Vet’s Views
Dr Kaushlendra Kumar
The doctor has been practising in Lucknow for the past 20 years in canine and other pet animal medicine and surgery
Q: My 10-month-old Indie dog constantly licks and eats concrete from our balcony wall. Is this just a behavioural quirk, or does it signal a specific nutritional deficiency like calcium or iron? -Aarav Sharma
A 10-month-old Indie dog is almost at the end of his growing age, but still needs optimum nutrition. Improper calcium, phosphorus and other multivitamins and multimineral supplements lead to a condition called pica. It becomes a habit, and later on, dogs enjoy licking the wall, floor and muddy areas. You also need to see that proper deworming is done on a rotational basis and not with the same type of salt every time. Broad-spectrum dewormers are available. Balanced food with good quality supplements from R&D companies should be used.
Q: My 8-year-old Golden Retriever was put on long-term prednisolone for an autoimmune skin condition. Lately, he is drinking an immense volume of water and panting heavily even in the AC. Are these normal side effects, and can we safely taper the dose? - Priya Nair
Autoimmune conditions are one of the most difficult problems to handle. Different symptoms arising out of the condition have a very frustrating effect on the pet as well as on the owners. The role of prednisolone is to suppress the autoimmune reaction, and it takes almost a full life cycle to handle it. This drug is good in managing the symptoms, but since an early time, gastritis develops. Consequently, the dog wants to have lots of water and food. Even if you give antacids to manage it, the condition worsens. It should be avoided in old dogs past 7 years of age. Instead of prednisolone, newer generations of drugs (Oclacitinib) are available, and even monoclonal antibodies are readily available in the vet’s clinic. It is better to manage the condition with new-generation drugs. Prednisolone, though cheap, may cost you heavily in case the kidney comes into the picture.
Q: My 13-year-old Persian cat has started vocalising loudly at 3:00 AM every night and seems disoriented in the hallway. Could this be feline cognitive dysfunction? What environmental changes can help her sleep? - Amit Patwardhan
A 13-year-old cat’s vocalisation cannot be ignored as it is a multifactorial problem. It can arise due to multiple problems. It becomes a behavioural issue later on. First, it should be checked if there are any hormonal or neurological issues. Even general health needs to be checked. My suggestion to you is to get her thoroughly checked by any vet, with full blood tests, hormonal assaying and USG to understand her problem better. There is no single reason for this vocalisation. If the general condition is normal, go for an advanced check-up. Sleep problems could be because of old age issues or anxiety. Mind calming tablets work in older pets, which you can try. The rest of the treatment can be given only after a full check-up.
Q: My female Indie cat was spayed five days ago. The incision site looks closed, but there is a hard, painless lump the size of a walnut right underneath the stitches. Is this a normal seroma or should I worry about a hernia? - Meera Joshi
The female Indie cat is spayed, and you see a small lump beneath the stitched line. It is a natural tendency in cats that the epidermal layer heals faster, and the layers beneath it remain unhealed or in the process of healing. The surgeon who has operated may explain better. If it does not heal in another five days, take her to the vet and get her examined for stitch abscess, hernia or seroma formation. All are manageable except hernia, in which re-suturing becomes a necessity. My advice is to give enzymes for wound healing and not allow the cat to move much for the next 15 days. Even a small hernia gets healed automatically.
Q: My 6-year-old Pug was recently diagnosed with early-stage chronic kidney disease. Since switching strictly to a renal diet, he refuses to eat. Can I mix home-cooked pumpkin or white rice without hurting his kidney values? - Vikram Das
Chronic kidney disease in a 6-year-old pug is a condition in which he has recovered from an acute condition of kidney failure/injury. Initially, it starts with incessant vomiting, loss of appetite and black stool along with other symptoms. This dog is lucky to have entered the chronic phase, as many dogs die in acute conditions only. You need to discover the causative agent in the body behind this kidney injury. If the cause is known, the vet can work on this. Tick fever, leptospirosis, pyometra in females and diabetes in general can lead to kidney damage. After all the treatment, appetite remains in question. A renal diet will help him recover better. Not liking the main food remains the problem. It is better to mix it with canned renal food/gravy to make it more palatable. Get his creatinine value checked every month and keep him in a stress-free environment. Do not feed anything toxic to burden the kidney filtration process. Give the optimum amount of salt to keep the dog hydrated. Loss of hydration will further injure the kidney.
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