Hello Dr. Barchas!

My teacher has two adorable Shih Tzus, a male and a female. They are bathed weekly but still smell pretty bad (especially around the face area). I thought it had something to do with the hair in their face or maybe because the muzzle is pushed into the face more than other breeds’ muzzles are. Is there anyway to make the smell go away?

Nush
CA

Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Pugs, Persian cats, and other animals with flattened noses may suffer a number of problems related to the the conformation of their faces.

The shallow eye sockets of these breeds cause the eyes to bulge, and this interferes with the natural drainage of tears. Tear fluid may run down the face instead of draining into the nose as it does in other breeds. As well, animals with flattened noses may have trouble keeping saliva in their mouths, which can cause drooling.

Both of these issues lead to wet hair on the face, and chronically wet hair can develop a bad odor. If special attention is paid to grooming the face, the odor may be reduced. Remember that the face is very sensitive, and it is crucial not to get shampoo into the mouth, eyes, or nose.

In some animals, a bad odor emanating from the face can be a sign of a medical problem. Wet fur, in combination with the extra folds of skin that are present in these breeds, can lead to skin infections. Skin infections smell bad. As well, they are painful, and can lead to other medical problems.

I recommend that a veterinarian evaluate your teacher’s dogs to ensure that no skin infection is present. If none is, the vet should be able to recommend grooming tactics to reduce the odor coming from the dogs’ faces.

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Hi Dr. Barchas, I have a five-month-old kitten, and I want to start
cleaning his teeth soon. I heard that you can wrap gauze around your finger,
dip it in a mix of baking soda and water, and you can clean their teeth
this way. Is this safe? What do you recommend I should use to clean his
teeth and how often?

Mary
Oshawa, ON, Canada

Brushing your cat’s teeth is a very good idea, and you are wise to get an early start. Dental disease is by far the most common health problem I see in my patients, and brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way to prevent it. In addition to bad breath and pain, dental disease dramatically shortens lifespan and compromises quality of life in affected animals. People who brush their pets’ teeth do their pets a big favor, and they save on costly vet bills down the road.

The goal of tooth brushing in pets is to remove food and bacteria from the teeth, especially at the gumline. Although a piece of gauze wrapped around the finger will help in this process, I recommend using an animal toothbrush. These are available from vets and from pet stores, and come in a variety of sizes and models. For cats, fingertip brushes often work best, but you can experiment to determine what is most effective for your and your pet.

Toothpaste is optional in pets. The fluoride in human toothpaste helps to prevent cavities in people. Cavities are not a serious concern in pets, and fluoride can make pets sick if they swallow it. If you want to use toothpaste, use only a veterinary product. However, you also can use plain tap water. I’d recommend against baking soda–it tastes bad, and your cat may develop an aversion to having his teeth brushed if you use it.

To brush your pet’s teeth, he must cooperate. Gently brush the teeth in a circular fashion, focusing on the gumline. If your pet struggles, try a more gentle approach and work into brushing gradually. Take care not to get bitten. If your pet fights violently, it may not be possible to brush his teeth.

The official recommendation is to brush your pet’s teeth once daily. However, if that isn’t practical, brushing a few times a week is much better than nothing.

Finally, remember that although brushing your pet’s teeth will have a very favorable impact on his health, it does not guarantee that he will lead a life free of dental problems. I brush and floss regularly, but I still have to see the dentist now and then.

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Is it totally impossible to reverse a spaying? I spayed my Bichon due to plans to move to another country, but that has fallen through, and I would like to breed her. Thanks.

Candis

Spay and neuter surgeries are completely irreversible. So, if the vet who spayed your dog did the job correctly, you will not be able to breed her.

Sterilization surgeries in animals are different from those in people. Humans typically undergo tubal ligations or vasectomies. In these surgeries, the gonads (ovaries or testicles) are left in the body. Because of this, in some circumstances people who have undergone these procedures can still conceive children.

In cats and dogs, more aggressive surgeries are performed. Males undergo castration (also known as neutering), in which both testicles are removed. Females undergo ovariohysterectomies (known as spaying), in which the ovaries and uterus are removed. Removal of the gonads makes pets irreversibly sterile.

We remove the ovaries and testicles in animals because they produce hormones that lead to undesirable behaviors such as escaping, roaming, spraying urine, aggression, and sexual activity. As well, removal of the gonads greatly reduces the risk for a number of diseases including breast cancer, prostate problems, and many others.

However, once performed, the surgeries cannot be undone.

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Hello Dr.Barchas.

I was wondering how often you should give your cat
canned food. I heard you should only give your cat canned food once a
week as a treat. Buy my stepmom gives it to my cats almost every day, and I
have told her not to but she still does.

Stephanie
Brighton, MI

From a nutritional standpoint, the only major difference between canned food and dry food is water content. Canned food contains more water than dry food. Therefore, basically, the two foods are nutritionally equivalent.

However, there are two problems with canned food that make it less desirable than dry food. The first and most important issue is that canned food contributes to more rapid development of dental disease. Wet foods tend to adhere to the teeth more than dry foods. This encourages bacterial growth, which leads to dental infections. Since dental disease is a major health problem in pets, it’s best to avoid canned foods. This applies to both cats and dogs.

The second issue regarding canned foods applies only to cats. Cats who eat large amounts of canned food are twice as likely eventually to develop thyroid disease. Thyroid disease has serious consequences. Although it is not known for certain that canned foods cause thyroid disease, the correlation is well documented and warrants concern.

My recommendation is that healthy pets eat a diet consisting mostly of dry food. Give canned food only as a treat on special occasions, or not at all.

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