Back endQ: My dog is a dalmation lab mix. he is about 10yrs. for the past couple of years he is very stiff getting up from sleeping or just lying in one position. he has some difficulty up and down stairs, but not always. he loves running and catching the ball and does it like he has no problem. he goes for walks and has lost weight as the vet recommended. the vet gave us pills for lubricating and restoring cartelige, but he is still the same.some days he is in more pain than others. what can i give him to take the pain away. his name is chewy. A: It may be time for the veterinarian to add a prescription anti-inflammatory to the regimen.
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.
Shop for: ringworm
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
TapewormQ: Hi, my dog has signs of tapeworm, that is the small white segments near the anus. i just purchased the "tapeworm tabs". she is approx. 80lbs and according to your instructions should take all 5 pills. my questions is, do i give her all 5 at the same time? i wasn't sure if that was safe to do, or should i stagger the medication throughout a specific time period. thank you for answer. A: You give all 5 tablets as a single dose
AbscessQ: My dog had a lump just below his eye. the lump broke and drained. it has been draining for 3 weeks. in that time i have used antibiotic pills and triple antibiotic ointment. i am currently using baytril. as soon as the wound heels shut it swells up and then breaks open and starts draining. i wash it off several times daily with a wash cloth. and have used three different antibiotics and there doesn't seem to be an end to this problem. my dog is under a veterinarians care. is there more first aid that i can do to end this. as will i consult the veterinarian too. A: Make sure vet has ruled out underyling foreign body or tumor under eye which needs to be addressed. also might want to culture discharge to make sure right antibiotic has been used for long enough time
PillsQ: Frontlineplus doesn't work on my pets; 3 indoor cats, and one indoor/outdoor dog...i see fleas/scratching well before the mo. is out. my vet only provides frontline/frontlineplus. then i heard about a flea/tick cat med., given in pill form, used monthly, that not only kills fleas and ticks, but also provides some protection from fungal(i.e. (cat) ringworm) skin infections; esp. for the sphynx breed. if this is true, where can i get it? thanks, marilyn axt A: There is no tablet form for cats. i would suggest a thorough cleaning and vacuuming of your pets area. it seems more of a reinfestation problem. you can get some suggestions on our website under "education" & "flea control". it is not unusual to see live fleas on your pets. the frontline plus only works when the fleas walk through the fur, they are then poisoned and will die. if you want to get rid of all the adult fleas you could use "capstar" tablets for a couple of days to kill all adult fleas within hours.
Shop for: frontline, tick, ringworm
Medicine for liver reading off the chartsQ: Do you have a suggestion for liver reading off the charts? my vet prescribed zenotil which cannot be cut up or crushed and my cat won't take it. i live alone and don't have anyone to help me hold the cat while i try to open her mouth. she is also taking hyperthyroid pills but these are no problem as they can be crushed and put in her food. do you know of another pill whilch would help her liver? she has lost weight and is hiding under the bed, as she is afraid i will try to force her. her latest thyroid reading was normal. do you have a suggestion for another medication, one that can be cut up and will it interfere with her tapazol (methmazole 5 mg) ? A: We carry a dosing device called a pet piller that is specifically designed for your needs.
