Furry Forum
Q. My 14-year-old dog keeps digging holes in our yard, and I can’t get her to stop. Can you help?
—Dolores Terhune, Roselle Park, New Jersey
A. First determine why she is digging, because [this behavior] is a symptom, not the problem. If she is left outside because she cannot behave indoors, train her so she can come inside. Does she try to escape? She needs more exercise. Does she dig because she is bored? Give her more toys. Is she hunting gophers or mice? Then get rid of them. Does she dig because she watches you as you work in the garden? Stop gardening when she is present. Does she dig to cool off in a pit or to get shelter from rain, etc.? Give her shelter. Or does she dig because she likes to dig? Then give her a pit of her own to dig in and train her to use the pit. At 14, her hearing and sight may be diminishing, and she may be scared by being left alone. If she is lonely, then spend more time with her.
—Caryl Wolff, CPDT, NADOI, CDBC, Los Angeles, California
Q. My Black Lab mix has lesions on the edges of her earflaps that have a V-shaped notch where there is flesh missing and the skin is open. This appeared last fall, seemed to get better, and then reappeared this fall. Her vet is at a loss, as is the vet dermatologist whom he contacted. Do you have any idea what this is and how to treat it?
—Rachel Henzi, Cincinnati, Ohio
A. This is quite a strange problem. Three things pop into my mind as I read your email. The first would be a bacterial infection possibly caused by staphylococcus, a common cause of skin infections in pets. The second would be another infection caused by yeast. Finally, disorders of the immune system like pemphigus could also [be an issue]. Here’s what I would do if your pet was one of my patients: I would do a complete blood profile, taking a special look at the thyroid and adrenal gland values. While I expect these blood tests will be normal, occasionally the cause for dermatitis will be revealed. Ultimately I would suggest a biopsy of the affected skin. The pathologist can look at the tissues microscopically to determine the cause, which is usually evident in about 95 percent of the skin cases I treat. Once diagnosis has been made through biopsy, the most appropriate treatment can be selected for your pet.
—Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM, Plano, Texas
Have a question you’d like to ask about your pet?
Please write to FurryForum@TailsInc.org
* The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Tails Pet Media Group, Inc. Please consult your veterinarian before making any major decisions for your pet.
—Dolores Terhune, Roselle Park, New Jersey
A. First determine why she is digging, because [this behavior] is a symptom, not the problem. If she is left outside because she cannot behave indoors, train her so she can come inside. Does she try to escape? She needs more exercise. Does she dig because she is bored? Give her more toys. Is she hunting gophers or mice? Then get rid of them. Does she dig because she watches you as you work in the garden? Stop gardening when she is present. Does she dig to cool off in a pit or to get shelter from rain, etc.? Give her shelter. Or does she dig because she likes to dig? Then give her a pit of her own to dig in and train her to use the pit. At 14, her hearing and sight may be diminishing, and she may be scared by being left alone. If she is lonely, then spend more time with her.
—Caryl Wolff, CPDT, NADOI, CDBC, Los Angeles, California
Q. My Black Lab mix has lesions on the edges of her earflaps that have a V-shaped notch where there is flesh missing and the skin is open. This appeared last fall, seemed to get better, and then reappeared this fall. Her vet is at a loss, as is the vet dermatologist whom he contacted. Do you have any idea what this is and how to treat it?
—Rachel Henzi, Cincinnati, Ohio
A. This is quite a strange problem. Three things pop into my mind as I read your email. The first would be a bacterial infection possibly caused by staphylococcus, a common cause of skin infections in pets. The second would be another infection caused by yeast. Finally, disorders of the immune system like pemphigus could also [be an issue]. Here’s what I would do if your pet was one of my patients: I would do a complete blood profile, taking a special look at the thyroid and adrenal gland values. While I expect these blood tests will be normal, occasionally the cause for dermatitis will be revealed. Ultimately I would suggest a biopsy of the affected skin. The pathologist can look at the tissues microscopically to determine the cause, which is usually evident in about 95 percent of the skin cases I treat. Once diagnosis has been made through biopsy, the most appropriate treatment can be selected for your pet.
—Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM, Plano, Texas
Please write to FurryForum@TailsInc.org
* The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Tails Pet Media Group, Inc. Please consult your veterinarian before making any major decisions for your pet.
