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Helping pet owners get health help For their pets

My dog lost hair during a nutritional trauma. Need help

November 15th, 2009

Our 10 year old bouvier had surgery in late September to have a couple decayed teeth removed, a general teeth cleaning and two small lumps in her hind quarter removed (biopsy indicated they were calcified fat tissue). Post surgery she was fed soft food until her gums healed (canned food).

After 14 days I tried to get her back on her dried food and began by mixing it with soft (canned), but she ate very little and then after another week chose not to eat dog food at all.

During the offering of soft food and the reintroduction of dried food, I noticed that she would vomit a few hours after consumption.

After those few weeks of trying to find something she would eat and significant weight loss (20 lbs since surgery) she began to lose hair particularly on her elbows and no new growth was happening in the site of the surgery. I began to make her home made dog food, combo of boiled chicken, rice, oatmeal, carrots, broccoli of which she willingly ate and no experienced no vomiting after eating. She has been on this diet for about 6 weeks now and she has gained back some weight but the hair loss has progressed with patchiness on her sides.

She is easily stressed and she has been very needy since the surgery (wants to be with me all the time, follows me around the house).

I should mention that we have another dog in the home and she has a great coat and appetite.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sharon

My 14 y/o cat won’t eat her special diet…help!

October 31st, 2009

My 14 year old kitty has been diagnosed with early stage renal failure.

The vet has prescribed several foods, none of which she will eat. She did eat a couple for a few days, but after that said “no way”. I got tiredof starving my cat.

She has always preferred fish based foods. I have checked the ingredients on several and compared them to the ones suggested by the vet. It seems that the most important thing is to stay away from dry foods, which all have a high concentration of Crude Protein. I have found several Friskies Buffet Indoor Cat foods that she really likes. They are similar to the prescription foods in the percentage of crude protein, but are all lower on fat content.

Are the Friskies OK for her? Isn’t the moisture content and percentage of crude protein the most important ingredients?

Can my 9-year-old cat’s lower canine be saved

October 19th, 2009

After being out for less than 2 hours today, I came home to find that
my older cat’s (Carlton’s) lower canine had been nearly knocked out
during an obvious tussle with my other, younger cat.

The tooth is sitting sideways (facing outward), but still attached
within the gum. It is obviously very loose and Carlton keeps shaking
his head and flicking his tongue against it because of the tooth’s
awkward position. He’s hungry and wants to eat, but can’t manage it
and sadly walks away. There has been no external bleeding, but the gum
line around the tooth is purple and slightly swollen.

I plan on contacting a veterinarian who specializes in dentistry in
the a.m. (of course this happened on a Sunday!) and am hoping the the
tooth can be saved via a root canal. BUT, will it be too late if I
wait until tomorrow.

Will the tooth have to be pulled out (if I wait too long)? I am hesitant to bring him to an emergency hospital tonight, since I would rather deal with a doctor who specializes in
dentistry.

Kathy

Frontline plus reaction in dog. I need advice.

October 19th, 2009

I administered Frontline plus to my dog (11 lbs) first treatment, three days ago, he has been to the vet twice with diarrea/vomitting, red spots.

The vomiting has stopped still has diarrhea and now he will not eat and just lays around tail down.

My dog was prescribed Metoclopramide 5mg w tablets twice daily and Amforol #3 1/2 tablet twice a day.

I really don’t know if I should give him more medicine, he has had so much already.

Do you have any other advice for me?

Karen

Dog with recent rabies vaccination is now ill. Are these connected?

October 18th, 2009

My dog had a recent rabies vaccination.

He is now vomiting,shaking and panting, two episodes this week.

Could this be from the rabies vaccination?

Joyce

Feral cat with a sore that looks like a burn wound. Pictures

October 17th, 2009

One of my feral cats has what looks like a burn wound on its right rear leg. Is there anything I can do for it being its a feral cat and will RARELY let me touch her.

Is there anything I can put in the food to help? Would spraying Neosporin on it harm her if she licks it. I am just worried it will get infected and the possibility of her dying.

I have attached a couple of pics, I apologize if they are huge.
catburn
catburn2

Ebbi

Besides myself with fleas! Help!!!

October 17th, 2009

I absolutely don’t know what to do right now.

I have this terrible flea problem, and I have done everything. I vacuumed, shampooed the carpets, put down that carpet sprinkle stuff, used the in house spray, bombed every room of the house, sprayed outside, and frontlined my animals…

Then my friend brought her dog over, and now he is covered in fleas.

One of my cats and my dog seem fine now. But my other poor cat is having some sort of reaction or something. At first I put a flea collar on him and then noticed that all the hair was missing on the bottom part of his neck. So, I took it off and did the frontline. He has no fleas, but now he is missing all the hair on his chest and one of his legs.

I feel like a terrible person. I feel so bad for him, but I don’t know what to do.

Nichole

Puppy test positive for giardia

October 16th, 2009

What should I do if my puppy tests positive for giardia?

Thank you,
Tiffany

Cortisone for Cats?

October 15th, 2009

Help! My cat has been vomiting at least 2-3 times a week, several times a day for almost a year now…She makes this awful “screaming” noise just before she vomits, and while she’s throwing up, it looks like it’s very violent & painful. She’s a very loving, playful kitty, and acts normal when she’s not throwing up. Recently, she’s started throwing up more often (her record is 7 times in one day) and now has what looks like gravel in her vomit. She’s not eating her kitty litter, and I haven’t seen her eat anything foreign.

My vet has done many tests, but has no clue what could be wrong with her, and has just given her a shot of cortisone to help “correct” the problem. He says if the shot stops the vomiting, he’ll prescribe pills for her. Is this good for my cat? Is this solving the problem, or just covering it up?

Thanks!

Tara

Flea problems that just won’t quit. I’ve tried everything. HELP!

October 13th, 2009

I have a new dog & am currently using the flea control that goes between the shoulder blades. My vet said every other month, but it is not working.

I have used 2 times, 4 weeks in between.

It is now 2 weeks since last application. It seems very strong & I am concerned about toxic implications.

Is there anything else I can ask for from my vet or get from a local pet store that is holistic, organic, or not as strong?

Thanks,
Jane