Q&A

Mostly hepatic ascites: the body wastes while the belly swells and drops like a ball; appetite may stay good. Watch for continued weight loss, jaundice, labored breathing - then rush to the vet.

Usually yes - small injuries without infection regrow over time. Keep water clean and oxygenated, disinfect the tank, and separate fighters to avoid more damage.

Color-based ideas: Blackie, Coal, Black Bean, Black Knight, Ink, Black Whirlwind, Black Tiger, Black Peony, Dark Prince. A name is just a term - what matters is treating the dog well.

External bruises, labored breathing, pale or blue-tinged tongue, abdominal breathing, possible internal bleeding or ascites, with vomiting or bloody stool in serious cases.

Black spots on a dog's skin are usually harmless — they often appear with age as normal pigment deposits (age spots) from metabolic changes. They can also follow a skin infection that damaged the hair follicles, in which case the marks typically fade over time, or result from sunburn in short-coated dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors.

Redness, hair loss, and itching can come from fungal or bacterial infection or external parasites. Get a skin test at the vet to find the cause. Use an Elizabethan collar to stop scratching, and deworm with a skin anti-inflammatory spray if parasites are the cause.

The photo strongly suggests ringworm. Confirm with a Wood's lamp (green fluorescence). If positive, use antifungal medication after shaving the surrounding fur; see a vet if unsure.

Fleas spread through the home via the cat. Treat the cat with a fipronil-based flea product and disinfect the environment. If you handled the cat, wash with warm water and soap to remove fleas.

A lump on a cat's leg can come from a tumor, hematoma, subcutaneous abscess, or cyst. A suddenly appearing, soft lump is usually a hematoma or abscess — clean with iodine and give oral antibiotics. A tumor needs further testing to determine its nature and severity.

No - flesh, skin, and pit all contain cyanide; poisoning causes hypoxia and shock. Keep grapes, persimmon, avocado, citrus away too.