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.
PancreatitisQ: Dear dr., my 8 yr old vizsla suffered an attack of "pancreatitis" on mem day weekend. she was hospitalized and fasted, given iv, antibiotics and carafate. we gradually weaned her from hamburger/rice to dry dog food and she started to suffer again. her lab chemistry reports were all normal including lipase. amylase was 1538 and our vet suggested hamburger/rice and gradually wean to hills id this time. we are doing that but she seems so "depressed". could she be this way due to pain? how long does it take for the pancreas to heal so there is no more pain? should she be taking any other med or supplement to help the pancreas heal? A: Tough to say as each case of pancreatitis is different. despite sometimes even diet therapy some dogs can have relapses. usually most recover in a matter of days to a week. however i would make sure diagnosis is correct by having abdominal ultrasound done as many vets over diagnose this condition based on blood tests. also consider prozyme supplementation from 1800petmeds which can help long term as well as making home made diet as described in book dr. pitcairns guide to natural health for dogs and cats by richard pitcairn, dvm
Shop for: prozyme, 1800petmeds
AgeQ: Whats the best way to treat fleas? my dog has never had them but since we have moved to the south he gets them all the time? also he will turning 5 hes purebred cocker spaniel i worry about his weight and joints? A: I like the product called advantage. as for his joints, try a product called glycoflex from 1800petmeds which is natural preventative
Shop for: 1800petmeds, advantage
TapewormsQ: I have owned a 16 month old male sheltie for 6 months. when we first got him he had tapeworms. he has been treated and they come back after 2 months. i have given him fronline on a monthly basis (even though we are in the winter months when fleas have not been a problem). we just noticed that they are back and we must treat him again). this will be the fourth time and i would like to know if you have any suggestions. i spoke with my vets office today and they said some dogs are more into self-grooming than others and once the flea is swallowed the worms come back. i have owned shelties and collies for the past 25 years and have never encountered this problem before. i ordered my last worm treatment from you because i got two doses for the price of one from the vet. i would hate to think that this dog would have to be treated for tapeworms every 2 months for the rest of his life (i'd do it but would want to know about any health complications. please send me your advice.......in no great hurry but would like a response. thanks so much. A: Are we sure that they are tapeworms and not other type of worms. if so, treating him periodically with droncit is fairly safe and can be repeated as needed. is highly unusual unless he is constantly being exposed to fleas. make sure you have treated house for fleas to make sure no eggs around
Shop for: droncit
My daughters dogQ: About 6 months ago my daughter brought home a mixed breed puppy that her friend gave her. about 3 months ago we noticed that the puppy had started scrathing all the time so we thought the puppy may have fleas so we gave her a bath with flea shampoo and put a flea collar on her. about a week or so after we noticed she started loosing her fur on either side of her stomach and there are little black dots on her skin and she still hasn't stopped scratching since. my daughter is convienced the puppy has cancer. what should we do for the poor thing, that wouldnt be to exspensive, money is an issue being a single mother of 4 but still wanting to give my kids the joy of having a puppy in our home. A: Have puppy checked for mange at your vet via skin scrape. if no mites then could be simply an allergy which would need allergy medicine to control
Eye is swollen from scratching.Q: What kind of medicine can i get for my dog eyes. they always have cold in them no matter how much i clean them. he scatch his eye from trying to get the the cold out. A: Take him to vet for complete exam and workup. he could have allergies causing this or a primary eye problem. in meantime you could try benadryl at dose of 1/2 to 1 mg per pound of body weight up to twice daily to see if helps with itching
Dog eating own stoolQ: My puppy is 7 months old and i have been catching him eat own stools when he messes in the house. he does not do it outside or to his brothers stool. how do i get him to stop? A: Try using deter which should make the stool impalatable to him.