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  We found some of the best pet experts in metro Atlanta. Look for your answers every Monday. Today’s advice comes from Will Draper of the Village Veterinary Centers. Meet the AJCpets experts. And feel free to submit questions in the form of a comment today. Q: I have a 15 yr old chihuahua who is in good health. However, he is starting to gag as though there is something in his throat.  He coughs whatever it is up, then swallows. The gagging sounds awful and I am afraid it will choke him.  Do you know of any medication I can give to him to stop this? He sleeps with me and does it all night long. It’s awful and scarey!  A: Chihuahuas and other small breed (or toy breed) dogs can have a condition known as a “collapsing trachea”. Affected dogs’ tracheas will collapse (think of squeezing a toilet paper roll until it is flat), and they have a difficult time with inspiration or expiration of air. It sometimes makes a “honking” sound. Generally, once they calm down, the trachea goes back to its normal, tubular appearance and the dog appears fine. There is really no treatment for this, other than surgical correction- and it usually sounds a lot worse than it is. Being that your baby is 15 years old, however, I would make sure your veterinarian does a complete physical- including blood work and x-rays.  Heart disease, which can also cause coughing and gagging, is more prevalent in geriatric dogs- and can generally be controlled if caught early.  Q: I have a 6 year old Pomeranian who throws up about once per day. It’s always hair and just a clear/yellow-ish liquid. Any way I can help prevent this?  A: This type of nausea, in the absence of other signs of gastrointestinal distress (i.e. diarrhea, lack of appetite) is usually due to something as simple as a pet eating too much too quickly. There is a valve between the esophagus and the stomach that will only allow a certain amount of food in before it “shuts off”. Once this happens, and a pet continues to eat, the food stays in the esophagus…and eventually they regurgitate it (which is different than vomiting). It is usually undigested food. Feeding smaller amounts more frequently can help this issue.There is also other things to consider, such as a food allergy or some mechanical issue. To rule these out, a visit to your veterinarian is the best advice.

We found some of the best pet experts in metro Atlanta. Look for your answers every Monday. Today’s advice comes from Will Draper of the Village Veterinary Centers. Check out the AJCPets experts. And feel free to submit questions in the form of a comment today.

Q: Other than identifying what type of snake, what should a I do if my lab is ever bitten by a poisonous snake?
A: The best thing to do is to immobilize your pet and seek veterinary attention immediately. Antihistamines can help to minimize the effect, but should be given by a professional who can determine proper dosage and route. Venomous snakes can cause serious cardiovascular, neurological and dermatological issues, so time is of the essence in initiating treatment.

Q: What causes flies to attack my dogs ears and what can I do for it?
A: Biting flies will attack dog ears to collect a blood meal. There is less hair on ears, and the thin skin — as well as the dogs inability to protect that part of the body — make the ears a prime target. There are ointments that can be purchased that contain citronella, a fly repellent. Putting this product on the tip of dogs’ ears can be a great help.

Q: My 10-year-old dachshund went through allergy testing at the vets. Basically she is allergic to everything that blooms in the spring. Is there an allergy pill available for dogs? I was told that the only thing that she could be given were allergy shots. Thanks.
A: There is currently no allergy pill to desensitize your dog to her allergens. There are medications (antihistamines, cortisones) that will help with the itching, but they do not take away the underlying cause. Allergy shots can help many patients; once the allergens are determined, a vaccine is produced, and then small amounts of the allergens are introduced into the body subcutaneously — thereby helping the pet build up an immunity to them. If you have not done so already, a referral to a veterinary dermatologist would be a great next step.

We found some of the best pet experts in metro Atlanta. Today’s advice comes from Dr. Will Draper of the Village Veterinary Centers. Click here to see all the AJCpets experts. And feel free to submit questions in the form of a comment today.
Q: I have an 8-month-old yellow lab who has developed a reddish line from his right eye. I have seen it before on light-colored dogs and I believe it’s a discoloration from their tears. Is there any way to treat it?
A: The discoloration (or “reddish line”) noted from dogs’ eyes are caused by porphyrin, a compound secreted by a gland just under the third eyelid (porphyrin is also present in saliva, which explains the discoloration noted on the paws of light-colored dogs who lick their feet a lot). It is not abnormal and really can’t “go away,” but there are many commercial products available that can help to clear it up.

If your dog is having a more prominent discharge from one particular eye, this can indicate either eye irritation, injury, or even a clogged tear duct. A visit to your veterinarian to rule this out.

Q: After 13 years, my keeshound mix has decided it’s OK — even preferable — to urinate inside the house. He doesn’t respond to scolding. In the last few months, he’s lost his mind. His personality has changed, and he often will stare into a corner blankly. He never barks anymore. He will only lay down on his bed (never on the porch or in another room). He has a hard time walking on our hardwood floors. It’s become very sad and extremely frustrating. Can he be retrained to pee outside? What’s happened to him so suddenly?
A: The symptoms you are describing are much more significant than a dog who is no longer house broken. Senior dogs can have lots of issues that cause such behavioral changes, including urinary or kidney infections, kidney disease, endocrine (glandular) diseases, joint (or other) pain, or uroliths (urinary bladder stones) to name a few. Older dogs also can suffer from cognitive disorders (similar to Alzheimer’s), or senility. This will cause abrupt changes in attitude.

A complete diagnostic work up from your veterinarian is in order to determine the cause, and to help find any possible solutions.

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We found some of the best pet experts in metro Atlanta. Look for your answers every Monday. Today’s advice comes from Dr. Susan Wynn of Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Sandy Springs. Check out all the AJCpets experts, then submit questions in the form of a comment today.

Q: I have a 7-year-old shepherd mix that is itching like crazy. The vet has tried several different medications but nothing seems to be working. This just started within the past year. Any home remedies?
A: Oh, that it would be so easy to give relief to itching dogs! Unfortunately, itching is a nonspecific sign of many potential conditions. Your dog could be itching due to parasites (fleas, mange mites, ringworm), a bacterial infection, a variety immune medicated or autoimmune diseases, cancer, drug reactions, food allergy, or environmental allergies. Treatments depend on the cause, so it is very important that you determine why your dog is itching. If your veterinarian has completed all the diagnostics that can be run in his or her office, ask for a referral to board certified veterinary dermatologist.
Here’s another remedy, consider upgrading your dog’s diet to a premium or super-premium brand. I consider diets found in the grocery store or big box bargain stores to be of inferior quality. For best results, stick with brands that are found in independent pet stores and health food stores.

Q: I recently adopted a pretty old (10-15 years) Pomeranian with lots of health problems. I am working on getting him to gain some weight, as he is just skin and bones, but he will not eat wet or dry dog food. I tried giving him some turkey slices and he loved them. Is it OK to feed a dog pre-packaged cold cuts like that? I was thinking it might be OK if I get low sodium turkey slices (he has high blood pressure). Thanks for any help!
A: Pure meat of any sort cannot provide a good diet. In general, we recommend that treats of any sort comprise no more than 10 percent of the total daily food intake.

In this dog’s case, hypertension is very often associated with chronic kidney disease and is treated by reducing protein in the diet (therefore, meat is one of the worst treats you can give).

Work with your veterinarian to determine the best food and snacks. If the dog still does not gain weight, consider asking for a referral to a veterinary nutritionist or internal medicine specialist. And thanks for adopting an older dog — you are a hero!

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Today’s expert pet advice comes from Dr. Will Draper of the Village Veterinary Centers. Click here to see all the AJCpets experts. And feel free to submit questions in the form of a comment today. Answers appear every Monday.

Q: My Mom inherited 2 mini poodles from her late sister. One of them constantly chews his feet and legs, we finally started putting anti-itch cream on these spots and he has relief (short). He gets bathed in warm water (with anti itch shampoo/condtioner). My Mom is on a fixed income, is there anything else we can do to allievate this problem for him? We believe that he is about 4 to 5 yrs old.
A: It sounds like one of your mom’s new addition is suffering from atopic dermatitis, also called allergic inhalant dermatitis (allergies to pollens, dust, molds, etc). Dogs who experience this tend to lick at their feet and legs a lot. While the anti-itch shampoos and conditioner help, antihistamines and fatty acids may also offer relief. However, a visit to your veterinarian is necessary to determine the best options and dosages.

Q: I have a 12-year-old Akita female who is having a hard time getting up when lying down. Also hair on the top of her body is thinning, leaving that area coarse and scabby. What are some alternatives I could use to aid her with her hips? And what could be done about her skin?
A: An exam by your veterinarian is recommended to evaluate your girl’s hips and skin. Older, large-breed dogs can suffer from orthopedic and arthritic issues, such as hip dysplasia or degenerative joint disease. An X-ray of the hips and knees will help determine this.

A complete skin exam is in order as well, since the symptoms you are describing can be due to allergies such as food, inhalants (such as pollen), or flea allergies (the most common). The latter will cause some baldness and scabbing, typically along the lower back and tail base in dogs. There are also endocrine (glandular) conditions that can cause not only skin changes, but also weakness that can exacerbate underlying arthritic problems. This also can cause difficulty rising and sitting.

A complete physical exam with routine senior blood work, urinalysis and X-rays would be a great place to start. There are medications that can help with both, but it is not recommended that any be started without your veterinarian’s approval.

Q: My dog constantly licks his front paw around “the first joint” (if he were to turn down his paw). If he’s not licking one paw or the other, it’s the carpet or the furniture. What gives?
A: This is typically seen in dogs who suffer from atopic dermatitis (also called “atopy” or “allergic inhalant dermatitis”). These dogs are affected by environmental allergens such as pollen, grasses, or molds, and a classic sign is licking at the feet and toes- as well as sneezing and runny eyes.

Atopic dermatitis can sometimes also causes oral irritation (think about how you feel when your hard palate is itching), which can make dogs try to relieve themselves by licking at things in the household. On another note, this licking can also be a sign of or anxiety or boredom. Your veterinarian can help you determine the actual cause, and provide recommendations and/or medication for relief.

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