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Heartworm
Q: I know dogs can get heartworms but can people and cats get heartworms? if so,what are the treatments? thank you.
A: Theoretically people can get heartworms but very rare. no treatment i am aware of. also cats also rarely and occasionally can be susceptible to heartworms, however there is no specific treatment unless cat symptomatic with coughing, then would use meds to dilate airways or low dose cortisone. in areas of deep south, can consider monthly heartworm prevention in cats esp in those that go outside
Epilepsy
Q: My 2year old dog has what appears to be epileptic seizures.is there any treatment for this ?
A: Phenobarbitol or potassium bromide are drugs of choice. see your vet for workup
Heartworm treatment
Q: We have a 3 1/2 year old doberman and we found out that he has heartworms. the treatment is very expensive. is there a pill or other treatment options that are cheaper than taking him to the vet for 2 days and paying all that money. thank you.
A: The newer treatment is highly successful but there are still some rare severe side effects that can be seen. many dogs can live with heartworms for years. in fact some of the older dogs who we dont want to risk the treatment we will simply put on the monthly heartworm preventatives which tend not to cause problems(unlike the daily preventatives which should never be given to a heartworm positive dog) you may want to ask your vet about using the monthly preventative which can at least sterilize the adult worms that are present and prevent further proliferation of worms, but this should be done only under supervisioin of vet if you decide not to treat
Applied frontline plus to cat
Q: 2 weeks ago, i noticed on my 28 lb cat as i was combing him, little black flakes, looks like someone sprinkled black peppar all over him. he is a house cat. i purchased frontline plus and applied 12 days ago. he is not scratching, but i keep combing him and still removing flakes. if these are flea eggs, will the frontline plus kill them, will they go away with me combing or should i get him dipped? he is very tempramental and does not allow anyone to treat him.
A: May not be flea eggs but in fact could be scaling disorder known as seborrhea or miliary dermatitis. only vet visit can distinguish as may need other treatment
Shop for: frontline plus, frontline
Swollen gums, mouth sores
Q: I have a 3 yr old female cat with good teeth, but swollen gums and sores in the mouth. tests for the standard major diseases have come back negative. vet has said cat has "stomacitis" (sp?). vet reccomends dental cleaning, then pulling all teeth if that fails. what other options might i have? if she has genetic dental disease, how is that diagnosed and treated without pulling her teeth?
A: Tough disease to have. no real good effective allopathic conventional treatments other than tooth pulling or strong immune suppressive drugs like cortisone and related drugs. i would consider consult with homeopathic vet www.theavh.org who can potentially address problem in different fashion, but have to be patient and committed for long term patience in such a case
Shop for: homeo
Blood in diareha
Q: My boston terrier is 9 months old and today she had diareah with bright blood in it she has had her 7-in1 shots, round worm gel and tape worm pill. she may have eaten some food thrown out that had chicken in it that may have been ruined. what should i do? she is eating drinking water and playing with my other dog. she also has been passing alot of gas the only thing i have changed is their bacon strips to meat tenders for dogs, their food is iams.
A: I recommend having her checked by your veterinarian so the cause of the problem can be diagnosed and the appropriate treatment started.
Bare spot
Q: My cat had a lump on his side. apparently is was full of pus and popped. when it did so, it took all of the hair off of that place and left what appears to be a hole in his skin. he now has another spot appearing above that one. what do i do?? more than that, what is it??
A: Sounds like abcess that drained that might need additional treatment or drainage at vet, including antibiotics, etc. take to vet
Scratching, head shaking, red ears
Q: My golden retriever (1yr.) starting scratching and shaking her head excessively these last few months. vet checked several times and each time was put on a course of antibiotics (keflex),cortison ,and changed diet -- at no small cost. vet suspects allergies. was spayed at 6 mos. and soon after began losing much of her coat with evidence of staph infections constantly. her ear problems seemed to worsen between 6 to 12 mos. i just want some relief for her -- what do i do?
A: If you truly want long term relief i would consider having allergy testing done usign blood or skin testing. also more restricted protein diets like prescription diets purina ha or you can try wellness fisn and potato might help. might want to see vet dermatologist for best long term solution
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