Gas & moreQ: My dog, a 3 yr. old jack russel terrier, has a more than usual problem with gas, my god is it a problem. he eats grass a lot to make himself throw up, recently. today my wife said he had blood in his stool as well. what could cause these symtoms and what can we do to treat it? his gas was bad enough, smelled something terrible!! now, with the blood in his stool, we are more concerned.we've changed his food severial times in the last month, it dosen't seem to help.this has been going on now for a few months now, please help. thank you, sincerely, tatum A: Needsd complete workup at vet including stool check for intestinal parasites includign whipworms, hookworms and giardia which i like to check at outside lab. if all negative sometimes we will still worm with broad acting wormer like panacure just to make sure. might want to try low allery prescription diet like purina ha as well as adding prozyme from 1800petmeds o help with digestion. consider slippery elm from health food store for symptomatic relief of upset stomachs
Shop for: prozyme, 1800petmeds, panacur
Ear infection and fur lossQ: My 13 year old dog always has ear infections, hair loss and flakes where there is the hair. the hair comes away easily. the ears produce a dark and smelly discharge that is slimey. he gets it in both ears, but the right one is the worst. i clean his ears and put antibiotic drops, but he keeps getting infections. the vet removed one of his testicles, because he had a tumor and that was causing the ear infections. the joint to his front paw is swollen, lost hair and is purplish with some discharge. the vet states that it could be flebitis and i was giving him antibiotics, it still is a little swollen with hair loss. he also had vestibular disease a couple months back. could the ear infections be caused by a skin allergy or are the ear infections causing him to be unstable (vestibular disease)(i know it has something to do with the brain) or is it a thyroid problem causing ear infections a the skin disorder? thank you. A: Ear problems are most commonly due to inhalent and/or food allergies but also possibly low thyroid which you should check. unless address underyling causes, then recurs. also in such a long standing case might want to culture ears to see what is growing in them and consider x rays of inner/middle ear which has tob e done under sedation as sometimes surgical drainage and flushing is needed. might need surgical specialist here
Uncontrollable at groomersQ: I have a five year old cocker spaniel who has never been very social with anyone but the family and sometmies not even with us. the only way i could get him groomed was to stay at the groomers and physically hold him so he could be cut - he growls at the groomer (and me), has snipped at the groomer (but never bitten her) and is in general what i can only call a coudgedty old man. he had seizures when he was much younger but has not had any for several years. his hair now looks like he belongs to scatchswatch what with all the mats. he also has skin problems which i have treated with oatmeal baths that seem to sooth the itch. am at the point of trying to shave his hair off myself - what would you suggest? he is a beautiful dog and i love him to pieces but he is certainly more than i can handle at the groomers anymore. A: Perhaps see vet who has grooming services so they can give him mild sedative so can be clipped correctly. unfortunately have to avoid such common sedatives prescribed orally by vets such as acepromazine which can actually pricipitate seizures in susceptible pets. so best for injectable sedation
Licks front dog paws.Q: I have a blind overweight bassett hound and she licks her front paws all the time. she has licked them so much that she has a growth or callus on them. why and what is this? A: Could be nervous problem or more likely allergies which is very common in this breed either to inhalent allergens like mold, dust, grasses, etc and/or food allergies
Bumps on my dogs stomach and back legs?Q: My dog just recently got what looks like a rash on his stomach. he's been licking and scratching at it. i can't afford to take him to a vet. he's is 6 months old german shepherd/ lab mix. what do you recommend i do for treatment? A: I would use antibacterial shampoo every few days such as oxydex or chlorihexiderm shampoo from 1800petmeds. you could try topical gentacin topical spray as well in addition to oral benadryl at dose of 1/2 to 1 mg per pound orally twice daily. if persists, you will have to see vet for stronger meds and antibiotics, etc
Shop for: 1800petmeds
InfectionQ: I have a female golden retriever recent heat cycle swelling on her female area loss of appetite incresed thurst and with uncontrolable licking for 3 days. swelling is down now no blood, but yellow discharge present. we changed the brand of dog food she has greatly increased her food intake and is interested in playing ball again. will this happen every heat cycle? we have foxtails in the yard and i have to keep the ears and toes cleaned out all the time. is there a chance a fox tail could be stuck in her skin? or maybe a urinary infection? is ther any ointment or rinses we can try? thank you ned A: Cant tell if it will happen with each heat cycle. i doubt a fox tail but have vet check if in doubt. if symptoms were more persistant then have urine checked at vet for uti
Found an engorged tick on the dogQ: I found an engorged tick on my dog and removed it, then dabbed it with peroxide to try to kill what was left. how should i treat the area? and what should i watch for with the dog? A: I would not worry about one tick. sometimes they have some residual scar tissue from the bite. put some neosporin or hydrocortisone on it
Shop for: tick
Dog(doberman pinsher)Q: My dog chews on both his front paws and i dont know why! at first i thought it was because of rawhide bones getting there and him biting the little pieces off but now it seems to be a habit. i have bandaged them up only for him to chew them off. he doesnt have a flea or tick problem and that is the only area he chews on so i dont think its allergies. do you have anu suggestions? thank you very much. A: Front paw chewing is often a sign of inhalent or less likely food allergies. and it can be the only area involved. you could start by trying antihistamines like benadryl at dose of 75 mg twice daily to see if helps or other anthistamines
Shop for: antihistamine, tick
