Vet Blog
09/09/09
 The following complaint was sent to Catster headquarters and subsequently forwarded to me.
I’m a little miffed the “vet” talks mostly about dogs. He has a photo of him with a dog. As a Feline only CVT, I practice at a feline only hospital and would like to read about feline topics on a feline site blog!
I have said before on this blog that I am a life long cat lover. Yet cats are without a doubt (to borrow and adapt from Simone de Beauvoir) the “second species” of veterinary medicine. This has miffed me since the second day of vet school. (The first day was dedicated to freshman orientation. Classes started on day two.)
I would love to talk more about cats on the Vet Blog. But I need your help. I receive around five dog questions for every cat question. To make matters worse, about half of the cat questions I receive boil down to, “why is my cat urinating outside of the litter box?”
I have addressed the subject of inappropriate feline urination many times on this blog. I also have two comprehensive web pages dedicated to the matter on my website: here and here.
Since the inception of this blog, I have preferentially answered cat questions over dog questions. But, house soiling aside, I simply do not receive enough cat questions to balance things out.
So help me out. Send me your cat questions. I want to answer them. If I answer enough, perhaps the person who filed the complaint with headquarters will remove the quotes from the word vet.
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07/13/09
 why does my cat pee on my bed his cat box is always clean and he does not have any urinary problems
debbie
grants pass
There are two types of questions that are sent to me time and again, week after week, by different people each time. The question above is representative of one of them. The other boils down to “why do dogs eat poop?”.
There is no doubt about it: inappropriate urination and coprophagia are big-time concerns for plenty of people.
There are many reasons why cats urinate inappropriately. You can find out all about it at my website. Go to
http://drbarchas.com/feline_housesoiling
for information on the causes of inappropriate elimination. And go to
http://drbarchas.com/feline_housesoiling_treatment
to find out what to do about it.
And for those of you who are concerned about your dog’s taste for feces, try the following link:
http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/why-does-my-dog-eat-feces/
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03/20/09
 A link to an interesting article by Jacqueline C. Neilson, DVM, DACVB showed up in my inbox the other day. Here is a quote.
Litter preferences probably originated with the domestic cat’s evolutionary predecessor, Felis silvestris lybica, the African wildcat. A desert-dwelling creature, the African wildcat used the desert sand as its toilet, establishing a substrate preference that has apparently persisted throughout the domestication process.
In theory, this makes perfect sense. Cats evolved in a sandy desert, so they’ll generally prefer sandy litters to those made from clay, paper, corn, or synthetic materials. It’s a fine theory.
But, as Homer Simpson pointed out, communism works in theory. So, whenever I catch wind of a theory stating that cats evolved to use sandy litter, or dogs and cats evolved to eat raw food, my reply to the theorizer is put your money where your mouth is. Prove it.
I have little patience for those who throw out these sorts theories without bothering to prove them. Because proving these sorts of theories is very simple to do. In the case of feline litter preferences, all one needs to do is gather a group of cats that will yield statistically significant results, control for confounding factors, and quantitatively measure litter use.
Dr. Neilson has enough letters after her name that I would expect her to back up such a theory with hard evidence. And, of course, she does.
The article reports on several studies in which different types of litter were pitted against each other. Cats would have access to litter boxes that were identical except for the aspect under study. And then:
Excrement deposited in the boxes was collected every two hours during the daytime and in the morning, and the excrement was then counted, weighed, and recorded.
The results: cats generally prefer sandy, clumping litters. They generally prefer litters with less dust. For odor control, they generally prefer activated carbon over sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
I have two final points to make. First, although the article provides information about cats’ general preferences, individual cats may have markedly different preferences. When choosing a litter, pick one that works best for your cat in your circumstances.
Second, next time you meet someone who says he is a research scientist, be sure to wonder to yourself whether his job involves “counting, weighing, and recording” cat feces.
Photo: Hershey analyzes his choices.
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03/04/09
 All of a sudden my 14-year-old male has started
urinating the house. This has never been a
problem before. Why now? Does it have to do with
his age?
Linda
Topeka, KS
You do not say whether you have a cat or a dog. However, in both species the causes of inappropriate urination can be divided into two broad categories: medical problems and behavioral problems.
Medical causes of house soiling (as urination in the house is known) include bladder infections, prostate problems, hormone imbalances, bladder inflammation and syndromes such as diabetes (in cats and dogs) and kidney disease that cause increased thirst and urine output.
Behavioral house soiling is very frustrating. Stress or anxiety may cause pets to urinate inside the house. Cognitive dysfunction (senility) is a cause of house soiling in older pets. Some pets, especially those that have not been neutered, may urinate indoors as a natural territory marking behavior.
A veterinarian should assess any pet that urinates inappropriately. Blood and urine tests (and, on occasion, X-rays and ultrasound) can check for a medical cause of house soiling. If none is found, then behavior modification may be beneficial.
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02/02/09
 My year old Shih Tzu male, drooled a last night
and this morning. What would cause that? He ate
today and drank water. He drooled a lot all over
the bed. Please help. Thank you
Naomi
Park City, KS
There are many causes of drooling. You can read all about them here:
http://drbarchas.com/drooling
I am worried about my 14 year old cat, I just
discovered she had peed in her bed and has still
been sleeping in it after the urine had dried. I
had always thought that cats and dogs do not sleep
where they releive themselves.
Deb
Cincinnati, OH
There are several reasons why a pet may urinate in an unusual or inappropriate location. Please check here for more info:
http://drbarchas.com/feline_housesoiling
My beagle is three years and he has breath that smells
like he is rotting from the inside out. This has
only been in the past year. His diet has not been
changed what could be causing this and how do I
correct it?
Annette
Lafayette, Indiana
Dental disease is the most common cause of halitosis (bad breath) in pets. But there are other causes. Read here for more information:
http://drbarchas.com/halitosis
Unfortunately, I can’t answer all of the questions I receive through Catster and Dogster. If you submit a question that doesn’t get published, you may still be able to find an answer at my website, drbarchas.com. It’s completely free!
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12/15/08
I have a one-year-old Yorkie female, unfixed, who is
losing the hair around her eyes.
Last month I put her on Comfortis for fleas.
I have not changed her food.
What can be causing this and what can I do ?
Jude
Union Springs
I suspect that your dog is suffering from demodicosis, or puppy mange. You can find out all about it on my new website.
http://drbarchas.com/demodex
What can be causing my dog to constantly lick her
paws and backside?
Jessica
Woodbridge, NJ
Excessive licking usually is caused by itching. What you ask, causes itching in pets? That information is available on my new website. Check it out!
http://drbarchas.com/itching
My nine-year-old mixed breed dog Panda has for the
last couple of years developed a sort of facial
tic – her lower jaw will jerk up and down as if
she was cold and chattering her teeth. She does it
more and more frequently and I’ve even noticed
her doing it in her sleep. Should I be concerned?
Terry
Chattanooga, TN
I don’t think you should be concerned. Jaw chattering usually is a form of trembling. Read all about it on my new website.
http://drbarchas.com/trembling
Dear Dr. Barchas,
I have two miniature Dachshunds. They are mates,
and they are both 10 years old. They are obese.
The male, George, weighs 20 pounds, and the
female, Gracie, weighs 19 pounds. They are both
trained to relieve themselves outside. They very
rarely ever make a mess inside the house unless
we have to leave them home alone for some reason,
although we always try to take them with us when
we go somewhere as much as possible. I have
noticed in the last couple of weeks that Gracie
has begun to urinate in the house, and in our
vehicle. She has NEVER done this before! Both
George and Gracie sleep with us at night, in our
bed. I have had to wash our sheets about four times
in the last two weeks because she has urinated on
our sheets and covers. Do you know what would be
making her do this? Should I be alarmed and take
her to her vet, or is it just because she is
getting older? Thank you so very much!
Sincerely,
Sherry
Louisville, Tenn.
Do I even need to say it? Read about inappropriate canine urination here:
http://drbarchas.com/canine_housesoiling
And read about canine obesity here:
http://drbarchas.com/canine_obesity
Please always feel welcome to search my website for answers to your pet-related questions. It’s completely free! Everyone is also welcome to enjoy the photo galleries, and to submit photos of your own to
petpeoplephotos@yahoo.com
for publication on the site. By submitting photos you grant me the right to publish them.
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Categorized Vet Question and Answer.Tagged allergies, askavet, balding, cats, dachshunds, demodex, dogs, fleas, housesoiling, itching, obesity, puppymange, trembling, YorkshireTerriers.
09/28/08
 I have a seven-month-old Golden Retriever, Amber.
Every time someone tries to pet her when they
first see her Amber pees from excitement.
We are trying to socialize her and are frustrated
at her peeing for everyone. I guess it is from
excitement.
Is there anything we can do to train her not to
pee? Will she grow out of this? Is this normal?
Thank you for you advice,
Jerry
Blanco, Texas
I will answer your last question first. Amber’s behavior is not exactly normal, but it definitely isn’t abnormal. It is very common, especially in puppies.
I suspect that Amber is engaging in a behavior called submissive urination.
When two dogs meet, they size each other up to determine each other’s status and level of dominance (this behavior is common in people as well). Dogs that are submissive sometimes release a small amount of urine during such encounters. This is a way of signaling that they aren’t a threat to a more dominant individual. It is especially common in puppies.
In other words, a submissive dog may urinate as a sign of respect. It is a dog’s way of saying that she doesn’t want any trouble.
Nonetheless, problems occur when dogs use this method of communication with humans. The dog is trying to show respect. The human usually is not impressed.
The problem usually can be addressed by asking guests and unfamiliar people to ignore the dog for the first few minutes after meeting. Once she has calmed down, the dog can be greeted in a calm manner.
Most dogs eventually outgrow submissive urination. If you are patient and persistent, the situation probably will resolve.
Please be aware that in rare instances bladder infections, urine chemical imbalances, hormonally-mediated incontinence and anatomical irregularities can lead to symptoms similar to those you describe. It might be a good idea to have Amber checked by a vet to rule out these conditions.
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09/09/08
 I have a 3-year-old cat that is currently taking
antibiotics (liquid Clavamox) for a bladder infection. She has
been taking the medicine for the past 4-days.
Today I saw her pee again outside of her crate
(which is the the reason I took her to the vet in
the first place to discover she has a UTI).
She has only had one other UTI and was treated a
year ago with Clavamox and healed quickly and
without incident.
Do you think she is allergic to the medicine?
Might the UTI be a symptom of a more serious
condition?
Thank you for time.
Linda
Tucson, AZ
My big question is whether your cat’s urine was tested to confirm the presence of a bladder infection (also known as UTI, or urinary tract infection) before the antibiotics were started.
Many different syndromes can cause cats to urinate outside of the litter box. Bladder infections are definitely the most common. However, chemical imbalances in the urine can lead to irritation of the urinary tract and subsequent house soiling. Bladder stones may cause similar symptoms. And finally, some cats will urinate outside of the box due to stress or behavioral disorders.
It could be that today’s incident was an isolated one. However, if the problem persists, the next step will be to obtain a urine sample for testing. X-rays and ultrasound may be necessary as well.
Cats certainly can have adverse reactions to Clavamox. However, the most common reaction is upset stomach (appetite loss, diarrhea, or vomiting). I doubt that the medication played any role in the incident that occurred today.
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03/15/08
Caramel is a four-year-old female that we adopted two
years ago, a Katrina rescue. I am home most of the
time and she is exercised 3 times a day. But in
the past month when I leave her alone, she wets on
the rugs (in 3 different rooms), either when I’m
gone or in the middle of the night when we are
sleeping. We are considering crating her during
these times but is it too late to teach our old
dog new tricks? What to do?
Bebe
Brooklyn, NY
Before you consider crating Caramel, you should make sure that a medical condition is not playing a role in the problem. Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, hormone-responsive incontinence, diabetes, kidney problems, and a host of other diseases can cause otherwise well-trained dogs to urinate inappropriately.
Your vet should be able to run some simple blood and urine tests that will give you an idea of whether a medical condition exists. He or she may recommend X-rays or an ultrasound exam as well.
If no medical problems are found, then the problem is most likely behavioral. And in that case, regardless of the dog’s age, I recommend a back-to-the-basics house training regimen. In my experience, crate training is one of the most effective way to house train a dog.
So, to answer your question, I do not think Caramel is too old to be re-trained, nor is she too old to be crated.
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The following complaint was sent to Catster headquarters and subsequently forwarded to me.
You have questions. 