Dog`s Cysts Could Require Surgery

August 16, 1987|By Ann Huntington, D.V.M., Tribune Media Services.

Q--My 11-year-old female Afghan hound has been diagnosed as having interdigital cysts. She had one on a front paw, and I was giving her 500 mg. of erythromycin three times a day for two weeks. The cysts cleared up, but two weeks later another cyst developed on a back paw. Also, she sometimes throws up even after a small meal before the medication.

Do you know of another medication or any vitamins I could give her? She`s not an active dog and sleeps a lot.

A--These cysts are persistent swellings between the toes. They often recur in dogs prone to the problem; one will start, then another will develop. When you think you have them under control, more may crop up. They usually respond to antibiotics, but many times, if not surgically removed or opened and drained, they linger.

The minimum time for a dog to be on antibiotics is usually six weeks. Many times two months of treatment is required to allieviate the problem. However, antibiotics may not always be totally effective unless the cysts are aggressively treated, possibly including surgery.

Erythromycin is an excellent medication for the problem. However, it`s not the only effective one and, if the dog is vomiting, ask your vet whether it might help to switch to a different antibiotic.

I don`t know of any vitamins that would be helpful. A dog that is not very active and sleeps a lot often is overweight. This could be a contributing factor; so get her weight down.

Q--Why do cats have fleas? I`ve heard that in Florida there`s a medicine that can keep dogs and cats free of fleas, but it does have side effects.

Also, why does my neutered cat get into a fight with another cat? He`s 4 years old, and until last summer we were able to keep him from wandering off our property.

A--It`s natural for dogs and cats to be infested with fleas because they are the natural hosts of the pest. Other species of fleas have different natural hosts, such as the rodent flea, so notorious for spreading bubonic plague during the Middle Ages.

The drug you refer to for fleas is called Proban. It is an oral organophosphate product that comes in tablet or liquid form. The recommended dosage is twice a week, and it is effective in keeping down flea infestation. However, for a flea to be killed it has to bite the dog or cat that has been given Proban and ingest a little bit of this chemical. But it does kill fleas already on a pet and can be a big help as an adjunct to a broad flea control program.

The major drawback of Proban is its additive effect. If, for example, your cat is getting Proban and you spray your vegetable garden with another organophosphate, your neighbor sprays his fruit trees with a similar chemical and you put a flea collar on your cat, the chemical exposure can cause severe toxicity and even death. That`s why Proban must be used carefully.

As for your cat`s wanderlust and fighting proclivities, most mature cats that have been neutered have established a territory for themselves.

Your cat probably started leaving your yard because of a new rival. The yard across the street may also be his territory, but he had stayed away because no other cats were trespassing. Perhaps the people across the street got a cat, or a cat has taken up residence there without invitation, and now your cat is simply trying to defend his territory.

Q--I`ve heard different opinions about feeding cats raw eggs. What`s what?

A--If you`re feeding your cat a well-balanced diet, it shouldn`t need the supplementation of raw eggs. Albumen, or egg white, if fed regularly, can disrupt some of the digestive enzymes, but an occasional one won`t hurt.

Q--For the last couple of weeks, my 6-month-old kitten has had something wrong with his right eye. At times it`s reddish pink around the rim and he blinks the eye more than usual. He doesn`t scratch it or rub it, though. What is it, and is it dangerous?

A--This probably is a conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the tissues around the eye. It could be due to viruses, bacteria, environmental factors such as dust, sprays in the air or pollen. Or it could be due to trauma--a scratch or a poke.

If his eye seems fine most of the time, the problem occurs only a few times and the squinting is not profound, you probably don`t have to worry. However, if the cat seems to hold the eye fairly tightly shut, if there`s an extra discharge from that eye, if one pupil is a different size from the other, or if the squinting spells last more than 48 hours, have the eye examined by a vet.
