Foreign objects like foxtails can get up a dog's nose and cause nasal bleeding.
Internet pharmacies may look like a bargain deal for many pet owners. The advertisements claim their prices are lower than those you pay at the vet's office. But are they really? Here are several reasons why you should think twice before you place that online order.
First, costs can be deceptive. In a survey comparing prices for flea control products at local veterinary hospitals with a popular online pharmacy in Florida, the local vet's prices were within 3 percent of the online pharmacy. In some cases, the medications were actually cheaper at the vet's office!
But here's another, more important reason that might make you reconsider placing your order online. Counterfeit drugs. That's right. Unfortunately, some drugs purchased by computer aren't what they're supposed to be. Many of the drugs sold on the Internet look the same and have the same name, but are produced overseas, where quality control during production is poor. A few are just misrepresented. What's in the package may be different than what's on the label.
So buyer beware. The next time you need some heartworm prevention or flea control meds, consider buying from your vet. At least you'll know that the quality of the drugs is excellent and they'll do the job. And in the end, you might even save a little.
Now for this week's Q & A.
Q:
Our 5-year-old terrier, Franky, has a cough that seems to get worse when he's excited or playing. He's always coughed a little, but now it seems worse. Our vet took some x-rays and said that he has a collapsing windpipe. He wants Franky to lose some weight (he's pretty chubby), but the medication he gave us seems to make Franky hungry all the time. What can we do?
A:
Collapsing trachea (the windpipe) is a fairly common problem in some terriers and other small dogs. The windpipe literally flattens when Franky takes a deep breath, momentarily stopping any airflow. His natural impulse at first is a small cough, but with time, the cough can become very loud, almost like a goose-honk. Collapsing trachea is serious because it can lead to chronic throat irritation and respiratory difficulty.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are the treatment of choice for this condition. And many veterinarians use a steroid, prednisone, to stop the cough. This drug works well, but it causes dogs to be hungry, complicating things a little because overweight pooches have a lot more trouble with this condition than others. In fact, weight loss is crucial for Franky, so start him on a reducing diet right away. And when he's out for a walk with you, use a shoulder harness instead of a collar around his neck. Pressure on the trachea from a neck collar could make him cough even more. And I'm sure his little throat could use a rest.
Q:
Our 4-year-old Doberman, Hanz, had a bloody nose three times in the past month. We took him to the vet the last time, and they tranquilized him to look in his nose. They didn't find anything, but told us that he should go to a specialist to be examined with a special scope. Sounds like a lot of money and we're not sure why he should have this done. Any suggestions?
A:
There are several different conditions that can cause nasal bleeding (a condition called epistaxis). Foreign bodies, like foxtails, and polyps and tumors are on the top of the list. If Hanz has any of these up his nose, the specialist could find it with a scope.
But other medical problems can also cause spontaneous nasal bleeding. You didn't say in your letter, but I wonder if Hanz's veterinarian ran any blood tests to determine whether he has a blood clotting deficiency, called a coagulopathy. Nosebleeds can be the first symptom of a coagulopathy in several different scenarios.
First, if Hanz has access to any pesticides, tell the vet because it could be a serious problem. Anticoagulants are the active ingredient in mouse or rat baits like D-Con. These products look and taste good to dogs and they cause fatal spontaneous hemorrhage.
There are also immune disorders and even some genetic conditions that can cause clotting problems. One of these, called von Willebrand disease, is seen in Dobermans, so Hanz should be screened for this hereditary trait.
Ask his vet to run a coagulation profile, a blood test to check on his clotting. This is important and I think this test should be run before any other exams are scheduled.
Pete Keesling Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital. He writes a bi-weekly column for South Valley Newspapers and hosts a radio talk show, Dr. Pete’s Petpourri, Sundays at 1 p.m. and Friday mornings at 7:10 on KSCO 1080 AM. If you have questions about pet care, e-mail them to smvet3@yahoo.com.
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