Please explain what makes our dog, Sammy, lick at the air. Every
once in a while, he will sit down and put his nose up and start
licking like crazy. We though it was funny at first, but now I
wonder if something bothers him or if he has a problem. Is this
something to worry about?
Q: Please explain what makes our dog, Sammy, lick at the air. Every once in a while, he will sit down and put his nose up and start licking like crazy. We though it was funny at first, but now I wonder if something bothers him or if he has a problem. Is this something to worry about?
A: It’s true, pets have some funny habits. But there may be more to this licking-at-the-sky than just funny behavior. Sammy may be exhibiting symptoms of obsessive/compulsive behavior or even a seizure disorder.
Obsessive/compulsive behavior is not uncommon in dogs. When it occurs, there are certain patterns to a dog’s activity that are predictable and repeated over and over. Sometimes this behavior can get even worse and lead to destructive activity. For example, some patients might bite at their tail until it bleeds. Others sometimes chew on carpet or furniture. But obsessive/compulsive disorders are usually treatable and with medication, these patients usually do very well.
The word “seizure” causes most people to think of epilepsy, where the patient lays on his or her side and has a gran mal attack. But many seizures are much less dramatic and are not the same as epilepsy.
A seizure disorder is an aberrant cluster of neurological activity in the brain. A group of neurons spontaneously fire away without reason or control. It’s an uncoordinated and unregulated release of electrical signals from a small portion of the brain. And any part of the body controlled by those neurons exhibits abnormal movement until the “event” ends. A small seizure can cause one or more legs to spasm, or it may only cause a subtle eyelid twitch. It all depends on how large an area of the brain is affected.
Typically, these events last just a few seconds to a few minutes. And these seizures are not usually dangerous to the dog. They don’t cause damage to the brain or the heart if they are short. Longer seizures, lasting more than 20-30 minutes, can sometimes create other health problems. But it’s important to remember that short seizures may not be a serious problem unless they repeat over and over again. Sammy’s veterinarian can help you decide whether his problem needs special attention.
Another important fact: Seizures are not necessarily an indication of a progressive brain disease. Sammy’s disorder could be caused by many different, less serious conditions. It could be the result of some kind of bump to the head (even a long time ago when he was a small puppy). It also might be a symptom of some congenital birth abnormality. Finally, he could have some other medical problem causing this odd activity. (Electrolyte imbalances and hypoglycemia can cause small seizures to fire off.)
Many people immediately associate brain tumors with any seizure activity. Although brain tumors do occur in dogs and cats, they are not very common. Most dogs with seizure disorders don’t have any tumor.
Whatever the case, I think you should ask Sammy’s veterinarian to examine him. Some tests may be recommended, including a comprehensive blood panel. This will help rule out any of these metabolic disorders. After a thorough evaluation, the vet will help you decide whether or not Sammy needs any treatment to control his quirky episodes.
Q: Our dog, Fathead, has had runny eyes forever. Actually, he’s only a little older than a year. But now his left eye seems cloudy. The vet says he needs surgery for entropion. What is this? Do we really have to have surgery for him?
A: Entropion is a curling inward of the eyelid or lids. It’s a congenital (and probably hereditary) condition where the lid margin rolls into the eye and rubs against the cornea or surface of the eye.
Normally, the globe of the eye is contacted only by pink membranes (the conjunctiva) around the eye. But when an eyelid curls, the skin of the eyelid rubs against the cornea. Not only is this uncomfortable to Fathead, but it also has the potential to do some damage to his eye. The cloudiness you see is probably a sign of corneal edema or fluid swelling in the clear surface caused by the trauma of the lid inappropriately rubbing against it.
The most effective treatment for entropion is surgery, where a small piece of skin adjacent to the offending lid is removed . When this incision is sutured shut, it literally pulls the eyelid away from the cornea and allows the lid to fall to a normal position. Recovery is usually uneventful, and the success rate of surgery is very, very high.
Entropion can sometimes be a secondary condition to allergies or persistent infection. If Fathead’s problem is only a recent occurrence, and he’s never had this problem before now, then it’s possible that surgery won’t be necessary. If an allergy or infection causing this entropion can be controlled, the symptoms could clear spontaneously.
Since you have questions about Fathead’s condition, you might want to consider seeing a veterinary opthamologist for a second opinion. Understanding your pooch’s problem will help you make the right decision for his treatment.
