Ask A Pet Pro

Helping pet owners get health help For their pets

Caution – Lily leaf is toxic to cats!

July 29th, 2010

Just a comment.  Please remind readers to check the lengthy list of toxic plants, food and substances to cats and dogs.

My cat recently ate a liitle bit of a lily leaf and ended up with slight liver impairment.

We were lucky because we got treatment right away.

Thanks,
Toni

When my cat is stressed, she pees blood.

July 28th, 2010

My cat has a history of peeing blood when she’s stressed. This time it’s been going on for a long time.  Being picked up stresses her majorly.  I’m contacting a house-call vet to come out and visit her but I wondered if anyone else has had a cat with the same problems.

Kendall

Recall: Iams veterinary formula cat food recalled

July 27th, 2010
Proter and Gamble issued a voluntarily recall of two specific lots of a prescription-only renal cat food that is sold by veterinarians. The food could be tainted with salmonella.   
The following products are included:  Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal food 5.5 lbs, lot code 01384174B4, UPC code 0 19014 21405 1; and lot code 01384174B2, UPC code 0 19014 21405 1.
Two lots of this prescription-only food have been recalled today.
The product is available by prescription from veterinarians. No illnesses have been reported, but an FDA analysis yielded a positive result on the lot codes listed above.

To find the lot code, look in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

Consumers who have purchased dry cat food with these codes should discard it.
Pets with salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
For further information or a product refund call P&G at 877-894-4458.

What are hot spots and why do dogs get them?

July 26th, 2010

I’ve heard of dogs getting “hot spots” in the summer and my neighbor says her dog gets them.

What are hot spots, and why do they happen?

Mary F

Helping my dog overcome mast cell tumors

July 26th, 2010

My Weimaraner was diagnosed with MCTs two years ago – he had two tumors removed, one being on his head so the surgeon wasn’t able to take a wide enough margin. After two operations we decided enough was enough and looked into Homeopathy, and found a wonderful Holistic Vet, we haven’t looked back since.

He is taking an MCT nosode, CV 247 (which is also being trialed on humans and is showing very favourable results), Floressence, he is on an organic RAW diet, has cottage cheese and ground flaxseed, fish oils, garlic, yogurt etc. He is doing extremely well, he’s happy, active and full of life, out hunting every day and people can’t believe he has cancer, it’s amazing!

Research has shown that we are over vaccinating our pets, the wormers etc are filling them with toxins and this is the result, all unnecessary when it can be done naturally IMO.

I urge everyone to please look at alternatives as it’s been a complete eye opener to me 🙂

CAROL

My dog has a fungus problem that just won’t go away

July 23rd, 2010

About three years ago my 2 year old King Charles Spaniel was diagnosed with fungus on his skin.  At the time my vet told me to bath him in betadine, leaving on his skin for 5 minutes before shampooing him off and that seemed to help for a little while. Next I tried an antifungal cream which also helped but smelled TERRIBLE.  I’ve taken him to a specialist who gave me some wipes and other medication for the condition, but nothing seems to get a good handle on this reoccurring problem.

I’m at my wits end.  Can you help???

Is my cat’s behaviour physical or behavioural? His life depends on your answer

July 22nd, 2010

Okay kind of a long story- i have a two year  old neutered male cat. I have a male and female from the same litter and they have been inside since we got them at 6 weeks old.  He swllowed a piece of elastic and the vet at seal laird did surgery and removed it. It is a very sweet cat and he is very attached to me. He is a big boy at 17 lbs.  His problem is he runs through the house defecating . He will leave the litterbox from urinating and run full blast through the house pooping.  I have taken him to every vet within a 30 mile radius and they call it behavior problem. I can not put him outside because we have two labs and two outside cats.  The vets have tried prozac and prednizone and neither helped.   He is up to date on vaccines and they have done blood work and x rays.  I have 6 litter boxes in 4 rooms for two cats, with different kinds of litter and even newspaper.  He will whine when he  goes. I have tried the attract litter and I have had the floors professionally cleaned . My husband wants me to have the cat put to sleep as we can not even have people over because we are scared of what our cat will do.  i have approximatley a week to fix this or  that is what will happen.

If it is behavior , I can’t fix it. If it is some sort of physical issue, I want to help him.

Any questions-just let me know.

Thanks

Sandra

What is the life expectancy for a dog after Addison’s diagnosis?

July 22nd, 2010

Can you tell me the life expectancy for an Addison dog after diagnosis ?

Nanette

PS  My dog is being treated with percotin and prednisone for the last 3 years.

I took my dog for a walk and her face swelled up when we got back

July 21st, 2010

I have a small 18 month old female collie. Around 20 – 30 mins after taking her out on an overgrown track (grass, nettles etc) her face began to ripple and swelled to more than twice its size within seconds, in front of my eyes.  Her eyes were ‘Chinese’ looking and she basically looked like a Staff Bull Terrier. She did not seem distressed, was eating and drinking as normal and swallowing and barking OK.  The swelling has gone down quite a bit this morning and she is still eating OK.  She has been up this track many times, but not for a couple of weeks due to the overgrowth.  Could this be a bite or sting?

Jacqui

Am I a health nut because I insist on healthy food for my cats?

July 16th, 2010

Hi,  I know you have a directory on VetLocator for holistic vets and I’ve used it twice, once for my dogs and then a cat specialist.  So I have a question…

My friends call me a health nut because I’m super concerned about my pet’s nutrition. I just keep reading about recalls and such from ‘healthy pet food’ companies and it’s freaking me out a little.

How can I make sure I’m feeding them right?

J.K.