Flea-Bite Allergy in Cats
General Information

Signs of flea‑bite allergy result from hypersensitivity (allergy) to flea saliva. In an allergic cat, the bite of a single flea may cause a serious problem. Extensive skin damage may result from the cat's biting, licking, and scratching. Although flea‑bite allergy can be treated, it often recurs because flea eggs may hatch up to 1 year after being deposited in the environment, most of the flea's life cycle occurs off the cat, your cat's environment may be contaminated with fleas, and even an occasional flea bite can trigger the allergic reaction.

Flea allergies are most troublesome in the summer and fall in areas with cold winters and warm summers. In warm climates or in heated, flea‑infested houses, flea allergy may occur throughout the year.

In cats, the main signs of flea allergy are excessive hair loss and small red papules with reddishbrown crusts. Sores are most prevalent around the neck, lower back, base of the tail, and abdomen.

Important Points in Treatment

1. Flea allergies usually worsen as animals age. Signs may begin earlier in the flea season and last longer. Also skin reactions generally become more severe.
   
2. Treatment includes flea control on the pet and in the environment, and suppression of the allergic reaction. Occasionally desensitization of the cat is attempted.
   
3. Desensitization ("allergy shots") to flea saliva is controversial. In some cases, good results are achieved, while other cats fail to respond. The doctor will discuss the advisability of desensitization for your cat.

Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur

• Your cat damages its skin by biting and scratching.
• Your cat's skin becomes red, hot or puffy or oozes fluid.
• Your cat's condition recurs after treatment.
• Your cat's general health changes.

Pyotraumatic Dermatifis
(Acute Moist Dermatitis, "Hot Spots")
General Information

Pyotraumatic dermatitis is caused by excessive licking, biting, rubbing, or scratching of an area of the body that itches or is painful. Many cases are simply an intense reaction to flea bites. Other underlying causes include allergy, parasites, ear infections, anal irritations, matted dirty coats, contact with irritating materials, and compulsive licking or chewing.

Dogs with dense undercoats, such as German Shepherds, Collies, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, and Saint Bernards, are often affected with "hot spots." Pyotraumatic dermatitis is most common in hot humid weather.

Typical sores are hairless, reddened, and moist, with a thick yellowish covering in the center. The sores are painful and progress rapidly if not treated.

Important Points in Treatment

1. Sedation or anesthesia is often necessary to adequately clean the sores. Clipping of the hair is important to healing.
   
2. Medication: Give all medication as directed. Call the doctor if you are unable to carry out the prescribed treatment.
   
3. See your Vetrinarian for Diet and Skin treatment instructions
   
4. Intense licking, chewing, or scratching can delay healing and may increase skin damage. Call the doctor if you are unable to prevent this activity.

Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur

• Your pet's sores appear to worsen or spread.
• Your pet's skin condition returns after an apparent recovery.
• Your pet's general health deteriorates.

Acral Lick Dermatitis
(Lick Granuloma)
General Information

Acral dermatitis is a skin condition resulting from repeated licking. At first there is only a small area of hair loss; however, with constant licking, a thickened, raised plaque develops. Often this raised sore is raw, inflamed, and ulcerated.

Lick granulomas occur primarily in dogs left alone for long periods. Boredom is usually responsible for the licking habit. Certain breeds, such as Dobermans, Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, Irish Setters, and German Shepherds, are more likely to be affected. While the condition can occur at any age, most dogs are over 5 years old when the sores first appear.

Stress may also stimulate abnormal licking. Causes of stress include a new pet or baby in the home, the death or absence of a family member or a companion dog, or a nearby female dog that is ‑in heat." Many things could be upsetting or stressful to dogs left alone or confined for long periods. It is important to understand that the underlying cause of the dog's problem is psychological and not physical. A thorough analysis of the dog's environment is necessary to determine the cause.

Important Points in Treatment

1. Lick granuloma is very difficult to treat. If the underlying psychological cause cannot be corrected, the sore may never be cured.
   
2. Medication: Medication must be given as directed. Notify the doctor if you cannot carry out any prescribed treatment.
   
3. Activity: Whenever possible, exercise your dog and spend more time with it to keep its mind off licking.
   
4. Various treatments are used in treating lick granulomas. They include lotions, creams, pills, injections, bandages or other devices to prevent licking, surgical removal of sores, and mood‑altering drugs, such as tranquilizers and barbiturates. The type and success of treatment depend on such factors as the size and severity of the granuloma, chances for eliminating the psychological causes, time the dog has been affected, and time available for the owner to work with the dog. Please feel free to discuss any aspects of treatment with the doctor.

Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur

• Your dog continues to lick the sore.
• Your dog's sore enlarges.
• Your dog's sore is red, hot, or swollen, or oozes fluid or pus.
• Your dog removes any protective bandage or wraps.

Pyometra
General Information

Pyometra. is a severe bacterial infection with accumulation of pus in the uterus. Although it often occurs in middle-aged or older females that have never had puppies, younger dogs are sometimes affected. The condition most commonly develops a few weeks after a heat period.

Pyometra. results from hormonal influences that decrease the normal resistance to infection. As a result, bacteria enter the uterus when the cervix is dilated during the heat period, and infection results. If the cervix constricts after infection, large volumes of pus can accumulate.

Signs of pyometra include loss of appetite, excessive thirst, depression, and vomiting Sometimes there is a discharge of pus from the vagina. The disease may develop very slowly over several weeks.

Important Points in Treatment

1. Medical and surgical treatments are available, but surgical treatment is more common. The advantages of surgery are that the condition cannot recur, and there will no longer be any bothersome heat periods. Medical treatment is most often performed in young animals intended for breeding or when surgery seems too risky. In some cases, medical treatment is used until the animal is strong enough for surgery.
   
2. Surgery consists of removal of both ovaries and the uterus. Because the patient is ill and the uterus is infected, the surgery is more complicated and carries a higher risk than routine spaying in a healthy animal. Postoperative treatment includes antibiotics and intravenous fluids. Blood tests are useful in diagnosing the condition and monitoring the response to treatment.
   
3. Medication: Give all the medication as directed. Call the doctor if you cannot give the medication.
   
4. Ask your vetrinarian for special Diet and Excercise instructions
   
5. Surgical patients: Inspect the incision at least once daily. Report any abnormalities to the doctor. Suture removal is/is not necessary.

Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur

• Your dog is reluctant to eat or seems depressed.
• Your dog vomits or has diarrhea.
• Your dog has excessive thirst or urination.
• Your dog removes the sutures or otherwise damages the incision.

Deworming Puppies and Kittens
General Information

Roundworms and hookworms are common intestinal parasites of puppies and kittens. Puppies and kittens are often held and cuddled by young children who, like our pets, seem to be oblivious to good hygiene. Children do not wash their hands when they should. They pick things up and put them in their mouths. They kiss their pets and suck their thumbs. Whatever is on their little thumb ends up in their stomach. We often share our kitchens, bathrooms, and even our beds with our pets. Veterinarians are dedicated to helping people enjoy their pets by keeping them free from parasites and diseases that may be transmitted to family members.

Dog and cat roundworms (Toxocara) and hookworms (Ancylostoma and Uncinaria), common intestinal worms of puppies and kittens, may be present in unborn puppies or spread to pups and kittens through milk during nursing. Infected puppies may start shedding eggs into the environment as early as 3 weeks of age. Kittens may start shedding eggs 2 to 3 weeks later.

Roundworms have a life cycle that includes a migrating larval stage. When people ingest the worm's eggs, the eggs hatch into larvae (microscopic worm stage). The larvae then migrate through the intestinal wall and into the liver, lungs, eyes, and other tissues. There the larvae may cause physical damage and/or produce allergic-type reactions. They may travel to the eye(s) and cause partial or complete blindness or may travel to the brain and cause serious permanent nerve damage. Infected people cannot transmit these worms to other people.

Hookworm larvae may be in the soil where children play. The larvae may penetrate the skin and cause skin rashes. They may also migrate deeper into tissue and invade the intestinal wall, causing a serious allergic intestinal disease called eosinophilic enteritis.

These worms can cause serious illness in people and pets. At the very least, your pet's stools should be examined by your veterinarian at least every 6 months the first year, then yearly thereafter.

Important Points in Treatment

Below are recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, the National Center for Infectious Disease, and the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists:

1. Puppies should be dewormed at 2 to 3 weeks of age and again every 2 weeks for up to 4 dewormings. Because prenatal infection does not occur in kittens, they can be wormed at 6 weeks of age, and again at 8 and 10 weeks of age.
   
2. Stools less than a day old should be collected and submitted to your veterinarian for laboratory examination. Early deworming prevents heavy environmental contamination by the eggs and larvae that serve as an important source of infection for your pet and family members.
   
3. Medication: Be certain to give young puppies or kittens the worm medication that is prescribed by your veterinarian. Some medications cannot be given to young pets.
   
4. See your vetrinarian for more information .

Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur

• You are unable to administer the prescribed medication.
• Your pet shows any signs of illness, such as depression, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Ovariohysterectomy in Dogs
(Spaying)
General Information

Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying or neutering a female dog. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus. If the ovaries are not removed, the bothersome heat periods still occur even though pregnancy is no longer possible. Surgery is usually performed at 51/2 to 9 months of age, before the first heat period.

Though it is routinely performed, ovariohysterectomy is major abdominal surgery requiring general anesthesia and sterile operating technique.

Prevention of pregnancy and heat periods is the main reason for the surgery, but the procedure is often necessary in treating severe uterine infections, ovarian and/or uterine tumors, and some skin disorders.

What Are the Advantages?

• There will be no more heat periods.
• There will be no unwanted puppies.
• The uterine infections common in older dogs rarely occur.
• Mammary gland cancer seldom develops in dogs spayed before their first heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will it make my dog fat and lazy? No. Obesity is caused by excessive calorie intake. Weight can be controlled by proper feeding and exercise.
   
2. Will it change her personality, disposition, or intelligence? No. Dogs' personalities do not fully develop until 1 to 2 years of age. If there is a personality change in a dog neutered at a young age, it would have occurred without surgery.
   
3. Are there any problems associated with spaying? A very small percentage of dogs have trouble holding their urine as they become older. This is normally controllable with medication.
   
4. Shouldn't my dog have a litter first? No. There is no advantage in allowing your dog to have a litter of puppies.

Important Considerations Before and After Surgery

• Your dog should be free of intestinal parasites (worms), and all vaccinations should be current before surgery.
• Do not feed your dog for "See your Vet" hours before admittance for surgery.
• Restrict your dog's activity for "See your Vet" days after surgery.
• Suture removal is/is not necessary.
• Your dog will be evaluated for suture removal in "See your Vet" days.

Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur

• Your dog removes a suture or otherwise irritates the incision.
• Your dog refuses to eat or seems depressed after the first day home.
• Your dog's general health changes.

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