| MALE CAT LACK OF LIBIDO |
| Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 03-Jul-10 | viewed 663 times |
Tina asks: |
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Hello - I breed and shown persian cats. I imported an unproven, entire, male well over a year ago. Personality loving, likes to be stroked, but very quiet and keeps himself to himself. On arrival, he lived in my house with my other male and few females. They got on well, neither sprayed. About 10 months ago, I separated them as I sensed my new male felt inferior. In all the time he has been with me, he has never shown any interest in my females whatsoever - they have been calling and throwing themselves at him. He has lived with a young 1 year old female all this time, no reaction at all. I am so disappointed, I do not know what to do. I have not been to my vet yet, but many breeder friends say he will work when he is ready, others feel its gone on too long. Can you recommend a specialist vet I can take him to, or is there a fertility test or vitamins etc, that will help. He has stunning eye colour and I feel he will break my heart.
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Our vet says: I can certainly understand your concern, however it would be useful to know how old your male is now, since some males can be later developers. This often occurs in males who are isolated from other cats and these toms may have low testosterone levels, even at a year of age.
One of the first things you should check (or have checked by a vet if you are unsure) is that both testes have descended and are present in the scrotal sacs. You should be able to gently palpate these yourself as two "balls" in the scrotum. As an experienced breeder you have probably already done this but I feel I must include this information to be thorough!
A second anatomical problem which may be present in male cats is a persistent frenulum. This is a fold of tissue which attaches the penis to the prepuce during development. As a cat matures this tissue should break down but rarely may persist. The male cat can then not achieve intromission. Surgery can correct this problem if it is present.
Chromosomal abnormalities are known to occur in cats which can affect the fertility of the male. This is commonly seen in male tortoiseshell cats who are almost certainly infertile. There is a possibility that this type of problem could occur in any breed or colour of cat. Does your male have secondary sexual characteristics typical of the entire male? Most entire toms will be larger than females and develop a typical "tom face" with wide cheeks, they also tend to have thicker skin than females and their urine smells strongly. If your male cat does not have these characteristics yet there is some reason to be suspicious.
Some infections (eg panleucopenia) may cause testicular abnormalities if they are aquired early in life. Even if your cat has both testicles it may be worth taking him along to your vet to check that they seem to be the right size and are not smaller that would normally be expected.
Trauma to the scrotum perhaps from a previous cat bite may cause fertility problems later, so do think about any fights which may have occurred in the past. Penile hair rings which can easily be removed are sometimes a source of fertility problems too.
Is your cat the correct weight? Being too thin or too fat can cause problems with libido.
Hypothyroidism or other chronic disease may be a reason for infertility in males. Your vet can check for hypothyroidism with a blood test.
Psychological issues may also cause a tom cat to ignore females in heat. If he is inexperienced and has previously tried to mate an aggressive female this may make him very wary of trying again (even with a very receptive female). Equally, changes of routine (such as you mention with the change of companionship) may be enough to upset a sensitive young male cat and be expressed as a lack of libido even when queens are very much in heat.
I would suggest you take your cat to your regular vet in the first instance, since some of the more common problems can easily be checked with simple examination or blood samples if necessary. From there you may wish for a referral or you might consider keeping your male with other friendly cats in a very stable environment for a little while longer to see if he matures.
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| Anaesthetic |
| Species: equine | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 10-Jun-10 | viewed 1047 times |
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Jackie Taylor asks: |
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My horse has chronic founder laminitis. X-rays have shown a small amount of rotation of the pedal bones in her front feet. A vet is suggested putting her under general anaesthetic on her back on my lawn to trim and apply remedial shoes. I have never heard of a horse being shod in this way. Is this a recognised procedure?
Many Thanks Jackie.
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Our vet says: Remedial shoes are very commonly used to treat laminitis and they will need to be applied correctly. The most appropriate treatment for laminitis is chosen for the particular animal on an individual basis taking into account factors such as the degree of rotation of the pedal bone.
In all species, general anaesthesia is used to facilitate pain free procedures and to provide control of movement. Adequate analgesia (pain relief) and control of patients is necessary for the safety of all concerned including the patient themselves. It also allows the veterinary surgeon to give their full attention to the procedure being carried out.
If your vet has suggested general anaesthesia there will be very good reasons for this. Your vet will understand that you have concerns regarding the procedure to be carried out on your horse and I am sure they will be pleased to answer any further questions prior to the procedure being carried out.
I hope it all goes well for your horse.
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| Cat's neck swollen |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 01-Jun-10 | viewed 2024 times |
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Helen asks: |
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There is a swollen area between my 13 week old kitten's shoulder blades. It is definitely uncomfortable when touched. It doesn't seem to be a defined lump like a lymph node etc, more a patch of swelling roughly 1 diameter.
He hasn't had any injections recently, and hasn't been cutscratched in any way. The fur in the area is normal as is what skin I can see. He seems otherwise normal and happy.
We have been scruffing him as a method of training, although never roughly, and I wondered whether this could have caused it, as if I gently feel his scruff it is that area that feels thicker and tender. Until this swelling problem, he has never showed any pain at being scruffed, just cross as is expected.
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Our vet says: It is unlikely that scruffing your kitten has caused this mass to appear.
The position of the area of swelling in a kitten of this age would suggest that a reaction to a recent vacination may be a possibility. Most kittens have a vaccination at 12 weeks and this may have caused some skin reaction.
I certainly have seen some young pets which have had an area of swelling following vaccination which usually resolves on its own. However it would be wise to get your kitten checked by your own vet to ensure that there is nothing more serious going on, especially if your kitten starts to show any other signs such as going off his food or lethargy etc.
It may be wise not to scruff your kitten until this issue is resolved since the pain associated with this may cause him to develop a fearful reaction towards you.
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| cat limping |
| Category: general | Submitted: 29-May-10 | viewed 2330 times |
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Deborah asks: |
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My cat has come home limping and he hisses when he is touched. His paw is swollen .
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Our vet says: He sounds as if he is in pain and there could be an injury to the paw.
Sometimes cats get bitten by other cats and an abscess will form due to infection of the initial bite wound (which may be very difficult to find). This can cause pain and swelling as you describe, and would need treatment from your vet.
An abscess is by no means the only cause of pain and swelling of paws, so you should get your cat checked by your local vet as soon as you can.
Your vet will be able to look for signs of injury and check your cat's temperature to ensure that the problem is treated effectively. If your vet is unsure of the cause of the problem he or she may need to take x-rays or perform other diagnostic tests to find out what the problem is.
I hope your cat feels better soon.
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| Heart problems |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 15-Mar-10 | viewed 5028 times |
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Paula asks: |
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Hi, I recently took my dog to the vets for her yearly checkup. I have a 7 year old doberman who is very active and who has shown absolutely no symptoms of there being anything wrong with her whatsoever. However, upon examining her, the vet discovered that she had a heart murmur and irregular heart beat. He attached her to a machine which printed off this graph showing the beats, normal ones going up and the irregular one going down. Obviously this did not mean much to me. I don't wish to question the professionalism of my vet or sound that I don't care about my pet but he does have a bit of a reputation for finding out if you are insured and then stinging you for things you don't necessarily need. I guess the question I'm asking is, if my dog has a heart problem wouldn't I at least suspect something wrong, i.e. shortness of breath, coughing. He's put her on Vetmedin which he now says she will need for the rest of her life.
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Our vet says: Think of the heart as a pump. If a pump has, let's say, a slightly leaky valve or pumps just slightly in the wrong way, you might not notice the problem immediately. However as the water in the pump goes slightly in the wrong direction, further damage is done until more and more water flows abnormally and eventually the pump fails..... and you are swimming in lots of water which should not be there!
The heart is really a pump which the body uses to distribute blood around the body. Unlike a mechanical pump, it has some reserve capacity so that when things start to go wrong, mechanisms are in place to compensate for the problem and get the blood flowing to where it needs to go. This means that by the time you notice a problem, things have gone past the point of compensation and the pump is really in trouble.
The signs you mention of coughing and shortness of breath are signs of fluid accumulation in the lungs, so the fluid is not moving where it should go at all, and the heart is having to work REALLY hard by this stage.
As veterinary medicine progresses we are able to detect problems BEFORE the clinical signs become apparent. If treated early we know we can prolong the life-span and also the quality of life too! This is great but can lead to problems when pets appear perfectly well as yours does.
I understand that you do not wish to treat your pet unnecessarily, but if treated early the outcome for pets with heart disease is much improved. If I were you I would be reassured due to the fact that an ECG ( which I assume the graph was) has been taken.
It can be very difficult for vets sometimes! Preventative treatment and early care of disease (before signs are necessarily apparent to owners) is the best practice of medicine and represents the very best of care for animals. In the end it is most likely to work out cheaper than letting animals develop serious signs and having to pay for expensive hospital treatment and life saving procedures later on. However this type of medicine can be seen as unnecessary by many clients since their pet is "well". I would say ignore what other people say about your vet's "reputation" and be thankful that he is sensible enough to offer the very best of care available. Remember that it is a vet's job to offer the best of care available, but you always have a choice in what is done for your pet.
I hope all goes well for your dog, I know you must care very much for your pet and it sounds as if you have a very good vet!
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| how many years? |
| Species: other | Category: other | Submitted: 15-Mar-10 | viewed 2835 times |
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Kathryn asks: |
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Hi I'm Kathryn and I'm really interested in becoming a vet. I would like to know how many years at university I would have to do and what A-levels I need.
Thanks
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Our vet says: Hi Kathryn
To become a vet takes a minimum of five years at university.
You will need at least 3 A Levels usually in science subjects (biology, chemistry and either physics or maths is usual).
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| I think my dog has an ulcerated esophagus |
| Category: general | Submitted: 15-Mar-10 | viewed 5131 times |
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Joanna asks: |
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Hi my dog is 13- 14 yrs. old and has been developing a cough-gag symptom over the last 2 - 3 months, which has now got quite bad.
He now winces most times when he does it. I also discovered some bright red blood in the phlegm he coughed up the other day (but none since) and he has a constant string of clear drool from one side of his mouth.
He does still eat but his appetite has lessened. Before we noticed any of the above symptoms he did cough up yellow bile perhaps once or twice a week. Don't know if this may be linked or not. Do you think he may have an ulcer of the esophagus and if so is there any treatment for this?
We have been to our vet but they said we would have to pay £200 for x-rays before they could do anything and there still may be a chance the x-ray could be inconclusive!
Can you help?
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Our vet says: I am sorry to hear about your dog, signs such as these can be very distressing for both you and your pet.
Obviously I cannot make a diagnosis over the internet but I can give you some help with deciding how you would like to proceed next.
The first thing to find out is exactly what your dog is doing when he coughs/gags. These types of signs can basically mean one of three things;
1)True vomiting (often related to eating food and the presence of bile always indicates true vomiting so your dog did do this, at least initially)
2)Coughing followed by gagging and retching. Does your dog cough, then bring up a small amount of fluid? This could possibly indicate heart or lung disease.
3) Regurgitation. Often this is quite a passive action with food generally being brought up undigested. Often associated with oesophageal problems.
From what you have told me there has been some true vomiting since you saw bile in what was produced. Now, I am concerned that there is some pain and drool from one side of the mouth with perhaps occasional bleeding. This could suggest that the oesophagus is involved but there are also other possibilities and some tests will be necessary to find out what is going on.
Your vet is suggesting the correct way forward in investigating this further, since to find out what is going on he or she needs to try to actually see the lesion (diseased area).
Although I understand you are concerned that the x ray may be inconclusive remember that such a procedure is never wasted!
An x-ray is the first (and in this situation most appropriate) step in a diagnostic pathway. I think your vet is taking the most appropriate step available and suggesting an x ray which may provide a diagnosis, but if not, may help to rule out some possible diagnoses and allow him or her to focus on the next sensible step to take.
It may be a good idea to speak to your vet about your concerns. I am sure your vet will want you to be a partner in deciding what should be done for your dog. If the cost of the x-ray is a major difficulty it may be possible to attempt palliative care to help your dog cope with the problem.
I do hope all goes well for you and your dog.
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| Kidney failure |
| Species: dog | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 19-Feb-10 | viewed 5908 times |
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Beverley asks: |
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Could I have caused kidney failure in my greyhound by giving her too much salt in her food as I know that salt is poisonous to greyhounds?
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Our vet says: Adding salt to a dog's food or feeding a salty diet is not really an ideal thing to do, but it is unlikely that you actually caused your dog's kidney failure by doing so.
You do not say how much salt you have been adding or which salty diet you have been feeding. It may be best to investigate diets which are specially formulated for dogs with renal failure now. ( I am sure your vet will be able to advise you).
Salt poisoning generally only results when high salt diets are fed and access to water is restricted. The signs are serious and involve neurological problems, so you would have noticed that your dog was really unwell if this had been the case.
So why do we worry about salt?
Basically if the diet is too salty the kidneys must work harder to maintain the fluid balance of the body which is one of their main jobs.
The kidneys are remarkable organs and have several functions including maintaining the balance of the water in the body together with electrolytes and they also help to eliminate toxins. Part of their function includes maintaining fluid balance and salt can make this work harder to do because it tends to "hold water".
The kidneys have a great deal of reserve capacity so we only see signs of failure when around 75% of their function has been lost.
Nephrons or kidney cells are lost over time as part of the natural aging process. You do not say how old your dog is, but if she is middle aged to older then it is likely that the kidney failure is more due to the aging process than anything else.
Of course infections and toxins can also cause renal failure too but the kidneys can often overcome many problems simply because they have such a large reserve capacity.
Although a salty diet means that the kidneys have to work harder it is unlikely that this alone would cause renal failure unless you were feeding large amounts over a long period of time.
It can be difficult not to feel guilty when your pet is unwell, but do not blame yourself. It is very unlikely that you caused any real harm. It may be best to consider feeding your dog(s) a good quality dog food suitable for their life stages, breed and state of health from now on.
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| Felix makes crunching noises when eating pheasant |
| Species: cat | Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-10 | viewed 4719 times |
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Richard asks about Felix (cat - not known, M) : |
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Crunching noises might be damaging his teeth? Is this a concern.
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Our vet says: It is normal for crunching noises to be heard when cats are eating hard foods. You should not feed cats cooked bones as these are prone to splintering.
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| Red testicles |
| Category: general | Submitted: 03-Feb-10 | viewed 6682 times |
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Julie asks: |
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I have a four year old staffordshire bull terrier who has not been neutered. His testicles are extremely red and peel off after a few days. They are tender and he does struggle to sit properly when this happens. It is the fourth time in as many months that he has had this.
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Our vet says: This does sound very painful. It is worth considering if he could be coming into contact with something which is causing this e.g chemicals used in the home.
It is worth asking your vet to check this when it happens again as you may be able to get a cream or ointment for the problem. Of course it is best to find and treat the underlying cause but sometimes this can be difficult to find and symptomatic treatment may be necessary to prevent pain and discomfort for your dog.
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| Blue film on cat's eye |
| Species: cat | Category: general | Submitted: 04-Oct-09 | viewed 8176 times |
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Karen asks about wallace (cat) : |
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My cat has a blue film over one of her eyes. She is almost closing her eye.
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Our vet says: Problems with eyes should always be taken seriously. It sounds as if this might be a painful condition for your cat. (Animals close their eyes if they are painful just like we do).
Your cat does need to be taken to your vet.
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| Bloated Stomach |
| Species: dog | Category: other | Submitted: 02-Sep-09 | viewed 12036 times |
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Rose asks about Lucky (dog - not known, F) : |
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Hi,
My dog lucky is a jack russel and is 13 years old. Her stomach in the last few weeks has become very bloated. It's round and is very hard. Last night and today she has become very weak, stumbling about and not taking notice of anything. She isnt eating much, just drinking. I know she is very old but is there anything I can do?
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Our vet says: It is important to get Lucky to the vet as soon as possible, she could have something lodged in her intestine or the intestine could be twisted.
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| Urinating |
| Species: cat | Category: behaviour | Submitted: 17-Jul-09 | viewed 26818 times |
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Sharon asks about jazzy (cat) : |
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We have a 3 year old cat we got from Cat's Protection last year. The past few days she's started to do little wees everywhere including in her litter tray. We don't have any other pets and she's a house cat. We know from when we got her she wasn't treated well. She's eating and drinking normally. She still purrs, her eyes are clear and her coat is lovely. I'm really worried.
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Our vet says: It is obviously impossible to tell you exactly what is wrong with Jazzy over the internet, but with the signs you mention most vets would start to think about problems such as cystitis or other bladder problems. You should take Jazzy along to your vet and if you can take a sample of the urine along with her it would be helpful.
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| Major worries with Midnight. |
| Species: cat | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 17-Jul-09 | viewed 67735 times |
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Alan asks about Midnight (cat - Common shorthair, M) : |
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My kitten (unfortunately I have forgotten its DOB) has had major issues. It started yesterday evening when he was in his bed. I went over to fuss it and I noticed a horrible, frothy drool. Just a few minutes after it started growling and meowing (as if in pain) and running in circles. He then proceeded to have a fit and started rolling on the floor twitching.
He has vomited once and seems to be partially blind. His hearing has increased immensely and he heard me sneeze upstairs, making him go into another fit. It has not eaten anything and his mother also attempted to kill him (which is unlike her). His eyes are completely dilated and even picking him up and putting him near the light the pupil stays the same size. I linked up these symptoms to find poisoning. He may have gotten into the kitchen cupboard. I already know he will not survive for long and putting him to sleep seems my only option (I hate to see animals in pain), but is there anyway to make him feel better?
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Our vet says: Your kitten needs urgent attention, call your vet and ask for an appointment. While you are waiting to see your vet keep your kitten quiet and warm.
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| Tremors in chihuahua |
| Category: general | Submitted: 17-Jul-09 | viewed 81666 times |
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Craig asks: |
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In the last couple of hours our 16 month old chihuahua has developed a kind of mini electric shock every few seconds. It is definitely not hiccups and is worrying us greatly. Any advice please?
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Our vet says: You should get your dog checked by your local vet. It is impossible to say what it could be without seeing your dog but you should seek attention.
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| Weeping eyes |
| Category: general | Submitted: 16-Jul-09 | viewed 82499 times |
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Lucy asks about Maisy (cat) : |
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We brought our 9 week old kitten home today and she has weeping eyes. Her eyes themselves seem bright and clear with no swelling and she is lively. I have tried wiping it away with a luke warm damp cotton wool ball, but it has come back.
She is going to the vets on Tuesday for her vaccinations. Should I take her sooner?
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Our vet says: Yes, you should take her along to your vet sooner. If her eyes are weeping they are probably uncomfortable for her and the cause of the weeping needs to be investigated.
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| Dog caught hamster |
| Species: hamster | Category: medical-surgical | Submitted: 15-Jul-09 | viewed 16424 times |
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Natasha asks: |
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i've had my hamster Moo Moo
for an few days now. The day after I got him
the dog caught him and he was covered in blood.
Now he hates being handled and hides in an corner screwed up in a ball.
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Our vet says: Take your hamster to your vet today- he may have internal injuries as well as the problems you can see.
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| Cat with bad teeth |
| Species: cat | Category: general | Submitted: 15-Jul-09 | viewed 30130 times |
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Julie asks about Charlie (cat - DSH, M) : |
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My cat had to visit the vet last week for a tummy upset and while we were there she checked his teeth and said that his teeth had a bad plaque build up and his gum looked a bit red. She then went on to tell me that he would need a general anaesthetic to have a scale and polish at a cost of around £300 once you added in putting him on an IV etc for hydration. I felt a little bit like I was getting a sales pitch so I don't know if this is the kind of price dental work should cost.
As much as I want to do the best for my cat this is money I just don't have right now so I wonder if there is anything else I can do to try and improve things without putting him through an anaesthetic.
I would appreciate any advice.
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Our vet says: Many animals suffer with their teeth and the discomfort often goes undiscovered for a long time. Not only do dental problems lead to pain and infection in the mouth but systemic problems may occur later on due to all those bacteria.
It is worth having dental treatments for pets but it can be expensive. Cats must have an anaesthetic to allow their teeth to be properly scaled and polished. Just think how much a human dentist would charge for treatment under anaesthetic! Vets use high quality equipment which must be constantly maintained so we do have to charge realistic fees.
It sounds as if your vet does have your cat's welfare at heart. Spotting problems such as this and suggesting treatment will often save your cat discomfort and save you money in the long run.
If you really cannot manage the dental treatment right now you could try Logic gel or homeopathic Fragaria. Have a look at our dental care section.
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| Inner eyelid not retracting |
| Species: cat | Category: other | Submitted: 15-Jul-09 | viewed 26017 times |
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Tilly asks about Troy (cat) : |
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I have a cat who is 4 years old and recently (only 5 or 6 days now) I have noticed his inner eyelid isn't going back into the corner of his eyes like normal. The odd thing is, it is in both eyes and not just one. I've looked and cannot see anything in them and he seems well in himself and not rubbing them. Is this normal?
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Our vet says: This can happen when cats are not feeling very well generally. Often you will find that your cat has something such as a tummy upset which you may not have noticed if he goes outside to the loo. A trip to the vet would be a good idea.
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| Not eating |
| Species: dog | Category: general | Submitted: 15-Jul-09 | viewed 53271 times |
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Lisa asks about Treacle (dog) : |
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Treacle is a female, twelve and a half year old dog (lab-staff cross). She has always been full of life and rather fat! For the last fortnight or so, she has been off her food, and when she does eat (she will only eat 'real' meat e.g. chicken with some rice) - it goes straight through her or she vomits.
As I said, she has always been rather fat, but she now looks like a bag of bones and her back bone can almost be made out.
Despite this she is still happy to go for walks (which we have cut down a lot), although she is very slow. And she has a nice wet nose and glossy coat!
In previous years she has gone off her food and slowed down in the heat but not to this extent.
Should we ride out the summer months or visit the vet?
Thank you. Lisa & Treacle
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Our vet says: You should certainly take her to your vet!
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Sharon asks:
We have a 3 year old cat we got from Cat's Protection last year. The past few days she's ... view
Natasha asks:
i've had my hamster Moo Moo
for an few days now. The day after I got him
the dog ... view