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Ask Dr. Doodle..........
Dear Jodi, It sounds like you may have an ear infection. This is a very common problem and can be very troublesome. Do you swim a lot or get regular baths? Do you have skin allergies or itchy feet? Painful, itchy, smelly ears can be caused by moisture in the ears, too much hair blocking the ear canals, allergies, yeast infection or a bacteria infection. Sometimes even a grass seed or the end of a Q-tip can become lodged in the ear canal. It is important to have your owner take you to your vet so she/he can look deep inside your ear canals and work out exactly what is causing your particular ear problem. Some special tests may be needed. Then the correct treatment or medication can be prescribed. This may include an ear cleaner, ear drops or maybe even tablets. Good luck,
Dr. Doodle
Frequently Asked Questions General Topics: When does a puppy or kitten start its shots? Both puppies and kittens begin their vaccination series at six to eight weeks of age and receive vaccinations every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. It is also very important to have your puppy or kitten's stool checked for worms or other intestinal parasites at a young age. If you are unsure of your new pet's age, you can always ask us for advice. What are anal sacs? Anal sacs are small sacs located on either side of the rectum. They are not part of the rectum and they contain a fishy smelling substance. Before domestication, both dogs and cats had control to these sacs and used them to mark their territory. Now, pets no longer have active control of these sacs and sometimes they must be emptied in order to prevent infection. They are present in both males and females. Often, a dog will "scoot" on its behind, and indication that the sacs are full and need attention by a veterinarian. Cats generally tend to lick their rectal area excessively if their anal sacs are full. Why should I spay or neuter my pet? Please refer to the article on spay or neutering on our Care Corner page. Are flea collars very effective? Not really. Since they are placed around the neck of the pet and contain a weak insecticide, they usually do not kill many fleas. I saw small worms in my pet's bowel movement. What are they? Small white worms about the size of a grain of rice in length are tapeworms. They are not contagious from pet to pet. They come from swallowing fleas or eating mice. The worms can be eradicated with an injection or oral medication from your veterinarian. There are NO products in the pet supermarket or in the grocery store to kill tapeworms. Also, in order to help keep them away, you should also practice good flea control. What is the best way to identify my pet? Keep a collar with identification on him at all times. You can also have a microchip implanted in his neck which is completely painless. All shelters and vets scan strays for microchips, if your pet is lost, he could be returned to you much easier by a local shelter. Please call us for more information on the Home Again Microchip. How long is a dog/cat in season or heat? A dog is in season about 21 days. The first 10 days include bleeding from the vagina, then your dog is ready to accept the male. A cat is completely different from a dog. They go in and out of season from January to June. It is always best to neuter your pet if you do not intend to breed her so that she does not develop breast or uterine cancer. How long does pregnancy past in a dog/cat? A dog is pregnant for 63 days and a cat for 61 days What is a dog's or cat's normal temperature? 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. How do I remove a tick from my pet? The best method is to cover the tick with vaseline and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then carefully remove it with a pair of tweezers applying gentle fraction until it lets go. If mouth parts stay in, apply Neosporin to the bite area. You should know that ticks carry a vast array of diseases. Lyme disease is one disease that dogs can be vaccinated against. Call our hospital for more information.
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My name is Jodi and I am an Australian Shepherd.
I am a healthy 5 year old dog, but in the past few weeks my ears have
really been bothering me. They are itchy and sore, and my owners
keep telling me I smell, which really hurts my feelings. Please
help me!
