Vet’s Views
Dr Kaushlendra Kumar
The doctor has been practising in Lucknow for the past 20 years in canine and other pet animal medicine and surgery
Q: My three-year-old pug has started wheezing. What could be wrong? Meha Bhasin
Wheezing is a sign of allergy during the winter season. Strong and long-term signs can lead to lower thoracic infection. Taking care of cold can cure this problem. If not, a vet can be consulted for deep infection. Pugs are a little more sensitive to these conditions.
Q: The iris of my 10-year-old labrador appears whitish. Could it be the start of a cataract? Rahul Singh
Eye problems in a 10-year-old dog can be due to many underlying issues. It may be a cataract, corneal opacity, chronic infection, and could even be a sign of diabetes. All these conditions must be ruled out one by one. Medication will not be easy as such without knowing the cause. In general, a healthy diet containing good quality protein and fibres can be given to make him healthy.
Q: My two-year-old female beagle has a lump on her abdomen. What should I do? Tripti Shukla
A two-year-old beagle having a lump or growth can be because of an inflammatory reaction, infection or benign tumour. You are advised to get it examined through FNAC TEST by a lab after consulting a doctor. If it is rapidly growing, you must rush for proper diagnosis and then the subsequent treatment.
Q: I have two pet dogs. While my son stays fine around one dog, he starts to cough and develops allergic reactions to the other—including rashes. Is it possible for him to be allergic to one and not to the other? Rashi Seth
Allergic reaction from dogs is a matter of sensitivity of the person. Also, it is a fact that your son could be more allergic towards one breed than the other. We all live in an environment where lots of allergens are present and we need to develop strong immunity against each allergen. This is true for both animals as well as humans. Maintain a proper hygiene standard for your pets (especially the one that causes the most allergic reactions) and give your son a healthy and balanced diet replete with vitamin C to develop good immunity.
Q: My cat is painfully shy and hides almost all day. How do I get him out of his shell? Parveen Iqbal
The shy nature of cats is not uncommon. They always want a hiding place to live. From a medical point of view, proper deworming and timely vaccination will help a lot. A good quality high-protein cat food will also help your cat to improve his personality. Socialising your cat will slowly overcome this problem.
Q: My three-year-old dog is very fond of licking, be it other dogs, family members or even strangers. Can this behaviour be due to some deficiency? Rajat Singh
Licking is a sign of over friendly nature of your pet. Try to give him training so that he feels independent and does not always need to please whosoever is with him. Personality development is an important part of a pet’s life and training plays an important role in it. ([email protected])
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