ArcaMax

Q: I have a compromised immune system, and I want to adopt a cat. What do I need to know about protecting my health?

A: Many people are immunocompromised because of physiologic factors like pregnancy or extremes of age, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, infectious diseases like HIV, or treatment with immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune ...Read more

Q: I adopted a middle-aged German shepherd mix from the shelter today and was told he has an eye condition called pannus. His veterinarian won't be able to see him for another week, so I hope you'll tell me about pannus and whether it's painful.

A: Pannus is the common name for chronic superficial keratitis. Superficial keratitis is ...Read more

Q: Beau, our 1-year-old dachshund, had a small, round, pink mass on his ear. Scheduling an appointment with his veterinarian took longer than usual, and just before the appointment, the mass disappeared, so we canceled. What was the mass?

A: It sounds like Beau may have had a histiocytoma, a common skin tumor that usually disappears without ...Read more

Q: Our cat Brewster tangled with a bat in our house. I managed to get the bat away from him and move it outside. Brewster's rabies vaccination is current, and I don't see any bites on him. Do I need to make an appointment with his veterinarian?

A: Yes. It's prudent to assume Brewster was bitten by the bat. Bat teeth are tiny, and most people ...Read more

Q: My husband began taking Winchester, our 5-year-old Labrador retriever, hunting with him this season. Win seems too young to be going deaf, but I'm convinced his hearing isn't as sharp as it was before hunting season. Could the gunfire have damaged Win's hearing? Can it be tested?

A: Yes, any loud noise can damage a dog's hearing. Hunting ...Read more

Q: What can you tell me about feline vision? I've heard that cats see well in the dark, but I still think we should leave a nightlight on so our cats can find their way to water bowls and litter boxes in the dark. My partner disagrees.

A: I'm with you; we've placed night lights in strategic locations for our pets, too. Still, your partner's ...Read more

Q: I recently adopted Sophie, a 1-year-old standard poodle, who has an endearing trait. Sometimes she tilts her head when I'm talking, as though she's trying to understand everything I'm saying. None of my other dogs did this. Why does she?

A: In a recent study, researchers concluded that especially smart dogs more often tilt their heads than ...Read more

Q: Penny, my middle-aged indoor cat, chews her dental treats only on the left side of her mouth. Is this normal?

A: I confess that I've never observed my cats or dogs closely enough to know whether they chew on one or both sides of the mouth. Nor have I heard this topic discussed at veterinary conferences. So, I consulted two renowned ...Read more

Q: I'm considering adopting Hope, a 1-year-old cat who tested positive for the feline leukemia virus. She's healthy now, but I know from your column that she may get sick in the future.

If I could buy pet health insurance for her, I would be more likely to seek out the best treatment if her health worsens. However, I've been unable to find ...Read more

Q: Fern, our daughter's first rabbit, just joined our family. May she eat only rabbit pellets, or should we also give her lettuce and carrots?

A: Most of Fern's diet should consist of a variety of fresh grass hays, such as timothy, Bermuda, brome, oat, rye, barley, meadow and orchard grass hay. Avoid alfalfa, which is too high in calories and ...Read more

Q: Our pit bull puppy died of parvovirus. How can we prevent parvovirus in our next puppy?

A: Instead of choosing a puppy, I recommend you adopt an adult dog whose parvovirus vaccination is up to date. Vaccination is very effective at preventing parvovirus infection, nicknamed "parvo," and all dogs deserve protection from this common, life-...Read more

Q: Panda, our black and white tuxedo cat who also responds to the more fitting name of Pandemonium, plays with the centipedes in our bathroom. If she eats one, could it harm her?

A: No, but eating too many of them could result in stomach upset.

The greater concern is that centipedes bite, and the bite feels like a bee sting. Centipedes don't ...Read more

Q: Our son collects pennies and was dismayed to get home from school today and find that our new puppy, Lincoln, had knocked over his penny jar. Hundreds of pennies were scattered over his bedroom floor, but I am more concerned that Lincoln may have eaten some. Are ingested pennies dangerous?

A: Yes, for two reasons. Coins can block the ...Read more