The spray itself is composed of seven volatile compounds: three thiols, and three thioacetates, plus an alkaloid.

The thiols are primarily responsible for the odor. There are many products and home remedies using household products to combat the odor. Unfortunately, the thioacetates are much more deadly and they destroy red blood cells!

The most common immediate symptoms of skunk spray ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and even shock. Long-term damage can include anemia and kidney disease. Your pet may even develop some ulcers in the mouth and lip area from the contact with the skunk spray. All these symptoms are known as Skunk Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Because of the severity of the disease process, I would have your veterinarian monitor your pet’s health closely. They have the equipment and medications to help alleviate your pet’s discomfort as well as to detect future permanent damage early.

Who should do my dog's surgery and what should I expect afterward?

Question

My dog has just been diagnosed with a ruptured cruciate ligament on his hind leg. Who should do the surgery? And what can I expect after the surgery to fix it?

Answer

Ruptured cruciate ligaments will not heal on their own. They will only get worse. If your current veterinarian feels confident completing the surgery, then he or she can do it. Otherwise, you can ask for a referral to a board-certified surgeon to complete the procedure.

This injury is just like what happens to athletes. It makes the knee joint unstable, and it can cause quite a bit of pain.

After the surgery, you need to be ready for extended at-home care. It's literally just as important as the surgery itself. You'll need to keep your pet off the stairs for many weeks, and you'll need to keep your pet calm and under control until the healing is done.

That means not leaving the pet loose in the house or yard unsupervised. Crates and leashes come in very handy. Your doctor will also show you some exercises you can do to get your pet back to normal.

It can be a big deal, but if you're committed to your pet's recovery, you can greatly impact the long-term success of the surgery.

How good is a dog's hearing ability?

Answer

Dogs have a great sense of hearing. In fact, it is their second most developed sense (next to smell). Dogs can hear much sharper than humans. Not only can they detect sounds that are much too faint for humans, but they also can hear sounds pitched at frequencies above or below a human's range. Dogs can hear in the range of 67 HZ to 45 kHZ (compared to a high range of 20 kHZ in humans).

Can short haired dogs handle cold temperatures?

Answer

Short haired dogs such as Beagles, Dalmatians, and Dobermans, are not designed for extended outdoor exposures when the temperature dips below freezing.

Should I shave my thick-furred dog in the summer?

Question

My Alaskan Malamute seems so hot and miserable in the summer. Should I have her shaved?

Answer

You're right to be concerned about your dog's comfort during hot weather. Northern breeds with thick fur like Malamutes and Huskies were developed for cold climates, not the 90 and even 100 degree weather some areas experience in the summer. However, some hair can be beneficial in hot weather, working to insulate dogs from the heat and shield their skin from the sun. Remember, dogs don't use sweat to cool themselves the way people do, so they don't need to have exposed skin in order to stay cool.

That being said, if a dog has too much hair, the hair can stop being beneficial in hot weather and start retaining too much heat. You may be able to thin the coat out enough by brushing your dog thoroughly and consistently with a wire or "rake" type brush designed for heavy-coated breeds. These brushes can remove some of the fuzzy undercoat layer of fur, sometimes enough to make dogs comfortable in warm weather. If she still seems too hot, shaving won't hurt her a bit. Just be careful to leave an inch or so of fur so that she still has some insulation and protection from sunburn.

Even if your dog is shaved, you'll want to be careful with her when temperatures get really high. Don't leave her in a parked car or leave her outside unsupervised for long periods of time. When she's outdoors, she needs shade and plenty of water. Some people buy the drip-system "mister" hoses used to water plants and set them out for their dogs on hot days.

You can even freeze water bottles full of water and put them where she lies to keep her cool. And, as with any dog, watch for signs of heatstroke. If your dog is panting, has a staring or anxious expression, does not obey commands, has warm, dry skin, a high fever, and a rapid heartbeat or is vomiting, lower her body temperature quickly with cool water--either by immersion or by spraying thoroughly with a garden hose--and call your veterinarian immediately.