pets

Dog With Paralysis of the Larynx

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | September 16th, 2013

DEAR DR. FOX: A year or so ago, Marco, our 11-year-old standard poodle, began to pant a lot while walking and during other nonstressful circumstances. Sometimes he'd gag as well.

This condition, especially the panting, has gotten worse over time, and our veterinarian concluded it is due to paralysis of the larynx, or "dropped larynx," which he said sometimes occurs in large, older dogs. He told us to raise Marco's food and water dishes and take care that he doesn't get overheated, but that the condition is progressive. There's not much we can do about it except for having a "tie-back" surgery performed by an experienced, board-certified surgeon.

For about a month now we have tried working with another vet who does acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic with the hope of slowing this down, if not stopping its progress, to no avail -- it seems to be getting worse. So we are contemplating the surgery.

We would be grateful for any suggestions or comments you might have regarding this condition and how it might be treated. We'd never heard of it before and cannot find much research about it when searching the Internet. Marco is healthy otherwise. -- J.S., Ashland, Ore.

DEAR J.S.: This disorder is serious and is often accompanied by hypothyroidism in older dogs. It can have a genetic basis and occurs as a congenital disorder in some breeds, such as the Siberian husky, and as a degenerative neurological disorder in dalmatians and rottweilers.

Elevating food and water bowls is very important to help prevent inhalation of food and fluids when the larynx does not function properly and the poor dog is gasping for air, which can lead to pneumonia.

Surgical correction through suturing one side of the larynx so that some of the collapsed cartilages are pulled to one side in order to make breathing easier is the best approach. No surgical procedure is without risk, and complications can occur, but performed by an experienced surgeon, your dog could have a new lease on life. Otherwise, he might suffer partial asphyxia, which this condition causes, to the point of collapse after even mild activity. The suture-widened larynx will make breathing easier, but the risk of pneumonia will remain.

DEAR DR. FOX: I acknowledge you've written about the risks of toxic plants, but I don't remember seeing anything discussing moss. Not the shade-loving, dense form, but the kind that looks a bit like slimy snot when lifted from wet rocks or perpetually wet areas.

For several years, our backyard has had a problem from runoff coming from a neighbor's pool. To their credit, they've tried to repair the pool and berm landscape; however, the water seems to have no boundaries, and the problem has gotten worse.

My concern here is that our dog -- our third in just a few years -- is suffering identical problems that our first two went through. He's constantly licking his paws and legs to a point of hot spots, and he has foamy hacking and frequent bowel movements. How do you test for toxic organisms in moss? My vet has only been able to treat the symptoms.

Our first dog lived for two years after we moved here. Our second dog only lived to be 4 years old. Our third is 6 years old now. When he was 3, he started developing focal seizures that seem to come about only in the rainy season and summer months. This dog has had greater exposure to the slime.

We've attempted to fix the problem with landscape solutions, but the water continues to surface, killing the grass and taking over the swath of ground our dog runs on. I'm perplexed as to a solution, short of building a bridge.

Is the moss what's making our pets' health compromised? Please let me know what you make of this. -- C.B., Clayton, Mo.

DEAR C.B.: Some pool chemicals, especially chlorine compounds, could cause serious dermatitis and possibly seizures. But the "moss" that you describe is most probably a species of algae that can be toxic to dogs -- it causes liver damage, nausea, vomiting and seizures. That is why I advise people to never allow their dogs to drink from standing water in the summer months when algae bloom. Blue-green algae are especially hazardous.

You need to get to the bottom of this health hazard with your neighbor. Where there's standing water with slimy, potentially toxic algae, there can also be botulism bacteria, producing one of the most deadly poisons to humans and other animals. Our communities would be generally healthier without swimming pools, lawns and golf courses, and with more attention to creating more environmentally friendly, chemical-free environments.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.com.)

pets

Cat With Congestion and Coughing

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | September 15th, 2013

DEAR DR. FOX: Our 8-year-old female cat has been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The vet has her on prednisone. She also had a shot of a longer-lasting antibiotic to treat bronchitis.

Is there anything we can do to help with the congestion/coughing? -- F.P., Stratford, Conn.

DEAR F.P.: I am concerned about this standardized treatment that proves effective most often on a one-shot, hit-and-miss basis and can have some harmful consequences from steroid and antibiotic side effects.

Many cats with symptoms like yours actually have food allergy-related asthma, and they get better when triggering ingredients -- such as corn or fish -- are removed from their diets.

I would follow a holistic and alternative approach. In addition, provide your cat with daily probiotics that have been shown to significantly help children suffering from asthma. Also check the archives on my website, DrFoxVet.com, for more suggestions.

Cats who are allowed outdoors and who kill and eat birds and small mammals should be checked for lungworm parasites, since some wild prey can carry these worms and infest cats, causing respiratory problems. Slugs and snails also carry a parasitic worm species that has been implicated in lung disease in dogs and foxes.

DEAR DR. FOX: I enjoyed your article "Handling poodle's eye tear stains" that appeared in our newspaper.

I used to be a Pet Nutrition Specialist for a popular pet food company and learned another valuable tip for getting rid of some dog tearstains: Try feeding the tearstained pet filtered water instead of tap water. Many times the stains will lessen or disappear if the pet is hypersensitive or allergic to the chemicals in tap water, such as chlorine and fluoride. I've passed along that tip to hundreds of pet parents, and most have come back to me thanking me because it solved the problem. -- D.T., St. Louis

DEAR DR. FOX: A reader wrote to you recently about his poodle's eye tearstains. I have a suggestion that worked for my white shih tzu-poodle mix.

While I was walking my dog about 4 1/2 years ago, a woman stopped to admire my little Danny Boy. Unfortunately, he had those horrible tearstains. While we were chatting, the woman told me she worked for a pet food company and suggested I not give my dog tap water, but bottled water. Immediately I started using what I had in the house (Iron Mountain). It took a couple of months, but it worked! No more stains!

Thanks for your dedication to all God's creatures. --M.B.S., St. Louis

DEAR D.T. and M.B.S.: Many thanks for your mutually supporting letters sharing your evidently effective remedy for tearstained faces in your dogs. This is a common problem and is yet another reason why dogs (and cats, too) should not be given municipal tap water to drink, the hazards of which are detailed in "Dr. Fox's Library" on my website.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.com.)

pets

Safely Controlling Fleas and Ticks

The Animal Doctor by by Dr. Michael W. Fox
by Dr. Michael W. Fox
The Animal Doctor | September 9th, 2013

DEAR DR. FOX: I would like to know the easiest and fastest way to get rid of fleas on my three dogs.

They haven't had fleas in several years; they're inside dogs who are walked in the morning and evening, but evidently this is a bad year for fleas as my dogs have them.

You've mentioned diatomaceous earth and borate powder but fail to mention where to get these items. -- G R., Arlington, Va.

DEAR G.R.: Please read my special report on controlling fleas and ticks that is posted on my website DrFoxVet.com.

It is a detailed report on an integrated approach to keeping these noxious insects at bay. Essential tools include weekly vacuuming of the house, especially where pets sleep. Whole Foods market and some pet stores may carry diatomaceous earth, or go to perma-guard.com. For borate powder, go to fleabusters.com. The former you rub into your pets' fur; the latter you sprinkle in cracks and crevices around the house. I also endorse the new quassia-based, safe and effective herbal spray from PetzLife called Complete Coat. This product kills fleas and ticks and is harmless if the pet accidentally swallows a small quantity.

In addition, buy a flea comb to do daily coat checks. Give your dogs a daily dose of brewer's yeast in their food (1 teaspoon per 50 pounds of dog). Brewer's yeast is also good for cats at about 1/2 teaspoon daily for an average-sized cat.

DEAR DR. FOX: I have a question for you about giardia. If a dog is a carrier, will that preclude the dog from being put up for adoption? That is the rumor going around at one of the shelters in St. Louis. I would like to know the facts, which is why I am asking you. -- H.S., St Louis

DEAR H.S: Giardia can be a problem in animal shelters. The first step to containing it is steam cleaning and the use of diluted bleach (one part bleach in 32 parts water) on kennel floor surfaces. Shelters should quarantine all incoming dogs and examine three fecal samples over a six-day period. If the dog tests positive, it should be treated with Fenbendzadole. All dogs should be bathed to remove any fecal residues that may contain this parasite.

Outdoor exercise areas should be considered infective if an afflicted dog -- even one who could be a carrier yet shows no symptoms -- has been out there. Such contaminated areas should be off-limits for four to six weeks.

Since this intestinal parasite can infect many different species (deer, cattle and other domestic livestock), I would act on the assumption that all dogs coming especially into rural shelters could be carriers, and, under the stress of being caught and held at the shelter, will likely develop symptoms. Strict hygiene, quarantine and testing are the best steps to prevent the spread of this infestation to other animals in the shelter and community.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.com.)

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