Beware the old SBD

Dear Dr. Forsythe: I have something to ask you but it is kind of embarrassing.  I guess the best way to ask it is just to come right out and say it.  My dog has terrible stinky farts.  They are so bad that some friends won’t even come over to our house anymore.  She is a Lab, about 60 pounds, and she is five years old.  She eats Nutro food, so we don’t exactly skimp on her.  Please give me some advice because her silent and deadly farts are more horrible than words can say. Sign me: Down wind and nauseous

Dear Down wind:  First I should begin by empathizing with you:  I have lived with several English Bulldogs over the last 10 to 15 years.  Each and every one of them “took my breath away” and NOT from their couture beauty.  My last companion, the late great Dooney who was the greeter at my pet hospital for several years, used to have that problem.  More specifically, our wonderful receptionist Kathryn, under whose desk he would lay between appointments used to deliver a noxious flatus with no warning whatsoever.  This wonderful team member, Kathryn, who spends her days giving five-star service to customers would periodically suffer near fatal asphyxiation from his “mustard gas” emissions.

Everyone has a breaking point, after watching my amazing teammate suffer in agony, we treated Dooney with a combination of metronidazole and amoxicillin to eradicate what must have been the most ghastly and horrific gram negative intestinal maladies ever.  In addition, we upgraded his diet and I (with both guilt and remorse) turned the case over to my associate, Dr. Abbie Whitehead.  Within a few weeks of Dr. Abbie’s improved nutritional recommendations, and the three-week course of antibiotics, our beloved Dooney was feeling less bloated and Kathryn was breathing easier and having more harmonious work days.  In short, everyone in the office was breathing easier.

Remember every pet is different, every dog, and every cat.  No two creatures have identical intestinal tracts with identical digestive enzyme amounts, the same exact metabolism, or the same numbers of cells lining the gut, which help digest and utilize nutrients.   Your pet may not be digesting her food well, may be allergic to some ingredient in it, or could have a gram negative (gas producing) infection.  The good news is that your veterinarian can probably help you regain your friends with a medical intervention for your pet.  I doubt very much that she is simply a “gassy Cassie” so having her checked out and just being direct and blunt with your veterinarian may really help.
– Dr. F

Dear Readers:  I wanted to take a moment to let you know that my colleague Dr. Whitehead, who is not only a great veterinarian and friend, but also an avid writer has been “throwing her two cents in” when she sees me writing my column every week.  This got me to thinking that I should try and include her in this fun and cathartic endeavor to share some writing duties with me in the future.  I hope all of you appreciate our input and I think Dr. Whitehead will enjoy answering some of the questions we receive regularly.  Most come via email, but other questions arise in our exam rooms or when one of us is interacting with a pet lover while we are out and about.  So without further ado, here is a message from Dr. W.

Hello Sonoma Sun pet lovers:  When Dr. Forsythe asked me to think about contributing to his weekly column, I realized that participating with him was akin to starting the new year doing something I have always wanted to do.  The idea of calmly answering any of the myriad of fun, interesting, and at times befuddling questions we get was both exciting and daunting.  I hope I can achieve the wit and aplomb he has given his loyal readers over the years.

Dr. F. and I agreed that I should best start by simply introducing myself to you.  I’ve been working at Altimira Veterinary hospital for almost two years now.  I graduated from the U. of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990.  Before that, I was a farrier for twelve years, and I even rode a mule from Pennsylvania to Pensacola with the Vision Question wagon train.  Since finishing veterinary college, I’ve had the opportunity to work with all types of animals and served 10 years in the Army. Prior to joining Altimira, I also worked for six years in shelter medicine.  I also chose to spend one splendid, hair-splitting and very rewarding year home-schooling my daughter Olivia which was much more demanding and exhausting than most would ever realize!  After that experience, I sent her back to school and will forever confirm that educators are saints. Period!

I’m really lucky to have had some great adventures working in veterinary medicine in different venues over the years, and I hope to share some of my stories and experiences with you alongside Dr. Forsythe.  Please send questions for me to [email protected]. If you aren’t the e-mailing type, send me a note at the hospital or call me up!  I have the same attitude about questions as Dr. Forsythe:  if you are wondering something, there are probably many other readers wondering the same thing!  There really are no such things as dumb questions and if you want to know about a pet or a situation with a pet, have problem or simply want to share a wonderful tidbit of enlightenment, don’t hesitate to contact either of.

With excitement and happiness to help when I can.  – Dear Dr. Abbie