Ask A Pet Pro

Helping pet owners get health help For their pets

Recommendations for overweight male cat prone to UT infections

January 11th, 2009

I’m desperately trying to find out which prescription or non-prescription dry food is the best for a 7.5 year old male cat that is overweight. The C/D I’ve never liked and it hasn’t helped. I tried the W/D to help get some weight off and it didn’t work either.

I read and read all over the internet but can’t get a real feel for which one would be best. I’ve been told that Royal Canin SO for cats is good because it helps prevent both types of crystals. But it too has a bunch of fillers that should be avoided and it’s really expensive.

I used to feed all of them EVO but he got another UT infection after being on it for about a year or so.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Question about acupuncture sessions

January 10th, 2009

Can you tell me how long an average acupuncture session for a dog lasts?

Thank you

Bengal cat with allergies. Natural help please

January 9th, 2009

My cat (Bengal) battles with allergies, monthly. I have not been going to our vet (his drugs were killing her).

I have her on Immune Balance, Aller free 7, and Calming solution (4 drops of each) 2 times per day. She is doing better, but not gaining weight.

Should I be doing more?

Thank you for your time.

7 y/o Vizsla with strange symptoms

January 8th, 2009
Hi, I have a 7-yr. old vizsla female whose “ankle joint”, left back leg got swollen suddenly. A thumb-sized lump appeared on the joint, sometimes very hard, sometimes soft. She holds the leg in the air except when distracted on walks. This began 4 weeks agfo. We waited a week, in case it was caused by an injury and would heal itself. We saw a vet who had no idea what it was, suggested an antibiotic (in case it´s lyme disease) and an anti-inflammatory. neitehr had an efffect. Days after finishing the meds, she began to show hives, especially on the head and hind legs, now on the belly and not getting better. In addition she´s losing alot of hair. I suspect it was a reaction to the doxycycline or antiinflammatory. Anyway, it´s been over 4 weeks, the lump isn´t going away, the hives are not going away and I`m all out of ideas. She gets the same food as always, no other changes in her life, she´s still protecting the leg but acts otherwise normally and eats normally, stool is normal. I`d be grateful if you have any ideas. PS: This dogs lives in a dog pack of 4 big dogs, is chronically stressed and is living on cramped space, but this isn´t new.
Thanks, Elizabeth Sinnott (Germany)

Doy with kidney disease and hypertension won’t eat her food

January 8th, 2009

Need HELP please!

My 11 yr old female American Eskimo has kidney disease and hypertension. She is doing much better on Norvasc and Enalapril medication (her protein levels are a bit better and blood pressure is much better) BUT she does not want her food(prescription K/D, which the Dr. said to give her low protein diet)

She is not interested in her new diet. She is on a low protein diet and not really thrilled with the new choices like rice, potatoes – I have tried all sorts of combinations and adding little bits of chicken and tuna. That is really all she wants to eat but can’t have too much of it (only a cup of protein a day).

She must eat and I am running out of ideas… anyone have any suggestions??? I have tried warming up the food, rice, potatoes, carrots and peas she like but too much is gassy, cottage cheese she did not like at all- please help, whatever I put down she just walks away from the bowl, i know she is hungry because she eats the tuna, chicken…

please help!!!

Recommendation for natural shampoo for itchy cat?

January 8th, 2009

My 12 year-old, silver tabby lives inside and has itchy skin.

I am only interested in holistic suggestions.

She weighs about 7 lbs.

Please suggest a shampoo (without toxins) as she will tolerate a bathing. She is as finicky about food as I am.

West Highland Puppy with problems

January 7th, 2009

hi i have a 4 mth old west highland puppy and i just noticed that she is limping and some times she would also vomit her appetite seems to have lessened but she is still as playful. she just started losing her teeth but they are dropping fast is that normal for puppies? her breath is also quite bad but we normally give her bones and chew toys. she also eats soil though we would scold her if we caught her is there a reason whyu is is limping and vomiting? she also scratches herself alot.

7 y/o pug with mast cell tumor question

January 1st, 2009
I have a Pug who is almost 7 years old. He has had a Mast Cell Tumor for approximately 5 years. It was never diagnosed until last Fall. It was not explained to me the severity of the tumor and it was cost prohibitive to have it removed at the time. I have recently talked with another vet and done research myself to learn more about this type of tumor. My dog has never experienced any adverse symptoms like those I read about and acts like any happy healthy Pug.
My new vet strongly recommends removing the tumor. My concern is that by doing so it will disturb the tumor causing problems that may not have existed in the past. He’s lived with it this long without problems, should I mess with it or leave it alone?
Thank you in advance for your response.

12 y/o greyhound experiencing difficulty after eating.

January 1st, 2009

I have a 12 year old greyhound who is experiencing difficulty after eating–coughing harshly and gagging. He eats a wetted-down kibble mixed with canned food with glucosamine, chondroitin, and fish oil mixed in. I have also noticed that more and more frequently when he barks no sound comes out, and when he does manage to make a sound, it either sounds like he has laryngitis (very hoarse) or is very high-pitched. He has always had a relatively high-pitched “voice” for a greyhound, but recently he sounds more and more like a tenor.

I am concerned that I am seeing the beginnings of laryngeal paralysis, and wanted to know if I should take him to his vet now, or if it would be acceptable to wait until his annual, which is mid-January.

He is otherwise healthy, excepting some hind-end weakness which seems to be progressing.

Thank you,

Laurie

Steroids and Vaccines together? Concerned

December 16th, 2008

Just had my 4 yrear old golden vaccinated with yearlys-bordatella,rabies,parvo and distemper. At the same time vet prescribed temperil-p for a skin rash she has. I was wondering if the steroid in the medication will negatively interact with the vaccinations . Decrease the immune response that is the desired response of the vaccinations?? a concerned pet owner.