Ask Dr. Fling

Q: My cat has been holding one eye shut for several days, and that eye tears alot too. She also seems to really hold the eye shut in bright light. What would cause this?
A: Squinting, excessive tearing, and avoiding bright light, are all signs of eye pain and are frequently associated with a corneal ulcer or abrasion. Your pet's doctor can perform a simple dye test in the office to evaluate the cornea, or recommend other diagnostics to determine the cause and best treatment for your cat's eye problem.

Q: I have two rats that I got from the pet store. One sneezes often and breathes rapidly compared to the other one. Is this something to worry about?

A: Respiratory infections are a leading cause of illness and death in pet rats. Your veterinarian will want to examine your rats, and will likely prescribe antibiotics. Even with antibiotic therapy, respiratory infections in rats can be very chronic in nature.