Question
Profile Image
Alexandra | 5 years ago
Question About Cat With Intermittent Puffy/swollen “behind” Area

Hi! I have a question about my cat who will be 4 at the end of this month. Sometimes when he stretches, I notice that his rear end (particularly his anus) looks like it is protruding. I thought he had a hemorrhoid but then he stood up and walked like normal and it went “away”. I have another cat and I never noticed this on him. It’s not red, it just looks puffy sometimes. He is eating, drinking and playing like normal. I just want to make sure he is okay and he is not in pain or anything or if this warrants a vet visit. I tend to worry about my boys a lot because I love them so much but I don’t want to be “missing” something. Thank you so much!

1 Response

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    The colon is the very last part of the gi tract. It is held inside the abdomen by two sphincter muscles. When you stretch these circular muscles can relax and the colon can protrude a little outside of the anus. This would be my best guess at what is going on. But to be sure you can take a video of it to your bet and have them do a rectal exam to make sure it isn’t anything else. Some cats can get a rectal prolapse and this should be ruled out before dismissing this as “normal”. I hope this helps. Let us know what happens.

Question
Profile Image
Jason | 5 years ago
My Wonderful Vet Gave Us Eye Drops For Our 6-month Old 40lb. Puppy. He Just Had …

My wonderful vet gave us eye drops for our 6-month old 40lb. puppy. He just had surgery to address a “cherry eye”. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to administer these drops? Every time the dog sees the little white eye drop bottle, he gets very stressed. We are unable to keep him still long enough to put in the drops. Please advise any suggestions.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I have two options I recommend. One sir him down in between your legs. Surround him under you and hold his nose to the ceiling. Then drop the drops into the eye. And talk to him. In cases like these it’s not the drops that are the problem it’s the restraint. So practice and don’t give up. The other option is to pull the lower lid away from the eye and place the drops in the pocket. So he doesn’t have to be looking at you. If it’s really a struggle being him in and we will help. If all else fails use a muzzle. Usually they are so blindsided by the muzzle they surrender. Although I suspect this is all about him not wanting to be the patient and you not willing to be the forceful determined dad. Be gently but be firm and don’t let him win. He will never listen to you again willingly. I am at the clinic 10 to 2 tomorrow. Xox

  2. Sarah

    Hi there-
    I just want to reiterate “calm and firm”. And yes, if you let him win, you will have to go back to square one with a lot of training success you’ve had already. I am living proof???? it is why I have such trouble trimming my dogs’ nails. Keep trying and be persistent. Best of luck.

Question
Profile Image
Estelle | 5 years ago
We Have A Beautiful Beagle Boy Who Is Around 10, He Has Gained Weight As He Had …

We have a beautiful beagle boy who is around 10, he has gained weight as he had gotten older and is currently on a diet. He has IVDD in his neck. He is still able to move on his own and has no issues with the bathroom however has spasms of pain during which he is very painful. Currently he is on pain killers, steroids and is taking joint supplements and is crated. The vet has also recommended getting an arthritis shot per week however the weekly trip to the vet seems to aggravate him and whenever we get home he has another spasm. We are trying to manage him conservatively for now and I am wondering if we should persevere with his diet while he is recovering and if we should stop taking him to the vet weekly until he is a bit better as these trips seem to set him back. Thank you!

1 Response

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I have a ton of information on my blog and YouTube channel on this. I would ask about a muscle relaxant like robaxin and feed a watered down wet food for weight loss to help keep the feces soft and easy to pass. I also talk about adding a laxative if needed.

Question
Profile Image
Sarah | 5 years ago
Our 80 Pound Dog Rontu Just Ate A Raisin He Found On The Ground. What Should We Watch …

Our 80 pound dog Rontu just ate a raisin he found on the ground. What should we watch for?

1 Response

Comments

Question
Profile Image
Shelby | 5 years ago
Hi , I Have A Cat Which Is 5 Years Old He Has Been Going To Vets On …

Hi , I have a cat which is 5 years old he has been going to vets on and off for about 2 years now with urinary tract infections I have got him on a special diet which is royal canin dried food and wet food specifically for cats with urinary problems I have a water fountain and leave my tap on all the time, fresh bowl of water daily, noticed he has been going in and out of the cat litter tray this morning and doing anything , I am tired of this keep happening and Bet he is too. What advice could you give me ? Much appreciated

1 Response

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    The best way to get the best help both long and short term is to have a clear precise diagnosis. This means it is important to know if we are dealing with calculi, inflammation, stress. Etc. Often there are multiple things that cause the issue so identifying which and how they contribute is very helpful on finding the treatment or cure. In some cases what you are already doing and diet exercise, supplements and mental stimulation are all that are needed. In others surgery like a PU can solve the issue. Please ask your vet about all of these or seek a feline specialist or internal medicine specialist. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Question
Profile Image
Lorna | 5 years ago
I Have A 3 Year Old Rottweiler With An Ear Infection (it Is A Reoccurring Problem). He …

I have a 3 year old rottweiler with an ear infection (it is a reoccurring problem). He has a vet appt Monday. The ear is oozing and he is in pain.

He is very aggressive when I take him in with ear issues so I have to give him Gabapentin and Trazadone to calm him down.

Can I give him either of those for pain now? He weighs 110 lbs.
I have 3 100 mg gabapentin pills which is his normal does
I have 2 trazadone (he normally takes 1 1/2)
but he’s only taken them before appts.

Thank you for any guidance.

1 Response

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your pup. I’m also sorry but we cannot prescribe or comment on prescriptions as we do not know your dog. If your vet prescribed then they are the people to ask. I can tell you that trazadone is usually used for fear anxiety and sedation. It is not for pain. Gabapentin is used as an analgesic and sedation. I hope this helps. Please also ask your vet about medication for long term help with the ears. I usually try an anti allergy medication and some of the se are very effective for long term management. It has helped many of my patients.

Question
Profile Image
Sharon Gainer | 5 years ago
My Sons Dog Broke A Tooth, Must It Be Pulled?

My sons dog broke a tooth, must it be pulled?

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Please see your vet and let them examine the tooth more closely. I expect they will recommend it be removed. A broken tooth can have pulp exposure which allows an open conduit between the mouth and the sinus cavity. This permits and promulgates infection and pain. I hope this helps.

Question
Profile Image
Jim | 5 years ago
My Ex-feral Cat Has Been Diagnosed With A Tape Worm That The Vet Had Us Treat …

My ex-feral cat has been diagnosed with a tape worm that the vet had us treat with a round of Cestex (25mg – 1 1/2x’s day for 2 days) this knocked the fecal test from a 4+ to a 2+ and they recommended the same meds again, knocked it from a 2+ to a 1+. Now they say do it again or come in and the cat can get a shot. The cat has had check up’s every year since coming inside, and tape worm was noted once before and meds given at the vet. Now they think she has had it for as long as she has been inside. Told it is a type of worm not normally seen in SE USA, more Pacific NW and could be caught from eating dead fish in a pond or frogs. When she was feral and coming to the door at night she would bring us frogs so this makes sense. Question is, is this type of worm bad for the cat long term? And does it pose any health risks for us? She really gets upset when being given the pills and does not travel well to the vet for shots. Any thoughts are appreciated, wish I could remember the name of the worm the tech told us on the phone.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    First if this is a tapeworm I consider them more gross than dangerous. So there’s that. Second they are caused by ingesting a flea so we start with treating fleas and tapes. And third (and best of all) all of this can be treated in one easy monthly application of revolution plus monthly. Easy-peezy!
    Xox
    Krista.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I should add one more thing. If your fecal is being sent to a lab they can help to diagnose it, assist with treating and help with any kind of zoonotic issues. I call them for help a lot. Hope this all helps. And in general very few cat parasites are dangerous to people. But you need to get the exact name of the worm to confirm this.

Question
Profile Image
Maria Martin | 5 years ago
On Monday My Cat Slid Off Our Grill, And His Back Paw Got Caught In Between …

On Monday my cat slid off our grill, and his back paw got caught in between the handle and grill cover. He was hanging by the leg, the back paw bent over, unable to get free. (He’s 15 pounds). Went to local vet. X-rays taken. Told nothing broken. I called the next day, since he wouldn’t walk on it. Was told they didn’t get good X-ray of foot, so I brought him back in. Was told 1 bone broken, no need to cast. Was sent the X-ray. Appears to have 2, maybe 3 breaks. Not sure if this can heal without casting. Don’t feel comfortable just giving him pain meds for 2 weeks, and then find out it didn’t heal correctly. Already spent $350. Does he need a second opinion, or casting?

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Sarah

    Hi-
    I’m sorry no one got back to you sooner! I would get a second opinion. It sounds like you are wary of what the first vet office told you…. I would bring the xrays with me, but they will probably want to take more, so be prepared for that expense. I hope everything works out!

Question
Profile Image
Amber | 5 years ago
I Am The Owner Of A 2 Year Old English Bulldog. Last Year His Urethra Prolapsed And …

I am the owner of a 2 year old English Bulldog. Last year his urethra prolapsed and he received a purse string suture and was neutered at the pet ER in Bel Air. The issue resolved itself and he had been doing well until this last week when the urethra prolapsed again. We took him through the Towson pet ER so he could see a surgical specialist. They evaluated him and suggested surgery. After surgery they sent him home to recover and stressed the importance of him staying calm. We stayed by his side, even staying home from work, to ensure that he didn’t do anything to distrupt the healing. We kept him in a play pen and carried him up and down the stairs to potty. Two days after the surgery (and lots of bloody laundry later) we noticed that he was extremely uncomfortable even while on the pain and sedative meds. We also noticed the protrusion of his urethra tissue. We took him back to the surgeon and they confirmed that the urethra has prolapsed and they have recommended that the surgery be performed for a second time (tomorrow). We have ruled out the obvious contributing factors that may cause pressure such as stones, uti, etc. Any thoughts for treatment options moving forward? Are we missing anything? I just want our little guy to start feeling well again! Thank you.

Amber

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello.

    These are really frustrating cases. I’m so sorry about your experience and I empathize completely. I guess my first concern is that we don’t often know why this happens. My second concern is that you are going to repeat the same surgery and it should be assumed the failure has a pretty fair chance of happening again. My preference as the surgeon for cases like these (and they happen to all of us) is to both offer a redo (although I will admit I rarely charge or I charge a nominal redo fee) is to also offer a different surgeon to try over. My concern is that failing twice is an awful big expenditure and a tough explanation as to why I didn’t see that coming. My personal preference is to refer these difficult refractory cases to the vet teaching hospitals. They have faster easier and better access to more minds and more diverse experience. You just can’t get that at a private facility. I use UPenn or va tech vet schools. They are often cheaper and give a broader access to options and experience. I hope this helps. Please let me know what happens. I would love to hear a follow up and I would love to hear about your previous surgery and experience. Especially to add this to our storylines page. It is such a unique case. Very best of luck. Krista.

    1. Amber Post author

      Thank you so much for your reply and suggestions. We will move forward with the second attempt to repair the prolapse despite the low success rate and cost associated. If it is unsuccessful we will need to get another opinion. I hadn’t thought to consult with a vet school and I think that is great advice. I will certainly keep you posted along the way.

  2. Laura

    I want to second Dr. M’s recommendation of a vet school. UPenn is phenomenal – we drove up from Timonium. They couldn’t help my puppy but they literally threw everything they could at him to diagnose his issue, and it was more than the local vets could do.