For a more detailed FAQ, please visit The Vetcentric Encycloppedia. There you can find articles on animal healthcare topics ranging from behavior and preventive care to common, and not so common diseases. Why should I neuter my dog? What normal maintenance care does my cat need? What is the treatment for Bordetella infection? Why does my dog frequently lick his paws and limbs? Why does my indoor pet need vaccinations? What is a “hot spot” in a dog? My dog is always scooting around the floor on his rear? Why does my puppy hiccup? Why is chocolate bad for dogs? How can one tell if a cat is in heat? How can I tell if my pet has a fever? How can we help our dog accept a baby in the family? How can I stop my cat from urinating outside the litter box? What does it mean when my dog “twitches” or “jerks” while it’s asleep? My dog eats feces every time he goes outside. Is this unhealthy? What causes excessive salivation in dogs and cats? Why should I neuter my dog when I can prevent him from mating with another dog? 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. Unneutered male dogs have a higher incidence of certain cancers and prostatic diseases. Female dogs that are left intact are more likely to develop mammary tumors, uterine and ovarian cancers, and uterine infections. All of these medical conditions can be quite serious, and may even result in a shortened life span for your companion. Neutered pets tend to live longer and enjoy a healthier life. Dogs that resist training may also benefit from neutering, because after the procedure they more likely to accept the owner’s leadership. Neutered dogs are also less likely to roam the neighborhood—and hence have a lesser risk of being hit by a car, being involved in a dogfight, or becoming a nuisance to your neighbors. Back to Top What normal maintenance care does my cat need? Visit the veterinarian regularly. All kittens should go through examinations, deworming, 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. Vaccinations are continued throughout a cat’s life. Most vaccinations are given once a year, although a rabies shot may be given as little as every three years based on the laws in your region. Outdoor cats are at a higher risk of contracting a fatal feline virus, and so require more vaccinations than those that stay indoors. We recommend that you keep your cat inside. It is a good idea to have a sample of your cat’s feces evaluated for parasites at least every one to two years. Outdoor cats are at increased risk of being exposed to parasites and should probably have this test done twice a year. Heartworm medication is recommended to prevent heartworm infections in indoor and outdoor cats. Since mosquitoes can get inside the house, indoor cats are at risk of heartworm infection. This flavored medication is given once a month and is available from your veterinarian. Monitor your cat’s skin and haircoat for any signs of parasites or hair loss. Fleas and ticks not only are nuisances for cats that go outside, but also may cause diseases in your pet. Contact your veterinarian for safe and effective treatment and prevention products. Routine brushing significantly reduces the incidence of hairballs and provides bonding time between you and your cat. This is especially important for heavy shedders, longhaired cats, and geriatric animals that may have trouble grooming themselves. A hairball remedy or treat may be used to help ingested fur move through the digestive tract and reduce the number of hairballs your cat vomits. Maintain that perfect pedicure. Cats should have their toenails trimmed periodically to keep them from damaging your house, furniture, and skin. If this practice is started at a young age, the cat will tolerate it more easily throughout its life. Have an experienced person help you the first few times that you attempt to trim your cat’s toenails. Feel like brushing your cat’s teeth? Some cats will tolerate brushing if it is started gradually and made a pleasant experience. Veterinary toothpaste must be used to prevent stomach upset. Most of these toothpastes are available in a chicken or tuna flavor that cats find appealing. Consult your veterinarian about brushing techniques and supplies. Feed your cat a good quality adult maintenance cat food. It is not necessary to feed canned or semi-soft food or to provide a variety of food types, as feeding variation can lead to the creation of a finicky eater, not to mention stomach upset or diarrhea from abrupt changes in the diet. Dry kibble may help keep your cat’s teeth and gums in better condition. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh water daily. Some cats do not like to drink standing water. Drinking fountains, which have become widely available, may be a better idea for these felines. Scoop the cat litter daily. Most cats are very picky about bathroom facilities, including the brand of litter that you use. Once you find a brand that you both find acceptable, stick with it for the long haul. This will cut down on the possibility of "mistakes" that you could find around the house. Finally, be sure to give your cat plenty of tender loving attention and play time. Playing games will help keep that indoor cat from becoming overweight. Plus, those fun times together are what build a strong bond between pet and owner. Back to Top What is the treatment for Bordetella infection? Bordetella is a common bacterial pathogen of the respiratory system of dogs. It is less common in cats. There are numerous antibiotic treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness against these bacteria. Some strains are resistant to treatment. A bacterial culture of respiratory secretions, with antibiotic susceptibility pattern, may be required to identify the most effective treatment. If the bacterial infection is contributing to kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis), cough suppressants and bronchodilators may be prescribed, along with antibiotics. Most patients can be successfully treated as outpatients; this is encouraged because kennel cough is very contagious. The typical course is 10 to 14 days for uncomplicated cases of kennel cough. The course may be limited by restricting activity. For more information you may want to read about kennel cough in the VetCentric encyclopedia. Your veterinarian can offer you many treatment options, if necessary. Back to Top Why does my dog frequently lick his paws and limbs, and sometimes nibbles at them? There are several possible reasons that dogs excessively lick or bite their paws and limbs. Allergies, arthritis pain, neoplasia (growths) and even boredom are some of the more common causes. These lesions can vary in their severity depending on the cause and how persistent the dog is about licking them. It would be a good idea to have your veterinarian examine your dog to determine the underlying cause for the licking and to offer treatment options. He or she may perform some tests, including bloodwork and possibly radiographs (x-rays) to help diagnose the underlying condition. It may be that your dog is itchy because of allergies. Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction in affected animals. While it is possible that your pet is simply being fastidious when he comes in the house, the more likely explanation is that he is being exposed to allergens on his trips outside. Dogs, like people, may be affected by pollen and other airborne allergens. Unlike people, however, inhalant allergy symptoms in dogs more commonly include itching, hair loss, ear infections, dermatitis (skin inflammation or irritation) and other skin problems. Dogs do not tend to get runny eyes and sneezing episodes as much as human allergy sufferers. Depending on where you live, your pet’s worst allergy time may vary seasonally. Inhalant allergies, or atopy, can sometimes be managed simply by reducing the exposure to the allergens and with the use of antihistamine or other allergy medication and special shampoos. In severe cases, it may be better to have your pet tested for specific allergies and treated, if necessary, with allergy shots, which are essentially vaccinations against the allergens. This approach can greatly reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications that may produce unwanted side effects. Veterinary dermatologists are specially trained to conduct allergy testing and to formulate an appropriate allergy serum. Hypersensitivity or adverse reaction to food components is a possible cause of itchy feet and extremities that results in licking and chewing. Patients develop allergies to inhaled or ingested allergens over time, usually after months or years of continuous exposure. While atopy is often a seasonal problem, adverse reactions to food are usually year-round. To prevent your dog from licking his feet and limbs, you may want to put an Elizabethan collar on him or even try using a long-sleeve tee shirt while treatment is ongoing. If your dog continues to lick or bite himself, he is at risk of developing acral lick dermatitis, which is a skin condition that may become infected. Please take your dog to the veterinarian to find the root of the problem. You may want to look in the VetCentric Encyclopedia for these articles: "Inhalant Allergy," "Food Allergy," and "Acral Lick Granuloma." Back to Top Why does my indoor pet need vaccinations? 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. We feel that we cannot emphasize enough the importance of having your pet regularly vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is a fatal virus—not only in many pets, but also in other mammals, including humans. Consequently, rabies vaccination is required by law in all of the United States. Rabid animals act very strangely, lose their fear of humans and other animals, and could approach you and your pet even in the middle of the day. Further, bats are known to get inside houses accidentally, and could spread rabies indoors. If your pet is not current on its rabies shot, and it bites or nips a human being, your regional health department could require the euthanasia to test your pet for rabies. The cost of a rabies vaccination is very cheap, especially when compared with the heartache that could be encountered if it is not done. The decision to vaccinate against other contagious diseases is one that each owner has to make on a case-by-case basis. Because not all pets have the same risk of exposure to certain diseases, not all pets need the same vaccinations. Certain vaccines, such as that for feline leukemia, are recommended only if a cat is spending time outdoors, where it could be involved in a fight. Your veterinarian will make a recommendation depending on your pet’s individual situation. But as a general rule, it is much easier and safer to prevent contagious illnesses than it is to treat them. Back to Top What is a “hot spot” in a dog? A "hot spot," or acute moist dermatitis, is an acute, painful, erosive, inflammatory condition of the skin. It results when a dog repeatedly bites or scratches a specific area of its skin or ears. An underlying problem that produces itching or pain usually prompts this self-induced trauma. The hot spot will have a reddish border surrounding a central area of crusty, eroded or ulcerated skin. Hot spots are moist and tend to drain. They often are infected, usually with Staphylococcus intermedius, a bacterium similar to a type that causes boils in people. Small pockets of pus may appear to migrate out from the middle of the hot spot. Hair loss will occur in the affected area. Hot spots tend to occur in dogs living in hot, humid environments and in homes or facilities with poor ventilation. Large breeds are more likely to develop hot spots than smaller dog breeds. There are many different conditions that may cause a dog to engage in this biting and scratching behavior. The most common cause is fleabite allergy. When a dog becomes sensitive to flea saliva, a fleabite will cause intense, persistent itching. Other allergies, including inhalation (atopy) and food allergies, may also cause scratching and biting that leads to the development of hot spots. Other conditions that may stimulate self trauma include inflammatory conditions of the skin, ears or anal sacs, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections, and joint or muscle pain. Canine behavioral disorders may cause this as well. Diagnosis of acute moist dermatitis is based on history, clinical signs of biting and scratching and the findings of a physical examination. Diagnosis of the underlying cause may require laboratory tests. These may include various skin tests for allergies, fleas and other parasites, fungal and yeast infections, or bacterial culture and susceptibility. Occasionally a skin biopsy may be necessary. Treatment is directed both at the hot spot and the underlying cause of the biting or scratching. An Elizabethan collar may be used to mechanically bar biting and scratching of the affected areas. Treatment for hot spots starts with clipping the moist hair to expose the lesion to the air. Clipping is a very important factor in treating these lesions, as they need to dry out in order to heal. Topical or oral medications, including corticosteroids (for their anti-inflammatory effect), antibiotics, and anti-pruritics (anti-itching drugs) may be given to help resolve the hot spot. Occasionally injectable forms of these medications are given. Drying agents may also be appropriate. The underlying cause of the affected dog’s biting and scratching is treated accordingly. If fleas or other parasites are involved, parasiticides are given and other control measures are taken. If allergies are causing the itching, antihistamines may be prescribed, as well as allergy shots if the allergen (the substance causing the allergic reaction) cannot be avoided. If pain due to arthritis or other conditions is involved, appropriate analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. You should take your dog to your veterinarian for a physical examination. First your veterinarian will make sure that the problem your dog has is a hot spot. Then he or she will determine the underlying cause of your dog’s biting and scratching and recommend treatment. Your veterinarian may give you topical medications to help dry the lesion out and decrease the itch. Injections of steroids or oral steroid medications are often used for the acute flare-ups, but long-term control may be better achieved by successfully treating the underlying disorder. Back to Top My dog is always scooting around the floor on his rear. What could be his problem? Anal sac impaction is a common reason that dogs scoot. Full anal sacs cause irritation and pressure around the anus. Dogs scoot in an attempt to relieve the sensations. Your veterinarian can check your dog's anal sacs and express them, hence eliminating this as a potential problem. Your dog should be checked for tapeworms and other intestinal parasites, as these may also cause dogs to scoot. Tapeworms commonly appear as "white rice"segments around the dog’s anus or in the stool. If you have seen this, tell your veterinarian. Other potential causes of scooting can include sensitivity to diet, flea allergy, or skin infection. Consult with your veterinarian for a specific diagnosis. Back to Top Why does my puppy hiccup? It is completely normal for a puppy to have hiccups off and on throughout the day. Hiccups sometimes start after eating a meal, but can occur at any time and last for up to several minutes. A hiccup is defined as a non-controllable spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm, causing a beginning inspiration of air that is suddenly stopped by closure of the glottis. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It enables the lungs to bring in air during inspiration. When the diaphragm contracts, the air is quickly drawn in, but the glottis, a part of the "voice box," suddenly cuts it off. Puppy hiccups will come and go. Eventually puppies grow out of them Back to Top Why is chocolate bad for dogs? Chocolate contains methylxanthine alkaloids in the form of theobromine and caffeine, that cause constriction of arteries, increased heart rate, and central nervous system stimulation. These effects can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and increased urinations. More advanced symptoms of toxicity include excitability, increased respirations and heartbeat, stiffness, seizures and exaggerated reflexes. Certain types of chocolate contain higher amounts of methylxanthines, baking chocolate containing the highest and white chocolate containing the least. Dogs freely ingest toxic amounts of chocolate if it is left accessible. A potentially lethal dose in a 16 pound. dog is only one pound of milk chocolate. People stop eating chocolate before ingesting toxic levels. Cardiac failure, seizures, coma, and death can result if the chocolate ingestion is not found within four to six hours and treated appropriately. The length of action of the methylxanthines is usually 12 to 36 hours. In dogs that chocolate ingestion is detected early, the prognosis is good. If your dog has gotten into chocolate, you should note the type, estimate the amount eaten, and then call your veterinarian for recommendations. You will probably need to take your dog in for examination and evaluation of heart rate. If your veterinarian is not available, you should seek emergency care. We recommend that you keep your chocolate in an unreachable location; an ounce of prevention is better than an ounce of ingestion. Back to Top How can one tell if a cat is in heat? The best way to tell if a cat is in heat is to look for behavioral changes. These changes occur in two different phases, depending on the heat cycle. When the female is experiencing proestrus, or the period just before estrus occurs, typically she will become increasingly affectionate, and will rub her face or head against things, tread with the rear feet, and vocalize. Although during proestrus the female cat will show decreasing hostility towards a male cat, she will not allow mounting. These signs may last for one to two days. The estrus part of the cycle is characterized by increased vocalization, holding the tail to one side, and rolling around on the floor. The cat will exhibit lordosis, or arching or extending the back with the hind limbs raised. Females will often rub along the floor and meow constantly. Some cats may exhibit usual amounts of friendliness to their owners during estrus, although some may become uncharacteristically hostile. Indoor cats may try to escape outside of the house. During estrus, the female is receptive to mating with a male cat. This period may last for six days. If you do not plan on breeding your cat, I would recommend that you have her spayed as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will be able to determine whether she is actually in heat and the best time to spay her. Back to Top How can I tell if my pet has a fever? The normal body temperature of a cat or dog at rest is 99 to 101ºF. 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. As with taking the temperature of an infant, the thermometer should be shaken, lubricated with petroleum jelly, and inserted about one-and-a-half inches into the rectum. It is helpful to have someone hold and distract your pet while its temperature is being taken. If the reading is above 102.5ºF, you should contact your veterinarian. A temperature of 105ºF or more will require an emergency visit to a veterinarian. If the pet holds a temperature above 106ºF for very long, it could suffer serious adverse effects, including permanent brain damage and death. Back to Top We’re having a baby in three months. How can we help our dog accept the new addition to our family? It is much better to give thought to this question now than to wait until after your baby is born. You have allowed yourselves some time to become educated and to train your dog to interact with the new family member. Get at least two training books dealing specifically with children and dogs. There is a large amount of information available on how to make this transition as pleasant and stress-free as possible. In addition, if your dog has not already completed a basic training course, we recommend enrolling it in one now. For the best chances of success, you and the other family members need to have complete control of your dog. You should also carefully assess how your dog reacts to children of different ages. There are some dogs that do not tolerate children well, and they can be very difficult and dangerous to deal with. In extreme cases, it may be in the best interest of both your dog and baby to place the animal in a home that has no children. The most important thing that you should remember is that you should NEVER leave your baby and your dog alone together, under any circumstances. Accidents happen, even with dogs that have shown no previous signs of aggression. Take the few seconds that it takes to put the dog in a crate or some other secure place. Do not risk your child being bitten or even killed by any dog, including your own. We hate to be so grim, but there are many sad stories of this very thing happening when it could have been prevented. Other Preparation Tips: Try to establish a workable feeding and exercise routine before the baby arrives. Do not lavish your dog with extra attention that it will miss after the baby is born. Allow the dog to explore the nursery and become familiar with the new items there. Train your dog to recognize that baby items are not dog toys. This may take some practice, since many baby toys look similar to dog toys. Have someone bring home from the hospital a baby blanket with the baby’s scent on it. This will allow the dog to become familiar with the baby’s odor before it arrives. Make the first meeting between animal and child no big deal, with little fan fare. Once you and the baby are calm and settled, let your dog come over to investigate. Do not force a dog to interact with the new "intruder." Praise the dog calmly when it is near the baby. Did you know that barking is less startling to a baby that has been exposed while in utero to the regular barking of a dog? These are just a few suggestions but there is a lifetime of monitoring and training that you will need to do. If you are having any fears or trouble, you should contact a professional trainer immediately. Back to Top How can I stop my cat from urinating outside the litter box? Unfortunately, this is a very common problem for cat owners. It is possible that your cat is exhibiting this behavior because of an underlying medical disorder, so the pet should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out disease as a cause of inappropriate urination. Cats may urinate in inappropriate places because of urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and feline lower urinary tract disease. Tests such as urinalysis, bloodwork, and x-rays of the abdomen may identify the presence of such medical problems. However, inappropriate urination is most often a behavioral problem. One of the most common reasons that cats stop using the litter box is that the box is not kept clean enough for their tastes. Boxes need to be scooped at least daily, and the litter should be changed frequently. Many cats are best accommodated with two separate boxes: one for urination and one for defecation. Both boxes must be kept clean. If you have multiple cats, many veterinarians recommend that you provide at least one litter box per cat. You may want to provide litter box access on each floor of the house. Also consider whether your cat has access to the litter box. Is there a closed door blocking your cat’s path to the litter box? In addition, a dog that stands guard or a dominant cat may not permit the affected cat to use the box. Other causes of aversion to the litter box include proximity to appliances that are noisy, such as televisions and washing machines, and those that turn on or off by use of a timer. Cats that are disturbed in the litter box by another cat, child, or dog may develop a litter box aversion as well. It is possible that your cat is reacting to a change in the box location or type of litter. Some cats are very particular about where they go, and others are sensitive to the perfumes or dust in the litter. It may be necessary to try different types of litter—for example, a non-clumping clay litter versus a sand-like clumping one—until you find one that meets your pet’s needs. In addition, if you provide the cat with a covered litter box, you might try switching to an uncovered box to see if the pet prefers it. There are other methods for controlling inappropriate urination. You may want to move the litter box to the area where your cat is urinating. Always clean the soiled areas of your home with a non-ammonia cleaner. Because cats are drawn to the scent of urine, they may continue to go in the same inappropriate site if they are stimulated by the smell of previous accidents. The best cleaning products contain enzymes that degrade the urine and prevent stains. These products should be available through your veterinarian or local pet store. Because your cat may have a preference for carpet, you can change the way the area feels by using plastic carpet protectors or aluminum foil. This substrate change may make the litter box a preferred spot. In some cases, you may want to move your cat’s food bowl to the area that she had previously soiled. Because cats are fastidious they don’t like to eat and eliminate in the same place. It is important to talk to your veterinarian about the inappropriate urination. He or she will have some additional suggestions tailored to the specific needs of your cat. In some cases, medication can be helpful in controlling the problem, but it is usually reserved for cases where other possibilities have been exhausted. Veterinary behavioral specialists may offer additional insights. Back to Top What does it mean when my dog “twitches” or “jerks” while it’s asleep? This means that your dog is in a state of sleep that in humans is termed rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep. It is during this time that humans, if awakened, say that they were dreaming. Veterinarians speculate that pets also dream. Although this has not been extensively studied, many veterinarians feel that dogs probably dream about chasing things, and playing with other animals and people. It is not necessary to wake REM-sleeping dogs up, as they will not harm themselves. A good, undisturbed nap will allow your dog to wake up feeling refreshed and able to play. Back to Top My dog eats feces every time he goes outside. Is this unhealthy? Coprophagy, or eating feces, is an unpleasant but common behavior of dogs. Unfortunately, dogs can become infected with intestinal parasites by ingesting excrement, which may contain microscopic parasitic eggs. Since your pet has been eating feces, it is very important that your veterinarian evaluate a stool sample to look for infection. There are several proposed causes for coprophagy. Boredom is one of them; the behavior is more prevalent in dogs that are crated for long periods of time without stimulation. In addition, dogs may eat their own waste as a way of "hiding the evidence" if they receive punishment for inappropriate defecation. Uncommonly, there are also some underlying medical conditions that are thought to be associated with coprophagy, such as a poor diet that is lacking in essential nutrients or vitamins. The problem also may be caused by a pancreatic enzyme deficiency. Some behavioral experts feel that coprophagia may be related to a dog’s instinctual nature to scavenge for food. It is also possible that dogs eat their feces as a way of playing, learning, and sampling their environment. Treatment of this problem can be challenging. The first step is to keep the area where the dog voids meticulously clean. This often means following the dog and immediately cleaning up the stool. In addition, covering the stool with an ingredient that the dog dislikes may be helpful. Compounds such as red pepper sauce or bitter-tasting substances, which are available in pet stores, may discourage dogs from eating feces. You can also try sprinkling dog food with Accent meat tenderizer or MSG—monosodium glutamate—since these products may help discourage the eating of stool. Try to deter your dog from this behavior early on, before it becomes a habit that is difficult to control. Back to Top What causes excessive salivation in dogs and cats? Diseases of the digestive tract (especially the oral cavity, throat or esophagus), the liver and the central nervous system may produce excessive salivation. Gastrointestinal irritation or inflammation frequently stimulates the salivary glands to oversecrete. Ulcers and other erosions of the oral cavity, gum disease, stomach ulcers, and throat irritation from numerous causes are all likely to cause excessive salivation. Gingivitis and stomatitis (inflammation of the gums and oral cavity, respectively) are common problems of cats. Most affected cats will display some signs of oral pain or eating difficulty if there is significant dental or gum disease, but these signs are sometimes overlooked. Neoplasms (tumors), foreign bodies, viral upper respiratory infections, and a number of immune-mediated conditions may also cause excessive salivation. Cats with feline leukemia will experience ptyalism as well. Cat and dog patients with liver or kidney dysfunction may salivate excessively because of metabolic toxins that are not cleared by these organs. Ptyalism is a common sign of hepatic encephalopathy associated with portosystemic shunt, a vascular abnormality involving the liver. When a cat or dog has liver failure or dysfunction, the owner will likely notice other associated behavioral changes as well. Uremia associated with kidney disease also produces excessive salivation. Rabies and seizure disorders may cause ptyalism. Generally, any disorder that causes dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) or facial nerve palsy will cause excessive salivation. Exposure to or ingestion of toxic or caustic substances may produce excessive amounts of saliva. Insecticides, medications, and insect and animal venom will produce ptyalism. Cats seem especially sensitive to the actions of various substances in the environment, such as plant saps and household cleaners. Pseudoptyalism is frequently seen in large breed dogs. It may be caused by dyssymmetry or deformity of the mouth or lips, neurological problems, or swallowing disorders. Please have your cat examined by your veterinarian. Excessive salivation may signal a potentially serious disorder. Back to Top