Q & A Vet

My cat suddenly has begun defecating on my bedroom carpet instead of in the litter box. What can I do to stop this behavior?

A problem with many causes.

Unfortunately, this is one of the most common behavioral complaints of cat owners.

There are several factors that may contribute to cats defecating inappropriately. Environmental or social stress, personal preferences or changes in personal preferences, or medical problems may cause this behavior.

My dog was not spayed until she was six years old. We did not breed her. We have been informed that she is very susceptible to breast cancer and advised to have her checked once a year. If she had been spayed at a younger age, would her chances of developing breast cancer be lower?

Yes, if performed before the first heat cycle.

Make an appointment with a veterinarian

Congratulations to you and your family! Welcome to the world of pet ownership. If this is your first dog, you will soon come to know the special bond that forms between human and animal. Studies have been done about the many health benefits of the human-animal bond. As long as you carefully foster the relationship, no one will love and respect you as much as a dog.

Is there a good way to figure out whether my pet is running a temperature?

Use a thermometer.

The normal body temperature of a cat or dog at rest is 99° to 101°F. If your pet is acting sluggish or depressed, is reluctant to eat or move around, is panting or breathing rapidly, or feels warm to the touch, it is exhibiting symptoms of a fever. The most accurate method of determining whether an animal has a fever is to use a rectal thermometer.

My dog makes some strange movements while it's sleeping. It "twitches" or "jerks." Is this normal?

Maybe it's dreaming.

Check your dog's ears regularly.

An ear infection is a common ailment in dogs, especially if they have skin conditions or allergies. Most owners will not pick up on the symptoms of an ear infection until the dog's symptoms are severe. The earlier an infection is detected and treated, the faster the dog will recover, and the less pain and discomfort it will have to endure.

Why does my pet need vaccinations? He rarely goes outside--and even then, only when I am with him.

There's always a risk of infection.

Although your pet may have a low risk of getting diseases from other animals, vaccinations are important because infection is always a possibility. Some viruses can linger in the environment for some time, long after the animals that deposited them have passed. And some viruses, such as parvo, are severe enough to cause death.

What's the best way to keep my cat healthy? What kind of maintenance care does she need?

Visit the veterinarian regularly.

All kittens should go through examinations, de-worming, multiple vaccinations, and neutering. After these are completed, your trips to the veterinarian will be much less frequent. Most healthy adult cats need to visit the veterinarian only once a year.

Pet overpopulation is a major problem.

Most people are aware that there are too many cats in the world, but some still fail to have their cat neutered. A male cat can impregnate numerous female cats, while female cats can give birth to multiple litters in one season.

Apply tweezers to the tick's head and pull gently.

Animals easily pick up ticks in their fur from the outdoors. Ticks will attach themselves to the skin for several days, until they are full of blood sucked from their host. During this period, they can transmit serious diseases to cats and dogs and should be removed as soon as they are detected on the animal. Some diseases can be prevented by early tick removal, since the transfer of the infectious agent can take up to 72 hours.

Breeding can be costly and risky.

Unfortunately, most people don't realize how much work, time and expense is involved in the process of breeding.

The first thing that you must consider is whether your pet should be bred. Most pets, although lovable, are not of breeding quality. Genetic defects and other problems should not be perpetuated, because they can cause serious medical problems for future generations. People who breed dogs for a living are very careful about choosing which dogs they will breed based on physical characteristics and behavior.

My cat may have ingested antifreeze. My husband was working on a vehicle and said what the cat drank was mostly water, but may have had some antifreeze in it. Should I call our veterinarian? What symptoms should I look for if there is a problem?

Signs and symptoms similar to drunkenness.

I can keep my dog from mating with other dogs, so why is it important to get him neutered?

Neutering may protect him from cancer.

Most of us are told to neuter our pets to decrease the overabundance of unadopted dogs that are put to death in animal shelters. Although this is a valid argument, it is not the sole reason that neutering should be considered.

I think that my dog has cataracts. When I look at her eyes, there is a grayish-blue haze. Will she lose her eyesight from this, and can cataracts be removed from her eyes?

Surgical treatment is available.

You should have a veterinarian perform a complete physical exam and an ophthalmology exam to evaluate her eyes. Your veterinarian will determine if she has cataracts, or a condition that occurs normally in older dogs called nuclear sclerosis.