Dr. Heidi Strand, author of "Ask the Pet Vet," is a veterinarian for the East Bay SPCA. Questions can be submitted to petvet@eastbayspca.org. All questions cannot be answered in the column but we will make every attempt to answer as many as we can.

"Ask the Pet Vet" is for informational purposes only. Readers should not act on information seen in "Ask the Pet Vet" without professional veterinary advice.

My cat is pulling her fur out! (2/7/08)
When is it safe for our puppy to walk around the neighborhood? (1/30/08)  
Our cat's eye is cloudy.  (1/26/08)
My dog is coughing. What should I do? (1/25/08)
How should we explain spaying/neutering to young children? (1/17/08)
My dog started scratching his face after having his teeth cleaned.  (1/15/08)
Why isn't my cat using his litter box? (1/14/08)
Would neutering my dog help? (1/9/08)
I want to learn to trim my cat's nails.  (12/28/07)
Our dog has a rash and we've tried changing his diet.  (12/11/07)
We're watching after a feral cat who is sneezing (11/27/07)
Can I get my dogs teeth extracted during his neuter surgery?  (10/29/07)
When can I get my dog neutered? (10/24/07)
We're taking care of our grandmother's fearful dog.  (10/9/07)
Can a dog get a hot spot on his face? (10/05/07)
Can a dog contract the human herpes virus? (9/21/07)
One of our kittens has been ousted by the others (9/20/07)
Our House Rabbit is driving us crazy! (10/14/07)
Our friends are moving, and we have added their cat to our family... (9/10/07)
My dog had puppies.  When can she be spayed? (8/24/07)
I took my dogs to the river, and now they're sneezing... (8/14/07)
Can teens volunteer at your shelters? (8/10/07)
I want to find an anesethia-free teeth-cleaning service for my dog. (8/8/07)
Should I have my five-year old dog neutered? (7/26/07)
My aunt's cat isn't gaining weight. (7/16/07)
My dog is too vocal! (7/15/07)
Our dogs played so well together...now they brawl! (7/13/07)
We want our cat to be comfortable during our move! (6/29/07)
My bird has an injured leg. (5/20/07)
My dog injured his eye; what should I do? (5/17/07)
Do I really need to have my dog's teeth cleaned? (4/20/07)
Why is my ten-year old dog scratching so much? (4/12/07)
My dog isn't growing! (4/03/07)
Our puppy has a lump on his neck. (3/26/07)
I have two female rabbits that get along, and wonder if spaying them could break the bond. (3/05/07)
My dog eats snails ... is that okay?  (02/23/07)
Is my dog just playing when she's licking and nibbling my nose? (01/31/07)
I noticed that my dog has a lump, what could it be? (01/18/07)
What is the best flea product for use on young kittens? (10/21/06)
Our new, former stray, kitten has a very large belly. Does he need a vet? (10/21/06)
What shots does my new 1 year old dog need? (10/21/06)
I have an older cat who isn't using the litter box; how can I tell when "it's time?" (10/21/06)
My cats fight; should I get them declawed? (10/07/06)
My neutered cat "humps." Is this normal, and what should I do? (10/07/06)
I have two cats. How do I know if they are too fat? (09/16/06)
Is "flushable" litter okay? (09/16/06)
My small dog had an accident, and is now limping. Could he have broke his leg? (09/16/06)
My parakeet has a broken leg and the vet recommends amputation. What do you think? (09/16/06)
My dogs are eating crickets. They are also coughing; does this mean they have a worm? (08/26/06)
My four-month old dog's testicle hasn't dropped. What will be involved in neutering him? (08/26/06)
My dog pulls when walked. Do you recommend pinch or prong collars? (08/26/06)
My dog had to have a foxtail removed! What can I do to prevent this in the future? (08/05/06)
Are my cats in danger in the house when it is so hot out? (08/05/06)
We are traveling by car with our dogs this summer. What can we do to make it comfortable? (08/05/06)
My cat died from FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). What is it and will my new cats get it? (07/22/06)
Stratgies for surviving the Fourth of July. (07/1/06)
My kitten is pregnant and hasn't had shots! (06/17/06)
Discussion on overweight pets; solutions and strategies. (06/17/06)
My puppy doesn't eat much and seems depressed. (06/03/06)
Our puppy needs special testing for a possible liver shunt. Do we have to travel to receive it? (06/03/06)
Can I get ringworm from my dog licking me? (06/03/06)
My cat has many toes! Is that okay? (06/03/06)
My cat keeps getting fatter and fatter. What can I do? (05/20/06)
My cat is losing his hair, and developing terrible mats. What is wrong? (05/20/06)
My cat died after a dental cleaning. What happened? (04/29/06)
Do my pets need vaccinations? (04/29/06)
What is "pink eye" in pets? Is it the same as in people? (04/29/06)
Do I need to be worried about the "Bird Flu?" (04/15/06)
What is the difference between flea control from my vet and from the grocery store? (04/01/06)
My six-year old Lab continues to have heat cycles and they are becoming several weeks long. Should she be spayed? (04/01/06)
How can I stop my puppy from jumping on me and on guests? (03/18/06)
How do I explain our beloved dog's euthanasia to our children? He is very ill. (03/18/06)
My son caught ringworm. Will my cat get it? (03/04/06)
My vet says my cat has "separation anxiety." What do you think? (03/04/06)
How much does tooth extraction cost on a dog? (02/18/06)
What will make hair grow on a "hot spot?" (02/18/06)
Does my dog need a distemper vaccine? (02/18/06)
My cat has a pink eye. What should I do? (02/18/06)
My ragdoll kitty has sore joints and has to take aspirin. She hates it! (02/18/06)
How can I make traveling and relocating easier for my cat? (02/04/06)
My newly adopted dog won't eat. What should I do? (02/04/06)
Are pit bulls really more aggressive than other dogs? (01/21/06)
My cat pants hard when playing. Is this normal? (01/21/06)
I am fostering a dog with ticks. How do we get rid of them? (01/21/06)
Do I need to vaccinate my cat for rabies if he is indoor only? (01/07/06)
My cat doesn't like my new kitten. Help! (01/07/06)
Is annual teeth cleaning important for my cats? (01/07/06)
My pit bull has a big lump near his eye. (01/07/06)
Pet Resolutions for 2006 (12/24/05)
My hamster is losing its hair. (12/10/05)
What is the best puppy food? (12/10/05)
My cat is FIV positive. What does that mean? (12/10/05)
My cats get very carsick. (11/26/05)
My daughter wants to be a vet. (11/26/05)
Is pet health insurance a good idea? (11/12/05)
What is "cherry eye"? (10/29/05)
Do flat-nose breed dogs need a special procedure for surgery? (10/29/05)
Does spaying make my dog gain weight? (10/15/05)
At what age can dwarf rabbits be spayed and neutered? (10/15/05)
How can I tame wild kittens? (10/15/05)
Dog flu in California? (10/01/05)
My cat is catching bugs! (10/01/05)

Look for Dr. Heidi's column in the Danville Weekly every other Friday.