Week 3 - Nov 08, Weekly Ask a Vet Q&A

Q: My golden retrever has had skin irritations that have come an gone right now he is (along with us) suffering from Sarcoptic Mange and we are at our wits end we cannot get rid of it. Can you suggest treatment and or meds that he should be on.
Mary H, New Hampshire (Question of the Week)
A : Sarcoptic mange is caused by infestation of the mite, Sarcoptes scabiei. Sarcoptic mange is contagious. The infestation follows exposure to a dog with sarcoptic mange. Foxes are also potential sources of infection. The mites can also spread to and cause a rash in humans. We stock two different treatments for Sarcoptic mange. There is Revolution which is the once a month treatment which also controls fleas, some ticks and heartworm. Then there is the Demadex wash which is a concentrated solution mixed with water applied at weekly intervals. Because the disease is contagious I would recommend using both products at the same time.

Q: My cat has bumps around her neck and ears, even found some in spots on her body. i believe it;s cuz she's alergic to flees. will the front line i'am ordering take care of it.
Barry, Marysville, WA

A : When cats become allergic to flea bites one of the symptoms is small bumps all over the body. The condition is often called milliary dermatitis because the lumps feel like small millet seeds. Flea control is the first treatment you would try. I have had some customers tell me they are finding that Frontline Plus is not working as well as it once was in some areas. If you are finding that this is the case you may like to consider trying the Advantage or Revolution. If good flea control does not treat the condition there are allergy medications available from your vet to treat this condition
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Q: I am wondering about the guidelines for using Front Line on my seventeen year old ocicat. A new tenant moved in and brought along fleas.....Ducati has never had fleas before and its beginning to get out of control. Any suggestions? I want to make sure he is well cared for and not made sick by a flea product. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely
Holly, Niantic, CA

A: Frontline Plus is very safe for cats. Many millions of doses have been used on cats and there are no contra-indications for using the product on older animals. You may like to also consider Advantage as this product does not get absorbed into the skin like the other products - the active ingredient forms small crystals that stick to the hair. Advantage is safe to use on very young kittens and older animals.

Q: I have 7 yr old female huskey that weighs approx 55 lbs. Last night at 1 am she ran Down the stairs to be let out, when we woke up this morning we found that she had pulled a toenail off of her front left paw. It did bleed pretty good but has stopped. Should I take her to a vet,or what can I do at home to take care of her. thanks.
Kimberly,West Columbia, SC

A:Some torn nails can be treated at home, but veterinary treatment will reduce the chance of an infection. Treatment involves bathing in a mild disinfectant wash, applying a medicated ointment such as Dermaclens and bandaging initially to keep dirt off the quick. If there is part of the nail still attached this will need to be removed with a nail clippers. In some cases antibiotics may be warranted.

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.
Chris C, Mesa, AZ
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: My three year old LAB is always shaking her head.I suspected ear mites but I have treated her several times with Ivormection,and she still has the problem. Can you help?
Earl E, PA

A: One of the main reasons dogs shake their head is because of ear infections. Ear infections can be caused by ear mites as well as other agents such as bacteria & fungal infections. Foreign bodies such as grass seeds down the ear would also cause these signs. You should have a vet check your dogs ears in case these other causes are the problem. For mild ear infections the Ilium ear drops may work well.

Q:Hi, I was wondering what set of frontline flea n tick control to get for my pitbull if im not exactly 100% sure of his weight. Like lots of others I don't really have enough time or funds to take him to vet just to get weight. But he is bigger. Should I get highest.
Jen, Wiley Ford, WV

A : He does look like a big handsome fellow! He is probably not over 88 lbs so the large dog size for dogs between 45 and 88 lbs should be the correct size for him. If you think he may be a bit over this then you can use the next size up for dogs over 89 lbs. The product is very safe so even if he is under this weight it will still be safe for him

Q: My Mini Poodle is loosing his hair a spot by spot I put a ringworm medication on him and it made no difference.
Wendy, Seaside,OR

A :There are a numerous causes for hair loss in spots like this on dogs. It may be as simple as just rubbing the hair off to numerous other causes such as fungal infections, bacterial infections, hormonal causes, allergies etc. I’d recommend good flea control. You could try a medicated wash that covers both fungal and bacterial infections such as Malaseb. If this does not help I’d recommend that you do take him to your vet for a check over.

Q: My daughter and I caught bad colds from my three year old grandson and now my 10 month old pekingnese who my grandson adores and plays with has a cold. He is sneezing, not eating a lot and seems lathargic. One of his eyes is kind of sticky? What can I give him for his cold.
Anita W, NY

A : Dogs will not usually catch a cold from humans but they do have diseases that cause similar signs. Usually in dogs the condition is called a URT or upper respiratory tract infection. General nursing such as keeping him feed, watered, warm bedding etc is important. Bathe the eye in a saline solution. In some cases antibiotics are warranted in which case he should be checked by your vet.

Q:what is the medication temaril #20 used for?
Linda K, GE

A: Temaril is an antipruritic and antitussive medication. Antipruritic means that the medication helps relieve itching so is given in cases of allergy. The Antitussive part means that it relieves coughing, so used to in the treatment of diseases that cause coughing such as bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections etc.

Q: My dog is having fraquent loose stools and was prescribed amoxicillan, flagyl and centrine. I found out about both amox & flagyl but cannot find any thing about centrine. Could you tell me what this is and what is it used for? Dosage is 0.2mg/day.
Mike, CA
A : Aminopentamide the active ingredient in Centrine, is an antispasmodic used by veterinarians to treat vomiting, diarrhea, gastritis, and straining in maldigestion syndromes. The usual dosage for dogs between 11 and 20 lbs is 0.2 mg once or twice a day.