Dear Dr. Forsythe:
My new little Chihuahua puppy was the runt of his litter. He is not growing very quickly and just isn’t doing very well. He even passed out a couple of times in the last week. He shook a little then fell over. The fainting episode only lasted a moment, and then he was back to normal.
What could this be? I love JC, he is a great pet, but I’m worried he could have something serious.
Worried Dad
Dear Worried Dad:
There are several reasons why a puppy could feel sick and pass out: infection, low blood sugar, anemia and other causes. However, one of the most serious problems we see in small puppies that happen to be the runt of the litter, not doing well, and having seizures is something called a liver shunt. This is a congenital defect (present at birth) and is usually diagnosed via blood tests, X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound. A liver shunt results when the blood supply to and from the liver forms abnormally so that the great vessel (or vessels) take a “detour” around the liver rather than going through the liver. This prevents the blood from coursing into the liver to be filtered, and the result is a nasty buildup of nitrogen waste products in your pet’s bloodstream. A couple hours after a pet with a shunt eats, the ammonia levels increase, and the pet can develop high enough levels in the bloodstream to have a seizure.
You should get that little fluff muff of yours to the vet ASAP for a work up. Physical exam, blood work, X-rays and Ultrasound can rule in or out the shunt, and you and your little pet will be much relieved to know the answer and be on the way to recovery.
Thanks and good luck.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe:
Is there anything I can give my dog to keep her from eating her own feces? I am disgusted by this behavior but every time I turn around she is doing it again. I am worried she is going to get sick, since she eats her own doo and the cat’s as well.
Scat hater
Dear Scat hater:
First, I suggest you do not kiss your pet on the lips until we remedy this situation! (when I was a little boy, my father used to become irate when I would kiss my basset hound Bounder on the lips – “Don’t kiss the dog” he’d rant!)
Next, make sure you are feeding a good brand of premium dog food and in appropriate amount to satiate your pet. Perhaps she is so hungry that even feces are better than nothing more to eat?
Next, there is a product most veterinarians have on their shelves called “Forbid” that you can sprinkle on the pet’s food in order to impart a foul taste to the feces. Then, when the pet eats the feces from a treated pet, she will be in for a rude awakening, and most likely will not do this again! Usually 3-4 days of this is enough to teach her not to eat feces any more. In this situation, you would need to sprinkle the product on the food of your dog as well as the cat food. Keep in mind that if your pet goes outside, any fecal material from neighbor dogs or cats will not taste foul, since the neighbors are not sprinkling their pet’s food!
Another hint: The main ingredient in Forbid is MSG, which is safe to use in pets. So if you are budget-conscious (and who among us isn’t?), you could also opt to buy some “Accent” flavor enhancer at the grocer to sprinkle on the pet’s food.
Dr. F
We welcome your feedback. For general feedback or to contact one of our columnists, please visit the Contact Us page at www.sonomasun.com.
