Pampered Pets

OUR VET DAVID GRANT WORKS HIS MAGIC

QOur two- year- old springer spaniel has had bad breath for several months. He eats well and from what we can see his teeth are fine. Is this something our vet can deal with?

I think this problem is something your vet can almost certainly solve, but an appointment will be necessary for a good examination of the mouth.

Halitosis needs to be differentiated from the normal canine oral smell, often quite strong in young dogs and influenced by diet to an extent.

Some dog foods, particularly with fish ingredients, can leave an unpleasant odour behind. But if disease is suspected your vet will want to investigate where the smell is coming from.

Dental disease would be an obvious possible cause of halitosis, and the first place to look. This frequently involves the molar teeth but, with age, can involve the whole mouth unless dental checks are frequent.

Any inflammation of the pharynx, called stomatitis, can be a problem, although this would probably cause pain during eating. Sinus problems could also be a cause.

It could be, though, that the mouth is not the source of your dog’s bad breath. Spaniels in general are prone to skin folds, especially involving the lower lips. These folds can trap food and saliva, and are an ideal environment for bacteria to develop, resulting in lip fold dermatitis.

The treatment is a simple minor operation to remove the fold, which results in an immediate cure.

AMy 10- year- old male Siamese cat has developed problems with

walking, tends to circle and seems a bit disorientated. Is this caused by a brain tumour and what are our options?

AYour cat does have signs of a central nervous system problem. There are various diseases that can cause these signs and your vet will want to do a full physical and neurological examination to decide on the best way forward.

Brain tumours do occur in cats and there have been considerable advances both in diagnosis and treatment.

If examination by your own vet suggests the possibility of a brain tumour, you will need referral to a specialist veterinary neurologist.

As with any disease, an accurate diagnosis is very important so you know what you are dealing with.

This also enables treatment options to be agreed with the specialist.

Brain biopsy is not generally recommended for a diagnosis in cats because it is risky in this species.

MRI scans and any subsequent treatment, if advised, will inevitably be expensive and you will need to budget for this. The most common brain tumour in cats is meningioma, accounting for more than 70 per cent.

It tends to occur near the surface of the brain and cause problems when pressing on brain tissue. Meningiomas are benign and don’t spread.

In cats with tumours that prove to be easily accessible, long- term survival after surgical removal has been documented.

David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital for Animals. Email questions to him at pamperedpets@ express. co. uk