Common Exam Room Questions

For this edition, I am going to cover some of the most commonly asked questions while in the exam room.

​Question: I think my dog has worms.  I caught him scooting on his bottom the other day.  How do we treat him?

​Answer:  Often times when a dog is seen scooting, all it indicates is some kind of irritation of the rectum.  The most common cause of this irritation is full anal glands (scent marking glands).  The scooting is a way for the dog to try to release these glands by applying pressure to them.  Other reasons for scooting could include allergies, feces stuck to the rectum, or potentially parasites.  A good history and examination of the anal glands can help to differentiate the causes of the scooting. ​

Question: My dog’s nose is wet/dry/hot/cold.  What does this mean?
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Answer:  The nature of a dog’s nose being wet or dry, hot or cold is all a fairly good wives tale.  The temperature of a dog’s nose is not a good indicator of a fever or overall wellness.  If you think that there may be a fever, a rectal temperature should be taken.  A normal temperature for dogs and cats range from 99.5F-102.5F.  The dog or cat can certainly still be at a normal body temperature of 101F or 102F and feel hot to a human’s sense of touch.