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Pet ownership isn’t always easy — but we’re here to help. Noticed a behavior change in your animal recently? Not sure if you need to bring them in for a visit, or just wait it out? Send us your questions.

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Cats

My 7 month old spaniel has clear/white nails and you can easily see his pink quick. Just recently I noticed one of his nail beds is turning brownish and I can’t see the quick anymore but the tip of his nail is still clear/whitish. Is this normal or a sign of infection? He’s still been getting nail trimmings and no one has said anything.

Hello and thank you for your question. Some pets are born with pigmentation or darkening of the nails similar to what you see with their coats. However, if the nails are initially clear as you say, and then they begin...

I recently adopted a female kitty and she’s been getting these patches on her skin and keeps scratching around her neck and in the back of her ears. I am concerned that this could be contagious or harmful to my other cat and puppy. What should I do?

Skin disease in cats and dogs is a common occurrence and there are multiple potential causes for what you are describing. Contagious causes of hair loss and/or itching can include mites (demodex, scabies) and ringworm (which is actually a fungus...

My cat she has a sore on her bottom lip. It is red and looks swollen. What can I do?

There are many possible causes of a red spot on your pet’s lip. These could include a traumatic lesion, a bacterial infection, a viral infection, the beginning of a cancerous condition, or potentially a condition called Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex which...

Does your office treat chickens or do you know somewhere in Tampa that does?

We treat chickens. Dr Peter Helmer can help you. Call 813 885 4477 for an appointment.

We have a Boxer puppy and have noticed has enlarged vulva and nipples. Treated for possible infection with antibiotics, but still no change. Now at four months old, her condition has remained the same. Our vet thinks she might be a hermaphrodite and wanted to scope her when she turned six months. I have heard that this could be caused by human use of hormone creams. My girlfriend uses a topical hormone cream. We have taken steps in keeping it clear of our puppy now. Will she get better and go back to being normal? What can I tell my vet to check for to see if this is the actual culprit?

Thanks for your question. Affected puppies should have a Complete Blood Count performed to ensure that their bone marrow has not been affected. This is a routine test that your veterinarian can do. Clinical signs (enlarged nipples and vulva) can...

My Quaker parrot has suddenly become very aggressive when I try to take him out of his cage. He gets agitated when I try to approach him now. He’s been like this ever since my brother watched him for a weekend for us. Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?

Thanks for your question. There are multiple reasons why your pet may become cage aggressive including seasonal territoriality, a negative experience while out of the cage, fear, or a medical problem such as pain. The first step in solving the...

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