Regularly cleaning your dog’s ears at home can help reduce the risk of ear infections. But if you’re concerned about your dog’s ears, it’s important to ask your vet for advice as soon as possible before a potential infection gets worse.

Read on to find out why dog ear infections happen in the first place, how to tell if a dog’s ears may be infected, and ways to keep your canine companion’s ears as healthy as possible.

All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the Vetstreet editorial team and do not reflect a direct endorsement by the author. However, Vetstreet may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.

What Causes Ear Infections in Dogs?

The shape of a dog’s ear canal makes them more prone to developing infections than their human counterparts. While our ear canal is relatively straight, a dog’s is shaped like an L. This creates an area where fluid can collect — creating the perfect environment for bacteria, yeast, or fungus to thrive. 

Dog ear infections tend to fall into three categories:

• Otitis externa: Affects the external ear canal
• Otitis media: Occurs within the middle ear
• Otitis interna: Occurs within the inner ear 

The most common type of ear infection in dogs is otitis externa, which is usually easily treated. But if left untreated, it can develop into otitis media or otitis interna. Middle and inner ear infections tend to be a lot more serious and painful, requiring more extensive treatment. 

Dog ear infections can be caused by a range of factors, including:

• Parasites: Ear mites, ticks, and the mites that cause mange can be the cause of an ear infection in dogs. Infections due to ear mites are more common in puppies than in older dogs. 
• Foreign bodies: This is anything that gets into your dog’s ear that shouldn’t be there. Common examples include grass awns or sand that then cause inflammation, allowing an infection to take hold. 
• Bacteria: Many different species of bacteria, including Staphylococcus, can trigger ear infections, usually when a dog’s ear is already compromised, through excessive moisture or inflammation. 
• Fungus or yeast infections: Yeast occurs naturally on your dog’s skin, but this is another common cause of ear infections if a dog’s ear is compromised. 
• Allergies: Dogs with allergies, whether to food, fleas, or something else, are often more likely to suffer from ear infections as well. 
• Conformation: Dogs with long, pendulous ears are at higher risk of ear infections. So are dogs with excessive hair within the ear canal. Both of these issues can create moist conditions where bacteria or yeast can thrive. 
• Tumors: Both benign and malignant tumors can trigger inflammation and ear infections. 
• Excessive moisture: Swimmer’s ear can be a problem in dogs who spend a lot of time in the water. 
• Health conditions: Ear infections can be caused by a range of health conditions, including autoimmune, endocrine, and keratinization disorders. 
• Idiopathic: If your dog suffers from persistent ear infections that have been investigated by your vet but no obvious cause is found, it is considered idiopathic.   

Some dogs can suffer from chronic otitis, a long-lasting ear infection that can cause serious harm.  

Your dog’s breed can also play a role in whether they are more prone to ear issues. “Long floppy ear breeds and those with excessive hair in the outer ear canals are the breeds most susceptible to ear infections,” explained Dr. Fleck, DVM and co-host of The Pet Buzz.  

Research has found that the breeds most susceptible to ear infections include:

• Basset Hounds
• Chinese Shar Pei
• Labradoodles
• Beagles
• Golden Retrievers

But any dog with long, floppy ear flaps will tend to be at a higher risk of ear infections than dogs with pointy ears. 

6 Signs of Ear Infection in Dogs

So, what are some warning signs of ear infections in dogs? Sometimes, changes in your dog’s behavior will be easy to pick up on, and other times you might not notice anything is wrong with your pet. Here are six common signs of ear infections in dogs to watch for:

1. Head shaking 

If your dog has long ears, you might have come to love the distinctive sound of their floppy ear shake — but excessive head-shaking can be a sign of an ear infection. If your dog can’t stop shaking their head, give their ears a closer look. 

2. Scratching and rubbing 

Ear infections can make a dog’s ears very itchy. In an attempt to soothe this, your dog might scratch their ears with a paw or rub their heads along the wall or floor. You might also hear your dog crying or whimpering as they rub their ears.  

3. Inflammation or swelling

A dog’s ears may become inflamed, swollen, and hot to the touch. In extreme cases, your dog may get a hematoma (a blood collection under the skin), which will result in extreme swelling. 

4. Excessive ear wax 

A little ear wax is normal for dogs, and it’s usually light brown or yellow in appearance. Other ear wax colors, such as gray, green, dark brown, black, or red, can indicate an infection.

5. Pungent odor

All dogs can be a little stinky at times, but if you notice your dog’s ears are particularly smelly, this can be a sign of infection. 

6. Pain 

Dogs can be really good at hiding pain, so you might not initially notice a dog with an ear infection is uncomfortable. If your dog usually enjoys a good ear rub and suddenly doesn’t want their ears touched or shows signs of aggression when touched, they might be suffering from a painful ear infection.

Dog Ear Infection: Next Steps

If you notice signs of a dog ear infection, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible, Dr. Fleck says. If you can’t schedule an immediate appointment, there are some steps you can take at home while you wait. “Cleaning the debris on the surface of the ear flap with a pet ear cleaner a couple of times a day will help,” Dr. Fleck says. 

A good ear cleaner for dogs, like Silver Honey® Rapid Ear Care Vet Strength Ear Rinse, can help soothe irritation and inflammation while also removing debris, dirt, and wax. “This step should never be a substitute for veterinary advice,” Dr. Fleck explains, but it can help make your dog feel a little more comfortable in the meantime. 

There are over-the-counter products available for treating ear issues in dogs, but Dr. Fleck advises speaking with a veterinarian first to determine the best course of action for your pet. “Effective, safe application and treatment protocols will always come from the veterinarian,” she says. This includes cleaning instructions and when prescription medications are needed.

To determine what’s causing your dog’s ear issues, your veterinarian will examine your dog’s ears, including looking within the ear canal itself. Sometimes, the cause will be obvious — like a grass awn. Other times, your veterinarian may need to run diagnostic tests to check for ear mites, fungus, or bacteria.

Some dogs may need to be sedated during the exam so the veterinarian can more easily collect a sample from the ear and clean out the ear canal. 

The type of medication your vet recommends will depend on what’s causing your dog’s ear infection and how severe it is.

How to Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs

To lower your dog’s risk of ear infections, there are a few steps you can take at home. First, get into the habit of regularly checking your dog’s ears and watching for signs of infection. If your dog has floppy ears, lift their ear flap and check the visible section of their ear canal. 

“Proper ear cleaning is recommended twice weekly for vulnerable breeds,” Dr. Fleck says. Use a product recommended by your veterinarian, like Silver Honey® Rapid Ear Care Vet Strength Ear Rinse. “Closely follow the technique demonstrated at your veterinary office,” Dr. Fleck says. You can combine these cleaning sessions with a quick check of your dog’s ears. Don’t clean your dog’s ears more often than recommended by your veterinarian, and avoid using cotton swabs or anything that can push debris into your dog’s ears or damage their eardrum if used incorrectly. Dog ear wipes, such as Silver Honey Rapid Ear Care Pet Wipes, can be wrapped around your finger to gently remove debris from the outer ear before it enters the ear canal. 

If your dog has hair inside their ears, ask your veterinarian for advice. “Trimming or removing hair from the ear canal should be done by a professional groomer or veterinary office using proper hair extraction equipment,” Dr. Fleck says.

If your dog’s ear infections are triggered by swimmer’s ear and excessive moisture, talk to your veterinarian about how to keep your dog’s ears as dry as possible. “Apply ear cleaner after leaving the pool, lake, or ocean,” Dr. Fleck recommends. 

By checking and cleaning your dog’s ears regularly, you can help protect them against ear infections. If they still deal with ear issues despite your best efforts, at least you’ll feel more prepared to take quick action. 

Pet Health Insurance Can Help

Unexpected veterinary bills can make caring for your pet challenging. Don’t let financial stress get in the way of making the best decisions for your pet. Pet health insurance can cover surprise costs such as veterinary visits, prescription medications, and life-saving procedures. 

Review personalized options for your pet below:

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We’ve all been there: Our dogs are perfect angels… right up until the moment the bath faucet turns on or the pills come out of the medicine cabinet. That’s why we’re here with tried-and-true solutions to help you take the stress out of things many dogs loathe, including taking pills, bathing, nail clipping and wearing clothing.

Giving Pills

Taking pills is sometimes a hassle for us humans, so it’s hard to expect our dogs to willingly do the same. Fortunately, the appeal of a tasty treat can often outweigh the perceived downside of swallowing medication. For example, you can use Milk-Bone^® Pill Pouches to hide the pill in a yummy treat — chances are, your dog will be distracted enough by the aroma of real chicken or hickory-smoked bacon flavor to not detect the medication. Now, you could try hiding her medication in human foods like peanut butter, but that can be messy and can add too many calories to your pup’s diet. Milk-Bone^® Pill Pouches are designed to mold around most capsules and tablets, making it easy to disguise the medication. And here’s a pro tip: Ask your veterinarian if it’s OK to use a pill cutter to break the medication into halves or quarters and hide it inside multiple Milk-Bone^® Pill Pouches. Just remember: don’t feed your dog more than the daily recommended amount of treats.

Taking Baths

You’re in the bathroom, hunched over the tub and trying to keep your shaking, soapy canine from clambering out the bathtub, wondering if she’ll ever love you again. Fortunately, we’ve got good news: It doesn’t have to be that way! Believe us when we say that there’s plenty you can do to help make bathtime more enjoyable for your dog. For starters, coax her to the tub with treats and praise instead of chasing her down the hallway and intercepting her attempt to hide under a bed. Do your best to avoid things that can create negative associations with bathing, like getting shampoo in your dog’s eyes, pouring water over her face or tugging on matted fur in the tub. Instead, use warm water, speak to her in a calming voice, brush her fur gently before and after the bath and reward her cooperation with high-value treats. Just be sure that no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calorie intake comes from treats. Reducing the negative elements of bathtime can help turn what was once a stressful experience into a sweet bonding activity for you and your pup.

Clipping Nails 

Why is it that a minor activity like nail clipping seems to inspire so much drama in our canines? If possible, start handling your dog’s paws when she’s young, so that she grows up being accustomed to having her feet touched. But don’t fret if you’re working with an older dog — many adult canines can be trained to let you handle their paws and trim their nails. If you’ve unsuccessfully attempted to trim your dog’s claws in the past, start with a new pair of clippers that’s distinctly different from any clippers you’ve used before. It seems like such an insignificant change, but making this simple swap might help your dog mentally “start over” with the nail-trimming experience.

Reward your dog with treats as soon as you bring out the clippers and don’t hesitate to do this a few times before you even try cutting any nails. You can even use other items, like the eraser end of a pencil, to touch your dog’s nails before you start with the clippers. Once you’ve made it past that step without any fear, squeeze the clippers in your hand so your dog can get used to the sound they make, then progress to squeezing the clippers right next to the claws without actually trimming the nails. Finally, once your dog is comfortable with all the previous steps, start to clip her nails in short sessions and offer plenty of praise. Trim just one or two nails per session and gradually add more nails as your dog becomes more comfortable. It may seem like we’re suggesting a lot of steps, but slow and steady wins the race!

Wearing Shoes and Clothing

You might think training a dog to wear shoes or clothing is unnecessary, but consider this: A dog who lives in the city, where toxic chemicals are often used to melt ice on sidewalks, might need booties to help protect her paws from de-icers. Or how about a thin-coated, senior dog who could benefit from a sweater to help her retain body heat? Your dog might one day need to accept wearing shoes or clothing, so it’s a good idea to start practicing now. As with any activity that a dog might find less than desirable, it’s ideal to start early in life — during the puppy years, if possible. When it comes to encouraging your canine to accept clothing, start with something simple, like a doggie jacket without sleeves. Make getting dressed fun (read: offer treats) and reward your dog for staying calm when she’s wearing the clothing. If you want to try out booties, make sure you purchase a comfortable pair that’s large enough and doesn’t rub against your pup’s paws or legs. Be prepared to try out lots of booties until you find the ones that are right for your dog!

What we’re really trying to say is: Don’t give up! With patience, practice and Milk-Bone^® treats, we bet you’ll be amazed at how far your dog can come with activities she used to loathe!

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Be sure to plan your food refills in advance and ask your vet, or a member of their team, the best way to get your prescription pet food. Remember, delays can always happen when filling any kind of prescription, so it is always a good idea not to wait until the last minute to order your next batch of food.

This article has been reviewed by a Veterinarian.

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• Vomiting is the forceful emptying of the stomach.
• If vomiting is prolonged, it can lead to dehydration.
• Vomiting can be associated with several medical conditions ranging from motion sickness to foreign body ingestion to cancer.
• Treatment is aimed at controlling the vomiting and resolving the primary cause.
• A safe environment, healthy diet, routine veterinary care, and wellness blood work will go a long way toward preventing vomiting.

What Is Vomiting?

Vomiting is defined as the forceful emptying of the stomach’s contents. It is caused by a signal from the brain to the stomach that originates in a part of the brain known as the vomiting center. Vomiting initially developed because it helps save animals from poisoning. Nerves in the abdomen or certain substances in the bloodstream indicate to the brain that the animal may have eaten something toxic, and vomiting can help to rid the body of the toxic substance. Although this does occur now, the actual ingestion of toxins has become less of a threat to our pets than to their wild ancestors; over time, many more triggers began to induce the brain to signal vomiting. Prolonged vomiting can be dangerous because it can lead to life-threatening dehydration.

What Are the Causes of Vomiting?

Primary stomach or intestinal diseases that can cause vomiting include:

• Parasites
• Toxins
• Foreign bodies
• Spoiled food
• Food allergies
• Stomach ulcers
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Cancer

Secondary or nonstomach disorders that can cause vomiting include:

• Motion sickness
• Thyroid disease (in cats)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Pyometra (uterine infection)
• Kidney or liver disease
• Canine parvovirus or distemper
• Feline panleukopenia virus

How Is the Cause of Vomiting Diagnosed?

Before attempting to diagnose what may be causing a pet to vomit, it is very important to differentiate between vomiting and regurgitation. Vomiting requires abdominal effort (constriction of the abdominal muscles) and is the active expelling of stomach contents. In contrast, regurgitation is the passive elimination of contents in the esophagus that happens without nausea or retching. This distinction is important because the medical conditions that tend to cause regurgitation are different from those associated with vomiting.

Once your pet’s vomiting has been confirmed, your veterinarian will begin to approach your pet’s diagnosis and treatment. In order to narrow the list of possible causes, your veterinarian will take into account your pet’s age and species. For instance, a young energetic dog that is vomiting is more likely to have eaten something it shouldn’t have, while a senior cat with weight loss, increased drinking, and vomiting is more likely to have a medical problem such as kidney disease or thyroid disease. Your veterinarian will likely ask detailed questions regarding duration of sickness, weight loss, medications, changes in appetite, and timing of the vomiting with regard to meals. A thorough physical exam will be performed to determine if there is abdominal pain, dehydration, or other abnormalities suggesting the cause of the vomiting. You may want to bring some of the vomit to the hospital because the appearance of the vomit can help with the diagnosis. For example, vomit with black coffee ground-like material indicates that the stomach may be bleeding.

Your veterinarian may also recommend performing laboratory tests on blood, feces, and urine. It may also be necessary to evaluate X-rays and perform an abdominal ultrasound examination. If your veterinarian suspects that the problem may be limited to the stomach and the intestines close to the stomach, an endoscopic examination may be recommended. This procedure requires anesthesia and involves passing an endoscope (a long tube containing a tiny video camera) down your pet’s esophagus to look into the stomach and intestines.

How Is Vomiting Treated?

Dehydration from prolonged or severe vomiting is of immediate concern, and it may be necessary to admit your pet to the hospital for fluid replacement while a diagnosis is being pursued. Treatment is aimed at controlling the vomiting itself (to prevent further dehydration) and at gaining control of or eliminating the primary cause of the vomiting. Some causes of vomiting are easily treated, such as when a pet with an allergy to a certain food stops vomiting when the diet is switched. On the other hand, a pet with stomach cancer may need surgery, chemotherapy, or more prolonged and aggressive treatment.

How Can I Prevent Vomiting?

Vomiting is a signal to the owner and the veterinary team that something is wrong. If your pet vomits once, remove food and water for a few hours. Continuing to eat and drink may cause the vomiting to continue instead of stopping after one episode. If your pet continues to vomit without having anything to eat or drink, call your veterinarian. Also, do not allow your pet to eat grass — this is an old wives’ tale and does not benefit the pet.

In fact, eating grass can contribute to additional medical problems. Sometimes it can be very difficult to determine the cause of vomiting. This is especially true if a pet is not well supervised or has access to a variety to things that can cause vomiting. Keeping a watchful eye on what your pet eats and preventing his or her access to harmful substances will help prevent many causes of vomiting.

Having routine physical examinations, fecal testing, and wellness blood work performed regularly can permit the early discovery and treatment of medical conditions such as parasites, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, thyroid disease, and other conditions that can cause vomiting. A watchful eye, along with early diagnosis and treatment of primary disease, provide the opportunity to prevent vomiting in many cases.

This article has been reviewed by a Veterinarian.

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When a pet loses a dramatic amount of weight for no apparent reason, you need to go to your vet as it can be a sign of disease. There may be an underlying condition that needs treatment.

Overview

In today’s world in which more than 50 percent of dogs and cats are considered overweight or obese, weight loss is often a desirable outcome for our sedentary, overfed pets. But when pets lose weight despite little effort on their owners’ parts to effect this change, it’s often an unwelcome symptom of disease. This is especially true in cases where weight loss is rapid or pronounced (more than 10 percent of body weight).

Causes

Pets can occasionally lose weight for a variety of relatively benign reasons:

• A change in diet can sometimes cause weight loss either because the pet finds the food less appealing or because it has fewer calories.
• A move to a new home, a change in schedule, or greater access to the outdoors can lead to weight loss if a pet becomes more active as a result.
• Geriatric pets can sometimes lose small amounts of weight as part of the normal aging process.

Persistent, rapid, or dramatic weight loss (greater than 10 percent of a pet’s body weight), however, can be the sign of a serious condition, such as:

• Liver disease in dogs and cats
• Periodontal disease in dogs and cats
• Thyroid disease in cats
• Kidney failure in cats and dogs
• Cancer
• Chronic gastrointestinal obstruction (as when foreign bodies are ingested)
• Diabetes in dogs and cats
• FeLV or FIV in cats
• Orthopedic or neuromuscular disease that leads to loss of muscle mass

What To Do at Home

If you notice weight loss in your pet, ask yourself a few simple questions:

1. Is the pet otherwise feeling well or is she suffering from lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other obvious symptoms?
2. Has the pet’s home life or schedule changed?
3. Has the pet’s diet changed?
4. Has the pet’s appetite or activity level obviously declined?

If changes in diet or activity level don’t seem sufficient explanation for the degree of weight loss (particularly if the pet’s weight loss is greater than 10 percent of her body weight), a veterinary visit is absolutely in order.

What Your Veterinarian Will Do

There are several steps a veterinarian may undertake to discern the origin of the weight loss.

1. Get a history. When did you first notice the weight loss? How has it changed? How has your pet been otherwise? How is her appetite?
2. Do a physical examination. What a pet looks and feels like can tell your veterinarian a lot about weight loss. What do her teeth look like? Does she look otherwise healthy? Checking out the entire pet helps establish what’s going on and is therefore considered an essential step.
3. Do some basic lab work. A CBC (complete blood count), blood chemistry panel, thyroid hormone test, heartworm test, urinalysis, and fecal examination are considered basic. For cats, FIV (feline AIDS) and FeLV (feline leukemia) tests may also be recommended. For dogs, tick titers (blood tests to help diagnose Lyme disease or other diseases carried by ticks) might be in order.
4. Take X-rays (radiography). This common imaging study can show if internal organs (like the liver, kidneys, and heart) are enlarged or otherwise abnormal in size or position. Some internal tumors can also be detected by taking X-rays.
5. Do an ultrasound. Similar to X-rays, this test uses sound waves to help get a more three-dimensional picture of internal organs and to show whether abnormal structures or abnormal organs are present.
6. Conduct a barium study. This common X-ray study requires that a patient receive a stomach-filling volume of a dense liquid material that shows up as a bright white image on an X-ray. It’s usually undertaken as a series of images, so that the barium’s progress through the gastrointestinal tract can be evaluated. As the barium fills the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, much can be discerned about the structure and function of the GI tract. This test is especially useful when gastrointestinal obstructions or gastrointestinal cancers are suspected.

Treatment

Definitive treatment depends on the underlying cause of the weight loss.

Pet Health Insurance Can Help

Unexpected veterinary bills can make caring for your pet challenging. Don’t let financial stress get in the way of making the best decisions for your pet. Pet health insurance can cover surprise costs such as veterinary visits, prescription medications, and life-saving procedures. 

Review personalized options for your pet below:

This article has been reviewed by a Veterinarian.

The post Unexplained Weight Loss in Cats and Dogs appeared first on Vetstreet.

How Do I Find a Groomer?

Choosing a grooming facility based on an ad in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet is not the best way to select a groomer. Because groomers are not regulated or licensed by any government agency, the skills and experience of groomers can vary greatly.

A good way to start looking for a groomer is by asking for recommendations from friends, veterinary hospitals, boarding facilities, and animal trainers. You can also visit Websites, such as those of the National Dog Groomers Association of America and the Professional Cat Groomers Association of America. These organizations provide groomers with education and certification and may be able to recommend a groomer in your area. You may also want to consult the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) to ensure that no complaints have been lodged against a grooming facility that you are considering.

What Kind of Grooming Facility Is Best?

First, decide whether you would prefer to take your pet to a grooming facility or to have a mobile groomer come to your home. In general, mobile groomers charge a little more for convenience.

Before taking your pet for grooming, stop by the facility during regular business hours to see the facility and watch the groomer(s) in action. Ensure that the facility is clean and well-ventilated and that the cages look comfortable. If possible, watch the groomer(s) as he or she grooms pets, noting whether the pets are handled gently and appear stressed. If the facility uses heat-producing dryers, ask how the staff ensures that pets are not burned or overheated.

Ask about the facility’s health policy. If it doesn’t require proof of vaccination, it is in your pet’s best interest to go elsewhere. Ask about the policy on accepting sick pets. For example, coughing dogs may carry a contagious disease that can spread to your dog. For references, you may ask the facility for contact information of current clients.

What Services Should Be Included in Grooming?

It’s important to discuss what is included with the grooming fee. Most facilities offer bathing, drying, brushing, clipping, ear cleaning, and nail trimming. In most cases, there is an additional fee for animals that are severely matted or need additional shaving. If your pet has skin allergies, consider taking your own hypoallergenic shampoo to the groomer to avoid skin flare-ups.

Some services should only be performed by a veterinarian. Proper dental cleanings should be done while a pet is under general anesthesia to allow a veterinary professional to remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line with minimal stress to the patient. In addition, only a veterinarian should empty anal glands. If your pet has frequent ear infections, ask your veterinarian whether a groomer should pluck ear hair. Pets requiring any kind of tranquilizer or sedative, such as cats that are severely matted, should be groomed at a veterinary facility where they can be closely monitored.

How Can I Make Grooming a Positive Experience for My Pet?

If your pet will require a lot of grooming throughout his or her life, start familiarizing your pet with the grooming facility when he or she is young. At home, try to brush your pet and handle his or her paws on a daily basis. The more comfortable your pet is with being handled, the more tolerant and stress-free he or she will be at the groomer.

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Have you ever gotten up in the morning or come home from work at night to be greeted by a pile of vomited food on the floor? If your cat vomits undigested food a short time after eating, you may have a serious problem, but not necessarily. Cats are known for eating things they shouldn’t (plastic, sewing needles, thread or yarn, you get the picture), so if something gets stuck in the esophagus or stomach, this can cause vomiting or regurgitation of food when the cat tries to eat.  However, if a healthy cat simply eats too much food or eats too quickly, the food may come right back up. So how do you know if you have a problem? Here are some tips:

1. If your cat tends to eat very quickly, try feeding smaller, more frequent meals to help discourage gorging.
2. Hair balls can cause vomiting of food material. If you’re unsure about how to manage hairballs, ask your veterinarian for advice. If hairballs don’t seem to be the cause, seek veterinary care.
3. Frequent or abrupt diet changes can cause some cats to vomit food. If a diet change is necessary, try to do it gradually (over a period of at least a week or so). Don’t forget that new treats also constitute a diet change, so if vomiting occurs after trying a new treat, discontinue it for a while to see if the problem resolves.
4. Cats that develop food allergies sometimes vomit after eating.

When in doubt, it’s always best to tell your vet what’s happening. She can determine whether you have a serious problem or not, and advise you about the best way to help your cat through this problem.

The Importance of Cat Health Insurance

Your cat health insurance policy can help to offset unexpected treatment costs. These costs may include veterinary visits, prescription medications, or procedures such as imaging or surgery. 

Find a personalized plan for your cat by using the insurance finder below:

More on Vetstreet.com:

• Pet Food Protein: Why It is Very Important for Your Cat and Dog
• 10 Dangerous Human Foods for Pets
• Best and Worst Fruits and Vegetables for Pets

The post Why Does My Cat… Vomit After Eating? appeared first on Vetstreet.

Overview

Symptoms and Identification

• Bloodwork to assess toxin levels and hydration status
• Urinalysis to look for an infection and/or crystals
• Urine culture to determine if there is an infection and, if so, what bacteria may be responsible
• Radiographs (X-rays) to look for bladder or urethral stones

Affected Breeds

Treatment

• Intravenous catheter placement, which allows for fluids and medications to be administered
• Removal of urine directly from the bladder, which allows for easier urinary catheter insertion
• Urinary catheter placement (under heavy sedation or general
• anesthesia), which provides a way to flush the bladder and keep it empty for one to three days (or more) while inflammation subsides Intravenous fluids, which helps maintain blood pressure, correct dehydration, and help the body rid itself of toxins
• Antibiotics, which treat bacterial infections
• Antispasmodics, which relax the urethra in order to allow material to pass through it
• Cystotomy (surgery to remove bladder stones)
• Perineal urethrostomy, which is surgery to make the urethral opening permanently larger, thus reducing the risk of future obstructions Long-term dietary changes and urine monitoring

Prevention

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Uveodermatologic syndrome is a rare disease in which the dog’s immune system forms antibodies against its own pigment cells in the skin and light-sensing cells in the back of the eye. It causes red, painful eyes, skin depigmentation on the face and footpads, and premature whitening of the hair. Because the skin and hair issues are cosmetic, treatment focuses on the eye problems, which are typically ongoing and can lead to permanent blindness.

Overview

In humans, a condition known as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome produces eye, skin, and nervous system symptoms. Uveodermatologic syndrome is the canine counterpart to this human disease complex; however, most dogs do not have nervous system signs.

Affected dogs usually experience eye problems, including uveitis (inflammation of a layer of the eye), vitiligo (skin depigmentation), and a premature whitening of the hair (poliosis). It’s important to understand that the worst-case scenario for the skin is merely cosmetic, while that for the eyes is much worse: blindness.

The cause is believed to be related to the immune system’s destruction of cells in the retina of the eye and melanocytes (pigment-making cells) the skin and hair. It’s been postulated that a virus may trigger the process. Exposure to sunlight may exacerbate the problem.

Symptoms and Identification

Most dogs initially present signs related to eye discomfort. Painful, red eyes are common, and dogs may be sensitive to bright light. Vision changes are often noted when dogs begin to bump into things. Constricted pupils and clouding of the eyes are typical as well.

Many affected dogs will have vitiligo (depigmentation of the skin) — most evident on the nose, lips, eyelids, footpads, and scrotum, vulva, and anus. These areas should be biopsied to help achieve a definitive diagnosis.

Affected Breeds

Akitas, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Samoyeds are most commonly affected.

Treatment

Treatment is directed at the uveitis affecting the eyes. Systemic immunosuppressive drugs are typically prescribed along with topical treatments for the eyes.

In general, dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome have ongoing and serious eye issues, requiring treatment for months or years. The eye problems tend to recur, and irreversible blindness is common. Aggressive therapy to subdue the immune system can help relieve the inflammation in the eyes and slow the progression of vision impairment.

The Importance of Dog Health Insurance

Dog health insurance can help you pay for unexpected health expenses, surgeries, or medications of senior dogs. It’s important to purchase insurance before there’s a problem. While pet insurance may add to your monthly expenses, it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run.

Don’t ever let financial decisions get in the way of your dog’s care. Review personalized options for your pet below:

This article has been reviewed by a Veterinarian.

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Overview

• Ileus: When normal peristaltic waves moving partially digested food forward aren’t present, bacterial populations increase. Neurologic problems, gastrointestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, peritonitis, parasitism, and other processes can all cause the lack of forward intestinal movement called ileus.
• Altered Digestion or Absorption of Nutrients: This can occur with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (inadequate secretion of digestive enzymes by the pancreas) and other disorders that can lead to poor digestion and absorption of nutrients.
• Malnutrition or immunodeficiency: When the body’s overall condition is adversely affected, all the normal defenses can break down, leading to uncontrolled bacteria growth.

Symptoms and Identification

Affected Breeds

Treatment

Prognosis

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If your cat cries at night, you’re not alone. Cats get noisy for different reasons at different stages in their lives.

Kittens often like to play at night. Though adopting two kittens together is an excellent idea (and recommended for health and general welfare), their wee-hour play-fights can keep you from a good night’s rest.

As your cat matures, he might want to hunt. Some cats get especially vocal when they’re on the prowl. Often cats feel the urge to hunt in the evening, and a midnight hunt of an insect, reptile, or rodent (depending on your geographic location) can mean a rude awakening for you when your cat screams out in frustration or elation.

With an older cat, vocalization throughout the night can be a sign of a serious problem. Advancing age sometimes brings sleep-wake cycle aberrations and dementia. These conditions are common in geriatric cats and may be related to anxiety or plain old disorientation. If you have a senior cat who gets very vocal at night, tell your veterinarian. There are therapies that can improve the quality of life of afflicted cats — and their humans.

This article was written by a Veterinarian.

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