Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA

Biography

Dr. Cote received both her Bachelors in Biology and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri. Following vet school, she completed an internship at the University of Tennessee. In her free time, Menolly enjoys many outdoor activities including running, hiking, and yoga. On rainy days, she can be found quilting or curled up on the couch with her two children, a few dogs, and a good book. Dr. Cote is certified in Acupuncture and Tui-na and has additional training in food therapy, all forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Questions Answered by Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA

I took my dog to the vet two days ago due to diarrhea, vomiting, shivering and lethargy. They gave him an anti nausea shot, examined him for parvo(came back negative), took a fecal test(also negative), gave us a bland food to feed him and perscribed him with metronidazole. He stopped vomiting and is a bit more energetic, but he still has diarrhea with mucus and shivers occasionally. Am I being too impatient with the meds or could there be something else?

I'm sorry to hear that Henry is not feeling well! It's hard to see your pet sick! It's great that you're seeing improvement in Henry's energy level and that he has stopped vomiting. It can take several days for the diarrhea to resolve. Continuing to feed a bland diet may help and finishing out the course of metronidazole is always recommended. If Henry's diarrhea persists even after the metronidazole is finished or if you feel he is getting worse again, I would recommend having your veterinarian exam Henry again to determine what might be going on.

All of a sudden, Phoebe has started pooping in the house. She has always whined to let us know she needed to be let out but she hasn't been. Her poop is a pretty normal consistency, maybe a little on the soft side, and she is behaving normal otherwise. There haven't been any changes made but I am 39 weeks pregnant. What could be causing this?

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with Phoebe, A break in house training can be frustrating especially with a new baby on the way. Changes in toileting behavior can be related to a medical problem or a behavioral issues. Possible medical issues include colitis (inflammation in the colon), infections, parasites or metabolic issues like inflammatory bowel disease or liver disease. Behavioral issues can stem from changes in routine, stress or fear. If your household routine has changed in preparation for the upcoming addition, it is possible that Phoebe is reacting to this. Other possibilities include stress or anxiety caused by things inside and out. If Phoebe has had a scary episode such as slipping on a floor, falling down stairs or being frightened by a person or noise outside, this could cause anxiety about going outside. My recommendation would be to look for other signs of anxiety such as hiding behavior or fear about going outside in general. If you do not notice these, it may be worth taking a stool sample to your veterinarian to check for parasites and possibly scheduling an appointment to address your concerns.

My dogs losing hair underneath his back legs and his man area and he is losing it underneath his front legs what’s wrong with him

I'm sorry to hear of your issues with Jaxx. There are many potential causes for hair loss in dogs including allergies, fleas, mange and hormonal imbalances. Based on the pictures provided, it appears that Jaxx's skin has been inflammed for a while. The skin appears thickened and red. I think this is most likely due to allergies. He may also have a secondary bacterial or yeast infection. A soothing oatmeal bath may help with his discomfort. You can also try an antihistamine such as benadryl. A common dose for this is 1mg per pound of body weight. For example, a 25 pound dog would receive 25mg. If this does not help, I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian. In some cases, steroids, antibiotics or medicated shampoos may need to be prescribed to resolve this issue.

My dog started limping yesterday and his paw looks swollen although I don’t remember anything happening to him for him to be injured. He hasn’t moved for at least 16 hours he won’t even get up to eat or drink water, I just had to give him water through a straw in a “suck & spit it in his mouth” fashion just so I know he’s at least drinking something. I can’t afford a vet visit right now and I’m so worried.

I'm sorry to hear that Diamond isn't doing well. There are many potential reasons for lameness and lethargy. The first thing that comes to mind would be a tick-related illness such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause significant joint inflammation, fever and general malaise. I would ensure that Diamond has easy access to food and water and that you offer him some yummy options such as low-sodium chicken broth to drink and boiled chicken to eat. You can also try applying a cool compress to his swollen paw. If these ministrations are not successful and Diamond continues to be lethargic and inappetant, I would strongly recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are relatively easy to diagnose and are treatable. Other potential causes for his symptoms would be an injury, infection or cancer. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is going on.

How long does it take a cat to show symptoms of a food allergy?

Food allergies can be frustrating to deal with. A cat may show signs such as vomiting or diarrhea within hours of eating a food they are allergic to or it can take weeks to see a problem, Skin issues such as hair loss and scabbing sometimes will not occur until 2-4 weeks after a cat eats a food they are allergic to. Food allergies are typically seen in pets older than 1 year, but can be seen as young as 8-12 weeks in rare cases. If you are concerned Sweetie may have a food allergy, I would recommend discussing this with your veterinarian as they will be able to guide you in a food trial to confirm a food allergy.