week 4 - June 09

Q: Is the generic form for Heartgard safe to use!
Marie G, Elria, OH (Question of the Week 4 June 09)

Q: My dog has ear infections a lot and I’ve been taken her to the vet and still it comes and goes is there a place I can buy medicine online the vet costs are killing me!
Mark, Derry, NH

A: Some dogs are prone to reoccurring ear infections. Dogs that have pendulous ears that hang down and cover the ear canal are particularly vulnerable. 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. Most of these are prescription only medications and not something that we sell on our site. Once treated, the aim is to prevent reoccurrence of the disease. It is a good idea to keep the hair short on the inside of the ear. I would then recommend frequently using an ear cleaner such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner. I’d recommend applying a dose to each ear two to three times a week over summer and after every time he is bathed or swims. 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 the 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: I heard from another Pet medicine provider that Frontline should not be shipped via air - is that true? If so why is that?.
Kim, USA

A : I have checked with the manufacturer of Frontline and they say that this is not true. All Frontline Topspot and Frontline Plus is made in the one factory in Toulouse in France and then is shipped all over the world to different markets mostly by air transport.

Q: We've had this cat named Sylvia about a year. The best way to describe her is The cat that never smiles, always in a bad mood, she tries to get down when we pick her up. We recently got a 5 week old kitten and Sylvia hisses at her. She's a very unrelaxed cat. It seems she may have been abused in her past. She's about 3 years old now. We are hoping there's some type of medication that would help her. Please provide any advise or recommendations you may have. Thanks very much.
Robert B, Milledgeville, GA

A : Feliway is a synthetic copy of a naturally occurring cat facial pheromone that imparts a feeling of safety and security to cats. It comes as a spray and in a plug in diffuser. It has been shown to help reduce stress in cats and promotes a state of well being and calm. We don’t stock Feliway on our site but your local vet may be able to supply this product for you.
 

Q: My dog has an ear problem for quite some time . The vet was giving him Otomax , which offers a temporary relief. Can you suggest a medication for my dog. This ear infection has a smelly odor & brownish residue . He itches constantly & shakes his head vigorously. It seems that he has transferred this problem to his paws and he constantly licks & sometimes bites his paws & skin . Please reply. Thank You.
Vejay, USA

A  : Some dogs are prone to reoccurring ear infections. Dogs that have pendulous ears that hang down and cover the ear canal are particularly vulnerable. 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. Otomax is usually an effective medication in cases of Otitis Externa. Once treated the aim is to prevent reoccurrence of the disease. It is a good idea to keep the hair short on the inside of the ear. I would then recommend using an ear cleaner frequently such as the Professional Groomer Ear Cleaner. I’d recommend applying a dose to each ear two to three times a week over summer and after every time he is bathed or swims. 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 the 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 the Otomax does not control the infection your vet may need to take a swab of the ear to culture the organism and determine the most appropriate medication. Often ear infections are secondary to an underlying skin condition such as an allergy. You may need to discuss treatment of any underlying skin condition with your vet because if this is left untreated, your dog may continue to have reoccurring bouts of the ear infection.

Q: I have a 12 year old indoor cat, and she is losing chunks of fur, on her left hind leg is thin, you can feel the difference, anywhere else its lots of fur. Its like she was shaved there. What can I do, I haven't changed her diet, she is still full of energy, jumping on the bed, drinks water, nothing has happened in the house, no upsets, nothing, can you please help.
Julie, Canada

A : The condition that you are describing sounds like a condition called pyschogenic over grooming where cats groom themselves excessively and cause hair loss. The hair loss tends to occur in the back half of a cat where they can reach to lick themselves. Many times a cat will not do this in front of her owner so they don’t appear to be over grooming. The condition may be triggered by a number of different reasons such as stress, anxiety or boredom however it is thought that cats that engage in this behavior  usually have an underlying allergy to something such as fleas, pollens or a type of food. You should ensure that you use an effective flea treatment on her such as Revolution or Advantage. If this does not control the condition, there is medication available from your vet that can treat this condition.

Q: I took my cat in for a regular check up and to have a skin problem looked at. After a cytology skin test, they told me she has an allergy. She took clavamox and prednisolone suspension. It cleared up the problem. The problem is back. I can't afford to have any more tests done on her and her condition just seems to get worse. Is there any thing that I can give her to help her. I saw on line an advertisement for some kind of Yucca drops that are suppose to help. What can I do?
Dale, GA

A : Unfortunately, allergies usually cannot be cured but must be controlled on an on going basis. Prednisolone or prednisone are often used to control an allergy and many animals may need to stay on a regular low dose. You should ask your vet for a repeat of the medication. I don’t have any experience with Yucca drops so cannot comment on this product. Supplementing the diet with a fatty acid supplement rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids such as Mega-Coat has been shown to help reduce the allergic response and help in this condition.

Q: I have tried frontline plus and advantix. My female chihuahua has had a reaction to them and has started to loose her hair in patches. I have it finally growing back, but I am now wondering what I can use to control fleas on her. Also, her fur is very dry when it used to be soft. Any suggestions?.
Michelle, LN

A : Hi Michelle,

While reactions to these products are rare, it is possible for a dog to react to any medication. You will need to try different products until you find one that does not affect her in this way. Consider trying Revolution as it is unrelated to both these products. Just like I have recommended Dale (question above), you can opt Mega Coat for supplementing the diet with a fatty acid supplement rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. This will assisting in keeping a healthier coat.

Q: Is there a good OTC remedy to control & relieve itching for a dog? If so does VetShop stock it? Thanks.
Chuck, TX

A : Many dogs with chronic itch need medications which are prescription only however there are a few things that you can do to help. Supplementing the diet with a fatty acid supplement rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids such as Mega-Coat has been shown to help reduce the allergic response and help in this condition. You should also try a shampoo and conditioner shown to reduce the irritation such as the Aloveen shampoo and conditioner.

Q: I have a dog with flea infestation have tried everything use frontline, it doesn't work what should i do?
Nancy, Brooklyn

A : I usually recommend one of the better once a month treatments such as Advantage, Advantix, Revolution or Frontline Plus to control fleas in most dogs. 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.