Muscle spasms and lamenessQ: My mini dachshund is 5 years old. she recently had severe muscle spasms in her back left leg. after several spasms she began having problems walking. she is very stiff in the morning & after napping. she doesn't seem to be in constant pain, but if my other dog bumps into her she howls & cries. she is normally very active & happy, but now is lethargic. she can't even step down a 2 inch ledge, i have to pick her up. vet diagnosed pulled muscle & gave pain pills/muscle relaxers, which helped a little but she is still not acting normal. what else could be causing her problems? i know dachshunds have issues with their backs-could she have a disc problem? thank you. A: Sounds like a disc problem to me which actually is not always seen on routine x rays but you should have complete spinal x rays done. if continues may need mri for accurate diagnosis. some need low dose prednisone to help. you also may want to check out altvetmed.com for alternative ways of treatment including chiropractic and acupuncture
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Getting cat to take pillsQ: How do you do this? A: It's difficult. i know because i have had to do it. we currently have on order a gadget that will aid in the administration of pills to cats. until that time, i have found the best procedure is to hold the pill between thumb and forefinger, and then opening the cat's mouth with the other available fingers, try to pop in towards the back of the mouth using the side of the face as an entry point. good luck!
Lab earQ: Doc, i have fought with numerous vets about the yeast infections my lab gets from swimming all the time. i have a vet that gives me an atiboitic in pill form, but insists that i come in for an exam before he prescribes them to me. they charge me an arm and a leg for all of this....can you tell me what these pills usually are. i want to start ordering them online. they clear up my labs ears in less than a week and he's usually good for the rest of the summer. thanks, your old pal in arizona, shorty A: If you will call our order department and speak with one of our representative, they will be able to aid you.
WormsQ: I just saved a dog domestic animal services, (the pound). she had hook worm, and they gave her something for it. when i had brought her home she had ticks really bad. we gave her advantix and many baths. i even bombed my house. i just took another stool sample in and now she has tapeworms. i have a presciption for droncit 34, which was 4 pills all at once. my questions are, will heartguard prevent these worms, and is this normal to have 2 different worms within a month. also do you carry any medicines for the hookworm and tapeworms, without a presciption? A: Heartgard is for heartworm prevention only. heartgard plus will also protect against hookworm and roundworm. panacur-c is an over the counter, broad spectrum wormer, that will treat hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm.
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Knee/ligaments pulled, she's my 12yr old wolfQ: Ihave 2 questions, my wolf's son started getting very angry towards his mother, about 6 months ago. he is a hy-brid. please do't get me wrong he is a good boy, but his attitude is scaring me. number one , why would he get angry at his mom? and 2 sasha the mom, got tackled by him, they both weigh 100pds. we took her to an alternate vet, and she said sasha'a knee was out , but this lady was really wrenching to make her cry. sasha won't cry in pain unles she really is . my ? the vet said she had torn and or strecthed ligaments, will she be okay, or will she need rimadyl for the rest of her life. these pills have calmed her a bit, but i don't want her life to cloudy. and she still has the spritit of the wolf in her. thank you tiger A: If ligaments are torn, best is surgical repair of cruciates. i dont think life long rimadyl necessary if underyling surgical issue. if not, then try supplements like super joint enhancer from 1800petmeds as well as extra antioxidant nutrients like vitamin e at 400iu or vitamin c in form of ester c at dose of 1000 mg twice daily
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