Each month our vet, Jonathan Nurse, holds an “Ask the Vet” session LIVE on our Facebook page. This gives people the opportunity to ask him anything regarding their own pets, pet health in general or questions regarding Cherrydown Vets as a whole. Unfortunately, not everyone can make the session so we decided to put all of the questions onto a blog so others can read at a later date. Hopefully you find it useful and it answers any similar questions you may have. If you haven’t seen it already, you can read part one by clicking HERE
Question:
My Staffordshire Bull Terrier who has just recently turned a year of ago has also recently been diagnosed with elbow dysplasia in both legs, and complete elbow replacements have been mentioned in the condition starts to put too much strain on other joints and causes him too much pain. I was wondering how this sort of procedure may affect his day to day routine and his general quality of life? He is otherwise healthy and very active as he enjoys farm/country life! He does not climb any stairs or jump often (if at all) as he does not go on the furniture! I am hoping that as he is still young he will cope well. I was also wondering if it would be a good idea for me to consider hydrotherapy for him? The stiffness, pain & limping comes and goes and he has pain meds to use as and when he needs them.
Answer:
Elbow Dyplasia varies a lot in severity from case to case so I am unable to give you specific advice but hope the following helps. Firstly diagnosis can be a challenge so Xrays or sometimes CT scan is needed. The common treatment we perform would be an elbow arthroscopy-our Orthopaedic Specialist looks inside the joint with a camera via a keyhole procedure and assesses the degree of damage in the joint. If the cartilage is badly damaged he will remove the diseased cartilage at the same time. Elbow replacements are rarely done and, in my limited experience of them, have a long way to go to match hip replacements in their efficiency. Benefits of swimming have to be assessed on case by case basis.
Question:
my dog is not him self. He had his glands done he will not jump.up onto sofa when he use to plus he sleeping more than he use to.
Answer:
I would definitely recommend a vet check. Lethargy as you describe could be caused by literally 100s of different problems and some can be serious.
What’s the best treatment for fleas in kittens? I have 4 x 10 week old kittens and discovered fleas about 2 weeks ago (not loads but a few on each kitten). I’ve bathed them and used spot on and also tried flea tablets. Got rid of most but have a few that still linger around. HELP!!!
Answer:
Best to make an appointment. If you bring them in the nurse can check them over. You also need to de-flea the house with flea spray. You can also take a look at our blog on the subject by clicking HERE
Question:
I have a 2 and a half year old cat and she is starting to lose her hair. I looked online and it said about litter and food change but she has always had the same. Can you advise what it could be??
Answer:
Hair loss in cats is most commonly caused by skin allergies, although ringworm, stress over-grooming etc can also present like this. Really needs a vet check and start a logical treatment plan because there are lots of different causes and potential treatments
Question:
What can I do for my dog who, since firework night, shakes and cowers in the corner of the room? She still eats well and drinks well during the day.
Answer:
Firework phobias are common in dogs. In the short term the quickest solution are prescription tranquilisers that we can provide after a vet check. There are some more natural things you can try but generally only work if anxiety is mild. Longer term there are noise desensitisation programs you can get for your dog to attempt to “cure” the problem. Also in the short term-dark hiding places they feel safe in can help and you can use things like DAP diffusers in these areas.
Question:
I noticed this week that the top of my dog’s nose has gone bald. It’s only a small area on the bridge of his nose. Looking back at photo’s it was covered in hair before. On closer inspection some hair seems to be growing back. It’s not bothering him and it’s not red, cut or itching. I was wondering if he has rubbed the hair off when looking under our shed and fence. Should I be worried? He is 4 years old and very healthy.
Answer:
The lesions you are describing could be rub lesions. If so, the hair should regrow and new lesions should not appear. However, if the hair does not regrow or similar bald lesions appear elsewhere definitely need a vet check.
Question:
Any tips for giving cats tablets please?
Answer:
Try wrapping the cat in a towel with only the head exposed. Hold the cat close to your body and prevent it wriggling and trying to escape. Someone else to then try and get the tablet in the mouth. Stroking the chin with the mouth closed often makes them swallow it. An easier way is put in food but you need to make sure it has been eaten.
Question:
We have a 14wk German Shepherd puppy who has been to you and had all boosters etc However since we got her at 11 wks her stools have been very loose, we were told it was the unsettling of moving etc but weeks later she still is bad with it. Food is James WellBeloved puppy and she eats, drinks and plays all fine but I can’t seem to settle the tummy, tried the rice and chicken root etc. Do you have any ideas?
Answer:
You are right, she should be over the move now. She needs a vet check to start an investigation. This will often involve stool samples as infectious problems such as Giardia and Campylobacter are very common causes of diarrhoea in pups. Other possibilities include dietary intolerances, pancreatic insufficiency etc so definitely need to start investigation and treatment
Question:
What is the ideal weight for a 4 week old hand reared female staffy?
Answer:
Body condition score is more important than body weight. There are no definitive weight charts/ideal weight charts for pups as they grow at such varying rates. Therefore, you need to ensure pup is gaining weight and that there is sufficient lean body tissue and fat on the pup. Best option, if you are worried we run FREE nurse checks and they can advise.
If you have any questions you do not need to wait for an Ask the Vet session. You can either call us at the clinic or you can leave a message on our Facebook page and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
