Dear Dr. Forsythe: I am writing to protest the ugly dog contest that I saw on the news a couple of weeks ago. I feel that it is cruel and mean to have a contest like that. There were pets that were bald with just a little hair on the top of their heads. Another pet had no teeth and its poor tongue was hanging down out of the side of its mouth. People were pointing and laughing, but I see no humor in this. Perhaps if all you veterinarians got a petition and signed it, then it would stop.
No laughing matter
Dear No laughing: I agree that it is not nice to laugh at ugly pets, but it is another thing to laugh with them and enjoy them and love them. I didn’t actually see the contest (although my own pet may have been eligible for a ribbon), but I do suspect that the contestants are beloved family members who bring joy and humor and zest to their families. And isn’t that some of what being a dog is all about?
In no way do I condone pets being ridiculed, diminished or disrespected, but when a pet is “so ugly it’s pretty” (as my bulldog has been described numerous times), I suppose some pet guardians take it to the next level by choosing to share that “beauty” with the world. That is probably how such contests began in the first place. Silly though they are, I don’t think it’s time for veterinarians to interfere with petitions to have them stopped. If you are concerned enough, perhaps you should start a group and gather some signatures or contact the organizers of the competition and lodge a formal complaint. But wouldn’t a better channel for your energy and passion be to help eliminate dog fighting or some other dreadful event we know is harmful to our canine population? Just a thought.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My ocelot has had terrible diarrhea for many weeks and no medications have worked. They have now tested her for the cattle and cat parasite. Can you tell me about this? Thanks.
Bonnie
Dear Bonnie: Tritrichomonas fetus (try-trick-ah-monas) is a single-celled parasite that is common in cattle and is transmitted in the reproductive tract from the foreskin of bulls to the vagina of cows when they reproduce. This sort of ghastly bovine venereal disease can cause spontaneous abortions in that species. But recently, there have been a number of studies demonstrating that this parasite may be an important cause of diarrhea in cats. T fetus infects and colonizes the large intestine and can cause prolonged and intractable diarrhea.
It is a small tadpole-looking parasite with little “flagella” that look like whips under the microscope as it moves around to propel itself, interacting with the normal bacteria found along the intestinal wall. The parasite tends to affect younger cats, causing severe diarrhea with mucous or blood resulting, and affected cats do not thrive. Close contact between cats allows the parasite to spread via fecal oral route. The parasite is diagnosed via a fecal culture, and treatment is provided via a special medication, which is called ronidazole. In addition, the use of a simple, highly digestible diet frequently results in improved fecal consistency, and this alone may improve some control of clinical signs at home.
Good luck with your beautiful cat! She’s a “wild” one.
Dr. F
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