I just purchased a beautiful 4-month- old Collie puppy. I have heard that Collies and other larger breeds can get something called hip dysplasia when they get older. What is hip dysplasia, and can I do anything to avoid this problem as my wonderful dog gets older?
Hip dysplasia is the abnormal formation of the hip joint. This malformation can lead to arthritis and discomfort. Since this disease has a genetic/ hereditary component, it is difficult to prevent once the dog is born.
Proper breeding selection can decrease the odds of occurrence. This is done by breeding parents from lines of dogs free of the
disease in their family. Once the disease is diagnosed, there are ways to treat the problem and decrease the clinical signs.
The uses of corrective surgery, anti-inflammatory medications, as well as weight control all play a part in improving the quality of life of the pet. Recently, therapy laser treatments have produced dramatic results in decreasing the discomfort associated with this disease.
How do I stop my cat from urinating on my carpet?
The first step in stopping your cat from urinating on the carpet is to determine if the problem is behavioral or medical. Medical conditions such as urinary tract infections, diabetes, and kidney disease can all cause the sign of urinating outside the litter box.
I would recommend having a blood screen and an examination of the urine performed by your veterinarian. If the medical tests are normal, it is most likely behavioral. If so, we would have to confine the cat with a litter box in a room small enough where going outside the box is almost impossible. When successful, the space is gradually increased until the cat can be free to roam the entire house.
In difficult cases, anti-anxiety medications are used along with the behavioral modification. These are effective because cats with anxiety often
urinate outside the litter box.
Newton Veterinary Hospital’s Dr. Don Costlow will answer your pet health questions which can be submitted at njherald.com/askthevet.