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Posts Tagged ‘Quality Of Life’

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My son recently got a lab/pit bull mix who is 4 months old. He just called me & said the dog’s jaw sometimes quivers when she yawns or she will whine and then the jaw will start to quiver.

Lori
Milford MI

Jaw quivering is a form of trembling. Usually it is harmless.

Jaw quivering is especially common in older dogs (and people). In these individuals it usually is progressive but it almost never compromises quality of life.

Four-month-old puppies generally do not suffer from progressive jaw trembling. The shaking is more likely a transient issue that occurs as the puppy’s nervous system matures.

Rarely, a quivering jaw may be a sign of poisoning or a serious neurological disorder. However, I’ll bet that your son’s puppy is simply going through a phase. I don’t think you should worry too much about this matter.

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Hi Dr. Barchas,

Name and location withheld

I may have bitten off more than I could chew when I decided to discuss canine marijuana ingestion twice (here and here; you can also check out my website for more information on the subject here) on this blog.

Yesterday I spoke on the phone with a person who tracked me down on the internet. She was interested in using medical marijuana to help with lack of appetite in a dog who was undergoing chemotherapy. The dog had been to a number of specialists and clearly had received the best possible medical and home care. The client was exploring every possible option to promote a high quality of life for the pet. (My answer, in short, was that evidence-based studies on the subject were lacking. However, if adverse side effects could be avoided, the therapy might be beneficial. The legal ramifications of such therapy are uncertain but possibly (although probably not) serious depending upon the jurisdiction. The client elected to experiment cautiously.)

On the same day, I read the question posted above.

I am not a specialist in animal toxicology. This blog is not a clearinghouse for questions about pets and illicit substances.

Nonetheless I feel that rushing to judgment is not in the best interest of the animals involved in these sorts of situations. What follows is my best attempt at an answer. To the questioner:

Methamphetamine vapors almost certainly are harmful to cats. Cats’ lungs are exquisitely sensitive. Second-hand cigarette smoke can trigger or exacerbate a number of feline respiratory problems. Although methamphetamine vapors contain less tar than cigarette smoke, it is hard to imagine that second-hand meth is not deleterious.

That said, it also is hard to imagine that your cat’s lymphoma was caused by exposure to methamphetamine. Meth has numerous adverse effects on the body. It may well be a carcinogen in cats–this matter has not been well studied. But the carcinogenic effects of any substance of are dose-dependent. Second-hand exposure to methamphetamine vapors will not lead to high levels of exposure.

Bottom line: I doubt that methamphetamine exposure played a role in your cat’s illness. It is more likely that a hereditary predisposition to lymphoma was to blame.

I recommend that you monitor your Main Coon’s appetite, thirst and weight. Seek veterinary attention if you note any irregularities. I consider it unlikely that he or she will experience adverse effects from exposure to the illicit substance.

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We found a tiny stray kitten at our house
yesterday. It has a broken tail in several places.
It seems to have already healed. Will the kitten
have to have its tail removed or will be okay just
with a tail that healed wrong?

Shelly
Jonesborough, TN

Kinked or broken tails are very common in cats and kittens. The tail may be traumatized during the birthing process. Myriad injuries are possible after birth as well.

Broken tails almost never require treatment. The kinks (which usually are a form of joint luxation rather than true fractures) generally are permanent. They cannot be fixed. But they generally do not cause pain or affect quality of life in any way.

If your kitten’s tail is not painful, then it shouldn’t be a cause for concern. However, I’d recommend that you get him or her to the vet for deworming, vaccines, and FIV and FeLV testing.

If you love dogs, you’ll love MyAwesomePet.com. My Awesome Pet is the number one social site for pet lovers. Their pet friendly community is like a "My Space" for pets. Create a free profile for you and your pet. Post lots of pictures, pet videos, read their professional articles and blogs.