We adopted our dog from a breeder (a Chocolate
Lab) about a month ago. He will be 3 months old
soon. He had his first distemper shot when he
was at the breeder. He had his second shot a few
weeks ago at our new vet, and he will have his
third next Thursday.

Mike
Bergen County, NJ

With puppies, one must strike a balance between socialization (introducing them to new sights, sounds and animals) and protecting them from infectious diseases.

Puppy shots protect against two main diseases: parvovirus and distemper. Of these, parvovirus (also known simply as parvo) is more common. Parvo causes weakness, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea and blood cell imbalances. It can be fatal.

Parvo is ubiquitous. However, it is most common in areas such as dog parks where large numbers of dogs congregate. It can survive in the environment for many months; direct contact with an infected individual isn’t necessary to spread the disease.

Until your puppy has received all of his puppy shots (the last shot usually occurs at four months of age), he is at risk of contracting parvo.

But this presents a conundrum. He is also most readily socialized when he is less than four months old. Dogs older than four months less readily adapt to new situations, sights, and sounds.

In my opinion, it is very important to protect your puppy from parvo and distemper. But it is equally important to socialize him properly. Here is what I recommend.

Continue to vaccinate him according to the schedule recommended by your vet. This will help to reduce the risk of parvo and other infectious diseases. Also, avoid dog parks and other areas where large numbers of dogs (especially unvaccinated or poorly-cared-for dogs) congregate.

However, introduce him to as many healthy, vaccinated dogs as possible while he is still a puppy (for instance, you can introduce him to dogs belonging to your friends and neighbors). Consider taking him for walks on defined routes that are not heavily trafficked by other dogs. If you want your puppy to swim in lakes, then pick lakes that are private or remote.

Any time your puppy leaves the house, he may encounter parvovirus. However, if you keep him confined indoors until he has had all of his shots, he may suffer from a different, life-long problem: poor socialization.

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I have 5 kittens. They are 2 months old. I believe they have
worms. I have been told they are too young to give
anything. What can I give them that won’t hurt
them?

Cyndi
Dover, Arkansas

Due to a unique feature of intestinal worm life cycles, puppies and kittens almost always are infested with worms.

Intestinal worms (called roundworms) frequently reside as dormant larvae in adult cats and dogs. These larvae become active when a female becomes pregnant. The larvae migrate from the adult to the juveniles, either through the uterus and placenta (in dogs), or through mother’s milk (in both dogs and cats).

Therefore, it is safe to assume that virtually all puppies and kittens are infested with worms by the time they are a few weeks old. What’s more, some types of intestinal worms can spread from pets to people. The worms can cause serious illness in human beings.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), a group of animal parasite experts, recommends de-worming puppies and kittens every two weeks, beginning at two weeks of age for puppies and three weeks of age for kittens. Click here for the CAPC’s complete guidelines for roundworm removal in kittens and puppies (warning: the site contains technical language).

Eight-week-old kittens definitely are not too young to be de-wormed. Also, they need vaccines to prevent deadly diseases such as feline panleukopenia virus. I recommend that you take the litter to the vet as soon as possible for shots and de-worming.

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Map credit: Centers for Disease Control. The geographic distribution of Lyme disease in dogs closely matches the distribution in people.

Our 10-year-old Terrier Jazz has been bitten by two
ticks this summer . How would I know if she has
gotten Lyme disease from them? How would I tell? We
keep her on heart worm and fleameds all the time.

Angel
Knoxville Tn.

Lyme disease (often misspelled lymes disease) is spread by ticks. It can infect humans and dogs. Lyme, Connecticut has the dubious distinction of being the place where the disease was first identified. The disease is named after the town.

A fair bit of misinformation circulates about Lyme disease. The bacteria that causes the disease is most commonly spread by a type of tick called the deer tick. Many people therefore believe that deer serve as reservoirs for the disease. That is not true. In fact, certain species of wild mice are the reservoirs.

Many people also believe that Lyme disease is common throughout the United States. That also is not true. As the map above shows, Lyme disease is very common along the northeastern seaboard and in the upper midwest. It is rare elsewhere.

In particular, Lyme disease is not common in the west or the south. Experts believe Lyme disease is rare in these areas because ticks prefer to feed on lizards, rather than mice, before they feed on people or dogs.

So, to answer your question, it is not likely that Angel has contracted Lyme disease.

However, that does not mean you don’t have to worry about ticks.

First, researchers have noted that tick populations are spreading and migrating throughout the United States, and their feeding habits may change. Therefore, the distribution of Lyme disease may change over time.

Also, although Lyme disease gets the most press, remember that ticks spread all sorts of other nasty diseases to humans, cats and dogs. These include rocky mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis, tularemia, Q fever and cytauxzoonosis.

The symptoms of most tick-borne diseases are vague. Affected animals may suffer lethargy, limping, swollen joints, decreased appetite or weight loss. In the later stages of the diseases, multiple types of organ failure may occur.

Veterinarians can run blood tests to check for exposure to the most common tick-borne diseases. I recommend that these tests be run on any pet who has been parasitized by ticks. Most tick-borne diseases can be treated if they are caught early.

The most effective way to prevent tick-borne diseases is to prevent ticks from biting your pet. Several combination flea and tick preventatives are available through veterinarians for at-risk animals.

For more information on the geographic distribution of Lyme disease in people, click here.

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I’m 14 and I have always wanted to be a vet or a
vet assistant. Can you give me some advice on how
I can start preparing myself for when I become old
enough to actually do the whole job?

Jessie
Orange, CA

Study hard and get good grades.

University veterinary programs are very competitive. The most important admissions criterion is academic performance. To get into vet school, you need to get good grades at a good college. To get into a good college and to develop good habits you need to study hard and get good grades, starting now.

Also important, and generally more fun than studying, is to gain experience with animals. Vet school admissions committees prefer applicants who have worked with animals in a veterinary setting.

Working with a vet also will help you learn about the profession and help you decide with certainty that you want to enter it. Becoming a vet is a big commitment. It’s a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into early on.

Some veterinary hospitals and animal shelters allow high school students to volunteer at their facilities. You can investigate whether there are any such premises in your neighborhood. When you are old enough to work legally, you can apply for a position as a kennel attendant or animal care assistant at a veterinary hospital. However, be sure that your work does not cause your grades to drop!

Working with a vet is not an absolute requirement for successful vet school applicants. I volunteered at a zoo and an aquarium instead. Other students work on farms. But admissions committees generally favor applicants who have experience in veterinary facilities.

Forgive me for harping on the matter, but always remember that doing well in school is the most important thing you can do. Even if you ultimately decide not to become a vet, good grades will open a world of opportunities in your future.

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My nine-year-old Orange Tabby has vomited periodically most
of her life. Within the last few months, her
vomiting has increased to the point that I had to
rush her to vet ER. They hydrated her, ran
blood tests, xrays, etc.

Jill
Portland, Oregon, USA

It sounds like you and your cat are going through quite an ordeal!

Many things can cause cats to vomit. Food intolerance, metabolic disorders (such as liver or kidney disease), foreign objects in the stomach, neurological problems, heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, tumors, problems with the pancreas and exposure to poisons are among the many offenders, and this list is far from complete.

However, in cats that have a long history of vomiting that worsens precipitously I am often suspicious of a syndrome called inflammatory (or infiltrative) bowel disease. The syndrome is also known as IBD.

Cats with IBD suffer chronic irritation of the intestines. This leads to vomiting, diarrhea, or both.

Diagnosing IBD can be difficult. A biopsy of the intestines (by means of surgery or endoscopy) is the most definitive method, but it is very invasive and I rarely recommend it.

However, you do not mention that your cat has had an ultrasound of her abdomen. Ultrasound is a powerful, non-invasive and painless diagnostic technique. Skilled ultrasonographers can sometimes diagnose IBD. And they almost always offer insight into the cause of chronic vomiting. I would recommend abdominal ultrasound as the next step for your cat.

If your cat is diagnosed with IBD, several treatment options exist. Dietary modification is the mainstay of treatment, but it sounds like you may have exhausted this possibility. Probiotics help many cats; yours, unfortunately, seems refractory to this treatment.

I have seen many cats with chronic vomiting respond favorably to treatment with medicines that modulate the immune system. Prednisone is most commonly used. As I have mentioned before on this blog, prednisone is a double-edged sword. However, you may want to discuss a trial of the medicine with your veterinarian. It may help solve the problem.

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What are some of the things we as dog owners can
do to help a dog with hip dysplasia?

Rosie
Humble, TX

Hip dysplasia is a syndrome in which a dog’s (or less often, a cat’s) hip joints do not develop properly. This causes premature arthritis in the hips. Hip dysplasia is most common in large breeds of dogs. It has a hereditary component. Careful breeding has reduced the incidence of hip dysplasia over the last several years.

Hip dysplasia is sometimes confused with age-related arthritis. Many older animals suffer arthritis in their hips that is not related to abnormal development of the joints. However, in either instance the outcome is the same–arthritis that causes pain, stiffness, decreased mobility and a lower quality of life.

There are several techniques (some old, some new) for managing hip displasia and arthritis in pets.

Preventing hip dysplasia is by far the best option. Careful breeding is the most important aspect of hip dysplasia prevention. Less effective, but still important, is to feed at-risk puppies (Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and other large breeds) a diet that promotes slower growth. Talk to your vet about this.

For pets diagnosed with hip dysplasia by a veterinarian, several techniques may delay the onset of arthritis. The most effective of these is weight management. Carrying extra weight puts tremendous strain on the hip joints.

Other techniques that can delay the onset of arthritis (or help to ameliorate the symptoms of arthritis after it develops) include administration of oral or injectable glucosamine, oral omega-3 supplementation, and physical therapy (mild exercise, swimming, hydrotherapy, and range of motion exercises). Young dogs diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia may benefit from a surgical technique known as triple pelvic osteotomy.

For the unfortunate individuals that are suffering from arthritis, all of the techniques listed in the preceding two paragraphs (except for triple pelvic osteotomy) can be beneficial. Additionally, treatment with the much maligned NSAID medicines can lead to a dramatic improvement in quality of life. Other, newer pain medicines such as amantadine are emerging as well that may be highly beneficial when used in conjunction with NSAIDs. Some prescription diets may lead to clinical improvement in arthritic pets.

A new generation of treatments for arthritis in the hips is also entering use in clinical practice. These treatments include stem cell injections, stimulation with certain types of lasers, and a technique known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (it sounds scary, but it’s quite benign).

The treatment of last resort for arthritis of the hips is surgical hip replacement. Recent clinical advances have made this option more attractive than it was in the past.

The long and short of it is that there is a wide array of treatments for hip dysplasia and arthritis in pets. Many of them are new and not widely known. Your best bet is to find a vet who is passionate about comprehensive management of the syndromes. Sit down with this vet and develop a treatment plan that is right for you and your pet.

Image credit: Joel Mills. Licensing information: CC.

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I rescued a two-year-old dog from the local
animal shelter. I was told that she was one of
many dogs taken from the home of a hoarder and had
lived most of her life in a crate.

Gerry
Norco, CA

Not long ago I treated a female Border Collie that was having trouble giving birth. She was very sweet and friendly at first. But once she successfully delivered a puppy, that changed. If I approached the room where she and her puppy were located, she would lunge at me to keep me away from the puppy.

Protective maternal instincts are natural in dogs. Based upon your description, it sounds very likely that Lily is confusing her toys with puppies. This is leading to defensive growling that could escalate to outright aggression over time.

Maternal instincts in dogs are driven by hormones. Spayed dogs lack the hormones that cause protective maternal aggression. Therefore, the simplest way to deal with this problem is to have Lily spayed.

If Lily already has been spayed, two things could be going on. First, if she was spayed recently, she could still be under the influence of lingering hormones. In that case, the behavior should resolve over time as the hormones clear out of her body.

Second, there is a chance that the behavior you are witnessing is an expression of dominance rather than maternal instincts. Dominant dogs aggressively guard toys, food and anything else of value to dogs.

If spaying Lily does not solve the problem (or if she is already spayed), your best bet will be to consult with a behaviorist about managing dominance issues among your dogs.

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A comment on the recent post about a potential treatment for FIV/Feline AIDS caught my eye. Here is the comment.

S Bridges posted a comment on August 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Is there any way to participate in the testing of a new FIV drug? We adopted a 3 year old cat a year ago and he, as of today, is positive for FIV. We were told that he may be showing a positive result from a previous FIV vaccination but we do not know if he has been vaccinated.

A vaccine for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) has been on the market for several years. It has been the subject of intense controversy among veterinarians since its introduction. The vaccine is not widely used.

Many experts question the effectiveness of the FIV vaccine. Laboratory studies performed by the vaccine’s manufacturer have shown efficacy of the vaccine against some strains of the virus. However, there is no conclusive proof that the vaccine works in real life. As well, there is an inherent conflict of interest in studies performed by the manufacturer.

Another major complaint about the vaccine is that it interferes with testing for FIV. The test for FIV checks for antibodies to the virus. Any cat that receives the vaccine will develop antibodies to FIV. Therefore, any cat that receives the vaccine will test positive for FIV–even if he is not infected.

Is the cat belonging to the comment’s author actually infected with FIV, or has he received the vaccine? Because the vaccine is not commonly used, it’s most likely that the cat is infected. However, there is no way to know for sure. And, sadly, clinical trials of the treatment mentioned in the original post are not yet under way.

This situation is unfortunate, but there is a silver lining. FIV is fatal, but the disease takes several years to run its course. I hope that a more advanced test, one that can differentiate infected cats from vaccinated cats, will be available soon.

In the meanwhile, my advice to the commenter is as follows. Enjoy your new cat, and let him live a normal life. Keep him inside to protect him from contagious disease, and to protect other cats from possible FIV infection. Get veterinary examinations at least twice each year. And keep your fingers crossed.

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Dr. Barchas,

Dennis
San Francisco, CA

Cloned dogs now exist. The subject has been getting a great deal of press.

South Korea has been a leader in stem cell and cloning technology for years. In 2005, a South Korean firm created the first intentionally cloned dog. He was named Snuppy. More recently an American firm partnered with South Korean scientists to offer clones of pet dogs to the public through an auction. And this week a woman who paid $53,000 to clone her dog made headlines–as an alleged stalker and rapist.

There is no doubt about it. People are fascinated with clones. But I do not understand why.

A clone is an organism that is genetically identical to another organism. Clones are very common.

If you have ever taken a cutting from a plant, placed it in water until roots sprouted, and then potted the newly independent vegetation, you have cloned a plant. If you have eaten a banana, you have consumed part of a cloned organism.

As well, identical twins are by definition clones of each other. This leads me to the answer to your question. I have two friends, Larry and Michael (names changed to protect the innocent), who are identical twins.

Larry and Michael are both great people. But they are no more alike, in terms of personality, than any other pair of siblings I know. I don’t think either of them will take offense when I say that they are completely unique.

My friends shared the same uterus at the same time. And, unlike most purposefully cloned mammals, they share a type of genetic material called mitochondrial DNA.

In other words, the chances of Larry and Michael having identical personalities are much greater than the chances of an intentionally cloned dog behaving identically to its predecessor.

I hope that you can see where I’m going with this. A cloned dog’s personality may be similar to the original’s. But don’t bet the farm (or $53,000) on it.

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My husband and I have been raising an infant
kitten since he was 10 days old. He’s almost eight
weeks old now and still refuses to eat anything
but formula from a bottle. We’ve tried several
types of food, several flavors, even went as far
as plain old tuna fish and he turns his nose up at
everything. Any suggestions on how to get him off
the bottle? Thanks!

Diane
Port Charlotte, FL

The most effective way to wean a kitten off of formula is to do it, as the word wean implies, gradually.

The first step is to eliminate the bottle from the equation. Offer him formula from a bowl or saucer. Warm formula may be more enticing. Some bottle-fed kittens are happiest if they are held by a person during feeding, so experiment with that. As well, it may be effective to start feeding your kitten with a bottle, and then remove the bottle and immediately offer formula in a saucer.

Once your kitten is regularly drinking from the saucer, add increasing amounts of high-quality kitten food to the formula at each meal. Over time you should be able to eliminate the formula completely.

Most kittens are weaned by six to eight weeks of age. However, each kitten is an individual. A kitten that is not fully weaned at 10 weeks is not abnormal. Be patient and keep trying the tricks above. Eventually he’ll come around.

One final note: don’t try to wean your kitten forcibly by withholding the bottle altogether. If he refuses to drink from a saucer, let him have the bottle (but continue to employ the tactics listed above). A few extra weeks of formula shouldn’t hurt him.

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