Health watch - pet health care questions and answers

I have an elderly cat named Snickers whose teeth are turning brown and whose gums are inflamed. My vet thinks he should undergo treatment for his dental disease, but since Snickers also has heart disease, I am concerned about him being put under anesthesia. What are the health benefits and/or risk factors of this procedure?

According to William Rosenblad, D.V.M., a dentist and oral surgeon at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, a division of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, putting any patient under general anesthesia has its risks, but the risks of not performing appropriate dental treatment are likely greater.

Dental disease only gets progressively worse as time passes, and the spread of bacteria poses the additional risk of systemic disease. Since heart disease also progresses with time, so does the potential of anesthetic complications. Also, a diseased heart may run an increased risk of secondary infection from periodontal disease, a connection that has been well documented in humans.

As the dental disease progresses, Snickers's mouth may become more and more uncomfortable, possibly enough to affect his appetite and general quality of life. If he stops eating due to dental disease, treatment becomes a necessity regardless of the anesthesia risk. Decreased or lost appetite can lead to a decline in the cat's overall health.

Sooner is almost always better than later in treating dental disease. With a proper pre-anesthetic workup, including blood tests and a cardiology evaluation, and an appropriate anesthesia protocol and monitoring, the potential for problems during the dental procedure can be minimized. Many pet owners do not notice significant changes in their pets due to dental disease until after dental treatment. Then they often comment that their pet has begun acting like a puppy or like a new cat.

I read somewhere that grapes and raisins, when ingested in large quantities, can be toxic to dogs. Is this true? I have red my dog raisins occasionally over the years, and he has been fine. What are some warning signs that I should look for in case my dog accidentally consumes a large quantity?

Yes, it is true that consuming a large amount of grapes or raisins can be toxic for dogs, replies Rebecca Remillard, D.V.M., a nutritionist at Angell Memorial. Dogs suspected of eating a large amount (eight ounces or more) should immediately receive veterinary attention. Major symptoms a dog may experience include vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours of ingesting an excessive amount of grapes of raisins. The symptoms may be severe and are potentially deadly, so the poison control center recommends aggressive treatment, such as inducing vomiting, stomach pumping, and administering activated charcoal, followed by intravenous fluid therapy for at least 48 hours.

My cat seems to have chronic ear infections. There is a buildup of wax mixed with pus and a bad odor. Is there a home remedy I could try? What is causing these constant infections?

According to Kathy Kalaher, D.V.M., a dermatologist at Angell Memorial, causes of chronic external-ear infections include mites, allergies, autoimmune disease, masses or foreign bodies, and middle-ear infection. Home remedies should not be attempted.

A veterinarian is needed to perform a microscopic evaluation of the wax and pus and an examination of the ear canal. In some cases, anesthesia is necessary for cleaning and a thorough examination. Depending on the initial findings, other diagnostics might be indicated, such as a culture, biopsy, allergy workup, a CT scan, or X rays. These tests will enable your veterinarian to determine what medications or other therapies are needed. The goal is to resolve the secondary infection and identify and control the underlying predisposing disease. It's important to treat ear infections early, since they can cause considerable discomfort and even pain. In addition, chronic ear disease can cause thickening of the ear canal, making treatment even more difficult.

My husband wants to give our puppy milk, but I heard that dogs are lactose intolerant. Am I right?

Veterinarians do not generally recommend giving milk to puppies or dogs, advises Douglas Brum, D.V.M., an internist at Angell Memorial. As you suggested, many puppies do not tolerate cow milk well and will experience diarrhea from it. There are specific milk replacement products that are similar to the milk produced by bitches, which are sale to give puppies if needed. In general, only very young puppies (under six weeks) require this. After that, a good-quality puppy food is all that is needed.

Is it true that mosquitoes can cause heartworm?

Mosquitoes do not cause heartworm disease; they do, however, transmit the parasite that causes this disease, according to Michael Bernstein, D.V.M., head of internal medicine at Angell Memorial. When a mosquito bites a dog or a cat that is infected with heartworms, it can ingest heartworm larvae with its blood meal. After undergoing some development within the mosquito, these larvae can then live in other dogs or cats. When the mosquito bites another dog or cat, the larvae are injected under the animal's skin. Over the next three to four months, these larvae migrate through the pet's body, eventually making their way to the heart, where they develop into adult heartworms.