Cameron Park Veterinary Hospital
General Health Questions:
This condition is probably normal. Many dogs and cats, especially if they have long hair, may shed their coat. Pets with an undercoat will usually shed more. This is a completely normal process and occurs uniformly over the entire body. Regular brushing will help to control this type of shedding. If, on the other hand, the hair loss is centralized and results in bald spots, your pet may be suffering from a skin problem that would require a trip to see us.
Why does my pet's breath smell bad?
One potential symptom of tooth or gum disease is if your pet consistently has bad breath. Another symptom is any kind of buildup on the tooth enamel that can cause gingivitis. If either of these conditions exist, we recommend making an appointment for teeth cleaning. This is a normal procedure where we anesthetize your pet and perform the same sort of treatment as your dentist. Once your pet's teeth are healthy, we recommend you perform regular brushing to help prevent further buildup.
Some dry food diets help in tartar prevention, however, even pets that eat nothing but dry food occasionally require assistance in keeping their teeth and gums healthy. need dental prophylaxis. The most important thing is to have the tartar taken care of because leaving it in the mouth can cause kidney infections and heart valve disease.
Smelly ears may be due to an ear infection problem. This is probably due to dirt and other foreign material becoming lodged in the animal's ear canal. Ear infections are very common in dogs, although less so in cats. Two types are most often seen: otitis externa, infection of the external ear canal, and otitis media, infection of the middle ear. Although any dog or cat can get an ear infection, some breeds appear to be more prone than others. Besides the smell, you will probably notice your pet scratching its ears or shaking its head, often. Regular cleaning can help and we can show you how to do it.
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