My three-year-old cocker spaniel has terrible body odor. I've tried body spray deodorizers, food additives, special shampoos, and nothing works. My family wants me to get rid of her, but I love her very much. Help, how do I get rid of my dog's bad body odor?

Many blond cockers are afflicted with seborrhea, which is a skin condition producing excessive oil and odor. The ears can also be affected, adding to the smell. Seborrhea can be primary, or secondary to such conditions as hypothyroidism. A complete physical examination will be helpful in your diagnosis and management plan that may include tar shampoos on a regular basis, as well as other medications. Please consult with your veterinarian as soon as you can. There are effective therapies available, which will make her a more appreciated member of the family.

My dog's eyes are becoming cloudy. Is there anything I can do? Is this a cataract? If so, how is my dog treated?

Your dog's cloudy eyes could be cataracts or it could be a normal aging process of the lens of the eye known as nuclear sclerosis. Nuclear sclerosis causes the lens to refract light. It's like looking into a dirty fish tank - you can see, but not clearly. It is best to schedule a veterinary exam to determine the problem.

Lucky for you. Your dog has an absolutely normal temperature. As long as he is happy and eating OK. I would forget the call to your veterinarian.

My veterinarian has recently started promoting monthly heartworm preventive tablets for my dog and cat. I've also heard that the heartworm medicine used long term may be a greater risk to my pet's health. What should I do?

Heartworm disease is a serious but preventable condition. Whether or not your pet belongs on preventive medication depends a lot on the incidence in your area. We're not presently aware of any literature that notes serious risks or side effects of the preventive medicine. However, your veterinarian will take into account any other problems your pet has before prescribing the drug. Healthy kidneys and normal liver functions are essential in metabolizing most medications. For both dogs and cats, a heartworm blood test must be done before any preventive medications are given.

I have four cats and two dogs. Until recently, I have had them vaccinated regularly. Please let me know what you would recommend to someone who has cats and dogs and wants to keep them safe but does not want to either endanger them or spend money unnecessarily.

The veterinary profession has spent the past six to seven years reexamining and discussing vaccine duration of immunity and revising vaccination protocols accordingly to make sure that companion animals get care that is tailored to their lifestyles. The goal is to make sure that an individual’s vaccine protocol is protecting them from risks they face, without vaccinating unnecessarily.

For example, in our practice we ask cat owners to describe whether their cats ever go outdoors or whether they are exclusively indoors and what other animals they might come in contact with. If a cat is exclusively indoors, we design a different vaccine protocol than if it goes out regularly or “escapes” with any frequency. Dogs that go to boarding facilities, grooming parlors or doggie daycares will have different recommendations than dogs that do not. The days of designing a single vaccine protocol for an entire species are over.

Good communication is the best tool in designing protocols that are proper for your pets. I suggest having a discussion with a veterinarian in your area, giving all of the information you know about your pets’ lifestyles. With that information, your veterinarian can explain what vaccinations he or she would recommend, at what frequency and why. At that point you can make an informed decision on a vaccination protocol designed specifically for your pet.

For more information, visit the Pet Care Library Vaccinations article.

This question was answered by AAHA member Dr. Merry Crimi of Gladstone Veterinary Clinic in Milwaukie, Oregon

A spayed female dog should not be able to go into heat. Occasionally a piece of an ovary will remain in the abdomen after the surgery and then may cause heat like symptoms which include a bloody vulvar discharge, nipple swelling, and nesting behaviors.

Have your veterinarian check your dog while she is displaying the symptoms.