I have a year old Yorkshire Terrier/Maltese, and I would like to find a
good shampoo to remove his doggie smell. The shampoo I use now only
lasts for one day, and he starts smelling stinky again. Help!!!

Rae Ann
Giddings, TX

Your dog’s shampoo may not be the problem.

Many high quality pet shampoos are available for dogs and cats. If you are using a shampoo that is specifically designed for pets, and if you are thoroughly working it into his hair before rinsing it off, and if he is not swimming in dirty ponds or rolling in mud puddles, he should smell good for several days.

However, there are several medical conditions that can cause a pet to develop a bad odor despite frequent baths. Skin infections are most common. In addition to having an offensive odor, pets with skin infections may have hair loss, itching, scabs, or red skin.

As well, glandular conditions, digestive problems, ear infections, and dental disease can cause pets to smell bad.

I recommend that your pet have a checkup to ensure none of these problems is present. If he gets a clean bill of health, your vet can offer bathing tips that will help him smell better longer.

There also is a chance that something else is going on here. In my practice, I frequently see perfectly healthy and clean pets whose owners object to their smell. In these cases, there is not much that can be done. The people involved have very sensitive noses, and they are reacting to the natural and unavoidable scent of their pet. Over time, most people get used to the way their pet smells.

See related Vet Blog entries:

• No Related Post

Dr. Barchas,

My dog is 11 years old, and she has been leaking urine. What can I do to
make her stop?

Thank You,

George
Campbell, California

Urinary incontinence (leaking urine) is a very common problem in dogs. Untreated, it can spell disaster for your carpets and furniture, and potentially for your relationship with your pet. Fortunately, most cases of incontinence respond well to treatment.

Urinary incontinence is most common in mature (middle-aged or older) female dogs. In these dogs, the problem is related to changes in body hormones. The changes impair the dog’s ability to hold her bladder, and as a consequence urine leaks out.

Medications are available to treat this problem. The most commonly prescribed one is called PPA (short for Phenylpropanolamine), and is given one to three times daily as needed.

Before starting PPA or any other medication for incontinence, it is important to have a vet examine your pet and ensure that a different medical condition is not to blame for the incontinence. Bladder infections, kidney problems, diabetes, neurologic disorders, and several other syndromes can cause incontinence and require different types of treatment. However, if your veterinarian confirms that PPA is appropriate for your pet, then the odds are good that you will be able to control the problem.

See related Vet Blog entries:

• No Related Post

My two-year-old Yorkie has terrible tear stains. Opthalmologist checked, no
blocked ducts, any ideas to get rid of them?

Pegge
Frederick, MD

Yours is one of the most common questions I receive in practice. It turns out that large numbers of cats and dogs have tear stains beneath their eyes.

The eyes produce tears throughout the day. Under normal circumstances, two ducts drain the tears from the eyes into the nose. Sometimes, however, the drainage doesn’t work quite right. This is especially common in short-nosed breeds such as pugs, Persian cats, Boston terriers, and bulldogs, in which the ducts can become kinked. However, it can happen in any breed.

When tears chronically overflow from the eyes, they stain the hair beneath the eyes red-brown. Although pets with severe tear overflows can develop skin infections from the moisture, in most cases tear stains are completely harmless.

There are some medical conditions, such as blocked tear ducts or eye infections, that can lead to excessive quantities of tears spilling out of the eyes. Therefore, you’ve already taken the appropriate first step and had your pet checked by a vet. Once your pet has a clean bill of health, you can take heart from the fact that the problem is strictly cosmetic.

Preventing or eliminating tear stains is frustrating. Several products are available from pet stores that claim to remove the stains. However, I have received very weak reviews of these products from my clients. The simplest, cheapest, and safest technique is to clean the areas beneath the eyes with a warm, moist washcloth once or twice daily. Don’t use soap or detergents that could get into the eyes. This method doesn’t work perfectly, but it’s as good as anything else I’ve seen.

See related Vet Blog entries:

• No Related Post

I just adopted an approximately eight-week-old Tabby kitten with long hair from the pound. I took him to the vet, and she said he was in good health. I want him to live a long life. Do you have any suggestions for helping cats to live a long time?

Jasmine
Cedar Rapids, IA

There are several steps that you can take throughout your pet’s life to help keep him healthy and happy. In pets, as in people, the key to good health and long life is prevention of health problems when possible, and early detection of problems that are not preventable. The information in this column applies to both cats and dogs.

You have already taken the first step, by having the vet evaluate your pet. With her, you can determine an appropriate schedule for vaccinating your cat against dangerous diseases. As well, you can determine whether your pet needs protection against parasites such as fleas, intestinal worms, and heartworm. Avoiding these preventable health issues is a vital part of keeping your pet well.

I recommend that you select a high quality pet food for your kitten to ensure his nutritional needs are met. Feeding dry food slows the onset of dental disease.

Speaking of dental disease, it is by far the most common health problem I see in both cats and dogs. If you keep your pet’s mouth healthy, he will be happier and he will live longer. Although feeding dry food helps reduce dental problems, the most effective preventive method is to brush your pet’s teeth at home. Do not use human toothpaste in pets, and remember that your vet should check your pet’s teeth regularly to ensure that problems have not developed. Also, dog owners should be careful about letting their pets chew on tennis balls, bones, rocks, or pine cones. These items can cause dental wear or broken teeth.

If you want your cat to live the longest possible life, he should not go outside. Cats who go outdoors may get lost, and they are at risk for feline leukemia, feline AIDS, cat fight injuries, and trauma due to dogs, cars, and wild animals.

After your pet is full grown, take care to ensure that he does not become overweight. Overweight cats are at increased risk of diabetes, premature kidney failure, and arthritis. Overweight dogs may suffer from arthritis and debilitating mobility problems. In the worst cases, some dogs may require euthanasia because they can no longer walk.

Finally, have your pet checked once or twice each year by a veterinarian. The vet can answer questions, offer advice, and check for any developing health problems so that they can be dealt with before they cause serious damage.

See related Vet Blog entries:

• No Related Post