ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

I have a nine-year-old terrier mix with breathing problems. Years ago, a vet told me that a dog with a purple tongue has heart problems. One day, my dog’s tongue turned purple, and she seemed to need oxygen. She was licking around her mouth, panting, and lifting her head.

I’ve taken her to three vets so far. The first said there was nothing wrong. The second vet said that’s what dogs do when they’re warm but gave me medicine and sent us on our way. Nothing changed. The third vet took x-rays and sent them off to a cardiologist. She said my dog had a strong heartbeat and no heart murmur. So, that was that. I accepted it, and figured they knew best. Well, it’s getting worse. I don’t know what to do.

— Diane, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Dear Diane,

If your dog is getting worse, please take her back to the vet for another exam. Go to the vet who took the x-rays since they did take the time to rule out heart issues. When a dog has a red to purple tongue color, it could be a sign of heart or respiratory problems. But, it also could be an indication of other health issues.

You mentioned your dog was a mixed breed. If your dog gets another clean bill of health, then I wonder if your dog has some Chow Chow or Shar Pei mix in her – two dogs who naturally have purple/black tongues. Your dog doesn’t have to look like these dogs to have this DNA. It might be worth checking out.

Dear Cathy,

My indoor cat is 10. She eats one can of wet food daily, supplemented by dry food. She’s extremely picky and will only eat three flavors. She no longer finishes the can, so I’m throwing out half the food out daily. She will not eat the remainder the next day. She was without wet food for over the winter when there was a cat food shortage. It was heartbreaking to see how sad she was about it. I’ve thrown out half her food the past three days and didn’t give her any wet food today, and she’s heartbroken. What do I do?

— Christine, Rocky Point, New York

...continued

(c) 2022 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.