Sunday, December 2, 2007
Dear Dr. Fox:
My altered 8-year-old Lab-beagle mix came into contact with a skunk about two months ago. After many baths using different remedies, his skin no longer smells. However, his breath is another matter, which makes me think the skunk sprayed him from the front.
He has been given dental chews and dog breath mints. Nothing seems to work, and I don't know what else to try. He's a very lovable dog, but when he opens his mouth, no one wants anything to do with him.
-- D.R.
Reston
My guess is that the skunk incident made you more sensitive to your dog's smell, and he might have had halitosis before being skunked.
Two common causes of halitosis are bad teeth and gums that need professional cleaning and poorly functioning liver or kidneys.
A change in diet to a whole-food, homemade recipe may help. Your dog should also have a full wellness exam. Halitosis can be a red flag.
Dear Dr. Fox:
I am writing in response to the letter about the strange behavior of the bulldog after spaying.
We have a 3 1/2 -year-old Akita that was recently spayed. Several days after the procedure, she began treating one of her toys as if it was her "baby." She was extremely protective of the toy. She would growl and become upset when anyone would go near it and would often attempt to bury it under couch pillows or bed liners.
-- K.F.
West Haven, Conn.
Your Akita probably experienced a hormonal surge from the pituitary gland after her reproductive organs were removed. The animal (and human) body is a complex matrix of regulatory feedback mechanisms that can be disrupted by various surgical procedures.
Dear Dr. Fox:
The 4-year-old shepherd mix I recently adopted had a bad limp with his left front leg. After X-rays, the vet informed me that he had degenerative arthritis and recommended Rimadyl for pain, but I said no because of possible side effects. I recently lost a dog to cancer because of steroid drugs and, I believe, overmedication.
Can you please advise me what I could give my dog to help relieve his pain and not cause any harm to other organs in his body?
-- J.C.
Miami
Many readers have reported good results giving arthritic dogs a daily supplement of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. Flaxseed oil and turmeric can also help, along with regular massage therapy.
The supplements should be given with food, calculating the dose on the basis of a human weight of 150 pounds, so you would give one-third the amount to a 50-pound dog.
Flaxseed oil, also good for coat and skin, has anti-inflammatory properties, so add one tablespoon daily to your dog's food. Salmon or cod liver oil is better for cats, but use only a few drops daily in food.
Dear Dr. Fox:
I have to complain about a television ad with a family spraying an "air freshener" to mask a dog's odor.
Now, I'm not a vet, but if a dog has a strong enough odor coming from his coat that you have to spray constantly, there is most likely a health problem with the dog.
I've had pets all my life, and none of them smelled unless they came into contact with garbage or a skunk.
I think the commercial is sending the wrong message. What do you think?
-- J.B.
Delanson, N.Y.
I agree with you, absolutely. The many products being marketed as room sprays or dispensers with purifiers/deodorizers are chemical compounds that all family members, including all pets, are going to inhale.
A smelly dog needs to be groomed and bathed. In many cases, a veterinary exam and change in diet are called for.
Dear Dr. Fox:
I have two dogs and three cats. Two of the animals are licking areas on their bodies. They have licked the fur off in several spots, and this is making some of the areas bleed.
I don't know what to do. I have minimal income resources, and my vet quoted $100 per animal to inject steroids. I was hoping you might have a suggestion.
-- L.P.
Babylon, N.Y.
Find another vet who will not simply offer to inject your animals with steroids.
When animals in the same home share the same symptoms, the first possible cause is fleas. You need to take only one animal to the vet to rule this out.
Other possibilities are skin mites, dust mites and, if they are sharing the same food (which they should not be), a food allergy. Take the animal with the worst skin "hot spots" to another vet and take it from there.
Michael Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. Write to him at United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.
Copyright 2007, United Feature Syndicate Inc.
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