Vet Q&A-SmallAnimal

Hello. Can you tell me what breed my cat is from these photos?

She’s beautiful! This is called a Domestic Shorthair. It is not a registered cat breed but a description of a type of mixed breed cat. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Would an American bulldog x staffy be classed as a pit bull in England? I want to buy one but last time I had a mixed breed bulldog it was removed and euthanised they said she was a pit bull so would this breed be classed as a pit bull??

No, it is not classed as a pit bull but if there is some pit bull blood in the dog, and it gets recognised, you are at risk of having the same problem again. In general, American Bulldogs cross Staffies are ok.

For linda's next breeding should i breed her to a blue nose pitbull or red nose pitbull?? what color would most likely pop out if she is bred to a rednose ?? what color would most likely pop out if she is bred to a blue nose?? she is black and white What kinda food do i feed her while she is pregnant??

Genetics of coat color are complicated in dogs so we can’t help much in that department. I do have some comments about the rest though. First, from an ethical perspective, I feel compelled to let you know that about 40% of dogs and puppies in shelters nation-wide are pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Breeding pit bulls is highly discouraged by most veterinarians since we know that a lot of them end up euthanized or in shelters. If you do decide to proceed, here are some medical suggestions: Female dogs should not be bred until at least 2 years of age to slow them to achieve complete maturity. They are more likely to birth without complications if allowed to do so. They should be fed puppy food while pregnant- unrestricted in the last trimester and while nursing. She’ll need an X-ray at about 45-55 days to determine how many pups she is carrying. That way, you know when all of them have arrived! (Or when to worry if they have not all arrived.) Always have an emergency vet in the back of your mind as well as about $3000-5000 saved in case she needs an emergency C-section. Best wishes to you and Linda!

I have always felt strongly that I would not get a bulldog, or other brachycephalic dog breed, as I am uncomfortable with the dangers these dogs face due to breeding for this trait. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was on my short list for my next dog and I just found out they are brachycephalic also. Do all spaniels have this issue? Is the King Charles Spaniel bred for that short nose?

Unfortunately the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for some reason has been bred with shorter and shorter noses over the last few years, so now it is indeed a brachycephalic dog. You also do not want this breed as it can have serious congenital problems such as heart disease and syringomelia. If you like spaniels any of the other spaniels such as Cocker Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel =, Field Spaniel and Welsh Springer Spaniel are not brachycephalic and less prone to congenital breed specific problems.

Hi, I have a rabbit that I purchased from pet supermarket but when I purchased it I didn’t receive any information (its age, breed, or gender). Is there a dna test for a rabbit that will tell me any of that information?

I am afraid there is no test. However if you only bought the rabbit recently, you can go back to the shop and they can tell you what age their rabbits were at a certain time of sale. As for the gender : male rabbits have two elongated testicles, one each either side of the penis, Females just have a little slit. As for its breed , you can upload a good photo from the side and we can try to figure out what breed your rabbit is.

Our husky has been having sores almost rashes that started around his legs and progressed and worked it's way up around his eye. Has been to the vet several times and antiobiotics clear it up but it always comes back! We are thinking it could be something related to northern breeds such as zinc deficiency or a possible food allergy! Please help! Any opinions are welcomed, thank you :)

Oh goodness! That does look uncomfortable! It could be just infection, but if it keeps returning then I agree there could likely be an underlying problem such as thyroid disorder, zinc deficiency, pemphigus, or lupus. If I were in charge of his care I would check a thyroid panel and if that came back normal then I would do straight to a skin biopsy. This is the fastest route to a diagnosis. Best of luck and I hope you find an answer and a resolution soon! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

My red eared slider turtle is hiding constantly staying under the rock and filter and he’s not sunbathing I’ve had him for 2&1/2 years and he hasn’t grown a whole lot, I’ve only been feeding him 3-4 “floating reptile sticks” every day since then. I’m worried about the little guy should I be feeding him more or something else also I don’t know if his tank is ideal for his species I’ve never met anyone else with a turtle and I haven’t had anyone to get advice from. P1: Turtle P2: food P3: tank

Thanks for reaching out about Sebastian and including pictures. Points of interest to investigate would be: (1) heat support in the water, (2) nutrition, and (3) water quality. If the water temperature gets too low, turtles will slow and stop eating (acting as if hibernating). The water quality needs to be kept clean to decrease bacterial and algal overgrowth. Regarding nutrition, the package of pellets needs to be changed every 3-4 months as vitamins degrade quickly. Offering diced vegetables and whole fish (goldfish, tetras) can provide exercise and nutrition. If Sebastian remains quiet and lethargic, a visit to a reptilian veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

I wonder why my Pomeranian is taller than her parents, her parents are pure breed Pomeranian with pedigree, so I don’t understand why she is not small like her parents

Thanks for using Boop by Petco. This happens for the same reason that two short people can have a tall child. There may have been a larger dog in the family tree somewhere and your Shakira happened to get those genetics. Also, are you certain her parents are who you think they are? Is it possible there was an accident and there is a different father than you thought? Either way, Shakira is beautiful and looks healthy and that is what's important!

What is the healthiest, best for my dog, Adult Large breed dog food available? No allergens

Hello and welcome to Boop by Petco. Allergens are small proteins that cause the immune system in animals/mammals to 'over-react'. What constitutes an allergen will vary from animal to animal and depends on what their specific immune system 'doesn't like'. Therefore, there is no way to say any food has 'No allergens'. For example, peanuts are an allergen to a person with a peanut allergy, but not to a person without peanut allergies. In general, most animals don't have allergies to food, and unless you are seeing signs of food allergies (diarrhea, vomiting, itchy skin/feet/bum/ears)) then any food protein or carbohydrate is ok. I generally recommend a good quality large breed food with low fat and high fiber. If you want the best for Luns, talk with your vet about Hill's T/D which helps prevent dental disease and also has some efficacy at helping prevent joint disease. It is also an AAFCO supported food so you know it is well balanced and scientific studies have been done to ensure it is a good quality food. Other good food companies are Royal Canine, Science Diet, Eukanuba, etc. Find a food that Luns likes to eat, and has a good quality hair coat and normal poops. Best of luck with Luns!