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Dry skin
Q: My 1yr. old pug has a spot on the back of his tail that he is constintly iching. i have tryed anything from spray to pills and i have know clue what it is or how to treat it. please help.
A: Needs to go to vet to have skin scrape to make sure not parasites but likely allergies and needs internal treatment with medicines rather than topical ones they lick off
Stinky doxie
Q: My wiener dog smells like an old gym shoe, even within hours of being bathed at the groomers. in the spring of 2003 i took her to the vet bcuz she had sores on her belly and legs that bled and he was constantly scratching. she also smelled bad but the sores concerned her father and i. she was given an antibiotic and some shampoo as well as some tests to check her urinary tract. she didn't stink while she was taking the pills but then started up again when they were gone. it cost over $200 and then we had to do it again this year in the spring. i was given another shampoo, more medicine, and some expensive dog food to give her. i got the same result, the sores cleared up, and her stink left only during the course of the antibiotics. now we see sores coming back and can't afford to have her tested again, only to have her problem return. can you help?
A: This is classic case of treating symptoms witthout addressing underlying allergy causes. will cost you more but better solution long term. work with vet or vet dermatologist who will look at potential underlying seasonal inhalent allergies through blood or skin testing to get to bottom of issue or as you see it will recur
Demodotic mange
Q: My beagle pup has been being treated for mange since she was 8 weeks old. for we started every 2 weeks having her dipped. at first she looked like she was getting over it. (after about 3 dippings) i waited 3 weeks hoping this mange had passed. then suddenely i could see that the mange had become very aggressive. we started the treatment again with here vet. every 2 weeks for four weeks. still no good. this last month we started having her dipped 1 x a week. today he called and said that he was very worried about suzeeq. he said that we needed to send her to a dermotoligist and that her immune system may be weak. also that there was another option and that was to treat her with heartworm medicine for a month 1 x a day. he said that was very expensive. the dermatoligt is also very expensive. i think that the progressive heartworm treatment makes a lot of sence however i am afraid this could kill her or make her really ill. being the fact that this is actually a perisite that stems from the blood instead of the skin. to treat it internally is more logical. it seems that the dipping slows the mange down but does not stop them. the dippings are progressively effecting her skin. around the mouth area and the feet. also she is developing blisters in her ears and inflamation. what should i do?
A: Interceptor, a monthly heartworm medication, is used by some veterinarians in the treatment of demodectic mange. when treating this condition the medication is given daily.
Shop for: interceptor
Cat sneezing
Q: My cat has been sneezing for quite awhile. my vet first diagnosed it as a "kitty cold" and prescribed amoxicillin, which did good until this was stopped. now the vet is saying he has asthma and prescribed 4mg. medrol. he never ran any tests! he is doing no better, in fact maybe worse. this cats sister has had asthma for over 5 years (under another vets care) and has never shown these signs or given this medicine. is it time to get another vet or does this vet know what he is doing?
A: I dont like the workup you describe. should have cbc/differential blood count sent out to lab as well as chest x rays if cat is coughing. also have stool check to make sure no parasites. if cat does have asthma, i find oral pills don't help cats as much as the injections but needs proper workup first.
Blood in urine-re-occuring
Q: I took my four year old mixed breed to the vet for blood in her urine. she has had this problem twice before. one vet put her on clavimox. i took her to another vet for the same problem. he did an x-ray and put her on claximox. both times the medicine worked. the last vet did tell me if it happened again he would x-ray her again and then he would have to refer her to raleigh to a specialist as he could not do the x-ray needed. she got another infections, he x-rayed her gave her an antibiotic and said if it did not seem to improve in 5 days call him and he would change the medicine. it did not work and now he has her back on clavimox again. is there any thing else that can be the cause of this. he changed her diet to eukanoba but she will not eat it. i bought her pedigree and she will eat that. should i try another vet this is a re-occuring problem. we get it cleared up and then it comes back a few months later. is there another medication i can ask the vet to give her?
A: First you want to have urine cultured to find out what if any bacteria are growing and which antibiotic are effective. an ultrasound exam of bladder can look for stones which sometimes don't show up on x rays and for any anatomic problems. some dogs do have recurrent uti/s and need to be on low dose antibiotic therapy sometimes daily, but only if underlying causes are ruled out.
Cushings disease
Q: My pomerian has recently been diagnosed with cushings (adrenal). he is 11yrs old an is taking lysodren but after tests he is not in remission. he is also on phenobarb to keep him from having seizures. my vet seems very good but i would like another opinion please. my dog is very special and i want the best for him. thanks.
A: Lysodren is used in treating cushing's disease. other medicines used to treat the disease include anipryl and ketoconazole. lysodren is administered in a "loading" dose in the beginning of therapy and then is reduced during maintenance therapy. your veterinarian will determine the response to terapy using lysodren by performing blood tests. lysodren may reduce the effectiveness of phenobarbital. you should discuss this with your veterinarian.
All of the above
Q: I have a yellow lab he is 5 years old.i have read every ? and answer on ask the vet. please help he has been suffering for 3 yrs and has been on hydroxyzine, prednisolone inj and the prednisone pills ( which seem to cause him to leek in the house) something he never does. we have tried over the counter bendryl and nothing works. my vet which is wonderful never suggested allergy testing. and recently he was put on diphenhydramine which he takes a total of 600mg a day. he is worst now then he was ever. he also take the medicine year round. he has been on the same food since birthwhich is purina dog chow. he has scabs on this belly and sores on his feet he also has sores that look like ulcers which i apply synotic-banamine for the hot spots he lick and scrathes constanly. it seems like he has had some of every problem that has been in your ? and answer and has taken most of the medicine also. it is very expensive but the money doesn't matter he needs something that works. he is the best dog in the world and i can't seem to help him. please help me find some answers for him. thanks for listening.
A: A case i would see a vet dermatologist for best chance in terms of proper diagnosis and long term treatment plan. might need skin biopsy for diagnosis of what you are describing. might want to start with true low allergy diet like prescription diet purina ha from your vet and ask about drug known as atopica which might help. expensive but can use 1/3 recommended labelled dose ifyour vet also prescribes oral ketaconazole at same time
Shop for: prednisone, banamine
Flea help
Q: Is it safe to use flea medicine for dogs on cats? my friend has flea medicine for dogs, the type you apply on their back (liquid) and i cant afford any... someone told me you can break up a large dogs tube, and use it on multiple cats by measuring it with a syringe, then applying it like you would on a dog.. but she didnt know the amount to give a cat. this would be a tube for a 89+lb dog's flea medicine that i would be getting it from.. i have 3 cats ranging from 3 yrs to 1yr. please let me know if this is possible. thanks
A: No and no. you should never use medicine made for a dog on a cat. you should not split the applicators among multiple pets. you need to order the proper strength for the weight of the pet.
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