week 4 - Mar 09
Q: Our 2 kittens were at our vets overnight and have come home with fleas. We put frontline on them 2 days ago and the fleas are still there. Can we dip them or do anything else? Our little girl is really scratching and we can see the fleas on her. I would appreciate any comments. Thank you.
Dianne R, Kenner, LA
Dr Mark: Hi Dianne,
Yes, there are flea rinses and shampoos that you can use to kill the fleas on your cat. One of these products is Fido’s Free-Itch concentrate which is safe to use on cats. I have had a number of customers tell me that they are finding that frontline is not working for them as well as it once did. If you are finding that this is the case, then you may want to consider changing to Advantage or Revolution.
Regards
Dr Mark, Bvsc
Q: my cat seems to have bad allergies i cant find any allergy meds for cats only for people allergic to cats
how do i get him to stop sneezing?
Tiffanee, USA
Dr Mark: Hi Tiffanee,
Cats can develop allergies that cause them to sneeze. The best treatment is to find out what it is that your cat is allergic to and remove the cause if possible. Some common causes can be cleaners used around the house, grooming products, house dust, the type of kitty litter, plant pollens etc. Supplementing with a fatty acid supplement such as Mega-Coat help reduce the allergic response. In some cases your vet may prescribe medication such as Benadryl, however you should never treat your animals with any human medication without checking with your vet first.
Regards
Dr Mark, Bvsc
Q:I have a rat terrier. 9 years old. my problem is he sheds so bad is there anything i can do to help this problem?
Beverly, MN
Dr Mark: Hi Beverly,
There is nothing really effective that you can give a dog to stop them from shedding. All dogs shed, though some dogs shed more than others and inside dogs tend to shed all year round rather than at certain times of the year such as the change of the season at the end of winter. The best thing to help with shedding is regular brushing and grooming. The more you comb or brush out the less there is to fall out all over the house. There are coat conditioners available such as Mega-Coat which help keep the coat healthy but they do not help reduce shedding.
Regards
Dr Mark
Q: My kittens have upper respiratory infection..there eyes are inflated, runny nose and constant sneezing. There’s no loss of appetite and no problems breathing or fever. I dont have much money to afford a vet visit so I’m looking for another solution. Please help me i would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Ivonne C, PA
Dr Mark:Hi Ivonne,
Kittens with upper respiratory tract infections need general nursing, ensuring that they stay warm, get adequate food and water etc. You should clean any nose and eye discharges away with a cloth and warm saline water. Steam is very good at loosening the phlegm in the nose and chest. You can place them in a carry basket on the floor in the bathroom when you are having a shower so that they breathe in the steam. Often after this steam therapy you may find that they eat better. If they become lethargic and stop eating then you will need to take them to a vet.
Regards
Dr Mark, Bvsc
Q: I have a dog that has recently been scooting across the floor and her butthole looks inflamed and 
swollen. Is there any medication i could put on it ?.
Linda, NC
Dr Mark: There are creams available such as Dermaclens cream that helps heal up wounds caused by abrasions. It may be that your dog has impacted anal glands which need expressing.
Regards
Dr Mark.
Q: Looking at using revolution instead of frontline but then since it has heartworm control would you just go to using heartgaurd after your thru the season of fleas/ticks?
Cindy, IA
Dr Mark : Hi Cindy,
Yes, you can either continue with the Revolution all year round. The benefit of this is that you treat the fleas in the winter months before they build up in large numbers. Alternatively, you can swap to a heartwormer such as Heartgard Plus. You will need to make sure you give the first dose within a month of giving the last dose of Revolution.
Regards
Dr Mark, BVsc
Q: Need to know if your dogs ears can be washed out with warm water using a syringe. We have been treating him for ear mites. thank you.
Jack C, Lexington, SC
Dr Mark: Hi Jack,
It is best not to use water when cleaning out your dog’s ears as the ears stay moist which can then lead to an ear infection. It is best to use an ear cleaner solution specifically made for dog’s ears such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner. These ear cleaners soften ear wax, disinfect the ear and then evaporate to dry the ear out, reducing the chances of an ear infection developing.
Regards
Dr Mark, BVsc
Q: Can I give my cat two products at once? I want to protect her from fleas, ticks, heartworm, earmites, intestinal worms etc. and it does not appear on product does this.
Celeste T, Port Orchard, WA
Dr Mark: Hi Celeste,
Unfortunately, there is not one product that will cover everyone of these problems, so we recommend that you use a few different products together. One of these options is Revolution which will treat fleas, heartworm, some ticks and some of the gastro-intestinal worms. You should also worm with a tape wormer such as the Virbac tapewormer every 3 months when using this product.
Regards
Dr Mark, BVsc
Q: My dog has been suffering from a really bad flea problem that I cant see to get rid of. I have tried baths, and advantage and neither seem to have any effect on the fleas. Any suggestions?
Cory, CA
Dr Mark: Hi Cory,
Normally, Advantage flea treatment is very effective and continues to control the fleas for a month. However, in very bad flea infestations, I recommend Permoxin spray. Mix this spray with water and place in a spray bottle. Spray your dog daily for 14 days. You should 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. You could also consider having a professional pest exterminator treat the yard outside.
Regards
Dr Mark, BVsc
Q:I want to purchase Revolution for my dogs, but I have one dog that weighs 100 plus pounds. Is the 85 pound limit going to work on him? If not what do you suggest I purchase
Liz G, OH
Dr Mark: Hi Liz,
The largest size Revolution that we sell is the size up to 85 pounds. Dogs that are larger than this, you will need to split a dose to give him extra so that he receives the correct dose for his weight. He will require one pipette plus another half dose or two doses depending on his weight. The best way to do this is to get a syringe and measure out the extra amount necessary.
Regards
Dr Mark, BVsc