Vet Q&A-Fish

Yesterday we noticed my gouramis has a white fuzz growing all over half of his face. It's only on one side so far and Isn't on any of the other fish. We just got the fish on Saturday. What's wrong with him? How can we cure his issue?

The white fuzz may be Columnaris, an infection causing bacteria, or a fungal infection. It can be difficult to differentiate without microscopic examination. Either can be managed/treated via partial water changes, plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) and medications. Partial water changes, no more than 20-30% daily, will stabilize chemistry and maintain or improve water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent additional stress or shock. Aquarium salt can be used at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water. Dissolve in a few cups of tank water and gradually pouyr it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reasses the condition. When performing water changes, treat only the volume of water being replaced, not the entire tank volume. A methylene blue dip can be done daily. You can find it in the aquarium section of the local pet or fish store. A concentration of 50ppm is recommended. Do not add it to the main tank as it will turn everything blue and kill beneficial bacteria in the filter and substrate. Use a separate container and dip the fish for a few seconds, rinse and return it to the main tank. In the future, quarantine any new fish for several days to prevent introduction of disease to existing populations.

My betta fish have fin rot disease. How fast can kill it my betta? How can i treat it? I can't take a better photo because he can't swim , so he doesn't move. I put in his water what vet recomended me to put. Thanks!

Fin rot can kill quickly if left untreated. Clean water plays a critical role in treatment and recovery. Perform daily partial water changes using aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78F and 80F. You can continue to use the bottled treatment as directed. Add a bit of plain aquarium salt (NOT table). As well to aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess fin condition.

Can I feed a Betta Fish bloodworms every day?

I would recommend to feed with bloodworms once daily, not more than that and always mixed with pellets, daphnia, and brine shrimps. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

hello, i'm here to ask for some advice regarding my terrier/bichon. Earlier today he ate 3 cooked fish with bones and i'm very worried. What should I do

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Monya may be able to pass the bones on his own though only time will tell. If this is going to result in an obstruction or dietary indiscretion, you may notice the signs in the next few days. These signs include inappetence, anorexia, vomiting and abdominal pain. If you notice these signs, have him evaluated by your veterinarian as this may represent either a gastrointestinal obstruction or even some degree of dietary indiscretion that would warrant further assessment. Treatment would be based on what is exactly affecting him. Good luck and have a great day!

Two of the fish fins are clamping down close to their body. I did 75% water change and hopefully they will get better. I do not have the water testing kit. Will buy soon. Is there any ways to get them better? I could see some of their scales are off. They sometimes don’t swim, they just stay there and let the water flow move them. I’m getting air stone soon. Do I need VERY strong filter for them? (It’s little filter) two of them is sometimes going up to surface?

Goldfish need powerful filtration. Your filter should be rated for at least twice the tank volume. Once you get a test kit, check the chemistry. Aim for 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at about 40ppm. Use a kit that has liquid reagents, not strips. The liquid kit is more accurate. The pH should range between 7.2-7.6. Being cold water fish, goldfish thrive between 65F and 72F. You can dissolve 1 teaspoon of plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) per gallon of water to use as a general tonic. It will reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess the condition of your fish. When performing partial water changes, treat only the volume of water being replaced not the entire tank volume. Change no more than 30% of the volume at a time. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock.

My cat is being investigated for grain allergies. And has had episodes of itchy inflamed skin and hair loss. Advised to switch to feeding fish and rice (kitty will not eat rice), and in the areas that were sore, the skin has become hyperpigmented. He is a black tuxedo cat, but these previously inflamed patches are ever darker/blacker than his fur, which is starting to grow back. They don't appear to be tender. What could be causing this? Is there reason to be concerned?

Hello and thank you for using Boop by Petco. Hyperpigmentation is very common when there is chronic irritation in the skin, which happens with allergies. The hair can also change color as it grows back. I wouldn't be too concerned as long as the irritation is gone and that it is just pigment and not a raised growth. Monitor it closely and if you see it start to raise up rather than just be a flat, black spot on the skin, I would have it evaluated by your veterinarian.

Melanie can I ask your opinion? I'm giving my dog seven supplements but I've been told this is too much. Can you recommend which ones I should cut out please. I've been giving fish oil, vitamin e, probiotics and enzymes, multivitamin, coq10, a joint pill, and golden paste. (Turmeric and coconut oil) I'm uncertain which ones I shouldn't give. Thanks!

I'm glad to help you! I think the enzymes you should give are CoQ10 and the joint pill. I do think you are giving too many, especially if Chloe is on a high quality diet. Too many supplements can be detrimental to her health, so I would stick with only the CoQ10 and joint pill :-)

I feel like I am doing to many supplements. I'm giving fish oil, vitamin E, probiotics and enzymes, a joint pill, a multivitamin, coq10, and golden paste. (Turmeric and coconut oil) can someone suggest which ones I should cut out? I don't know how I ended up with over 5 supplements but I think I might be overdosing here. Which ones would you keep out of the seven and why? Thanks! There are no medical issues but she is prone to heart disease which is why I'm giving coq10.

If you feed a complete good quality dog food, Chloe does not need all these supplements. If you like keep giving the Co q10, and the joint pill. Leave off everything else. Too many supplements can actually make your dog sick.

Monkie is almost 9 months old, never had a momma I bottle fed her since she was a few hours old.. I did adopt her. The last few months she has been diagnosed with Gingivostomstitis and they tried 4 different medicines, fish oils, different foods, depo shots, everything! No help. They wanna do a laser treatment or a biopsy then pull her teeth because her mouth is completely swollen.. vet wants us to feed canned and hard, she is finally eating proplan hard and no canned. Opinions on what to do?

I'm sorry to hear that Monkie has such significant oral inflammation! Gingivostomatitis can be quite painful and it sounds as though your vet has already tried any available medical intervention. As I'm sure you're aware, this condition often occurs in conjunction with a calicivirus infection. Many cats carry this virus and an amino acid supplements, such as L-lysine, can be beneficial in addition to dental procedures. Your vet's treatment plan of a gingival biopsy and full mouth dental extractions seem appropriate for this painful condition. Most cats do quite well with full mouth dental extractions, and some even return to eating dry food again. As she recovers from her dental procedure, Monkie may need to eat both canned and dry food. If she won't eat canned foods, talk to her vet about soaking her ProPlan kibble in water for 15-20 minutes before feeding it to her, as this generally softens it pretty well. I hope this helps you to make your decision and that Monkie is feeling better soon!