Shawn:

Hypothyroidsm seems to be one issue Soloxine more or less should be at 0.8mg every 12 hours by mouth; however she might be allergic to specific components in the Soloxine pill; also I have seen issues called vasculitis that can occur with any medication.

I also would recommend you to get her off prednisone ASAP due to long term side effects. There are other alternatives for the allergies, which your vet can address with you. If they cannot come up with an alternative to Prednisone, please search for another veterinarian that may offer alternatives. Prednisone is very hard on the liver and long term use should be avoided.

Atopica can be an effective method to control allergies, but before you put her on anything else you need to see a specialist for the skin issues. They can do an allergy test and proceed with the indicated tx at that point.

If she is not limping, I would hold off on the surgery and concentrate on the weght reduction program.

Your first order of business is to see a specialist for the allergies and hypothyroidism. You should also change her diet to help with the weight loss and allergy issues, and a diet change may also help with the hypothyroidism.

Good luck!
Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

My 7 year old male border collie has recently began repeatedly licking his front legs and this has resulted in a brownish pink discoloration on his white legs. There has been no noticeable dermatological reason for this sudden onset of licking. Is there anything I can do to relieve this obsessive licking and resultant discoloration?

Cynthia Grey

Dear Tom and Pam,

Your pet might be either developing a bladder infection, bladder stones or other problems related to the urogenital system.

I would advise you to take your pet to your veterinarian for further diagnostic and treatment since can be an array of issue and it cannot be resolve on the Internet.

Best,
Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

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Dr. Florez,

Our Sharpei was recently put on Soloxine for hypothyroidism, however, he constantly breaks out in oozing sores and lesions. Is this because he is allergic to the medication? He needs this medication for life but we cannot subject him to this.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Trish

Dear Trish,

As you know, hypothyroidism is a condition that often requires lifelong medication. The sores and lesions that you describe may or may not be related to Soloxine. I have not seen the type of reaction that you describe in any of the SharPei's that I have treated or know about. Shar Pei breed dogs often have many issues related to the skin which can range from mild skin infections to severe allergies and atopy.

Your pet needs to be seen for the skin condition. The thyroid medication is probably not the cause of these symptoms. I believe they are likely related to a separate issue. However, while it is rare for a pet to develop an allergy to the Soloxine medication, it’s certainly not impossible.

You should have a dermatologist take a look of your pet and follow their recommendations. Oftentimes an additional medication or ointment can be prescribed, or simply changing your pets food could help. This type of condition definitely merits the attention of a dermatologist, though, and I highly recommend that you locate one in your area for an immediate checkup.

Best,
Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

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Dear Mr. and Ms. Herrera,

I think that the first thing that you should do is have you dog evaluated for physical problems and go from there. In the event of arthritis, metabolic diseases or behavioral changes, pets can become aggressive and is a higher risk for bite incidents at home.

It's concerning to me every time that a pet starts to change its behavior. I generally find is primarily due to physical problems that the pet has, and they are expressed through negative behavior, such as biting and other behavioral changes.

You should schedule Clyde for a full examination; occasionally even aging can cause your pet to react this way. If you your dog is cleared of any physical problems, it could very be a jealousy issue and may easily be solved by obedience training or through a trainer.

Best,
Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

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Dear Dr. Florez,

I have a 4 year old Springer Spaniel. The fur on her back is not growing. It is very similar to a white strip on a skunk. The brown color is very light from the sun or aged. She has new fur growing on the sides that is dark brown. We shave her completely down in the spring & summer. It stopped growing after her last shave in early April. What do you think? She is very active.

Colin

Dear Colin,

It's a difficult to determine what condition your pet has at this point without seeing her. Dermatological conditions consist of many variables and they could either be multiple issues occurring at the same time or it could be one single issue.

From the brief description you have provided me in your email, your pet may have a delayed hair re-growth. Occasionally, depending on which phase of hair growth you trim it in, the hair may stop growing until the next time that the hair follicles become stimulated. Then the hair grows again. It is a very common condition, but the hair should grow again, it will just take some time.

Nevertheless, the skin needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian; if your pet has fleas or your pet is scratching, biting or the skin is infected you will need to treat the skin in a different way. I always recommend Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and multivitamins for the skin when we are treating dermatological conditions, as well as for pets that might have issues with hair re-growth.

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dear Dr. Florez,

We have a 10-month-old beagle named Lily, you may remember her, and she has been to your office a number of times for shots and check ups. I just wanted your opinion; she has been licking her front paws quite a bit, more than normal. I know that dogs will do that when they have allergies but I was talking with someone about it and they had mentioned that it could be a sign of Valley Fever. Is this true, and are there other symptoms to look for before we come in to have her checked? Knowing beagles and their noses to the ground I suppose it could be a possibility considering valley fever is found in the dirt. Please let me know what you think at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your help!
Amber Pentecost

Dear Mrs. Pentecost,

Thank you for writing with your questions. Of course I remember Lily! She was here not too long ago.

I doubt that her paw-licking could be a symptom of Valley Fever. However, Lily should be evaluated for other things such as allergies, foreign bodies or lesions in the paws. (By the way, I did not see anything during our last evaluation, but this is always something that we should re-evaluate as it can change day-to-day.)

There are also alternative foods that we can try for awhile to see if her symptoms may be a result of allergies. We can also run a blood test to determine the root cause, and discuss ways that we can make Lily's life more comfortable. Lily’s age group makes me think that we might be dealing with either food allergies or a lesion of some type.

The best thing to do is have Lily evaluated. Please give us a call and make an appointment. At that time, we can discuss testing her for allergies and check her paws for any type of lesions.

Best regards,

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dr. Florez,

I have a large, 65lb. mixed breed dog that has been put on Soloxine for regulation of his thyroid. I was just wondering if there are any long-term side effects from using this drug and what exactly I should be on alert for in the line of complications. He also has some severe skin discoloration on his abdomen (dark patches)...could this be a side effect or is this something else I should be worried about?

- Jennifer Allen, AZ

Dear Ms. Allen,

Your dog’s Thyroid levels should be monitored, particularly at the beginning of treatment, as Soloxine doses must be properly regulated for each individual animal. However, once the dose is initially established, the thyroid levels can be checked less frequently, but it is still necessary to do so often.

When Soloxine is properly administered, it generally does not present any side effects. Most side effects are observed when pets receive an over-dosage of the medicine. These side effects consist of over-eating, drinking obsessively, over-excitability, and excessive panting.

As I mentioned, these side effects are not observed when the drug is properly administered and the thyroid levels are checked frequently. Your veterinarian will place your pet on a maintenance schedule of routine office visits, and it is very important that you follow his or her recommendations.

If I were to hazard a guess about the patches on the skin that you are observing, I would say that they are due to the sun. If your pet spends a lot of time outdoors, or lies in the sun for any amount of time, it could cause these types of spots. They could also be age spots. However, you should consult with your veterinarian to see if they require any medical attention. Any changes or abnormalities in your pets skin should be checked out in an office, as pets are as susceptible to skin cancer and other sun-related issues as humans are.

Regards,

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dear Dr. Florez,

I have two dogs, a big one and a very little one. Both mixed breeds, both neutered females well over 5 years old, both healthy and good-natured most of the time, but the big dog has suddenly taken to attacking the little one. It has become a very stressful situation, as we now need to keep them separated at all times.

Actually, we've noticed that the big dog seems to have become very aggressive to all other dogs; even ones that are being walked on leashes past the house (we live near a park, so this situation occurs frequently).

Could this behavior be hormonal? Age related? Health related? We are very puzzled and are not sure what the trigger may have been to this behavior or what steps to take to begin correcting the problem. Any ideas or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jay

Dear Jay,

Obviously this is a very stressful situation for both you and your pets. The first thing you should do is rule out any medical condition that may be affecting you larger dog. It is unusual that a pet suddenly become aggressive without any reason. Closely examine your pet’s routine, and anything that may have changed, no matter how slight, before this behavior started. This could include the addition of a new roommate, the purchase of new furniture, remodeling the house, etc. Pets are very sensitive to any changes and they can react differently to a new environment.

Also be very cautious allowing your large pet to have any access at all to the smaller pet for the time being, since the larger one can seriously injure the little one. You should feed them at the same time, but in separate bowls and far apart from one another. Also, training is a must, regardless if they went to doggie school already. Refreshing your pet’s training on commands and reminding them of appropriate and inappropriate behavior should be done on a continual basis.

Plan on taking your pet to a veterinarian for a complete physical in order to rule out any medical conditions. Animals often lash out when they are in pain. Lastly, a behavior specialist can help you decide if more training exercises are enough, or medical treatment might be needed. With today’s medical advances, we can now treat animals for depression and other mental illnesses much in the same way that we treat humans.

Best of luck,

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dr. Florez,

I live in AZ and I see that you do too. I often see people walking dogs across the hot concrete and asphalt in the summer and I don't think that's good for the pets. My question is: how hot is too hot? How do you tell when it's too hot to walk on the pavement? Are paws less sensitive?

Also, my girlfriend is allergic to my dog. I've tried some different shampoos, but I was wondering if there was something that will help my dog shed less. I have a Labrador mix.

Thanks in advance,
Arlo

Dear Arlo,

I always want to see someone try to walk on concrete without shoes at 1 pm in Phoenix, AZ just as they expect their pets to do so. It is important to walk your dogs very early in the morning and to always bring water. If your schedule does not allow this, then wait until the late evening hours. This will allow the pavement to cool down a bit.

If adjusting your walking schedule is not something that you can do, there is always the option purchasing your pet some “doggie boots.” These boots are designed to protect your pet’s paws from the heat of the pavement, and also provide an extra layer of safety against broken glass and other hazards.

In regards to your girlfriend’s allergies: people are allergic to the saliva from their dogs, not to the pet hair. When animals clean themselves, they transfer this saliva to their coats. Giving your pets cold baths in plain water will help close your pets pores, and will not remove too much oil from your pets skin as regular warm baths with shampoo will do. If you choose to bathe your pet, you should supplements your dog’s diet with fatty acids, such as Omegas 3 and 6, as well as fish oils, to help preserve the oils in your pets coat. This will also help your dog to shed less.

Your girlfriend should also be seen by a physician and/or allergist to determine the true origin of her allergies by way of a blood test. It is possible to desensitize her against a number of allergies, such as allergies to dogs, and there are a number of new pharmaceuticals available that will help ease her suffering.

Good luck!

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dr. Florez,

I have always fed Purina Brand dog food to my dog. But, with the new diets coming out (raw diet, etc.) I am a little confused as to which one might be best for her. Do you have any suggestions on the best type of food for my dog?

Thanks,
Meggin Portenier

Dear Ms. Portenier,

Purina is a good diet. I would not alter your pet's diet unless you notice changes (sometimes these changes can be as simple as changes in lifestyle) that may necessitate a chance in her diet. Lifestyle changes may include issues with weight due to an increase or decrease in activity levels, age, or even weather changes (extreme weather can alter a pet's normal exercise schedule). I always look at the pet's coat as a reflection of the nutritional health of the pet. The coat should be shiny all over the body. If the coat looks dull, you may want to consider changing your pet's diet, or at the very least, supplement her diet with multivitamins and fatty acids. Your vet can provide additional information on this subject.

You should always keep in mind the breed of your dog, her age, activity level and a number of other factors to properly choose the diet for your pet. I also like to supplement my patients with fatty acids Omega 3, Omega 6 and multivitamins.

There are a number of wonderful diets that you can choose for your pet, and each one is highly indidvidual. You should consult with your local veterinarian to guide you through this selection if you are thinking of changing diets for any reason. Remember that any diet change should be made slowly, over a period of several weeks, as your pets digestive system will need time to adjust to changes.

Best wishes,

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

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Dear Ms. Portenier,

Purina is a good diet. I would not alter your pet's diet unless you notice changes (sometimes these changes can be as simple as changes in lifestyle) that may necessitate a chance in her diet. Lifestyle changes may include issues with weight due to an increase or decrease in activity levels, age, or even weather changes (extreme weather can alter a pet's normal exercise schedule). I always look at the pet's coat as a reflection of the nutritional health of the pet. The coat should be shiny all over the body. If the coat looks dull, you may want to consider changing your pet's diet, or at the very least, supplement her diet with multivitamins and fatty acids. Your vet can provide additional information on this subject.

You should always keep in mind the breed of your dog, her age, activity level and a number of other factors to properly choose the diet for your pet. I also like to supplement my patients with fatty acids Omega 3, Omega 6 and multivitamins.

There are a number of wonderful diets that you can choose for your pet, and each one is highly indidvidual. You should consult with your local veterinarian to guide you through this selection if you are thinking of changing diets for any reason. Remember that any diet change should be made slowly, over a period of several weeks, as your pets digestive system will need time to adjust to changes.

Best wishes,

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM