Heartworm/regular wormsQ: I have a 140# great dane, and she just started licking around her anus/rear end area. i am suspecting worms. i have heartguard, however, i didn't keep up on the monthly schedule, it has been approx 4 months since i gave her a dose, is it ok to give to her now, or do i need to have her tested again? i live in western oregon. also, from reading other e-mails, you suggest that heartguard helps control intestinal worms, do i need to buy a different wormer, or will heartguard take care of all of them. A: Anal gland disease is a common problem in dogs and cats. the anal glands, also called 'anal sacs,' can become impacted, infected, and abscessed. affected pets may lick the anal area, 'scoot' along the floor, or have problems with defecation.|dogs with recurrent anal gland impactions are often placed on a high fiber diet. the high fiber makes the animal's stool more bulky. the stool will put more pressure on the anal glands and hopefully the glands will express themselves when the animal defecates. there are several commercial brands of high fiber dog food available. animals may also be supplemented with bran or medications such as metamucil which will increase the bulk of the stool.|i would also recommend your using the heartworm prevention throughout the summer months.
Sores on both cat and dogQ: We have a 4 year oldyellow tabby cat (he is an inside/outside cat that does hunt) and a 6 year old bischon. they both get raised scab-like areas on their bodies. my dog has even chewed at one area so much that it is raw and bleeding. i think he may have some skin allergy, but i have already been giving him an antihistimine for this. both animals have been given shots for a skin infection in the past--what is that and could they both have the same thing? A: Tough to say. likely allergies but should have vet exam to rule out skin parasites as well as mange, etc fleas, etc.
Ear mitesQ: I have 2 dogs, one a golden retreiver and a small poodle type mixed breed. they had ear mites and i put in ear-rite insecticidal ear wash. it seemed to do the job for awhile then they came back and i did it again. but i think they didn't get taken care of totally. when i brought my cat in they gave him something they squeezed on his neck. is there something like that, that i could just order on line? A: I doubt the ear mites persist as usually once treated they dont tend to rcur. i would have vet exam of ear and microscopic exam of any discharge to rule out mites from other yeast or bacterial infections of ear. but product you ask about is called revolution which can be preventative against ear mites Shop for: ear mites, revolution
16yr old cat very illQ: Hi, my 16 year old cat is very ill right now. i noticed her walking unsteady yesterday and now she won't even get up. she has tinted blood in her urine which leads me to believe she has a very bad urinary tract infection. i've contacted my vet, but he is out of town. he told me to give her some honey because she hasn't been eating or drinking at all and is very weak. after i spoke with him, i realized that i have antibiotics from last month that were for my dog. i can't stand to see her suffer, here is the name that is on the bottle it is abbreviated smztmp i also have a bottle of rimadyl 100mg. right now anything to help, can i give my cat a very small amount of either one of these to help ease her discomfort? thank-you A: Don't give rimadyl to cats. you could try 120 mg of the smz once daily but this antibiotic can occasionally cause side effects in cats as well as cause excessive drooling so i would stay away from unless at direction of your vet. really needs exam and blood work as could have other issues going on causing blood in urine like kidney failure.
Shop for: rimadyl
Itchy earsQ: We have a 9 month old 9.5# bengal who seems to have the same allergies to grass & tree pollen as i do. can i give him benadryl? 1 to 2 mg per pound as you suggest for dogs? he sneezes occasionally and has sensitive ears. dosent seem to scratch much but i can tell they bother him by the way he holds them. A: I prefer chlortrimeton in cats at dose of 2 mg twice daily. if no help in a few weeks, then you could try instread benadryl at dose of 1/2 mg per pound twice daily. dose you mention is too high for cats
