|
Do you have a question about your pet's health? Browse through Dr. Halligan's mailbag to get answers to some of the most common -- and most unusual -- pet health issues.
|
Q: I found a tick on my dog that had already attached itself. I was able to remove the tick but the place around the bite is red. Is this normal? What should I do to treat the bite? He is on flea/tick prevention but I guess it didn't work this time.
To prevent ticks from doing serious damage, they should be removed as soon as they are observed. Because contact with ticks can be risky for humans as their body fluids can transmit disease, it's best to wear gloves and use forceps or tweezers to remove them. Grab hold of the tick where the head is right near its body, as close to the skin as possible, and pull with one quick motion. Try not to jerk or twist as you pull. Read More ...
Back to top.
Q: I adopted a Blue Russian mix from a local animal shelter about two months ago. I noticed the other day that he is developing cat acne under his chin. It isn't terrible, but I am wondering what causes this and what can I do at home to help? I have been rubbing it with hydrogen peroxide once a day and that seems to help. He drinks out of glass bowls and is obsessive with being clean! He seriously cleans himself more than any other cat I have ever owned. Do you have any ideas? We keep our house really clean but we do have a lot of carpet (we vacuum everyday though).
A: Certain cats, like people, have a tendency to develop acne when excessive oils and dirt accumulate deep in the pores of the skin on the chin or lower lip. Feline Acne usually doesn't bother the cat, but some do develop into severe cases of acne which need to be treated by your vet. Simple diagnostics like skin scraping and fungal/bacterial cultures are performed to determine any underlying causes. Read More ...
Back to top.
Q: I have a hamster and she has allergies. She is allergic to something in her cage but I don't know what. She sneezes and her nose starts to get runny. At times, she'll even start to faint. Can you help her?
To help decrease the incidence of allergies or upper respiratory disease in your hamster you should wash the cage and change the bedding regularly to prevent odors. Shavings made of Aspen is a good choice for bedding. Because hamsters like to dig and burrow you can put paper towels or toilet paper in their cage for them to tear up and burrow into. You want to avoid any kind of bedding that causes dust. In addition, you want to feed a good quality rodent food and give treats in the form of grains, veggies and seeds. If your hamster continues to sneeze with proper husbandry you should take her to your vet so they can do a physical exam and determine what, if any, medication should be prescribed.
Back to top.
Q: I have a White's Tree frog that has developed a lump on his back. It started as two small lumps and grew into one larger one. Any suggestions to the cause of this?
A: The lumps on your frogs back can be caused from a variety of things including cutaneous cestodes or worms that can present just under the skin or an abscess, which is a localized infection. Therefore you should take your frog in to the vet right away so it can be treated appropriately!
Back to top.
