Alaskan malamuteQ: We have a malamute that has trouble getting up. he is 10 yrs old (125 lbs.) and we got a perscription of rymidl and he wouldnot take it, we also got glyco-flex and he will not take them either. right now he is on eucanuba veteranry diet dog food. we also have a 10 yr old sheltie that is over weight that is why they are on diet dog food. what do you recomend that we try for him. he does eat treats, but he will not eat a pill and i can't force him too, he is too strong, he will not open his mouth. if i do get it in there he just spits it out. i tried stuffing some in a hot dog (they normally don't get people food) but he ate the hot dog and spit out the pills. if you have any ideas please let me know. thanks A: You may want to try cosequin ds. these are capsules that you can open and sprinkle the contents on the dogs food.
Unfinished tabletQ: My 13lb shi-tzu would not consume the heartgard plus tablet by itself so i broke it up in her food. unfortunately, she only ate about half of the tablet( can't be sure of exact dose taken) and would not complete that serving of food all day. the tablets are for dogs up to 25 lbs...will half a tablet protect her? should i give her another tablet? she is quite lethargic and slow moving since eating the heartgard plus but is in heat.... thanks for any advice you can offer... i just rescued this dog about two weeks ago and am already very attached! A: I would not use these pills when she is in heat. better off skipping a month as can have reactions to drugs, vaccines, etc when given during heat period. dont worry for now but if note lethargy, upset stomach again next month then i would consider switching heartworm preventative pills to interceptor Shop for: heartgard, heartgard plus, interceptor
Scratches & loses hairQ: I have a 3 yr old schipperke. he scratches himself til he bleeds & has alot of hair loss. my vet had him on prednisone & another kind of pill. bathed him in a dip which seemed to help til the pills were finished. he started the same process over again. someone told me about a shampoo for dogs that would eliminate this. can you tell me what is the best to use? A: Thre is a shampoo called allermyl that has an anti-inflammatory effect. you may find this product of benefit.
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Blood in urineQ: During the winter i notice my dog was peeing blood. i took him to the vet and she said dont give him any people food. she gave me some pills to give him, and put him on hills prescription diet s/d. he finished the pills and she said said his urine was clear. but hes still on the hills. is there any thing else that will keep him clear? im retired and am not able to make extra money to help pay for this food. thanks dale A: I am not a big fan of these diets and feel athat they are not necessary in most cases long term. in fact the s/d diet is really only useful if a dog has been shown to have active bladder stones, and then used only temporarily in an attempt to dissolve them. it is not meant to be long term diet. try good natural diet like pet guard or innova or canidae. diets are way overplayed even for preventing urinary infections which has no scientific basis. most vets receive very little nutrition in vet school and tell clients what pet food manufacterers tell us!!!!
RingwormQ: We adopted two rescue dogs recently. one was obtained dec. 26 and the other jan. 10. my youngest child showed up with ringworm about a week after getting the second dog. after a doctor's visit and fungal cream, a patch showed up in his hair. i had the dogs checked but the vet saw no evidence of ringworm. the second dog developed patches on his two front feet that looked like my child cut them with sissors. i had the vet do a culture from these spots and only two small colonies grew. she wasn't concerned. ringworm has now spread to my other two children and myself. we are all using a cream prescribed by a doctor and my son with the patch in his hair is now on grifulvin for 4 weeks. in desperation, i asked the vet to medicate the dogs. she reluctantly gave me fulvicin (6 per day/dog). told me to mix with food and corn oil. why the corn oil? i put the pills down their throats to make sure they get them. is that ok or should they be chewed? i do have one house cat who is strictly indoors and has never been out, but the ring worm showed up after we got the dogs. how long does it take for a person to show up with symptoms? which dog would you suspect? how is this being spread? what do i need to do to end it? i have spent about $800 so far in meds, vet bills, doctor appointments. i appreciate all the advice you can offer. thanks A: Corn oil is meant to help increase absorption of griseofulvin which is not well absorbed on empty stomach and is best absorbed with fatty meal. i would treat all pets in house including cat(but must check for fiv first in cat before starting a drug like griseofulvin), and some pets need to have hair clipped and additional topical therapy as well. you may want to see a vet dermatologist to end problem once and for all as there are other drugs besides griseofulvin which are more effective in some cases. as for person showing up with symptoms you have to ask your human doctors for that answer.
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Hip painQ: What can i do to help my cat with hip joint pain. tried the powder on her food but would not take it. any liquid i can give her? she cannot take pills either.any help would be appreciated. A: You can ask your vet about new prescription drug known as metacam. although not approved for use in cats, many vets across north america have been using it very effectively off label for arthritic cats. has to be dosed just right and monitored for side effects. also you could try cosequin for cats from 1800petmeds which can help long term. also consider giving cat extra antioxidant vitamins like vitamin c in form of ester c which may come in liquid at dose of 250 mg twice daily(try health food store) also vitamin e at 100iu daily mixed on food. also consider proanthocyanidins from health food store at dose of 10 mg once to twice daily
Shop for: vitamin, 1800petmeds
Serious infestationQ: I am at my wits end. we bombed the house, laid seven dust in the yard, put frontline on the dog, gave him the oral flea pills, gave him a flea bath and dip, and have a flea collar on him and he is still infested. i don't know what else to do. i have an exterminator coming on saturday but i don't see how that will help if the dog is covered in them already. would it help to shave all of the dog's hair off? A: It wont help to shave. consider excellent quick kill product like capstar which you can use orally for a few days. you have to treat house appropriately to solve this one. exterminator is good idea.
Shop for: capstar, frontline
