Hi Dr. Barchas,

Does it really matter whether I feed my pet canned or dry food?

Sarah, Atlantic City, NJ

If you feed your pet a premium brand of food, the major difference between the canned and dry varieties is water content. In most cases, the two types of food are nutritionally equivalent, but canned food contains more water.

Believe it or not, that water can make a big difference to your pet’s health. Canned food is softer, and more likely to adhere to your pet’s teeth after he is done eating. Bacteria can grow on the food, and then spread into the gums, causing dental disease. And dental disease can lead to a host of other issues, including pain, chronic infection, heart disease, and kidney disease.

Although pets fed dry food may also suffer from dental disease, the process generally is slower.

Therefore, in otherwise healthy animals, I recommend a diet composed mostly of dry food. Of course, there is nothing wrong with occasional treats of wet food. But, generally, it is best if the mainstay of the diet is dry food.

In cats, there is another reason to avoid canned food. Studies have shown that feeding canned food may predispose cats to thyroid gland problems. Although the cause of this phenomenon isn’t known, the correlation has been demonstrated repeatedly.

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I have two cat, but I just have a problem with one. She is a Maine
Coon, about 12 years old. She sleeps in her bed in the family room but awakens around 3:30 or 4:30am meowing constantly. I try to calm her down, but she seems very anxious. I have been thinking that maybe a tranquilizer would be the answer as I am very sleep-deprived. Would this be your suggestion?

Thanks,

Hazel, Vacaville, CA

Believe it or not, your complaint is quite common among owners of middle-aged and older cats. And it could be a sign of a serious, yet treatable, disease.

Twelve-year-old cats are prone to a syndrome called hyperthyroidism. It is a disease of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in your cat’s neck, and it produces a hormone (called thyroid hormone) that controls the body’s metabolism. Cats with hyperthyroidism produce too much thyroid hormone.

Hyperthyroidism can cause a number of symptoms, including vocalizing and acting agitated late at night. Cats with the syndrome may also drink more water, eat more food, lose weight, have digestive problems such as diarrhea or vomiting, and develop skin problems.

Internally, the disease can have serious effects. Hyperthyroidism can cause heart disease and blindness. It can contribute to kidney disease.

Therefore, before you tranquilize your cat, I’d recommend that you have her thyroid gland checked out. If she is hyperthyroid, a number of treatments are available that help to prevent the more serious consequences of the disease.

Dog owners should be aware that older dogs can develop problems with their thyroid glands, too. In dogs, however, the glands become underactive, which can lead to weight gain, amotivational syndrome, skin problems, and, rarely, aggression. This syndrome, called hypothyroidism, also can be treated.

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Dr. Barchas,

I have a Pug whose eyes are always filled with mucus. What is the
cause, and how can I fix this?

Dawn, Jacksonville, FL

Several breeds of dogs and cats are predisposed to excessive discharge from their eyes. The breeds include Pugs, Pekinese, Shih Tzus, Persians, Himalayans, Chihuahuas, and Boston Terriers, among others. These animals have shallow eye sockets, which cause the eyes to protrude (or bulge) prominently from the face.

In some cases, the discharge is harmless. The irregular shape of the eye socket in the above breeds interferes with the normal drainage of tears. Mucus is a component of tears, and it can build up. In fact, even pets (and people) with normal eye sockets occasionally develop a small amount of mucus in the central corners of the eyes, especially after sleeping.

However, if you consistently notice mucus or excessive discharge from your pet’s eyes, a more serious problem is possible. Pets with prominent or bulging eyes can have trouble closing their eyelids completely. This can lead to irritation, pain, and eye damage. In any pet, excessive discharge from the eye can be a sign of an eye infection, eye trauma, glaucoma, ulcers on the surface of the eye, or a syndrome in which the eye does not produce tears appropriately.

Therefore, although the mucus may be normal in your Pug’s case, I recommend a trip to your vet to make sure there’s nothing to worry about.

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Our three-year-old dog has been frantically hungry for the last few weeks.
No matter how much food we give him, he wants more. Do you think it’s
the recent change in weather (summer has definitely ended here in
Oregon), or could there be some problem?

Esther, Lake Oswego, OR

Some dogs and cats, like some people, simply develop an excessive love of food during their lifetimes. This could be the case with your dog.

Although changes in the weather rarely affect appetite to the extent you describe, there are a number of health matters and diseases that can cause increased appetite.

Are you feeding your pet a high-quality diet? Dogs and cats whose nutritional needs are not met may become excessively hungry. I recommend feeding a premium dog or cat food. There are several available that are nutritionally replete and will ensure that your pet’s dietary needs are fully met.

Is your dog taking any medications? Some medicines, especially prednisone (which is a type of cortisone, frequently prescribed for allergies and other problems), can cause increased hunger. Do not discontinue any medicines without consulting your vet.

Intestinal parasites can cause increased hunger, but usually not to the degree you describe. Nonetheless, your pet’s stool should be microscopically examined (by your vet, of course) to test for parasite eggs and larvae.

As any person who has eaten pickles and ice cream in the middle of the night can attest, pregnancy can lead to unusual appetites and increased hunger. Is your dog spayed?

Finally, a number of medical conditions can cause increased appetite. These include diabetes, problems with the pancreas or intestines, hormone imbalances related to the adrenal glands, and cancer. In cats, a hyperactive thyroid gland can cause increased hunger. Many of these diseases will cause increased thirst, diarrhea, or other symptoms as well. However, three year old dogs are at low risk for most serious medical disorders.

I recommend you take your dog to the vet for a checkup. He or she should be able to sort out whether there is a medical condition, or whether you need to enforce more willpower on your pet.

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