Hair loss due to itchingQ: We adopted this pup from the pound about two months ago. she sort of looks like toto but a little larger. never having had a terrier before, do they have skin problems. is their a diet that might work for her. she is on pro plan chicken with my other dog. we have bathed her and used a fungicide, and malesab pads on the trouble spots. not at the same time. anything else we can do? A: I like california natural lamb and rice diet for allergic dogs by natura pet foods.
BiospotQ: I've recently heard of severe spasmodic reactions and even deaths in cats who had been given biospot topical treatments. both my vet's office and the head of a local rescue told me of these problems. they think that using biospot on large dogs seems to be safe, but highly recommended that i avoid using it on my cats altogether. have you heard of more such problems with biospot? where can i find this kind of information? i appreciate whatever help you can provide. A: Unfortunately, these types of reactions can occur with the use of any topical flea and tick product. i usually rfecommend frontline plus because of my experience and the lack of adverse reactions.
Shop for: biospot, tick, frontline
Black lab with scaling skin and hair loss/extremeQ: Can you recommend a treatement for my dog. he is about 18 months old , and has scaling flaking skin, and extreme hair loss on his back, rear area, and thigh area. i have treated him for mange, and that did not help. his skin seems similar to a human if they had sorioas? i did not spell that correctly, but sometimes he also has sores. i can not afford to spend hundreds of dollars for vet treatments. what do you think would treat him? thanks, tess A: He needs diagnosis for best treatment so really needs vet visit to examine skin and determine if overgrowth of yeast, bacteria or skin parasite, etc as well as underyling allergies that can predispose to these issues. you could try chlorihexiderm shampoo from 1800petmeds and use every few days as wella s 1800petmeds aloe vera conditioner after shampoo.
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ConfusedQ: I have a 15 month old cocker spaniel. i took her to the vet and they said not to use any over the counter flea treatments( like flea collar, etc) so i took it off and i shampooed her with a mild shampoo and now she has fleas again. i applied the frontline treatment they gave me but she is still not flea free. she is an indoor dog and i don't want to get them. how long does it take for the frontline to work and are over the counter flea shampoos and collars bad? help!!! thanks!!!! A: Frontline is itself an over the counter product and is very effective at controlling fleas. it usually begins to kill fleas within 18 hours of application. contolling a flea problem involves treating the pet, treating the house and treating the yard.
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Oral rabies vaccineQ: Is there a oral version of the rabies vaccine that can be given to my dog(rottweiler) although he is a great dog and has been trained he has a great fear of needles and becomes very aggressive when i need to muzzle him for this.. its to the point now that i need to have him sedated completely to accomplish this(which makes me feel terrible for days that i have to do this) although this only happpens once a year it would be nice if this type of vaccine is available for dogs as it is for wild/zoo animals. thanks jim A: There is no oral form of the vaccine. you might also ask your veterinarian about the new once every 3 year rabies vaccine that certainly be helpful in your situation.
Ringworm treatment addition?Q: I know the common thought now is that the once hopeful treatment, program, does not cure ringworm. however, if you are not depending on program to do the job by itself, might it sometimes assist somewhat with a good ringworm topical treatment plan and house disinfecting? i heard that ringworm has a hard time reproducing without the chiton layer which program eliminates. also, could it help some pets ie., cats or dogs, young or old, more than others? (i have a four month old kitten.) A: It is controversial topic and i have heard opinions of many dermatologists on this one. probably cant hurt and might be useful in young kittens particularly those in cattery situation where ringworm is more prevalent. however by itself does not do job. but as you state can be part of more comprehensive ringworm control program which includes topical therapy, clipping, oral antifungals, etc
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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.
