Ask a Vet: What should I do for a puppy who won't eat breakfast?

Have a nonemergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford offers some tips for dealing with a puppy who refuses to eat breakfast.

Jillian's question: My friend adopted Poppy, a 6- month-old puppy, from the county shelter. However, Poppy, who is fed three small meals a day, has been refusing to eat breakfast. She will eat lunch and dinner, but she picks at her food and does not always finish. My friend gives her Wellness dog food and mixes in some wet food as well. Is this a sign of illness? Do you have any recommendations to encourage young Poppy to eat?

Heather Oxford, DVM: This is actually one of the most common questions I am asked as a veterinarian. Some dogs are just finicky, or don't seem to be very food-motivated. In these cases, the most common meal for them to skip is breakfast, and they usually require a little bit of activity or stimulation to become hungry. Also, if your friend is going by the feeding instructions on the pet food bag, there is a strong possibility it is simply too much food. In general, food labels instruct owners to feed 2-3 times what their metabolic requirements call for, which is a major cause of animal obesity in this country.

Ask a Vet: Are fruits and nuts safe treats for dogs?

Have a nonemergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford has some tips for reader Jasmine about the dangers of feeding some "people foods" to dogs:

Jasmine's question: Hi Dr. Oxford, is it safe to feed dogs fruits and nuts?

Heather Oxford, DVM: Great question, especially with us going into fruit season. Fruits and nuts that are toxic include grapes, raisins and macademia nuts. Feeding large amounts of rinds of citrus fruits can also cause toxicity due to increased ingestion of essential oils. All other fruits and nuts are not known to be toxic to dogs, but must be fed in moderation or else gastrointestinal issues could occur.

To submit your question for Dr. Oxford, just leave a comment on this post or send us a tweet @LATunleashed and look for her answer in an upcoming installment of Ask a Vet!

About our vet: Dr. Oxford received her bachelor of science degree at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. She also received a master's of public health degree in epidemiology from Emory University and went on to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. She then went to the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received her doctor of veterinary medicine degree. She practices at California Animal Rehabilitation and is also certified in veterinary rehabilitation and acupuncture. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Wade, and German shepherd, Tess.

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Ask a Vet: How can I help an allergic roommate live comfortably with my cat?

Have a nonemergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford has some tips for reader Meiling about living with a cat and a cat-allergic roommate:

Meiling's question: My very fluffy calico cat and I are moving in with a friend who is mildly allergic to animal dander. She's suggested that I shave Pineapple, but I think that's just a temporary solution. Is there any way I can reduce the amount of dander from Pineapple?

Heather Oxford, DVM: Interestingly, the main allergen from cats is in highest quantity in their saliva and their anal glands. Therefore, shaving Pineapple will do little to decrease your friend's symptoms.

There have been several products advertised for use on cats to decrease human allergies but none have proved effective in various studies.

My advice would be to bathe Pineapple regularly and apply a flea preventative product monthly to limit how much she grooms herself. While I wouldn't recommend surgical removal of the anal glands, you should change the litter box at least once daily to prevent allergens from the anal secretions from getting emitted into the air.

Ask a vet: How can I stop my dog's excessive licking?

Have a non-emergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help. In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford offers some advice to reader Tiffany about potential causes of problem licking in dogs.

Tiffany's question: My dog has recently begun licking excessively. We thought it was because of allergy season [during] which he would lick his paws a lot. However, we're beginning to think that's not the case because he ends up licking the couch or the bed for five minutes! Is there something we can do to stop his excessive licking?

Heather Oxford, DVM: This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions for veterinarians. Interestingly, the majority of pets that lick excessively have some form of upper gastrointestinal problem involving the mouth, esophagus or stomach.

Your veterinarian can do a thorough examination of your pet's oral cavity and can perform imaging procedures of the esophagus and stomach, including X-rays, a barium study and ultrasound. Licking has also been associated with diet sensitivity, or toxins. Rarely, it can be a type of seizure disorder as well.

Ask a vet: How often should I brush my pet's teeth?

Have a nonemergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford has some tips for reader Cheryl about proper dental hygiene practices for pets.

Cheryl's question: How often do dogs and cats need to have their teeth brushed? In reality, this hardly ever happens for my pets. What is a minimum frequency you recommend?

Heather Oxford, DVM: Great question, Cheryl. Veterinary dentists recommend brushing pets' teeth every other day for optimal dental health. Pet toothbrushes come in different sizes, depending on the size of the mouth, and they even have finger brushes that resemble thimbles with bristles for cats.

It is imperative that you use veterinary toothpaste since pets will swallow the toothpaste, and regular paste for people can cause severe stomach upset. Besides, they make salmon, beef, chicken and malt flavor, which could actually help to make teeth brushing a more pleasant experience for everyone.

Ask a Vet: How can I protect my treatment-sensitive cat from fleas?

Have a non-emergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford offers some advice to reader Sarah K about breaking the vicious flea cycle.

Sarah's question: My cat is very susceptible to worms and fleas but has had bad reactions to topical flea treatments. We always treat the environment (home and lawn) as well as the cat, but she still gets fleas! I can't bring myself to lock her indoors all the time. What are some natural or less irritating ways to fight fleas for my cat?

Heather Oxford, DVM: Great question! It sounds as though your cat may have developed a tapeworm infestation or two due to fleas. The link between the two parasites is fascinating. The type of tapeworm that commonly affects dogs and cats is completely dependent on fleas for survival.

The tapeworm eggs are passed in animal feces and then ingested by flea larvae, where they transform into an immature larval form. Once the flea larva matures into the jumping pest we all know and hate, the tapeworm larva is developed inside the flea. If the dog or cat eats the flea while grooming, the infective tapeworm larva is released into the dog or cat's intestinal tract and matures to become a tapeworm. The adult tapeworms release eggs that are shed into the feces, and the cycle continues. Hence, if the fleas and flea larvae are not around in the environment, the cycle will be broken.

Ask a Vet: Could my cat's skin growth be cancerous?

Have a non-emergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford has some tips for reader Kristine about treating her cat's potentially cancerous skin growth.

Kristine's question: In advance, know that I will take my cat to the vet. My cat has a small, black, irregularly shaped mole on her flank. I discovered it when I was petting her, but I have never seen her "bother" it. Could it be skin cancer?

Heather Oxford, DVM: I am glad you will take your cat to the veterinarian because this growth should be examined. In cats, cancerous skin growths occur more frequently than non-cancerous growths. You and your veterinarian can check the eyes, mouth (way in the back and under the tongue) and anal areas for any other growths that could indicate a cancerous type. The area that this growth is in isn't a common one for cancerous growths, but the irregular shape and pigmented appearance you describe raise some flags.

It is a little easier to decide what to do if you know how quickly it is growing, but it sounds like you've only recently discovered it. If there is any other procedure that she needs, such as a dental cleaning, I would have it removed for biopsy at that time. If not, and depending on what your veterinarian thinks, monitoring for a short time frame is reasonable. Your veterinarian can measure it and note the appearance in the record for accurate comparison at each recheck.

Ask a Vet: How should I treat my cat's chronic upper respiratory infection?

Have a non-emergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford offers some advice to reader Jay van Dam about treating a cat's upper respiratory infection:

Jay's question: I have a 1-year-old male cat with a chronic upper respiratory infection. Got him as a kitten and [have] been treating him ever since. Usually he is asymptomatic but will get a runny nose or eyes maybe once or twice a month. His lungs [are] always clear. Told by vet to give him gentamicin sulfate eye drops in his nose and terrimycin ointment for his eyes when he is symptomatic; otherwise, leave alone to spare his liver and kidneys. Also I keep Amoxi-drops in case he seems ill. These seem to work well. Also, [I've been] told not to get him fixed or his shots. He is a totally inside cat, active and sweet. ... Is there any other treatment that you could suggest? Or am I doing all that's necessary? He also gets L-Lysene in his daily diet.

Heather Oxford, DVM: Your kitty likely has feline herpes virus, otherwise known as rhinotracheitis virus, but don't worry -- you can't get it from him. The real concern is how contagious he is to other cats during his flare-ups, and how unlikely it is that a non-neutered male cat will be content staying indoors forever. Almost every indoor cat escapes at some point throughout their lives, no matter how hard we try to keep them in, and this is the main reason why I still recommend vaccinating with the FVRCP and rabies vaccines and neutering indoor cats.

Ask a Vet: How can I help my dog recover the strength in its rear legs?

Have a non-emergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford offers some tips to reader Janet Ishikawa about dealing with her dog's apparent numbness:

Janet's question: My male pug's hind legs seem like they are numb; he has a hard time climbing steps and maneuvering his back legs and can't seem to control his bowels. His back legs seem almost paralyzed.

Heather Oxford, DVM: It sounds like the problems in the back legs and loss of control of his bowels may be caused by a neurological problem. As dogs age, their intervertebral discs can degenerate and become unable to absorb the compressive pressure between the vertebrae in the back. Usually, the pet jumps down off of furniture or plays too roughly, and all of a sudden one or more of these discs can herniate and put pressure on the spinal cord.

This is when you start noticing outward signs, such as difficulty moving the legs in a coordinated fashion, lack of feeling and, sometimes, urinary and fecal incontinence.

Ask a vet: How do I tell if my pet is depressed?

Have a non-emergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford offers some advice to reader Allie about identifying and treating depression in dogs and cats:

Allie's question: What are some signs of depression in cats and dogs? I've heard stories about dogs being treated with antidepressants. What are your thoughts on animal psychiatry? What other options are available for sad pets?

Heather Oxford, DVM: Veterinarians have the most extensive training in animal behavior of anyone working in the pet industry, and I doubt any one of us has ever prescribed antidepressants as a first-line for animal depression.

The reason is simple: There is a language barrier between us and our patients that does not exist in human medicine. Animals don't come into our offices and tell us that their hearing or vision is failing them, that they've had a chronic headache for weeks now, or that they've been having stomach or intestinal pains that just won't go away. They just look sad. It is our first responsibility to rule out causes of depression that are endocrine/internal, neurologic or orthopedic in origin. A lot of medical causes of depression can be treated, avoiding the unnecessary use of prescription antidepressants.