Free veterinary advice

[Dr Harv]

Let me first introduce myself.......I am Dr. Harvey Yenkinson, a veterinarian in practice for 30 years at Conchester Animal Hospital in Boothwyn, Pa 19061. Some of you may know me from the www.thebassbarn.com (http://www.thebassbarn.com) web site. Folks there call me Capt Harv because I run a charter service out of Cape May, New Jersey.

Ron Reddington has allowed me to offer this service on the buck barn web site. If you need any veterinary advice, I will be glad to give you my opinion. I will check the board daily except when I am down fishing. My partner, Dr. Andy Lombardo will visit this site as well. Feel free to post your questions.

[ACEarcher]

Welcome to the Buck Barn Dr. Harv! Glad to have you on board.:thup:

[jerseygsp]

Welcome and thanks :thup: I got one for you. I have a 1 and half year old gsp and she goes into heat every 3 months and they last around 27 to 30 days every time .I want to breed her so i dont want to get her fixed yet.But is there something wrong with her or something i could give her to slow them down.Her next heat is do next month and she is do to run in a akc trial.So its getting to be a pain . but thanks again for your help

[Dr Harv]

Jersey.........It is unusual for a dog to go through heat cycles that frequently. Most dogs cycle every 6 months, some as long as every 9 months. The heat itself normally consists of a 10 day bleeding period, followed by a 5-7 day window of fertility.

I would be suspect that your GSP may have cystic ovaries or some other abnormality that is causing her to cycle so frequently and her heats to be of such long duration.

We used to use medications that would keep a dog out of heat. They have been taken off the market due to increased risk of pyometra (uterus infections).

If your intention is to breed her, I would do it within the next year.

Sometimes the heat cycle will straighten out as she gets older. Sometimes breeding her will straighten out the cycle.

[Ron Redington]

Capt. Harv...er...I mean...Dr. Harv, I can't begin to tell ya how much I appreciate you and Dr. Andy offering free advice to our members. I'm certain this service is going to be a huge asset to our community :thup:

I'm going to go ahead and sticky this thread to the top for easy access :)

Thank you Dr. Harv & Dr. Andy!

[Bubba19056]

Dr Harv,

Welcome to the barn, I have a 15 week old Beagle, I'm sure I'll a have a few questions for you from time to time. Welcome again.

[Dr Harv]

Be glad to help you out Bubba. :)

[Jerseybuck]

From the first sign of blood, when is the optimum time frame to breed. It sounds like your saying days 11 to 18? Thanks in advance.

[Dr Harv]

Jerseybuck.......That is the approximate time frame. The heat cycle will vary somewhat between bitches. On average, they bleed 10 days, followed by the fertile period which coincides with when the eggs are released and ready to be fertilized. If a male is readily available, you can breed every other day till the bitch is no longer receptive. In general, most folks breed their dogs on days 12 and 14 which will work 95% of the time. For bitches that have trouble with conception, there are blood tests that can pinpoint the time of ovulation so the breedings can be timed accordingly.

[ridgerunnerron]

Let me first introduce myself.......I am Dr. Harvey Yenkinson, a veterinarian in practice for 30 years at Conchester Animal Hospital in Boothwyn, Pa 19061. Some of you may know me from the www.thebassbarn.com (http://www.thebassbarn.com) web site. Folks there call me Capt Harv because I run a charter service out of Cape May, New Jersey.

Ron Reddington has allowed me to offer this service on the buck barn web site. If you need any veterinary advice, I will be glad to give you my opinion. I will check the board daily except when I am down fishing. My partner, Dr. Andy Lombardo will visit this site as well. Feel free to post your questions.
Dr Harv, Wow! This is very generous of you to do!
I don't own a dog but just wanted to comment.

Capt Harv, I've been out with you a couple of times but haven't made it this year.

rrr

[lbdc34]

Dr. Capt. Harv. Thanks for offering your services here. I have a big crazy lab who has been to the vet a bunch. So I'm sure I'll have some questions eventually. He always seems to hurt himself at night or on a weekend when it's hard to get my vet on the phone. It's nice to have someone else to bounce some questions off of. Thanks again. lbdc

[Dr Harv]

lbdc........Labs are a high energy dog with a great temperament. Love the breed. Have alot of them that come to the office. Just repaired a cruciate ligament on one this morning.

[Setterman]

Let me first introduce myself.......I am Dr. Harvey Yenkinson, a veterinarian in practice for 30 years at Conchester Animal Hospital in Boothwyn, Pa 19061. Some of you may know me from the www.thebassbarn.com (http://www.thebassbarn.com) web site. Folks there call me Capt Harv because I run a charter service out of Cape May, New Jersey.

Ron Reddington has allowed me to offer this service on the buck barn web site. If you need any veterinary advice, I will be glad to give you my opinion. I will check the board daily except when I am down fishing. My partner, Dr. Andy Lombardo will visit this site as well. Feel free to post your questions.


Nice to meet you Dr. Harvey.

Got any advice on dealing with thunderphobia in dogs other than me giving my Setter Acepromazine whenever I know a storm is approaching? I've tried acclimating him to this noise to settle him but this condition is something he's acquired over the last few years. He seems to be getting worse as he gets older. He never exhibited any of these tendencies or traits until he was about 2. I've been told this is just something I need to live with and deal with accordingly.

[Ron Redington]

Dr. Harv., I am posting this question for Esetterman....

I just moved out east from the midwest never had to worry about ticks maybe see 2 or 3 all year never any by the time hunting season came along.... is there anything i can do to prevent disease with these buggers in my dog.... shots or anything like that..... and what is the best repellent for them? i see biospot and frontline adds all the time.....and how do them products work are they pills or shampoo?. . . any advice would be helpful...hint hint Dr. Harv

[Dr Harv]

Setterman........Thunderstorm phobia is difficult to get rid of once a dog develops this fear. Some even get so bad the when the wind blows strongly they get fearful. My last dog had this same problem. In general it does get worse. I have never seen a dog get cured of the problem, but some can be conditioned to cope better. Some folks sit with their dogs during storms. Some close the shutters and turn the tv or music up. Some folks try to decondition their dogs by buying tapes of storms and gradually increasing the volume. Some folks try natural treatments like giving their dog melatonin to calm them. Most folks do like you are doing, giving their dog a sedative like acepromazine before a storm. Xanax is another medicine that works well. Some folks have luck with Valium too. Wish I had a magical cure for you, but have never found one.

[Dr Harv]

Esetterman........Ticks are indeed quite bad here on the east coast. They transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplamosis, Rocky Mountain fever, and others. Tick control is important. The most effective products are the spot on products which are applied once a month. They come in tubes that you squeeze onto several spots going down the dogs back. The product we sell most is Frontline. Advantix is another good product. The over the counter products are like Biospot are less expensive but not very effective when the tick population is robust.

There are some repellent products that can be sprayed on the dogs as well.

Be cautious yourself and check thoroughly for ticks when you come in from the field. Many hunters use sprays on their clothing to help repel ticks. Lyme disease is quite prevalent in humans in this area as well.

[Setterman]

Setterman........Thunderstorm phobia is difficult to get rid of once a dog develops this fear. Some even get so bad the when the wind blows strongly they get fearful. My last dog had this same problem. In general it does get worse. I have never seen a dog get cured of the problem, but some can be conditioned to cope better. Some folks sit with their dogs during storms. Some close the shutters and turn the tv or music up. Some folks try to decondition their dogs by buying tapes of storms and gradually increasing the volume. Some folks try natural treatments like giving their dog melatonin to calm them. Most folks do like you are doing, giving their dog a sedative like acepromazine before a storm. Xanax is another medicine that works well. Some folks have luck with Valium too. Wish I had a magical cure for you, but have never found one.


Thanks Doc.

This is the fourth Setter in about forty years I've seen this happen with. Not all our Setters, and not all from the same line, but it's happened. Now, the two of us will go down in the basement together and ride the storm out. I turn up the TV and he goes in his little hidey hole in my workshop. I give him a half dosage of a 25mg Acepromazine prior to the storm and he seems to sleep w/o the race of heartbeat and excessive panting. I've tried de-conditioning to no avail. He hears a thunderstorm noise on the big TV and he runs out of the room! Raindrops on the skylights make him run from the room as well for he associates rain with the storm.

[phnagel]

Hi Doc, i have a 10 yr. old chessie. She has always been in good health. In the past month or so she seems to sometimes loose comtrol of her bladder. Not alot mind you but small puddles around the house. At first i thought it was our other dog, a small terrier but i narrowed it down to her. Could this just be her getting old or the beginnings of something major.

[Dr Harv]

phnagel.......It would be good to take your dog in for a physical and a urinalysis. Try to catch a urine sample to bring to your vet. Store it in a plastic container and refrigerate if you cannot take it in right away.

If your dog leaves puddles when she sleeps, this is most likely an incontinence problem, which can be controlled with medication. Other causes would be bladder infections, kidney disease, diabetes, liver problems. Your vet will be able to figure it out and medicate it properly. This is a common problem in older dogs.

[phnagel]

Dr.Harv, thank you for your promp reply. It's a great service that you provide for this site and i thank you for it.

Phil Nagel

[Dr Harv]

Glad to help you Phil. My partner Dr. Andy Lombardo lives not to far from you in Gibbstown.

[Houndog]

Hey Doc, was just told I have another beagle with kidney failure. He tested negative for lymes but his kidneys are not getting rid of the protein in his system. He was put on Cephalexin twice a day and I was told not to give him any protein in his diet. I'm planing on feeding him pasta and maybe pretzels as a treat instead of regular dog food and treats. Do you have any other ideas for food.

[Dr Harv]

Houndog.........It sounds like your dog is not advanced in kidney failure as he is still eating okay. There are prescription dog foods on the marked like Hill's K/D (stands for Kidney Diet). The degree of protein restriction your dog needs is based on the severity of the kidney test. Poor kidney function can cause high phosphorous levels and anemia in the blood too. As far as diet, you do indeed want him on a low protein, high carbohydrate diet. Dogs do need some good quality protein, so an egg or two a week is a good source of protein. As far as the carbohydrate portion, many folks feed: rice, pastas of many types, potatoes, cereals, etc.

[Houndog]

Thanks Doc....I'll keep you posted on how he's doing and I'll try the things you said...Thanks again !!!!!

[Racks]

Dr. I have question concerning my eight year old Lab. For the past two years, around this time of year he has developed some type of irratation with his feet. Last year he was put on an antiboitic and steriod. This worked fine. Tried it again this year and it has not worked. His feet are a bit swollan and have some redness. I guess they itch because he is always licking and biteing at them. I thought I would ask you before I take him for a visit. Thanks

[RUSS0079]

Doc,
I was hunting with Philly Fan on Weds. When one of my guide dogs got tangle up with a Porcupine. She got about 10 quils in her nose and another dozen in her bottom jaw. I got all the quils out except 4 in her bottom jaw. They kept breaking. Finally I left enough sticking out so I could bring her to a vet to have them removed, the following day. The next morning, there was no sign of them. I could see where the punctures were but couldn't feel the quils. I've been watching her and she seems fine. The area doesn't even seem tender. My question is would her body break the quils down, since they are a cellular structure or would infection set in? Should I be worried? Thanks in advance.
Russ

[Bullseye]

Hey Doc, I have a 9 year old lab, he has a never ending ear infection. (not ear mites) been throught that. Basically it started about 4 years ago after a poor attempt by a local animal hospital to treat him for a broken blood vessel in the ear (sorry can't spell the med term, Hemo**something) He now has severe scaring on that ear, that has left the ear slightly deformed with lots of areas that don't get air to dry out.
He has been treated with aniax, & baytril Otic. Nothing seems to work. I can clean his ears once a day & still he is having issues. I know with out seeing him this will be a tough one. I have a new Vet in my town & they seem very good, but the dog is still in pain. Any Ideas on something that won't break the bank? Thanks Leo

[Dr Harv]

Sorry for the delayed response, just got back from fishing this weekend.

Racks........Feet licking this time of year is usually allergy related. Dogs develop contact allergies with the mold, pollen, etc in the grass and it causes intense itching between the toes and pads. Keeping dogs out of the grass helps but his is tough for obvious reasons. It usually goes away once we get into the winter. In the mean time we usually treat them with oral antihistamines and/or prednisone, plus topical products that contain cortisione.

Russ.........porcupine quills have a barb on them like a fish hook but the barb faces the other way, making extraction difficult. They do eventually dissolve, but may fester for quite awhile. Ideally you want to remove them without breaking any off. If they cannot be retrieved, antibiotics are often necessary till they dissolve or fester out of the skin.

Bullseye.......Your dog had a hematoma, which is a blood clot in the ear. Sounds like your dog's hematoma did not heal well and you ended up with a slightly crinked up ear. He probably had an infection before the hematoma, and now with restricted air supply, the infection is hard to clear up. Some dogs require surgery to get them a better opening. Sometimes we do a culture and sensitivity which basically tells you what bacteria is present and which antibiotic will work.

Hope that helps you guys. Again, sorry for the delayed response.......Dr. Harv

[The Wadd]

This is Great! Thanks Dr Harv!

My Liberty had an Eye injury last week! Looks like she got poked by
a thorn! Ive been washing it out with a Sterile Eye Wash since 2am
Friday morning! Also ive been useing a multi purpose solution called
no rub! The Eye looks Great! My question is, What would you suggest
to Bring in the Field or on trips Just incase this would happen again?
Is there an over the counter Ointment that can be used in case of an
Emergency? Thanks for your suggestions!

[Esetterman]

Dr. Harv, my dog seems to have developed.a cough over night like something is stuck in his throat.I think its kennel cough from what I've been reading.how could he get it overnight he's the only dog around? And is there anything I can buy to treat it? Or just let it run its course?

[Bullseye]

Thanks doc, & yes it was a Hematoma. I will ask my vet to do a culture. Hope you did well fishing.

[Dr Harv]

The wadd..........You might want to bring artificial tears with you. You might also ask your vet if he can give you some antibiotic eye ointment to have on hand. If there is a puncture to the cornea, that should be seen by your vet as it can cause a loss of eyesight if the puncture is deep.

esetterman........Sounds like kennel cough. It takes 5-7 days from time of exposure till the cough begins. It normally runs its course. Some require antibiotic treatment. We are also seeing some cases of canine influenza that starts with a cough.......This is more serious. If your dog is not doing well, let your vet have a look.

[The Wadd]

Thanks Dr Harv!

[lbdc34]

Dr. Harv, got a question for you. My 3 year old lab has been really itchy the past few weeks. I thought it had gone away last week. But I was out of town for a week and my Mom had him. Just picked him up and he is worse then before. I'm sure you can't diagnose over the computer but I was just wondering where to start looking as far as allergies. I have been feeding him the same food for the past 3 years. I just emailed the food company to see if they have changed any ingredients recently. I got a differnt soap for him a while back but he didn't seem to have any reaction from that in the first few months of using it. Thanks. Luke

[Dr Harv]

Luke.........I doubt that a change of diet is going to help. Dogs that are that itchy could have problems with flea bite allergy, mange, skin infections, seborrhea, or other problems. I really would get him looked at to find the source of the problem.

[lbdc34]

Ok. Thanks. I guess I'll give my vet a call.

[Uplandhunter]

Dr. Harv, my black lab turned 6 in October. He's always conformed perfectly, and had a perfectly straight tail. However, sometime in the past few weeks his tail began to curl up in the last several inches, if he's holding his tail out straight, or it's sometimes almost semi-circular. He did seems to have "cold water tail" for a day or two after one especially long hunt, but I don't remember if it began before or after that. I don't know is this is pertinent, but I hunt him at least twice a week, sometimes for 6 hours or more, always at least 4 or 5 hours.

His tail doesn't seem to bother him, but I can't stand the sight of it, and I'm wondering what's wrong with it, and what can I do to fix it for him.

[Dr Harv]

You might want to have him examined. I suspect that the last episode of "swimmers tail" may have caused this deviation. An antiflammatory medication may help. Get his anal glands checked too.

[xxxlsneakbox]

I have a 4 year old wirehair pointer who gets bad splits in nails. She is favoring her leg and licking paw. My vet has her on fish oil daily and no pork products but does not seem to help. I tried super glue but did not seem too good. Splits are too deep in nail to cut and I do keep nails as short as possible. Any information would be apreciate. I hate laying up my best dog!

[Dr Harv]

I suspect you are talking about the nail separating from the quick underneath as opposed to splits lengthwise. Let me know if this is what you mean, and I will try to help you.

[njbowhunter]

Hey doc I have a 15 month old gsp. over the past month he has develpoed a lump on his side. It is about the size of a nickle. it does not seem to bother him. It is only in the skin I can pull the skin from him and and feel the lump. Is this just some kind of cyst anything to worry about.

[xxxlsneakbox]

The nails are splitting length wise, exposing the quick underneath.

[Dr Harv]

sneakbox.........I understand you now. The condition your dog has is called onychoschisis, a longitudinal splitting of the nails. The most common cause is a bacterial infection of the nails. It is treated with antibiotic creams and antibiotics taken by mouth. There are other causes as well that are less common and would require a workup by a dermatology specialist. Keeping protective coverings on your dogs feet when he runs may help also.

njbowhunter.........What you are describing is usually a cyst. Your vet can diagnose it for sure by putting a small needle in it and getting a sample to analyze. If it gets larger, it may need removal. Some shrink on their own, some will shrink with antibiotic help.

[xxxlsneakbox]

thank you for the information

[HangFire]

DR Harv Did you buy the pratcice from Doc Skinner? ran beagles with him and under him as a judge at chester county beagle club.Good judge good hound man and a great vet.

[Dr Harv]

I was partners with Dr. Skinner and Shaffer. They have both since retired but still in good health and stop by the hospital often. We still see alot of the beaglers that have been coming for many years.

[PAHunter]

Dr. Harv, we have a 12 1/2 year old English Springer Spaniel. She has a fat deposit or Cyst on her shoulder area that she kept scratching and now it has opened up into a bad looking open wound. I had our local vet look at it and she says she needs to do surgery which will cost about $1500. It is on the outside of her skin and it just sounds like an extreme amount of money for this. We are not really in a position to get this done during these tough times. My wife says we should have her put down, but I really hate to do that at this time. Our dog does have very bad arthritis and has trouble getting up and down, otherwise in good shape and just a sweet dog, but I would just hate to do that at this time. Can you offer any advice on our dilemma? Thanks in advance, Mike.

[Dr Harv]

Mike...........Shoot me an email and I will see if I can help you vetcraft@aol.com

[khp]

Dr. Harv,

I have a 1.5 year old Female Golden that has some behavioral issues. I got her when she was around 4 months old. Here is the issue, when my wife or I go near here, she has the tendency to start urinating. We can be sitting on th sofa and she can have her head in my lap, but if I touch her, she will pee right where she is laying. I have tried not looking at her, or talking at her, to no avail, and truthfully, what is the point of having a dog/companion if you have to walk on eggshells when near her.

When I take her outside she will run and play like a normal dog and everything is good.

We are at our wit's end, and have contemplated giving her up if we cannot find a solution for this.

Thanks and sorry for the long rant, but like I said, we are at our wit's end.

K

[Dr Harv]

The problem you are describing is actually quite common. One thing I would do is to take a urine sample to your vet and make sure there isn't any infection that might be contributing to the problem. Once that is confirmed to be okay, try googling canine submissive urination. This a behavior many dogs have as puppies that can carry on into adulthood. It requires using some behavioral modification therapy. Do the search as I mentioned above and you will find alot of information you can learn and apply. Be patient, it may take awhile, but you should be able to get it under control. If you have no luck, make an appointment with a vet who specializes in behavioral treatment. Sometimes medication is prescribed. Dogs that have this problem are usually very friendly dogs that are great pets. Hope that helps you. Hang in there.

[Kimosabe]

Dr. Harv
My 4 year old male lab has flaky skin, mainly on his back. I feed him Eukanuba Labrador formula dry food only. He is in great shape and very healthy. What would you suggest?

[Dr Harv]

Kimosabe..........If there is itching involved in that area, there may be a skin issue going on. If it is dry with no itching, then I would suggest you add some omega fatty acids to your dogs diet. They are sold at vets and many pet food stores. The food you are using is an excellent diet so I would not change. Hope that helps you...........Dr. Harv

[lampy]

Dr. Harv
After a litter, how long will the mom show signs of bleeding and how long is too long.
My English Setter had pups on Sunday and is still bleeding some. is it normal?

[Bubba19056]

Dr. Harv,

I have a 1 year old Blue Tick Beagle who after lying on the floor or laying down in his travel crate starts to limp after getting up, after running in the field or running in the backyard the limp seems to disappear, I have seem him chase rabbits in the backyard 5 minutes after limping out the door!

Any Ideas on what is causing the limp? Thank you.

[Dr Harv]

Lampy........sorry for the late reply, work has been very busy lately. We do not get too concerned about bleeding after whelping as long as it looks like fresh blood, is not excessive, and the discharge doesn't look pusy or develop a foul odor. Also the bitch should show no signs of illness. Some bitches will bleed for several weeks, but 2-5 days would be about average.

[Dr Harv]

Bubba............you didn't mention whether it was a front leg or a back leg. Without seeing your pup, several things come to mind. It could be something as minor as a sprain. Other possibilities are ligament tears, puncture wounds to the foot, Lyme disease, joint abnormalities. In the back leg we worry about ACL tears and dislocation knee caps. In the front leg we worry more about Lyme. If the limping doesn't go away, I would get it checked out.........Dr. Harv

[lampy]

Thanks Dr Harv
seems as if it subsided
both mom and pups are doing well

[COYOTE KILLER]

Hey Doc we have a 15 month old blood hound and she is always rubbing her face with her paws or on furniture i can't see anything wrong we clean her all the time and take care of her teeth her face doesnt have deep wrinkles like some blood hounds. She is rubbing her face all he time .. Is there anything i should try before taking her to the vet?

[Dr Harv]

Check her face for any obvious redness or irritation. Look at her ears too for any sign of infection or odor. Alot of bloodhounds I see have allergies. If nothing is obvious, have your vet take a look.

[bunnyhunter]

Dr. Harv
I have a 13 month old beagle. I took him to the WMA for training and now he is shaking his ears violently periodically. He does not seem to scratch his ears with his hind feet. I use Front line on him. I am getting chiggers on me.
Do you think he has chiggers or ear mites or something else? The insides of his ears seem clean.
Thank you, Bunnyhunter

[Dr Harv]

Bunnyhunter..........If your pup has ear mites, you should see black material in his ears. If he has an infection, you should notice an odor and see some discharge in his ears. If the ears look perfectly clean, an allergy is most likely. If it doesn't clear up, I would be good to have a vet check it out.

[xxxlsneakbox]

I have one dog that gets ear infections a lot. I always clean ears with epiodic after swimming and hunting. I bring the dog to vet and they say that I am doing the most I can, they run a slide and say yes it is an ear infections and I buy antibiotic cream for ears. I know the dog has an ear infection b4 I go and it costs me $100 - $150 for visit and cream. If there some way to get the medicine over the counter?

[Dr Harv]

Antibiotic medications require a prescription. You might ask your vet if he/she will let you refill your medication without an office visit or write you a prescription to get the ear medication.

[drifter1]

Dr Harv, my 4 yr old English Springer Spaniel has been getting these crusty sores mostly on his belly. we have taken him to the vet in Aston T/C twice for this problem. She has geven us anti biotics both times and also a shampoo called Shebahex (spelling). After the first round of anti biotics most of the sores went away but not all. After a week off the anti biotics the problem seemed to intensify and the sores and redness, itching multiplied rapidly. We called the vet and she gave us another round of anti biotics. He finished them about two weeks ago. He still has some sores and is still itching. We bath him a couple times a week with the shebahex and also are using a anti biotic lotion daily. He still has a few areas with sores that just don't seem to want to go away. Any advise please.

[Dr Harv]

drifter...........The type of rash you are describing is quite common. Your dog has allergies and is developing a secondary staph infection. The reason it keeps coming back is that your dog is continuing to be exposed to the allergen that is causing the rash. The infection is there because of the allergy. The key to keeping it from coming back is to get the source of the allergy under control. Most likely your dog is allergic to some of the pollen and/or mold that is in the grass this time of year. Try washing your dogs belly or at least wiping it with a damp rag on a daily basis, and then keeping baby powder on her abdomen. Try to keep her out of tall grasses too. As we get into the colder weather, it should settle down. Hope that helps you.

[drifter1]

Thanks capt..

[HangFire]

DR Harv : Is Doc Skinner still living? He was great with beagles.

[Dr Harv]

Yes Dr. Skinner is still alive. He lives in Arizona now but comes back to visit several times a year. A while back he was inducted into the Beagle Club Hall of Fame. We still see lots of beagles at the animal hospital.

[drifter1]

drifter...........The type of rash you are describing is quite common. Your dog has allergies and is developing a secondary staph infection. The reason it keeps coming back is that your dog is continuing to be exposed to the allergen that is causing the rash. The infection is there because of the allergy. The key to keeping it from coming back is to get the source of the allergy under control. Most likely your dog is allergic to some of the pollen and/or mold that is in the grass this time of year. Try washing your dogs belly or at least wiping it with a damp rag on a daily basis, and then keeping baby powder on her abdomen. Try to keep her out of tall grasses too. As we get into the colder weather, it should settle down. Hope that helps you.

Doc is it possible for my dog to pass a staph infection to me. I was dealing with a staph infection last yr.?

[Dr Harv]

Doc is it possible for my dog to pass a staph infection to me. I was dealing with a staph infection last yr.?

In the past, I would have definitely told you the answer is no. More recently we are finding bacteria that aren't like the old ones. Some of these are resistant to the usual antibiotics. Dogs to go mrsa infections which may well transmit to people. So to answer your question, it is possible, but not likely.

[Setterman]

Dr. Harv,

I took my dog bird hunting yesterday, nothing out of the ordinary when we got home. He was simply tired from the heat. Got up this morning and took him outside. He seemed fine. Got home at 11:00AM this morning and I noticed my Setter's left jowl swollen, left eye bloodshot. His left lip was red too. He seemed a bit lethargic too. As the day wore on, his jowls swelled more. He still has his appetite and drinks water. He doesn't seem to have a bad tooth either. He is moving about, and he experiences no pain when I massage any parts of him.

I have seen swollen jowls on dogs before from insect bites or stings (spiders/bees) and I'm thinking the redness I saw on his lip this morning was caused by such.

He looks like he has a case of the mumps! Any other thoughts?

Thanks -

[Dr Harv]

Setterman.........When there is swelling on only one side of the face, we think of problems that would cause a problem on one side and not the other. Certainly bee stings can cause this. If that is the case, the swelling will be down at least 50% in 12 hours or so. Some hunting dogs get grass awns imbedded in that area that can swell quickly.......these require aggressive antibiotic therapy to prevent eye damage. Those are the two most common causes. If the swelling is not starting to go down, get it checked out by your local vet.

[Setterman]

Dr. Harv,

Thanks for the feedback.

The swelling has subsided today, with only a little remaining in the forward throat area. (He looks a bit pelican-ish still.) The swelling went from one side of his face to both lasy night, and he was very lethargic. Today he is eating and wagging his tail again.

As for those grass awns, I never experienced them bothering him in the past, but I know the cover we hunt has these.

[RUSS0079]

Doc,
My one GSP Briar has developed a hard lump on her right hip. It appears to be just under the skin. It has been there for the last two weeks. Today when I examined it and it appeared that it was tender. I put her on 250 mg of cephalexin as it helped her last year when she got the infection from the porcupine quill. This lump feels the same, thus I figured it was an infection. Thoughts?

Russ

[Dr Harv]

If the lump is in the skin, meaning it moves when the skin moves, then it could be a cyst, an infection, or a skin tumor. If it is an infection it will go away with the antibiotic. If it continues to grow, I would have your vet get a look at it.

[Kimosabe]

Dr. Harv


What dog food do you suggest I feed my 4 year lab? He is very active and will be retrieving ducks this winter.

[Dr Harv]

The food you should use depends on a couple things. One is the starting weight of your dog and the second is the degree of exercise he will sustain. If he is sitting most of the time and only doing a few retrieves, you should keep his food the same. If he is overweight already, keep his food the same so he will lose weight. If he is in good condition and will be working hard, feed him a top notch food like Eukanuba or many of the other fine brands out there.

[robhunt]

wow thanks great time. i have a 6 year old yellow lab. we were out pheasant hunting on sat. she went up a slight incline on the side of the road and yelped. it is her back right leg. she is still limping on it and it is thursday. what should i do. she is starting to put it down a little but not walking on it. we have been giving her baby advil. it seems to work.
thanks!

[robhunt]

i have a 6 year old lab. she went up a steap incline on the side of the road. it was not high just had to go up a little because the road had just been redone. but as she did she yelped. then started to limp on her back left leg. the pad is ok but she is still limping. she is starting to use it a little but still has not used it fully. any advice:huh:
thanks

[fernnj]

Dr. I have a GSP thats very active and constantly getting himself banged up in the yard and while hunting. He has been to the vet for stitches and other injuries that turned out to be minor sprains ect. This week he has limping on his right front paw after long 2-3 hr hunts. The previous times I went to the vet, it was suggested to keep him on a leash and the vet sold me prescription anti inflamatory meds. These visits were in the $150 range $50 of which was for the meds. Are there any anti inflamatory pain meds I can buy him at a local pharmacy over the counter? I have heard that advil and aspirin are poisonous to dogs. Any suggestions to help him with a quicker recovery?

Much appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Dr Harv]

robhunt..........sorry for the delay as I was fishing this weekend. I am concerned that your lab may have torn the ACL ligament. If the limping doesn't go away, I would have it checked out by a vet that is familiar with that type of problem. It can be diagnosed by a good examination. If it is not repaired the knee becomes progressively more arthritic.

fernnj.........None of the over the counter drugs are currently recommended for dogs. If you have recently been to your vet, they may be willing to provide you with a few of the pills to keep on hand when your dog has minor injuries.

[robhunt]

thanks. she is still limping on it but uses it alot more than she has been. should i wait a few more days or go get her checked out:huh:

[2seahunter]

I do not need any info at this time. I just wanted to thank you for the service.:bow:

[Dr Harv]

Rob.........I would recommend you get it checked out. Make sure you get an appointment with a vet who is able to diagnose partial and complete tears of the ACL ligament. I see alot of dogs who were misdiagnosed.

2 seahunter.........I am glad to provide this service. The number of new friends I have made on this site and the bass barn has added much to my life.

[drifter1]

drifter...........The type of rash you are describing is quite common. Your dog has allergies and is developing a secondary staph infection. The reason it keeps coming back is that your dog is continuing to be exposed to the allergen that is causing the rash. The infection is there because of the allergy. The key to keeping it from coming back is to get the source of the allergy under control. Most likely your dog is allergic to some of the pollen and/or mold that is in the grass this time of year. Try washing your dogs belly or at least wiping it with a damp rag on a daily basis, and then keeping baby powder on her abdomen. Try to keep her out of tall grasses too. As we get into the colder weather, it should settle down. Hope that helps you.

Dr Harv;
My pup is still being tortured by these itchy sores. I have followed your advise and have been washing down his belly every night. But if I miss a night or 2 this comes right back with a vengence. All night long I can hear him scatching and biting. I have been washing him with a product called Hibiclens which contains 4% chlorhexodine. Is this product safe for washing him down on a nightly basis? Any other suggestions.

[Dr Harv]

Drifter...........Something doesn't seem right. I would get the skin looked at again to see why it is not responding. There are some other conditions that could be causing this but it is hard for me to diagnose some problems without seeing the problem. Scabies or other diseases may be involved.

[sniper]

Looks like your page is going to be busy doc. Welcome. I have a question; How can I get the neighbors dogs to stop barking. On 50' wide lots I have 3 on one side 2 on the other side and 3 across the street. They bark at anything going down the street, at each other, squirrells, u name it.

[Dr Harv]

Sniper...........I have neighbors with barking dogs as well. I try to have a good relationship with my neighbors and try to talk with them. Most dogs bark by instinct unless trained to do otherwise. Perhaps you could suggest to your neighbors that the dogs are kept indoors during sleeping hours. Some townships have noise ordinances as well. Good luck. Your problem is a common one.

[drifter1]

Drifter...........Something doesn't seem right. I would get the skin looked at again to see why it is not responding. There are some other conditions that could be causing this but it is hard for me to diagnose some problems without seeing the problem. Scabies or other diseases may be involved.

The problem seems to be calming down this week. I gave him a bath Sunday with a shampoo that has tea tree oil in it and also used the Hibiclens on him. He seems to be itching less and the sores appear to be disipating. I'm crossing my fingers. If it doesn't go away within the next 2 weeks I may schedule an appointment at your office.

[freedom]

Dr HARV,

Our lab/mastiff mix has a urinary tract infection (apparently), as she constantly has to go, only goes a little, and sometimes has blood in her urine. She is spayed. Since we will not be able to go to the vet until Wednesday, my question is this: Can we give her a human OTC med for UTI? I think they are usually an antibacerial. She is 88 lbs. and 8 years old.

Thanks,

Zephyr

[Dr Harv]

Zephyr........There is really nothing over the counter that is going to provide relief for your dog. Sounds like a bladder infection. Sometimes there are stones in the bladder as well, which would require an xray to diagnose.

[atrick315]

Good evening. Is there anything I can give my puppy (9 wks) for fleas? The collars and drops all say wait at least until 12 weeks old.

[Dr Harv]

Atrick........Frontline can be used on puppies 8 weeks and older. You could also use one of the topical sprays with pyrethrins such as Adams.

[atrick315]

Thanks Dr. Harv!

[bigdsman]

i have a golden ret pup,10wks old and our vet told us she should get a limes vacine,well on the way home she started to act funny and we noticed she was having trouble breathing,we took her back to the vet and he told us some dogs get a reaction and then charge us another $55 have you ever seen dogs get a reaction to this shot

[Dr Harv]

Unfortunately some dogs get reactions to vaccines. Reactions can occur to any of the vaccines we use. Fortunately the reaction rate is low. When a reaction occurs, vets administer antihistamine and cortisone injections to combat the reaction. Some vets charge for this, some don't.

[Kimosabe]

Dr Harv

My 4 1/2 year old chocolate lab has an area on the back of his head that looks blistered and is weeping. My local vet gave him Benadril and an anti biotic for 8 days with a cleaning solution. It hasn't cleared it up. I'm going to revisit my vet, but thought you might have an opinion. It's duck season and we need to get this cleared up now. Let me know what you think.

[Dr Harv]

Sounds like you are describing a hot spot. This comes from something like a tick bite that made the area itchy. Usually we give those dogs a shot of cortisone, put the dogs on keflex, apply a topical ointment that has an antibiotic and cortisone in it, and apply an Elizabethan collar. You can take the collar off when he hunts.

[robhunt]

Dr. Harv I would like to thank you for your advice. I kept forgetting to tell you, you might not remember but the opening day of pheasant season my dog jmped out of the truck and walked around for 2 min. Then it was shooting time she got excited then all of a sudden yelped and cried. She hurt her back leg bad. We took her home and I asked you what to do. You said it might be the acl. It was said the Winslow dr. So what should I do now? She has improved alot. She rarely limps any more. Is it safe to start walking her. She is a 7 year old yellow lab. Awesome bird dog and I hate seeing her crying when we leave to go deer hunting. Any advice we are holding back on the surgery do to her age. Any chance she can hunt next year??
Thanks so much!!

[w8n4adeer]

went to the vet a couple weeks ago for a bald spot on my chocolates eyebrow area. they said it was probably ring worm or some kind of fungus and gave me a cream to put on. does this cause them to loose their fur for good? its not showing any sign of fur growing back yet. ive been calling him knuckle head i hope thats not going to be a permanent nickname

[Dr Harv]

rob...........I don't think 7 is very old for a lab. Your dog would benefit having the surgery. The longer it goes uncorrected, the more arthritis sets in. If she hunts slow, she might manage okay. If she is like alot of labs, she may get sore after hunting. Some dogs get enough scarring in the knee to stabilize it so they can hunt okay without the surgery. If you can afford the surgery, I would get it done. Her age is not a factor.

w8.......If the diagnosis is correct, the hair will regrow after the ringworm goes away. Usually within 4-6 weeks the hair has grown back.

[robhunt]

It so hard to decide today was a great day today. She walked with no problem. And I don't really trust the vet she was not to good. She seemed unsure!!

[Judi]

Capt. Harv, hi my name is Judi and I'm a new member as of today. I own a 3 1/2 yr old female yellow lab named Skylar. She is an awesome dog. Unfortunately, in the summer she has severe itching of her skin and loses her coat. I constantly have to put her on Temeril P for the itching but I was hoping you would have another suggestion to help her with the itching. Any help would be appreciated:)

[Dr Harv]

Judi.........If your dog is being treated with temaril p, I assume your vet has diagnosed her as atopic (allergic). There are numerous treatments including allergy testing, anti itch shampoos, other drugs such as cyclosporine, etc. You should discuss different options with your vet if you are not getting satisfactory results.

[Dr Harv]

Rob..........I would encourage you to find a vet that you can feel confident with. Ask your friends for recommendations. It is important to have a good relationship with your vet so he/she knows you and your dog and can advise you the best. There are vets who do ACL surgery and there are orthopedic specialists who do it as well. Perhaps your vet could refer you to someone who has alot of experience with the surgery.

[R & R]

Dr. Harv. Nail pulled out from base on my GSP. Didnt bleed much but we kept he dog off it by bandaging on & off for a couple days. When will the quick retract? its been 5 days so far. He walks fine & no sign of pain when we squeze his foot.

[Dr Harv]

A new nail needs to grow over the quick. That can take a month or more. Keep your gsp out of the dirt so infection doesn't get in. If the toe starts to swell or limping begins, your dog may need to be on an antibiotic.

[R & R]

Eating & drinking regular, we wash it out every night & only keep it covered when we are not home. Thank you for your time.

[skmag357]

Capt Harv,
Recently I have been taking my 5 year old yellow female lab out to play in the morning and when I first throw the ball, she comes back semi limbing on her back right leg. She pulls up a bit but then I grab the ball again and she will typically continue to play for another 5 - 10 mins like nothing happened. She has been doing it from time to time and it is not everytime we play. She doesn't limb around the house or show any other signs of being hurt in anyway but it is starting to concern me. At first, I thought maybe she hurt one of her toe nails because she has ripped one of them off before when the ground was cold a few years ago. I also thought that maybe her hips are starting to bother her a bit. I had her x-rayed for hip displaca (?) back when she was a 1 year old and the vet said that they looked good. My concerns are that I will take her to the vet and I won't be able to replicate her pulling up on that leg. I will gladly take her if you think that she should be x-rayed or MRIed. If you think it is her hips, should I start her on a joint supplement of some sort? Is there anything that you would recommend for a healthy 5 year old english lab as far as nutrition or supplements? She is a lean 64 lbs, very cut and gets plenty of exercise. Unlike other labs, she has always gotten worn down after playing for 10-15 mins. I typically hunt her 2 -3 times per year but have been unable to get her out at all this year. Let me know if you have any suggestions or have any follow up questions. Thanks!

Steve

[Dr Harv]

Steve..........I am concerned your lab may have a damaged meniscus or cruciate ligament. I would get it checked out be a vet who is a good on orthopedic problems. It would be good to get her hips rexrayed at the same time her knee is being checked out. Many vets are unable to diagnose a partial cruciate tear unless they are experienced. I would definitely get it checked out............Capt Dr. Harv

[Houndog]

Hey Doc....I have a beagle who is having seizures. A friend asked be to house two beagles in my pen for a week or two about three years ago. Well I guess he forgot to mention one also has seizures. Anyway he has had a few in the past, maybe one every couple months but yesterday he had so many I forgot to count. I took him to our Vet who put him on phenobarbital 1/4 gr. I was told to give him 1 and 1/2 tablets twice a day. Well he continues having them and the little guy can hardly walk. It looks like he got into the Jack Daniels. Does the medication take time to work because I'm starting to think about having the little guy put down. He looks really bad. They also did some blood work but the results are not back yet.

[Dr Harv]

Houndog.........Phenobarbital often makes dogs drowsy when they start on it. I am concerned that he is still having seizures. See if the blood tests find any problems that may explain the seizures. They may need to adjust the dose of pheno or add Potassium Bromide to his drug regimen.

[atrick315]

Hi Dr. Harv. My puppy just turned 6 months and doesn't like rides in the car and gets car sick. Would driving her around in a carrier help at all??

[Dr Harv]

Hi Dr. Harv. My puppy just turned 6 months and doesn't like rides in the car and gets car sick. Would driving her around in a carrier help at all??

Try letting her sit in the car with it not moving several times a week. After she adjusts to that, take her on short rides. Gradually try to make the rides longer and longer. Don't feed her before you take her for rides. You can try crating her, but it may not make any difference.

[phnagel]

Hi dr. Harv, my question is i have a yr. old chessy in great health. The problem he has is a limp that started a few days ago after i had him swimming. It's his front left leg. He can run on it and do just about anything he did in the past but he limps. He showns no pain nor does the leg feel swollen. Could it just be a bruised or pulled muscle.And how long should i let him go before i see a vet.
Thank you for your time
Phil Nagel

[Dr Harv]

Phil............If there has been no improvement by now, I would get it checked out. It may be an injury. Lyme disease can also cause those symptoms. I don't think he injured it swimming. Let me know how you make out........Dr. Harv

[phnagel]

Thanks for the come back Dr. Harv. A few days after i wrote to you he stoped limping and he's doing fine. Thanks again, Phil.

[Jerseybuck]

Do dogs have Glands behind their jaw bone like people and should they be noticeable?

[Dr Harv]

Those glands are called submandibular lymph nodes. If they seem noticable to you, they are probably enlarged. You definitely want to get that checked out.

[runhunter]

My 6 month old weimaraner got sick sometime yesterday, vomiting/diarrhea etc, and was very lethargic. It's possible he ate some Preen, although I can't be sure. We were outside and he managed to nose his way under the garden fence, but I can't say if he definitely ate any or not. He was in slow motion for a few hours, but seemed to rebound later last night. I put half of his normal portion in his bowl and he finsihed it all. Within minutes, he was running around the back yard playing with his frisbee. I was on the fence about calling animal poison control, but some time had elapsed before we discovered he was sick. He was inside while we were doing yard work. Anyway, he seems to be better this morning and I'll continue to monitor him, and call my vet today if he still seems out of sorts. I just wanted to thank you for the quick reply. Parker appreciates it also..
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/Billy25883/P1.jpg

[Dr Harv]

I hope my email helped you. Glad to be of service!

[avasea]

Dr Harv-I have heard that there have been a lot of dogs in South Jersey getting Parvo this year. I know there are differences of opinion over the effectiveness of the vaccine and was curious of your opinion of it?

[meanmachine]

Dr. Harv, My GSP now turning 3 has always chased light reflections from windows or shadows from flying birds. Also he is gun shy. I had him with a trainer for a while and the gunshy seemed to decline but not go away entirely. I am thinking that some medication may help with the "compulsive" behavior chasing reflections/shadows and perhaps ease his anxiety over gunshot. What do you think from your knowledge/experience? Would any type med help? thanks much.

[meanmachine]

Does anyone else have an experience with a "calming" medication they used for their gundogs that seemed to help with gunshy? My dog is definitely birdy but the shotgun blast sets him off.

I got a 2nd pup Kramer - who seems just fine with the .22 blanks so I am happy with that. He is now 6 mos. and seems birdy but still a pup chasing butterflies, flys, birds and bees. I posted a thread in the dog section before. Will keep us all updated on his progress.


P.S. Dr Harv you gave me some solace a few years back when I had to put down my GSP Tyler due to very agressive prostate cancer. I thank you for your kind words. I posted it on the BassBarn and you replied kindly. Thank you again.

[levan]

Dr harv i have a 2 year old female who has not gone into heat yet?? Is this common because i have never heard of it?? Any idea???

[Dr Harv]

Avasea............The current available Parvo vaccine should be protective. Make sure your dog has had a vaccine within the last year.

Meanmachine.........There are calming medications, but my experience using them is that it does not seem to help the problem very much. Behavioral therapy, such as an experienced handler is likely your best bet. It is difficult to get a dog over being gun shy, but I have seen some handlers achieve some success. The compulsive shadow chasing may respond somewhat to medication, but my own experience is that a good behavioral therapist may be a better option.

Levan...........Sometimes dogs have silent heats, where they are actually cycling, but the obvious signs are not there. I would get her thyroid level checked to rule out that problem. Most likely, though, is that her heats will be more obvious in time. It is very rare to have a bitch that does not come into heat.

[levan]

thanks dr harv i will have that checked out

[avasea]

Thank you Dr Harv

[Kimosabe]

Dr Harv

I have a 5 year old lab who is in great health. I switched from Eukanuba dey food to Blue Buffalo chicken and rice about 5 months ago. He has developed dry skin and an order that I can't make go away. Do you have any suggestions as to what this might be and what dog food works best in your opinion.

[Dr Harv]

Eukanuba is one of the best foods on the market with a long track record. Usually dry skin associated with and odor is a condition called seborrhea. A vet can easily diagnose it and prescribe appropriate treatment.