Jessica Keay, DVM

Biography

Dr. Jessica Keay grew up in the St. Louis area. After completing a bachelor's degree in Biology at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, she went on to get her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She continued to spend several years enjoying the mountains of Virginia before heading back to the Midwest. Dr. Keay enjoys reading, the outdoors, and spending time with her family and her dog. She practices small animal medicine with an interest in internal medicine.

How concerning is a 103 fever in a cat? Was taken at vets earlier and she was definitely stressed. Physical exam was good. Waiting on blood tests to come in tomorrow afternoon, but I’m so worried. She’s still using bathroom, eating, and had some energy earlier in day. Seems very sleepy now and I have no way to take her temp at home to check if it’s gone up or down.

A normal temperature in a cat will range between 100 and 102.5, so a temperature of 103 in a stressed kitty could potentially be a result of stress/excitement and not something we would normally be excessively concerned about. If your kitty seems to be normal at home then I would wait for news from your vet tomorrow and continue to monitor her and if she shows any changes in her behavior contact your vet earlier.

Having friend groom my foster yorkie. I have been sheltering in place since March and concerned about contact from outside. I am going to shampoo dog, groomer is just going to give dog a serious cut. I plan to reshampoo dog with some antibacterial dog shampoo when she finishes. Are there any other precautions I should take. Dog and groomer will be in garage for the service. Safe distance will be maintainefd

Thank you for your question. There is no evidence of pets being able to transfer the virus to human via pets becoming infected themselves or via acting as a fomite (meaning the virus gets on their fur and then you pet them and catch it, you can read more at https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/covid-19-faq-pet-owners_031520.pdf). The virus lives better on solid smooth surfaces like doorknobs, and doesn't stay well on softer porous surfaces like fur. I think your plan sounds like a good one. You could also ask your friend to wear a mask while grooming the dog and wash her hands prior to seeing him, which should decrease chances of possible from her being passed to your pup via respiratory droplets. If your dog will also be wearing a collar while she sees him, you could also wipe down the collar with disinfecting wipes. Best of luck during these difficult times!

Cat has just come back from the vet. Had bloods and x-ray. Bloods are all fine. Upper lung unclear. Presents with shortness of breath, wet cough, rattle breathing. Loss of appetite. Now can not walk a couple of steps without laying down. Is 15 years old.

I am so very sorry to hear about your kitty Tiger. It sounds like he has worsened. You don't mention if your vet gave any indication of what could cause the lungs to be unclear. There are many possible causes including things like pneumonia, heart disease, or cancers. If Tiger is declining/worsening, and is unable to walk across the room, it sounds like he may need more aggressive care such as oxygen supplementation. Treatment, if possible, would depend on the underlying cause of the lung issue but may include things like antibiotics or medication to decrease water retention. In some instances, when the vet feels treatment is not going to be helpful/is not an option and the pet's quality of life is declining, we do consider humane euthanasia as another possible option. I would recommend calling the vet who saw your kitty and giving them an update on his decline. Be sure your kitty has easy access to food and water and his litterbox without having to walk far if he is getting tired so easily. You can also put a humidifier in the room with him to help keep moisture in the ear, which is better for airway health, but in severe cases such as his, more intensive treatment is usually needed.

My dog’s fur is black and white but recently, she has been growing in some orange fur. She’s a Jack Russell mixed with a Dalmatian. Her ears and face have grown orange. The orange is part of her fur too. It’s not really a stain or anything.

Thank you for your question about Aspen. Dogs can occasionally have changes in the appearance of their hair/change in hair color over time. If Aspen is acting normally otherwise I would just continue to monitor her. Be sure she isn't licking herself because licking leaves saliva on the fur which can then change the color of the fur to a rust color. If she is licking then this can be a sign of allergies or other skin irritation. Look closely at her skin under the fur for any signs of redness/bumps/scratches. If she has any changes in her appetite, energy level, water intake, or bowel habits notify your veterinarian.

what are all the dog behaviors? How to teach my dog how to understand me better? What to do with a dog that might have seperate anxiety?

What a cute pup! In terms of separation anxiety, it will depend on how severe your dog suffers from this issue. Some cases may be managed with over the counter products such as an Adaptil collar or diffuser and calming supplement like Composure Chews for Dogs and behavior modification, but if severe I would recommend discussing medicaiton with your vet. You can read more about separation anxiety at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951949 I am not sure what you mean by "what are all the dog behaviors", if you are interested in understanding your dog I recommend the book "Decoding Your Dog" by Debra Horwitz.