Owners of cats and dogs often find drops or traces of blood on the floors or other surfaces of their home and suspect that their pet is the source of the blood.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
A wide variety of problems may cause a pet to smell bad. They range from simple grooming-related issues to serious medical conditions.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Primarily dogs; occasionally cats
Aural hematomas occur when blood accumulates underneath the skin in the external portion of the ear. A noticeably swollen area develops on the ear. The area is often painful or irritating to the pet.
Aural hematomas develop when trauma occurs to the ear. Direct trauma or chronic, violent head shaking can break blood vessels in the ear. Broken blood vessels allow blood to accumulate under the skin, forming a hematoma.
Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine (Atarax®), diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton®) are used in veterinary medicine primarily to treat allergies that cause skin problems. Less often, they are prescribed to prevent carsickness, to treat severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings, or as sedatives.
Finicky eating behavior and decreased appetite are often related in cats and dogs. Food preferences and minor behavioral issues are responsible for many instances of finicky eating behavior.
However, a very large number of diseases suppress appetite in pets. Pets with suppressed appetites may eat less, or may become more selective (finicky) about what they eat.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Shedding, unkempt hair, and hair loss in pets are extremely common complaints among owners. In many cases, shedding is normal and harmless for the pet. However, hair loss leading to baldness, or hair loss accompanied by itchy, red, scabby, moist, or malodorous skin usually is linked to a medical problem.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
In veterinary medicine, sulfadimethoxine is used primarily to treat coccidia (Isospora) in puppies and kittens. Courses of sulfadimethoxine generally last from 3 to 21 days.
Sulfadimethoxine also may be used as an antibiotic, but this is not common in veterinary medicine.
Sulfadimethoxine is currently considered an inferior treatment option for coccidia. A different drug, ponazuril, is preferred.
Dogs
Acral lick is a syndrome in which dogs excessively groom the skin at the junction of the leg and the foot. This can result in trauma and irritation to the skin, known as dermatitis. As the process continues, a fleshy pink mass known as a granuloma may develop at the site.
Enalapril and benazepril are related members of a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. They have similar effects and uses in veterinary medicine.
Cats, usually middle-aged or older.
Overview
Kidney disease, or kidney failure, is the most common major medical problem of older cats. Many cats survive with kidney disease for months or years after diagnosis. However, kidney disease generally is not curable. The disease is chronic and progressive, and over time causes fatality in most cases.