17 yr old dogQ: My (puppy) 17yr old chow/mix has used frontline in the past. now since this past winter he is really showing his age. do you think bio spot would be a better soultion for him? if not, what do you suggest? the vet said at last vist several months ago he could live another year or two. but this winter was hard on him. sincerely, his loving mom A: If frontline has worked successfully in the past i would continue using it.
Shop for: frontline
Crusted matter around eyesQ: My dog's eyes have a thick buildup of crusted matter after a few days. i have asked the vet about it, but he seems to dismiss it. it is very unsightly and i have tried over the counter products to no avail. i am worried that he may develop an infection around his eyes because of this. he was a severly abused dog when i got him, he also had demodec mange. he's been an expensive proposition but i love him dearly. any suggestions on what else i can try. A: If you are that concerned with eyes and your vet is dismissing your concerns, then see a veterinary opthomologist for peace of mind. your vet may be right to leave alone, but you sound like you want to be certain
ParvoQ: I have a 4month old black lab who has parvo. i also have another puppy. i am trying to keep them seperated. the black lab had only one set of shots but my other puppy has had two sets of shots and i gave her the third parvo shot today b/c the vet said i could give it a week early. do you think she will be safe from developing the parvo virus. also what is a normal body temperature of a dog and how is the best way to take the temperature of a dog. i am treating the lab with iv fluids sq and giving him daily injections of rocephin. however my other puppy was around him all weekend and has been out in the same yard. my lab did not develope any symptoms until after i had him neutered last friday. A: I dont like neutering males this young even though the shelters do this because it is a shock to their immune system and can predispose to parvo attack. more vaccines are not necessarily better. they should be spaced out at least 2.5 to 3 weeks otherwise you may suppress immune system. no guarantees that other dog will not get parvo; have to wait an see. normal temp of dog is 100 to 102 degrees farenheit
Yearly vaccinationsQ: My vet sends a yearly reminder for an annual physical examination and vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, rabies, heartworm check, and stool check. i think the physical exam is very important for preventive health care. i have been reading about changing guidelines for vaccinations. are all the shots needed for my 5 yr old felmale dachshund? she has been taking soloxine .3 one half twice a day. your customer service does not have this prescription. do they have same medication with a different generic name? also should this be on going and how often should she have a blood test? A: Ask pharmacist about soloxine alternative. thyroid medication is usually lifelong with periodic blood checks at your vet to make sure dose is ok. i would not keep on vaccinating her every year for these viruses especiallly given her breed which are prone to vaccine reactions and fact she has an autoimmune thyroid disorder. most vet schools now recommend every 3 year vaccinations at a minimum for things you ask about in adult dogs
Fatty tumorsQ: Ihave never heard of vaccines causing fatty tumors in dogs. please tell me more and your source of info so i can research this myself. thank you. A: As i am a homeopathic vet as well as conventional vet this is from my homeopathic training. you could check out two books that may be helpful. one is called homeopathy for dogs and cats; small doses for small animals by don hamilton, dvm; other is dr. pitcairn's guide to natural health for dogs and cats by ricahrd pitcairn. did you ever wonder why warts, skin tags, lipomas, etc are so common in pets compared to people. pets are way overvaccinated every year and this has gone for 30 years.
Shop for: homeo
Blood in cats earQ: My cat has been scratching her ear non-stop for weeks. now i've discovered that she has scratched herself to the point of drawing blood; and there is alot of dry blood deep in her ear. how can i clean the blood out of her ear canal, and will it cause any deafness? thank you A: Your cat needs vet exam of ear canal for best solution here and appropriate medicine given intensity of symptoms you describe
Flea & tick control for rabbitsQ: I was told that i need a flea product for my rabbit and i was wondering which one is safe and the best for rabbits. she lives on our screened back porch in a cage and would need something that would repel mosquitoes/flies as well. also according to your flea/tick chart biospot works to do all things a person wants for flea/tick control. is this really the best for dogs and cats with a flea problem and very bad tick problem (they are outside pets)? A: It is an excellent product for this. i like the topical pyethrin based sprays for rabbits however as they are very sensitive to some of the flea/tick chemicals
Shop for: tick, biospot
Adult cat and kitten with fleasQ: We have two cats, one that is a year old and one that is 14 weeks old. both are totally indoor. the kitten came from a home that had dogs and she had fleas when we got her, so now both have them. we have treated with over the counter topical flea med., but they are still present. what can we do to rid our cats and home of fleas once and for all? A: You do need to treat the house as well as the cats. you can use virbac knockout room and area fogger for the house. use frontline plus for the cats and give them capstar tablets to kill the adult fleas on the cat.
Shop for: capstar, frontline plus, frontline
