Your stinky pet may need to see the veterinarian

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Source: Dr. William Fortney, 785-532-4605, wfortney@vet.k-state.edu
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/fortneybio.html
News release prepared by: Amber Haag, 785-532-6415

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

YOUR STINKY PET MAY NEED TO SEE THE VET

MANHATTAN — "Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you? Smelly cat, smelly cat, it's not your fault," sings Phoebe on the television show "Friends." But a "smelly cat" or stinky dog may actually be a sign of a bigger problem than odor.

Dr. William Fortney, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said some odors in cats and dogs aren't normal and should be checked by a veterinarian.

"As a general rule of thumb, cats are cleaner than dogs," Fortney said. "Although we do see some cats who don't clean themselves very well or fat cats who can't clean themselves, most all dogs don't groom themselves well. They're more apt to roll in and eat dead, nasty things, like the squirrel that has been dead for a few days."

Fortney said owners shouldn't worry about all odors but should pay attention to any bad smell that doesn't seem to go away.

"Any bad smell that persists is not good," Fortney said. "If your pet smells bad one day and it's gone the next day, I wouldn't worry about it. If it persists for a week, then you should have it checked out."

Fortney said veterinarians can make the distinction between a normal smell and a smell that could signal a bigger problem. He said it all depends on where the smell is coming from and what it smells like, something he said many owners aren't good at diagnosing themselves.

"When we ask an owner what it smells like, they usually say 'bad,'" Fortney said. "In the examination room, a veterinarian can distinguish between smells and figure out what the smell is and where it's from. But to the average owner, it just smells bad."

Fortney said one of the most common smells that persists is mouth odor, something that can be caused by dental disease

"There can be an infection of the mouth such as gingivitis causing the bad breath, or just dirty teeth," Fortney said. "Both of these need to be taken care of by the vet, whether it be professionally cleaning the teeth or medicine for the infection."

The odor some pets eventually turn up with is that of a skunk. Fortney said there are a number of products on the market made for ridding your pet of that smell, but the first thing an owner should worry about is the threat of rabies.

"Skunks are the highest carrier of rabies in Kansas. Anytime an animal has the smell of a skunk on it obviously means it has been in close proximity to a skunk," Fortney said. "We worry about rabies in those cases, so it is always a good idea to call your vet. Check for bites and see if your pet's rabies vaccine is up-to-date, then worry about the smell."