ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

My 13 y.o. dog “Max” has started to drink gallons of water. He seems fine otherwise and still manages to polish off all his tucker. Is there something wrong or is it just old age? 

Increased thirst may be normal if it is due to excessively hot weather or a change of diet from wet to dry food. However, given the age of your dog , it is more likely to be something serious. Many different problems can cause excessive drinking including diabetes, kidney disease, adrenal gland disease and cancer. See your local vet as a few simple tests can rule out most of these diseases. Before you go it would be a good idea to actually measure how much Max is drinking over a 24 hour period. Do this by filling up his water bowel with say a few litres of water and measuring how much is left after 24 hours. If you can get a urine sample too, that would be very helpful (but you have to be a good catch!). Use a shallow dish and then transfer it to a jar. Good Luck!  

“Fluffy”, our 5 month old persian cat has got these small red patches of bare skin over her tummy and back. I seem to have a couple of small red spots on my arms also. Could they be the same? What should I do? 

There could be a few different causes for this. However, the most likely cause for these spots is ringworm as it is quite contagious, even to people. See your local vet as the sores are fairly characteristic and can often be diagnosed with a special ultraviolet light. Contrary to common belief, ringworm is not a worm, it is actually a fungus so worming tablets are not effective. It can be quite difficult to eliminate and often a long course  (about 6 weeks) of daily medication is required. For yourself though, your doctor can prescribe a cream that should do the trick. Also, to rid the floors, furniture and bedding of infectious spores an intensive vacuuming and cleaning protocol will be recommended by your vet. Other in house pets may also have to be treated. It does take a bit of time and effort to clear up, but it won’t be long before “Fluffy” is fluffy again!

My budgie “Tom” has very very rough scaley feet and he sometimes pecks at them. What is this?

The most likely cause for Tom’s condition is called, just as you described it, “ Scaley Feet.” This is due to a tiny mite that burrows in the skin causing it to become dry and scaley. Thankfully this unsightly condition is easily treated with medication.  Talk to your local vet or pet shop.

Ask the Vet Archives #2

Ask the Vet Archives #2

Ask the Vet Archives #3

I am having real problems with my 4 y.o. cattle x husky. Although he has met our neighbours, anytime they step out of their back door in sight of my dog he goes nuts barking at them.  No amount of sitting next to him, trying to tell him no, or trying to get him to do other things helps. He’s obsessed with barking at the neighbours. He is also deaf. Would this have anything to do with it? Any help you provide would be a godsend. 

Certainly the fact that your dog is deaf would be playing a big role in this problem. As he has no hearing, he is stimulated in this case, by actually seeing the neighbours. The easiest solution would be to erect a fence which he cannot see the neighbours through. Once you remove the visual stimulation, then the barking will stop. However, you will also remove a great deal of his enjoyment, as no doubt he derives a lot of pleasure from watching the neighbours. If you do this then you will have to make his backyard an exciting place to compensate for the joys lost on the other side of the fence. If a fence is not an option then you can certainly train him not to bark at the neighbours. It’s a fallacy that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! Cattle dogs are extremely intelligent and learn quickly. Dr Cam Day, an animal behavioural consultant veterinarian, can help you with this. His number is 3255 0022 or email camday@gil.com.au. He may recommend a vibration collar to use with training, as this will get your dogs attention since he cannot hear you. It gives a pleasant little vibration, like a mobile phone. If you then associate this with a reward treat, he will soon get the idea that the vibration is a command to come, just like a hearing dog would respond to a vocal command. These can be hard to get hold of and do not confuse them with electric shock collars, which I would definitely not be recommending. Behavioural problems do take quite a bit of time and effort to resolve, but usually with perseverance, this can be accomplished. 

We have an australian silky terrier who suffers with the summer heat. She breaks out in little pimples that she licks and tears with her teeth. The vet has been giving her needles for the last 3 years which last about 8 weeks and in-between times we have been giving her prednil tablets, which recently have had less effect and we would like to try something else. She occasionally picks up a flea that we find very quickly. We wash her with a medicated malaseb bath weekly. 

The term “summer heat” is actually a misconception. A more appropriate term would be a seasonal allergy. It is unlikely that your dog is scratching from the heat alone. Flea allergy could be a major cause of these outbreaks as even one flea could set her off scratching for weeks. Before you try anything else, I would recommend you try “frontline plus” every fortnight for 2 months as well as treating your other pets. If this in not effective, then she is more likely to have atopy. This is an allergic disease a bit like hayfever in people. The dogs are actually allergic to pollens/grasses /dust mites etc. just like hayfever sufferers. Instead of sneezing though, dogs show the allergic symptoms in their skin and become terribly itchy. Other medication like antihistamines, antibiotics, omega 3 fatty acid supplements, hydrating sprays and oils or anti-immune drugs may help alone or in combination. The injections and prednil, which are both cortisone   based drugs, unfortunately have long term side effects and can shorten her lifespan. As you have also found they become less effective with time. If this is the only relief she responds to, then steer away from the injections, as these are very potent and have more side effects. Try to get the prednil dose as low as possible and give it on alternate days, instead of every day, as this also will decrease the side effects and help it to remain more effective. If she does have atopy, then a cure may be attainable. A veterinary dermatologist can do a series of skin and blood tests to find out what she is allergic to and then create a desensitization vaccine. This actually offers a cure in upto 60% of cases, but will set you back about $800 over the course of treatment. Having said all this, there are also rarer forms of skin disease that could be causing her problem ranging from food allergies to bacterial, parasitic or fungal infections. 

Ask the Vet Archives #4

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

Please could you tell us why our pets are getting cancer? I’ve had lots of pets over the years with cancer and can’t work out what I’ve done wrong. Sasha is 11 years old and had a tumour the size of a soccerball on her spleen removed last July. It has come up again on the scar. She is on chemotherapy but how do we know when she is in pain? 

In answer to your first question, no one really knows why animals or people suffer with cancer. There are several cancers that are associated with certain factors, such as asbestos or nicotine, but generally the causes are unknown. It is certainly not due to anything you have or haven’ t done with your pets. Basically if your pet does not die of accidental causes, then cancer, heart disease or kidney disease are the next most likely killers. To answer your second question as to know the ‘right” time for euthanasia is difficult. When she has little quality of life left, it is more humane to opt to put her to sleep. Once she stops wagging her tail, looses her appetite, stops showing interest in activities she used to love, and has lost that sparkle for life in her eyes, then I guess the time has come. Dogs hide their pain very well and rarely vocalise, so you need to look at these other indicators. When the time has come, you will know. 

We have a young Siamese cat who loves to snuggle up with us in bed. I am concerned as we are having a baby in 2 months and are worried that the cat could get into the cot and smother the baby.

We don’t really want to give the cat away. What else can we do?

This is a very real concern. One option would be to put a self-closing screen door on the nursery so that the cat cannot get in but you can still get some ventilation through. We recently had a baby but found things manageable as we have fretwork above the nursery door, so we just kept the door shut. You could also start getting the cat used to being outside more before the baby comes, otherwise the cat will get upset if it is banished outside as soon as you bring the baby home. Try to find some special time to spend with your cat, even though life will be very busy.

Ask the Vet Archives #5

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

My terrier keeps on rubbing his bottom on the ground and spinning in circles like it is itchy. We thought it might be worms, so we gave him a worming tablet, but he is still doing it. He seems to enjoy it, like it is giving him relief. It’s quite embarrassing. What could it be?

Several problems can cause itching in the anal area. The most common would be impacted anal glands. These are small glands just inside the anus which can become blocked and cause irritation to the area. Dogs will scoot along the floor to get relief. It is easily solved by asking your vet to empty the glands. Your vet can even teach you to do it yourself if it is an ongoing problem. Occasionally antibiotics are also required if they are infected. 

Our cat has been diagnosed with kidney disease and we were told by the vet to give her chicken and fish only ( no beef). I am concerned that cooked chicken alone is not a sufficiently balanced diet.   Do you recommend fresh rather than commercial food? Do you have any other suggestions ?

Firstly, the basis of a “kidney diet”, is one which is low in protein and low in phosphorous  to reduce the workload on the failing kidneys. Animal meats are high in both protein and phosphorous, so meat alone(whether chicken, fish or beef) is not ideal. However, if pussy is off her food, then it is better to feed her anything that she will eat. This is because if her body goes into starvation mode, then her own muscle will be broken down, which again is putting extra work on the kidneys. If she still has her appetite, I would recommend a commercial veterinary diet, such as “Hills Kidney Diet,” which is specifically manufactured to provide all the essential nutrients whilst keeping the levels of phosphorous and protein down. It comes as a wet or dry food and apparently is very palatable (although I haven’t tried it myself!). If she doesn’t like this, then you can create your own diet,  but your vet will have to advise you closely about this to ensure all her nutritional requirement are being met.

Ask the Vet Archives #6

Ask the Vet Archives #7

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

My dog really smells. I bathe him every weekend, but a day later he smells again. He is a maltese terrier and his coat is quite long, but I brush it daily. He is an inside dog and often sleeps on my bed, but I’m going to have to keep him outside if I cannot get rid of this smell!! Do you have any tips? 

Firstly, you need to determine exactly where the smell is coming from. Check his ears, mouth, skin and bottom. If he is shaking his head a lot and scratching his ears, then this is more likely to be the cause. You may see a brown waxy discharge if you pick his ear flap up and have a look. This is easily treated by your vet with ear drops. If the smell is coming from his mouth, he may have dental disease. Your vet can scale his teeth and teach you how to keep them clean.  If the smell is coming from his hind end, then it’s most likely his anal glands. These are small glands just inside his bottom which can become blocked and can discharge a really foul smelling liquid. Again, your vet can treat this quite easily. If you feel that the smell is actually coming from his skin, then he could actually have a type of eczema or skin condition which may require a medicated wash and some antibiotics. It might be a good idea to keep his coat clipped as this will help with the smell also.. 

Our cat has just been diagnosed with Aids. We are worried not only about her, but about our children and our dog. Can they catch it? Should we have her put down? 

Firstly, it is very important to know that Feline Aids affects cats only. Your cat cannot give it to you, your children or your dog. However, it is contagious between cats so if you have other cats, there is a chance that they could catch it. The virus is spread mainly through cat fights, not from sharing food or water bowels. If your cat is still healthy, then there is no reason to have her euthanased. You should be keeping her inside though to prevent the spread of the disease to other cats in the neighbourhood. The virus is very similar to  human Aids. It lowers the cat’s immune system so that they become more susceptible to infections and less able to recover from them. Your vet will be able to advise you when the time may come for euthanasia. This could be anywhere from weeks to years. Every case is different.   

Ask the Vet Archives #8

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

We have a problem with our Labradoor. For the last week he has had a weepy eye. We were at the beach just before that and wonder if he picked something up in the water? He is holding it closed a little and looks a bit sad. What should we do? 

Any eye problem which does not seem to be improving should be seen by your vet. The eye is a very delicate organ and it doesn’t take much for damage to occur. If it is just a conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eyelids and membranes), then it is not as serious as actual diseases of the eyeball itself. If he grazed his eyeball with a stick say, then this could have scratched the surface of the eye and cause damage. If it is just a viral infection then it should clear up of its own accord. However, if it is weeping a pussy thick material, then it may be a bacterial infection which requires antibiotics from your vet. Your vet can also give him something for the pain as eye problems are certainly very painful. You can try bathing the eye with a cottonwool ball soaked in cooled black tea as the natural products in the tea can help with the irritation and infection. Do this twice a day for a few days, but if it is not improving or worsens, see your vet. 

I have a very unusual question for you. My dog seems to have something stuck in his penis like a pencil. He is not sore or anything and is really happy but I have noticed that his penis has like a long object in it. Is this possible? Should I take him to see the vet? 

This is actually very normal. Don’t be alarmed. Dogs actually have a bone in their penis which, as you described, is shaped just like a pencil. You don’t need to see the vet about this. However, dogs can get objects caught in between their penis and their prepuce which can cause irritation and infection ,the most common being grasseeds.

Ask the Vet Archives #9

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

Dear Doctor, we have a problem with our guinea pigs. They are both loosing hair and have developed little sores along their back. They look terrible. What could this be? 

Hair loss can be due to a variety of causes. I guess one of the main ones would be mange.

This is a little mite that buries itself in the skin causing hair loss and scratching sometimes with sores. Your vet can take a small scraping of skin and check under the microscope for these parasites and treat them accordingly. Other causes include ringworm or a poor diet. Check with your vet or pet store to make sure that they are on a well balanced diet. 

Our cat Thomas often gets into fights with other cats. He comes up in large lumps which are filled with pus and have to be drained by the vet. Is there anything we can do? 

Cat fighting can be very difficult to stop. The best advice would be to desex him as entire male cats certainly fight more than desexed ones. Also, it is wise to keep him inside at night as this is when most fights occur. If he is still getting into fights, try and find out which neighbours’ cat is responsible and ask if they too might keep their cat in at night.

There are various hormonal tablets available which help to curb aggressive behaviour in cats. Your vet may be able to recommend one of these for Thomas. If you know that he has had a fight, try to take him to the vet straight away, as if he starts on antibiotic therapy early, the pus filled lumps may not develop in the first place.  

Ask the Vet Archives #10

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

Could you please tell me why my dog wouldn’t eat anything before he died? He only drank water and puppy milk. He died of a heart attack at home in my arms. He was 16 and 1/2 years of age. He wouldn’t eat for 4 days. 

Firstly, my sympathies are with you. It must have been devastating to loose a pet after 16 ½ years. In answer to your question, it probably was the effects of old age and the deterioration of his internal organs that caused him not to eat. In human years, your dog would have been almost 100 years old, so it’s understandable that normal bodily functions would have started to go downhill. As the liver and kidneys begin to fail, they stop doing their job properly and this causes a loss of appetite. Also, this can actually cause an increase in thirst, even though appetite is greatly reduced, which may explain why he was still drinking well. As the internal organs shut down they can produce toxins which affect the heart and can cause a “heart attack”. In some ways you are fortunate that you were able to be with him during those last moments. I was with my dog when she died and it was comforting for me to know that she was not alone in her death. 

I have a question regarding my cat. She is approx 14 months old, and is constantly trying to suck my fingers which I find weird. Is she in need of salt? She refuses to drink water out of her bowel unless the sinks and showers are dry. 

Sucking objects (or fingers) can bee seen occasionally in younger cats. Often they grow out of the problem as they mature, but sometimes it stays with them for life.

In order to try and correct this behaviour, you need to provide alternative objects for her to chew and suck on. Raw chicken wings are good and also help to keep the teeth clean. Toys may also be used to encourage her to suck on instead of your finger. Another trick would be to put a bitter solution on your finger such as Bitravet. This is a bitter spray available from your vet which helps discourage pets from licking their wounds. Some cats have a seemingly uncontrollable desire to suck objects and this has been compared to compulsive disorders in people and in rare cases drug therapy may be required. It is unlikely that she is in need of salt, as commercially prepared foods usually have an ample amount of salt in them. She obviously prefers the sink to her bowel, and if this is a problem, just wipe the sink out after use so it is dry. 

Ask the Vet Archives #11

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

Dear Doctor, I have a question for you. Our Rottweiller bitch is to have pups in a few weeks and I have phoned our local vet to arrange for tail docking of the puppies but he says he won’t do this. Why is this so? Where can I go to have their tails docked as I think they look funny with tails?

There are many misconceptions regarding tail docking. It actually involves amputation of a puppy’s tail either with scissors, a scalpel or a rubber band. The procedure is usually performed without anaesthetic at about 3 to 5 days of age. There is strong evidence to suggest that tail docking is painful for the puppy. Infact, many countries have now banned tail docking and it looks set to happen here also. There is really no reason nowadays to dock puppy’s tails. In the past it was argued that it would prevent tail damage due to fighting or working. Today many working dogs are kept as house pets so this is no longer a concern. When tails are allowed to remain intact, there appears to be no more injury in breeds that are customarily docked than in other breeds of dogs. The tail has many useful functions including balance and body language expression. Once people get used to seeing dogs like Rotties with their normal tails, people will wonder why they were ever amputated in the first place. The procedure can also occasionally lead to complications including death of the puppy or neuroma formation in the tail stump.   I would strongly suggest that you rethink your decision to have the puppies’ tails docked. You may actually find that perspective buyers may insist on the pups having tails as many people are now aware of the ongoing debate against tail docking. 

My cat Theo has really foul breath and I can see that his teeth are all brown and slimy. He now refuses to eat anything except soft food. What should I do?  

It sounds like Theo has fairly severe dental disease.  The brown substance on his teeth is calculus which is a mixture of mineral deposits and bacteria. Really the only effective way to remove this substance is to take him to your vet for a dental scale and polish. A general anaesthetic is required for this procedure and, depending on his age, he may also have to go onto a drip. The vet will scale all the calculus off and remove any painful infected teeth. Theo will be much happier once this is done and will be back onto his bones and kibble in no time. His breath will also improve greatly.

Ask the Vet Archives #12

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

Can you help us? We have a 2 ½ year old cairn terrier who snaps at our kids. We are very worried about him snapping at the kids. Is this normal? We have had him for 3 weeks. 

Firstly there are many different types of aggression so for the best chance of safe and effective correction one would need to seek out professional advice to determine the type of aggression your dog displays. One of the most common types of aggression is dominance related where the dog develops a position of leadership in the family, in this case perhaps over the children. The problem could have arisen from your dog not have being brought   up with children. Although some cases may be treated quickly and safely, most cases require a great deal of time and effort to retrain the dog. An animal behaviouralist such as Dr Jackie Perkins (Ph-3351 0600) will be able to help you with a treatment plan. The best advice when acquiring a new pet if you have children is to either get a puppy so that it can get brought up with the children, or get an adult dog who is used to small children.   

Our cat Whitey has a small sore on the tip of his nose which bleeds every now and then. It doesn’t seem to worry him. Should we be worried about it? 

By the name of your cat I’m guessing he is probably white, with a pink nose. If this is the case, then the most likely cause for his sore is ultraviolet damage from the sun. Because he has no pigment, his hairless areas are very susceptible to sun damage. Unfortunately this often then leads to skin cancer. If this is the case, you should ask your vet for treatment as these little cancers can be frozen off or cut out before they cause damage.

Ask the Vet Archives #13

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

My neighbours’ dog died last year of a tick and I was just worried as we have a dog now and do not want the same thing to happen to her. What should we do? How do we know if she has a tick? What should we do if we find one? Should we burn it off? 

Ticks are a very big problem especially coming into spring and summer. You should check your pet daily for ticks. They feel like little lumps   in the skin and start off very small but grow up to the size of a pinky fingernail. Signs of   tick toxicity are mainly problems with breathing and walking. The back legs become weak and unable to support the pets’ weight causing a wobbly walk. As the toxin moves up the body the front legs become affected and the breathing becomes laboured. The pet may also vomit, drool saliva and have a different sounding bark /meow.  Death may occur as the lungs become paralysed. If you find a tick, take your pet to the vet straight away, or if that is not possible, pull the tick off immediately with a pair of tweezers or a Tick Twister. Do not burn it off. Even if your pet looks ok, the toxin can still cause problems for about 24 hours after tick removal, so you still need to see the vet. Treatment involves giving tick antiserum and providing intensive care. Not all ticks are toxic and your vet can identify which ones are. Prevention is best and includes tick collars, frontline spray, tick rinses, or chemical tablets. Daily checking is still required. 

We have a one year old male staffy. My husband refuses to have him desexed as he says it will “change him”. Is this true? I am sick of the dog mounting the furniture all the time. My husband thinks he’ll get fat and lazy. 

Firstly, desexing will not change his personality at all. It should however stop him from mounting the furniture or seeking out bitches on heat. It has other positive benefits including reducing the risk of prostate disease and removing the risk of testicular cancer.

You may need to reduce his food intake a little, but there is no reason for him to become fat and lazy unless you overfeed him and don’t exercise him.   

Ask the Vet Archives #14

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

My problem concerns a cat in the neighbourhood (to whom it belongs I do not know) but every night it comes to my front garden and makes a deposit. I have tried the crystals which are supposed to keep cats away but they have not worked. Do you have any suggestions? 

This is actually fairly normal cat behavior and no doubt the cat thinks that your garden is his territory. If he was your own cat I could certainly make suggestions on how to make his own litter box more appealing and how to retrain him to go to the toilet there instead of your garden. However, this is not your cat so this is not possible. Cats generally do not like water so you could try leaving your sprinkler on in the garden at the time he usually comes as this may deter him. Try to find out who owns him if you can and ask them if they could keep him in at night. If he has no owner, then it is best to take him to the RSPCA as they may be able to find him a nice home instead of him roaming the neighbourhood. 

My cat keeps shaking her head all the time and scratching her ears with her paws. Sometimes she goes crazy and won’t stop doing it. It only started a few weeks ago. Her ears look dirty and I’ve tried to clean them but the dirt just comes back. What should I do?  

It sounds like your cat could have an ear infection. The intense itch she has suggests that ear mites

Ask the Vet Archives #15

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

Our cat has lots of matted fur, especially on her stomach. She is a Persian cat and will not let me brush her. I’ve tried to cut them off but they are very close to the skin and I am worried I will cut her skin. What’s the best way to get rid of them? 

Firstly, it sounds like she needs a groom. You can either take her to a groomer or your vet for this. She will likely need to be sedated so that she can be clipped and bathed properly. The groomer will use clippers that take off the mats at the level of the skin, so she will look naked for a while. However, the new hair will grow back beautifully and as long as you brush it daily, the mats shouldn’t return. 

My dog has developed a very unpleasant habit and I was hoping you could offer some suggestions? He has started to eat his own droppings. It is so revolting! 

Firstly, it needs to be determined if this is just a new habit or if it has a medical basis as the cause. Any type of malnutrition, whether it be from a poor diet, or from a disease that causes poor nutrient absorption, could lead to an increased appetite and possibly stool eating. Also, hormonal diseases such as diabetes or thyroid disease can cause an increase in appetite and may also lead to this. If medical and dietary problems are ruled out by your vet, then the best way to stop this habit is to clean up the stool straight away. Retraining can be done, but you would need to constantly monitor him outdoors, and at the first sign of sniffing his feces, interrupt him with a quick firm command or a quick pull on the leash. Then immediately offer a food treat as a reward. This should help to break the habit. Other remedies (although not proven), include adding unpleasant or bitter tasting substances to the dogs faeces to deter him from eating them. Of course make sure the substances are safe for ingestion. You can purchase a bitterant spray from you vet which may help.

Ask the Vet Archives #16

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

My friend told me about a heartworm injection you can get which lasts for a year. Is that right as I have not heard of this before but it does sound good. I currently give my dog tablets every month. Is it very expensive? 

Yes there is a new injection available for heartworm prevention and it does last for 12 months. It is a very convenient means of administering heartworm prevention to your pet as you don’t have to worry about remembering to give a tablet every month or every day. It is a veterinary only product so you will need to actually take your dog to the vet for this.  It costs about the same as 12 months supply of monthly tablets/chews, so it’s a really great alternative. You must wait though until your dog is over 6 months of age before the injection can be given. Your vet may recommend a heartworm test first if you have not been regular with your heartworm prevention in the past. 

My Lhasa Apso is 3 years old and even though he was neutered 6 months ago he still wants to mount my leg. Why? 

This is actually a behavioural problem (not a hormonal or sexual one). Mounting is a dominant posture so he is asserting his dominance over you. You should remove him and firmly say “NO” each time he does it and then make him sit and give him a reward as a positive alternative and say “YES”. Do not laugh or make a game of it as if he detects humour in your voice, he may see it as a reward which may reinforce the negative behaviour.

Ask the Vet Archives #17

ASK THE VET       by Dr Meredith Brothers BVSc(hons)MACVS

I was wondering what this lump was that has come up on our dog over the last few months. It is about the size of a macadamia nut. Should we be worried by it as he does not seem to be? 

Any sort of lump whether, small or large, can be a problem. It may look harmless enough, but just as with people, very tiny lumps or moles can infact be malignant cancers. The best thing to do would be to take you dog to a vet so that then lump can be assessed. The vet will be able to take a small sample just with a needle and syringe. The tiny cells that are sucked up in the syringe are put onto a microscope slide and sent to the lab for identification. The lab can usually tell you whether or not the lump is cancerous. 

My husband and I are considering starting a family but we have a cat and we have heard about a disease that pregnant women can get from cats that can hurt the unborn child. Is that true? 

The disease you are referring to is called toxoplasmosis and cats can be carriers of this disease. However, if you have had cats for several years you have likely already been exposed to it and hence developed a resistance to it. Your doctor will organize a blood test for you prior to becoming pregnant to check that you are immune from this disease. If you are, then there is no cause for alarm. If however you have not been exposed, then you will need to take care around the cat. Wash your hands well after handling the cat and get your husband to clean the litter tray. You can also get this disease from handling uncooked meat, so wear gloves for that. The only people at risk from this disease are pregnant women who have not previously been exposed to it or immunosuppressed people such as those on cancer treatment or suffering with HIV.