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Week 2 - July 08, Weekly Ask a Vet Q&A

 

 

  • Question: I have a cockapoo named Bear. He is 2 1/2 years old & weighs 30 pounds. He has had trouble with reactions to 2 different types of flea medicine. The first one was Revolution. This burned his skin & hair and made him very lethargic for a couple of days. The second thing we tried was Advantix (21-55 lbs) and Interceptor for heartworm. He was very out of sorts for several days after giving him these. Mostly lethargic, some diarrhea and vomiting. He normally has a lot of energy so it was worrisome to see him this way. I really hate to keep giving meds to my dog and have him be sick for a few days after. What do you suggest? Should I just keep trying different kinds of treatments?

    Is Frontline Plus for cats for any size cat? It didn't mention if it was safe for cats of all sizes. Gizmo doesn't wear near as much as Jasper does. She is a smaller cat.
    Kendra, St Joseph, IL
  • Answer: Unfortunately sensitivity to a flea medication is an individual reaction and there is no way of knowing whether or not your dog will react to a product until you try. You may like to try 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.

    The Frontline Plus for cats covers most average cat sizes, up to 16 lbs of body weight and is safe for all cats over 8 weeks of age up to this weight.
    • Viewer Comment : Hello, I have 2 cats 2 years old. I have tried both Frontline Plus and Advantage for cats and I find that every time I use Frontline (it's usually a bit cheaper and covers ticks also) my cats are lethargic for at least one day and for at least a week are very sensitive and itchy at the application site. Also it mats their hair (they have long hair) and feels hard after a couple of days. I recommend Advantage even though you have to buy the meds for the different weight groups. My little girl Carlotta is petite and my Sugar Bear is a monster :). Hope this helps anyone sitting on the fence between those two products. I was going to try Revolution but decided I will stick to what I KNOW works for my cats.
      Regards,
      Pegi
      Stockton, CA

 

  • Question: what meds are ok for pain for my cat spike he is on antibotics for a sinus infetion and his nose was all crusty so i cleaned it off and it was stuck and its all sore and now is all scaby with blood bits.
    Lexie S, Perry, MI
  • Answer: You need to be very careful with painkillers for cats and we do not stock these sorts of medications. It is best that you discuss this with the vet who is currently treating your cat.

 

  • Question: We have a 9 week old puppy. He had his first jab on Monday. Due to have his 2nd jab in two weeks. Our friends want to come & see him, however they have a puppy who has just recovered from Parvo. We have said they can not bring their dog, however I am now worried that our puppy can still catch it through their shoes/clothing? Is this true? As I have heard it stays in houses for 6 months. How long will we need to leave it before the two puppys can meet? Thank you
    Beccy, UK
  • Answer: Parvovirus is a very serious disease and is highly contagious. It can last a long time in the environment  - even up to 7 months in the right conditions - and can be spread by people, on their shoes, hands, clothing, car tires etc. It can be difficult to disinfect against the virus as many disinfectants do not kill the virus. I would try and discourage any contact with dogs or people who may carry the disease and do not recommend that your dog comes in contact with a dog that has had parvo until he is fully vaccinated for the disease. The vaccination regime depends on the vaccines used but 4 or even 5 injections may be required before your pup is completely covered against the disease.

 

  • Question: I was wondering what you recommend for fleas on dogs Advantage of Frontline?
    Deana, CA
  • Answer:Both products can be very effective depending on your circumstances. Each have advantages and disadvantages.

    Advantage is easy to use, can be applied after bathing, safe for use on both dogs and cats. It is very fast acting. Advantage crystals also fall from the pets coat into areas where they rest a lot or their bedding where it will kill the developing flea larva. Advantage may not last as long as other products if your pet is bathed often or swims a lot.

    Frontline Plus – is easy to use, controls ticks as well as fleas, safe for use on dogs and cats.
    Frontline Plus is more water resistant than other meds so is good for dogs that swim a lot or are frequently bathed. Frontline Plus contains an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to kill flea eggs and larvae. Do not bathe animals for 48 hours prior to and after application.

 

  • Question: We have tried every shampoo and other over the counter medicine and so have the previous owners of our Scottish Wheeten, now 11 years old. She get these bumps all over her back and finally took her to a Vet and she prescribed a steroid and another medication. Brittany itches like crazy. the bumps have just begun and want to catch them before it get bad.
    Bob R , Cayuhoga Falls, MI
  • Answer: Skin conditions can be very difficult to treats at times and need to be thoroughly investigated to determine the exact cause and the best course of treatment. If the problem has started to occur again you should visit the vet again for more medication.

 

  • Question: We have Bird Mites in our home and on our dog and cats. Will Frontline Plus kill the mites and if not what do you reccomend to protect the animals? Thanks
    Rob A, CI
  • Answer: Some pet owners have found Frontline to be effective against Bird mites, however this product is not actually registered for this purpose. Another treatment that has been shown to be effective is an Amitraz wash such as the Demadex wash which is a very effective mitacide.


     
  • Question:  My toy poodle likes to drag her behind on my living room carpet. I had her dewormed a couple of weeks ago but it hasn't helped. What else causes itchy fannies?
    Sharon, GE
  • Answer: Dragging the behind along is called Scooting and is usually caused by either impacted anal glands or tapeworms. Anal glands are two small glands about the size of an almond, located on each side of a dogs anus. Anal glands help dogs to mark their territory. They usually empty themselves when a dog defecates. Sometimes they can become blocked and unable to empty by themselves. When this happens your dog feels a constant unpleasant and uncomfortabe pressure, so drags their rear across the ground to try and relieve this feeling. Your veterinarian can empty or "express" the glands. Sometimes the glands can become infected and require antibiotic treatment. Adding fiber to a dogs diet can help stimulate the glands to empty when a dog defecates. A small dog like yours can be given half of a level table spoon of bran each day mixed through the food.

     

 

  • Question: My dogs are getting these baldy spots near the end of their tails, I think they are scratching it so much that it is losing hair and sometimes getting irritated. Is this just a summer thing? or should I be worried about some skin infection?? Thank you
    Abba, CA
  • Answer: Very often a dog will chew at it’s skin because of an allergy. A very common allergy is due to fleas so you should ensure that you are using one of the more effective flea treatments such as Advantage, Revolution or Frontline Plus to make sure that fleas are not the problem. If this does not solve the condition you should have your dogs checked by a vet as it may be another problem  such as a skin infection.

 

  • Question: I am retired on a fixed income. Is there a dip i can use on my 3 cats for ticks instead of Frontline since Frontline is so expensive? Thank you.
    Fred H, Junction, TX
  • Answer:Many chemicals used for tick control on dogs are very toxic to cats, and most are not particularly effective. Frontline is a lot more effective and often works out better value in the long run

 

  • Question: My cat has a cold and was wondering what to give her. She has a stuffy nose and can not breath through her nose.
    Melissa R, St Louis, MO
  • Answer: You should have your cat checked by a vet as many of these cat flu type infections that cats get can be very serious.

    One of the best treatments for congestion is steam. One easy way is to place her in a basket on the floor of the bathroom when you have a hot shower. The steam that she breathes in will help break down the mucus which is causing the congestion. If you have a vaporizer as is used for children this will also help.

 

  • Question: My chocolate lab gets stressed out by thunderstorms & loud noises. Our vet is out of town so I was looking into some of the over the counter stress relievers for dogs. 1 Do they work? 2 Are the safe for dogs. I know most contain herbs as chamomille; ginger & so on. With July 4th coming up I am worried. Thank you
    Joanne, PA
  • Answer: Most over the counter products will only help in mild cases but they are safe. Even medication only masks the symptoms. Most animal behavior experts agree that the most effective treatment is a desensitization program. You should consider the Dogs & Loud Noises CD available on our site. It has recordings of thunder, fireworks etc to be used in a desensitization program.

 

 

 

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