Dog’s tongue color may indicate signs of illness or a breed’s trait
Dear Cathy: I have a 9-yearold terrier mix with breathing problems. Years ago, a vet told me that a dog with a purple tongue has heart problems. One day, my dog’s tongue turned purple, and she seemed to need oxygen. She was licking around her mouth, panting and lifting her head.
I’ve taken her to three vets so far. The first said there was nothing wrong. The second vet said that’s what dogs do when they’re warm but gave me medicine and sent us on our way. Nothing changed. The third vet took X-rays and sent them off to a cardiologist. She said my dog had a strong heartbeat and no heart murmur. So, that was that. I accepted it, and figured they knew best. Well, it’s getting worse. I don’t know what to do.
— Diane, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Dear Diane: If your dog is getting worse, please take her back to the vet for another exam. Go to the vet who took the X-rays since they did take the time to rule out heart issues. When a dog has a red to purple tongue color, it could be a sign of heart or respiratory problems. But it could be an indication of other issues.
You mentioned your dog was a mixed breed. If your dog gets another clean bill of health, I wonder if your dog has some Chow Chow or Shar Pei mix in her, two dogs who naturally have purple/ black tongues. Your dog doesn’t have to look like these dogs to have this DNA. It might be worth checking out.
Dear Cathy: My indoor cat is 10. She eats one can of wet food daily, supplemented by dry food. She’s extremely picky and will only eat three flavors. She no longer finishes the can, so I’m throwing out half the food daily. She will not eat the remainder the next day.
She was without wet food for over the winter when there was a cat food shortage. It was heartbreaking to see how sad she was about it. I’ve thrown out half her food the past three days and didn’t give her any wet food today, and she’s heartbroken. What do I do?
— Christine, Rocky Point, New York
Dear Christine: Whenever an animal changes their habits, it’s important to get them to the vet to ensure nothing is wrong. Many health problems first appear as appetite loss. Her sudden change in appetite, however, and the perceived unhappiness you see in her demeanor, may also be signs of an underlying health problem. She is 10 years old and a senior feline now. The vet also can prescribe medication to stimulate her appetite.
If your cat has a clean bill of health, then feeding her half a can of food daily doesn’t cost you any more than her eating the entire can, which is what you desire. Sometimes, animals lose a little appetite as they age. Maybe try to feed her the second half around lunchtime to see if it’s still fresh enough for her to eat. Otherwise, look for cat food that comes in tiny cans and pouches with smaller portions, and try the three flavors you know she enjoys.
Dear Cathy: A much better answer to Steven of Dix Hills, New York, would be to live-trap those feral cats coming onto his property. Then bring them to the local humane society or an enclosed cat sanctuary. Feral cats and outdoor house cats kill far too many birds. It’s estimated that cats kill 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually in the U.S., with 69% of these kills attributable to feral or unowned cats. Cats that are pets should be kept indoors or in outdoor enclosures. To do any less puts pet cats and birds in danger.
— Carla, Madison, Wisconsin
Dear Carla: Most humane societies and animal control agencies don’t accept feral cats unless they have a barn cat adoption program. Animal shelters are not willing to take feral cats in, only to have to
euthanize them. So, Steven would need to first call local organizations to see if there are any groups with such programs.
If feral/community cats are fixed, they don’t reproduce kittens — and it reduces annoying mating behaviors, like spraying and fighting. When these cats are fed, they also have less of a need to hunt for food. Every one of these feral cats was either abandoned by
someone or their offspring. So amen, sister, to keeping feline pets inside the home or in an enclosed outdoor structure.