritated having her period now than she was younger so what can I do to make her comfortable during this time? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Cate, the best solution to this problem is to have your dog spayed. There are no medications (like humans have Midol) that will make her feel better, she may be acting anxious because her instinct tells her to go find a mate. This can be dangerous if she ever gets outside off leash as she may not be as responsive to your commands, and worst case scenario could end up in the middle of a busy road. (Another bad, but not worst case scenario is that she could become pregnant if ever loose.) Older female dogs are also at risk of developing an infection of their uterus, which is a life threatening disease and requires emergency surgery. Please call in to schedule her spay at any time! Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439- 3220 |
| Post #1202 - Posted on: Monday. February 15, 2010 By: Cesar I Have A 5 Month Old German Shepard and he Got His Rabies Shot A Week Ago and Now He Is Limping Around. He Also Hasn't Been Eating Right. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Cesar, The signs you are seeing are not related to his rabies vaccine. Vaccine reactions are usually vomiting and facial swelling that are seen within 24 hours of being vaccinated. Sometimes animals will have some discomfort at the injection site but not a week later and usually vaccines are given in between the shoulder blades. I would be concerned that there is something else going on with your dog and I would recommend that you take him to see his veterinarian. I hope this answer your question. Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1201 - Posted on: Sunday. February 14, 2010 By: Dennis I am visting this area and my vet is 1500 miles away. My dog was playing in the yard and suddenly started to rub her snout on the grass. Later in the day I noticed thather lip looked different. I figured she had been bitten on the mouth and snout area by an insect or spider. Latter in the day her lower lip on the side of the bite hangs loose and is red and seems to be seeping blood. There is no actual wound. She now has 2 small hard lumps above and below the lips and one very large circular lump on her upper lip. The large lump (1-1.5 inch in diameter) is very hard and has bloody ooze. The hair is also coming out in the area. She has a good and playful disposition but can tell she is favoring the area of her mouth. Not sure whether to wait and see how it looks in a day or so.. or if I should rush her in to an animal hospital??? any suggestions would be great. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Dennis, just in the chance that this is a snake bite or a slow acting allergic reaction I would bring her in to be seen by a veterinarian sooner than later. Regardless of what caused problem, it sounds like she will need some antibiotics and possibly some anti-inflammatory medications. Please call in if you would like to schedule an appointment, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1200 - Posted on: Sunday. February 14, 2010 By: liam murphy i have a 9 year old female dalmation who has been off her food for the last few days and also been sick over the las few days. i have just noticed that her left eye is bloodshot. i am on benefits and cannot really afford a vet unless it is really needed. to be honest i am worried and need advice |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: An older dog that is not eating could be a very serious sign. You do not say whether there are any other changes like vomiting, diarrhea or excess water consumption. Because of the age of the dog, I think you should bring the dog in for a thorough physical examination and bloodwork. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1199 - Posted on: Friday. February 12, 2010 By: Stacey I have a seven month old golden ret mix puppy. She normally walks for an hour and plays for an hour after work then lays down to chew on a bone. A few days a week we send her to a doggie day care. She is current on all shots. 2 days ago she went to day care and now is acting very tired and not eating well. This week I switched her feed from Eikanuba large breed puppy to Iams large breed puppy Tonight she ate half her dinner and did not want treats. Is this a reaction to to new food or something more. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Stacey - When switching diets, you should do so gradually. Sometimes dogs will get some intestinal irritation (causing some looser stools) due to sudden changes in diet. You should mix the diets half and half before switching completely over to a new food. That may have played a role. However, a puppy turning down treats and acting very tired is always a concern. Most golden retriever puppies are very playful. Her loss of appetite and activity level sounds a bit more involved than just a simple change in diet. If she is truely up to date on her shots that is great! But, just to be on the safe side I would have her evaluated to be sure, especially if this continues. It's better to be safe than sorry later on. Please let me know if you have any questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1195 - Posted on: Sunday. February 07, 2010 By: frank my shitsu is 2 yrs old she just started shaking and crying not all the time . she is still playful |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: These signs may be signs of pain. Is the dog limping or favoring any of her legs? Is she spayed? I would recommend that you bring her in to be seen by a veterinarian as these signs are not usual for this young dog. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1192 - Posted on: Wednesday. February 03, 2010 By: Dinah Baye Dr Leah Martin is the best! You're very fortunate to have her!! |
| Post #1190 - Posted on: Tuesday. February 02, 2010 By: Jenny My yorkie (female is 3 years old) she has a little knot around her private area, it looks like her overie is swollen. I also am still feeding her puppy chow and occasional table food. What kind of food do you suggest that would be the best for her????? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The ovaries are internal so I doubt the little knot is the ovary. However, nodules in the private region are definitely abnormal and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. A 3 year old yorkie is no longer considered a puppy and should be eating adult food by now. I would switch her over to an adult formula gradually - mix this with the old diet for about a week before switching completely. The 4 brands that I recommend are the following: Purina Pro Plan, Science Diet, Eukanuba, and Iams. I would avoid table foods as well. Many dogs cannot handle the foods that we eat, especially steak and meats with higher fat content. They can become very sick if they eat certain table foods. Celery, carrots, or green beans are ok treats but use in moderation. Approximately 99% of her diet should be her dog food. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1189 - Posted on: Saturday. January 30, 2010 By: Ellie Hello, I have a 7 month old kitten who goes pee and poo once a day. Her poo is soft and consists of blood. What could be the problem? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: With a kitten, things like intestinal parasites and possible ingestion of a foreign substance or diet changes might be a possibility. It is important to know whether the kitten is still eating and if there is any vomiting as well. This kitten should be brought in for a physical exam and fecal test as soon as possible. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1187 - Posted on: Thursday. January 28, 2010 By: Ken Please help I gave my dog oxtail bones! And now he's been constipated for 3 days What can I do? He tries to poop but can't Please help!! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Ken, You need to take your dog to your veterinarian. Bones will splinter when dogs chew them and can cause severe intestinal irritation. And if dogs do not chew them up well they can cause intestinal blockage. Your dog may need an enema and some medications to help coat his stomach to help heal any ulcers that may have developed from eating the bones. I would highly recommend that you do not feed oxtail bones to your dog and take him to see his veterinarian. Thank you, The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1174 - Posted on: Saturday. January 16, 2010 By: nika hi my yorkie poo is 5mths she woke up last night whining alot she went pee and then kept squating and there was blood and she was up from 12am to 5am this morning constantly licking herself and she puked up yell0w bile.. Today she is acting fine but she keeps squatin all over the place... but i dont see any blood anymore except for this morning but it was kind of alot... is she in heat or a UTI please help |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Nika! Great question. If your little girl is squatting to urinate often she may have an infection. Blood isn't always present in the early stages of a urinary tract infection so, just because she is no longer bleeding doesn't mean she is getting better on her own. We recommend you have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible for her health and comfort. Thank you for the question! - The doctors and staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1172 - Posted on: Wednesday. January 13, 2010 By: Caitlin Swan Hello my name is Caitlin Swan. I recently worked at Healing Arts Veterinary Center as a kennel technician. I was wondering if you had an positions available at your practice? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Caitlin! We are always looking to hire the right person. If you are interested in a position with our hospital please stop in and fill out an application. Thanks! -Kelly Murphy, Client Services Manager, Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1170 - Posted on: Thursday. January 07, 2010 By: carol castro My 4 year old bichon suddenly started crying and howling in pain for no apparent reason last night. now she is limping. she was just sitting there fine , not running or anything. i took her to the emergency vet and they could not find anything. they gave us pain medication but not sure what it is. have you ever heard of such a thing? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Carol! Sometimes dogs will get soft tissue injuries and nothing will show up on xrays because the bones have not been affected and the exam may or may not show any soreness, yet they are still limping at home. Also, when they are in the vet's office adrenaline may mask a painful spot. Then they get home and start limping again after the adrenaline is no longer playing a role. Pain medications and rest is the best medicine for soft tissue injuries. However, if the limping continues I would have him reevaluated. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1168 - Posted on: Tuesday. January 05, 2010 By: Pamela Schultz Good Morning, I have a female 10 month old feline named Missy. When i had her (fixed) the vet told me that she has a allergy to fleas and she has literally biting and scratching her skin so bads now she has big scabs and a couple of scabs that are bleeding. not constantly bleeding just where she has scratched the scab off. I feel awfull knowing she is so uncomforatable and itching so bad and all the time. I need to what i can do at home with hopefully what i ve got or that wouldnt cost much. I dont know if i should try and give her a flea bath with flea shampoo or if its going to hurt her putting anything on it. Im desperate to help my babe missy. Can you please help? Thankyou so much for your time Pamela Schultz |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sometimes mild cases of allergies can be controlled wtih some benadryl. The average 10lb cat can have approximately 5-10mg of benadryl. However, your kitty seems to be more severe than what benadryl can do for you. Allergies often need steroids to help stop the itching which requires a perscription. Also, secondary infections are common. The itching will not go away unless the infections are treated as well. Flea treatment is just a start. When they have flea allergies they are actually allergic to the flea saliva. One flea bite is enough to cause an allergic outbreak. Then, you must treat the allergy and the secondary side effects. You need to have your kitty seen by a veterinarian. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1165 - Posted on: Sunday. December 27, 2009 By: Barbar I hav a 6 mos. old girl dog whih ws spayed at 8 ws before I got her. Because this is my first dog will she have a menstral cycle and will she go into heat if so what do I do for the 3 wk period as far as taking her outside and keeping he in the house. she is basically an indoor dog only oes out to potty i he anyhing I need to know or do when taking her out or while in the house please help I am getting nevouse about rumrs I am hearing |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: If your dog was spayed, she will not have a menstral cycle anymore. The ovaries and the uterus has been removed. If your dog has been spayed and is still having menstral cycles you should take her to see a veterinarian. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1160 - Posted on: Sunday. December 20, 2009 By: Tracy My little kitty did not eat for three days, what should I do now? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: You need to have your kitten seen as soon as possible. Cats that do not eat can get into lver failure in a short amount of time. You do not mention if your kitten has any signs like sneezing or nasal discharge which might make them less likely to eat. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1149 - Posted on: Friday. December 04, 2009 By: joan cavana My year old Sheltie goes outside to urinate but 19 min later she has dripped urine all over the carpet. She is spayed and she suddenly start putting on weight. I am so worried. What should I do? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Joan, is she aware that she is leaking urine? Has she ever done this before? The first thing to rule out is a urinary tract infection. This requires a sterile urine sample that should be obtained by your veterinarian. If this is normal, some other concerns in a young dog can be for congenital disorders, urinary stones, kidney disease, and something that is usually seen in older females is estrogen responsive incontinence. Please let me know if I can answer any more questions for you, Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1148 - Posted on: Monday. November 30, 2009 By: rhonda My Yorkie is in her second time to be in heat and she is vomitting Loss of appetite and diarhea is she going to be ok? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, She should be seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause of her symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhea can be caused by a wide variety of illnesses ranging from gastrointestinal upset to more serious illnesses such as Parvo virus. Is she up to date on vaccines? Also, intact females are prone to uterine infections (pyometra) which can cause these symptoms, but are not typically seen in young dogs. Sincerely, Simmons Veterinary Staff |
| Post #1147 - Posted on: Saturday. November 28, 2009 By: devin my puppy will be sleeping and out of no where she will wake up shaking and crying what should i do |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: It is difficult to determine from these symptoms whether the puppy has a problem or not. The puppy should have a good physical exam and be current on vaccines. Things you should monitor are appetite and whether the dog is active when awake. If there are any problems with appetite or vomiting or diarrhea, the puppy should be seen immediately. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1146 - Posted on: Thursday. November 26, 2009 By: Amber Hello, I have Pit Bull/Dalmation mix that is about 7 and I've just noticed recently that after she's peed outside she will go and squat 3-4 more times but only a few drops of blood will come out. Also her eyes are bloodshot and she's drinking way more water than she normally does. Today was Thanksgiving and my sister was sneaking her food all day and even fed her a very tiny tiny tiny piece of candy cane and now on top of all the problems I just addressed she has very soft stool and is eating grass, along with that she's just laying around when just a few days ago she was running and jumping (even with the pee in the urine issue she was acting normal) Are these new symptoms related to my sisters horrible judgement giving my dog food the way she did or is it related to the pee in the urine. I'm still waiting for the vet to call me back but until then I really need someone to tell me what COULD POSSIBLY be wrong. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Amber, there are quite a few different possibilities of what could be going on with your dog. The best way to get to the bottom of what is going on is to get her to her veterinarian and have a urinary tract work up as well as an intestinal work up. Some endocrine or systemic diseases could definitely all tie these problems together or it she may have 2 completely different problems. The urinary tract work up should include a urinalysis, urine culture, bloodwork to look at kidney enzymes, and x-rays to rule out urinary stones. The bloodwork and x-rays will help to work up the diarrhea, but a fecal exam should also be done. Please feel free to call with any further questions, Staff of Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1144 - Posted on: Wednesday. November 25, 2009 By: betty I have a 7 month old kitten that has recently been spayed and she has been having coughing spells occasionally-what could it possibly be? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Betty!! Coughing, sneezing, and discharge from the eyes or nose in kittens is most commonly an upper respiratory infection. Kittens that have been exposed to shelter situations or are outside or on a screened in porch have the potential to pick something up from their environment. Coughing can also be caused by intestinal parasites. Your kitten should be seen by a veterinarian to rule out intestinal parasites by checking a stool sample and looking for parasite eggs under a microscope. Also, upper respiratory infections may require antibiotics, cough suppressant or decongestants, etc. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or if I can assist you further. Thanks!! Dr. Leah Martin 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1141 - Posted on: Tuesday. November 24, 2009 By: jill my son has a jack russel female who leaks urine in her bed she has been on antibiodics but no help what can we do |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, thank you for your question. There are several possible causes of urinary incontinence. It could be anything from hormonal imbalance to a neurological problem. If antibiotics are not helping, it is less likely to be a urinary tract infection unless it is just resistant to that antibiotic. Urinary tract infections usually cause other signs however, and not just urine found in the bed. The only way to start differentiating the different causes is to have her seen by a veterinarian and start diagnostics. Sincerely, Simmons Veterinary Staff |
| Post #1139 - Posted on: Sunday. November 15, 2009 By: Frances B Smith My bichon has discolored hair around her urethra, dark brown and she licks herself, but not excessively. Could this be a similar cause as the reddish brown around her eyes?? I don't remember her having this when she was younger. She is two years old. Is there any need to worry about an infection. Her urine sample at the vet was negative. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, If her urine was negative for infection, that helps rule out urinary tract infection which is one of the possible causes of licking of this area. The brown discoloration is most likely from a yeast infection of the skin or staining from the saliva. There are wipes (Mal-A-Ket wipes) to help clean this area that may help the yeast from becoming a problem. If she begins licking excessively, it may be signs of itchy skin from an allergy. Sincerely, Lisa Chase DVM |
| Post #1138 - Posted on: Sunday. November 15, 2009 By: Kelly Herrera Hi! We have 1 and a half year old "Marley" of a male yellow lab named Simba, and my mother just moved in with her 8 and a half year old female yellow lab. Simba is a rambunctious little guy and loves playing with Missy but my mom is afraid he is too rough with her. We keep telling my mom that Missy will let Simba know when he's getting too rough but she doesn't believe us. We don't want Simba to hurt Missy. She is a relatively healthy dog with no known problems, other than she has been very inactive living with my mom for the past 5 years. When is enough rough-housing enough? Thanks! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello and thank you for your question! Its great that Simba has such energy, sounds like he is a handful! It can be difficult when there is a big age difference since Missy may have aches and pains or just not have the energy Simba does. Some dogs will give signals to the other dog letting them know they do not want to play, but young dogs may not get all the clues. If she shows signs such as growling, putting her ears back, barking or trying to move away, it may be time to separate them so she can have some quiet time. If she is right in the game with him, then it should be fine to let them play, the activity may help keep her healthy and keep her from getting weak with inactivity. If he gets too rough (ie bites and leaves marks) then he needs some training because we don't want to see her needing treatment for injuries. Or if she overdoes in and is sore the next day or limping, her activity may need to be decreased. Sincerely, Dr. Lisa Chase 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1137 - Posted on: Thursday. November 12, 2009 By: CRYSTAL I HAVE A 9 MONTH OLD FEMALE JACK RUSSELL, SHE IS A VERY WELL TRAINED DOG. I GOT AT 1 MONTH OLD.. VERY MELLOW LOVING NEVER CRIES,BARKS& HAS ALWAYS ATE VERY WELL.. THIS PAST WK IVE NOTICED A CHANGE IN HER.. SHE HAS BEEN CRYING FROM TIME TO TIME, IT TAKES HER ABOUT 2 TO 3 DAYS TO FINISH 1 BOWL OF FOOD & SHE IS VERY TIRED.. I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT B PREGNANT BUT HER NIPPLES ARE NOT GETTING ANY BIGGER WHAT COULD BE GOING ON???? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, Lethargy and a decrease in appetite could be a sign of a number of illnesses. She should be seen by a veterinarian to determine what is going on and start appropriate treatment. We would be happy to take a look at her. Sincerely, Lisa Chase, DVM 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1136 - Posted on: Tuesday. November 10, 2009 By: charles my cat is one year old has had diarhea for at least 2 months. now she has not eaten in two days, she's lethargic, blood in her stool, and drinking a lot of water, what is wrong? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, thank you for your question. There are several things that can cause bloody diarrhea in a young cat, ranging from a simple parasite infestation to a serious illness. She should be examined to determine the cause and start appropriate therapy. If you would like to bring her in, we would be happy to take a look at her. Sincerely, Dr. Lisa Chase 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1134 - Posted on: Thursday. November 05, 2009 By: Mickkie I have a very disgusting problem in that my shih tzu's eating poo (mainly) from the alpha male/father,and sometimes from their siblings. For the life of me, I can not get them to stop. I've tried the pills that do work but only as long as they take the pills. The nasty habit begins all over after the pills stop. Is there any other options that will permanently stop this awful habit? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Mickkie, The most reliable way of preventing this problem is picking up all stool that your doggies produce in the yard. While tedious, it may not make your stomach coil every time your puppies gives you a kiss! You could also try training techniques to prevent them from doing it as well. Some options may be to shake a can of coins every time you catch them in the act...but this too requires you to be on a pretty vigilant watch. Please let us know if there is any other way that we can help you, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1133 - Posted on: Wednesday. November 04, 2009 By: Shun Shun Hello, I recieved a pitbill puppy about 4-5 days ago....The vet says he's between 6-7 wks old....Whn I brought him home he ate a good amount but had loose bowel..I took him 2 da vet 4 his shot Monday, they de-wormed him which caused him 2 have round worms but da vet said that it was normal 4 the worms to come on out.....But after we left the vet doing all of this he hasn't eaten much of anything....He drinks a bit of water but thats about it....And this is now the second day of no eating...What am I to do.... |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello!! Seeing the worms before and after deworming is normal. The loose stools are most likely also related. It usually takes multiple doses of deworming medication to get rid of the worms completely. You will have to take him back to a vet every 3 wk until he is at least 16wk old. You should have a stool sample checked at your next visit to follow up for intestinal parasites. As far as the not eating goes, that's concerning. Does he act depressed and not as playful? Any vomiting? If you notice any of these I would have a parvo test done ASAP. You should make an appointment to have your puppy reevaluated for sure. Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance. Feel free to call if you have questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1131 - Posted on: Monday. October 26, 2009 By: Karla I have had a chihuahua mix for almost four years and have never had any health concerns. Unfortunately, he has a history for biting and this started a while back. Ever since, I am afraid of taking him to the Vet, or anywhere for that matter. When I felt like I had to take the risk and take him to get his rabies vaccination, he bit a 5 year old child there and had to be put under quarantine. That was his second time. I don't want anything to happen to my dog. I love him so much. But I am also worried that he needs to get checked. He is almost four years old and has only been to the vet once, before he turned one. Recently we moved back to the Lake Worth area, and as soon as we got here he started getting these marks on his skin. There are these spots where he is losing hair and it seems almost like a rash of some sort. I want to get this checked out but wanted to ask about it first and what the concern would be for his behavior. My family isn't doing well economically, and I am searching for any answers to help my dog. My dad says that all he needs is some antibiotics, but I just want to make sure. Someone please help! Thank you. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Karla, Veterinarians and veterinary staff are well trained on handling difficult patients so you should not avoid bringing him into the vet because of his history of biting. On the contrary, it is all the more reason to bring him in because we can help come up with a plan to modify his behavior. He needs to be kept up on vaccinations in order to help ensure he stays healthy. There are multiple things that could be causing the lesions you described. We would need to examine him in order to determine which diagnostic tests are needed and get him on the proper course of treatment. Antibiotics may be needed but there are many non-bacterial causes of hair-loss where antibiotics would not help. We would be happy to take a look at him and try to determine what is going on. We can work with you and try to keep costs down while still doing what he needs and we will go over any costs with you before doing anything. Sincerely, Dr. Lisa Chase 561-439-3550 |
| Post #1117 - Posted on: Friday. September 18, 2009 By: Lisa MacMullen We adopted 3 year old lab-terrier mix Ariel from a shelter 2 months ago. Although we try to let her out frequently(& never leave she & our other dog inside more than 7 hours at a time), she still urinates & defecates in the guestroom even when we're home & have been letting them out in the fenced backyard. After cleaning up we apply a Stain & Odor remover product for pet stain (Nature's Miracle). She's made quite a mine field of our new carpet. What, if anything, can we do to train this sweet 3 year old that "business" is an outdoor job only? Oh, another bonus... sometimes we only see traces of solid matter - because she also eats it! Any hints on stopping that, too? Thanks! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Lisa, Is the guest room the only room that she'll go in? If so, than my first suggestion would be to close off this room until you feel that you have a better handle on her house training. The #1 trick is to give A LOT of praise and reward every time she goes to the bathroom outside, her favorite treats, "good girls", throwing a tennis ball if she likes that are all ways of doing this. When home, taking her out every few hours and not coming inside until she has gone is another tip. When not home, you may need to crate train her until you feel comfortable leaving her free in the house. As for her extra snacks, some people have had some luck with some additives to put in her food that are over the counter in pet stores. I do not recommend using the products with MSG in them for the same reasons that it is bad for people. Training puppies is hard enough, training adult dogs with learned behaviors can be even harder! Try the above out, if this doesn't help, let us know! Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1114 - Posted on: Friday. September 11, 2009 By: jessica souza I have a 7 year old Himalyan cat and every year around this time she acts very weird. She will get a ton of knots aroung her hind section and I will usually cut them off, after which she go after the base of her tail to try and bite it. She does this so hysterically that when she is done she leaks pee on herself and the floor and ends up licking the air in some weird position. Looks almost like a mild seizure! Should I be alarmed? She is fixed and this has only happened since she was fixed. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: If it only happens at certain times of the year, I would worry about potential allergies either seasonal or fleas. If the cat is not on a flea prevention I would recommend Revolution. The contortions you see may just be from the sensation of itch. A physical examination should be done on this cat to try and establish the cause. The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1113 - Posted on: Tuesday. September 08, 2009 By: Janice Sipe Recently purchased a 3 1/2 month old yorkiepoo, (2 wks ago) - crate trained sleeps from 11:00pm to 5:30am without having to go out. Nice! The problem is if I leave her (in her crate) for an hour or 30 min. she will poop in crate. I have never scolded her. I schedule my errands so that it is 3 hours after she eats and has already gone poop definitely once if not twice. Is this a seperation issues? Any suggestions? I have left the TV on, and even given her a kong with a small amount of peanut butter, BAD IDEA. Would really like some input. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello and thank you for your question! If the stool is normal (ie she is not having diarrhea issues),this may be a sign of separation anxiety. You are right not to scold her. If you scold her when you get home she will not understand what you are upset about, negative reinforcement is only ever useful if you catch them in the act, and even then it is easy to scare them too much and may not be effective. You may want to try leaving the house for very short increments (ie 5 minutes) and then come back in and reward her if she has not defecated. Then leave for longer and longer periods of time until she is adjusted to you being gone for multiple hours. Try this method and if it does not work give us a call. Simmons Veterinary Staff. 561-439-3550. |
| Post #1111 - Posted on: Saturday. September 05, 2009 By: nikki hi my 10 month old chuihuhua and i dont know why she keeps leaking urine. she is usally laying down and licking herself to keep it from leaking but when shes not there will be quite a few urine drops wherever she is standing laying or whatever. i havent had the money to take her to the vet yet so i am trying to get a heads up first. oh and sometimes while she is licking herself her whole body will start moving. not to be innapropriate but almost as if she was having an orgasm. please help me help my baby! thanx! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: You do not say whether your dog is spayed or not. If she is then this may be an incontinence issue due to lack of female hormones. Another possibility would be a urinary tract infection. It sounds like you need to make an appointment to have the urine checked for infection and go from there. The Staff art Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1110 - Posted on: Thursday. September 03, 2009 By: Gabrielle Gaitan My dog has been sneezing more than normal. We recently moved to a new place, could that be the reason or should I be concerned that something major may be wrong? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Gabrielle, Dogs can have allergies, so his sneezing could be due to something that he is allergic to at the new house. Other things to be concerned about would be upper respiratory infection or possible foreign body stuck up his nose. I would recommend that you bring him in to see your regular vet to go over different rule outs for his sneezing. I hope this information helps. Thank you for your question. |
| Post #1108 - Posted on: Monday. August 31, 2009 By: Bijou Can a virus or disease be transfered from human blood to a canine? If so, would the blood being exposed to oxygen (moist night air) kill any such organisms? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Most viruses (not diseases) are species specific, meaning that they are not typically transferred between humans and dogs and vice versa. However, all viruses are different and furthermore there are many different types of viruses and diseases. It would be important to know the virus or disease in question because some diseases can be transferred. If you have a medical question in regards to yourself, definitely call your physician. If you would like us to take a look at your dog, we would be able to let you know if your dog is at risk. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1107 - Posted on: Saturday. August 29, 2009 By: cynthia hallman Purchased a yorkie puppy yesterday. He won't eat and has been vomiing. Will drink water and have been attempting to feed Neutrical via chil' syringe. What to o t hep? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello and thank you for your question! Young puppies need to eat every few hours, if he is not eating enough his blood sugar may become too low and he could get very sick. Nutrical is good for helping prevent that, but only if he is eating it along with normal puppy food. The vomiting is also a big concern in a young puppy. It could be a sign of Parvo virus which is highly contagious and can be deadly. There is a simple test we can run to rule this out. There are also many other causes of vomiting ranging from minor to major problems. He should be seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause and begin treatment. If you would like to bring him in we would be happy to take a look at him. Sincerely, Dr. Lisa Chase |
| Post #1104 - Posted on: Wednesday. August 26, 2009 By: Heather Good Morning - We would like to say a BIG thank you to Dr. Questa and the staff at Simmons!!! We found out 1 month ago that our Cocker Spaniel, Buddy, has Lymphoma! :( Dr. Questa and the staff at Simmons have been WONDERFUL!!! Buddy is receiving treatments on a regular basis at Simmons. Dr. Questa has been Buddy's vet for a few years now and she has always been GREAT!!! She has been VERY supportive through this whole process - in keeping us informed and keeping Buddy as happy and comfortable as possible! Buddy went into remisson the week after starting his chemo treatments. He is doing GREAT so far!!! :) Thank you SOOOO much! |
| Post #1098 - Posted on: Tuesday. August 18, 2009 By: ciara i have a 2 month old kitten which has stoped eating and is vomiting white spit and seems to be very weak because she dosent even want to play or anything please help thx |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello, thank you for visiting our website! A young kitten that is not eating and is vomiting should be seen by a veterinarian. There are many possible causes for this and an exam and diagnostic tests are needed to determine what is making her ill. We would be happy to take a look at her for you. Thank you, Simmons Veterinary Hospital Staff |
| Post #1097 - Posted on: Tuesday. August 18, 2009 By: Jasmine Jonas Hi, my 6 and a half year old dog for the past 2 nights and days has had Dieria and vomits everywhere. is this a serious sign for something? my family thinks its from all the left over food on the floor from the huge party we had a night before this started happening. i just wanted to make sure that it is or isnt a serious condition. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello and thank you for your question! Vomiting and diarrhea can be signs of may illnesses ranging from minor stomach problems to serious illnesses. An exam and diagnostic tests would be needed to rule out the serious conditions. If your dog may have gotten alot of fatty foods, he/she could have a condition called pancreatitis, which can be serious but is treatable. If he/she got a hold of something, it could be lodged in his/her intestinal tract causing problems. These are just a couple examples, there are many other causes of vomiting and diarrhea. If you would like to bring him in we would be happy to see him/her. Sincerely, Simmons Veterinary Hospital Staff |
| Post #1096 - Posted on: Saturday. August 15, 2009 By: karen and paul skilowitz I don't have a question. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to Dr. Raymond, Dr. Questa and most of all to Dr. Simmons for the excellant, professional care given to my cat "Mouse". He is back to his "normal" self now and I owe it all to you guys. You have a state of the art hospital w/ knowledgeable caring staff that was able to get to the heart of the problem quickly, and "fix it"! Thanks to all the techs as well, I'm sorry I did not get your names. It's your love of animals that make it all work!!! |
| Post #1092 - Posted on: Tuesday. August 11, 2009 By: Teri Flaim My 6 year old male bichon is on 3 legs for the last 4 weeks and can still not put a lot of weight on the back right leg....what do I have to do.... Is is really necessary to do surgery. thanks |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello and thank you for your question! There are many different conditions that can cause a dog to limp, and the type of treatment needed depends on what the cause is. Surgery is not necessarily needed. In order to determine the cause we would need to examine him and possibly take some x-rays. We would be happy to do this for you, you can call the front desk and make an appointment. Our number is 561-439-3220. Sincerely, Simmons Veterinary Hospital Staff |
| Post #1091 - Posted on: Tuesday. August 11, 2009 By: Kara Hello! I am going to be taking in a stray cat because she's a sweetheart and not in the best condition. I have a lot of neighbors and see the cat all the time, but am not sure if she already belongs to someone. Is there a way to scan for a microchip? Also I need a list of prices for spaying, checking for disease, and first set of shots please. Thank you! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hello! Thank you for your question! We have a universal scanner here and can easily scan your kitty for a microchip at no cost to you. It is great that you would like to get her checked out and make sure she is healthy. She should be tested for intestinal parasites, feline leukemia and feline AIDs before being introduced into the household if you already have any cats or dogs. Also, as you mentioned, she should be vaccinated. As far as prices go I would recommend contacting the front desk at 561-439-3220 as they can give you the most accurate information. |
| Post #1084 - Posted on: Tuesday. July 28, 2009 By: Edgar My Cat has been spayed already , about three months before she was spayed, she had her kittens, when she had her last kitten, we say that she still had a "ball" in her stomach, it wasn't big , it was small, it almost looked like she just had one more baby in there (assuming) but we waited and nothing ever came out, maybe 3 or 4 months after that we took her to the vet to spay her, however i'm sure if she had some sort of baby like we assumed the vets at the clinic would have told us so, after she was spayed she remained alright, the scars healed but the "ball" is still there and noticeable, It's almost as if she was pregnant again, but we know she is not since she has been like that for about 5 months already, she shows no signs of pain (or so we think, since she doesn't meow) and her eight breasts aren't pink like they where when she was pregnant, please help us doctor, we want to know what's wrong to save the animal from a possible disaster |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: I would recommend you take the cat in to have examined. Point out the area that you have a question about. When a cat is spayed, the entire uterus is removed along with the other reproductive organs so she cannot be pregnant. Sometime something as simple as a full stomach after eating may appear to be firm and you might mistake this for "the ball" that you describe. The best thing would be to get the cat examined and express your concern to your veterinarian. Sincerely, The Staff at Simmons Veterinary Hosptial |
| Post #1083 - Posted on: Monday. July 20, 2009 By: Laura Lopez I have a puppy hes is two months old. An hes been fine. Then all of a sudden he seems sad not eatting not drinking. throwing up. Im very worried for my dog. I have no money to take him to the vet and if u could help that be great. Laura Lopez |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Your puppy definitely needs to be seen by a veterinarian. We would have to run a couple tests to determine what exactly we are dealing with. The first thing I would run is a parvo test and secondly a fecal (stool) exam to look for intestinal worms. I'm afraid there isn't much to do for him at home. The sooner you get him here the better. We do offer care credit if you have good credit you can apply the balance and pay monthly for his medical care. Otherwise, I would try to talk to a friend or a family member that might be willing to help you out. Please let me know if you have any questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1082 - Posted on: Sunday. July 19, 2009 By: Jennien Our dog is nursing 3 week old puppies she is having an allergic reaction to something can we give her benadryl or will this hurt the puppies? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The safety of Benadryl has not been established during pregnancy or while nursing puppies. There have been reports of allergic reactions while nursing puppies so the allergic reaction may resolve once the puppies are weaned. |
| Post #1081 - Posted on: Thursday. July 16, 2009 By: margaret pearson My Cat has got diarhea what can i give her? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Margaret! Diarrhea in cats can be caused from many different things. Intestinal parasites, dietary changes, eating things they shouldn't, and stress are just a few. What to give her would depend on what is causing the diarrhea. You should bring her in so we can check a fecal sample and medicate her appropriately. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1079 - Posted on: Tuesday. July 14, 2009 By: Sharon I have a 11 month old, fixed, 5.5lb female yorkie poo, she only goes to the potty 3-4 times a day even going 12 hours at night and not going for another hours when she wakes up (13 hours total no out put) and when she does go it is quick. Should I be worried? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sharon, A 5 pound yorkie poo should not generate large amounts of urine. It sounds to me that she is producing adequate amounts of urine. As long as she is active and eating and drinking I would not be concerned. You can always take her to your regular veterinarian to have bloodwork done to be sure her kidney function is ok. I hope that this information helps you. Thank you for your question. |
| Post #1070 - Posted on: Thursday. July 02, 2009 By: Beth My 7 year old black lab gets very nervous and anxious when fireworks are set off - and there are a lot of fireworks in our neighborhood. I've heard Valerian Root can calm dogs. Is this true? And can I use Valerian Root from Walgreens and cut down the normal dose? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Beth, We do not use to much Valerian Root at our practice. That being said I have read studies that do say it can help calm dogs. The dose will vary with the preparation so you first I would need to know the preparation you are buying, dried herb vs. dried extract and how much your dog's weight is. One thing to think about is that some animals react to valerian in a contradictory way--stimulated, rather than sedated. To really have an effect, it needs to be given for at least 2-4 weeks, so may not be best choice if you are only going to use it sporadically. I hope this helps please let us know if we can help you with dosing once you know what form you are planing to buy. |
| Post #1069 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 30, 2009 By: Brenda Hello... I have a quick question can a female puppy at 7 months get pregnant if she hasnt started her monthly...this question may sound dumb but dont really know how dogs work...lol but if u get back to me as soon as possible with an answer that would be great=). Thx and sincerely brenda. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Brenda, Yes your puppy can become pregnant if she has started her heat cycles. Most dogs will go through their first heat cycle any where from 6 months to a year and a half. I hope this helps, please let us know if there is anything else we can do. |
| Post #1068 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 30, 2009 By: josh Hi i have a pitbull about 8yrs old he has a cough about 2yrs ago he had heartworms but i had it taken care of chould they be back |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: After heartworm treatment the dog should be placed on a monthly heartworm preventative. If the dog has not been on heartworm prevention then the cough could be heartworm related. A blood test should be done to determine if heartworms are back. There are many other reasons why a dog could be coughing other than heartworm disease. A thorough physical exam which should include chest radiographs should be done to evaluate the heart and lung fields to determine a reason for the cough. |
| Post #1067 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 30, 2009 By: linda we have a 3 month old puppy he is up to date with his shots. he has dieria for a full day now and he is not eating and drinking his nose is warm and dry and he is very tired can you help thanks |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Linda! A puppy with diarrhea that is not eating and very tired should definitely be evaluated by a veterinarian. He could have something as simple as an intestinal parasite. However, there are other more serious diseases that should be ruled out, such as parvovirus. Puppies are technically not up to date on shots until they complete the full vaccine schedule. This includes boosters every 3 wk until they are 16 wk old. At 3 months of age he has not completed the full vaccine schedule. I would try to make an appointment as soon as possible. Please call me if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1063 - Posted on: Thursday. June 25, 2009 By: monika Hi I have 3.5 yr old english bulldog and from time to time her head & body starts shaking as if she is having a seizure,,what is the cause and what should I do when I see this happening |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Monika, Thank you for your question. The most important thing here is to be sure that your dog is having a seizure. There can be several different causes of seizures but at her age would be epilepsy, but there are several causes and if she is indeed having seizures she should be worked up. How often is she doing this and how long do these episodes last? I would recommend if you are now sure if what she is doing is a seizure that you record her actions and have your veterinarian look at the video and then you both could discuss further work up at that time. I hope this is helpful please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. |
| Post #1061 - Posted on: Tuesday. June 23, 2009 By: Stephanie Do you give exams for red ear sliders? And if so, what would be the cost? I have two red ear sliders, 4cm each, one seems to be healthy, the other I fear may be sick. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Stephanie, While we are not exotic animal specialists here (most of our patients are dogs and cats, but we do have a few small mammal and reptile patients), we'd be more than happy to take a look at your sliders and go from there. |
| Post #1059 - Posted on: Wednesday. June 10, 2009 By: Susan Is a kitten able to get pregnant at about 10 or 11 weeks old? I have two kittens both from the same litter one male and one female and im a little concerned. If you can answer me back asap that would be great. Thank you. Sincerely, Susan Osias |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Susan, thankfully these guys are much too young to be sexually mature. At about 6-7 months of age, it will be a different story though. I would recommend getting them spayed and neutered at ~6 months of age. (If you need to split them up, do the female first, but try not to hold off past 7 months to have the male neutered.) In the mean time, they should be receiving vaccines, fecal exams, and dewormings every 3 to 4 weeks until they reach 16 weeks. They should also be tested for feline leukemia and FIV if not now, at least when they are spayed or neutered. Please let us know if you have any further questions, Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220. |
| Post #1053 - Posted on: Tuesday. May 26, 2009 By: shelly I have a welsh corgi, 14 yrs old, patient here at simmons. He has been having seizures on & off for about 6 months, more often recently. he take hydroxine only 1 a day for itching. he has been shaking alot, not sure what is going on with him. i cant afford to bring him in. short on funds. help |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Shelly, To start, I'd like to apologize if this reply is getting to you late, some of our messages were caught up in our spam filter, I hope that you haven't been waiting for too long. I was able to look up your file and did see that Winnie has had a history of some pretty severe hip and lumbo-sacral disease. In the past 6 months has he been on any further pain medication? Does his shaking seem to be related more to abnormal neurologic behavior or to difficulty standing due to weakness and/or discomfort? Unfortunately, I think that to determine these things we really do need to take another look at him to see if there is anything that can be done to make him more comfortable. Please call if you have any further questions, our number is 439-3220. |
| Post #1052 - Posted on: Tuesday. May 26, 2009 By: Kim Our 16 year old cat has stopped eating. She has always eaten dry food and has a good appetite. She has nibbled a couple of times the last 5 days. She always comes to the kitchen at 5 PM for her treats but when we give them she spits them out. I have tried canned food, cooking turkey burger and her favorite Tilapia. Only a few nibbles. Her behavior overall has not changed. She loves to be petted and she still plays with her toys and sleeps with us at night. She is not lethargic and has always slept alot. She does drink her water and does not seem dehydrated. She has always been an indoor cat. She has been wheezing from time to time lately and I am treating her for hair balls. What can cause this behavior? Thankyou for your time. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Kim, From what you are describing I would be concerned about her teeth. She may have some dental disease that is making it painful for her to eat. I would definitely taker her to your regular veterinarian to have on oral exam done on her. Also while your are there I would have bloodwork done. At 16 years of age there could be alot of different problems that could be causing the signs you are describing. I would really recommend a full work up by your veterinarian. I hope this information helps. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. |
| Post #1051 - Posted on: Wednesday. May 20, 2009 By: Bijou Hi Dr. Martin, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Bijou says hi and she loves you guys. You all do such a great job. She's seems to being doing well. I was thankful to have the spray to fight the fleas in Ga. There's just too many acres there to have the entire property treated all the time. They try treating the main areas but some how it doesn't seem to work for Bijou. I was relieved to find the flees and their eggs gone with a bath when we got home. One of the trips resulted in several visits to the vet and baths every other day. I swore they were armoured! I felt completely defeated fighting that round. Thanks again... we love our Bijou... xoxo, Lauren & Bijou |
| Post #1048 - Posted on: Tuesday. May 19, 2009 By: BIJOU ISSUE: WHETHER TO APPLY ADVANTIX AFTER USING, LAST WEEK, 3/4 BOTTLE OF FRONTLINE FLEA SPRAY ON A 47LB STD POODLE? I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO GIVE BIJOU HER MTLY DOSE OF ADVANTIX AFTER USING SO MUCH FLEA SPAY IN ONE WEEK, LAST WEEK. HOWEVER,SHE IS PRONE TO GETTING TICKS AND HAS HAD "EXPOSURE" TO LYME DISEASE, ETC. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR HER AFTER USING SO MUCH FLEA SPRAY TO APPLY ADVANTIX ON THE 5/21. THE QUESTION NOW IS: DOES THE RISK OF TOO MUCH FLEA/TICK PROTECTION OUTWEIGH THE RISK DISEASES TICKS CARRY? WHAT DOES A VET SUGGEST? I NO LONGER HAVE THE BOTTLE TO SEE IF PROTECTS AGAINST TICKS. PLEASE ADVISE |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Lauren - Frontline and Advantix have different mechanisms of action and one should not intensify the effects of the other. However, the more important question is if there is a need to apply another dose? Frontline and Advantix are both labeled for protection against ticks. Even the spray should only have to be applied once a month for tick prevention. Frontline has been tested up to 5X the dose without any side effects so it is a fairly safe drug and the spray has a MUCH lower concentration than the vials. So, if you haven't had a problem yet I doubt you will. Still, please let us know if anything out of the oridanary occurs. So, I would wait to apply the advantix not because of safety but b/c you don't need to apply both. If you have advantix at home, start using that next month. Tick prevention is the best prevention against tick borne diseases, so you are right to worry enough to use tick prevention every month. There is a vaccine against lymes disease but it is not as effective as preventing the source of the problem, which is ticks. Unfortunately, no tick preventatives on the market right now is perfect for ticks. So, you may also need to spray your environment for ticks as well if the prevention isn't enough. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439- 3220 |
| Post #1046 - Posted on: Saturday. May 09, 2009 By: LAURA TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I HAVE TWO SHELTIES A MALE AND A FEMALE . THERE BROTHER AND SISTER. YESTERDAY THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND THE YARD AND TODAY OUR FEMALE SHELTIE IS LIMPING WE LOOKED AT HER PAW DIDNT FIND ANYTHING WE FELT HER LEG NOTHING. IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN GIVE HER AT HOME TO MAKE HER LIMPING GO AWAY SHES ONLY 5 YEARS OLD IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN GIVE HER AT HOME TO MAKE HER FEEL BETTER? THANK YOU. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Laura, is your sheltie any better? If she is still limping I would be concerned of a cruciate ligament tear, meniscal injury, or hip injury that she may have suffered. If she is still sore, I would take her to the vet for a thorough exam and possibly x-rays. Some of these injuries require surgery and will not heal on their own so it is important to have them checked out. Aspirin-like medications are what we typically prescribe for orthopedic injuries however human aspirins can be unsafe for your pet. Again this is something your veterinarian can prescribe after examining her (such as Rimadyl). Hope this helps. Sincerely, Dr. Joyce |
| Post #1043 - Posted on: Thursday. May 07, 2009 By: Robin Mackay Dear Doc, My cat Zen is one of your patients. He started having diarhea night before last. There also seems to be some mucus in the stool. Yesterday I got him to eat a little rice mixed with a little cat food in hopes that would stop the diarhea. It has slowed but not stopped. And his appetite has dropped off a lot today. I has lost much of my income and don't know how I can afford a vet visit. Is there anything else I can do at home? Robin |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Robin, sorry to hear Zen isn't feeling well. If you really want to avoid a visit we can prescribe him some flagyl which is an intestinal antibiotic that can help resolve non-specific diarrhea. However, if there is anything underlying which is contributing to this --- ie parasites, foreign material, cancer, etc. Let us know if that is what you would like to try. Ideally he would come in to see us but we understand that finances are tight so that is not always feasible. Thanks, Dr. Joyce |
| Post #1040 - Posted on: Saturday. May 02, 2009 By: Janet My german shepard puppy isn't eating and barely drinking. I have't seen her vomit, what can I do |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Janet, Thank you for your question. How long had your puppy not been eating? Has she had any vaccines? I strongly recommend that you take her to your vet. There is a number of things that could be going on with her especially since she is a puppy. So the best advice I can give you if she is still not eating is to take her to your vet for a check up. I hope this helps. |
| Post #1038 - Posted on: Wednesday. April 29, 2009 By: ROBERT Do you have a dentist that can remove teeth due to resorption in a cat? Bob |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Bob - We do lots of dentistry work here, usually everyday. Resorptive roots in cats do not typically require extractions though. The root (the portion of the tooth you cannot see) is resorbed and then the crown (the portion of the tooth that you do see) falls off because there is no root left to hold it in place. There is typically no reason for extraction. However, routine dental work is very important to your cats health. The dental tartar that forms on the teeth can cause problems if not addressed. Tooth root abscesses, oronasal fistulas, etc. You should definitely make an appointment to have your kitty's teeth evaluated by a veterinarian. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561- 439-3220 |
| Post #1034 - Posted on: Wednesday. April 15, 2009 By: Rosaleen My 10 month biscon poo is having problems with his anal glands being constantly filled up. Other than the vet, is their any medication out there for him? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Rosaleen, Some things that may help your puppy to express his glands are to start adding a little fiber to his diet. Sometimes giving a tablespoon of canned pumpkin once daily can help, sometimes dogs are actually put on a special diet to help in this regard. Also, aside from bringing him in for monthly anal gland expressions, you can learn how to do it yourself as well. Ask your vet or a veterinary technician to show you. We'd be more than happy to check him out here and advise you on how to do this as well. The big concern is that if his anal glands don't get expressed (manually or naturally), he could develop an infection or impaction of the material. Please let us know if you have any further questions, Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220. |
| Post #1024 - Posted on: Wednesday. March 18, 2009 By: Wendy Hi, I have a 10 month old Olde English Bulldog. Lately I have noticed that when she comes in from peeing that she some times drips. I don't know if she doesn't finish when she is outside or if it is on her and just comes off when she lays down. I noticed that when she is outside peeing, she will sometimes stand up before she is done and it drips. I have started to wipe her when she comes in from peeing. I am using baby wipes, is that a good idea? What do you think the pee spots on the floor are from? Thanks I appreciate your time. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Wendy, I think that the baby wipes are fine to use. Does your puppy ever have discolored urine or seem to be straining to urinate? Does she ever leak urine in her sleep? Is she spayed yet? The answers to some of these questions may help to point in the direction of a urinary tract infection versus a possible congenital disorder versus weak urethral sphincter. I think the first step is to take her to a veterinarian for a urinalysis and urine culture. From there it can be decided if she would benefit from further diagnostics such as x-rays of the urinary tract (to look for urinary stones) and bloodwork. If these tests to not yield any answers, then more in depth testing may be necessary to identify congenital disorders. I'd be happy to see her or to chat with you more if you have any further questions, Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, Lake Worth, FL 561-439- 3220. |
| Post #1020 - Posted on: Sunday. March 08, 2009 By: Christi hi my name is christi i just a puupy 2 weeks ago and i notice these little small thin long little worm things in her when she does number 2. what do i do? before i took her home she was already treated. could i treat her for it again? please help! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Christi - puppies often need to be dewormed several times during their first several months of life to completely rid them of parasites. Bring your puppy in to see a veterinarian for a fecal sample to determine which type of parasites are present, then an appropriate dewormer can be chosen. Monthly heartworm prevention does help control (but not necessarily prevent) future parasite infestations so make sure you get your puppy on that too. Let us know if you have any other questions! Dr. Joyce 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1014 - Posted on: Saturday. February 21, 2009 By: colleen I have a 10 yr old yorkie, that has started going into hiding a couple of x's a day........not shaking acting scared or anything, is eating and relieving himself ok and appears perfectly normal otherwise. What could be the reason for this, should I be concerned? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hiding all of the sudden like this could be concerning, however it is good that he is not showing any other signs of illness. I would pursue a general physical exam and some routine bloodwork to make sure there isn't a problem starting that can maybe be addressed earlier by being proactive. Dogs and cats do sometimes hide when they don't feel well and this may be the only sign you get until things progress to the point of refusal to eat, start vomiting, etc. Let me know if you have any further questions! Thanks, Dr. Joyce |
| Post #1006 - Posted on: Sunday. February 15, 2009 By: Bill Shumate I have a 7 year old rat terrier experiencing periods of pain that last from 5 minutes to an hour. Sometimes they are after exercise sometimes not. He just drops his head and tail and does not want to move. If I try to pick him up he cries. His bm and urine seems normal. After a while he usually responds to a favorite food or an invitation to go for a walk. Sometimes a small dose aspirin or buttermilk helps. This has happened a time or two over the past several month but is getting to be two or three times a day now. I am getting very concerned about him. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Bill- It definitely sounds like he is painful. I would need to do an exam, however, to know where the pain is coming from. You should set up an appointment with a veterinarian to have him examined and potentially xrays done depending on what he/she finds. Aspirin may help for pain in some instances but he may need something a bit stronger. I certainly wouldn't wait any longer, especially if it is getting worse. Please give me a call you have any additional questions. I'd be happy to speak with you about this in more detail. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439- 3220 |
| Post #1005 - Posted on: Thursday. February 12, 2009 By: Diana Leudenburg Hi- We have a sweet four year old mixed dog and her thing lately is to eat small rocks or pebbles and she has been eating the berries from a Hackberry tree. My question will these 2 things cause her any digestive problems---are the berries posious to dogs? So far she seems alright Thank you for your answer |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Diana! The rocks and pebbles could definitely caused problems if they get lodged in her intestines somewhere... she may develop an obstruction if they don't pass through. You will notice vomiting and potentially diarrhea and abdominal pain as well if this happens. Hackberry tree berries are not a common toxicity for dogs. Certainly eating too much of anything she shouldn't be eating could cause some digestive problems. But hackberry tree berries isn't one of the more common plant toxicities. To be safe I would definitely choose avoidance of both. I'd be happy to speak with you in person and even print some information for you on more common plant toxicities. Please call me if you would like to speak about this in further detail!! Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1004 - Posted on: Thursday. February 12, 2009 By: Warren how many puppies does a cocker spaniel have at once |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Warren, Thank you so much for your question. It is hard for me to tell you exactly how many puppies your cocker spaneil is going to have. It depends alot on her size and the size of the male. I have see litters as small as three and has many has five to six. Once she is around 45-50 days pregnant I recommend that you take her to your vet and have radiographs taken. That way you can get an accurate count of how many puppies she has. Hope this helps, please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. Simmons Veterinary Hospital |
| Post #1002 - Posted on: Wednesday. February 11, 2009 By: caroline williams my 7 week old puppie has dioreah what do I do? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Caroline, There are many causes for a puppy to have diarrhea. It may be something as simple as a change in his/her diet to something as severe as a viral disease called parvovirus. I strongly recommend that you bring your puppy in to be seen by a veterinarian. A fecal exam should be run, and after a physical exam and more of a history further tests and treatments can be decided on from there. Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #1001 - Posted on: Friday. February 06, 2009 By: DANNY E. BRANTLEY I have a 23mo old yorkie poo. She is very active however she has redness in the white of her right eye. I notice she does take her paw and seems to want to wipe at her eye. What could cause this?? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: There are a couple of tests that need to be performed to figure out what is going on with her eye. First, she should be tested for an ulcer which is a scratch on the surface of her eye. I would do this by placing a special stain in her eye that will show up bright green if there is a scratch on the surface. Also, her tear production should be checked. Lack of tear production can be producing the redness which actually can produce an ulcer as well. You should call to make an appointment so we can perform these tests and get her on appropriate medication for her problem. Please call if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #996 - Posted on: Saturday. January 31, 2009 By: sheri My shitzu 10 years old Chloe, recently started losing weight, I thought maybe she was having difficulty eating the hard crunchy food, so I started with softer dry food, but she is still losing weight, now it seems difficult for her to sit, It is also time for shots etc. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sheri, Is Chloe eating still? Is she having regular bowel movements? Regardless of these answers, it sounds like she needs to get checked out. A physical exam will give a lot of information as to what her teeth look like, and if she may have any pain in her hips or knees making it difficult for her to sit. Also what may be helpful is some labwork to look for any underlying systemic diseases that would cause weight loss. We would be happy to take a look at her here! Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, Lake Worth, FL, 561-439- 3220 |
| Post #995 - Posted on: Wednesday. January 28, 2009 By: Tarin Blackledge I adopted my dog from an animal rescue place. When she got home I noticed that she had diarreah and was very lathargic. So I took her to her vet and she had a full check up. Turns out she had a bacteria infection. She is now on K-Pectin, Panacur and Metrnidazole. She has been on the medicine for 4 days now and is still acting the same. The K-Pectin is not helping and she is still very lathargic. What could be wrong? She likes to eat and drink, she has not lost interest in that! Thanks!! Tarin |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Tarin - I would have your dog reevaluated by your vet. K pectin is an absorbent that should help absorb fluid from the feces. Panacur is a dewormer and intestinal parasites are a common cause of diarrhea. Metronidazole is an antibiotic that will also help with diarrhea. Has the diarrhea cleared up? If she isn't responding to these medications I would definitely have her reevaluated, especially if she is still lethargic. There maybe something else going on. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I'd be happy to speak with you in further detail about this. Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #993 - Posted on: Monday. January 26, 2009 By: Molly Hello, My husband and I have an issue with our 4 year old, neutered cat named Butters. He's been spraying since before he was neutered as a kitten. We've been treating the problem with medication. He was on Paxil for a few months and his spraying (and other anxious behaviors) decreased, but still was present. We started him on a new medication (amitriptyline) few days ago, but are worried that this one won't work either. In addition to meds we use Feliway and have recently bought a second litter box. We have a 6 year old cat that can be aggressive towards Butters and I think this may be the cause of his anxiety. We're moving to a new apartment soon and can't afford to ruin anymore carpets and lose our deposit. We are heartbroken because we don't know what else to do and love Butters so much. Is there anything else you would recommend? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Molly, I am sorry to hear about your cat Butter's and his spraying. Unfortunately spraying in cats can be very difficult to resolve. I would first ask if Butters has had complete work up, bloodwork, urinalysis, possible x-rays or ultrasound. I would be sure to rule out any medical condition. If this has been done and it is truly releated to anxiety there are some other medications that you could try Butters on. But I would give the amitriptyline a chance to work, it may take up to six weeks for this drug to reach a level in his body for you to see a change. I would also recommend that if you have two cats that you have three litter boxes and you should not clean them with any bleach or ammonia based cleaner. There has been some cases where Prozac has helped some of these cats but again I would allow six weeks on the amitriptyline before I gave up on that medication. I hope this helps please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. |
| Post #991 - Posted on: Sunday. January 25, 2009 By: D Dickerson Our chihuahua, who is twelve years old, coughs all the time. We have changed foods to Iams, Hills, etc. and nothing seems to help. He coughs until he spits up lots of times. The vet says he is in good health. Can you give us any idea what to do. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: The constant coughing is definitely concerning. Has your veterinarian done any xrays, bloodwork, etc? Three major issues I would be concerned with are heart disease, heartworm disease, and collapsing trachea. Of course there are other possibilities as well but these would be my initial concerns. A good physical exam, heartworm test, chest xrays, and some bloodwork should be able to classify this problem for you. Pursue these tests with your veterinarian. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Dr. Joyce |
| Post #990 - Posted on: Saturday. January 24, 2009 By: ariel do you take bearded dragons..and are there special shots that are needed.... |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Ariel, There are no annual vaccines that bearded dragons need, but if you would ever like her/him to be checked out, evaluate a stool sample for any potential intestinal parasites, we would be happy to do a general physical exam. Our number is 561-439- 3220 and we are located on the corner of Lake Worth Rd and Haverhill Rd in Lake Worth, FL. |
| Post #989 - Posted on: Saturday. January 24, 2009 By: Lauren Fillingame Hi there, Just trying to clarify one question. I'm sorry, I interrupted you. I understand a seizure has three phases. When do you start timing. My best quess is the middle phase. Correct? Thanks, Lauren |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Lauren, Yes, that's right, there are 3 phases to a seizure. They are the pre-ictal, ictal, and post-ictal. Pre-ictal is usually a short period prior to the actual seizure where you can see a dazed appearance on the dog, "fly biting" or snapping of the jaw, and abnormal behavior. The ictal phase or actual seizure is the most important part to time, but if all phases can be timed that would be good as well. The post-ictal phase is after the seizure and again the dog can act dazed, tired, drunk, or all of the above. Keeping good records or a journal of these and noting what is happening before they start to see if a rhythm or common link can be picked out is very helpful. Thank you for your question, you are not interrupting! Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #988 - Posted on: Saturday. January 24, 2009 By: tracey Hi . I have a 4and a half month old female shih/pom could you please tell me when they goes in heat? she is starting to point her butt towards my male jack russell and she cant get sprayed till she is 6 months.. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Tracey, Sexual behavioral maturity has been reported to occur as early as 4 months, and smaller breed dogs to mature sooner than largeer breeds. I would find it unlikely for her to have an actual heat cycle prior to 6 or 7 months of age, but not impossible. Is your male dog neutered? If not, watch them closely. I would try and wait out the additional 1.5 months as early spays can potentially lead to recessed vulvas (and thereby pre-disposing to repeat urinary tract infections). All of that being said, the behavior that you are describing may all be play behavior as well. I would be more worried if you were actually seeing signs of a heat cycle. (vulvar bloody discharge, mammary gland swelling) Hope this is helpful. Please feel free to call with any further questions, Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, 561-439-3220 |
| Post #984 - Posted on: Friday. January 23, 2009 By: Lauren Fillingame Hi Dr. Ken, Bijou had a seizure today that lasted 2 to 3 minutes at 3:44p.m. she was sleeping next to me at the time. For her to stay next to me is unusual. That may have been due to it being cold, I'm not sure. We were up unusually early this morning 4a.m. More importantly, I think, is that she was given her heartworm meds yesterday. I do remember them being given near the time of her first seizure. I'm not sure about the second. Her symptoms started with her salivating and trying to swallow, and she did vomit. She slowly started convulsing. Her head began to shake. This is the first time visible shaking occured. I thouht we would skip her afternoon exercise which begins between 4 and 5 p.m. but she her tail was wagging and she was ready to go so I took her out again. She plays hard with several labs and a shepherd. She's just started running hard again this year. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. She also goes out in the morning around 7:30. We walk about two miles with other dogs where she's extremely active. Any advice? Lauren |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Lauren! Seizures are not something we typically see as a side effect to heartworm medications. Heartworm medications are dosed low enough to be extremely safe. Certainly, some dogs can have sensitivities to certain medications but I wouldn't jump to that conclusion without ruling out other things first. Seizures in dogs are most commonly caused by a disorder called "idiopathic epilepsy" and just occur in some dogs but no one really understands why (hence the term idiopathic). This disorder can be maintained with medications when the seizures become frequent or lengthy. However, before you jump to this diagnosis it is important to rule out other possible causes of seizures, such as liver disease, electrolyte imbalances, etc. A routine blood screening can help with this. That is where I would start with Bijou. Seizures can be very frigtening to watch and it is really good that you are keeping track of when they happen and how long they last... so keep up with that. But she does need to be seen by a veterinarian to figure out why this is happening. Please call if I can assist you further or if you have any additional questions... I'd be happy to answer them. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #982 - Posted on: Tuesday. January 20, 2009 By: Trish Barauskas I have a 3 year old pug and have recently added a German Shepherd puppy. THe German Shepherd is now 6 months and feels the need to play and bite the pug whenever she walks by him. The pug has now started licking his paws excessively, almost to where they are raw. What can I do to make him stop doing this. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: As far as the licking problem for your pug goes, it is most likely an allergy. If that is the case he will need medications for the itching and sometimes antibiotics to control secondary infections that occur from the trauma of licking. He definitely needs to be seen by a veterinarian for this. For the behavioral issues that you seem to be having, now is definitely the time to address them while they are still young. It sounds like they would benefit from some training classes together. They may just be playing but you should address it now before the problem progresses to something more serious. The only training I know of close by is at PetsMart. You should call them and see if they can help you with this. Please call me if you have any questions!! Dr. Leah Martin 561-439-3220 |
| Post #980 - Posted on: Saturday. January 17, 2009 By: L B Hi, I have a 10 lb. Maltese, 4 yrs. old. She has threw up a yellow bile once a couple of months ago and again 2 days ago. She is not her playful self. Yesterday and today she is expelling sulphur smelling gas. She is current on all shots. Is there a medical concern for this? She is like a child to us and we are extremely concerned. Thank you! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: With the vomiting, lethargy, and gas I would be concerned enough to bring her in and have her checked out. Unfortunately these are very non-specific signs --- it could be anything as simple as intestinal parasites to more complicated diseases such as an endocrine disease. Fecal exam, bloodwork, and possibly xrays would be a great starting point to try and figure this out. Could it be possible that it's just dietary change and/or indiscretion? Before bringing her to see a vet make sure it's not associated with getting a new treat or type of food that her body possibly didn't agree with... Hope this helps. Sincerely, Dr. Joyce |
| Post #978 - Posted on: Thursday. January 15, 2009 By: Judyth Goldstein My 12 yr old Cocker Spaniel has been having periods of shaking spells for no apparent reason. She also has had pertods of hiding under the bed, also for no apparent reason.Can you help us with this problem? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Judyth - Shaking and hiding are very nonspecific signs. However, they are signs that something is going on with her. Sometimes they will shake and hide from pain, illness, stress, etc. I would definitely have her evaluated by a veterinarian to make sure this isn't anything serious. Please let us know if we can help you with this. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you may have. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #977 - Posted on: Thursday. January 15, 2009 By: Sean Hello, I recently adopted a 3 month year old German Shephard Rotweiller. He was a perfectly fine puppy until Tuesday night he starting having diarrhea. Wednesday he continued to have diarrhea and wouldnt eat much. Later that day he was sleeping way more than normal and threw up a few times. He would not eat or drink much. But later that night he perked up and resumed his normal energenic playfull hungry puppy self. He is now eating and has normal stool. Should I still bring him to the vet?? I am still very concerned even though he is acting great. Thank you! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Sean- Your puppy should be seen for a few things. First, for the diarrhea I would test a stool sample to check for worms. A lot of puppies have worms and is a common cause of diarrhea. I would also be concerned if he isn't eating, drinking or playing. Be sure to monitor these things and let the veterinarian know when you make an appointment to have his stool checked. Furthermore, a 3 month old puppy needs more vaccines. We start puppies at 6wk of age with vaccines. They need vaccine boosters every 3 wk until they are at least 16 weeks of age. So yes, I would definitely make an appointment with a veterinarian to have your puppy seen. Hope this helps! Please let us know if we can help you with this. You can also call us if you have any additional questions. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #976 - Posted on: Wednesday. January 14, 2009 By: madelyn I have a nursing Yorkie just over a week old. The mother has developed hives. I gave the mother 1/2 ml of benedril and gave her a luke warm bath. Is there anything I should be worried about or look for as the puppy is very young and can't be with out her mother? |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Madelyn, Thank you for your question. I have some questions for you, did the mother's hives clear on the benadryl? Does she have a know history of allergies? Is is possible that a but could have bit her and caused an allergic reaction? If the hives have cleared and the puppy is doing well I would not worry. Just be sure that the puppy is nursing well, having stool and urinating. If the hives have not cleared or the puppy is not acting right I would recommend that you take the mother and her puppy to see your veterinarian. If you have any other questions please let us know. Thank you! |
| Post #965 - Posted on: Monday. January 05, 2009 By: laura I have a chihuahua mix 5-year-old neutered male who has a recurring raspy cough accompanied with excessive salivation and licking of the chops. His kennel cough vaccination is current (as every year) but this seems to occur several times a year. My vet always puts him on antihistimines and steroids. The cough goes away but I don't like putting him on steroids at the drop of a hat. We even had his tonsils removed over a year ago in the hopes that their large size was the cause of his problems but he's getting the cough as often as before. Help! |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Laura, Some things that I would think about are a collapsing trachea in a small breed dog, although there are quite a few other causes of coughing. Has he ever had x-rays of his chest and upper airway taken? Does he have routine fecal exams and heartworm tests performed? Is he on a monthly heartworm preventative? Has he ever been tried on an anti-tussive medication like Hycaden? In the rarer cases where steroids are needed I like to ensure that I am doing routine labwork to ensure that they are not having long term systemic effects or that the body cannot metabolize the drug appropriately. I hope this is helpful for you! Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, Lake Worth, FL 561-439-3220 |
| Post #963 - Posted on: Saturday. January 03, 2009 By: tracy my 5 week old puppy has been heaving 4 a couple of days.the mother had got hold of a packet of peanuts woz just wondering if this is wots affecting my puppy. |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Tracy - I doubt that peanuts would hurt the puppy if the mother was the one to get into them. Heaving in puppies may be something simple but it also may be something more serious. Is your puppy vomiting as well or just heaving? Now, the mother may have some vomiting or diarrhea from eating the peanuts depending on how much she ate. Be sure to monitor her for vomiting, diarrhea, and a lack of appetite or activity level. I would make an appointment for your puppy for sure and the mother as well if you notice any of the signs I have mentioned. Please let me know if you have anymore questions. I'd be happy to speak with you about this in more detail. Dr. Leah Martin Simmons Veterinary Hospital 561-439-3220 |
| Post #961 - Posted on: Friday. January 02, 2009 By: Lisa Our dog has had blood shot eyes and now it is pooping blood. I called the vet and they said to give her a bland diet. They did not want to see her until next week. Please let me know what you think. Thank you |
| Response by Simmons Veterinary Hospital: Hi Lisa, I think it would be a good idea to have your dog seen sooner. While a bland diet may be enough to help, I'd want to him/her checked out before it got any worse. Bloodshot eyes may mean a couple of different things and in conjunction with the bloody stool I would want to know if your dog has had any access to rat/mouse bait. I'd be more than happy to see your dog if you are in the area! Dr Kate Raymond, Simmons Veterinary Hospital, Lake Worth, FL 561-439-3220 |