Q--My calico has had two litters of males. Because most calicos are female, are there people who would be interested in purchasing male calicos for breeding?
A--Male calicos are very uncommon. Calico cats are orange and gray and white, or orange and black and white. Female cats have two X chromosomes; male cats have an X and a Y chromosome. To put it simply, the gene for orange is on an X chromosome, as are the genes for black and gray. For a cat to have both those, it would have to have two X chromosomes; therefore, the cat must almost always be a female because the males have the XY configuration and can get an orange color gene or a black or gray one, but not both orange and black genes. All the rumors that male calico cats are worth tens of thousands of dollars, or even hundreds of dollars, are unfortunately just rumors. A male calico is an oddity, a conversation piece among people who understand the genetic requirements of cats` colorations, but he`s not worth a penny more than that.
Q--About three years ago we noticed that our 11-year-old sheltie was biting her feet all the time, especially around the toes. She has had a number of shots and pills, but nothing really helped until I started washing her feet after she`d been outside. Now she`s biting again. Is there anything else I can do for her?
A--In dealing with the foot area, one must be very careful not to overlook a fungus problem, such as ringworm. However, it`s more likely that your dog`s problem is an allergy because it responded to washing. I suspect it`s getting worse now because of the season.
Have your dog`s feet examined carefully again, perhaps even cultured, to rule out a fungus or bacterial infection. Another possibility might be ingrown hairs.
Washing is important. Sometimes low doses of steroids are helpful, but dipping the feet regularly in a bitter tasting solution also is good. Some owners dip their dogs` feet in Listerine before the dog goes outside. The dog will almost surely find it distasteful, so it may help prevent the licking. But the most important thing is to discover what`s causing the dog to lick in the first place.
Q--When my 2 1/2-year-old cat smelled Mentholatum on me, she went crazy. She was rubbing, nibbling, rolling, purring and even trying to get under my shirt to get closer to my back. She doesn`t even respond this way to catnip. What attracts her?
Also, the little ``sacks`` that get clogged (and leave a terrible odor wherever she sits) obviously itch because she scoots. The vet occasionally pops them, but can they be removed permanently?
A--I have never heard of a cat reacting the way you describe to Mentholatum, but cats can be very peculiar. Anyway, as long as the cat doesn`t swallow a lot of Mentholatum, it doesn`t hurt to let her get a whiff of it now and then.
Anal sacks can be removed. The surgery in a cat is more difficult than with a dog and is somewhat more likely to leave the cat with temporary incontinence. I would only recommend the surgery if this is a severe and recurrent problem. But first make sure that your cat does not have a parasite; this could cause soft stools, which could contribute to the odor problem.
Q--I have a female mixed spaniel, 7 years old, that has a bad case of seborrhea. Is there a cure or medication to relieve her discomfort?
Several veterinarians have prescribed a special diet dog food and cortisone shots or pills that do not seem to help much. We also have tried special shampoos. The vets think it could be from the dog food she ate before we gave her the special diet food. They said it can be controlled but not cured.
We are seeking a better answer than the ones we have received.
A--Seborrhea is a heartbreaking disease that can occur in any breed, but most frequently in cocker spaniels, West Highland white terriers and basset hounds. It can be a primary disease, meaning that the seborrheaic condition arises strictly from the skin without anything else occurring, or it can be secondary to allergies, which can be caused by inhalants or diet. It can also be secondary to infection, to mange, or to trauma or hormonal imbalances.
In cases of primary seborrhea, the advice you received is absolutely correct. It`s incurable and merely can be controlled with frequent shampoos, sometimes dietary changes, sometimes with medications to control conditions as they arise. But it will be a lifelong struggle to keep the dog comfortable, pleasant to look at and not foul-smelling.
You need to find out whether your dog has primary or secondary seborrhea. It may be expensive but, for your dog`s sake, look into it. The testing could include elimination diets, skin tests, cultures, skin scrapings and blood tests to determine hormone levels. If an underlying cause is found, then you have a fairly good chance of getting the condition under control.
If you don`t feel you`ve gotten the workup that`s necessary and you`re willing to spend the money, consult with a veterinary dermatologist.
Dr. Huntington welcomes questions from readers. Although she cannot reply to them individually, she will answer those of general interest in this column. Write to Dr. Huntington, c/o The Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. If your pet`s problem is urgent or an emergency, consult your vet.