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My 8yo female JRT, who barks very loudly most of her life woke up yesterday morning without her bark, well most of it. She’s trying to bark but not much is coming out, she sounds very hoarse. Should I be worried, wait a few more days or should she be treated by my vet?? She is otherwise completely healthy and UTD on all vaccines, flea & heartworm preventatives.
My eight year old Cocker Spaniel is a great wee dog, friendly and not at all cross and super with my grandchildren. However when the baby visits and cries Holly gets agitated and restless. No sign of aggression but the sound seems to really upset her. Holly is ok with my two year old grandson though when he was a baby she behaved in the same way. Any ideas?
Many thanks for your reply. I do make sure that she does not feel excluded and give her reassurance that really all is well. She would never ever be left alone with any of the children and if when she has had enough she just gets offside to her own spot. Do you think Adaptil plug in would help?
Hello,
If she is anxious it is important to respect her discomfort and either remove her from the area to a safe and quiet place and/or start working with her so that she begins to get used to the crying and baby noises so you don’t have to worry about either of them. Ideally everyone needs to feel safe and secure in their own home. Please talk to your vet about a good behaviorist. They can help. Best of luck.
Advice On Looking After A Bearded Dragon In The Near Future.
Advice On Licence, ALL COSTS, Medical Things, All The Essentials.
Thanks
I don’t know where you’re located that a license is required. I live in Maryland, in the United States of America, and we do not have licensing. Can you clarify this question?
I live in Perth, Australia Laura, thanks for your replies.
Okay…in that case, I DEFINITELY can’t answer you on costs, as vet care varies widely from country to country. Call your nearest vet and discuss routine care for them as well as average costs.
For licensing, a quick Google search took me here: https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and-animals/licences-and-permits
I suggest contacting that office with any questions about licensing.
For everything else, start with a basic care sheet: http://dragonrancher.com/bearded-dragon-care-guide/
I would get a tank that is LARGER than the minimum. Beardies do need some room to be comfortable.
Okay, thanks for your help.
My cat seems to have an ulcer on his neck, this is the second one he’s had the first was on his shoulder blade it’s clean and there’s no hair around he’s eaten today but it worries me, he doesn’t seem to be in pain or even notice it but it’s gooey and smells odd should I rush him to the vet?
Yes definately take your cat to the Vet. Whatever is on his neck needs diagnosing. Its obviously infected from your description and also needs antibiotics. There could well be a reason your cat keeps getting these ulcers (if thats what they are) and it would be wise to find the source of the problem. Good luck.
My dog ate the end of a shoelace and foam but just pooped should she be good to go or what
I would check with your Vet. It depends on how much of the shoelace and foam was eaten. The lace could wrap itself round the intestines and the foam could cause a blockage. If your dog has passed it all…then fine but just having a poop won’t solve the problem. Contact your Vet with some urgency.
There was very little consumed
Hi all, my cat is prescribed with tramadol tablet (50mg), to be taken 1/4 tablet three times a day for her broken pelvis. But it is so hard to make her take the pill as it is very bitter. Can i mix it with Ora-Plus or simple syrup? Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Hi Sarah,
I’ve tried with peanut butter, it failed. I’ll try with cheese, thank you:)
Oh thank you Dr Krista! I’ll ask the vet for the fentanyl patch. I just wonder why the vet didn’t prescribe that in the first place.
Hello,
I would ask your vet if maybe a fentanyl patch might be easier? Or I often give an nsaid injection. These can last days. Which is about all I give them. In about 3-4 days they seem to settle down enough to not need more analgesia. But strict cage rest is imperative! No walking! Make sure you ask about a stool softener too.
Have you tried putting it in a small piece of cheese or in a little peanut butter?
My 7 month old neutered kitten keeps peeing on towels and blankets. He doesn’t have a UTI-he was tested. We do our best to keep him out of the bathroom, so the towels are manageable, but it’s impossible to keep him away from the blankets. Help!
Have you tried a different litter in the box? The type of litter you are using may be part of the issue.
I agree with Sarah. Start with dirt in the box – that seems to attract cats. Slowly transition to a more normal litter.
Hello,
I wrote a ridiculously long answer, which seems to have disappeared into oblivion.. I suggested the following;
1. Never doubt the cat. They are always trying to tell us something, albeit, not always in the most socially pleasing manner. Trust they need you and listen to them. I always say that “if your cat had opposable thumbs they would write on the wall “HEY! MOM! I NEED ____” but instead they pee out of the box.
2. Do multiple urinalyses, not just one. Too often the answer lies in the second or third urine submitted.
3. There is a very strong environmental component. Try lotd of different litter boxes, scrutinize the location (like down in the basement (who wants to go down there?), next to a loud piece of equipment (like the washer or dryer,, too scary), or take the cover off, try different substrate (like potting soil, which is nice a soft like a towel?), try a wide box, low box, covered versus uncovered, etc etc.
4. Try a big cage covered in litter in one area, sand in another and soil in the last. see where he goes. Then fill the bottom with that. Each day add newspaper to the corner or one edge. Every day you make the litter area smaller until it only exists in an area the size of a litter box. Then add the litter box. See if that helps to retrain him.
5. You can board him with us. We essentially keep them until they are calm and litter trained. It is a bit of solitary confinement meets spa escape. The clinic cats were all former inappropriate urinating cats brought in to be euthanized. We retrained all of them. It can take a while but it helps them calm down and readjust.
Lastly, we forget to see the world through our cats eyes. They aren’t us. They too often get fed the wrong food, which causes bladder inflamation, get too bored inside, and some of them really are reclusive, and we dont give them places to hide, or perch, or run.
Please follow up with me at the clinic. I want to help you guys.
I am here for you all
Krista
My year old Aussie boy developed what the vet diagnosed as a Seroma on his right leg. He had no surgery or trauma that we know of. He does like to sleep in the “superman” position over the a/c vent on the hardwood and ceramic. Has anyone ever had this experience or heard of something similar
Hello,
I have only seen this occur due to surgery. But it can happen with trauma. Did you ask your vet what they thought my be the cause?
Is there a technique to reduce the side effects of Mirtazapine? My 9lb cat takes 1/16th of a 15mg tablet every 5-7 days. She meows and howls for 12 hours after each pill.
Hello,
Have you spoken to your vet about this? Can you try a different appetite stimulant (assuming that is what you are using it for) to see if maybe that would help? Also ask about concurrent disease like thyroid, blood pressure, kidney diseas etc?
Hi, thank you for the response. Yes, the vet knows, and it is being used as an appetite stimulant. The cat has IBD. I was just hoping there was some way to lessen the side effects, the dosage has been reduced over time. It used to be 24 hours of hysterics. It may be time to try something else.
Thank you Dr Krista and Laura, appreciate the advice, will update progress, 🙂
I think a sudden change would warrant a call to your vet, though if she isn’t displaying any other symptoms I’d probably wait a day to see if her voice starts to return. If it doesn’t, call the vet tomorrow.
Thanks for your response, she now has an apt with my wonderful vet this evening!
I think that’s the best plan. Here’s to hoping it’s minor and easily handled. 🙂