Our cat, Nellie, has lost some fur on his back. He looks real thin across his top near his tail. His skin feels like sandpaper when I pet him on his backside. Could this be mange?

A:

Nellie's problem is probably a lot more simple than mange. Mange is a skin condition caused by mites. But it sounds as though Nellie has a problem with fleas.

This has been a nice spring so far. And without cold frosty nights, fleas in our surrounding areas have survived and reproduced easily. These insects like to jump off of their victims after a good blood meal and seek refuge in grass or other secluded areas. Cold weather in winter months slows down their life cycle considerably, even killing many when there is a hard freeze. The past few months have been relatively mild and fleas have become a real problem for many animals.

Nellie's symptoms are typical for fleas. The "sandpaper" texture of his skin tells me that he has miliary dermatitis. If you look closely at his skin, you'll see little black dots on the surface. Scratch his skin with your fingernail and place some of those black particles that you see on his skin onto a wet paper towel. You'll see red blood start to appear because those black spots are "flea dirt", nothing more than small undigested scabs of blood.

Veterinarians throughout the area are seeing lots of pets with flea-related skin problems this year. Typically, this is a seasonal problem more common in the warm weather months.

The solution is simple. Call Nellie's vet and ask for some flea control advice. The vet's office should be able to get you the flea control products you'll need to make Nellie look and feel beautiful again.

As a final note, I should warn our readers about the dangers of using over-the-counter flea control products on their pet. The vast majority of these are not effective in controlling flea problems. Worse yet, some are potentially dangerous and can cause serious illness, especially when used for kitty cats. Always consult your veterinarian about what is the safest and most effective method for flea control for your furry friend.

Q:

Sass, our 9-year-old springer spaniel, has bad breath. She just had her teeth cleaned, but her halitosis is still there and nobody wants to sit near her. Help! This is my couch companion, but I can't live with her like this.

A:

Halitosis can be a symptom of infection or some other bacterial overgrowth. And it can be caused by several different problems in or around Sass's mouth. Oral lesions, anything from sores (like canker sores in humans) to small benign tumors can trap bacteria and cause the breath to go foul. So the first thing you should do is revisit her veterinarian who can do a thorough look in her mouth for any abnormalities.

Then again, her problem may not be in her mouth, but on the skin around it. Many older dogs have deep folds in their lower lip and these creases can trap moisture and bacteria. In addition, dogs with longer fur, like Sass, can also have problems with superficial skin infections around their lips and mouth. That fur, and those little skin folds can retain moisture, trapping bacteria which can cause an unpleasant odor.

If Sass's problem is caused by odor from outside her mouth, it might be relatively easy to overcome. Simple daily cleaning can often eliminate the bad smell. I usually recommend using a soft wipe containing chlorhexidine (available from your vet). Sometimes a very soft toothbrush works better to get into the crevices if the skin folds are too deep. A little daily cleaning is all it might take to make your couch companion a lot more compatible.

SPECIAL NOTE

The Gavilan Kennel Club annual all breed dog show will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 24-26 at the Bolado Park Fairgrounds just south of Hollister. Come join everyone for some fun and competition who will be Best of Breed and finally Best of Show. There will also be agility competition as well as Rally, an exciting competition that tests both the owner and the dog in their ability to follow a course. See you there!

Pete Keesling Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital. He writes a bi-weekly column for South Valley Newspapers and hosts a radio talk show, Dr. Pete's Petpourri, Sundays at 1 p.m. and Friday mornings at 7:10 on KSCO 1080 AM. If you have questions about pet care, e-mail them to smvet3@yahoo.com.