My old dog, 14, is nearing the end of his life. Less than a week ago, I sensed something was wrong and took him to a veterinary hospital where blood tests showed that his kidney values were getting very bad. My dog had values of BUN 92, Creat 5.6, and Phosphorous of 7.7. They admitted my dog and gave him fluids and anti-nausea medication. The next day the bloodwork was repeated, and the same values were 111, 7.3, and 9.5 respectively. I was told my dog had a poor prognosis and that I could take him home for hospice and to give him fluids and more medication for nausea. I brought my dog home to be comfortable.

Yesterday, my own vet repeated the bloodwork, and the same values were 158, 7.2, and 9.6. In July, the values were 29, 1.4, and 3.6. What should I do? My dog is eating a low protein diet and doesn’t seem to act that weak or abnormal. Is kidney failure reversible? S.B.

Dear S.B.,

The typical treatment regimen for all forms of renal failure is infusing the patient with fluids to flush the kidneys, low protein diets to help lower the workload of the kidneys, and various supplements to improve kidney function if applicable. What you should do is exactly what you are doing in giving fluids presumably subcutaneously, anti-nausea medication, and a low protein diet. Keep him happy and comfortable. Normal BUN is 6-30, Creat 0.5-1.5, and Phosphorous 2.5-5.6.

Renal failure can be reversible depending on the cause, age of the dog, how long it has persisted, and many other factors. In his case, it appears quite clear that the key indicator values are going in the wrong direction day by day and that things are only getting worse.

No veterinarian, myself included, can give you a timeline but I suspect that, given the values, your dog’s lifetime is very limited. Clearly you have done all that you can for him so enjoy this time together. You will know when his time is up as he will likely become weak and lethargic, seem uncoordinated or disoriented, lose his appetite, have pale gums, and fail to thrive. Good luck at this difficult time.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

Like so many people, I find myself devastated and depressed about the events in the Middle East that started with the invasion and atrocities brought about by Hamas in Israel. This has led to an escalation that seems to be having effects all over the entire region. As badly as I may feel, I realize how insignificant that is to the many people who have lost everything, including life.

I was struck by a video of the initial attack which showed a dog being shot and killed. I cannot imagine how many animals have been injured or killed in this war. Despite feeling helpless in all of this, can you direct me as to how I may send some money to help the animals that have been caught up in the conflict? I also wonder about animals that have lost legs through injury. Do prosthetics work as well on our four-legged friends as they now do on people? I.A.

Dear I.A.,

My column is about animals and asking the vet what I think. The one thing that does bond most of humanity is a love for animals and a desire to care for them even if we do not care well for one another. There is an abundance of well-intentioned animal welfare and care groups here and abroad and I would direct you to the internet to research those that you would like to support with your philanthropy. Most, if not all, are worthy of your generosity and all the animals deserve our love and help.

I chaired the American Veterinary Medical Foundation a few years ago and it supports these kinds of issues in making sure the financial aid actually reaches the animals. For example, they have already given over $500,000 to support animal care and welfare in Ukraine. They have not yet met to consider support to animals in Israel and Gaza as it is very recent. They would welcome any contribution. As for prosthetics, they have proven to be helpful in dogs and cats but not in larger species per se. The reason they are not seen often is the cost, which usually runs from $1,000-$1,500, and the simple fact that dogs and cats do very well on three legs when they lose one. Thanks for your concern for man and animals alike.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My old German Shepherd is getting close to the end of his life. Our veterinarian has done a great job of keeping him going as his hind legs have continued to weaken over the last two years. We have put him on Rimadyl twice a day and we have used slings to get him up and laid down mats to help him get a grip on various floor surfaces.

He has also had occasional loose bowels for which we have given him metronidazole from time to time. It works very well. Is there any reason why we can’t keep him on it to prevent the loose bowels? Lately, he has had a few bouts of a little blood on his stool. Our vet he suggested the same medication which I had leftover and it worked. What could now be causing the bleeding, and should we have it checked out? W.W.

Dear W.W.,

It’s reassuring to know that your dog has continued to do reasonably well. The NSAID that you have been giving him, Rimadyl, is relatively safe to use long term with regular assessments of liver function by way of blood tests since that class of drugs can potentially cause liver issues. Metronidazole is a commonly used and effective drug for gastrointestinal issues since it fights bacteria and is anti-inflammatory. Its specific use is to treat giardia and a few other protozoal infections. It is typically given for a course of 5-7 days and should not be used long term as doing so could lead to serious adverse effects. These include liver failure with jaundice and neurological issues such as ataxia, weakness, disorientation, nystagmus of the eyes, and even seizures. Abnormal heart issues can also occur if used at too high a dose or for too long.

Speak with your veterinarian about options to treat the loose bowels such as bland diets, probiotics, etc. The recent blood seen in the stool could be due to many things. It could be a sign of some irritation or colitis, your dog may have eaten something that caused a little bleeding, or there could be something such as a polyp in the colon or rectum. If it continues, I would have it assessed by your veterinarian.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My cat is getting older, and I’ve noticed that she is not as nimble as she used to be. She is pushing 15 and she cannot jump up on the kitchen counter or other places like she used to. She is a bit overweight, and I suspect that she may have some arthritis. How would I know if she is in any kind of pain? I want her to be comfortable and content and if she were in any kind of discomfort, what could I give her for it? I’ve always been told that animals tolerate pain better than humans. Is that so? L.P.

Dear L.P.,

Several different pain scale assessments have been developed for cats in the past few years. But there are plenty of signs that one can look for to determine if a cat is painful in any way. These include decreased appetites, lethargy, being withdrawn or hiding, decreased movement, decreased interest in play, and being more vocal. One might see any of these signs or a combination of them, but they might also signify other problems or illnesses.

Some of the pain assessment methods for cats can be found online and these include the Feline Grimace Scale and the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale. These have been developed to help veterinarians assess and treat cats for pain, but pet owners can also learn about what to look for and then work in collaboration with their veterinarians to treat the cat if it is called for.

You can always video your cat and share it with your veterinarian. Pain in pets was never considered seriously several decades ago but today it is part of every proper physical examination and assessment as to overall health. I would consult with your veterinarian to determine if your cat really does need any kind of pain medication or supplements to her diet. Weight loss may also be of help to allow her to get around more easily. I suspect if she were truly in pain, you would probably know it.

As for whether animals tolerate pain better than humans, subjectively I agree. People cry with merely a paper cut whereas dogs, cats, and other species deal with pain better but it doesn’t mean that they should have to.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My dog is kenneled regularly at a local facility. I learned that another regular day boarder was diagnosed with scabies. The kennel plans to clean and disinfect the entire facility. What will they use to disinfect? More importantly, should I be concerned that my dog might contract this disease? The dogs all hang out together in the play yard daily. Should my family be concerned that we might catch something as well? L.B.

Dear L.B.,

Scabies is a highly contagious and transmissible disease caused by the mange mite Sarcoptes scabiei that burrow into the skin. These parasites can live in the environment and off a host for up to three weeks. They can live on furniture, rugs and more.

I would not be surprised if the kennel closed for a day or two to treat the facility with proper disinfectant containing permethrins. However, just because one dog that frequents the kennel was diagnosed with scabies does not mean that the facility is affected depending on when the dog was there prior to exposure and subsequent diagnosis.

Dogs and other species with scabies present with fairly intense itching and scratch a lot leading to rash and scabs. I suspect that all of the clients of the kennel have been advised to be on the lookout for their dogs itching but the kennel cannot necessarily be blamed or is at fault. I would keep an eye out for any itching that your dog exhibits since the possibility does exist that your dog and all the others there might be affected. Scabies can also be easily transmitted from dogs to humans so your family should also watch for itching and possible rashes. This will usually occur within three days of being in contact with an affected animal. If any of you do present with symptoms see your physician who will likely prescribe a permethrin skin cream.

You may choose to treat your dog to be safe even if there are no current symptoms. Consult with your vet for the right choice of medication. Several flea and tick preventatives in the isoxazoline class seem to work as does Ivermectin. If your dog already takes one of these, your dog may already be protected!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994

Not too long ago, I noticed a substantially sized growth on my cat’s underside. I adopted her from a shelter about 13 years ago as an adult cat. She was spayed at the shelter before I got her. When my vet showed me the growth more closely, it looked like she had a large fluid filled distended nipple. The vet recommended it be removed suggesting that it could be a cancerous growth. Could it be breast cancer or something else? The weird thing is she is scheduled to have it removed next week and the overall size of the swelling in the area is much smaller. Should I still proceed with the scheduled surgery? Why would a cancerous growth suddenly shrink? I’m also inclined not to have a biopsy done since she is so old, and it costs a lot.  A.H.

Dear A.H.,

One can never say whether a growth is cancerous or not unless a biopsy is done. Often, veterinarians might consider doing a fine needle aspirate first in which a few cells are obtained by needle from a growth and examined to see if cancer is present or not. Based on the history you give; it appears that the cat may have been spayed as a young adult so breast adenocarcinoma is surely a possibility but the fact that the nipple appeared as it was, and the growth underneath shrunk in size suggests to me that your cat may have a cystic breast condition that may not be cancerous or a mixed tissue mass.

Cystic tissue sometimes gets smaller, and I cannot help but wonder if fluid leaked out of the nipple to allow the size to be reduced. I would suggest you proceed with the removal of the affected tissues and then have the biopsy done.

Depending on the result, you may decide to proceed with an oncology referral if necessary and subsequent chemotherapy or radiation. I would also ask about a preliminary chest radiograph to make sure that there is no sign of metastasis to the lungs since that is the most common location for that to happen. Hopefully, the removal of the growth and proper diagnostics such as biopsy will yield favorable answers for you. Good luck.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994

I just adopted a new cat. He is adjusting well to his new home with me and my other cat. I lost another cat suddenly a few weeks ago. As I look at his neuter site, I notice there is still some swelling, and I cannot help but wonder if he was properly neutered. How can I be sure? My older cat that is approaching 13 has recently lost quite a bit of weight. Could it be because of the new younger cat being in the house or could it be something with his health? Could he be depressed because of the absence of the other cat? He seems normal, doesn’t always play with the young adult male, but seems to be eating less. What should I do? D.M.

Dear D.M.,

I am sure that your newly adopted cat was properly neutered. It is a relatively easy surgery and not prone to error or omissions. It is typical to have some localized swelling of the scrotal sac before it eventually contracts after which not much is seen in the area of where it originally was. The only way to be sure is to have the cat examined by your veterinarian.

As for your older cat, I also suggest that you have him seen and evaluated by your veterinarian. It is possible that he could be depressed from losing his former house mate or because he is not fully welcoming of the new cat or both. Has the weight loss started since the loss of the other cat or the introduction of the new one? That could be an important clue to solving the mystery.

One thing I would do is weigh him as soon as you can, so you have some data even though the apparent weight loss has already begun. Perhaps your veterinarian has a recent weight on your cat and can compare the results to see how much weight has actually been lost. Given his age, there are also health possibilities that come to mind. If he goes outdoors, a fecal exam to check for parasites could be done. If he is drinking more, I would assess for kidney changes. In summary, thinking about the history followed by a thorough physical examination and any necessary diagnostic tests should yield answers. Hopefully he will be fine. Good luck.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I had three dogs, but I lost the oldest to a coyote a few months ago. I was devastated. Over the past few days, my nine-year-old Miniature Schnauzer started acting strange. He became quite lethargic, stopped eating, and started drinking a lot. I took him to my vet who ran blood tests and said that he was in kidney failure. His values were very high. What does that mean? They suggest I bring him in for fluids for four hours every day for the next five days. My dog was fine until a few days ago and I have no idea what might have caused this. Could it be diet, chewing the grass, or eating a white flower in front of my house? How does one know what kind of chances he might have for getting better or a longer life? What do you recommend? S.S.

Dear S.S.,

One does need to be wary in areas where coyotes roam and I’m sorry for your loss. Renal or kidney failure can be classified into three basic types: acute, subacute, and chronic. One needs to look at the specific blood values and the history of onset when deciding treatment and prognosis. The values are blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine. SDMA values can add additional information. The levels of those values and a few others, such as phosphorous, can give you a sense of what lies in store.

Treatment primarily involves fluid therapy (dialysis). I cannot address why your veterinarian is suggesting daily fluid treatment rather than hospitalizing your dog for continuous fluid infusion, but I am sure they have their reasons. It is not likely that your dog’s diet was the causative agent here but eating grass that has been treated with chemicals might have caused an acute or sudden renal failure. Eating certain plants or flowers can also cause renal failure. You need to inform your vet of the white flower ingestion and show them a photograph of other flowers of the same kind.

It sounds as if your dog has acute renal failure and his chances for getting better depends on the degree of kidney damage and how long it has gone on. Good luck!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

Our dog seems to have a gut that can tolerate anything. He gets into things that he shouldn’t and consumes them, occasionally gets a little vomiting and diarrhea but it always resolves, and we never need to have him seen for an upset stomach. Is this unusual? Recently, he got into some of our leftovers and there was pork in it. It caused no problems. As I think about it, I never see pork in dog food but rather almost every other kind of meat such as beef, chicken, lamb, and even special diets with items such as duck or venison. Is there a reason for this and if so, why? Would it be problematic to give a dog pork once in a while? B.G.

Dear B.G.,

It is not unusual for some dogs to have stronger digestive tolerance than others and it seems clear that your dog does. Pork is not usually found in many dog foods since so much of a pig is utilized for human consumption and there are some risks such as higher fat content depending on the cuts of meat used which in turn can cause issues such as pancreatitis.

However, some dog foods can and do contain some pork products. Processed pork often has lots of seasoning and spices in it which can also cause problems, but dogs can eat a small amount of cooked pork if it is trimmed of any fat, not seasoned at all, and fully cooked.

If you do want to feed your dog pork, like all else, start with a small amount to see if it is tolerated and even then, do everything in moderation, again making sure it is lean, trimmed of fat and has no spices on it.

The meats used in dog foods have been tested for safety and nutritional value for years and the special novel protein diets with certain meats are reserved for dogs with specific issues such as allergies and gastrointestinal sensitivity. Remember that there are stray dogs that eat anything they find, including garbage, and they seem to get by. However, I would always suggest that you feed your dog a balanced and nutritional brand of dog food in consultation with your veterinarian.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

About a year ago, I lost my Pitbull that I had for many years. He developed a swollen ear (hematoma). It was drained a few times without much success until I found a vet who suggested surgery to fix the problem. It worked! Why didn’t the other vets do the same? Recently, I adopted a young male Pitbull who is an absolute love. Just by chance, he recently developed a swelling of the left ear reminiscent of what my old dog had. It was smaller than what I experienced with my other dog and since it was the weekend, I took him in to a large emergency hospital. I think they drained a small amount of fluid and then sent me home with a steroid, and antibiotic, and some pain meds to calm him down. It seems to be healing but what is the right way to address this kind of problem? B.T.

Dear B.T.,

The condition that your dogs had is what is known as aural hematomas. They arise often from shaking their heads a lot secondary to an ear infection. By shaking their heads, the flaps of their ears hit against the side of their head. Vessels located in the ear between the skin and ear cartilage, usually on the inside of the flap known as the pinna, rupture and create a blood-tinged fluid filled cavity. It is not uncommon to try draining the ear hematoma once or twice before resorting to surgical repair. One approach is to drain the ear and then infuse the drained area with a corticosteroid. This is done more commonly now than previously when veterinarians often opted for surgery more rapidly. The surgery usually involves creating an opening or drainage and then “tacking down” the ear skin to the cartilage thereby inducing it to adhere and heal.

Another is treating the dog with several oral medications. One needs to address the ear infection, if one is present, and then use corticosteroids to reduce the swelling and inflammation. While surgery is still commonly used for this problem, it is usually reserved for recurrence of the problem.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My Labrador Retriever just turned 14 and has been healthy for the most part, but he takes a thyroid supplement. He recently developed what sounded like a respiratory cough with some lethargy. I took him to an emergency facility that suggested he had kennel cough, and they gave me some cough medication. With no improvement, I brought him to a local veterinarian, and they ran all kinds of tests including x-rays and a tracheal wash. What they found was some kind of bacteria as well as a weak larynx.

What can be done for this? They gave me some medications but not much has changed. They called it larpar and discussed possible therapeutic options also noting that not much usually works. What could have caused this and is it painful for him? It sounds like he struggles when he’s breathing a good deal of the time. S.D.

Dear S.D.,

Larpar is a shortened term for laryngeal paralysis. Male dogs seem to have this more than females. This is caused by a neuromuscular disease that is often not well understood. Larpar can be caused by trauma, masses, nerve compromise, muscle disorders, and even low thyroid levels although the latter is not well documented, and it is not reversible. Some suggest nutrition may even be a possible added cause.

The antibiotics were probably given to address the bacteria found on the tracheal wash. Larpar is not painful although the raspy breathing can be upsetting. Surgery can be done for more severe cases with some success. The most performed surgery involves placing sutures to tie back the paralyzed cartilage, but one needs to be careful when feeding the dog to prevent aspiration of food and water.

Milder cases are treated with anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics if infections are present, and sedatives to keep the dog calm. It sounds as if that is how your veterinarian is approaching your dog’s condition for now. It’s important to avoid hot or poorly ventilated situations and using a harness instead of a collar and leash is also recommended to reduce possible strain on the neck. Despite the disconcerting noises, your dog is not in pain.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

Our family is heartbroken after we had to put our elderly mother’s 13-year-old Terrier to sleep. We are thinking about getting her a new dog and would welcome any thoughts about what might be good for a woman who is 90. We have some questions about what happened to our old family dog. He was in reasonable health except for having developed a heart murmur about two years ago. It had progressed but was being managed by a cardiologist. Just before things turned badly, the dog had not been eating for two days and was more tired than usual. We called our vet and sent him a video. He noticed the dog was panting and had labored breathing and referred us into an emergency facility. There, we were told that the dog had a heart rate of 20, and it was determined that not much could be done short of surgery to place a pacemaker. We opted not to put the dog through the difficulty given the risks, life expectancy, and cost. What causes a dog’s heart to slow down so much? H.S.

Dear H.S.,

Sorry for your loss. The normal heart rate for an elderly dog, somewhat dependent on the size of the dog, is somewhere between 60-140 with larger dog size associated with slower heart rates. With a rate of 20, your mother’s dog had what is called bradycardia and at that level it is high risk for collapse or death unless emergency intervention is done. Short term, injectables such as atropine or glycopyrrolate can be given but the underlying condition needs to be addressed. The suggestion of a pacemaker suggests to me that a primary cardiac issue was at hand and was probably the only true means to help the dog. Likely causes of a primary cardiac issue include sinus node problems such as sick sinus syndrome or some kind of atrioventricular block of electrical conductivity.

From what you describe, the dog already had a cardiac issue for some time and eventually the heart simply started to fail. As for getting another dog for your mother, be sure that she not only wants another companion but can care for it. I would suggest a small dog that might be easier to care for.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I am a senior citizen living with a senior cat who is almost 15. I was ill at the end of last year and I had someone care for my cat while I got better and eventually returned home. While I was apart from my cat, the kind person who cared for him had him get an annual checkup and vaccines. I was told that he was developing cataracts. My cat does not seem to be blind at this time and still gets around my small apartment. The eyes also do not appear cloudy but then again, my vision isn’t too good either. How can I tell if he needs to have the cataracts addressed and what is the treatment? Is this usually in one eye or both and how quickly do they progress? Is this common and what causes cataracts in cats? I want my cat to be comfortable and not in any kind of discomfort or pain. Thanks! C.A.

Dear C.A.,

Cataracts in cats are uncommon especially when compared to dogs and people. The causes in cats for development of cataracts are not always clear and include genetics, various metabolic causes, inflammation of the eye, and nutrition in young cats.

As you suggest, cloudy and hazy eyes are what one looks for with cataracts, but this can be caused by other things as well. Additionally, cats going blind with cataracts or other reasons often bump into lots of things but actually learn to manage quite well indoors. Incipient cataracts only affect a small amount of the lens and can progress to a fully mature cataract with complete lens opacity. Your veterinarian can assess if the cataract(s) need to be addressed depending on if it is one eye or both. This would be dependent on the cause.

Progression time varies from one animal to the next. The good news is that cataracts are not painful. There is no specific medication that can be given to rid the cataracts or slow their development, but anti-inflammatory eye ointments or drops might be used if called for. The only specific treatment is surgery to replace the lens with an implant and it can get rather expensive. If suggested by your veterinarian, you might need to seek a veterinary ophthalmologist to do the surgery. Just know that your cat is probably comfortable now and doesn’t know one way or the other.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

About two weeks ago, my 14-year-old Retriever X developed a persistent hacking cough. I took him in to see my local vet and they ran bloodwork and took chest x-rays. They determined he had a type of kennel cough and gave me some antibiotics and a cough medication. With things not improving that much, I then took him to a specialty hospital.. The diagnosis was pretty much the same and no additional medications were given. His energy level seems a little off. Can kennel cough last this long and do I need to keep him away from my sister’s dog or other dogs since my dog and my sister’s dog have been together this entire time. Why did my dog get kennel cough if he is vaccinated for it and why has her dog not developed the same cough? V.H.

Dear V.H.,

Kennel cough is a broadly used term that describes a contagious viral cough in dogs caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica as well as other strains of various coughs. It seems as if your veterinarian did the proper workup. If they felt it wasn’t too significant then it hopefully is not. Antibiotics were probably given to prevent a secondary bacterial infection from developing but do nothing in combating any virus. The cough medication was probably the best thing for your dog to calm the coughing and hacking.

Since a specialty hospital had nothing to add suggests to me that your dog does have a viral cough and all one can do is to provide supportive care ensuring the dog continues to eat and drink normally. I have seen versions of kennel cough last for four months or more. Even if your dog was vaccinated against kennel cough, viral coughs of different strains can still affect a dog. I cannot explain why your sister’s dog has not gotten the same cough other than her dog is likely resistant and probably has antibodies to whatever strain of virus that your dog has. I think the two dogs can still hang out but perhaps keep them away from other dogs for another week or so in case they are still contagious. I would ask your vet for more of the cough suppressant  to give your dog some relief.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I adopted a cat, Marty, a few months ago from a shelter. He has settled in fairly well. I had another cat named Mick that I had to put to sleep last fall after a protracted illness. Recently, I have found Marty urinating outside of his litter box in various locations around the apartment. I wonder if he does it because of any smells of my previous cat still lingering in the apartment. What could other causes for this new behavior be? I clean out his litter box every day.  Am I doing something wrong? He seems content, has the run of the house, but I need to find a way to stop this from happening. Any suggestions you might have would be appreciated. K.R.

Dear K.R.,

There is always the possibility that your new cat found some residual odors in your home that has triggered his urinating or marking behavior in the home, but it is not highly likely. I presume that Marty is neutered and the fact that the inappropriate voiding did not start at the beginning makes this less of a possibility. Since this does not happen all the time, a urinary tract infection is not likely but cannot be ruled out. Despite that, this sounds mostly like a behavioral problem.

Cats urinate outside of the box if they are upset even if it is not obvious. Various causes for a cat being upset include a change in your schedule, visitors, noises outside or in the building that are new, a box that the cat deems is improperly cleaned, or anything that has changed in his and your daily routine. It can take some sleuthing to figure it out.

Here are a few things you can try doing. Change the brand of litter, if the box is uncovered then get a covered box or vice versa, move the location of the litter box, get a second litter box, or try purchasing one of the many pheromones one can find to relax a cat and change behavior such as Feliway.

I would contact your veterinarian as well to see what they say. They might want to make sure the cat has no problems in the bladder such as urinary stones, or anything else. Discuss your plans of action with them. As a last resort, they might recommend anxiolytic medication.  Good luck!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My boyfriend and I share in the ownership of a nine-month-old Brittany Spaniel. He is slightly hyperactive to say the least. Our difference in opinion comes down to whether we should neuter our dog. Are there any negative side effects? My boyfriend is convinced that this would make our dog lazier and fatter and take away his high level of energy. Frankly, slowing him down some might not be such a bad idea. I have always heard and believed that it was advisable to neuter male dogs much like it is important to spay a female dog. I’m convinced that this is a bit of a macho thing. Lastly, how soon should we have this done if we are to go forward in agreement on the subject? B.V.

Dear B.V.,

For a very long time, the benefits of neutering male dogs have been well understood. I list the following in no specific order of importance. The benefits include eliminating the risk of testicular cancer, greatly reducing any chance of prostatic disease such as hypertrophy or neoplasia, prevention of perineal hernias and local tumors, reducing the pet population, decreased aggression, decreased hyperactivity, makes training easier, reduces likelihood of roaming or running off, and decreases marking behaviors.

Neutering also increases lifespan by 1-3 years and one study showed a 13.8 % longer lifespan. Typically, the recommendation is to neuter male dogs at six to nine months of age. Frankly, I think your dog will benefit by being neutered at any age, but I would proceed sooner rather than later so I hope you can agree to do this. Brittany Spaniels are high energy dogs and reducing the dog’s hyperactivity might be desired. As to your boyfriend’s points, your dog will not get lazier or fatter if neutered because of neutering alone. As for negative side effects, you cannot breed a dog once the dog is neutered, and some more recent studies have suggested an increased incidence of joint disease. I always wonder if men opposed to neutering their male dogs feel the same way about spaying their female dogs but that’s the veterinarian in me speaking. Good luck in resolving the issue!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994

My nine-year-old Keeshond weighs around 54 lbs. In the last month or two, I have noticed that he is much slower getting up and down, cannot jump up on my couch anymore, and it appears that his hind legs shake at times. What could the possible cause of his slowing down and apparent discomfort? I would like to keep him comfortable and wonder what diagnostics might be needed and what treatments might help. I suppose I should call my vet to see what can be done but I am fearful of possibly receiving bad news. E.D.

Dear E.D.,

As we and our pets age, things slow down and we find that there is not enough strength and stamina to do things as were done in younger years. There are several possibilities that might explain what you are seeing with your dog. First and foremost of these is simple arthritis which can affect dogs at different ages. Your dog may have also simply suffered a bad back sprain and anti-inflammatory medications might resolve the problems.

Other possibilities include ankylosing spondylosis with compromise of nerves that come off the spinal cord, hip dysplasia, disc degeneration, degenerative myelopathy and more. There may even be more than one of these conditions going on simultaneously. The diagnostics would begin with a good physical and neurological examination followed by radiographs of the spine and possible MRI. Other tests may include checking his overall bloodwork, cerebrospinal fluid or various neuromuscular tests. The treatment will be dependent upon the cause of what is developing.

With earlier intervention, diagnostics, and appropriate therapies, your dog will stand a much better chance of being comfortable and slowing down the effects of the aging that you are seeing. His weight does not sound too heavy for his breed but getting him to lose some weight would make it easier for him as well. If you want to help your dog then you do need to contact your veterinarian and start the workup. Until then, keeping him comfortable would involve limiting his mobility and perhaps using 325 mg buffered or coated aspirin once or twice a day.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

Our family has two Shih Tzus, one male and one female. The female, who is almost five, recently freaked us out with some odd behavior. We were at home and suddenly she started drooling heavily, defecated, and seemed out of sorts for a few minutes. We quickly called our vet who had us bring her in. The vet checked her out and found nothing to be out of sorts. We took her home and overall, she seemed to be quiet for the rest of the day. We were told that she probably had an episode of epilepsy, that she would likely be fine, and to keep an eye on her. Should we be concerned and what next? Is her breed prone to epilepsy and should we worry about our other dog? They are not littermates but from the same breeder. C.P.

Dear C.P.,

There are quite a few dog breeds that are prone to epilepsy but the Shih Tzu is not one of those. Despite that, idiopathic epilepsy, which means there is no specific cause, can happen in any dog breed. Most epileptic seizures in dogs are characterized by various clinical signs including, drooling, falling over and paddling with their feet, urinating, defecating, disorientation and more. Most of these seizures last only one or two minutes. It can then take up to 10 minutes for the dog to appear normal again.

Drooling accompanied by a seizure can also occur after ingesting something toxic and vomiting may also occur. I am sure that your veterinarian was very specific in asking about the possibility of the dog ingesting anything unusual. Bloodwork might have been in order, but I defer to the veterinarian who saw the dog. I do not believe that you need to be too concerned at this time, but I would suggest you start a log to record day, time, and length of this past episode and any more that might come along. Should seizures start to occur with some increased frequency and regularity, then bloodwork would be done, and the dog started on any one or combination of various anti-seizure drugs. Should any seizure last more than a brief amount of time or repeatedly one should always get that dog into an emergency facility. I doubt that your other dog is at any risk, but one never knows for sure. Hopefully, all will be fine.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994

Our 12-year-old  Spaniel X  is in good health according to our vet. Our vet does feel that his teeth need to be addressed. He has a fair amount of tartar and, as you might imagine, his breath is pretty offensive. His gums are very red which we were told suggests that he has gingivitis. To assess whether our dog would be a safe risk for anesthesia to have his teeth cleaned, our vet did a blood panel. What was found was an elevation of something called ALT at a level of 140. Apparently, this has something to do with his liver function and it might influence his tolerance for general anesthesia. Would you proceed with a dental cleaning given the findings? What can be done for the gingivitis since the cleaning probably won’t get rid of that? N.M.

Dear N.M.,

What does your veterinarian think? ALT is a liver specific enzyme and I have written recent columns about risks associated with various elevations in certain blood values. Depending on the lab values that one uses to be considered normal, ALT at the upper end of normal is between 120 and 130 in dogs. As with many blood parameters, levels often go up with older age. Since your dog is now 12, I do not consider a value of 140 to be excessively high but I would limit the use of any drugs that might compromise the liver, namely the use of NSAIDs.

One must always weigh out the risks and benefits and I would think that given how he is now, I would likely proceed. One could consider using supplements that promote liver health as well and probably recheck the liver values a few months after the anesthetic procedure. The dental cleaning will be somewhat helpful in cleaning off some of the bacteria associated with the tartar and plaque, which can cause some of the gingivitis. After the procedure, I am sure that your veterinarian will suggest regular brushing of the teeth and the gums (gingiva) to improve the oral health. Hopefully, the cleaning will improve his breath,  his oral and thereby overall health, and start to get rid of the gingivitis.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I have read your column with interest for a long time! It has always been a great source of information. Today I write to you regarding heartworm and how often preventatives should be given. Some of my friends have been told that since we are in the Northeast that there is much less risk for heartworm disease to occur and, as such, the preventative monthly pills need only be given during the warmer summer months. Is that correct or appropriate? I have always given my dogs the heartworm preventative medications throughout the year as my vet has always suggested. D.C.

Dear D.C.,

Thank you for your kind words. I have been writing my column going back to 1987 and it has been gratifying to think that I have been able to answer questions and give advice about pets and matters relating to veterinary medicine for so long.

Your question is timely as we step into the warmer summer months and, interestingly enough, my first column was about heartworm! To my chagrin, there are a few veterinarians in the northern states that do not emphasize the need for heartworm preventatives to be given year-round. Since heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, those doctors and some owners do not see the need for such protection. That is a wrongful assumption and a recent report based on 2022 and 2023 data has shown an increase in incidence of heartworm, not only in known prevalent areas such as the Deep South but also unexpected states such as Connecticut and Massachusetts.

This is primarily due to insufficient use of preventatives, warmer temperatures allowing mosquitoes to exist around here even in winter months with warm spells, and mostly from adoption of dogs from areas where there is more heartworm disease.

In summary, I do not feel it sufficient or appropriate to give heartworm preventative less than year-round and many of those products give added benefit of protecting against intestinal parasites as well, so keep giving your dog’s preventatives as you always have and hope your friends do the same.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My Golden Retriever is about to turn 14. As you might expect, she has several typical maladies associated with old dog age, including arthritis and weakness in getting up and down, cloudy eyes and reduced vision, poor hearing, and less energy. She is on several medications such as Amlodipine, Trazodone, Meloxicam, and Tresaderm. We used to live in California where she was started on all of these medications. We have been East for over six months, and she is doing OK. She has had chronic ear infections for years and, as a result, developed stenotic ear canals and calcification. My husband was just offered a position back West. Our previous vet told us that flying with the ear calcification could be damaging to her and we want to avoid that. Since she has been on this coast, her ear issues have completely resolved. Do you think we could fly her across the country when we move again?  B.McD.

Dear B. McD.,

As I review the various medications that you dog is taking, I suspect that one is for blood pressure, one for anxiety, one for pain and inflammation management, and one for ear infections, that being the Tresaderm. Chronic ear infections can be extremely painful to dogs and can lead to narrowed ear canals and calcification known as otosclerosis.

The fact that your dog’s ears have completely cleared up on this side of the country mean that you either treated them long enough to finally clear up the infections or that she possibly had atopic allergies before that are gone since she either outgrew them or is exposed to a different environment now. I would have a good otoscopic examination done to visualize the eardrums (tympanum) to be sure they are clear, glistening, and not ruptured. If the ears look normal at this time, I suspect that she should be able to travel by air without any problems. Realize that when you return out West that the allergic ear problems, if that is what they were, might well return.

Using the Trazadone and meloxicam should help ease any discomfort she might feel on the plane or on any given day. Good luck with the move and keeping her comfortable.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I had two 17-year-old sister cats until one died two months ago. The remaining sister has been losing weight for a few months. I finally had my vet look at her. They took bloodwork, and the diagnosis came back as her being hyperthyroid. I was told that it was consistent with her weight loss. I was given a few options on how to treat her and I opted for using a transdermal paste because one option was too expensive and the other meant giving her pills or oral liquids and she is difficult to handle or medicate. Should this option work and what is your experience in using such a form of treatment?  B.L.

Dear B.L.,

I am sorry for your loss of one of the cats but luckily you have a diagnosis on your remaining cat that will allow you to have her for a few years to come. Cats with hyperthyroidism typically present with weight loss with a simultaneous ravenous appetite and are often found to have rapid heart rates. The excess thyroid hormone production puts their metabolism in high gear.

In the past, surgical removal of the thyroid gland was done but for the most part that is no longer done. Another option was a radioactive iodine treatment of I-131 that typically costs over $1,500. There is a dietary means of treatment with a prescription diet called Hill’s y/d and some have had success using that. Going forward, you should avoid feeding her fish foods and canned foods are better for her in providing more moisture to replace fluids lost with increased urine production as well as providing the high protein and high calorie levels that she needs. The drug of choice to treat hyperthyroidism is methimazole, either given in pill form, compounded into tuna or chicken flavored liquid form, or transdermal pastes which can be rubbed on the inside of the ears. Since you just started treatment, a follow up blood test should be done in 1-2 months to make sure that she is being dosed appropriately. After that and depending on how she is doing, checkups with bloods should be done every 6 or 12 months.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

Our German Shepherd is 13 years old and was diagnosed last year as being anemic, found to have a mass on her spleen, had it removed, and luckily it was benign. Arthritis has set in, and our vet gave us Rimadyl which seems to work well but it is costly! I understand there is a generic version which costs less but is it equally effective? She has had intermittent diarrhea and an upset stomach with some regularity. Tests have shown no parasites. She does have a propensity to get into various things that she ingests outdoors such as feces from wildlife and even garbage. Can I give her Tums to settle her stomach? Most of the time, the diarrhea resolves. Sometimes there is also some vomiting. What do you suggest? I am almost too embarrassed to contact my vet about the same issue again and again. W.M.

Dear W.M.,

Let me start by saying that I am happy for you that the splenic mass proved to be benign since so many are malignant hemangiosarcomas that often lead to a very shortened life. The NSAID drug, Rimadyl, is my favorite drug of choice when such a medication is called for. As with most drugs, generic options are available, and you can surely ask your veterinarian to order or prescribe it for your dog. It’s worth a try to see if the efficacy is the same. If not, you can always go back to what you are using now.

As for the gastrointestinal issues, the first thing is that you need to be vigilant in watching what she ingests. I suspect that, given the history, a lot of what you see is due to her eating things that she shouldn’t. Tums is not something you should give your dog! It has an ingredient known as xylitol which is highly toxic to dogs. If your dog has an upset stomach, giving Pepcid or Prilosec could be used safely but do not do so without consulting with your veterinarian first. It is not uncommon that pet owners reach for over-the-counter human medications for common ailments but, while some may be safe to give, dosing can be much different or inappropriate all together. The good news is that it seems your old dog’s GI issues often resolve spontaneously. Never hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

As I look outside my kitchen window, I see a nest of robins in a tree. Our kitchen is on the second floor of our townhouse so it’s perfect for viewing the birds. I’ve watched the babies for almost a week, and I can see their heads as they stretch for their feeding. I’ve got great photographs!

How much longer can these three babies squeeze into the nest as they grow and when will they step out to learn how to fly? It seems that both parents come and go with food. I’ve seen what appeared to be insects and even bees in their beaks and now I see some worms too. Is that a typical diet and when will the young eat on their own? Lastly, if one or two should fall, is it safe for me to put them back in the nest or on the branches around the nest? C.H.

Dear C.H.,

It seems that you have a perfect bird’s eye view, no pun intended! The eggs hatch approximately two weeks after they are laid. The first meals are regurgitated by the parents deep into the young birds’ throats and since you are seeing the whole insects and worms being fed to them now, I suspect the young are close to about a week of age or more. That means you might see them start to emerge from the nest soon since they do so after about ten days after hatching. By two weeks of age, they are usually out.

The diet that you have observed is diet for these birds and when they step out of the nest, they will slowly start to eat food presented to them on their own. Within days after fledging, the birds start learning how to fly on their own. If they fall to the ground, the parents find them and help feed them for a few days as they stay at ground level learning to fly. If you do find one of the fledglings on the ground, it is safe to place them back in the tree near the nest to protect them from the environment. By two weeks after leaving the nest, most have learned how to fly and feed themselves and off they go. Our younger son will graduate from college this weekend and he will fly on his own like his older brother but, unlike the birds, we will still be here for them. That’s life.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I have read with a lot of concern about the seven horses that died leading up to the Kentucky Derby last week. I am hoping that you might shed some light on why the horses died and why they could not be saved. Apparently, when racehorses seriously injure their legs, they usually need to be put down. Why can’t they have surgery and be healed like dogs and cats? I have read about the use of illegal substances and pushing the horses too hard leading to a high rate of death in racehorses in the U.S. Is that true and what can be done about it? I.L.

Dear I.L.,

Horse racing has been around for an eternity and is seeded in culture, not only in the US but around the world. In 2019, there were 30 horse deaths in a short period of time in California at the Santa Anita racetrack, Then and now, racing officials have done a great deal to ensure safe racing conditions for the horses and their riders by checking track conditions, routinely testing blood, urine, and hair for banned substances, and more and they continue to do so.

Despite best efforts, accidents still happen, and the injuries can lead to euthanasia of the animals. Anatomically speaking, horses are standing on their middle fingers and toes and not on a broader area distributing the weight of their bodies. When horses break their legs, the bones suffer difficult fractures but more significantly, some animals don’t recover well due to the weight-bearing load and stress on the bones, the subsequent pain, and the poor healing of the distal bones. Ninety percent do have surgery, recover well, and even return to racing. The other 10% have damage to the blood supplies to the distal leg impeding healing and a horse cannot survive standing on three legs.

Sadly, horse racing has long had a drug culture within it in trying to give horses an edge to win and these animals are pushed to the limit. The good news is that the Jockey Club has had a database for over a decade looking to reduce injuries and deaths and the work is paying off with numbers coming down dramatically.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I recently brought my nine-year-old cat in for a dental cleaning and what I thought was 1-2 extractions on teeth that my vet identified as needing to come out on an oral exam done a few weeks ago. On the day of the procedure, I received a phone call from the hospital notifying me that more extractions would be necessary based on x-rays taken that morning under anesthesia. The cost went up considerably too. I was informed that the x-rays identified that there were huge defects on one upper fang tooth and smaller ones on the other three fangs. Will my cat have trouble eating when losing so many teeth? Since when did x-rays become standard in doing cleanings on pet mouths and why wouldn’t they remove all the teeth with defects or do fillings? N.C.

Dear N.C.,

Dental radiographs in pets are becoming the proper standard of care and is seen in more practices all the time.  Dental x-rays allow a veterinarian to visualize what is hidden behind the gumline as well as defects not readily or easily seen on an oral exam, especially if the defects are on the inside surfaces of the teeth.

That may have been the case with your cat’s canine tooth (the fang) and it sounds as if that was a resorptive lesion, something commonly seen in cats. When this kind of evaluation reveals more problems, it is fair to charge more for the additional work needed. There are board certified veterinary dental specialists who have additional training to deal with difficult extractions and your cat is better off having them do it if needed.

Cats and dogs can do very well having many teeth extracted and some cats are actually better off when they have severe oral disease and have all their teeth removed! They can eat perfectly well, and existing pain is removed. More often than not extractions are done in pets, but fillings can be an option in the correct circumstances but is typically only done by specialists and, in my experience, more often in dogs than cats. I expect that your cat will be better off after all of the dental work is done.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My husband and I own three cats that are all in good health. Recently they had their annual exams and two were determined to need dental cleanings and an extraction or two. Bloodwork was done to assess their suitability for anesthesia, and it turned out that one of the cats had a high total bilirubin. What is bilirubin and what does the high value mean? I asked my vet, and he talked about doing something called bile acids and some other diagnostic tests if a recheck in a few weeks’ time did not show a normalization of the increased value. My vet said that all the other bloodwork seemed relatively normal and since my cat showed no sign of being jaundiced then it may have been a fluke finding. Should I be concerned? S.M.

Dear S.M.,

Bilirubin is something that the body makes upon the breakdown or destruction of red blood cells. Red blood cells in cats have a life of about two to three months before they stop functioning and are broken down for elimination by the body as a course of normal action. It is found in bile which is produced in the liver to help in the digestion of food.

The high value can have various meanings. It is true that what was found might have been a fluke finding that might correct itself, given the lack of other significant changes in the bloodwork. Moderate increases in total bilirubin in cats may have no explanation. The absence of your cat being jaundiced might also suggest an incidental finding. However, it could also be a clue that something is wrong or is developing and a possible problem would be localized to the liver, the gallbladder, or something causing increased breakdown of red blood cells known as hemolysis.

Further diagnostics might include bile acids, abdominal ultrasound, biopsies, and more. I would hold off on being concerned until follow up bloodwork is done and then your veterinarian can instruct you further as needed. Good luck.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

There has been some recent coverage regarding ticks and the problems they transmit. Apparently, this has become more of an issue this year due to the warmer winter that we had with less snow. Is this true? I heard about two other diseases that ticks can transmit to dogs, but even humans as well. How concerned should I be with these two emerging diseases or are they really that new? My dog does take a monthly chewable flea and tick medication for 8-9 months a year and it seems that giving it year-round should now be considered. What do you advise? B.A.

Dear B.A.,

As you point out, there has been some recent news coverage in the New England area regarding tick-borne diseases which seem to be on the rise due to warmer weather. It has been enough of an issue that the Centers for Disease Control has called Massachusetts an endemic area for one of the two conditions you refer to, namely Babesiosis. The other illness Anaplasmosis. There are two other tick-borne pathogens that we see with some regularity, and they are Lyme Disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia. None of these are new diseases.

The typical blood test that your dog gets annually tests for heartworm, Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis. All of these can cause problems that can range from mild to severe in your dog and in people, so I believe there is adequate reason for concern. Clinical signs in various species can include loss of appetite, lethargy, lameness, kidney problems, heart problems, headaches, anemia, and other blood conditions. While there is a vaccine for dogs to prevent Lyme Disease, there is nothing available to prevent these other agents from causing disease, so preventive measures become that much more important. There are no vaccines available for humans to prevent infection by these agents. Having gone through a mild winter and never knowing what weather might bring in the future, I do think it advisable to use tick prevention all year in this part of the country.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

My wife and I have a two-year-old Goldendoodle and a four-year-old mixed breed Shepherd. Every time the Doodle sees another dog, he wants to lunge and get into a fight. Thankfully, we always have him on leash. Despite that, he has gotten to two dogs and broken their skin fighting for which I had to pay the vet bill. Now, even our own two dogs seem to get grumpy with one another. Can you share any possible solutions that might curb his aggression? What could be the cause? We have had him since he was a puppy, he is neutered and healthy, and always sweet with all people. We are at wits end. W.S.

Dear W.S.,

Sometimes, one does not know the causative agent behind any given dog’s aggressive tendencies. It might have been one episode of which you were completely unaware, there could be an underlying health issue. Sometimes there was a lack of socialization as puppies, sometimes it is being protective of you or possessive behavior, and the longer it is allowed to continue, it can become habit. The potentially good news for you is that today, between training behavior modification and medications when called for, we can usually reduce these aggressions.

I would start with behavior modifying techniques. When you walk the Doodle, always have treats on hand. When he exhibits these bad behaviors around other dogs, redirect his attention to the dog treat and give it to him. This known as counter conditioning. After a month or two, you redirect any of his anxiety or aggression to being given a treat and he learns to forget his hostility towards any other dogs.

There are also various leaders and harnesses that have proven to be useful. Continue to keep him on a leash or use one of these but maintain control! If these options are unsuccessful, you might need to consider behavior modifying medication used alone or with training techniques. Trazodone is one drug used for this, as is Prozac. There are others as well. Your veterinarian should be able to help you or you may also want to consult with a veterinary behaviorist.  Good luck!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

I am an usher at church this Easter Sunday and I seek your counsel on whether I should bring home one or two of the Easter Lily plants after our services. I own two cats that are young and mischievous. They love to get into things, and I understand that these plants can be toxic to cats. What does it do to them?  Also, my house cleaner said that in her home country of Brazil there is a new cat disease going around that is also dangerous to people that she heard about from her relatives. Have you heard anything about this and, if so, what is it? Thanks, and Happy Easter. S.W.

Dear S.W.,

Easter lilies are indeed highly toxic and dangerous to cats, as are other lily plants. Ingesting even any amount of the plant, and cats are prone to chewing plants and leaves, can lead to renal failure and even death. Cats that do eat the plants can vomit and become weak eventually leading to drinking and urinating more, oral lesions, heavy breathing, and more.

If you do intend to bring plants home after church, make sure your cats stay away from them. To be safe, I would probably not bring those plants home to two young and mischievous cats. If a cat has ingested these lilies, immediate therapy by a veterinarian is essential to prevent irreversible kidney damage. I mean immediate to be less than 6-12 hours. This treatment includes inducing vomiting if not too late to do so, ingesting neutralizers to bind up the toxin, and intravenous fluid dialysis.

As for your second question, the CDC has just also issued a warning about the cat issue in Brazil which is a zoonotic one that can affect humans. Apparently, it has now reached epidemic levels there. There is concern here of possible migration to our borders. The cause is a fungus called Sporothrix which causes skin lesions in both cats and humans through bites, scratches, direct contact, inhalation, or even by indirect contact with the spores of the fungus. Luckily, sporotrichosis is treatable with an anti-fungal called itraconazole. Keep your cats safe and Happy Easter.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.