Dear Dr. Fox:
My 4-year-old English cocker spaniel has significant folds on the lower side of her mouth. About six months ago, she began leaving dark spots on the furniture, our clothes and the bed. The spots were coming from her mouth, where something seems to gather in the folds.
I try to clean her mouth once or twice a day with MalAcetic wipes (suggested by the vet), and my groomer says to use witch hazel on a gauze pad. This has become a chronic problem. I try to keep this part of her face clipped closely. But I would love to figure out how to stop it, instead of just treating it.
Do you think a change in diet would help? I am at a loss, and I am wearing out my washing machine! Could I get the residue analyzed to see what it is?
L.B., Vero Beach, Fla.
DF: There are bacteria and fungi that live normally on a dog's skin and oral cavity, and when established as a balanced population, like a well-managed garden, help keep the skin and gums healthy and prevent injurious organisms from becoming established.
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Some of these microflora can produce porphyrin compounds that stain and cause the problems you are facing. Your poor dog probably hates the smell of her stain-making drool.
The stain (pigment) can come not only from some of these microorganisms, but also from artificial dyes in pet foods, some of which are known carcinogens and should be banned.
Did the veterinarian closely evaluate your dog's oral health, including teeth and gums? That is a first consideration. I would try PetzLife's oral gel for dogs and my home-prepared diet and treats (posted on my website, drfoxvet.net) or a dye-free dog food. I like Sojo's freeze-dried dog foods.
Witch hazel wipes are good, but change to doing it twice daily for three days and then repeating it after a three-day break. Your dog might benefit from a vitamin A supplement or Nordic Natural’s cod liver oil for dogs, because cocker spaniels can develop a stinky skin condition (seborrhea) and require more of this vitamin in their diets.
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PAINFUL BEHAVIOR
Dear Dr. Fox:
We had a cat that suddenly started biting at about age 4. He would get a wild look in his eye and rush and bite. I took him to the vet after he attacked my daughter. The vet asked whether he was a jumper, and suggested an X-ray. It turns out he had a pinched a nerve in his spine. A very short course of steroids and muscle relaxants did the trick.
D.W., Albany, N.Y.
DF: You are most fortunate to have taken your cat to such a vigilant veterinarian, who must have suspected a pain-trigger for this behavior during the initial physical examination, one sign being hyperesthesia or hypersensitivity along the back. As a preventive measure, a daily massage as per my book "The Healing Touch for Cats" could help prevent recurrence.
DISEASE ALERT
Dear Dr. Fox:
I recently read your column about how a reader’s cat’s kidneys might be damaged, and I wanted to tell you about an illness my 2-year-old cat had, called tularemia, or “rabbit fever.’’
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Like the cat described in the column, my cat ran a high fever, lost all desire to eat or drink, stopped grooming himself and would hardly move around at all. He also developed swollen glands in his neck. The first vet I took him to assumed it was an infection, maybe from a bite (he is an outdoor cat) and prescribed antibiotics and administered fluids in the office. My cat didn’t get any better; he actually got worse.
It wasn’t until a couple of days later that a second vet examined him and asked whether my cat kills and eats rabbits — the answer was an absolute yes. The vet said she had seen only one other case of tularemia, but it requires a special antibiotic, which she administered by injection three days in a row and then had us give in liquid form for a week.
Over three days, our cat’s temperature went from 107 to 104 to normal, and his appetite returned (and became voracious). Over a period of about 10 days, he made a full recovery!
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I just wanted to tell you about this, in case it would help anyone else; it was almost a miracle that the second vet we saw even recognized the illness for what it was and knew how to treat it.
T.B.B., St. Louis
DF: This disease is more prevalent in some states than others, and veterinarians are on the alert in areas of greater prevalence, especially because this is a disease that people can also contract. With climate change, it is likely to become more prevalent. In your case, it is a warning to not let cats roam free and kill wildlife.
FATTY TUMORS
Dear Dr. Fox:
I have an 11-year-old schnauzer, Beau, who has survived two episodes of pancreatitis. I am a widow, and he is my baby and companion.
For the past seven years, I have had him on Natural Choice venison food. Once in a while, I cook for him fish (tilapia) with quinoa and green beans. He likes both foods. For snacks, I give three little pieces of banana and three little pieces of apples. For years, I have given him a capsule of omega-3 oil, as recommended by the vet.
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For about two years, I have noticed some masses on his body: two about the size of a small orange, and the other about the size of a lemon. The vet told me that the masses are not malignant and that they are typical of schnauzers. But I have noticed that he cannot climb onto my bed as he used to, so I have to carry him to my bed. He gets out of bed with no problem. Also, when he climbs the stairs, he is not as fast as he used to be. I am concerned that the masses are impeding his movement.
P.P., Fairfax
DF: These are probably fatty tumors called lipomas, which are common in older dogs. They grow and grow, but they do not spread to the internal organs.
Once they become large enough to interfere with the dog’s freedom of movement, it is time to consider surgery under a general anesthetic if the dog is otherwise healthy. Discuss this with your veterinarian, who might refer you to a soft-tissue veterinary surgical specialist. This is the step we took with one of our older dogs; she had a new lease on life after successful removal of a large lipoma in her groin.
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Your dog might have arthritis. There are supplements such as Cosequin and Nordic Naturals fish oil for dogs that can help, along with regular massage as per my book "The Healing Touch for Dogs.''
Michael W. Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. Send letters to animaldocfox@gmail.com or write to him at United Feature Syndicate, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 64106.
Copyright 2016 United Feature Syndicate
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