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Week 1 - Nov 08, Weekly Ask a Vet Q&A

  • Q: My dog is a cocker spaniel his ears stick alot and he scratches them till he gets sores in his ears.I put ears drops called thiabendazole in and wait till the next day and clean them out with toilet paper. I need more drops for a cheeper price or a pill would be better. He dosent like anything near his ears or even hair cuts with out being muzzeled..
    Vicki D, Great Falls, MT (Question of the Week)

  • A : Cocker Spaniels are a breed that often develop ear infections. This is because of the pendulous ears that hang down and cover the ear canal. Some individual dogs in the breed also tend to get ear infections more frequently than others. An infection of the external ear canal is called Otitis Externa.  Ear infections occur more often in the hotter, summer months. When the fungus or bacteria has taken hold, you will need to treat with appropriate medicated drops until the condition is under control. We don’t stock the Thiabendazole drops but do have the ilium ear drops or the ear canker drops which are also anti-fungal and may help. Once treated the aim is to prevent reoccurrence of the disease. Keeping the hair short on the inside of the ear is good. I would then recommend using an ear cleaner frequently. I’d recommend applying a dose to each ear two to three times a week and after every time he is bathed or goes for a swim. This will dry the moisture out of the ear, soften and loosen up the ear wax and disinfect the ear canal. You will need to apply an ear cleaner such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner to both ears, give the ears a quick massage to get the drops all the way down the canal, and then let him shake the excess out.
     
  • Q: The white part of our border collie's eye is red, it also tears. It is not crusty could this be a form of conjunctivitis.
    Florence V, Harrisburg, PA
  • A : There is a possibility that your dog does have conjunctivitis. Redness of the white part of the eye is a non-specific sign of inflammation, hemorrhage or infection. It can be seen in many different diseases of the eye including Conjunctivitis, Keratitis, Scleritis, Uveitis, It would be best to have your dog’s eye checked by your vet to determine the exact cause.
     
  • Q: I have two questions: 1. Is there a difference between the products I purchase from you (Revolution for my cats & Frontline Plus for my dog) and the same products sold in the U.S.? 2. Do you have Vetasyl Capsules (they are fiber which helps with digestive problems)? I have been buying them directly from my Vet here in California. Thanks!
     Jessica, CA
  • A: Our Frontline Plus and Revolution is the same product as sold in the US however the packaging is different. As we are based in Australia we are unable to supply these products with the US packaging. We ship our products from Canada, Australia or New Zealand depending on the product. Our Frontline Plus and Revolution ships from Australia. All Frontline Plus made by Merial and sold throughout the world is manufactured in France, while all Revolution is manufactured in the US. All the vials are made exactly the same and then stamped with the appropriate regulatory information depending on which market it is being sold in. The US version has FDA approved packaging while the product we supply, the Australian version, has its own regulating authorities approved packaging.
       
    We are able to provide on our site Frontline Plus and Revolution made by the same manufacturers in the same factories as that sold in the USA. We purchase directly from the suppliers which Merial and Pfizer have authorized to distribute their product for them in the countries we ship from. Customers in the USA are able to legally purchase these products from outside of the US and use these products legally on their own pets, as long as they don’t offer these products for resale in the US.

    The advantage to you of purchasing your Frontline Plus or Revolution from VetShopOnline.com is that these products are effectively exactly the same as those you purchase locally in the USA but you can save a great deal of money! Due to the relative weakness of the Australian dollar we are able to sell these products a lot cheaper than you could otherwise purchase them in the USA. The Australian versions of the EPA and FDA are equally as strict as their counterparts in the USA.  The instructions for use and safety directions are in English, the color coding of the pack sizes are the same as in the USA but you should note that the sizes are written in the metric system and care should be taken that the appropriate dose is given.

    Unfortunately we do not stock Vetasyl Capsules.
     
  • Q: for some reason no matter how much i treat my dog prince, the yard, and the carpet inside my home, prince still keeps on getting fleas. I've given him bath after bath and capstar pills and for some reason they just seem to keep on coming back. Is there anything I'm not doing correctly.
    Kimberly,West Columbia, SC
  • A:The key to stopping fleas is to treat the fleas on the pet as well as those in the environment and to determine then where new fleas may be introduced. I usually recommend one of the better once a month treatments such as Advantage, Advantix, Revolution or Frontline Plus for most cases. With these products you apply the treatment to the skin at the back of the neck. They are usually very effective and continue to control the fleas for a month.  However in very bad flea infestations I recommend Permoxin spray. With this spray you mix it with water and place in a spray bottle. Spray your dog daily for 14 days. Usually you will see a significant reduction in fleas in that time. You should also treat the fleas in the environment. You can do this by setting off flea foggers in the house and using an external yard spray. Also consider having a professional pest exterminator treat the yard outside. The capstar only treats fleas on the dog for 24 hours after administration, so unless you are giving capstar every day there will be times when your dog has no flea protection. Shampoos are not effective after the actual time your dog is being bathed and have minimal residual effect on fleas..
     
  • Q: I have a 6 month old Schnauzer that has an ear infection. The vet put her on Tresaderm 7.5 ml using 3-4 drops twice a day. Would the product lliumear drops 20ml be the same medicine.
    Jeffrey L    , NC

  • A: The Tresaderm is a prescription antibiotic ear drop containing Thiabendazole, dexamethasone, neomycin sulfate. The Ilium ear drops are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal but not being antibiotics are only suitable for milder types of susceptible infections. Once the ear infection is under control you should consider using an ear cleaner to stop the infection from reoccurring. I recommend applying a dose to each ear two to three times a week and after every time he is bathed or goes for a swim. This will dry the moisture out of the ear, soften and loosen up the ear wax and disinfect the ear canal. You will need to apply an ear cleaner such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner to both ears, give the ears a quick massage to get the drops all the way down the canal, and then let him shake the excess out.
     
  • Q: Hi, my dogs are infected with chewing lice. May I use Frontline Plus more then once a month to prevent re-infestation?
    Pamela, CA
  • A: The Frontline Plus is registered for the control of chewing lice. The product can be used more often than once a month – it can be applied every fortnight for a while until the lice infestation has been brought under control.

  • Q:My Minature schnauzer , aged 10, was becoming very lethargic recently and a bit disinterested in food. My husband noticed small flat looking pasta pieces in his poo while walking him a few weeks ago. I phoned the vet nurse last Mon 3 Nov and she said to just bring in a poo sample. Using just her eyesight she said he had tapeworm. I have regularly wormed "Harry" , every 3 months, but when checking my diary realised I had not done it since Jan'08. She then gave me 2 Virbac Tablets and said to give him 1 now and another in 2 weeks. Today, which is 3 days after the first tablet, Harry vomited a large light green mass on my carpet. Is that normal after that treatment ? Maybe it is the way of getting rid of the tapewom. I am concerned there may be another problem although he perked up after that vomit. Not sure whether to give the next Virbac in another weeks time. Look forward to hearing from you.
    Barbara M, Toowoomba, QLD, AUS
  • A : Yes I would still give the other Virbac tablet after 2 weeks from the first. That will clear out the tapeworm infestation. It may be that he does have another problem as well as the tapeworm, but that will at least eliminate the tapeworm problem. If he continues to be lethargic and vomit I would recommend that you take him to your vet for a check up. 
     
  • Q: If I use Revolution on my puppy/dog, how soon should I wait to bathe him? Or should I bathe him and then use meds.
    Pamm S, Live Oak, TX
  • A : The manufacturers say that dogs may be bathed or allowed to swim 2 hours after the Revolution medication is applied. The active ingredients are absorbed through the skin, enter the bloodstream and the skin’s oil glands. If you need to bathe your pup at the same time as the Revolution, I recommend bathing first, and then applying the Revolution after your pup is dry.
  • Q: We have two dogs weighing approximately 50# and we've been giving them Frontline but yesterday, when we were grooming them, we found fleas. Obviously, the Frontline is not working and we'd like to change to Revolution but we are presently giving them Heart Gard - do we discontinue the Heart Gard since the Revolution treats heartworms as well..
    Jeane B, Walker, CA
  • A : There is no need to give the Heartgard at the same time as the Revolution. This will only be doubling up on the prevention and cost and is not necessary. You can apply the Revolution within a month of the last Heartgard tablet and then just stop giving the Heartgard. As you are relying on the Revolution for the heartworm control you must make sure that you give it every month.
     
  • Q: have a 4yr. old welch corgie with a ear infection who is presently usin malotic 15gm. seems to clear it up for a few days and then it reappears and we have to start all over again.
    Herman W, MN

    A: Once you have treated the infection the aim is to prevent reoccurrence of the disease. Keeping the hair short on the inside of the ear is good. I would then recommend using an ear cleaner frequently. I’d recommend applying a dose to each ear two to three times a week and after every time he is bathed or goes for a swim. This will dry the moisture out of the ear, soften and loosen up the ear wax and disinfect the ear canal. You will need to apply an ear cleaner such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner to both ears, give the ears a quick massage to get the drops all the way down the canal, and then let him shake the excess out. If this does not help you may need him checked again by your vet. Some dogs have physical changes to the ear that predispose them to re-occurrence of the infection. These dogs sometimes require surgery to fix the problem.
     
  • Q:  My one and a half year old english setter is constantly getting (what appears to be ear infections). He was originally given Zymox, to clean his ear, and then Otomax, a medication, which seems to help, but it doesn't keep the condition away. What usually causes ear irritation and what can be used safely and often to prevent this from happening? I am afraid if I keep using this he will become immune. Could he have allergies? Could his diet impact this condition? Also, he is very thin. Is there any type of vitamin that may help him put on a little weight. He eats twice a day, but is really active and I can't seem to fatten him up at all. His ribs and hind bones show..
    Nancy R, CT
     
  • A : Some breeds of dogs are prone to ear infections because of their pendulous ears. Keeping the hair short on the inside of the ear is good. I would then recommend using an ear cleaner frequently. I’d recommend applying a dose to each ear two to three times a week and after every time he is bathed or goes for a swim. This will dry the moisture out of the ear, soften and loosen up the ear wax and disinfect the ear canal. You will need to apply an ear cleaner such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner to both ears, give the ears a quick massage to get the drops all the way down the canal, and then let him shake the excess out.

    It is possible that allergies lead to ear infections. The skin in the ear canal thickens up, becomes inflammed and moist and bacterial or fungal infections take hold. Medications to control allergies can help reduce the incidence of ear infections in these dogs.

    Very active dogs can be difficult to put weight on. Use one of the better high energy diets made especially for very active dogs. Consider the Hills range or Eukanuba. There are high calorie, vitamin/mineral supplements such as Nutrigel or Nutri-vite gel which may help your fellow.

    If this does not help you may need to have him checked again by your vet. Some dogs have physical changes to the ear that predispose them to re-occurrence of the infection. These dogs sometimes require surgery to fix the problem. 

 

 

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