Donna
Russellville, AR

I suspect your dog has both a skin infection (with bacteria and possibly yeast) and allergies.

Itchy skin is the hallmark of allergies in dogs. Malodorous skin is often a sign of a skin infection.

Dogs can be allergic to many things. Fleas are the number one cause of allergies in canine companions. If your dog isn’t already on a good flea preventative I would recommend that you start one regardless of whether she has a visible flea infestation.

Food allergies also can cause skin problems in pets. Duck and potato diets are hypoallergenic, but your dog may be a rare reactor to a protein in her food. You therefore could consider switching to a different hypoallergenic diet.

Finally, environmental allergens can cause symptoms like you describe. Dogs can be allergic to pollen, mold spores, dust mites, cockroaches, chemicals, detergents, cats, and even humans. Preventing exposure to these allergens can be difficult. Allergy testing is required to identify these allergies.

Once the skin is weakened by allergies, bacteria and yeast can proliferate exuberantly, leading to a skin infection with an unpleasant odor. Skin infections exacerbate itching and baldness.

Bacterial infections respond to antibiotics. Yeast infections can be diagnosed with a non-invasive test called skin cytology, and can be treated with anti-fungal agents. You should talk to your vet about an antibiotic trial and skin cytology.

Finally, although your dog’s problems truly sound like a combination of allergies and skin infection, remember that other things could be going on. Certain parasitic infestations and auto-immune diseases may cause similar symptoms.

Click the links in this article for more information on any of the highlighted subjects.

Laura
Somerset, CA

Until you wrote to me, I had never heard of a French Spay. And a Google search revealed that the term isn’t commonly used. But after sorting through several worthless links, I found a discussion forum that seemed to offer the answer. A French Spay is an ovariectomy.

Normal spays, as every vet I know performs them, are ovariohysterectomies. In this procedure, the ovaries and uterus are removed from the body. In a French Spay only the ovaries are removed.

A French Spay will render a dog infertile and will eliminate heat cycles. Because the uterus need not be transsected, there is less risk of bleeding during surgery. However, a dog with an intact uterus will be at slight risk for uterine infections or cancer later in life.

If your dog was bleeding abnormally during surgery, a French Spay probably was a wise choice. However, I am worried about the abnormal bleeding. Bleeding like that doesn’t just happen–there has to be a reason.

Yorkshire Terriers and other small breeds of dogs are prone to a problem called liver shunt. This can lead to bleeding problems (and many other issues) in some cases.

I’d recommend that you pursue this matter further. Blood tests and diagnostic imaging may help to determine whether it is safe to correct the inguinal hernia that you have described.

Kelly
New Braunfels, TX

Heat cycles in dogs and cats are controlled by hormones. I won’t bore you with the details (trust me–the details are, indeed, boring!), but I will say that irregularities in heat cycles usually are nothing to worry about.

Most female dogs experience their first heat between nine and 16 months of age. On average, female dogs experience two heat cycles each year. Dogs can become pregnant any time they go into heat. Unspayed female dogs will continue to experience heat cycles until they become elderly. At some point in their lives, most unspayed female dogs go through menopause.

A tremendous amount of variation is possible and normal in heat cycles. I have known dogs who cycled four times each year, and I have known others who went into heat only every two years. Based upon your description, I don’t think your dog’s cycles are anything to worry about.

You should talk to your vet before you breed your dog. You’ll want to make sure she is free of parasites and has received appropriate vaccines prior to becoming pregnant. A fully vaccinated mother passes some of her immunity to parvovirus and other diseases on to the puppies.

Also, Yorkshire Terriers are prone to a number of hereditary problems including kneecap problems, liver anomolies, baby teeth that do not fall out, and small hernias at the site of their belly buttons. Your dog should be screened for the major genetic issues. If one is discovered, I would recommend against breeding her.

Photo: I believe that Minnie is spayed. She undoubtedly is cute.

Charmaine
Mendocino, CA

Dogs generally make goose-like noises when they cough. Since foreign objects lodged in the nose usually cause sneezing, it isn’t likely that your Yorkie has something stuck up his nose.

In young dogs, kennel cough (also known as infectious tracheobronchitis) is a common cause of goose-like honking. Kennel cough is a contagious disease that almost never is life-threatening. Most cases are self-limiting (which means that they resolve on their own without treatment).

In older small dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers, a syndrome called collapsing trachea frequently leads to a honking cough. Collapsing trachea occurs when the firm rings supporting the wind pipe begin to weaken. It leads to a chronic tickle in the throat.

Heart disease is another common cause of coughing in older small dogs. Yorkies sometimes develop leaky heart valves as they age. This causes fluid to build up in the lungs which leads to coughing.

Several less common causes of coughing also are possible. These include, among others, pneumonia, bronchitis and heartworm. Visit my website for more information, or, better yet, go to the vet for a proper diagnosis.

Photo: Minnie at the beach. No sign of coughing.

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.