Beware seeds of discontent

QAWe have a four-year-old springer spaniel, and recently took on a year-old rescue male neutered cat. We are vigilant at this time of year about grass seeds after previous problems. Are they an equal danger to cats? Grass awns (seeds) are more commonly seen as a problem in dogs, but cats are not immune.

Those I have seen most in dogs are the large foxtails, which can penetrate the ears and feet especially.

Fortunately they are easy to see with daily inspection of the coat, and remove, as you no doubt already do.

I have seen smaller grass awns, less easy to detect, in cats.

These tend to cause different problems, although similar ones to dogs can occur. If the awn enters via the nasal passages, acute sneezing will result.

This subsides as the awn goes deeper into the respiratory tract but a bronchial infection can then cause coughing and breathing difficulties.

Further migration can go virtually anywhere, and cases have even been seen of awns causing abscesses in the lumbar (spinal) muscles.

Healing of any infection in any part of the animal’s body is only possible with removal of the grass awn.

The smaller awns commonly get trapped under the upper eyelid, especially in cats, causing characteristically severe conjunctivitis.

They can easily be removed after local anaesthetic eye drops are given, but any delay risks corneal ulceration and potentially blindness.

Feet, eye and nose signs or non-healing abscesses need prompt vet consultations at any time of the year, but especially now.

Q

My 10-year-old female lurcher has been diagnosed with rare psychogenic polydipsia. She also suffers from separation anxiety. She produces a lot of very dilute urine and is incontinent. Is there anything that could help?

A

Polydipsia is excessive thirst, which will normally be associated with polyuria, excessive urination.

Psychogenic polydipsia is a behavioural abnormality, and is rare, as your vet has said. It is thought to be more commonly seen in younger dogs, and therefore a little unusual in yours.

When you add separation anxiety to her difficulties, however, psychogenic polydipsia is the most likely diagnosis.

The three most common causes of polydipsia in dogs are chronic kidney disease, Cushing’s disease and diabetes mellitus – which have been ruled out by your vet along with other rare diseases.

I always think that it is worth double-checking when things aren’t going to plan and another consultation with your vet is recommended.

Apart from reviewing the case, I do feel that you may need some specialist help to make life more bearable for you and your dog.

For psychogenic polydipsia in a dog with separation anxiety, a behaviourist would be my choice.

Treatment of psychogenic polydipsia involves calculating how much the dog is drinking now and cutting back by 10 per cent per week until you reach a more normal amount – between 50 and 90ml/kg body weight per day.

Unfortunately this may precipitate a recurrence of anxiety symptoms in your dog, which is why I believe that a behaviourist working with your vet would offer a way forward.

David Grant MBE has been a vet for more than 50 years. Email questions to him at pamperedpets@people.co.uk