week 4 - May 09
Q: I just ordered advantage multi for my dog, does he still need to take an additional heartworm medication?
Cindy C, Hudson, FL
A : Advantage Multi, also known as Advocate prevents against heartworm when given at the correct dosage every month. With this product you do not need to give an additional heartworm preventative.
Q: I had to bring my cat to the vet today and they injected some fluid under his skim because he was a little dehydrated .. it created a bubble under his skin but now about 6 to 8 hours later it has moved downward near his elbow .. it that normal or should i call the vet again?.Julie, AR
A: It is normal for fluid administered subcutaneously to move by gravity. The fluid moving like this should not cause any problems for your cat and the lump will slowly be reabsorbed and reduce in size.
Q: I have a cocker spaniel that weighs just at 20# .Should I go up to the next weight packet of advantix k9 for her?
Slyvia S, Old Town, FL
A: The Advantix is a safe product so if you were to go up to the next size, you may find that the product works better, as there is more active ingredient on the coat, lasts longer and if your dog was to increase in size she will still be adequately covered.
Q: What can I do to keep my dog from shedding so much?
Pamela H, Ridgeway, VI
A : There is nothing really effective that you can give a dog to stop them 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.
A coat conditioner such as Mega-Coat is high in essential omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and does help maintain coat condition if the hair loss is due to hair breakage however will not stop normal shedding.
Q: Advocate, controls worms plus other things, should you be giving you pet Advocate every month or every 2 months, because I feel all worms should be distroyed by then. I don't want to give my pet an over dose. please, give me some feed back. Thank you Peg.
Peggy H, Tacoma, WA
A: Advocate should be administered every month. Administering every two months is not sufficient to control heartworm or fleas that this product controls.
Q: what is the shelf life of frontline plus?
John M, Santa Barbara, CA
A : Frontline Plus has a very long shelf life. In the US the product is sold with no expiry date, however in other countries expiry dates are required by law. In Australia where we are based an expiry date is required. When we receive stock from the manufacturer the expiry date is usually 2 to 3 years after the date of manufacture
Q: My dog hasn't eaten for a couple days. He looks likes he's pregnant or something, his stomach is completely bulging but he's so skinny on top. He's extremely lethargic. Is he constipated? Our vet is closed til tomorrow, so we'll bring him in in the morning. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, but is breathing weird.
Ali M, Littleton, CO
A: Those signs do sound quite serious. I’d try to take him to a vet as soon as you can. It is possible that he is constipated however those signs can also be due to other diseases. Constipation can cause very serious health complications in dogs.
Q: I have been giving my 11 yo golden retriever GLC 1000, a glucosamine supplement. Is there any significant difference from the product you sell (GLC uses bovine trachea, yours uses shark, etc; Is either one more beneficial or better absorbed, or safer.
Judy, PA
A: The GLC 1000 is a combination product which contains glucosamine, chondroitin, Vitamin C (Ascorbate), and Manganese. The closest product that we have to this is the Joint Guard, which contains all of these ingredients. The glucosamine tablets that we have only contain glucosamine. I believe that all products would be safe and don’t know if any would be more effective than any other. Glucosamine and Chondroitin from shark cartilage is effective and easily absorbed.
Q: I have a small dog (6 pounds). I would like to use Frontline Plus for flea protection but I am concerned about using the under 22 pounds dosage because my dog is so small. Can I use a syringe to draw out half the volume in each vial and still have a month of coverage?
Dana, MS
A: The manufacturer does say that the product is safe for all dogs up to 22 lbs. As your dog is only 6 pounds it is fine to give only half of the vial each month. Each vial of the small size contains 0.67mls so you would need a very small syringe that can measure out 0.33mls. It would also not be a good idea to keep the other half of the vial until next month as there is no way of knowing whether or not the remaining half would be effective once it has been opened and exposed to air for that length of time.
Q: I used Sergeant's Gold squeeze-on for fleas on my cat. She was a little sick for two days and the hair came off in two spots. Now I am afraid to use anything for the fleas. My brother in law gets his from the Vetshopon line. I think the Sergeant's was to toxic for my cat. Would it be safe to use the Frontline or advantage or her next month. Hanna is my baby now that the kids are gone and don't want to hurt her. Would it be safe to use your products? .
Jessica, MO
A: There have been a number of reports lately in the media of pets, in particular cats, reacting to flea drops made by Sergeant’s or Hartz. I do not recommend that you continue to use the Sergeant’s drops on your cats. The brands that we sell are those available from your local vet. Both Frontline Plus and Advantage are very safe and effective and should work well for your Hanna.