Preventing ticksQ: I have a six month old golden retriever. she has a dog door so she is free to go outside all day long. she only had 1 or 2 ticks all winter, but since it been warmer the past week, she's become infested with ticks. please recomend the most effective solution to my problem. thank you joel herrera A: You should consider k9 advantix applied monthly, and possibly a preventic collar.
Shop for: tick, preventic collar, advantix
Which one?Q: We live in north carolina and have a golden retriever. right now we are using hartz flea and tick spray but it doesn't seem to be working. we want to get him on some other kind of treatment. he also needs something for heartworms. what do you think the best product would be? also, to use the heartworm medication does he need to be tested for heartworms first? thank you! A: If you golden is an outside dog we recommend the k9advantix. if mostly indoor, you can use frontline plus. |in response to your question about heartworm preventatives, most veterinarians would require a negative test first. you can then mail us the rx, or ask the office to fax or phone the rx in for you. you do have a choice where you have your prescriptions filled.
Shop for: advantix, tick, k9, frontline plus
Dog vomitingQ: My 5 year old female german sheppard has been vomiting a lot this past few days(3 times) its only her food and she seems fine otherwise should i take her to the vet or wait thank you A: I would ideally take to vet for exam and x rays. you could try fasting her for 24 to 36 hours only offering small amounts of fluids and pediolyte to maintain hydration. after this time introduce bland hamburger and rice diet. also at same time as fast can try pepcid ac at dose of 1/2 mg per pound orally twice daily in addition to slippery elm from health food store which can soothe bowels
SheddingQ: Hi, i have a mixed breed housedog, part german shepherd, not sure of the rest who weighs 80 lbs and sheds excessively. she checks out fine. is there anything i can give her to help? thank you A: You can try addind lecithin granules to her food daily. this sometimes help with shedding. i like a product called lecizyme which also contains other nutrients and enzymes to make sure she is adequately processing her foods. |shedding occurs at different times of year, and is usually harmless, as long as there is no other signs of illness. if you cant find the above product, one called prozyme can help with this as well.|i also like to add essential fatty acids like flaxseed oil to the food daily, which can be dosed at 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds of body weight daily. then see ifit helps over a few month period.
Shop for: prozyme
Kennel coughQ: I have a 13 year old dog that went to a kennel for 3 days. they gave him a shot for kennel cough. he come home about a week he stared to cough. went back to vet. they gave me a 2 week of clavamox he has taken them. now he is stell coughing just like he was. are there something i can give him that home to help him and his cough? james gaddis A: Can try a a teaspoon or two of robitussin a few times daily but need to see why still coughing. could be other problem here and not kennel cough. make sure chest xrays done and no heart or other lung issues going on
DiarrheaQ: I have a 4-year old labrador. each spring (usually around the month of may) he develops severe diarrhea - often a reddish/brown jellylike substance is mixed in with the stool. i notice this change in stool when i started giving him heartgard medication. do you have any alternative suggestions or another medication to recommend? he has been diagnosed with inflamatory bowel syndrome. i have been succeussful giving him nature's recipe - vegetarian formula and dick van patton's duck & potato formula dog foods. any help would be appreciated. thanks, cynthia champa A: If your dog has ibd, then he indeed could react to actually any of the monthly heartworm preventtives. you could try the other known as interceptor. if that no help you could even consider herbal alternatives like black walnut added to his food daily at dose of 1000 mg daily
Shop for: heartgard, interceptor
Foot odorQ: Hi, my dog sadie who is a chocolate lab, has a strong foot odor. my vet has check her feet, but found no fungus. is there a topical foot cream available to maybe rid of the odor. thanks sincerely julie A: I recommend swabbing the foot web and examining the material under high power for an organism called malassezia. it is very common but sometimes hard to find. i treat it with ketoconazole.
Cyst?Q: My dog is about 10 years old and has had problems with allergies from flea saliva. she has developed over the years a type of "cyst" about 1/4" large on her tail and another between her shoulders, i believe from areas where fleas have bit her. they are slowly getting larger. should we have them removed? are they anything to be concerned about? lisa ps: my dog is a maltese A: Tough for me to say since i would have to see them directly. many of these cysts are benign and i leave them alone as often they recur elsewhere so often i just monitor them as this will save you time and expense and putting dog through surgeries but should have direct vet visit to make sure cysts dont appear to be something more involved
