DR. FELTONanswers your questions
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General Questions
Spay & Neuter InformationFeral Cats
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Dear Dr. Felton, Is feline gingivitis contagious from cat to cat? My cat has it and I am thinking of adopting another cat. Thank you. Joan
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Dear Dr. Felton, On a recent visit to see my parents, I noticed that their 10 month old cat had developed the kind of breath that makes your eyes water. My mother had mentioned that she smelled awful now and again, mostly while she was bathing herself, and I realized this must've been the cause. From what I've read, it seems halitosis in cats this young is usually the symptom of something more serious. In the past, I've noticed that the cat drinks a lot of water, and urinates a lot because of it. Could these be the signs of diabetes? I mentioned the urinating to her vet about 2 months ago and he dismissed it, saying diabetes was rare in a cat so young. Otherwise, the cat seems to be in quite good health. She eats well, seems happy and is fairly active. She is perhaps a touch overweight, but not to the point of concern. Should I bring her to the vet for blood work? And, if she does have diabetes, are there particular diets and medications you favor? I've heard that when it comes to diabetes, veterinarians all suggest different treatments - Michelle 
There are many causes of halitosis. Bartonella could be one of them. Here's some more information about bartonella. Another cause could be an abnormal eruption of teeth (basically if the baby teeth have fallen out in a strange way or the permanent teeth are coming in strangely). Another cause could be calici virus, which is a virus that can cause ulcers in the mouth as well as halitosis. Please make sure the cat was tested for FELV/FIV. As for the drinking and urinating more frequently, diabetes is rare but not impossible in young cats. Kidney problems are also possible and could cause bad breath as well. We highly recommend pursuing a diagnosis and if diabetes is confirmed we can provide treatment options for you.
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Dear Dr. Felton, What exactly are hairballs? Gretchen
Hairballs occur when cats swallow hair during grooming. Hair is not digestible, and can accumulate into a wad in the stomach. Cats who suffer from this problem often gag and sound as if they are going to vomit. If they succeed in vomiting a hairball, you will see a sausage shaped mass on your floor, confirming the diagnosis and also eliminating the problem simultaneously. Unfortunately, sometimes a hairball cannot be passed, but continues to irritate the stomach. In rare cases, surgical removal may be necessary. Usually over the counter hairball medicines, which are non-digestible lubricants, will suffice. Several diets are also available to help control formation of hairballs. The best defense is frequent brushing, so the cat has less dead hair to ingest. Remember, if you have several cats, they all need to be brushed, since they often groom each other and ingest each other's hair.
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Dr. Felton, I have two small adopted dogs, as well as a newly adopted cat. They all eat both canned and dry foods, but I would like to supplement their diets with vegetables. Both dogs love tomatoes and carrots. I want to be sure that these are okay for them. I remember reading somewhere that certain vegetables could be very harmful to animals. Please let me know which are harmful. Thank you all for the wonderful work you do. I'm heartbroken just seeing all the animals up for adoption, but I'm so grateful for the organizations like B.A.R.C. I donate to many of the organizations, and hopefully one day, I can do more. Thank you so much. Audrie
If you're planning on feeding your dogs vegetables, most of them are safe with a few exceptions. Onions are at the top of the no-no list as they can cause blood disease in cats and dogs; also I have heard it suggested to avoid potatoes, peas, beans, and corn, as they have been known to be hard for some dogs to digest. On the other hand, carrots, broccoli, squash, celery, spinach, and beets are all safe choices. A lot of people will boil vegetables and then mash them up to make them easier for the dogs to eat. You will want to be aware that dog and cat foods are all formulated to provide a balanced diet, so unless your animals are on special diets they probably don't "need" to have any supplements. So you will want to make sure that you aren't overfeeding them, which can lead to health problems like obesity, etc. Also, here is an article
I found on vetcentric that you might find interesting. Good luck
with your new pets.
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While we were away my dog Puggy developed a strange looking bump on his lower lip, I assumed that It must be a cyst, so I made an appointment with the vet, and it turns out that my baby has a contagious wart. Now I'm wondering if it makes sense to separate him from my other dog, after all they have been playing together since Saturday. Thanks. Ester
Warts caused by a canine papillomavirus are frequently seen in younger dogs like Puggy, and are especially common around the mouth and tongue (called oral papillomatosis, which generally affects dogs under 2 years of age). The incubation period is about 1 to 2 months, and you may notice warts increasing in number and size for about 4 to 6 weeks before they begin to regress. Regression can take a little longer —there's no set time period— but they almost always regress on their own without any treatment. As for separating Puggy and Belle, that might be a good idea as the
papillomavirus is contagious, but as they've already been playing together
for more than a couple of days, it's probably too late to be 100% for
sure that it would do Belle any good at this point. In fact, Belle could
have brought the virus to Puggy, but just not have developed any papillomas
yet. Since incubation is one to two months, it is difficult to be sure
when all risk has passed. Hope that answers your question!
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Dear Dr. Felton, After 14 years with my Border Collie mix, I had to put him to sleep due to Acute Renal failure. For 24 years, I have had a dog in my life. My previous dog was walked 4 times a day. We used the same Veterinarian for the last 24 years, the last dog was given to us by our Vet. Is it possible, to own a dog, who would now be living in a 4 room apartment, and left alone for 10 hours a day?
I sympathize with your loss. I would certainly want to adopt another dog if I were in your position. Of course you can have a dog who lives in an apartment and is left alone for long periods of time, but you will have to select carefully to avoid or at least minimize problems and insure this is a good situation for all involved. A puppy would not be the best choice. I would also avoid breeds that need a great deal of exercise or attention. This still leaves many wonderful companions who would love to share your home. Perhaps you might consider getting two dogs who get along well, so they can offer each other some company while no one is home. I have two Dobermans, both from shelters (one from BARC!) who are alone for long periods every day. Initially we had to overcome some separation anxiety issues, but they seem very happy and relatively well adjusted now, and I can't imagine living without them. The goal is to choose a dog who will be a good match for your personality
and life style. This is where a shelter such as BARC can give you a
tremendous advantage —the staff and volunteers know the dogs so
well, they can tell which ones will fit best in a particular situation. Good luck, and thanks for the question.
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Dear Dr. Felton, I take my dog (Tyler) to the dog run every weekend and I was wondering if I should start giving him heartworm medication, even though he doesn't have heartworm, but to prevent him from catching it from other dogs.
You have exactly the right idea here— heartworm medication is designed to prevent your dog from becoming infected with heartworms. Dogs should have a blood test every year, preferably in the spring before starting the season's preventive medication, to confirm that they are not infected. Treatment for infected dogs is very dangerous, and unfortunately not all dogs survive. But the preventive medication is extremely safe, and very effective. In our area it is recommended to start heartworm preventive medication in the spring (April is ideal) and continue until after a hard frost (usually last treatment in December). Alternatively, some owners prefer to give the medication year-round. These potentially life-threatening parasites are transmitted by mosquitos. Tyler could not contract heartworm directly from other dogs. However, he is more likely to be exposed to infected mosquitos in areas where there are many dogs. Some other types of worms ARE transmitted directly; primarily the common intestinal parasites, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Tyler's chances of contracting these parasites skyrocket when he frequents areas such as dog runs. But not to worry —another big benefit of the oral heartworm medications is that they also control these intestinal parasites! This is one reason some owners give heartworm medication all year long. Heartworm preventive medication comes in several forms and brands. I prefer the once a month oral forms that also kill intestinal parasites. There is a topical spot-on monthly medication as well, and also an injection that lasts six months. Discuss Tyler's specific needs with your veterinarian. You should also consider using something to protect Tyler from fleas
and ticks, especially now that the weather is warmer. Many people think
there are no ticks in the City, but they are in for a very unpleasant
and dangerous surprise. There are some excellent products available
through veterinarians —check this out when you get Tyler's heartworm
medication.
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Why spay or neuter your pet?Overpopulation17 million dogs and cats are put to death each year in this country because no one will adopt them. Millions more die forlorn and in pain after being abandoned on the streets. For anyone who cares about animals, overpopulation is a terrible crisis. If we can prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, we will have done our part to curtail the suffering caused by overpopulation. Your pet's healthBy far the most important reason to spay or neuter your pets is to help them live longer, healthier lives. Spaying a female dog or cat:
Neutering a male dog:
A better quality of lifeIn addition to health benefits, spaying or neutering your pets offers other advantages.
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Spay & Neuter ResourcesSeveral not-for-profit organizations offer low cost spaying/neutering, such as:
Related article: Hidden Holocaust: The Overpopulation Crisis
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Spay & Neuter Certificate ProgramsCertificate programs offer low-cost coupons or vouchers that are accepted at participating licensed veterinarians throughout the five boroughs. Some veterinarians may charge additional fees for vaccinations, testing, or non-routine procedures (undecended testicles, older animals, pregnancy, etc.) Always ask when arranging your appointment if there are any extra charges.
Brooklyn, Queens, SI & CT Locations to Purchase Muffin's Certificates:
Spaying and neutering keeps pets healthy and happy!
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Dr. Elaine
Felton is a practicing veterinarian with over 25 years of experience, who has worked
with BARC serving the medical needs of homeless animals since 1995.