Dear Dr. Fox: I have a question about a beagle/hound mix that we found earlier this year. He was about 8 weeks old when we found him. We immediately took him for his shots, checkup, etc. At that time, they diagnosed him with kennel cough and pneumonia, and he was put on steroids and a three-times-daily breathing treatment.
Once he recovered from the pneumonia, we noticed his back left leg twitching on occasion. When we took him back to the vet, we were told that he probably had distemper and that caused some nerve damage. They recommended a neurologist or acupuncturist, but neither appealed to us.
The twitch continues in the back left leg and occasionally shows up in his right front leg. This doesn't seem to bother him as he runs around, tumbles and plays with older dogs all the time. The twitching also occurs when he's sleeping, but doesn't seem to affect his rest. What do you think? -- K.M., Humble, Texas
Dear K.M.: Dogs who survive distemper infection often have persistent chorea (neuromuscular twitches or spasms) that are usually lifelong. They also may become epileptic.
From the treatment that was given your pup, I would say that it is not unlikely that the distemper vaccine may well have caused the post-distemper symptoms of chorea. Animals should never be vaccinated when they are ill and their immune systems already compromised. Being put on steroids only makes matters worse.
I hope your dog doesn't develop other neurological problems like epilepsy. A daily supplement of 1 teaspoon of brewer's yeast in his food or a half a human dose daily of vitamin B complex may help.
Dear Dr. Fox: I have a 4-year-old neutered cat that is fed a diet of raw and cooked meats: some cooked corn for treats and some canned cat food (made with byproducts). He also receives a veterinarian-prescribed multivitamin tablet. He stays exclusively indoors.
I'm concerned about his teeth. I think he has the beginnings of dental resorption disease. My previous cat had this problem that necessitated many extractions.
Would you please suggest a care/feeding regimen that would complement cleanings at the vet and might reduce or reverse this problem? I have read that this is prevalent in cats and that the cause is not well understood. Could it be a calcium deficiency? -- B.P., White Plains, N.Y.
Dear B.P.: Your cat is quite young to be having such a serious dental problem called periodontal disease.
Keep the teeth clean by providing thin strips of raw beef-shank-bone meat, beef heart or raw chicken-wing tips and plenty of skin. Eliminate the corn. Try to get your cat used to your finger, wrapped in wet gauze, rubbing along his gums with a few drops of oil of cloves and thyme soaked in the gauze.
Fish oil (up to a teaspoon per day) could significantly subdue and prevent the inflammatory disease. You may wish to have your cat tested for diabetes, feline leukemia and immunodeficiency disease that can lead to chronic infections and inflammatory conditions.
A daily nutritional supplement like Platinum Performance Feline Wellness also may help. This is available only via veterinary referral (1-800-553-2400).
Inflammatory agents from diseased gums, along with bacteria, can cause serious secondary health problems. As in humans, there may be a similar link in cats between obesity -- where inflammatory molecules are produced from fat-cell tissues called cytokines -- that can lead to Type 2 diabetes, which can increase risk of periodontal disease.
Send your questions to Dr. Fox c/o Animal Doctor, United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.
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Never vaccinate an already ill pet
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