Hi Dr. Barchas,

Yesterday my 10-year-old German Shepherd underwent surgery to have several small skin tumors removed. Last night, he seemed restless and reluctant to lie down. Finally, he fell asleep and he seems fine today. But I am worried that he might have been in pain last night. What can I do in the future to make sure my pet doesn’t experience pain after a surgery?

Rebecca, Virginia Beach, Virgina

Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to ask an animal whether he is in pain. However, when I perform any surgical procedure on a dog or cat, I assume that they might experience pain. Simply put, every time my skin has been cut, it has hurt. I don’t see why cats and dogs would be different.

Fortunately, almost every veterinarian I know has the same philosophy, and veterinary medicine has made great advances in managing postoperative pain in recent years. A number of medications and techniques exist to help ensure that pets don’t suffer after surgery. Most vets take care to ensure that the experience is as pleasant as possible for their patients.

That said, if your pet is scheduled to undergo surgery or a major dental procedure, I recommend that you ask your vet about the potential for pain, as well as what can be done to keep your pet comfortable. No veterinarian that I know would be hesitant to discuss the matter.

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Dr. Barchas, my six-year-old Jack Russell (spayed) has begun to wet while
sleeping, although she doesn’t dribble when excited. We can’t seem to
figure out why this is happening and what we can do to help her. It
really seems to upset her when she wakes to fine her hind quarters (they
are also stained yellow). Any suggestions on what I can do?

Patti
Montgomeryville, PA

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in middle-aged spayed female dogs. It most frequently occurs in dogs who are sleeping. Also, some dogs may dribble urine as they walk around the house. In most cases, they are unaware of the problem as it is occurring, although they may be disturbed when they discover that they have soiled themselves with urine.

The syndrome may be caused by a number of medical conditions. For instance, kidney disease, bladder infections, and diabetes can lead to urine dribbling.

However, the most common cause is a hormone imbalance that affects the bladder and the sphincters and causes slow leakage of urine.

In your dog’s case, I recommend a trip to the vet to run a panel of blood and urine tests. The tests will check for the less common, but more serious causes of the problem that were listed first. If the tests come back negative, then the most likely diagnosis is the hormone imbalance syndrome.

Fortunately, the hormone imbalance syndrome can be treated with an effective and relatively safe medication called PPA. Some dogs require daily treatment with the medicine. Others need only intermittent treatment. You will have to consult your veterinarian and experiment with the medication to determine the best course of action for your pet.

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Are human pain relief medications, such as paracetamol, safe for cats
in a proportionately smaller dose?

Thanks,

Dominic
London UK

Asolutely not.

In fact, a single dose of paracetamol (known as acetaminophen or Tylenol in the US) can kill a cat. Other human pain medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, also are not safe and should never be administered to cats.

As any cat lover can attest, cats are very unique creatures. This applies to their metabolism and physiology, as well as their more visible traits. Because of this, I recommend against giving any sort of medication to your cat without consulting a veterinarian first.

Although dogs are less sensitive than cats, most human painkillers and other medications should not be given to them, either.

A wide variety of painkillers is available through veterinarians for use in dogs. Unfortunately, the options for cats are much more limited. A great deal of effort is being put into developing pain management solutions for cats, and in my opinion success cannot come soon enough.

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Dear Dr. Barchas:

I have recently read a couple of articles that say Greenies and similar
items marketed as chew treats to dogs can cause intestinal blockages
because they are not fully digestible. In your experience, how much
should I worry about these allegations, and should I still buy Greenies for
my pup? Please let me know.

Charlotte
Arlington, TX

I, too, have heard rumors of Greenies lodging in dogs’ intestines. However, Greenies are very popular among my clients (and their dogs), and to date I have not had to treat a single pet for Greenie-related problems.

Sadly, the same thing can not be said for many other chew treats. For instance, I cannot count the number of meat bones that I’ve surgically removed after dogs swallowed them. Nor can I count the number of teeth I’ve extracted after dogs broke them chewing on bones.

Likewise, many of my patients have suffered severe diarrhea or vomiting, sometimes requiring several days of hospitalization, after consuming rawhides, pig’s ears, or cow hooves.

My conclusion about Greenies is that, although they may not be 100% safe, they are probably better than other chew treats as long as they are used under proper supervision.

For the record, brushing your pet’s teeth is the safest (and most effective) option for his dental health. It’s too bad that dogs don’t enjoy tooth brushing as much as they enjoy treats.

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Dear Dr. Barchas,

My four-year-old cat has been diagnosed with asthma. I have to give her a pill every day to keep it under control, but it seems like each day, the pill is harder to give. I have heard that medicines can be made into a cream that can be rubbed onto pets’ ears instead of given by mouth. Is this true? Do the creams work?

Brandon, Kansas City, KS

You are not the only person who has trouble medicating his pet. In fact, giving pills to cats is legendary in its difficulty.

A few tricks may ease the process. If your pet’s medicine can be given with food, the easiest way is to slip it into a favorite healthy treat. However, this works much better for dogs than for cats. And it doesn’t work in every dog.

Some cats will accept pills if they are crushed into a powder and mixed with a small amount of the cat’s favorite wet food. Offer the mixture before breakfast or dinner, when your cat is hungry. After she has consumed the pill, she can have her meal. Again, this trick is not guaranteed to work. And, if it interferes with your pet’s medically necessary feeding schedule or special dietary needs, it is not an option.

Some pharmacies (called compounding pharmacies) can reformulate medicines into palatable (that is to say, tasty) liquids or treats. This practice is somewhat controversial, in part because quality and methods are not consistent among different pharmacies. However, if your pet otherwise will not take her medicine, compounding is worth exploring. Talk to your veterinarian about whether compounding your cat’s medicine is appropriate for her circumstances.

Finally, some pharmacies can produce gels or creams with medicine that can be rubbed onto the skin. This method is relatively new, and little is known about the absorption and effectiveness of giving medicines this way. For that reason, some experts are opposed to the use of these so-called transdermal gels, at least in cases where they have not yet been tested. Nonetheless, your veterinarian can provide more detailed information about your pet’s specific medicine, and whether a transdermal gel might be worth trying.

Medicines that are compounded into palatable formulas or transdermal gels typically cost much more than the equivalent pill. But the expense may be worthwhile if it saves you the misery of fighting with your pet over her medicine each day.

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