SmokinDVM

[basil]

ok, what about the male version of this answer, regarding neutering and whether it helps prevents prostrate cancer. And comments on a male's aggression level before and after.

[stjohnroe]

I recently had one of my hounds castrated and he has been having a few mood swings since, though I understand that he will calm down again after a while.

[SmokinDVM]

Sometimes it takes them a couple of months to adjust.

[mauied1101]

I have a question also if I could Doc.

I have three cats, all of whom like to play/fight, etc. I noticed that one of them (Simon) had more eye crusties than usual in the corner of one of his eyes. Eye itself looks ok (doesn't appear to have any scratches on the cornea) - but the duct area is more red than the other one. Can't tell if it got scratched, and I don't know if it warrants a visit to the vet, if it will go away on its own, or if I can give it something from the home med cabinet.

Thanks in advance!

[WOXOF]

SmokinDVM, I think you need a thread similar to BPP's "how can I help". I have a question. We have a cat who is beginning to loose some of her hair on her back. We just moved into a new house and have been entertaining a lot, so we thought it may have something to do with that. We've recently noticed that she isn't eating very much. She's about 14 years old. So now we're curious if something could be seriuosly wrong with her.

[mauied1101]

SmokinDVM, I think you need a thread similar to BPP's "how can I help". I have a question. We have a cat who is beginning to loose some of her hair on her back. We just moved into a new house and have been entertaining a lot, so we thought it may have something to do with that. We've recently noticed that she isn't eating very much. She's about 14 years old. So now we're curious if something could be seriuosly wrong with her.

Agree with WOXOF on the Vet thread - seems like a lot of us have pets and would appreciate the advice if you have the time.

As for WOXOF - just from my cats - sounds like she's stressed - new environment, perhaps not as much attention/added commotion. Just curious - have you tried wet food? (When one of my cats got sick and wasn't eating, I would feed her wet food (her fav) - the kind that is in chunky pieces, and I'd count the pieces out to figure out her appetite). And make sure you give her LOTS of attention. Hope she's ok - but definitely would like to hear the doc's advice.

also - my cats love this stuff as a treat, esp after trauma when they don't want anything else:

[WOXOF]

Well, we've been in our house now for about 3 months. It's only getting worse. She's a very picky eater. I don't think she'll eat any other food, but we may have to try it out.

[SmokinDVM]

SmokinDVM, I think you need a thread similar to BPP's "how can I help". I have a question. We have a cat who is beginning to loose some of her hair on her back. We just moved into a new house and have been entertaining a lot, so we thought it may have something to do with that. We've recently noticed that she isn't eating very much. She's about 14 years old. So now we're curious if something could be seriuosly wrong with her.

Hair loss, or alopecia, can be from several different causes. Stress is definitely one of the possibilities, especially if she's done this before. However, when stressed, they more commonly pull the hair out on their abdomen, not their back. If you use a good flea prevention, like Frontline or Advantage, then I would have the Vet check it. Even if it's just stress, they may be able to stop the problem with an injection of Depomedrol, or they may see evidence of some other cause.

[WOXOF]

Hair loss, or alopecia, can be from several different causes. Stress is definitely one of the possibilities, especially if she's done this before. However, when stressed, they more commonly pull the hair out on their abdomen, not their back. If you use a good flea prevention, like Frontline or Advantage, then I would have the Vet check it. Even if it's just stress, they may be able to stop the problem with an injection of Depomedrol, or they may see evidence of some other cause.

She's never had any problems with hair loss. It appears to be falling out. She's due for a checkup in May, so we'll hope for good news. Thanks for the response.

[SmokinDVM]

I have a question also if I could Doc.

I have three cats, all of whom like to play/fight, etc. I noticed that one of them (Simon) had more eye crusties than usual in the corner of one of his eyes. Eye itself looks ok (doesn't appear to have any scratches on the cornea) - but the duct area is more red than the other one. Can't tell if it got scratched, and I don't know if it warrants a visit to the vet, if it will go away on its own, or if I can give it something from the home med cabinet.

Thanks in advance!

If your cat is squinting (blepharospasm) then take it to a Vet.
If everything else is OK, keep it clean using a cotton ball that's been dampened with warm water, just damp not dripping wet. You should clean it 3 times a day or more if the crust builds up that fast. The crust can continue to irritate if left in place.
If it doesn't start to improve within a couple of days, see your Vet, or if it gets worse at any time, see your Vet.

Good luck

[mauied1101]

THANKS DOC! Appreciate the fast response!

PM sent.

[Drake]

my chiuahua has a hole is the top of its skull, which i read is pretty common. sometimes it swells there for no reason, should i be worried?

[BigMacFU]

If your cat is squinting (blepharospasm) then take it to a Vet.
If everything else is OK, keep it clean using a cotton ball that's been dampened with warm water, just damp not dripping wet. You should clean it 3 times a day or more if the crust builds up that fast. The crust can continue to irritate if left in place.
If it doesn't start to improve within a couple of days, see your Vet, or if it gets worse at any time, see your Vet.

Good luck

Barry, now that's just poor advice to give a cat owner. All answers regarding cats and any breed of dog that is 20 pounds or less are just shoot the damn things. Put them out of their misery. There is no point in harboring rodents in your abode, so just kill them. Especially with cats, although my loathing of rodents people call dogs is growing by the minute the more I see men carrying them around or being walked by them. Either way, the answer is shoot and kill the thing.

[SmokinDVM]

ok, what about the male version of this answer, regarding neutering and whether it helps prevents prostrate cancer. And comments on a male's aggression level before and after.

A few days late, but you were on ignore then. I was scrolling down the page and spotted your post.

Anyway, I've only seen a couple of cases of prostate cancer in neutered dogs, and those were dogs that had been neutered at an older age. We see many more cases of prostate enlargement due to hyperplasia and/or infection than we see cancer. Hyperplasia is easily remedied by neutering.
Aggression is also something that tends to be less of a problem in neutered dogs. However, many factors play into aggression as a behavioral problem, and we see many aggressive neutered dogs and many submissive intact dogs.

Early spay and neuter, as well as proper training and socialization is the key.