Pet Q&A: Can I put two puppies from two different litters together?

Published on Saturday 7 November 2009 10:53

Q Can I put two puppies from two different litters together even though they have not yet had their vaccinations?

A Putting together two puppies from different litters before they have had their vaccinations will put them at risk. The puppies could be carrying diseases that they might pass to each other, some of which could be fatal. It is best to take the puppies to see your vet who can advise on whether they are old enough to be vaccinated. Some vaccines can be safely given as early as six weeks of age.

Q My cat has started dragging its bottom on the floor. Why is it doing this?

A There are a few things that could be causing the symptoms you describe.

Cats have anal sacs, which are much smaller than those of dogs and don't usually cause a problem. However, the ducts can sometimes get blocked and become infected. This can lead to an abscess forming on one side of the cat's bottom. An owner may not notice this until they see the cat scooting along the floor on its rear, or licking the anal area.

I suggest that you take your cat to your vet to get the problem checked out.

Q I have two house cats and both have started sneezing. I'm worried they might have cat flu, although they have not come into contact with another cat.

A Cat flu (Feline Infectious Respiratory Disease) is a very infectious disease and it takes between two to ten days for symptoms to develop.

The first signs are excessive sneezing, runny eyes and nose, loss of appetite, fever and general depression. The eyes and nose can become ulcerated. A cat suffering from cat flu may salivate a lot, cough and lose its voice. A secondary bacterial infection can result in a very thick nasal and eye discharge.

I would recommend you get your cats checked out by your vet.

Q My eight-year-old Alsatian-cross has had very runny stools for several days, which seem like jelly. What could be causing this?

A You need to get your dog checked out by your vet as there are many things, such as Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and colitis, which can cause problems with faeces. EPI is a condition commonly found in German Shepherd dogs.

EPI can cause irreversible damage to the pancreas, resulting in life-long treatment. A dog suffering from EPI is unable to digest food, can become very thin and suffer from chronic diarrhoea.

Colitis can also cause a dog to pass large amounts of mucus, making the faeces look like jelly or egg white.