Q: Our son’s friend brought over his little guinea pig to play
with ours. As it turns out, this little guy had more than
playfulness in mind and now we think our little girl, Gertie, is
pregnant. How long is her pregnancy? Are there any special
preparations we should make before this blessed event?
Q: Our son’s friend brought over his little guinea pig to play with ours. As it turns out, this little guy had more than playfulness in mind and now we think our little girl, Gertie, is pregnant. How long is her pregnancy? Are there any special preparations we should make before this blessed event?
A: Ah, springtime – how it affects animals of all sizes. You know, it really doesn’t matter when you put critters of the opposite sex together. Any time of year, it’s always a risky proposition.
If, indeed, Gertie is pregnant, you’re about to have an eye-opening experience in the next few weeks. Cavies (or guinea pigs) have a long pregnancy compared to other pocket pets. Hers will last more than 9 weeks. That’s almost triple the length of pregnancy for hamsters and other small pocket pets. But the real surprise will be when the babies are born.
Probably because of their long gestation, cavies are very precocious at birth. Their eyes are fully open and they are very, very active. Newborns quickly begin eating solid food and act as though they are several weeks old. They really are cute as they chatter and move about the cage.
So enjoy the experience. The next few weeks will provide lots of fun and a good education for both you and your son. I’d suggest you get a book at the library or your favorite pet store so that you can prepare yourself for this big event.
Q: Jake, our Jack Russell terrier was recently diagnosed with anterior uveitis. His eyes have been red for several weeks now, but they seem to be getting better with the medicine we got from the vet. The vet recommended we take him to a specialist. He says this uveitis is a serious problem. But now that his eyes are getting better, do we really need to go to the specialist? Does anterior uveitis ever go away?
A: Anterior uveitis is a condition where inflammation develops inside the globe of the eye. It can be very painful, and it can have serious consequences. Think about the discomfort you feel when your eye is inflamed and you can probably imagine Jake’s pain.
Uveitis can be caused by many different medical conditions, including both viral or bacterial infection, trauma and even some parasite infections. Diagnosis can be tricky. That’s why most general practitioners recommend an evaluation by a specialist.
But the real worry is that Jake could develop something far more serious such as glaucoma, an increased pressure within the eye. Glaucoma can develop as a side effect of uveitis. If it does, Jake could become permanently blind. Call that specialist and schedule an appointment right away.
Q: Our 6-year-old cat, Hagar, has a terrible case of hair mats this year. He is otherwise very healthy-looking and seems to groom himself normally. Is it a sign of a serious health problem? What causes mats to form?
A: These mats could be a sign of serious health problems, but they also might be caused by something more simple. Hair mats are usually a product of inadequate grooming.
If Hagar is doing a poor job cleaning himself, he’s allowing oils and skin cells to accumulate in his coat. With time, these begin to form a sticky adhesion to his fur and clumps start developing.
Certainly, many cats that are ill don’t groom properly, and they might have matted fur. But healthy cats sometimes have similar coat problems. This is because anything that prevents normal grooming can contribute to fur problems.
If Hagar has dental disease (let’s say he has a bad tooth), he may too uncomfortable to lick and groom. So look in his mouth and see if he has any obvious teeth or gum disease.
Lots of tartar or red, inflamed gums usually mean trouble. If he has bad breath, there may even be a problem you can’t see. So if you aren’t sure, have his veterinarian examine him.
Another more simple health problem, obesity, makes cats susceptible to matted fur. Fat cats have a hard time reaching around and cleaning themselves. Typically, it’s easy to diagnose these patients, because their fur is soft and healthy on their tummy and sides, areas they can groom.
But on their backside over the lumbar spine and at the base of the tail, where their large girth won’t let them reach, they might have signs of coat and skin problems.
If Hagar fits into the fat-cat syndrome, ask his vet about how you can help him lose the necessary weight to be a healthy kitty once again. Then his coat can really shine.
Q: I’m curious. What’s the largest breed of dog? The smallest?
A: It all depends on who you ask. But I once saw a 10-year-old Chihuahua that weighed only 2.6 pounds. She was really a grouchy dog – she didn’t like anyone but her owner.
And I know of a very friendly Mastiff that tips the scales at 209 pounds. This guy is a real pussycat. What a difference!
