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Debi Matlack | Boop by Petco

Debi Matlack

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Biography

I have over 20 years’ experience working in the veterinary field, both as a Veterinary Technician and as a Veterinary Assistant. I spent 10 years at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, working in the Diagnostic Imaging department, and most recently spent two years at a Cat-Friendly Gold certified feline-only practice in Gainesville, Florida, working with Dr. Patti Gordon. During all these years, I have worked with birds, reptiles, small exotics, and horses, as well as dogs and cats. I have three cats in my menagerie and also enjoy writing fiction, having three titles available on Amazon.
Questions Answered by Debi Matlack
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Hello! I found this bump on my dogs groin area. She lets me touch it and doesn't react when I tried to clean the area with some warm water. Any idea what it is? Should we have our vet look at her?

It could be a small insect bite or minor skin infection, the rest of her skin looks pretty normal. Keep an eye on it, keep it clean with a warm damp washcloth and rub in a small amount of triple antibiotic ointment without steroid, as steroids slow healing. If it doesn't improve significantly in a few days, gets worse, spreads, or if she starts feeling sick or itching, get her an appointment with her vet.

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My puppy was neutered Friday of last week (3 days ago). So far he has had no access to his incision site, has not licked it and has always maintained his cone on. I noticed that his incision site for his cryptorchid testicle looks a little weepy, as shown on the photo. Aside from that, the area isn’t swollen and doesn’t hurt him when I palpate around it. Does this look like an ‘ok’ surgical incision?

Since retrieving the retained testicle is a little more invasive than a regular neuter, it's not unusual for there to be some puffiness and a little oozing, especially if he's feeling good and is moving around. If he seems fine otherwise and the site continues to improve, I would keep an eye on it. You may want to call your vet and maybe send them this pic to get their opinion, but I don't see anything to be alarmed about. If he loses his appetite, acts like he's not feeling well, if the site gets red, hot, oozes blood or pus, get him in to see your vet right away.

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Our 3-month Flat-Coated Retriever puppy has 2 pimple-like whiteheads on his tummy. First one appeared 4 days ago, 2nd one today. He’s got appetite, drinks plenty of water and is super energetic. It’s worth to mention that he’s only at home as he doesn’t have his third vaccination. He hasn’t had any contacts with other animals.

This could be something called puppy pyoderma, which is the rough equivalent to acne in people. Keep an eye on it and as long as it stays mild there's nothing to worry about it, most puppies outgrow it as they mature. If it does get worse, if he gets itchy, starts licking and/or chewing, then get him in to see your vet since these cases occasionally need medical intervention to heal up more quickly.

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Hi i have a 5 month old bulldog and it becomes full of bumps and the fair alwaus falling down. What isvthe cause pls?

Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues, such as a bacterial or fungal infection, and treat accordingly. In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin. Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle. If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic. Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill's Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help. If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

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Just last Friday had my poodle gland expressed at the vet they said it was very full and thick but she is still runs and squats and goes in circles and then poops and Yelp a little today what is wrong

If her anal glands were very full of thick material they may still be irritated or they could be infected. I suggest calling your vet and getting them to check her again as she may need some medication. Your vet will do an exam, possibly express the glands again, maybe some labwork to check for infection. Based on these results they will be better able to tell you what's going on and what treatment is needed, if any.

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