New rx needed q year/Q: Do you require a new rx from our vet. for ea. 1 year supply of heartgard? or could i get a refill prn from you? A: It's up to your veterinarian, how often he wants to test for heartworms. some vets will authorize 2 year prescriptions if they know that the pet has taken preventatives every month.
Shop for: heartgard
Changing medicationQ: My dog, a 30 lb mixed breed, who lives in the house has been on revolution since early 2000. i recently bought another six months supply of revolution at the beginning of february and started the applications. i have given him 3 doses since the first of february and he still has fleas. i know i have fleas in my yard as i have another dog, a rotty, living outside and he has fleas. because he weighs 160 lb i cannot afford to buy flea protection for him so i just use topical. my question is, do dogs get immune to the effects of meds after a period of time as humans do? if so, i need to switch but am concerned about overdoing the little guy. is it safe to switch and apply right away? A: Some products do stop working in some pets andit may have to do with resistance on flea end which is only inevitable as these are used over time. you could try another product like frontline plus or advantage.
Shop for: revolution, advantage, frontline plus, frontline
Tapeworm treatmentQ: Cat had fleas, treated. now has tapeworm, tried to treat. purchased tapeworm treatment pills at local pet supply. no instructions came w/the 3 pills. staff in store, no knowledge. how to tx? 1 pill x 3 days, all 3 at once, 1 pill weekly?? no phone number on bottle either. how should it be done? A: I don't know what medication you purchased. if you give me the name of the product, i can try to look it up and answer your question.
Feline acne - chinQ: My 10 year old (15+ lbs.) cat rusty developed a bumpy rash on his chin 3 weeks ago. the vet diagnosed feline acne and advised me not to use plasitic feeding dishes. i have always used ceramic and wash them after every meal. she provided a topical cream to be applied twice daily. i did and the rash became redder and finally became open sores. upon return to the vet rusty was given a shot of "antibiotic" and liquid cefafroxil (5 day supply) with instructions that 3ccs be administered daily. the vet also advised that rusty needs to be brought back in 5 days and i should expect this to be very hard to clear up and ongoing reoccurrences in future. treatment so far has cost $240 and i can expect each additional vist to the vet to cost from $50 to $110. i can't afford this treatment. please advise other options for obtaining appropriate medication for rusty. thanks! A: You could try topical 2.5 percent benzoal peroxide cream over the counter or perhaps even natural aloe vera gel or vitamin e applied to area. most of time these cases of feline acne bother the owner more than the cat and the more aggressive you get, sometimes gets worse.
Shop for: vitamin
Flea & tick control for puppiesQ: What should i purchase for a growing puppy? he is 15 pounds and about 10 weeks old. i hate to purchase a 3 month supply of something he will outgrow before it is all used. A: You don't say how big he will be. if he's going to be under 50 pounds you could get the medium size of lets say frontline plus and when you put on the first one you don't apply the complete tube.
Shop for: frontline plus, frontline
Expiration datesQ: I have a foster cat from my shelter. she has fleas so the shelter gave my some program to use on her since she is a bit feral and not easily handled. when i got home i saw that the program had and expiraton date of 8/97 on it!! should i still use it? A: No. this product expired 7 years ago. i would order a new supply of program, which is over the counter. i would also notify the shelter to have them remove the expired product.
Tear ductsQ: Dr. doctor, my vet said that my shih-tzu (6 years old) has inactive tear ducts. she prescribed cyclosporin op dp2% 3xs daily for 2 weeks. this has been an on going problem for 3 years. i took my pet to an eye specialist approx. 1 1/2 years ago after my vet, at that time, recommenended it. the specialtist prescribed neopolydex and artificial tears ointment. i have spent a mini fortune for these presciptions and visits, which a friend told me i could get tear drops from a pet store and it will work just as good. i want to do what is best for my pet, but as i mentioned, i am spending alot on prescriptions and office visits. thanks for your help. pat A: We can supply the neo poly dex oint and the lubricant eye ointment for you with savings guaranteed at the time of the order. in most probability, the lubricant may be all you need.
Cat is fiv positive and always getting mouth infectionQ: I have a cat i adopted that is fiv positive. jimmy is always getting a mouth infection. the vet has me give him zithromax but it is $45.00 for a 2 week supply. is there anything natural i can give him or something that will assist in taking it away forever. i have had his teeth cleaned twice in the last 4 months to clean out the infection. thank you A: I would have consult with homeopathic vet who can work with you long term on building up his immune system over time. many do phone consultations www.theavh.org. not a quick fix but takes time and patience.
Shop for: homeo
Dry skinQ: My little dog has very dry skin and scratches all of the time, i've tryed different shampoo's and moisturizing shampoo's and nothing seems to help him, what can i do ? A: For many years, pet owners have given fatty acids to their dogs and cats to change a dull, dry coat into a more glossy one. more recently veterinarians have found that fatty acids play important roles in other areas of skin and coat health such as allergies, the control of inflammation, and the function of other body organs in dogs and cats. |we have either 3v caps or dermcaps that supply these fatty acids. information can be found on our website.
Viokase powder & tabletsQ: I have a female akita that will need to take this for the rest of her life and was wondering if the powder & pills are the same or if one is better than the other. the vet said that the pills may not work as well as the powder. do you know? there is quite a price difference between the two items. A: Chemically the powder and the pills are the same. however, the concentration is different. you would need more tablets for an equivalent dose of the powder. also, i understand there are manufacturing and/or supply issues with viokase. you may have to use a product called pancrezyme instead. this is generically equivalent to viokase-v.
Shop for: pancrezyme
