| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| ear flap swelling | 11/21/2009 |
Q: my part, great pyrenees/spanial mix dog, weighing about 110 lbs and is 13.5 yrs, in great health it ...
A: This is probably an aural hematoma, which is a pocket of blood between the skin and the cartilage. ...
|
| 25 week Scottish Terrier | 11/20/2009 |
Q: My Scottie has been a happy, active and energetic little guy since the day I brought him home. He's ...
A: There are probably 2 things going on here. The skin may be itching from the poison ivy, which is ...
|
| Black Lab "odor" | 11/19/2009 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf Our 11 year old black lab has a really offensive "doggy" odor problem that we can't ...
A: Most of the time doggie odor is a combination of oils on the skin and bacterial infection. If there ...
|
| Bald spot | 11/14/2009 |
Q: Our dog is 4 years old (no prior health problems), and recently she has started licking her front ...
A: This is called a lick granuloma. IT is an obsessive-compulsive disorder that may require something ...
|
| Problem with the tail | 11/14/2009 |
Q: I have a 11 month old American Eskimo/Maltese dog that keeps chasing her tail, biting it and pulling ...
A: Sometimes it is compulsive, but sometimes it is rectal pain or cramps. Often the tail itches. Ask ...
|
| recurring itchy dog rashes | 11/13/2009 |
Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old rat terrier mix whom I adopted from a rescue organization as a puppy. Since ...
A: I agree with the possibility of allergies. Thyere is a drug called ATOPICA (cyclosporine) that has ...
|
| my 8 yr old sheltie | 11/11/2009 |
Q: Please help: my sheltie is exhibiting dry, itchy, scaly,and bumpy patches all over his body. This ...
A: If these patches are bumpy, then I would first think of a bacterial infection in the skin. He may ...
|
| Springer Ears | 11/7/2009 |
Q: I have three Springers, Two of they have very bad ears. Their ears smell really bad and drain brown ...
A: I would suggest that you find a vet that does a lot of ears and skin. Ear cleaning requires special ...
|
| ear question about my cat | 11/7/2009 |
Q: We are at our witts end. We have been to the vet twice now and have treated the cat for what we ...
A: Cats are very prone to getting middle ear disease, which makes mucus in the ear canal and can be ...
|
| cat has dirty ears the day after i clean them | 11/6/2009 |
Q: I have 2 cats they are siblings from the same litter and are 17 months old. The girl has very clean ...
A: Just having an overproduction of wax is OK as long as the cat is not symptomatic...scratching, ...
|
| Cat fat infection? | 11/5/2009 |
Q: My dog bit a neighbor's outdoor cat. I am paying the vet bills. The vet put the cat through surgery ...
A: Yes. Cats often get abscesses, which is a spreading infection under the skin. It is common for the ...
|
| cyst that burst | 11/4/2009 |
Q: I have a 16 year old Australian Shepard. A few days ago she presented with what looked to be a ...
A: Cysts are common. If you are treating it, you are only treating one small area of something ...
|
| flakes in cat hair | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I have a 14 months old persian female cat. I noticed lately that there are some tiny flakes attached ...
A: In a Persian, I would be worried about ringworm fungi. Let your vet look at the cat and possibly do ...
|
| lumps on my 7 yr old female German Shepard | 11/2/2009 |
Q: She was poisioned June 24 2009. We had to take her to a new Vet. The vet did save her life but since ...
A: If there is a wound, then the lymph nodes are responsible for draining the area and making immunity ...
|
| beagle ear flap filling with fluid | 11/1/2009 |
Q: we have a beagle that his one ear flap fills with fluid we drained it once and it was just bright ...
A: This is an aural hematoma and it requires surgery to fix it properly. The blood and clots are ...
|
| Our bulldog | 10/25/2009 |
Q: We have an English Bulldog that is brindle in color. She was given to us about one and a half years ...
A: There are many reasons for itching including parasites like sarcoptic mange, allergies, infections ...
|
| Miniature Schnauzer ear problem | 10/24/2009 |
Q: My miniature schnauzer has developed thickening of the tips of the ear flaps and these have become ...
A: This sounds like a vasculitis, which is an inflammation of the tiny blood vessels at the tips of the ...
|
| Cutaneous Aesthenia | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I have a 2 1/2 yr old Golden Retriever.Who has stretchy skin and erratic movement.He's having a ...
A: A skin biopsy will tell your vet if it is Cutaneous Asthenia or something else. The one dog and two ...
|
| itchy bichon | 10/9/2009 |
Q: my dog mollie is a bichon frise , she is 14 weeks old.. when i got her she had ear mites so my vet ...
A: It could be flea bites or sarcoptic mange. The flea medicines are not repellants and do not prevent ...
|
| Demodicosis mange | 10/8/2009 |
Q: I have a 2 pound 2 ozs 5 month female chihuahua who have demodicosis mange and is seeing a vet for ...
A: Young puppies do not have much cell mediated immunity. That will take time for it to develop. ...
|
| Demodex Mange in young dog | 10/3/2009 |
Q: My dog was just diagnosed with generalized demodetic mange through a skin scraping. He's about 23 ...
A: Adult onset demodex is hard to cure. The skin may look better after 30 days of ivermectin, but it ...
|
| pug with itching problem | 10/1/2009 |
Q: We have only had him for about 2 months. When we first got Piggy, he was fine. After a couple of ...
A: When dogs on steroids itch that much, I have to think about some kind of parasitic problem, like ...
|
| Black skin | 9/27/2009 |
Q: My yellow lab had a severe allergic reaction to what we think were red ant bites a couple of months ...
A: In those areas, I would think of chafing causing the skin to thicken and pigment in her armpits. ...
|
| Skin Disorders | 9/26/2009 |
Q: I have noticed here lately that my 2 female long haired dachshunds have been scratching all the ...
A: There may be some allergies going on in the two dogs that are itching. Because all of the dogs are ...
|
| Puffy swollen ear on my dog | 9/24/2009 |
Q: My dog woke up unhappy and shaking his head,with a puffy red hot ear, brought him to the vet asap ...
A: I would not relate these two events together. Aural hematoma results from shaking the head. If ...
|
| INGROWING HAIR FOLLOCLE | 9/20/2009 |
Q: CAN I CURE INGROWING HAIR FOLLICLES ON MY GERMAN SHEPPARD
A: These require removal. The hairs grow back into the skin and create a foreign body reaction. ...
|
| excessive hair fall | 9/18/2009 |
Q: My doggy is at the age of 6 months (golden labrador) and recently he is having excessive hair fall. ...
A: Some puppies lose hair and then it regrows. Other pups have mange mites that affect the hair ...
|
| Boston Terrier Loosing Hair | 9/18/2009 |
Q: I have a 16 month old Boston Terrier male (acquired at 8 mos). Neutered in July, 09. Since about 1 ...
A: If you suspect mites, either demodex or sarcoptes, they will need treatment. If your funds are low, ...
|
| ear infections | 9/17/2009 |
Q: My dog is a three year old golden retriever.Shes constantly scratching her ears.when we take her ...
A: There are two great topical ear mite medications I use, Accarex and Milbemite. I also give ...
|
| Lip Droop & Balance Problems | 9/17/2009 |
Q: I have a 5 year old German Shep/Lab mix. He's always been healthy except for some mild allergies ...
A: This does seem like a balance problem and that indicates an inner ear problem. YOu can ask your vet ...
|
| Siberian Husky Nose Issues | 9/12/2009 |
Q: We have two Siberian Huskies who are litter mates, Ace and Zephyr. They are a little over 3 years ...
A: Simplicef is an antibiotic and will only help a bacterial infection, It will do nothing for any ...
|
| white german shepard with persistent itching on both sides? | 9/11/2009 |
Q: I have a female white German Shepard approx 6 yrs old who has persistent itching on both sides of ...
A: She is probably allergic to something. Ask your vet to give her a shot of Dexamethasone. Wait a ...
|
| My 10wk GSD | 9/9/2009 |
Q: Hey Dr Gotthelf, I have a healthy PB GSD who is current with all routine vaccinations and well ...
A: Many young pups itch because of a food allergy. Yeast is a secondary infection and itches like ...
|
| skin rah/disorder | 9/8/2009 |
Q: My schnauzer (miniature mix with Pekinese) is 3 yrs old. He does got to a vet. Just recently (about ...
A: The brown stain you are seeing is a pigment from his saliva staining the hair coat. That indicates ...
|
| Swelling after surgery | 9/3/2009 |
Q: I have a nine year old boxer who just had stiches taken out of her leg. It has been about a week ...
A: It sounds to me like they put in a continuous absorbable suture under the skin to close it. By ...
|
| strange ear | 9/2/2009 |
Q: My pug's ear looks strange inside. One ear looks completely normal, yet the other looks very "bumpy" ...
A: Pugs are very prone to small tumors or increases in the thickness of the skin of the ear and ear ...
|
| Ear mites and miticide | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I noticed my cat, Marco (male, aprox 5 years old) had signs of ear mites. I purchased miticide and ...
A: Did you actually see mites before you put in the miticide? Older cats with ear problems usually ...
|
| Cats Fleas Scratching | 9/1/2009 |
Q: Gotthelf. I have 3 cats who go in and out of the house all day. I've used Frontline as directed ...
A: The black "crumbs" are most likely flea "poops" composed of your cat's dried blood. Frontline is ...
|
| Round raised bump on dog's leg | 8/31/2009 |
Q: My dog has a round, hard, raised bump on his hind leg, about the diameter of a dime. It is not red, ...
A: IF this just cam up, it may be an immediate hypersensitivity reaction to something in the woods. ...
|
| Diabetic Cat - Boarding Decision | 8/28/2009 |
Q: I'm going away for a week. My cat has been pre-diabetic for years but 3 weeks ago was diagnosed with ...
A: I would definitely board this cat with a vet clinic!!! Even during holidays, someone checks the ...
|
| Fleas | 8/28/2009 |
Q: we always use frontline plus and heartgard plus on are two dogs (one is a pomeranian about 9 lbs, ...
A: The answer to the first question is that your dog can get on a short course of steroids for the ...
|
| Fleas | 8/26/2009 |
Q: we always use frontline plus and heartgard plus on are two dogs (one is a pomeranian about 9 lbs, ...
A: I deal with this exact problem all summer long in the SOutheast. Fleas inthe environment are the ...
|
| 6 month old English Mastiff with chronic diarrhea | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I have a 6 month old English mastiff who has had diarrhea since the first day I brought him home. ...
A: Do you know if he has been on metronidazole? That is a drug that kills many of the microscopic ...
|
| Wobbly Kitten | 8/23/2009 |
Q: My queen cat (age 1 1/2) had her first litter of kittens about 6 weeks ago. As the kittens got ...
A: IT could be the maggot, it could be an inner ear problem , or it could be a birth defect affecting ...
|
| Spayed cat acting like she's in heat | 8/21/2009 |
Q: My cat was spayed in March. A month or so later a long piece of plastic started working its way out ...
A: This could just be cat affectionate behavior. IF the uterus and ovaries were removed, there is no ...
|
| Skin irritation | 8/19/2009 |
Q: My dog is 4 years old and is a Yorkie mix. For his entire life he has had some sort of skin allergy ...
A: In this case, the first thing I would do is to treat him with a dip in either phosmet or amitraz to ...
|
| Bott fly | 8/19/2009 |
Q: What does a bott fly infection on a dog look like? Does it look like a big scab? My dog has a scab ...
A: I am not aware that dogs get Bot Flies. Bot flies lay eggs on the surface of horse skin and the ...
|
| Vitiligo in Manchester mix | 8/18/2009 |
Q: I adopted a black Manchester mix,about a year ago and a few months ago I noticed some white flecks ...
A: The white flecks and vitiligo do not go together. Vitiligo is an absence of pigment production in ...
|
| german shepherd arthritis in hip leg joint | 8/12/2009 |
Q: my german shepherd is losing use of her back legs due to arthritis. she weighs 80lbs and i cant ...
A: Glucosamine and chondroitin have been scientifically proven not to be very useful in arthritis. ...
|
| ear/tooth problem | 8/11/2009 |
Q: My cat is just under one year old. He was a stray and about a month old when we found him. About 5 ...
A: He is a little young for allergies, so I would have to say that pain is the problem. If there was ...
|
| HAIR LOSS | 8/10/2009 |
Q: I HAVE A 15 MONTH OLD CHIHUAHUA/YORKIE MIX. I ADOPTED HIM WHEN HE WAS 1 YEAR OLD AND I NEVER NOTICED ...
A: There are so many reasons for hair loss. If he is itchy and chewing or rubbing the hair off, then ...
|
| ear infection | 8/8/2009 |
Q: My Vet said my 7 year old female cat has a yeast ear infection. He gave me oti-clens and mometamax ...
A: Actually, yeast infections are uncommon in cats. The yeast they get is non-pathogenic. The ...
|
| Yeast infection in our mastiff's ears | 8/6/2009 |
Q: Our english mastiff has had a yeast infection in his ears and skin. His vet gave us ear drops and ...
A: Almost every ear infection in dogs is the result of allergies. So you will need to identify or ...
|
| Skin Rash/Tumour on Scotty | 8/2/2009 |
Q: Hope you van help because my Vet has cost £500 with no real help. Merlin is 18months old, a growth ...
A: You did not say what the biopsy showed, just that it showed no malignancy. But what did the report ...
|
| Red spots on dog's lower abdomen | 8/2/2009 |
Q: My 8 month old silky terrier has various sizes of small reddish, dark brown spots on her lower ...
A: Most likely, this is a Staph bacterial infection. It is very common in puppies. If she is OK with ...
|
| Cats | 7/29/2009 |
Q: This is not a disease. I would like to know what to do ? This is the first time I had a indoor cat ...
A: Cats cycle just like women every 28 days during the early part of the year. The rest of the year ...
|
| puppy scrating hair out | 7/27/2009 |
Q: MY BICHION PUPPY IS CONSTANTLY SCRATCHING HERSELF. SHE IS 4 MONTHS OLD. I'VE WASHED HER IN OATMEAL ...
A: They can get sarcoptic mange from many sources including the mother, any animal they contact, and ...
|
| dog skin | 7/26/2009 |
Q: Hey Doc my dog has had skin allergies for as long as i can remember. she is a blue pit and a little ...
A: You can soak her feet in a 50:50 mixture of vinegar and water. Young dogs with allergies often are ...
|
| cellulitis & swollen abdomen | 7/25/2009 |
Q: My dog, Coco, had an operation for a mast stem tumour on her leg in March, and another in June in ...
A: Dogs with systemic mast cell tumors often have stomach problems. Mast cell tumors make lots of ...
|
| odiferous dog | 7/24/2009 |
Q: Dr--I have washed dog 2x in 3 weeks. He is 10yrs., healthy, no change in behavior. Order has ...
A: Any shampoo with salacylic acid can be used for the odor problems. Salacylic acid removes the dead ...
|
| Carpal pad hair discoloration? | 7/14/2009 |
Q: Louis N. Gotthelf, I have 2 black haired labradoodle pups about 6 months of age and I recently ...
A: There are many reasons for discolored hairs on the feet. Licking is one of them. Intstinal ...
|
| dog wont eat | 7/12/2009 |
Q: i cant get our new puppy to eat anything from puppy chow gibbles bitz etc even canned food?
A: HAs he been checked for worms? YOu can try milk products like cottage cheese. There is a product ...
|
| just a quick simple question | 7/12/2009 |
Q: just a quick simple question I have 2 cats one everyone says she is the runt of the litter.. She is ...
A: There are some small framed cats. That is genetic. It does not mean that the smaller cat is ...
|
| Asymmetrical appearance of Ears | 7/8/2009 |
Q: My pom's ears have always been fine, but last Sunday, when his ears are in relax condition, his left ...
A: This could be a problem with the muscles on the head. Has there been any loss of tissue where the ...
|
| Cat having balance, weight problems. | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I have a cat who is approx 9-12 years old. In the last few months she has dramatically lost a lot ...
A: I think the cat needs to be seen now and not in August!!! She may have something serious going on ...
|
| my 10 month old pitbull is having a breakout | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I have a 10 month old baby girl pitbull.She is white with black spots. She is breaking out in what ...
A: Most likely this is a bacterial skin infection. It is common in puppies. You can ask your vet for ...
|
| Dachshund Skin Condition | 7/5/2009 |
Q: My 4 year old male dauchshund has is being treated with prednisone and clavamox for his skin ...
A: IT does take some time for the infection to go away. Depending on the dose of prednisone, the ...
|
| demodex australian shepard | 7/4/2009 |
Q: CAN YOU USE PROMERIS BI-WEEKLY ALONG WITH INTERCEPTER DAILY TO CURE DEMODEX MANGE ON MY AUSTRALIAN ...
A: Yes, that is an alternative therapy. Promeris contains amitraz, which is the normal topical ...
|
| Skin Irritation | 6/30/2009 |
Q: We have a lab that has red bumps with scabs in her ear and there are similar ones on her front legs ...
A: This looks like self trauma. Does she have an ear infection? SOmetimes these lesions on the legs ...
|
| Cushings Disease | 6/29/2009 |
Q: My dog has Cushing Disease.for a month now my Vet has her taking Mitotane 750mg twice a week, but ...
A: Mitotane kills off the adrenal gland. Only a part of the adrenal gland makes cortisol. There are ...
|
| pup constipated | 6/28/2009 |
Q: I have 10 day old puppy. His stomach is very distended and I haven't seen the pup have a bowel ...
A: YOu can just use more concentrated milk to help relieve him. Also, you can mimic the mother by ...
|
| hair loss & death in puppy | 6/28/2009 |
Q: my dad got my kids a perfectly heath puppy then a week ago it started getting sores on its ears and ...
A: I cannot be very specific, but 2 things come to mind. First is demodex mange, this will cause hair ...
|
| virus | 6/27/2009 |
Q: My new cat might have either calici virus or herpes. She does not have any nasal discharge, ...
A: Although this can be viral, it can also be chlamydia. The other cats that are vaccinated should be ...
|
| hair loss | 6/26/2009 |
Q: FIRST OS ALL THANKYOU FOR TAKING THIS TIME OUT TO ANSWER MY QUESTION. MY DOG IS 2 AND SHE IS LOSING ...
A: This could be allergies. You can bathe her frequently, put her on fish oil supplements (Omega 3 ...
|
| dog that scratches a lot | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I have a blue heeler/ black lab mix and he has scratched so much he is missing a lot of hair on his ...
A: This could be mange but it could also be an allergy. YOu should check with your vet and have him ...
|
| Skin, Ears, belly | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I have a 4 year old shar-pei, we lived in Indiana for most of his life. Through the years I have ...
A: Allergies can be year round, so treating intermittently will allow the allergies to flare up ...
|
| Ear infection in dog | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I have a rot/chow mix 11year old dog years ago she had an ear infection and I took he to the vet. ...
A: You can use a 50:50 mixture of vinegar and water as an ear flush. That will help disinfect the ear ...
|
| my cat is sick | 6/20/2009 |
Q: My cat's lost all its hair on both ears, they seem to be bleeding on the outside and it has been ...
A: I would first check for ringworn for the hair loss on the ears. If the cat is outside and the ears ...
|
| My English Bulldogs Dry Itchy Ears... | 6/19/2009 |
Q: My bulldog has been shacking his head and scratching his ears for about two weeks now and I don't ...
A: This sounds like an allergic ear to me. Often the ears with get red and itchy, often dry and scaly. ...
|
| Pregnant with possible threat of mange? | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I recently found a stray puppy near my home and took it in hoping to find its owner or a good home. ...
A: There are 2 types of mange, demodectic and sarcoptic. Demodex is not contagious to people, but ...
|
| Matted fur | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I have a cat that we found as a stray. We brought her home with us and she put on a little weight. ...
A: MAtted hair is pulling up on the skin and it is painful. Owners who try and remove matts often cut ...
|
| hair fall !! | 6/12/2009 |
Q: I have a yellow lab, he is 1 yr 8 months old. he is healthy but sheds lots of hair every day , i ...
A: Labs do shed in the summertime. Some labs have low thyroid levels, which will make the hair fall ...
|
| ongoing skin condition in older collie | 6/10/2009 |
Q: We adopted a rough collie a couple months ago, and were told that she had very bad flea allergies, ...
A: If she is still on high doses of cortisone and antihistamines and still itches, then it may be ...
|
| Evil Flies!!! | 6/9/2009 |
Q: My German Shepherd has got flies attacking her! They are biting her, and they have the tips of her ...
A: There is a product called VIP Fly Repellent that you goop on the ear tips once or twice a day. ...
|
| cat flea treatment | 6/9/2009 |
Q: Dr, I realize this question isn't specifically a dermatological question, but fleas can be ...
A: Depending on which topical flea treatment you use, they do spread all over the cat's body. Some act ...
|
| Ear infection and convulsion | 6/7/2009 |
Q: My dog is very sick and I don't knot what else should I do, I already took him to a vet near my home ...
A: You did not indicate if the vet ran any blood tests to check for kidney function, anemia, infecton, ...
|
| Ears | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I am the owner of a 2 year old male ragdoll cat, an 6 year old tabby, and a 7 year old chow chow I ...
A: Without actually having an ear exam, I cannot be sure, but it seems as if the mites are spreading. ...
|
| 14 day old kitten care | 6/4/2009 |
Q: We recently found two (im guessing 10-14 days old)kittens. The mother and rest of litter was killed. ...
A: KMR is pretty digestible, so they may not make much fecal material. Stimulate the belly with a ...
|
| kennel Cough | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I have a Doberman pinscher mix he is about 4 months i got him at the shelter two weeks ago and ...
A: IF it is kennel cough it can take weeks for the cough to resolve. Ifhe is still eating and drinking ...
|
| Cauliflower like spot on dog's nose | 6/3/2009 |
Q: My (almost) two year old dog, a peekapoo, had a hard spot on her nose. It looked like dirt but upon ...
A: This is most likely a small tumor of the oil gland on he skin. It could be a sebaceous adenoma. ...
|
| 1 week puppy feeding and caring | 6/2/2009 |
Q: I kinda need help on caring for him untill i kno he is good to go
A: Use a bitch's milk replacer, like Esbilac and dilute it with warm water. Feed the pup what is will ...
|
| sudden deafness | 6/2/2009 |
Q: My 12 yr old corgi has had sudden hearing loss. The vet doesn't see anything and says the only thing ...
A: IF the dog is truly deaf, then this would have to be in both ears. If a dog is deaf in only one ...
|
| soreness | 6/1/2009 |
Q: What causes my dog to yelp in pain each time you touch her. It seems anywhere on her upper body, ...
A: Obviously, there are many possibilities to this sopreness. It could be skin sensitivity, a bad ...
|
| steroids | 5/31/2009 |
Q: copd in dogs, taken Depo Medrol/pen, how dangerous is it to be given this on a regular base? I know ...
A: The problem with DepoMedrol in dogs is that once the shot has been given, there is no control on how ...
|
| Red Raised bumps with puss | 5/30/2009 |
Q: My Queensland Heeler has red raised bumps that are filled with puss and seem to be appearing rapidly ...
A: This is most likely an infection. She may need a 2 week course of antibiotics to help. YOu can ...
|
| panosteists / skin care | 5/26/2009 |
Q: "Hello, Thank you for taking the time to answer this question. I would like to know your thoughts ...
A: I am not sure if it has ever been confirmed that food has any relationship to panosteitis. There is ...
|
| dog allergies (yeast) | 5/26/2009 |
Q: I have an 8 year old springer which i know is prone to skin allergies. My vet told me that she has ...
A: All steroids will do is to reduce the itching. If you want to kill the yeasts, then use the ...
|
| daschound with lots of really bad skin problems | 5/9/2009 |
Q: i have 4 1/2yr old daschound who has really bad skin problems, her skin is dry and bumps come out ...
A: WIth all of the vets and the specialists you have seen, it is hard for me to guess what may be the ...
|
| Rash on both dogs | 5/9/2009 |
Q: both of my dogs started with a rash today near their private areas. They are outside a lot, would ...
A: If they are both bothered, then there may be something outside that may be causing this. YOu should ...
|
| my new puppy | 4/27/2009 |
Q: i just got a 4week year old puppy. he is half pittbull and half german Shepperd. we have tried to ...
A: He may get diarrhea from whole cow's milk, so dilute it. Add a little honey or pancake syrup to the ...
|
| Ear Care for basset hounds | 4/26/2009 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I have a 2 yr old basset that i just adopted from the pound. I took him to the vet ...
A: It is hard to prevent ear infections since in Bassetts, they have a genetic predisposition to yeast ...
|
| Cat with head tilt | 4/25/2009 |
Q: My 1 year old Female DSH has a head tilt, down and to the left, Pet is lethargic and has had a ...
A: Head tilt indicates an inner ear problem. You cannot diagnose that from looking at the ears. ...
|
| rotti problem | 4/25/2009 |
Q: it has apear on hes hipps a bit of a hair loos. we was to the wet, he had all the skin tests of that ...
A: I cannot diagnose on the internet. I would have to know what the disease is to help you with ...
|
| Confused dog health issue | 4/20/2009 |
Q: "Hello, this is a strange story but try to bear with it, its important to me. for a couple of weeks ...
A: Your vet has made some kind of tentative diagnosis and wants you to confirm it with other tests. Of ...
|
| Infection in German Sheperd | 4/18/2009 |
Q: My German Sheperd is suffering from infections for last 2 months. Photo attached Despite on ...
A: nb German Shepherds, they get fistulas in their tissue surrounding the rectum. Your vet may ...
|
| black stuff in dog's ears | 4/14/2009 |
Q: I hate to bother you, but we don't have the money to take our dog to the vet, and he's always had ...
A: You can mix vinegar with water in even amounts and flush the ear three times a day. Sometimes there ...
|
| tapeworm | 4/11/2009 |
Q: I bought roundworm wormer before I went on the internet and to do a lil research. I realized that ...
A: No. The roundworm dewormer will not kill tapeworms. It is very difficult to kill tapeworms in ...
|
| Dog's Eye | 4/9/2009 |
Q: I have a 4 year old Viszla. I've noticed for a couple of months now that he a small raised black ...
A: There are a few tumors and cysts that can show up on the eyelids. Have your vet look at it. I have ...
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| food allergies | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I have a cat that has severe food allergies. He has had several depomedrol shots. He will NOT eat ...
A: You need to try several foods to find a hypoallergenic diet that the cat will eat. I have had the ...
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| Stoarage mite allergies | 4/6/2009 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I understand there is a correlation between storage mites in dry dog food and dry, ...
A: The problem with the storage mites is not whether they are alive or dead when the dog eats the food. ...
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| Itchy dog! | 4/4/2009 |
Q: We have a 7 month old Blue Cattle X Jack Russell and she is a very itchy girl. She has been itchy ...
A: This could either be mange mites or a food allergy. I would recommend that you ask a vet to dip the ...
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| Infected Cat Paws/Nailbed | 4/3/2009 |
Q: Took my cat to vet 2 weeks ago for red sore butt and diahreaa (had for about 3 days). Two nail beds ...
A: What a fiasco. I am not sure what to make of these nails unless that is some type of problem with ...
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| chronic ear infections | 3/31/2009 |
Q: My 9-year-old German Shepherd mix has had chronic ear infections for over a year now. My vet has ...
A: With any chronic ear problem, it is common for the eardrum to rupture resulting in an infection in ...
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| Dog with allergies on food trial | 3/26/2009 |
Q: My dog was adopted from a shelter about 3 and half months ago and we don't know anything about his ...
A: IF the dog is Z/d responsive, then adding one protein at a time to the diet will tell you if he is ...
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| Great Dane Skin Allergy ? | 3/24/2009 |
Q: Our 6 year old Male Dane (Merle) has an exaggerated case of skin lesions on his paws, jowles, and ...
A: It would be very unusual to have a 2 year old dog with hypothyroidism (not hyper). So I would have ...
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| pet shots | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I want some non biased info on how often getting my pets vaccinated. We have 2 dogs and a cat. All ...
A: We recommend vaccinations based on potential exposure. For example, unless the dog is outside, a ...
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| Little bumps n my english bulldog | 3/23/2009 |
Q: We have a one year old ebd and recently he has got some bumps on his body.....there are tiny tufts ...
A: This does sound like a bcaterial infection on the skin. I would need to know which antibiotics you ...
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| pseudomonis of the ear | 3/20/2009 |
Q: My Basset has had this infection for over a year now, I am on my third vet, I feel very confident ...
A: Pseudomonas is not a contagious disease. Ask your vet to use Tris EDTA as a flush for you to use in ...
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| open sores around dogs eyes | 3/15/2009 |
Q: i have a 8 year old Labrador that has very bad symptom around his left eye. we think it is an open ...
A: IF this is not an injury, and if the dog is constantly rubbing the eyes, then it may be an allergy. ...
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| German Shepherd with itching and flaking skin....??? | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I have a GSD that will be 4 in July, he has had problems with him bitting at his front paws when I ...
A: Dogs that have foot itching and ear itching have allergies!!! The omega 3's can help, but it takes ...
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| 2 skin questions | 3/13/2009 |
Q: my first question is that i've noticed raised bumps around the neck area of my female cat. They ...
A: The bumps on the neck could be the result of allergy. This is called miliary dermatitis. A shot of ...
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| American Cocker and lip fold infection | 3/12/2009 |
Q: My dog has had this problem for weeks now, he has been on antibiotics for 2 weeks. Cleaning folds 2x ...
A: Unfortunately surgery may be the only answer. You can use hydrogen peroxide or a chemical that we ...
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| CAT QUESTIONS | 3/11/2009 |
Q: MY CAT HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BLACK SPLINTER GROWING FROM HIS LOW EYE LID. IT GROWS, FALLS OFF THEN ...
A: Without seeing the cat, I cannot be specific, but this sounds like a fast growing tumor of some ...
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| weimaraner | 3/8/2009 |
Q: My 4 year old thriving Male W. 4 weeks ago got his annual vacs at locat vet. 5 days later he became ...
A: That is a very unusual vaccine reaction. If they really think that it is the vaccine, then only ...
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| My dogs ears | 3/7/2009 |
Q: My cross collie has been having ear trouble on and of for a while he can go a couple of weeks ...
A: I suggest a deep ear canal examination with the dog sedated or anesthetized. SOmetimes there is ...
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| Continual Scratching | 3/7/2009 |
Q: We have a 2 year old Female Cavachon dog. In case you are not familiar with this breed of dog, she ...
A: Sometimes it is a bacterial folliculitis called juvenille acne. Often this is from plastic food ...
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| feces eating dog | 2/25/2009 |
Q: i have a husky who eats his own feces, i was told it could be a result of poor quality dog food, ...
A: It is either poor digestion or poor absorption of the food. The first thing I would recommend is to ...
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| Dachshund nose and nail problem | 2/24/2009 |
Q: we have been having problems with our 11 year old dachshund's nails and nose. His nose gets very ...
A: I agree that it could be autoimmune. Pemphigus is a disease where the body makes an antibody to the ...
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| Tear Stain Spreading | 2/23/2009 |
Q: I'm not sure if this qualifies as a skin problem but in case it does i'll ask. I have a 1.5 year ...
A: The tear staining occurs because the tears are not draining through the duct that runs from the eye ...
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| Kitten Paws Problem | 2/19/2009 |
Q: A month ago, i noticed that my 7 months old cat had his paws looking like if they were real dry, so ...
A: That is a weird case. The Omega 3 fatty acids may take 30-45 days to work, so keep up the lotion ...
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| Ear Infection | 2/17/2009 |
Q: My dog has had an ear infection for quite some time now. I took him to the vet and she gave me drops ...
A: Almost all ear infections arise because of some type of skin problem that affects the skin in the ...
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| cat chewing hair off | 2/14/2009 |
Q: the younger male about 6 months ago began going bald around the base of his tail. We took him in the ...
A: When cats are chewing or have hair loss, we first think of allergies. The shot may have helped ...
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| 2 year old beagle | 2/14/2009 |
Q: I have a 2 year old female beagle. She has a small scab on one of her nipples. We think she may have ...
A: It could be a flase pregnancy. If she is not spayed, then that is something to consider. It could ...
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| Itching Dog | 2/13/2009 |
Q: My dog does not have fleas...I checked every inch of her, especially when she's itching. Yet she ...
A: Without a diagnosis, I can't offer any treatment. So many things other than fleas can cause ...
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| 7 yr old cat with skin problems | 2/11/2009 |
Q: My 7 yr old siamese cat has some odd bumps on the front part of her neck. They feel like raised ...
A: This is all part of the eosinophilic granuloma complex in cats. Miliary dermatitis is what you are ...
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| Eosinophillic | 2/10/2009 |
Q: My dads older cat has had a rash for the past 6 years it started on her neck near were the collar ...
A: You are describing miliary dermatitis, which is an allergic skin disease. The eosinophils come out ...
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| Rabies vaccines | 2/10/2009 |
Q: My husband got really badly dog bitten today and had to go to the hospital for treatment. The owner ...
A: If the dog has had a rabies vaccine previously in its life, then the chances of the dog being rabid ...
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| Hot spots & lymph glands | 2/7/2009 |
Q: My 8 yo basset hound girl recently was treated for a hot spot in her armpit. At that time our vet ...
A: It is rare to have a true hot spot in the armpit. If she has 3 different lymph nodes swollen,then ...
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| Flea drops plus coller? | 1/30/2009 |
Q: I am seeking an answer to a question that is best recieved from a vet such as yourself. I was ...
A: The flea collars really are not effective in preventing or killing fleas. I would just use the ...
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| itchy pup | 1/28/2009 |
Q: I have 8wks old lab pup for past 3- 4 she is scratching herself all day . I noticed her belly skin ...
A: This could be scabies, or sarcoptic mange. There is nothing you can do at home for this. It is ...
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| Alergies causing licking of paws | 1/26/2009 |
Q: I hav a portugese water dog with discoloration of paws from chronic licking. How can we solve this? ...
A: Allergies do cause licking of the paws. Cortisone type drugs help relieve the itching. The dog may ...
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| kitty | 1/25/2009 |
Q: I am writing in a frenzy as I need some advice quickly. I have a cat, whose probably around six ...
A: It is difficult to cure ear mites with ear drops since the mites are also on the skin. There is a ...
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| Cat not eating | 1/22/2009 |
Q: My cat has stopped eating, drinking and just generally being herself. I have thought of every ...
A: WIthout examining the cat, I can't be very specific. I use 2 things to get a cat to eat. First, I ...
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| My dog has this nasty black stuff in her ear. | 1/20/2009 |
Q: I have a 10 yr old mutt and she had surgery on her ear to remove a hematoma about a year ago. Her ...
A: This is most likely an ear infection. Usually it is the infection that makes the dog shake the ears ...
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| Weird Skin Problems and Fur Loss | 1/19/2009 |
Q: I live in China where vet medicine is a little archaic still and have a cat with some interesting ...
A: This is most likely ringworm from your description. I am sure that there are topical medications ...
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| crusty dog | 1/18/2009 |
Q: I recently met a cocker spaniel that is crusty and bald all over. Three years ago she was completely ...
A: For the skin, there may be a skin infection or a low thyroid level. If there is mange, then a ...
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| Ear cuts will not heal | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I have a one year old boxer. He split open the edge of both ears back in August 2008. His ears ...
A: He is shaking his head from allergic disease or from pain. Ask your vet to put the dog on steroids ...
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| Dog - falling over, balance issue | 1/14/2009 |
Q: My 10 year old lab/pitt mix fell down the steps a little over a week ago. Since then, she has been ...
A: IF she had this vestibular disease when you got her, it is probably not going to be curable. They ...
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| my siamese cats ear problem | 1/13/2009 |
Q: I have a 1yr. old siamese cat Kenga, who is a male. We bought him from a well known breeder. He ...
A: This is most likely a middle ear problem. My best advice to you is to call around your area and ...
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| My pekengese | 1/11/2009 |
Q: My dog has been diagnosed with pyoderma, which I understand is related to allergies. I inspect him ...
A: Pyoderma is a secondary problem to many skin diseases including allergies. Often between the toes, ...
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| Skin Allergy | 1/10/2009 |
Q: I have a 5 month old male bull terrier puppy. He is current on all shots and vet care. He has ...
A: I am very surprised that your vet does not know that antihistamines are almost useless for itching ...
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| Cat, open sore on nose | 1/9/2009 |
Q: I have a cat who has rubbed a very sore looking area along the bridge of his nose. It is so raw that ...
A: Three thoughts come to mind from your description. Your vet will need to rule these out. Mosquito ...
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| my dog is sick | 1/8/2009 |
Q: my dog is 4 years old and right before thanksgiving she was diagnosed with pancreatitis and it was ...
A: Hair loss after any illness is not uncommon. The skinis the last body organ to receive nitrition and ...
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| Canine sudden deafness | 1/5/2009 |
Q: Our 13 year old golden retriever/chow mix has gone completeley deaf over a period of a day or two. ...
A: Without any other signs, like staggering or a head tilt, I would tend to think of something in the ...
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| Dog warts 30 lb Yorkie terrier mix | 1/4/2009 |
Q: Dog warts My 30lb Yorkie terrier mix approx 9 yrs old suddenly has warts all over her body and seem ...
A: These are probably sebaceous adenomas and they are benign. THere is no relationship to diet or ...
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| Dizzy Kitty | 12/30/2008 |
Q: I have a 5 year old female cat. She is generally in good health, but is a bit overweight. Despite ...
A: These "dizzy" spells may be the result of an inner ear problem. When she is having these, do her ...
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| Question about Puppies | 12/29/2008 |
Q: "Hello, Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I am going to rescue a German Shepherd ...
A: If the pup is dirty, he can have a bath and make sure you dry him really well. If there are no ...
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| Sever Itching for Our Collie | 12/26/2008 |
Q: My mothers 7-1/2 year old Collie has developed sever itching and has practically scratched most of ...
A: Benadryl is not good for dogs that itch. There just is not much histamine in the chronic skin ...
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| cats upper lip swollen | 12/25/2008 |
Q: We were told it was an allergy, but it is getting worse and now she is having problems breathing and ...
A: This is called a rodent ulcer. It is treatable with steroids. It is an allergy to something, ...
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| puppies skin | 12/24/2008 |
Q: we have a new puppie she is six weeks old, she is half shitzo and half lhasa apso, she is a doll, ...
A: If she is not itching or losing hair in those areas, just keep bathing her twice a week. They could ...
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| Puppy Itches | 12/23/2008 |
Q: I have a 4 mos old Shih Tzu. Lately she is scratching herself continuously and rubbing her face on ...
A: Without a proper diagnosis, it is impossible for me to tell you what the treatment should be. There ...
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| raised sore on paw | 12/23/2008 |
Q: We have rescued a 7 week old Malamute. He hads a variety of puppy health issues but has now been ...
A: There are many ringworm fungi and each one causes a different type of skin lesion. THat's why it ...
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| Cat Dandruff + Shedding | 12/22/2008 |
Q: I own a 2-year-old male short-haired Tabby (Stanley) and recently I've been noticing that he has ...
A: Yes, dry skin can be a cause of this. Environmental dryness causes flaking, and you can use a bath ...
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| swollen ear | 12/22/2008 |
Q: My Dalmatian Mickey has a swollen left ear. There is a slight odor from it also. Can you tell me if ...
A: IF the ear flap is swollen and soft, like a marshmallow, then it requires surgery to correct. This ...
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| Hearing loss in a schip after Tri-Otic | 12/20/2008 |
Q: My schipperke had been swallowing hard, no known cause, took her to vet and found MILD ear ...
A: I know of nothing that can hasten diffusion of gentamycin out of the inner ear hair cells. As far ...
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| skin irritation | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I have a female boxer that is about 1 1/2 years old. She has skin irritation on her stomach where it ...
A: The first thing that you should o is to find a vet in your area that does a lot of skin work. In a ...
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| swollen paw pads-cat | 12/17/2008 |
Q: my cats paw pads are swollen, reddish purple, & peeling. they seem to be very sensitive when i touch ...
A: This could be something that the cat is getting into on some surface. SOmetimes chemicals on the ...
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| Cat head tilt | 12/15/2008 |
Q: I volunteer at a shelter. A long haired cat, male, approx.6 months old was turned in found roaming ...
A: The head tilt may be a neurological response to a middle ear or inner ear problem. Of course, it ...
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| chocolate labrador | 12/8/2008 |
Q: My chocolate labrador's hair colour is begining to change in patches to a different and lighter ...
A: That is not uncommon in Chocolate Labs. Sometimes it is from parasites, allergic skin disease, or ...
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| Clustered sores on chin and lip | 12/8/2008 |
Q: My male cat has small, concentrated sores and scabs on his chin and one a little smaller than a ...
A: This is called chin acne and is common in cats. It may be hormonal, allergic, bacterial, or yeasts ...
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| Feline pulling hair out of tail | 12/7/2008 |
Q: My cats is 7 and has ALWAYS chewed the fur off his tail. His tail isn't totally devoid of fur but ...
A: This could ba an allergic skin problem. Ask your vet to give the cat a shot of DEpoMEdrol. It ...
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| Demodectic mange | 12/6/2008 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I recently rescued a shelter puppy. He is now 13 weeks old, current on his vaccines ...
A: You have asked many questions that can only be answered with time. Yes most pups recover from ...
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| Bichon itching | 12/6/2008 |
Q: Our Bichon will be 2 next March. This summer she started itching and scratching incessantly. We ...
A: This is a typical scenario with allergic skin. Since she is young, allergy testing and allergy ...
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| Mange/demodex | 12/5/2008 |
Q: what you would do to treat a localized demodex infection? My chihuahua mix with another breed (?) is ...
A: I do recommend the treatment as your vet prescribed. If the pup reacted to the amitraz dips, then ...
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| cat with ear yeast | 12/4/2008 |
Q: My cat was diagnosed with a yeast infection in her ears in late September. Her vet gave her ...
A: Cats may have seasonal allergies, but they may also have year round allergies to things in their ...
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| cat with ear yeast | 12/3/2008 |
Q: My cat was diagnosed with a yeast infection in her ears in late September. Her vet gave her ...
A: Yeast infections in the ears are really rare in cats. THey do get yeast in their ears, but mostly ...
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| puppy with demodectic mange | 12/2/2008 |
Q: I have a 13 week old male puppy who has been diagnosed with demodectic mange. He has two small spots ...
A: Any stress can make the immune system weaken, including a poor diet. Science diet is an excellent ...
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| My Min-pin has a swellen paw | 11/30/2008 |
Q: I have two Miniature Pinscher as of now only one has a swollen paw and it hurts her when I touch the ...
A: Without a proper examination, I wil not be able to give you anything specific. Sometimes chemicals ...
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| Sick Dog | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I have a German Shepherd and Border Collie mix that has a bad problem with arthritis and mange. She ...
A: There are better ways of treating both arthritis and mange. Aspirin causes too much intestinal ...
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| smelly ears | 11/26/2008 |
Q: I've had my dog for about a year or two and ever since 5 months ago he's ears have smelled, so we ...
A: Most puppies with ear problems either have ear mites or they are allergic to their food and they get ...
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| anal gland | 11/24/2008 |
Q: I have a female cat, she is 8 years old now. 2 years ago she had a rupture on the left anal sac and ...
A: When the anal glands abscess, it loses its shape, like an almond, and parts heal inside the scar ...
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| Seizure in our White German Shepherd | 11/23/2008 |
Q: and thanks for helping with my question. We have a 4 year-old White German Shepherd we rescued two ...
A: Any dog can have a seizure. You need to see how often these happen and mark it on a calendar. If ...
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| Black Lab | 11/21/2008 |
Q: I have a 4 year old black lab and we just noticed that his left ear i puffy, like a water pocket. My ...
A: This is an aural hemoatoma and it needs to be repaired surgically before it starts to heal. When ...
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| Paw pad question | 11/19/2008 |
Q: My dog cut her paw a month ago and now her skin on her pad is hard as a rock and she limps, what ...
A: If the pad skin is hard, it could be causing discomfort when the dog places weight on it. Let the ...
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| Dog was bitten | 11/18/2008 |
Q: I have a 10 year old Shepard. He was bitten by something about two months ago and the swelling has ...
A: I would take the dog back to the vet and let them see if there is a problem with the joint fluid ...
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| urinary crystals | 11/3/2008 |
Q: i have been having a problem with these crystals... my cat was on s/d and he stopped bleeding and ...
A: I hope that you are using the canned s/d or c/d. One of the reasons that cats make crystals is ...
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| jack russel skin complaint | 11/2/2008 |
Q: my jack russel itches constantly. The skin around her belly and feet is pink and she chews the fur ...
A: Itching in a 14 year old Jack Russel may be a food allergy type of reaction. Intermittent cortisone ...
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| Fur problem | 10/31/2008 |
Q: I think this is a dermatology problem, and actually nobody could find a solution. I've a 1 year old ...
A: You can give him an omega 3 fatty acid dietary supplement in addition to the vitamins. You might ...
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| suspected ear mites | 10/29/2008 |
Q: This past summer my almost 2 year old lab mix had a bad flea infestation. She stays in the house ...
A: Fleas and flea allergy rarely affect the ear. Ear mites are rare to find in an animal that is ...
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| Unbeatable Ear Mites in my Cat | 10/28/2008 |
Q: My 7 yr old indoor only Manx/Siamese mix cat has severe ear mites(or at least I think they're mites) ...
A: With all that you have done, I would guess that it is NOT ear mites, especially since the other cats ...
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| Older Lab with Limp Tail | 10/27/2008 |
Q: I'm bringing him to the vet but this is killing me. He's a 12 yr old lab that usually always has his ...
A: This is called limber tail or cold water tail. It is unique to labs where their tail will go limp. ...
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| skin under dogs eyes | 10/27/2008 |
Q: My boxer's skin is raw under his eyes (those creases that run down his face from the corner of his ...
A: Either the dog is making too much tear film or it is not draining tears properly. YOur vet will ...
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| Yeast Infection | 10/26/2008 |
Q: I have a 10 weeks old Shih Tzu. I took her to the vet and I was told that she has a ear yeast ...
A: In young puppies with yeasty ears, they are often allergic to their food. All you have to do is to ...
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| Scabs all over dogs body. | 10/25/2008 |
Q: I have a 5 year old mix who is supposedly half Irish Terrier, half German Sheppard. In April of ...
A: MAny of the drugs used for chemo lessen the body's ability to fight off infection. SO there may be ...
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| skin rash/scab on belly of mini dog | 10/24/2008 |
Q: My dog got a weird rash/scab 3 weeks ago. He eats dry food, gets bath every month, only walks in ...
A: This is most likely a bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics do not seem to work well in animals, ...
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| recurrent flea problem | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I adopted a stray (mixed breed, probably mainly border terrier). She came with fleas and ticks. ...
A: If the Caspatar anf FRontline are not doing the trick, then there is an overwhelming flea population ...
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| vestibular symptoms | 10/13/2008 |
Q: My Italian Greyhound has been on antibiotics and prednisone for 6 weeks for what my vet believes is ...
A: I would have 2 additional recommendations. First, the vet needs to evaluate the eardrum and middle ...
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| Dog ear infection | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I am so frustrated! My 2 yr. old Cairn terrier popped up with yeast/bacterial ear infections. More ...
A: In my experience, Mometamax does not really do much except to relieve the inflammation. If there ...
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| sick labrador | 10/11/2008 |
Q: Advice for Labrador(4year, Male). *Scrotum is red,occasionally gets swollen and wet and last 4 ...
A: Do you know if your vet has run any blood tests to see if this is an internal problem? Any skin ...
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| Irritated skin on my puppy. | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I have a year old mini-sheltie. For the past few months (about 6), she's been bighting her skin so ...
A: IF she has fleas, then she may have a flea allergy. Ask your vet for some steroid tablets to see if ...
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| english bulldog infected wrinkle | 10/8/2008 |
Q: I have a 11 month old english bulldog who has one tear stain under his left eye. I try to keep it ...
A: First, Benadryl is not very helpful for much in dogs. The tear staining can be helped by using ...
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| Yeast infections in dogs | 10/7/2008 |
Q: my french bulldog has pretty bad tear stains that i can only seem to dent with soap and water on a ...
A: Yeast infections between the toes are common in allergic dogs, so if your vet is just treating the ...
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| ear mites | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I have a 5-month-old kitten who scratches his ears a lot. How can I tell if he has ear mites? He ...
A: Ear mites are bugs that live in the ear. If you can take some of the goo in the ear and put it on ...
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| Dog skin condition | 10/6/2008 |
Q: My 8 yr. old male German Shepherd has developed a skin condition on the underside of his jaw. It is ...
A: Allergies can show up around the mouth and lips. Ask your vet for a dsteroid shot and some ...
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| cat with mange? | 10/6/2008 |
Q: 11 year old neutered male cat. Starting getting black specs on his skin. chin and face mostly. He ...
A: For mange in cats, they need to be dipped in LymSulfur. Ivermectin will help only a few mites. I ...
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| Cats: fly/mosquito bite caused dermititis | 10/4/2008 |
Q: My cat has been coming in with bites on his ears and bridge of his nose. I'm not sure if it is from ...
A: Cats do get mosquito bite hypersensitivity on the nose. Advantage only kills fleas. You can use ...
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| chronic ear problems | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I have a 5 year old pug, his ears are very very waxy, black ear wax and it smells bad. I clean his ...
A: If your dog has a yeast infection in his ears, then he has an allergic skin disease. YOur vet needs ...
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| lump on neck | 9/30/2008 |
Q: my dog had a lump on the right side of his neck about 8 months ago. i took him to the vet and they ...
A: Sometimes when dogs do not respond to the things we expect them to, we need to know what disease is ...
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| Alergy Test? | 9/28/2008 |
Q: 00 Test are carried out by mailing a sample of your dogs hair in a sealed plastic bag,which you then ...
A: There is no effective allergy test for foods!!! Many companies offer tests, but none of them ...
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| my dogs mouth | 9/22/2008 |
Q: My dog has recently come down with a bad irritation on her jowels we have been cleaning but it does ...
A: THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH INFORMATION IN YOUR QUESTION, BUT THERE ARE 2 PRIMARY REASONS FOR THIS. ONE ...
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| Scabs on ears | 9/17/2008 |
Q: I have a 7 month Chihuahua named Rocky, he has scabs on the inside of his ear on each side, in the ...
A: Biopsy will tell the vet what type of disease is causing the problem. if it is vasculitis, that ...
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| scratching | 9/15/2008 |
Q: my 13 month old german shepherd cannot stop scatching it is mainly on the joints of his paws the vet ...
A: Even if the vet did skin scrapings and did not see any mites, like demodex, I would treat him ...
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| Scab on golden retriever's chest | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I was brushing my 1-year old golden retriever tonight (something I don't do as much as I should), ...
A: Golodens are prone to skin infections. I fshe had mange and you only spot treated her, then it ...
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| mini dachsunds skin irritation | 9/12/2008 |
Q: our dachsi has these folds under her front legs that she constantly scratches. she has hair loss in ...
A: This is pretty common in doxies. It could be an allergy, low thyroid hormones, or the start of ...
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| POMERANEAN | 9/12/2008 |
Q: MY DOG IS 6 YRS. OLD .AFTER HAVING HER GROOMED SHOT FOR THE SUMMER HIS HIND PART HAIR IS NOT GROWING ...
A: This is common in Poms that have the hyperadrenal syndrome. It can take 6 months for the hair to ...
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| Poodle Shakes head alot and has alot of red lil rashes | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I have a 12 year old poodle. He has all of a sudden started to shake his had alot and his ears are ...
A: This sounds like he is having something affecting his skin. The ear is skin also and that is why ...
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| growth on cat's bottom lip | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I have a 14 year old male cat, that foe the past few years has had a benign growth apear on his ...
A: Eosinophilic granulomas are generally allergic. If the cortisone isn't working, the dose may need ...
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| BREEDING | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I AM TRYING TO BREED MY 2 TABBIES. THE FEMALE IS 15 MONTHS OLD, AND THE MALE IS 5 MONTHS OLD. IS THE ...
A: MAle cats at 5 months can be fertile, but not mature enough to know what to do. SInce cats are ...
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| Inner Ear Infection - Cat | 9/3/2008 |
Q: After a week of being off colour and off his food, my cat suddenly could not keep his balance and ...
A: If I were you, I would DEMAND to speak to the doctor. YOu are paying the bill, so you have a right ...
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| French Bulldog Allergies | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Can you tell me how reliable skin testing is in determining allergies? One of my frenchies keeps ...
A: Skin testing is very reliable for those antigens that are tested for. That means that if allergy ...
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| chihuahua yeast ear infection | 8/28/2008 |
Q: We have a one year old chihuahua who is on his 3rd ear infection. The vet says he will always have ...
A: I agree that in a young puppy with yeast infections, a food hypersensitivity is likely. There is a ...
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| My Kitten and her sore on her neck | 8/28/2008 |
Q: I bottel fed three kittens. They never go out of the house. The one in question I had declawed and ...
A: There are so many things that may have caused this lesion, it is hard for me to be specific. IT may ...
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| itching and panting | 8/25/2008 |
Q: I have a small mixed breed dog, she is over weight by around 3 or 4 lbs. I had her anal glands ...
A: You are seeing a side effect of the steroid, probably prednisone. The vet can try a different type ...
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| Hearing Loss | 8/24/2008 |
Q: My dog was shaking her head and scratching her ears but appeared to be hearing fine. My vet gave me ...
A: The antibiotic, gentamicin, in Mometamax can be toxic to the cochlea. Fortunately, if you stop the ...
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| scratch | 8/7/2008 |
Q: we have a 10 year old part dotsun /chihuaua.spelling not great.but she scratches alot and does not ...
A: Not all dogs that scratch have fleas. There are many dogs that get skin allergies to things like ...
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| Kitty - ear infection? | 8/5/2008 |
Q: About 10 days ago I sent my 8 year old Maine Coon cat to the animal hospital to get groomed. She ...
A: If she was perfectly normal before the grooming visit, then my guess is that something probably ...
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| Black crud under cat's chin | 8/5/2008 |
Q: My cat Bella was a stray and I have had her for about 2 year. I believe she is about 8 years old, ...
A: This is most likely chin acne. It can be a bacterial infection or in some cases a yeast infection. ...
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| Mini Schnauzer skin lesion | 8/4/2008 |
Q: My alt and pepper schnauzer, Juliette, is 9 years old. She has always chewed on her paws (my vet ...
A: There is a pigment in dog saliva that turns the hair a rust color when they lick. If she is licking ...
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| Cocker Spaniels betty turned black | 8/3/2008 |
Q: My 9 year old cocker spaniel's belly turned black about 7 weeks ago. Recently, while grooming, I ...
A: IF this black stuff is pigmented skin, there is probably not much that can be done. However, if the ...
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| Yeast infections in ears | 8/1/2008 |
Q: My 9 year old lab has a yeast infection of the ears, and she has had it for a few years. We have ...
A: Almost all yeast infections are due to allergies. In a lab, it could be a food allergy or an ...
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| kittens | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I July 24 recently bought 2 Bengal(10 weeks old) kittens from the same litter from a breeder. Both ...
A: Depending on the type of parasite, they can get most of them from their mother. If the breeder was ...
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| demodex | 7/22/2008 |
Q: I have a 3.5 month old siberian husky that was diagnosed with demodex and that vet that admitted it ...
A: Demodex is not really contagious except from a mother to her puppies. The treatment your vet is ...
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| Swollen Foot With Hair Loss | 7/22/2008 |
Q: My 2 yr old dog Macie's back left foot started getting this welt looking bumps. It was just 3 at ...
A: This is called pododermatitis. If it is infected then that may be caused by many things. Foreign ...
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| Urinary Trac Infection | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I have a 4 year old female cat who has been straining in the litter box and either very little comes ...
A: IT IS VERY RARE FOR A URINARY TRACT INFECTION TO OCCUR IN A CAT. IN ADDITION, DOXYCYCLINE IS NOT A ...
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| Urinary Tract Infection | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I have an 8-year old female cat who had/has her first UTI. A culture was done and did not show ...
A: It is EXTREMEMY rare for a cat to get a urinary tract infection. If the culture was negative, then ...
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| Sadie is losing her hair. | 7/19/2008 |
Q: My dog Sadie is an 11-month old blue Pitbull. She randomly started losing her hair so I brought her ...
A: Even though the skin scrapings were negative, she may still have mange mites on her skin. Ask your ...
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| skin disorder | 7/8/2008 |
Q: Our Great Pyrenees is hypothyroid and has lost patches of hair on her back and she is now developing ...
A: If she is an allergic dog, that would explain the hair loss and the itchy, flaky skin. Being ...
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| pustule on shiba's labia | 6/30/2008 |
Q: My 10.5 mos shiba inu has 2 tiny pustules on the exterior of her lady part-labia. When she was in ...
A: Puppies get Staph pyoderma on the belly and private parts as they grow. If it is not bad, then her ...
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| Severe Skin Allergies | 6/28/2008 |
Q: I have a Cocker Spaniel that I rescued 3 yrs ago. During this time, I have spent $1000s of dollars ...
A: MY best recommendation is to find a vet that specializes in skin diseases to help you. If this is a ...
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| allergic reaction | 6/25/2008 |
Q: i have a little staffy her name is lara and she is allergic to just about everything outside ( grass ...
A: You can have her alergy tested then immunize her against the allergens she is allergic to. There ...
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| Cat Allergies | 6/20/2008 |
Q: We have a 2-yr old neutered male cat. He is constantly biting the inside of his legs. We ran a ...
A: Where the allergies show up is a function of where the mast cells are located. Mast cells have the ...
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| Ear Infection | 6/19/2008 |
Q: My maltipoo was diagnosed with an ear infection at the vet about 5 days ago. They flushed out her ...
A: It usually takes 3-5 days for the pain of an ear infection to go away. But there are so many ...
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| Cat Allergies | 6/17/2008 |
Q: We have a 2-yr old neutered male cat. He is constantly biting the inside of his legs. We ran a ...
A: If you are giving the cat a shot every three months, he probably will never have a side effect from ...
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| Hair regrowth | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I have a 7 year Pomeranian rescue - I have had her shaved about 6 weeks ago and her hair is growing ...
A: Yes, there are many cases of post-clipping alopecia out there. Give it time and it will re-grow ...
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| sores on out side of ears | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I WENT OUTSIDE TODAY AND SAW THAT A LOT OF FLYS ARE FLYING AROUND MY DOGS EARS AND I WENT OVER AND ...
A: This is called "fly strike" and the best thing to do is to put the dog inside an area that has ...
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| mangy dog | 6/11/2008 |
Q: is it okay to bathe a mangy dog with sulfur soap? if so, is it effective? are there any alternative ...
A: Sulfur soap wil not help mange. There are specific treatments for the particular type of mange ou ...
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| Ear Indection | 6/11/2008 |
Q: My Chocolate Lab has a smelly dark substance in her right ear have been treating her by cleaning ...
A: Unfortunately, amoxicillin will not get into the ear. And cleaning the top portion of the ear does ...
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| Shiba Inu | 6/10/2008 |
Q: My dog has been chewing herself up on her paws (biting and licking them so much that she has eaten ...
A: If the dog is allergic, that can be the cause. Ask your vet if your dog can have a dexamethasone ...
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| dog | 6/8/2008 |
Q: my 6=year-old dog was attacked by a neighbor's unleased dog 11 days ago and required emergency ...
A: Dogs that lick their feet often have allergies to things that they walk on. Many of these dogs also ...
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| uneven pupils after ear cleaning? | 6/7/2008 |
Q: We took princess, our cat, to the vet on 6/3/08 due to some redness and ear itching and though she's ...
A: Uneven pupils after an ear cleaning can indicate that there is something going on in the middle ear ...
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| ears and skin - poodle | 6/1/2008 |
Q: Its scablike and is sometimes a small red spot but can get very big. My vet said its baby ticks and ...
A: Ear disease and skin disease go together. Most of these problems are allergies. Have you seen ticks ...
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| Skin "infection"....? | 5/30/2008 |
Q: My 9 1/2 month old kitten has a weird skin infection looking thing on his chin. There is no blood; ...
A: This is chin acne. The best way to treat it is to shave the hair very short and use rubbing alcohol ...
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| More than an Ear Infection | 5/21/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help us. I have a four year old cat prone to ear infections. She scratches until she ...
A: IF the ear canals have scarred in from the surgeries and the chronic infections, the ear canals may ...
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| Is my kitten blind??? | 5/18/2008 |
Q: My cat had a litter of 4 kittens yesterday and one of them was born with it's eyes open. it's eyes ...
A: It is unusual for a kitten to be born with the eyes opoen. The cornea may not develop properly and ...
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| Demodex | 5/14/2008 |
Q: My 11 yr old beagle/terrier has demodex. While we thought she had problems with the thryroid, she ...
A: There are many immunosuppressive diseases including cancers, diabetes, autoimune diseases like ...
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| Ear mite infection | 5/13/2008 |
Q: A neighbor's cat had a severely swollen ear and they weren't taking him to the vet due to the ...
A: This is called an aural hematoma and if the cat's ears are treated properly, the hematoma only needs ...
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| Veterinary Medicine | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I've researched the internet, but I can never get a straight answer. I've decided to come here. I ...
A: I don't know where you live or how much college you have had, but basically you will need a ...
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| staph infection | 4/30/2008 |
Q: How do i prevent my pit bull from getting this skin irritant again? She has had it twice now and is ...
A: Most skin diseases in dogs are allergic in origin. So you need to ask your vet if your dog is ...
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| Eczema is killing my cat! | 4/23/2008 |
Q: My 4 yrs old cat is having Eczema, I've tried everything ( creams, aloe vera plant, changing food) ...
A: IT is more than likely an allergy to something, so I would recommend that you ask your vet for a ...
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| beagle's paws | 4/15/2008 |
Q: Our 11 1/2 year old male Beagle started licking and chewing his paws at least 4 months ago. It seems ...
A: It would seem thatt here are many things going on at once. First, diabetes can cause some of these ...
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| Italian Greyhound hair loss | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I have a 3.5 year old female IG named Izzy who has been experiencing hair loss. When she was around ...
A: This is obviously a hair follicle problem. The pigmentation is wrong in the follicles where the ...
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| Re: Retriever in pain and itching. | 4/1/2008 |
Q: Is it ok to give my golden retriever a pain pill containing 110mg acetaminophen and 162mg aspirin? ...
A: Do not give anything with acetaminophen to a dog. There are so many great medicxations to give older ...
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| severe itching/scratching | 3/31/2008 |
Q: I have a 2 yr. old pom over the last couple months he has developed severe itching/scratching. His ...
A: Food allergy is a possibility, but it seems as if the big problem is a skin infection. Check with ...
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| itching and odor | 3/30/2008 |
Q: i have lasa apsa 1 year old he always itches and has odor even 1 day after bath there is no rashes ...
A: I doubt that the odor is from the diet. It is most likely from a bacterial or yeast skin infection. ...
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| flea collar reaction? | 3/30/2008 |
Q: I realize this may not be your expertise, but you were the only one available. I recently purchased ...
A: Many cats get toxic from insecticides. This is what you are describing. Ask your vet to check with ...
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| Allergies | 3/29/2008 |
Q: My Chow/Lab has had allergies. It seems to be the absolute worst when the seasons change. Mainly ...
A: The scabs around the mouth are all part of the allergy. You can have the dog allergy tested and ...
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| skin reaction to a epinephrine injection | 3/28/2008 |
Q: my 5 month old Yorkie had a epinephrine injection so she wouldn't react to her rabies injection ...
A: Epinephrine is a very potent vasoconstrictor and that means that the blood vessels in tha area of ...
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| amitraz dips - safety | 3/26/2008 |
Q: I am 8 weeks pregnant. My dog has had a treatment of the amitraz dip and has come home. He usually ...
A: Reproductive Effects: Doses of 200 mg/kg/day of amitraz for ten weeks decreased fertility in male ...
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| Allergy | 3/26/2008 |
Q: I adopted my 3yr old lab/golden mix about 4months ago. She has been itching and scratching for the ...
A: If it is a food allergy, then you will need a specific hypoallergenic food for 8 weeks minimum. ...
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| cat licking bald spots, cortisone doesn't help | 3/24/2008 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a 2 year old British Shorthair cat. For the past year, she has been licking ...
A: If she does not respond to Depo, then try chlorpheniramine 2 mg twice a day. If after 2 weeks, ...
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| demodectic mange | 3/22/2008 |
Q: I am treating a couple of pups for demodectic mange. This service was very helpful in giving ...
A: Many puppies will self cure as they get to 9-12 months. Their immunity kicks in and then they are ...
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| dog rubbing hair off | 3/21/2008 |
Q: I have a german whirehair that has been rubbing and itching her self until her hair has come off. I ...
A: If she is itchy, then she may have some type of parasite, like mites, on her skin. That would need ...
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| My cat's ears | 3/20/2008 |
Q: My cat has recently decided that it is my job to clean her ears. She is 5yrs old and has alot of ...
A: She may just want the attention if that's all that is required to fix the problem. Cats with ...
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| skin irritation | 3/19/2008 |
Q: My alaskan malamute is licking the tops of his paws until they are raw. He doesn't seem to have any ...
A: When dogs get allergies, they lick their paws. Often a secondary bacterial or yeast infection ...
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| sores on cat | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I have an old black and white boy kitty who has been getting deep(no drainage to speak of) ...
A: Does this cat root with its nose...putting the nose under things and pushing up? Anything can be a ...
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| siberian husky | 3/18/2008 |
Q: my male siberian husky is 10 months old. he is very thin and his stomach is sunken in slightly. is ...
A: Do you know if the puppy is gaining weight? Some pups will grow and look very thin until they put ...
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| Scab on 19 year old cats nose | 3/16/2008 |
Q: Our cat bunny is female, 19 years old spayed when she was 4 or 5. She's a BIG cat, slightly ...
A: Sometimes the treatment of some of these thing is worse than the disease itself. If it is not ...
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| My cats ear infection | 3/15/2008 |
Q: I took my cat to a new Vet. in Virginia because we are new to the area. My cat has an ear infection ...
A: Without know what type of infection there is in the ear, Mometamax can be dangerous if there is a ...
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| dog skin conditions | 3/14/2008 |
Q: my 2year old rottweiler keeps chewing at her skin, it started with just small patches but now she is ...
A: This is very likely an allergy. But it may be complicated by secondary skin infection, which is why ...
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| Cat Scratching | 3/2/2008 |
Q: Gotthelf, I've read many of your answers involving cat scratching, but it seems that my cat has a ...
A: Atenolol is usually indicated for irregular heartbeats and to lower blood pressure. One shot of a ...
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| Dog scratching nose... | 3/2/2008 |
Q: My 2.5 year old American Eskimo has recently started scratching his nose...quite often. In fact, ...
A: Scabs on the nose can come from him itching his nose, which is common in allergic dogs. Also, there ...
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| Bacterial skin infection in dog just diagnosed with Lupus | 2/28/2008 |
Q: Gotthelf, A couple of weeks ago my almost-10yo lab/beagle’s only health issue was a stiff back ...
A: Almost all skin infections in dogs respond to cephalexin, so I would continute that. Cephalexin ...
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| ear pinna inflamation and itching | 2/27/2008 |
Q: i have a 2 year old lab cross that is pregnant, 5 weeks at the moment. she has started with very ...
A: Thius does not sound like any common malady. The pinna is swollen, but there is no infection in the ...
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| Skin Crusty Scabs on Springer Spaniel | 2/15/2008 |
Q: I have English Springer Spaniel, 15 years old but in very good health for his age. He tends to get ...
A: This could be a bacterial (Staph) infection. Antibiotics shouls clear this up. But it could also ...
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| staff infection that 3 vets cant cure | 1/31/2008 |
Q: i cant tell you how much money i have spent on my dog. while money is not the issue, the staff ...
A: I have 2 suggestions. First, have the vet do a skin biopsy of an active pustule and have a ...
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| effects of ivercide | 1/30/2008 |
Q: I have a mastiff/pit bull mix & he has been diagnosed with demedex. Also, has bad bacterial ...
A: This cvould be caused from the medication and in many cases, the dose can be reduced so that the ...
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| Dog itching | 1/17/2008 |
Q: My dog is constantly itching and biting herself. She bites her feet and her tail and her body. She ...
A: Dogs that lick their feet and are very itchy often have allergies to environmental allergens. YOUr ...
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| mites | 1/15/2008 |
Q: I have 1 1/2 old female chihuahua name Chella. she got mites and has a her liver is not working. any ...
A: The mites can be treated with a solution of Amitraz dip. Do this once a week for 8 weeks all over ...
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| HELP Please--dog diagnosed with red mange (demodectic ) | 1/13/2008 |
Q: I have a jack russell he is now 3yrs old as of November. November of 06 he was diagnosed with ...
A: The dose of Ivomec is 300 - 600 micrograms per pound of body weight orally daily for 60-90 days. ...
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| squeemish(?) tail,licking off fur | 1/12/2008 |
Q: My about 7 year old spayed fem.short hair cat is licking off the fur on her lower tummy and now ...
A: Her skin is readcting to something and she itches. That can be from many things, but allergic skin ...
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| Boston Terrier with possible cushing disease | 1/9/2008 |
Q: I think my 9 Year old Boston Terrier, Otis, has cushing disease or PDH but am having trouble getting ...
A: IF they have run the ACTH stimulation test and/or the dexamethasone suppression test and these tests ...
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| demodectic mange | 1/4/2008 |
Q: Gothelf. Thank you for reading this. My australian shepherd, age 2, had some (3) rashes on her ...
A: We see this reaction more in Collies and Shelties, but it has been infrequently reported in Aussies. ...
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| pulling out hair | 1/1/2008 |
Q: My three year old cat has recently begun pulling out her hair. While grooming, she rips out hair ...
A: There is not much you can do for dry skin other than adding oils to the food. That is a very ...
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| hi i have some questions that im just wondering to | 12/28/2007 |
Q: they arent skin and ear questions. my first question is why do vets charge so much for all there ...
A: Put in simple terms, it costs 80 cents out of every dollar charged to run a veterinary hospital. A ...
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| Using Revolution for dogs on cats | 12/28/2007 |
Q: I have done this in the past, but have moved and cannot find my notes. I rescued a cat found in the ...
A: I do not use revolution bevcause it works too slowly. Ifthe cat has bumpos and the shot helped, ...
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| hematoma ear Choc. lab | 12/27/2007 |
Q: My Choc. lab had what the vet called a hematoma in his right ear. Did surgery "stitch method" I ...
A: We don't know exactly what causes it, but so often it results when there is an external or middle ...
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| demodectic mange | 12/26/2007 |
Q: I have been a Vet Tech for 5 years and am still unsure of the dosage rate in cc's for running a ...
A: The oral dose of ivermectin varies from 300 micrograms per pound to 600 micrograms per pound per ...
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| dog ears? | 12/26/2007 |
Q: I have a shiba inu he's 1 year old. Recently I noticed that he is missing hair in his ears. First ...
A: There are several possibilities here. Hair loss along the ear margin can be from shaking the head, ...
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| vestibular syndrome | 12/22/2007 |
Q: we recently took our 13 1/2 year old german shepherd/doberman to the vet. he said that our dog, ...
A: Peripheral vestibular disease indicates the ear or the 8th cranial nerve is affected. Central ...
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| puppy | 12/20/2007 |
Q: OK I HAVE A PIT BULLMIX PUPPY WHO WAS RECUED IN ALABAMA WHO WAS LEFT OUT IN A CAGE IN THE SNOW TO ...
A: If he is itching all the time, this could be some type of mange. There are 2 types. Sarcoptic ...
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| Shaking Head | 12/17/2007 |
Q: We have a 4 year old Yorkie (Tanner). We have had him to our Vet. for about 3 years for ear ...
A: The Temaril-P contains prednisone and if he is responsive to that, then he is allergic. You can use ...
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| mometamax and ear deafness | 12/9/2007 |
Q: rescued 7yo sweet alert mixed terrier eval Sept 2007 with 3+ cocci bacterial otitis externa.. has ...
A: Why would your vet put the dog back on Mometamax???? I can't tell you if her hearing will come back ...
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| hi i have alot of questions to ask you | 12/5/2007 |
Q: i want to know if beniful is a great food for dogs also how do dogs get ear infections
A: Beneful is an all vegetable dioet, which is wholesome for most dogs. Dogs get ear infections from ...
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| Ear Problem | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I have a lab who continuously has problems with one or both ears. Twice the vet has perscribed ...
A: Mometamax contains a powerful steroid that will make the dog feel better while the steroid is in the ...
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| hair loss | 12/3/2007 |
Q: My 3 year old American Eskimo is losing his hair so much that you can actually see the skin. He is ...
A: Although there are many many reasons for hair loss, at this time of year and with the breed you ...
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| red mange | 11/29/2007 |
Q: My seven month old golden retriever puppy was diagnosed with demodicosis or Red Mange and we took ...
A: Mitaban has an affinity for hairs so by shaving the dog, the hairs remaining in the follicle will ...
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| Black Skin | 11/18/2007 |
Q: We have a golden Retriever 11 years old has been very healthy, now for the last 3 months his skin is ...
A: At 11 years old, I would want to know if this dog is hypothyroid. That is common in older Goldens ...
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| mometamax | 11/16/2007 |
Q: After a trip to Fla. a few weeks ago where we encountered a strong,windy cold front for days, my 11 ...
A: It surprises me that your vet did not know that there are a small number of dogs that can go deaf ...
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| Ferral Cat with Ear Infection | 11/12/2007 |
Q: What would you recommend doing for a ferral cat with an ear infection. She’s very skittish, hardly ...
A: The best thing you can do for this cat is to get a tranquilizer pill from a vet and put it in the ...
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| Sudden strong itching in Pomeranian | 10/31/2007 |
Q: my 4 year old male Pomeranian suddenly started itching his sides ferociously with his back paws ...
A: Some dogs do have food sensitivities. But there are many diseases that itch. Have you seen any ...
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| Cat licking itself | 10/8/2007 |
Q: My cat keeps licking itself raw in different locations on its body. Why would this just start all ...
A: This is most often caused by the cat itching. That is usually due to allergic dermatitis. Ask your ...
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| cocker spaniel with lipfold dermatitis | 9/28/2007 |
Q: Can you tell me the best treatment for this condition. have tried antibiotics and steroid injection ...
A: Lipfold dermatitis can be caused primarily from 2 things. tHe first is a fold of skin on the lip ...
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| My puppy and tresaderm? | 9/25/2007 |
Q: Gotthelf, my dachshund puppy is 4 months old and ever since we purchased him he has had some sort of ...
A: Tresdarem contains a very potent corticosteroid called dexamethasone. This can be absorbed from the ...
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| Cat loosing hair | 9/10/2007 |
Q: I am not sure if this is a skin disease but seems like it. I had her on science diet for hairballs ...
A: Most cats that are losing hair do so because of skin allergies. This can be an allergy to some ...
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| Equal hair loss - Brussels Griffon | 9/8/2007 |
Q: I rescued a one - two year old female brussels last spring. She'd had a litter of pups and was ...
A: Hair loss in a young bitch can be hormonal if the dog is not itching. Sometimes overproduction of ...
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| female spayed dogs | 9/3/2007 |
Q: i have two spayed female chihuahuas. 4 and 5 years old. they have recently developed nipples on ...
A: When we spay dogs, we remove the ovaries, which are the major sources of estrogen and progesterone. ...
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| Puppy CHow Verses Adult food | 9/2/2007 |
Q: I've read some great replys by Labman that you might want to change your puppy ( I have a 17 week ...
A: Yes, we have known for at least 10 years that too much protein and calcium in puppy diets fed to ...
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| dog-Blood in urine | 8/31/2007 |
Q: I have a 5 year old black lab/springer spaniel who had occasional blood in his urine. He has been to ...
A: There are many reasons for blood in the urine. Stones are only one of them. If the vet took ...
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| bark collars | 8/25/2007 |
Q: what is the treatment for pressure necrosis
A: Pressure necrosis comes from too much weight being placed on a particular point. That cuts off the ...
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| My cat is very ill, what's wrong with her? | 8/17/2007 |
Q: My cat, after what appeared to be an ear infection, then spread to the other ear, was quite ...
A: Ear infections do not spread from ear to ear. I n a cat, often if they have an upper respiratory ...
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| French Bulldog with black crusty skin eruptions | 8/4/2007 |
Q: Please see the 11/20/05 item about French Bulldog with black crusty skin issues. That precisely ...
A: Pyoderma is caused by allergies, usually. So even if you get rid of the infection with antibiotics, ...
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| Skin and diet | 7/30/2007 |
Q: What sort of diet do you feel is best for dogs' skin, and do you have any links supporting your ...
A: If the dog is allergic to his food, then a single source protein food that your dog has never been ...
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| Dogs | 7/30/2007 |
Q: My dog is 5 and 1/2 months old, and he was running a lot today and the pads on his front two feet ...
A: When the foot pads have been worn off, you need to let them air out. I would advise soaking them in ...
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| ear infections | 7/29/2007 |
Q: The vet said our dog had an yeast infection, gave us mometamax for it. After giving the dog the ear ...
A: Mometamax contains Gentamycin, which is very ototoxic when the eardrum is not intact. It does not ...
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| Rukkus, my dog | 7/27/2007 |
Q: I recently adopted Rukkus from the S.P.C.A. He was a basement dog in a large city for approximately ...
A: If the steroids (prednisone and depomedrol) did not help, then this is probably not an allergy. ...
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| My Yorkie Gabriella | 7/23/2007 |
Q: My yorkie is 6 years old. I have taken her to the vet this past Saturday because her vulva was all ...
A: Dogs to not get Candida yeast infections like women do, so using an antifungal drug will not help. ...
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| dog dry skin | 7/23/2007 |
Q: I have a two-year old Beagle/Fox Terrier/Dachshund mix who has developed a persistant itch over the ...
A: Some shampoos contain proteins that cause a topical allergic response. My suggestion to you is to ...
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| sores on our 11 year old beagle/dachsund mix | 7/20/2007 |
Q: We have an 11 year old beagle/dachsund mix that is being treated for pyoderma(sp). She looks very ...
A: If she has been on Cephalexin with no help for 6 weeks, it is most likely not a skin infection with ...
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| dog skin irritation | 7/18/2007 |
Q: Our dog has a patch on his neck without hair. It's red, scabby and irritated. We thought, at ...
A: The neck is a common site for a fungal infection with Malassezia yeasts. You can try shampooing it ...
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| Reaction to rabies vaccine | 7/12/2007 |
Q: My 5 pound Chihuahua had a rabies shot a few months ago and about 6 weeks later had a patch on her ...
A: It could be related to the vaccine, although the typical rabies skin reaction is a slowly thinning ...
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| Dog question | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I have a 6 year old pug who has allergies. I just recently got him about a year ago. I am not sure ...
A: This could be from the allergies. What happens is the allergy causes the skin to itch and thicken, ...
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| cat hair loss/skin | 7/3/2007 |
Q: I have long haired cat who's hair started to matted really bad around her collar. I took the collar ...
A: Cats show allergies around their neck and face. If you take the collar off and this mattng ...
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| odd mole like bumps | 7/2/2007 |
Q: my 6 year old tuxedo male cat (chance) has 2 mole like bumps on his right side, they are smooth and ...
A: Any growth on a cat's skin is worrisome. You need to have the vet look at these lesions. If your ...
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| Landseer Hairloss | 6/30/2007 |
Q: I have a Landseer Newfie that is experiencing hair loss on his chest, groin, and "arm pit" areas. ...
A: Until you get the dog seen by the vet, you can use dog shampoo on these areas. If you can find a ...
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| Cat hair not growing back evenly | 6/23/2007 |
Q: I have a persian and I get her shaved 1-2 times a year, And about 2 months ago I got her shaved ...
A: Hairs grow according to temperaure. Wehn you shaved the cat, so me hairs will be at the proper ...
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| dog's heat | 6/23/2007 |
Q: my 8 month old 50# mixed breed started bleeding 2 weeks ago & is bleeding EVERYWHERE. I would throw ...
A: Some bitches bleed profusely, while some hardly bleed at all. You can have her spayed now, while ...
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| ear trouble | 6/21/2007 |
Q: Today, 6/20/07 I took my German shepard in to have his left ear cleaned.. lots of *gunk* in there. ...
A: This is most likely a middle and inner ear infection. It is common in Shepherds. It could also be ...
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| lupus? | 6/19/2007 |
Q: My 3 year old chow/Golden Retriever mix developed a hypopigmented area on the top part nose about a ...
A: Discoid lupus can be confirmed with a biopsy sent off to a pathologist. If it is discoid lupus, a ...
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| itchy Yorkie...Tried everything!!! | 6/15/2007 |
Q: My girl is 9 MONTH old Yorkie. She started itching and biting herself at about 4 months old. In the ...
A: Even though they tested her for mites, have her treated for sarcoptic mites. Also ask your vet if ...
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| Keeshond with Skin Condition/Hair Loss | 6/10/2007 |
Q: My 14 year old, neutered (as a puppy) Keeshond has developed black skin around his neck & shoulders ...
A: Has your dog's thyroid level been tested to see if the Soloxine is correcting the low thyroid ...
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| 15 year old DSH | 6/8/2007 |
Q: When I visited the vet recently for routine vaccinations,I was told my cat should be on a low ...
A: If his blood work does not show any kidney problems, then it is fairly safe to anesthetize him for ...
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| swollen exterior ear in chocolate lab | 6/4/2007 |
Q: My chocolate lab's exterior ear is swollen and she also fights yeast infections in her ear. Is ...
A: IF there is a pocket of fluid or blood inthe ear flap, that needs to be surgically fixed (aural ...
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| My dog is walking in circles. | 5/21/2007 |
Q: We have had are dog for about 9 years now. She just started walking in circles but only to the left. ...
A: This is called vestibular disease. She is basically dizzy. There may be something going on in her ...
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| my black lab/sharpie | 5/18/2007 |
Q: bella has a rash on her private parts and i would like to know what kind home remedies i can use on ...
A: Most dogs do not need to be bathed unless there is a skin problem. In this case, I would wash the ...
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| hair loss | 5/17/2007 |
Q: my gsd has an ongoing problem with hair loss it always starts on her back near her tail,then ...
A: In that location, I would think of flea allergy first. If the dog gets one flea every month, that ...
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| PitBull Skin Problem | 5/15/2007 |
Q: I have a 2 year old pit bull which I found about a year and a half ago. He had mange and I took him ...
A: Dogs develop allergic skin reactions after 1-2 years of age. I fyour dog had mange as a pup, I would ...
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| german shepards | 4/23/2007 |
Q: i am not sure one what all goes wrong with german shepards hips and hind legs can anyone explain it ...
A: Sometimes they will get fibrocartilagenous infarcts that will cause temporary loss of use of the ...
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| question | 4/14/2007 |
Q: my name is Michael i am 14 and i was wondering what classes i could take to become a vet and also ...
A: Dogs breathing is affected by many things that can get in the way of the air that is moving. You ...
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| Scabs on my dog's skin. | 4/13/2007 |
Q: I have been doing some research and noticed for the first time that my dog has 2 large scabs on his ...
A: Some dogs are sensitive to the clipper blades and others are sensitive to the shampoos. If there ...
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| ear shaking | 4/13/2007 |
Q: My son has a beagle/fox hound mix who is 10 months old.He rescued him from the animal shelter when ...
A: Not all ear problems are infection. Many dogs get skin problems that make the skin of the ear canal ...
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| skin problem on Poodle | 4/11/2007 |
Q: I have a standard poodle and he is going on 14yrs and he is full of what I call warts,don't know if ...
A: These sebaceous adenomas are not uncommon in older dogs. They are rarely any problems, but they are ...
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| RND Dog chewing toenails off | 4/9/2007 |
Q: My year old boxer mix has radial nerve damage from an accident in December. He started walking and ...
A: With injuuries and nerve damage, often these "tingle" and the dog goes after the discomfort. They ...
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| pseudomonas aeruginosa in geriatric cat | 4/8/2007 |
Q: My 14 year old neutered cornish rex has had chronic nasal discharge most of his life. He has also ...
A: Pseudomonas is very difficultt o get ot and to fing an antibiotic that will kill it. There are many ...
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| lab ear bit in half cant stop bleeding | 4/7/2007 |
Q: my two dogs were playing and one nipped the others ear how can i stop the bleeding
A: The best way to stop bleeding in with pressure and ice. If that doesn't help, then a styptic pencil ...
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| German Shepard | 4/2/2007 |
Q: My 6 month old GS has junk in her ear. I wanted to know the best of getting it out without hurting ...
A: If there is "junk" in her ear, it is there because of something. It could be an infection or it ...
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| my cats skin and coat | 4/1/2007 |
Q: d be great thankyou sandra
A: MAny cats with itchy ears actually have skin allergies. Cats rarely get infections, like dogs, but ...
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| Dog chews discolored hair area. | 3/28/2007 |
Q: My yellow lab for the past couple of years has a spot of hair that turns orange during the warm ...
A: There is an orange pigment inthe saliva of dogs, so when they are chewing in one spot, the hair will ...
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| Tuesday's Allergies | 3/17/2007 |
Q: I have a year and a half-old Golden Retriever named Tuesday. She's had allergy problems for most of ...
A: I don't believe that any of the enzymes are helpful in dog allergies. If these allergies started ...
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| Dog w/ cut on ankle, possibly broken | 3/16/2007 |
Q: My dog was tied outside today and got his foot wrapped around his leash and has a cut all the way ...
A: You can flush the wound with warm water to keep it clean. In this type of injury, there is crushing ...
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| cat licking fur off on tummy and inner legs | 3/13/2007 |
Q: Dr. Gottthelf. My elderly mother has a five year old spayed black and white short-haired cat. She ...
A: This usually indicates an itchy cat. They lick and chew off the hair. Are there any fleas or has ...
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| ear bleeding, cat walking funny | 3/12/2007 |
Q: My cats ear lobe is wounded with blood for a week. Two days ago, he started wobbling while walking. ...
A: IF there is a wound on the ear, then maybe there is ap roblem deep in the ear canal. Middle eare ...
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| liver problems in young cat | 3/10/2007 |
Q: My cat is almost 3 years old, young compared to other cats that I have read about with similar ...
A: If the cat isn't eating, then this is most likely hepatic lipidosis, which results in a fatty liver ...
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| Shera | 3/9/2007 |
Q: In October my 16 year old dog had an ear infection and they put her on Cephalexin 500mg she took ...
A: At 16 years I would think of some type of metabolic disease present rather than the cephalexin ...
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| Chronic Ear Infection | 3/9/2007 |
Q: 12 year old Siberian Husky: she has had an ear infection for 16 months. Have seen 3 different vets ...
A: You may need to find someone that can look with a video otoscope for evidence of a middle ear ...
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| red mange | 3/7/2007 |
Q: We found out about 2 weeks ago our red heeler has red mange. She is taking antibiotics and has been ...
A: With red mange, do not use cortisone at all. It wil make the mange spread. Dippings need to be ...
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| shih tzu chews his paws non-stop | 3/6/2007 |
Q: My shih tzu (deuce) has very dry skin. I notice that if we go two or more weeks w/ out bathing him ...
A: Chewing and licking the paws is caused by atopic dermatitis. Dogs get all kinds of pollens, moolds, ...
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| German Shepherd ears | 2/27/2007 |
Q: Gotthelf, Thank you so much for the time you are taking to read this question. I will try to be as ...
A: DepoMedrol is probably the worst thing that can be done. I wouold advise you to fing a vet ...
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| my one and half year old pitbull | 2/16/2007 |
Q: My 1 1/2 yr old pit bull has ear and skin problems since he was a pup, and the vet keeps testing him ...
A: If he is a very allergic dog and the cortisone shots help, then ask your vet to prescribe prednisone ...
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| Itching | 2/15/2007 |
Q: my dog is 5 years old and over the last 2 or 3 weeks he has started itching at the bottom of his ...
A: While anal gland problems can cause this, I would be more likely to think of a flea allergy. That is ...
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| German Shepherd and lick granuloma | 2/12/2007 |
Q: I own a five year old German shepherd who has dealt with bouts of lick granuloma for the last three ...
A: Lick granuloma in dogs is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which originates in the brain, not ...
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| My cat is losing her hair! | 2/10/2007 |
Q: We recently had a major flea infestation and our two cats have suffered dearly. I am still trying to ...
A: You need to do two things. First, get the cat to the vet for a shot of DepoMEdrol, a long acting ...
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| Skin condition and orderof my German Shepard | 2/9/2007 |
Q: I have a 4year old Female German shepard she recently started giving off a bad order and she has a ...
A: This is most likely seborrheic dermatitis. Antibiotics, antifungals, and special shampoos called ...
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| shampoo, conditioner, and paws | 2/8/2007 |
Q: My cat had huge static issues, so I gave her a bath and used human shampoo and conditioner. Her ...
A: Some animals are very sensitive to components of shampoos. Some cats can be senstive to animal ...
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| Jack russell allergies | 2/6/2007 |
Q:
A: The 3 month old one may have sarcoptic mange. If it is allergies, then it is allergic to the food. ...
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| Infection on the ear | 2/3/2007 |
Q: we noticed that our cat has a purulent infection - probably caused by a fight - in the top of the ...
A: In most cases a topical antibiotic like neomycin will help. Ointments tend to slow wound healing ...
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| Scottish Terrier skin biopsy | 2/2/2007 |
Q: Ok my 9 year old male had a skin biopsy today and they are looking in particular for Pemphigus ...
A: Pemphigus causes separation of certain layers of the skin and lymphoma is a cancer within the layers ...
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| Puppy's Face is Swollen | 1/31/2007 |
Q: I have a four-month-old male beagle puppy, and we woke up this morning to find that his face and ...
A: Yes, it could be a reaction to food or anything else. Many compounds will cause this as well as ...
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| bumps on face | 1/31/2007 |
Q: my 1 year lab has a few bumps around his lips and toward his whiskers. they are red wart looking ...
A: This is most likely a bacterial infection, which is very common in labs with food sensitivities. ...
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| What do I do? | 1/23/2007 |
Q: My malti-poo has something on his ear. It looks like if he scratched alot and has a small piece that ...
A: If he scratched the ear and cause an abrasion or an ulcer, you can put any type of antibiotic ...
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| tick bite | 1/23/2007 |
Q: My cat goes outside for a day or two at a time, and last night he came home and as always I ...
A: If the head remains, it will take a week or so for the tissue over it to die and then it will come ...
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| itchy ears in dog | 1/8/2007 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, Thank you for your time. My dog has been itching in one of his ears for a few weeks. ...
A: If he has an infection, then the discharge may be brown. You need to have your vet check to make ...
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| Shedding Husky | 1/5/2007 |
Q: I have a 1 year old Siberian Husky. He shed all during the summer, as normal, and he seemed fine ...
A: In a 1 year old hushy, he may just be getting rid of his puppy coat and replacing it with the adult, ...
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| My dog | 1/4/2007 |
Q: My small terrier has small bumps on his back. I have bathed him and have seen no fleas, he doesnt ...
A: These can be sebaceous cysts or even comedones. Sometimes a bacterial infection will start as these ...
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| Puppy strangles | 1/4/2007 |
Q: My chihuahua has been suffering from puppy strangles-this is his 2nd week. I was advised that he ...
A: Puppy strangles is a severe bacterial infection, so he needs to be on very high levels of ...
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| shih tzu itching problem | 12/28/2006 |
Q: i have a 6 month old male shih tzu and ever since we have had him he scratches himself like ...
A: In a young dog like yours that scratches all the time, I would be worried about Sarcoptic mange. it ...
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| Cat walking in circles.... | 12/24/2006 |
Q: About three years ago I adopted a blind cat from the pound. In the time I have had her she has had ...
A: A middle ear or an inner infection can affect balance. YOu should have the cat checked by a vet to ...
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| Hair loss clumps | 12/23/2006 |
Q: We have an 11 yr old orange short hair indoor tabby. We recently noticed hair clumps (5 to 10 ...
A: If he is "barbering" the hairs, then this means that he iotches. The scratching will be done when ...
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| male pup with mange | 12/22/2006 |
Q: I bought a male pup from a good kennels with papers. The pup was born on 9/6/06 and I just found out ...
A: All dogs have mange mites ontheir skin. We think that those pups that get it really bad have a ...
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| Cat Hair Loss | 12/22/2006 |
Q: My cat started losing hair on the back of her legs, and had some sore spots. The hair loss is ...
A: In my area, flea allergy in cats is extremely common. But so are other types of allergies that will ...
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| DEMEDEX MANGE | 12/21/2006 |
Q: My Alaskan Malamute was diagnosed with "DEMEDEX MANGE". My vet suggests using "Mitaban" My breadder ...
A: Both mitaban and ivermectin will help treat demodex mange. Ivermectin has to be given every day and ...
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| Dog has Odor and Digging | 12/15/2006 |
Q: I have a german shepherd Mix . He's 12 week's old he dig's night and day not just his body but his ...
A: You are describing seborrhea. Many of these things are allergic in origin, so that wouold need to be ...
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| canine condition concerns | 12/12/2006 |
Q: I own an 8 year old male chihuahua, neutered. He suffers from chronic tooth plaque, and my vet just ...
A: An advil is very toxic to a small dog, so please avoid that. The insecticide in Biospot, ...
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| cat hair loss | 12/7/2006 |
Q: my name is Stephanie and I have a 5 year old female cat who has been loosing hair on her belly and ...
A: Cats can be allergic to many things including fleas and their foods. When cats are allergic, they ...
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| otc meds for our dog | 12/5/2006 |
Q: we have a 6 yr old golden retriever who has arthritis-we have been giving her deramaxx but its so ...
A: Human pain relievers often cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, and sometimes ulcers. That's why there ...
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| my dog stinks | 12/5/2006 |
Q: i was wondering what to do for a stinky dog, she smells like wet dog all the time, even after ...
A: Doggy odor is the result of the bacteria and yeasts on the skin breaking down the oil being secreted ...
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| age | 12/4/2006 |
Q: I have a 10 year old Jack Russell. She has started to show signs of stiff joints. What do you ...
A: I recommend a drug called Previcox for the pain and I also recommend using dietary Omega3 fatty ...
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| dog ear infection | 11/29/2006 |
Q: My dog, a 8 year old Border Collie mix, has been shaking her head viciously today. I looked inside ...
A: This is probably some type of allergic reaction. YOu should let the vet look at the dog and look ...
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| Licking bald spots | 11/17/2006 |
Q: my cat is having a problem where he is licking himself bald in little nickel sized spots on his ...
A: If the steroid shots help, ask the vet if you can come in once every 6 weeks for just the cost of ...
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| itching | 11/12/2006 |
Q: We have an 8 month Maltese/bison with an itching problem..had her on a variety of foods such as ...
A: Many of these young dogs that itch may have sarcoptic mange. The Revolution is not a good medication ...
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| Inflammed vulva | 11/12/2006 |
Q: Our 6-year old female beagle began having an inflammed vulva area about 6 months ago. The vulva ...
A: Low dose pred has very few long term side effects. There is a steroid spray that you can try called ...
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| treatment for red mange | 11/11/2006 |
Q: like to know standard treatment for red mange in boxer
A: The only approved medication is called Amitraz. It is a dip solution applied to the dog every 2 ...
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| puppies with fleas | 11/9/2006 |
Q: i just got these puppies. their about 2-4 weeks old. i just realized that they are covered in fleas. ...
A: If you cannot afford your pets, you may think about thinning out your herd. Puppies with fleas can ...
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| skin infection? | 11/3/2006 |
Q: I have a outbreak of somthing in all my young outside barn cats. They are all getting oval leasions ...
A: Without seeing the cats, it is hard for me to diagnose anything over the internet. If they are all ...
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| yeast infection in great pyrenees | 11/2/2006 |
Q: i have 2 great pyrs. they have a yeast infection in their ears. i have been cleaning them out with ...
A: I would stay away from Malaseb in these ears. It contains chlorhexidine which can be very toxic ...
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| Dog shaking his head excessively | 10/25/2006 |
Q: I have a question about my 3 year old husky/lab/shepherd mix named Nash. About 4 months ago I ...
A: If you changed the diet and the head shaking stopped for a while, he may be a food alergic dog. ...
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| Dog pregnant? | 10/16/2006 |
Q: I have an english bulldog. I have a feeling that she is pregnant. She has gained a lot of weight ...
A: A vet visit can range from $35 to $50 for an evaluation. There is a blood test to see if your dog ...
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| bite wound on cat ...necrosis ? | 10/15/2006 |
Q: my 7 month old kitten was attacked by anouther cat she had bites on her back and side and had to ...
A: Cats have a lot of extra skin that they can stretch over a wound as it heals. With good therapy ...
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| Hair Loss | 10/14/2006 |
Q: I have a three year old daschund that has been experiencing hair loss for a couple of years. Had her ...
A: There are many reasons for hair loss and if this has been going on that long, I would recommend that ...
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| Black dots on chin | 10/11/2006 |
Q: my cat a few months back had gotten fleas when we were staying at my friends who had a dog infested ...
A: Black dots on the chin could be chin acne in the dog. It can be caused from bacteria, yeasts, or ...
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| Wound on Head | 10/11/2006 |
Q: My cat a few months back was attacked by a dog. Her sinus cavity was puntured and the bone on her ...
A: Yes, these frontal sinus injuries can show up like that. The sinuses produce mucus and when there ...
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| Rice and Chicken Breast diet | 10/8/2006 |
Q: Two months ago the Vet told me to put my dog on a white rice and chicken breast diet when we found ...
A: Some dogs do develop food reactions, but I doubt that is what this is. Ask your vet o treat the ...
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| rash near dog's private parts | 10/7/2006 |
Q: My dog recently developed a rash never his private part. they are red and he scratches. i don't know ...
A: A rash in that area may be a bacterial indfection. That is usually caused by something itrritating ...
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| Allergies | 10/5/2006 |
Q: My 1,5 year old Yorkshire Terrier started having coat and skin problems around February this year. ...
A: Many dogs with allergies show these symptoms. There are a couple of recommendations that I would ...
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| Fleas?? I'm not sure. | 10/2/2006 |
Q: Lately my cat, Missy, has been acting strangely. The last time she acted in this fashion the problem ...
A: There are many allergens that can make a cat itchy other than fleas. There are molds and pollens, ...
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| my cats ear | 9/30/2006 |
Q: my question is,my 3 year old cat goes outside most of the time. He was gone for at least a month. ...
A: Cats rarely get ear infections like people or dogs. They can get ear mites (bugs) or they can get ...
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| ears | 9/28/2006 |
Q: my dog ears has a very bad oder. what caouses it and what can I do to help stop it
A: Odor in the ears is often from infection in the ears. These are related to allergic skin disease ...
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| ears | 9/22/2006 |
Q: My dog (a Chihuahua) scratches his ears constantly. He was also scratching his body until we put a ...
A: Itchy ears can be a sign of environmental allergies or even a food allergy. If there is an ...
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| My dogs ears | 9/21/2006 |
Q: We have had a lot of rain and it has brought out more weeds and we are invested with flies. The ...
A: Fly strike is very common. There is a product called VIP FLY REPELLANT that is a creme that can be ...
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| Skin irritation | 9/20/2006 |
Q: My Italian Greyhound keeps biting his feet and the hair is almost gone on his back feet. Whate can I ...
A: When dogs bite at their feet, this is most often some type of allergy to something that they are ...
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| smelly dog | 9/15/2006 |
Q: My 9 yr old Lab mix neutered male has recently begun to stink to the extreme. He has been on ...
A: The dog has some type of inflammed glandular secretion that is stinking. Ask the vet if your dog ...
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| SKIN | 9/13/2006 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I have 5 beautiful bullmasitffs that never have had skin problems until we moved to ...
A: I would agree that if all 5 dogs are exhibiting the same thing, then there has to be something ...
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| Dogs health | 9/12/2006 |
Q: I have a Sheltie mix that was given to me by a friend about 4 or 5 years ago. Cozie was about 8 ...
A: The truth is that this didn't just happen. When skin diseasses like this go on for a long time the ...
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| My 2 1/2 year old cat has sore on cheek | 9/10/2006 |
Q: Since March 2006 my cat has had 3 wounds on the side of his face. The first time I took him to the ...
A: I would ask the vet if your cat has ear mites. That can cause a chronic cheek sore from scratching. ...
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| kitten /cat tape worms | 9/6/2006 |
Q: My 7 yr old cat has had tape worms twice. Both times I bought pills to get rid of them. Now I have a ...
A: Reoccuring tapeworms result from the cats eating the fleas. There may be only a few fleas, but when ...
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| ear hematomas | 9/6/2006 |
Q: My dog has had 3 ear surgeries to remove hematomas in the last two months. They keep coming back. ...
A: Aural hematomas result from violent head shaking. If they are reoccurring, then you should have the ...
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| Dog has infection on ears | 8/24/2006 |
Q: My husband's is 8 months old and we have noticed that she has the tips of her ears that are infected ...
A: This is called fly strike. The biting flies open the skin and the ear tips get a scab on it. You ...
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| Cat distress after ear mite medicine | 8/21/2006 |
Q: I picked up some over the counter flea medicine at the local pet store (my cat was biting and ...
A: You need to take the cat to a vet to have the ears examined to see if there is a ruptured eardrum. ...
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| skunk! | 8/18/2006 |
Q: my cocker spaniel was sprayed by a skunkn last night we left him in his room and the house smellys ...
A: There is a product called SKUNK-OFF that takes the odor away. Also, some people advocate using ...
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| Skin Question | 8/18/2006 |
Q: I have a pekingese dog that's 3 years old and she recently got spadded. Lately I've been seeing some ...
A: Discoloration of the skin on the belly is normal in older dogs. If there is any oil coming out of ...
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| dog skin condition | 8/16/2006 |
Q: I have a large brown dog, short hair, a stray that took up at my home 2 yrs ago. Over the past year, ...
A: The first thing I will recommend to you is that you take the dog to a vet for an evaluation. There ...
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| Constant itching and chewing -irritation caused by unknown source | 8/15/2006 |
Q: I'm so excited that your expertise is Dermatology! We just moved into an apartment complex and our ...
A: If the dog it itchy and the prednisone helped, then it is probably an allergy. Low dose steroids ...
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| stray cat & infant | 8/12/2006 |
Q: there are two small stray kittens living in a wood behind my home. I want to keep them. They seem to ...
A: Costs depend on what is being done. If they are kittens, they need to be checked for worms, and ...
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| Ears/Skin | 8/12/2006 |
Q: My cat is 10. All of her life she has had itchy ears. She itches them until she cries. There is a ...
A: If she has skin allergies, that often makes a cat's ear produce more wax. There may also be a ...
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| Allergies | 8/11/2006 |
Q: My dog has intermittent yeast infections in her ears. What would be safe to give for allergies. ...
A: Benadryl does not work in chronic dog allergies because it is not a histamine problem. The best ...
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| dog always chewing on tail and legs. | 8/5/2006 |
Q: i have a 2 year old male pomeranian. he is constantly chewing on his tail and itching on his legs. ...
A: Vegetable oil will not help itching. There are special oils called Omega3 fatty acids that decrease ...
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| Lab Ear Infection | 8/4/2006 |
Q: I have an 11 year old male chocolate lab that has had problems with his ears (especially his right ...
A: This treatment is acceptable if it helps. If the ear is beyond help medically, the easiest thing to ...
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| dogs ear infection | 8/1/2006 |
Q: I am taking my dog to the vet on wednesday and I was wonding what my options were. Thank you for ...
A: If there is a tumor in the ear, that requires surgery. Depending on the type of infection, they may ...
|
| Puppy Strangles | 7/29/2006 |
Q: The 3 month old female Golden Retrevier we were planning on bringing home tommorow has been ...
A: Strangles is realted to a Staph infection in puppies. Prednisione takes down the swelling. He ...
|
| Demodex | 7/25/2006 |
Q: My 4 month old female pug puppy just started Mitoban dips for demodex. It makes her quite drowsy, ...
A: Usually after the first couple of dips, they do not get the side effects. There is a drug called ...
|
| Itchy Skin? | 7/25/2006 |
Q: I Just recently adopted a dog from a local animal shelter. An 8 year old Jack Rusell. When i first ...
A: This dog needs to see a vet. He may have one of the mange mites, either sarcoptic or demodex. The ...
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| SKIN PROBLEMS | 7/24/2006 |
Q: GOTTHELF MY DOG PRESSLEY IS A 9 YEAR OLD GERMAN SHEPARD. HE DEVELOPED ALLERGY LIKE SYMPTOMS ABOUT ...
A: If he has a housedust mite allergy, that can be treated with allergy shots that you can give him at ...
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| dogs chewing on his nails and ear infections | 7/23/2006 |
Q: MY BICHION IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS ALOT OF EAR INFECTIONS. HE IS ALWAYS INSIDE AND CLEAN. HE ALSO ...
A: Ear infections are almost always caused by skin allergies. In the dog, skin allergies also make ...
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| skin and coat | 7/22/2006 |
Q: we have four irish setters one of them is a show champion who always ends up with some skin problem ...
A: Flaky skin may mean either infection or fatty acid deficiency. IF there is an infection that ...
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| sebboreah | 7/21/2006 |
Q: my dog has sebboreah..his skin is dry,itchy, and it smells..i know he needs to be treated with ...
A: Seborrhea can be treated with special medicated shampoos that contain sulfur and salacylic acid. ...
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| Skin Issues | 7/18/2006 |
Q: I recently adopted a cat from my father, he passed away 6 weeks ago and we have had his cat since ...
A: Yes, cats pull hair when they are stressed. But they also get allergies from things inthe ...
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| Ear Hematoma | 7/18/2006 |
Q: I have a 7 year old male golden retriever. He has allergies and is always itching and rubbing his ...
A: If the hematoma was fixed properly it should not come back. Most hematomas are caused by the dog ...
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| Tick Bite in dogs ear ? | 7/16/2006 |
Q: My dog had a tick in its ear last week that I removed and discarded.But now it looks all sore there ...
A: When ticks get into the ear they insert their sucking mouthparts all the way into the cartilage of ...
|
| Major head sores | 7/14/2006 |
Q: My parents labrador (1.5 yrs old) is struggling through some really big, bad lesions that have ...
A: Labs are very prone to allergies. If it is seasonal, then it is likely allergic in origin. Your vet ...
|
| Tactic medication for demotectic mange | 7/14/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf, My male peke was 4 months old when he developed demotectic mange. After a costly ...
A: Taktic is very effective at preventing mange. IT is mixed at 5 ml per liter and is is used only ...
|
| welt like sores on her belly | 7/11/2006 |
Q: Yogi, is a 9 year old female tortoise cat who is fixed. She has what started out to be small red ...
A: Many cats with allergies will have open sores on the belly, neck, and legs. IF she is having ...
|
| puppy with white gums | 7/10/2006 |
Q: My granddaughter found a puppy, female, approx.l5 wks old. Itis skin and bones and will not eat ...
A: Get this puppy to the vet right away. The puppy is anemic and may have fleas and hookworms that are ...
|
| the jaws | 7/4/2006 |
Q: My boxer has really low hanging jaws and recently one side off them has swolen and is hanging twice ...
A: Some dogs will get inflammation in their lips from food being caught or from allergies. Check the ...
|
| skin question | 7/1/2006 |
Q: My 3-year old male chihuahua has many insect bites/bumps on his front legs and on his head. Some of ...
A: Revolution is not a fast kill insecticide, so whatever bugs are on the dog will have to be on the ...
|
| Demodex Mite | 6/29/2006 |
Q: My 5 month old beagle puppy is dignoised with Demodex Mite. She only has 1 spot so far and her vet ...
A: It is rare for only one spot of mange to be present. That one spot is the only one that has lost ...
|
| my cat's ears | 6/23/2006 |
Q: To get right to it, my cat has dirty ears. She is about 7 1/2 years old or so, and I've had her for ...
A: If the vet see ear mites, then there is a chronic problem and the mites are not being treated ...
|
| my cat's ears | 6/21/2006 |
Q: To get right to it, my cat has dirty ears. She is about 7 1/2 years old or so, and I've had her for ...
A: Chronic discharge from a cat's ear is often a middle ear infection that drains and dries up in the ...
|
| Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex - Treatment | 6/19/2006 |
Q: My cat is suspected to have eosinophilic granuloma complex (2 vets have suspected the same thing, ...
A: Although the steroids do have side effects, fortunately cats do not have the serious side effects ...
|
| Fleas, fleas, everywhere FLEAS!!! | 6/18/2006 |
Q: I have a wonderful pup, a 10 year old cocker spaniel we rescued from a kill shelter a few years ago. ...
A: You need to get him a shot of some cortisone and some tablets to follow up. You should be using ...
|
| Pekinese with Strange Behaviour | 6/15/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf, My peke 11 months old since coming back from a grooming session, he has been acting ...
A: If his butt is itchy after groomig, it could be that the anal glands are irritated or that the shave ...
|
| Ear Infection | 6/14/2006 |
Q: I have a puppy about 14 weeks old. I took a bath with the puppy. I washed the puppy with puppy ...
A: You can rinse her ear with plain water, but it is a very long, deep ear canal in a dog. You may ...
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| Fungal/Bacterial/Viral Infection on paws spreading to rest of body | 6/12/2006 |
Q: My 12 year old lab/spaniel mix has been fighting the above-referenced subject since late February. ...
A: The lyme sulfur should be great for the fungus topically, but you can also use ketoconazole or ...
|
| Blisters/dried on Cat's ears--sunlight exacerbates | 6/10/2006 |
Q: My korat or russian blue (not sure) cat, Sasha, has scabs on the outside of her ears, which are ...
A: Tis is most likely a solar dermatosis. It is similar to a pre-cancerous lesion in people called ...
|
| Bad Odour/loosing fur | 6/9/2006 |
Q: i own a 3-year old male black lab. he is having a peculiar problem of losing fur in excess than ...
A: This is seborrhea and it is caused by allergy. The skin gets inflammed and the oil glands secrete ...
|
| Claws Lick Granuloma | 6/9/2006 |
Q: My 7-yr. old Rottie won't let me trim his claws and they're getting very long on his hind legs. I ...
A: You may have to have him sedated by your vet to trim his nails. Lick gtanulomas are almost always ...
|
| Lumpy dog ears | 6/8/2006 |
Q: My border collie has red lumpy ears. I have been to the vet and they have given me some drops to ...
A: Without an examination, it is hard for me to diagnose skin diseases on the internet. Does she have ...
|
| my puppy's scabies | 6/6/2006 |
Q: My puppy pitt bull have a scabies 2 weeks ago. I used dog shampoo but its not work. How to cure ...
A: There is an insecticide available at the vet's office called PHOSMET or PARAMITE dip. That kills ...
|
| In Heat | 6/5/2006 |
Q: I have a female Jack Russell Terrier and she just came into Heat. How long will this last???? Thank ...
A: The first part of her heat, called Proestrus, lasts 10-14 days. That's when she will swell and ...
|
| Min Pin skin rash | 5/31/2006 |
Q: I have a male 2 year old min pin. He recently has been scratching a lot. We brought him to the vet ...
A: This could be an allergy. I would recommend that you leave the dog on steroids regularly for a ...
|
| Female with Struvite Crystals | 5/30/2006 |
Q: I have a darling female I rescued as a kitten. Her name is Cookie Bugchaser & she is now around 5 ...
A: Struvite crystals are a problem with the diet. Magnesium, ammonia, and phosphates make up these ...
|
| Dog's tail | 5/28/2006 |
Q: I have a Pomerian/Poodle mix. he has a long tail taht is always curled up. Yesterday and today his ...
A: If you pinch the tail, does he feel it? If he doesn't feel anything, then it is a serious problem ...
|
| Runny Tummy851pb | 5/26/2006 |
Q: lynnwalk@tiscali.co.uk wrote: > Hi can anyone help! I have an indoor persian cat, he is 7 years old ...
A: This could be inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ask your vet if that is possible. This causes the ...
|
| white dandruff | 5/24/2006 |
Q: i have 2 cats ages 4 and 1 both females, the 4 yr old started a white dandruff on her fur going down ...
A: Dandruff is OK usually. It is the dead skin coming off. I would recommend having the cats bathed ...
|
| Parvo recovery | 5/22/2006 |
Q: My 9 month old is recovering from parvo. With lots of money we kept her alive and caught it early ...
A: It is very unusual to have jaundice or liver disease from parvo. I would suggest having the vet run ...
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| periodic up-chucking of my dog... | 5/20/2006 |
Q: I have an approx. 9 months old Terrier mix. he is no more than 10 lbs and pretty healthy and very ...
A: If he is throwing up food, it may be regurgitation rather than true vomiting from being sick. Dry ...
|
| Yorkie with chronic skin disease | 5/20/2006 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I have a seven y.o. yorkie with a chronic skin condition that worsens in the spring & ...
A: Allergies are chronic problems, so as soon as the steroid wears off, the allergic skin disease and ...
|
| kitten hairloss | 5/20/2006 |
Q: I have a kitten who has had difficulties since birth. His littermates are already twice his size and ...
A: My best guess would be some type of ringworm fungus. See if you can find something at the drug ...
|
| Dog hair and dog fur. | 5/19/2006 |
Q: Is there a difference between dog hair and dog fur? Do some breeds have one rather than the ...
A: Hair grows constantly and does not have a seasonal shed as does fur. Fur is usually composed of a ...
|
| urinary tract | 5/19/2006 |
Q: My male Jack Russell Terrier, 8 years, had problems urinating a couple weeks ago. Urine would just ...
A: s/d diet should only be used for a short time...usually 6 weeks until the stones dissolve. Then k/d ...
|
| Bump clusters on kittens head | 5/19/2006 |
Q: We have a litter of 4 kittens that are 8 weeks old. The other day I noticed A small, movable bump an ...
A: Without an examination, I can't be very specific. At 8 weeks, they should be ready for their forst ...
|
| Dog Ear Mites??? & Eye Problem | 5/18/2006 |
Q: I have two questions to ask: The firstMy 12 year old Akita (female) has had ear problems for some ...
A: Ear mites are rarely found in older dogs. If she has black stuff, that is more likely an infection. ...
|
| cat vomiting | 5/18/2006 |
Q: my wifes cat is being sick shortly after each meal, he is a long haired 2 year old and this has been ...
A: This does sound like haiballs. A good combing daily helps to remove loose hairs that the cat ...
|
| collie dog | 5/16/2006 |
Q: My collie dog approx 10 years old has lately started to have involintary tremors/spasms through her ...
A: This could be some type of neurological problem, like a mild epilepsy. Although you said that she ...
|
| CAT VOMITING | 5/16/2006 |
Q: MY MUM HAS AN 8 MONTH OLD SIAMEASE KITTEN.SINCE WE HAVE OWNED HER,SHE HAS BEEN THROWING UP IN THE ...
A: Since yur Mum already lost a cat to Feline Leukemia Virus, then it could happen again. You need to ...
|
| cat keeps peeing | 5/15/2006 |
Q: this isn't a question about a disease but hope you can help. Well, my cat is a about 3 year old male ...
A: If it is an older cat, it could be arthritic and can't get into the box. Some cats with urinary ...
|
| Revolution for mange? | 5/14/2006 |
Q: My dog was diagnosed w/ mange (sarcopic) on her tail. She has completed the ATB. as well as the ...
A: If the dog has allergic dermatitis, there are several things that are done. First, allergy testing ...
|
| cat pain med | 5/14/2006 |
Q: Our cat hurt his leg outside. It's swollen and he limps. No open wounds or anything. I think he'll ...
A: Ther are some pain medicines that cats can take, but they are all prescription. Anything you might ...
|
| sick kitten? | 5/13/2006 |
Q: i got a kitten a few weeks ago from the local animal shelter. i took her to the vet, she was ...
A: Kittens with worms get very large bellies. When the worms are gone, the belly goes down in size. So ...
|
| Lab Puppy - Foul Metallic Odor - Glands vs. Penis | 5/13/2006 |
Q: I adopted a yellow lab "mix" puppy at 8 weeks and he was already neutered (which I considered quite ...
A: You are asking about 2 separate sets of glands. The anal sacs have a thin, oily material that has a ...
|
| Black Skin | 5/12/2006 |
Q: We have a 3 year old golden retriever. She has developed black skin on her belly. It also looks a ...
A: In a Golden retriever, the first thing I would rule out is low thyroid hormones. Ask your vet to ...
|
| Cat losing fur in patches, and itchy | 5/11/2006 |
Q: My 7 yr old cat seems unusually itchy. She is losing fur in a spot behind neck, and skin seems ...
A: YOu probably should let your vet look at this cat to see if it is a toxic drug reaction from ...
|
| Green Watery Poop | 5/11/2006 |
Q: We just got a puppy from the pound where we live. She is about 3-4 months old. She has been going ...
A: Some puppies do not have good reactions to severe changes in their life. Having gone from somewhere ...
|
| swelling in jaw of beagle | 5/11/2006 |
Q: Our 11 year old beagle has had a lot of ear problems (allergy related)over the years, and has been ...
A: Any abnormal swelling should be investigated. It could be a salivary cyst or an abscess. Your vet ...
|
| misdiagnosis of red mange? | 5/10/2006 |
Q: Well, we took our 8 month lab puppy to the vet yesterday (Tuesday). Sunday, we were told she has ...
A: If the emergency clinic veterinarian saw demodex mites on a skin scraping, then that's what it is. ...
|
| Red Mange Treatments | 5/9/2006 |
Q: My 8 month lab was diagnosed with red mange. She has lost quite a bit of hair on her legs and ...
A: Dipping a dog with Amitraz is the best way to treat red mange. Certain oral medications, like ...
|
| Voice Change in Cat | 5/9/2006 |
Q: For the last 5 days, my 3-year-old Siamese cat (who is normally very vocal), now sounds weak and ...
A: Voice change in the cat can be a sign of many conditions...polyps being one of them. Sometimes ...
|
| my dog | 5/8/2006 |
Q: my dog fern is a hurriacne catrina dog, i resucued her from the spca about 6 months ago and she ...
A: If she did well during the winter months and is now just starting to itch, she may have seasonal ...
|
| pregnant stray cat | 5/8/2006 |
Q: There is a strat cat living under the house next to me and I'm almost positive she is pregnant. She ...
A: If you can't get to the mother, then there is not much you can do. I would put some kitten food out ...
|
| my 6 yr, pomeranian is chewing on her pad on foot and it is infected | 5/7/2006 |
Q: please tell me if an infected pad is serious as i cannot get into her vet for a couple of ...
A: An infected pad usually indicates something stuck in the paw. If there is, it will need to be ...
|
| Cat Dandruff | 5/6/2006 |
Q: My cat appears to have dandruff, which is usually worse in the summer. He recently had a sore patch ...
A: Some cats with dandruff actually have ringworm. Ask your vet to check for that. If that is not the ...
|
| ear pain | 5/5/2006 |
Q: My dog shakes her head, digs in her ear and whines. We have taken her to the Vet many times. She ...
A: Many dogs with chronic ear infections and pain have middle ear infections. Ask your vet to check ...
|
| Doberman Ear Cropping | 5/4/2006 |
Q: We are about to purchase a doberman puppy and have been reading up on ear cropping. My question is- ...
A: Ear cropping is better earlier, but vets don't want to do it until the puppy is fully immunized ...
|
| Revolution for mange? | 5/3/2006 |
Q: My dog was diagnosed w/ mange (sarcopic) on her tail. She has completed the ATB. as well as the ...
A: Revolution is indicated for treatment of sarcoptic mange, but it works very slowly. A better thing ...
|
| Hair loss in cat | 5/1/2006 |
Q: Our 3 month old cat which my husband found hit on the road about three weeks ago -which has made a ...
A: So often when animals heal one part of the body, another part gets neglected. In this case the skin ...
|
| my dog | 4/28/2006 |
Q: i have a akita male 5 years old he recently started to develop some gas and he farts alot. his ...
A: The first thing I would do is to change his diet to a high quality commercial food. Then measure ...
|
| Kitten with heart murmur | 4/28/2006 |
Q: I placed a kitten with a loving family and have just learned that kitty was diagnosed with a heart ...
A: There are many people and kitties with mild heart murmurs that are of no significance. In cats, the ...
|
| dogs diet and teeth | 4/28/2006 |
Q: I have a teacup chihuahua she white with dark pink eyes and weight about 2 1/2 pd. Her name is ...
A: No, oatmeal is not a balanced diet for dogs. You can try warming dog food in warm water and ...
|
| Jack Russell Skin problems | 4/26/2006 |
Q: My friend has a Jack Russell and she constantly itches raw under her arms pits and ears. My friend ...
A: This sounds like allergic dermatitis. There is a shot to help stop itching, but it does not last ...
|
| ear mites in the nose | 4/25/2006 |
Q: Our whippet has a problem with reverse sneezing and a friend referred us to an article which stated ...
A: Ear mites do not get into the nose, but some dogs get nasal mites, which are extremely rare! ...
|
| about veterinarians | 4/25/2006 |
Q: 1. What type of skills and talents are needed for the career of a vet.? 2. What type of ...
A: To become a veterinarian, you must love math and science. You must also be able to do things with ...
|
| Pemphigus | 4/24/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a 7 year old chocolate lab that has been diagnosed with Pemphigus via biopsy. The ...
A: Without an exam I cannot tell you if something is lodged in the conjunctiva. Dry eye results in a ...
|
| tummy trouble | 4/23/2006 |
Q: 2 days ago my dox chewed up a wooden spoon. he is a chocolate lab aprox 8 months old. yesterday he ...
A: Puppies eat anything. Sometimes things can pass right though and sometimes pieces break off and get ...
|
| dog ear | 4/21/2006 |
Q: I took my schnoodle to be groomed. (She was well overdue and thus, hairy). On my way out the door, ...
A: If the groomer suspects an ear infection, then let your vet look in the ears to see if there is a ...
|
| my dog is allergic. | 4/20/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf. I have 3 dogs, and one of them is allergic to almost everything imaginable, (he is even ...
A: You can use cortisone type drugs to reduce the skin reaction to the allergens. Bathing removes the ...
|
| Yeast Infections | 4/18/2006 |
Q: We have a weim who is 5 years old. He has always been prone to yeast infections, and often has red, ...
A: Yeast infections are almost always secondary to allergies. If the dog only does it after being ...
|
| MY DOG HAS A SEVERE SKIN PROBLEM (TESTED NO MANGE) | 4/16/2006 |
Q: MY DOG IS ABSOLUTELY PITIFUL. HIS NAME IS ELVIS AND HE'S ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD. HE HAS HAD SOME ...
A: If there are allergies, then the shots should give SOME relief especially immediately after the ...
|
| Temporary Over-the-counter relief for skin irritation | 4/16/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf, My cat has a skin irritation he is biting, and taing out his fur. It's not bloody, ...
A: Some cats will respond to an antihistamine called chlorpheniramine. It is very cheap. The dose is ...
|
| my 7month old puppy got burned... | 4/15/2006 |
Q: my 7month old puppy got burned by hot water on her hind leg and a small patch on the same side of ...
A: It will take 2-3 weeks to heal AFTER the dead skin comes off. The best thing is to keep the area ...
|
| ruptured cyst | 4/13/2006 |
Q: My 12 year old golden had a small sebaceous cyst that was first diagnosed about six years ago. ...
A: Sebaceous cysts should be removed because they are lined with secretory cells that will make the ...
|
| Please help my cat | 4/12/2006 |
Q: Raven, is a calico cat. She is shorthaired and is only 1.5 years old. Since I adopted her, and her ...
A: She may be allergic. With that hair loss pattern, it would appear that she is chewing the hair out. ...
|
| cats | 4/12/2006 |
Q: I have two 9 yr old cats Menace & Joy-my adored treasures! They are both indoor cats & have dry ...
A: The skin flakes off normally, but if these flakes are not removed from the skin, they will show up ...
|
| undiagnosed itching | 4/12/2006 |
Q: I have an 8 year old spayed mix dog...possibly an Italian Greyhound mix. She has had issues with ...
A: It seems as though you need to have your dog seen by a qualified veterinary dermatologist. If you ...
|
| 7 yr old chocolate lab- dandruff | 4/11/2006 |
Q: In January 2006, my dog began experiencing dandruff and flaky skin. The vet gave him dermatabs with ...
A: Often, the flakiness is actually ruptured pustules from skin infection. Ask your vet if that is ...
|
| Mass in dogs snout | 4/3/2006 |
Q: My dog has some sort of problem within her nose.She will be going in for her second surgery in 4 ...
A: If they operate again, they need to get a sample to send to a pathologist to see what this mass is. ...
|
| Skin problems with my Dachshund | 4/3/2006 |
Q: Louis N. Gotthelf, Recently, I noticed that my 1-year-old Dachshund is getting a dark pigment on ...
A: Heather; You should take the dog to the vet for an exam. Several things can cause this ...
|
| are they bites or what? | 3/28/2006 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, We recently discovered while carressing our cat that he (Ozzy) was scratching an ...
A: This is probably an allergic reaction in your cat. Animax contains a topical steroid which will ...
|
| Puppy chin bumps | 3/28/2006 |
Q: My lab puppy is 8 months & developed bumps under her chin the size of BBs. There are probably 10 - ...
A: This is probably a bacterial infection. SOmetimes this chin acne can be infected with demodecx ...
|
| a lump on the back | 3/28/2006 |
Q: my 8 months old toy poodle has a lump grown on her back beside the vertebral column. The lump is ...
A: Often this is where the shots were given. The puppy can get what is known as an injection ...
|
| Raw spots on dog's nose | 3/27/2006 |
Q: I have a year old terrier/mix with two raw red spots directly below her nostrils. The spots are ...
A: This could certainly be trauma in which case a steroid ointment should help. It takes several weeks ...
|
| Purebred vs. non-purebred | 3/26/2006 |
Q: I'll attempt to be brief: My wife and I are in the process of looking for a Golden retriever puppy ...
A: There is a concept in genetics called "hybrid vigor." This means that cross breeding makes the ...
|
| plucking or not plucking? | 3/25/2006 |
Q: I am a Vet assistant, but working in the field of pet grooming at this time. I see many dogs come in ...
A: Plucking creates trauma and inflammation to the ear canal, which can lead to infection. If the ...
|
| Cat - hair loss on ears | 3/25/2006 |
Q: Got a kitten about a year ago from a shelter. Kitten was diagnosed with ringworm on first vet visit ...
A: I always shave the cats with ringworm so that we can treat topically (with miconazole or ...
|
| 6 Yr Old Cat W/Constipation | 3/24/2006 |
Q: I have a 6 year old cat that recently within the last two months has had a problem with pooping. I ...
A: Hairballs can cause constipation! If she is licking alot, she may need something like a steroid shot ...
|
| Lab Ear infection | 3/24/2006 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I have a 9 month old yellow lab. In the fall, I noticed that both ears seemed to ...
A: Labs are so prone to allergies, but you may be thinking of pollen allergies. Many young labs with ...
|
| Itching | 3/23/2006 |
Q: I have a three year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. For the first two years of his life he has ...
A: If your vet thinks it might be allergies, try a short course of some cortisone tablets to see if it ...
|
| Sex of cat | 3/22/2006 |
Q: Just logged onto your site Dr. Very silly question, but we are very much a dog family and a very ...
A: There are 2 ways. One, in the male cat the diatance from the rectum to the urethral opening is ...
|
| german shepherd's ear | 3/19/2006 |
Q: We have a 1 1/2year old german shepherd whose ears are both up and strong at the base but they both ...
A: At this age, it is hard to get the cartilage of the ear to straighten out. There are some things ...
|
| skin problem | 3/19/2006 |
Q: i have a doberman puppy which is 4 months old now. a couple of weeks back something which looked ...
A: I would suggest that these pustules be looked at under the microscope by your vet. These pustules ...
|
| Skin infection on 13 year old Cocker Spaniel | 3/17/2006 |
Q: We have a 13 year old Cocker Spaniel. I know they are known for ear and skin problems but the skin ...
A: This may be a yeast infection, but without an exam it is hard for me to be sure. HAs your dog been ...
|
| cat is becoming violent to own tail?? | 3/12/2006 |
Q: please if you can't answer would you give me to someone that can?this may sound very stange,..my ...
A: Often this behavior is associated with itching or pain. I would first have the cat examined to see ...
|
| Cat / tapeworm | 3/9/2006 |
Q: My cat has tapeworms. She has had them before so I know that the small light brown rice hulls ...
A: Tapeworms are transmitted by fleas, so flea control is the best way to prevent tapeworms. Are you ...
|
| Dog rubbing face | 3/8/2006 |
Q: My dog rubs her face all over the house. We know she has allergies but we feed her ZD Ultra for ...
A: Face rubbing is typical of allergies. MAny times the allergy tests will not be very strong, ...
|
| Young cat illness? | 3/8/2006 |
Q: My cat will be 3 years old in October and she weighs about 5 lbs. In the past week I have noticed a ...
A: A 3 year old cat that weighs 5 lbs is either unthrifty or very small. Lethargy in cats may indicate ...
|
| OK to declaw a cat? | 3/7/2006 |
Q: Asking for opinions about declawing a cat seems to result in as much emotion as the abortion ...
A: Declawing a cat is very safe. It can be painful for a few days after surgery, but that is not the ...
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| doggie dental care | 3/6/2006 |
Q: We have an old (12 yrs) Mutt (terrier, mostly) we love dearly, but when we took him in for shots, ...
A: If there is plaque or tartar on the teeth, you can remove this with a damp cloth wet with hydrogen ...
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| FIP in cats | 3/5/2006 |
Q: What I want to know is if you have had any success in treating FIP cats and if so what have you done ...
A: FIP is not a treatable disease. THe problem is that this virus punches holes in the lining of the ...
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| Ear Cleaning | 3/5/2006 |
Q: My 14 1/2 year old lab mix (75lbs) had an eardrum burst. His vet said it was the result of an ...
A: Unfortunately, with the eardrum ruptured, your veterinarian will need to go behind the eardrum and ...
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| skin | 3/4/2006 |
Q: I have a little cockpoo who is always itching but he does not have fleas, he does most of his ...
A: Antihistamines like benadryl rarely help dog's itchy skin. If it is only at night, it could be a ...
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| Retriever hair loss | 3/3/2006 |
Q: I have an 18 mnth old retriever, gold/blond colour with short hair. He losses hair on a dialy basis ...
A: You can try Omega3 fatty acid supplements. These are available from most vets and health food ...
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| dry, itchy skin | 3/1/2006 |
Q: I have a small standard dachshund, about 16 lbs. He is almost 2 yrs. old. We live in Southeastern ...
A: I really doubt that the indoor heat would cause that much itching unless the skin is dry and cracked ...
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| What is MANGE condition? | 2/28/2006 |
Q: I'm interested in adopting a puppy but it has a "possible mange condtion". I think this has to do ...
A: There are 2 types of mange. One involves the mite called DEMODEX. This is also known as "red ...
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| black wax build up | 2/25/2006 |
Q: I have a 22 month old little long haired chihuahua who is an inside dog. She has had black "wax" in ...
A: Often these pups have allergies that cause the waxy buildup and infection. Some of these infections ...
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| veterinarians | 2/24/2006 |
Q: i have three: 1.Do you have top have a certain GPA to be accpeted to a accredited college? 2.Was it ...
A: Most people have at least a 3.5 GPA. It is hard to get in to vet school. You need to have animal ...
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| skin sores on my cat | 2/16/2006 |
Q: My cat keeps getting dry scabs on his skin. The latest outbreak is on the neck/head/shoulder area. ...
A: You are describing a condition called "miliary dermatitis." This is often a sign of allergy. Your ...
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| Sick Cat | 2/16/2006 |
Q: My cat Indo recently became an outdoor/indoor cat. The past day he's been acting lethargic, won't ...
A: He may have gotten into a fight and is running fever. Cats with fever won't eat or drink. Often ...
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| Anal Gland Removal | 2/13/2006 |
Q: Our vet removed the anal glands from our miniature schnauzer in August after they became hoplessley ...
A: There are only 2 anal glands. Often when they are removed, the entire gland is not removed and it ...
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| Melatonin | 2/11/2006 |
Q: We have a dog, siberian husky, that the last time we shaved her hair, it isn't growing back in some ...
A: There is a condition caled post clipping alopecia. Some thinkthat the hair does not grow because the ...
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| Hyperkeratosis on dog's nose. | 2/9/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf, My dog Sasha is 8 yrs old,and for the past year plus has this ugly crusty lesion on tip of ...
A: Hyperkeratosis on the nose is actually benign. It can be related to things like rooting with the ...
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| limited mobility | 2/9/2006 |
Q: Since this morning my cat has been having trouble with his legs, he's only about 7 years old, eats ...
A: A good examination would be needed here to see why the cat is having trouble. Some cats get ...
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| RE: Sick Dalmatian | 2/8/2006 |
Q: I emailed you this past weekend about my 6 y.o. Dalmatian, Marley. I have since taken him for a 2nd ...
A: I am glad that you got another opinion. Many of the facts that you wrote about did not stack up! I ...
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| My Vizsla & Sebaceous Adenitis | 2/8/2006 |
Q: Last year my 5 year old Vizsla was diagnosed with SA. She started with hive-like bumps and then was ...
A: There are two phases for SA. First, the sebaceous glands get inflammed and second, scar tissue ...
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| cat health | 2/7/2006 |
Q: my friend has an 8mth old cat at home that never had any shots. Is this dangerous for a cat that ...
A: Indoor cats are much less likely to be exposed to contact type of diseases, like rabies, feline ...
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| possible vestibular disease | 2/7/2006 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf- thank you for your follow up. The antibiotics did bring her fever down to normal and ...
A: Gald to hear that she is feeling better. If she has a bad tooth, that can explain many of the ...
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| puppy loss of hair | 2/6/2006 |
Q: My 3 month old min pin is beginning to loose hair.She is also forming bumps in many of the spots she ...
A: This is likely a pyoderma (bacterial infection). These can be caused from several things including ...
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| Eye Growth on Dog near tear duct | 2/6/2006 |
Q: I have a 5 1/2 year old black lab mix that has developed a growth in her right eyelid over the past ...
A: Many of these eyelid "tumors" are actually blocked ducts of the glands on the eyelid that keep the ...
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| Lab skin problem | 2/5/2006 |
Q: This morning I noticed my 10 month old black lab had a patch of matted fur on his back at the base ...
A: This sounds like a hot spot or acute moist dermatitis. It could be caused from an injury. The best ...
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| possible vestibular disease | 2/5/2006 |
Q: We have an eight year old lab mix female who has gotten sick.We took her to the vet, but he was ...
A: I would agree on a vestibular problem if it wasn't for the fever. That rarely happens in vestibular ...
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| Can dogs have eczema? | 2/4/2006 |
Q: I have a ShihTzu that is 12 years old. For many years he has had problems with his skin but this ...
A: Skin allergies and ear disease go together. Dogs can be allergic to a variety of things in the ...
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| Brain Tumor??? | 2/4/2006 |
Q: OK...here are the facts: AKC Dalmatian 6 years old, not as eager with his food lately, increased ...
A: I cannot make a link between hypothyroidism and a brain tumor. Some hypothyroid dogs wil have ...
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| Labrador Retriever- Chronic Ear infection | 2/3/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf I am really looking for a second opinion regarding my 11 month old yellow labrador ...
A: Most food allergies occur in very young dogs, especially Labs. Atopy, or allergic dermatitis, does ...
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| skin problem on my german shepherd | 2/1/2006 |
Q: I have an 11 month old male shepherd. A couple of months ago I noticed he was scratching and chewing ...
A: It could still be a skin infection. There are other things besides foods that cause pyoderma. I ...
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| Miniature pinscher skin problem | 1/31/2006 |
Q: I have a 10 mo old miniature pinscher and he has some problem with his skin. His back is very dry ...
A: Omega fatty acids may take a while longer to work, so continue them. There are some antiseborrheic ...
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| allergies? in Scottish Terrier/Lhapso Apso Mix | 1/31/2006 |
Q: I have had my 24 pound, 2 year old scottish terrier/lhasa apso mix in to visit the vet several ...
A: Yeast on the skin of dogs is almost always allergies. Benadryl won't work, so ask your vet for a ...
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| Plugged Nostril | 1/31/2006 |
Q: I have a 5 yr old Boxer that I got from Boxer Rescue 4 months ago. After having him 3 weeks, he ...
A: A head tilt usually indicates a middle ear infection. That could result in a mucous discharge, but ...
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| cat dermatology | 1/30/2006 |
Q: I have a small black domestic shorthair female cat named Boo. She's had a recurring dermatology ...
A: This could be "chin acne." Some cats have infected hair follicles or yeasts. Sometimes they get ...
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| my pekingese had puppies | 1/30/2006 |
Q: my pekingese had puppies and she is bleeding still and lost alot of weight is that normal? and how ...
A: Bleeding is abnormal and could indicate a condition called "subinvolution" of the placenta. That ...
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| cat constanly licking | 1/28/2006 |
Q: my cat is about 1yr and she had fleas at one time .and we seemed to get rid of them .well every now ...
A: If she is occasionally getting a flea, then it is likely a flea allergy. It could also be ear mites ...
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| tumor? | 1/27/2006 |
Q: Im am guessing my question is regarding the skin since I recently found a hard, odd shaped, less ...
A: I agree with your vet. You can have the lumps sent off to see what they are, but in an 11 year old ...
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| Allergy that has caused skin infection | 1/27/2006 |
Q: We have a Doberman who has been suffering from allergies over the past 6 mos. We know he is ...
A: z/d is a good food for helping diagnose food allergies. The dog should be on it for 2-3 months ...
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| My dog's diet | 1/26/2006 |
Q: I have a mixed dog. I believe he is an English Foxhound/German Shepherd mix. He is about 3 1/2 ...
A: If he needs to lose weight, then he needs to be on a vet supervised weight loss diet like OM or R/d. ...
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| shedding | 1/25/2006 |
Q: Yes, I have a friend that claims her terrier doesn't shed? Is this true? Do all dogs shed? ...
A: Some dogs have hair and some have fur. Many types of terriers have hair that will come out in ...
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| My kitty's skin condition | 1/24/2006 |
Q: I've had my cat ABBY for about 3 months. I'm told by her previous owner that she is about 2 years ...
A: This is called "barbering" and it is very suggestive of some type of allergy. The cat's skin ...
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| Nose | 1/24/2006 |
Q: My dog's nose, which is usually black, is turning brown and with some pink. What would cause this ...
A: That may be normal for your dog. Some breeds depigment. But there are 2 diseases that commonly ...
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| cronic ear infection | 1/24/2006 |
Q: my Yorkie has had cronic ear infections for over a year. Two cultures both ecoli--escherichia. ...
A: Ear disease results from some type of skin disease. It is most often associated with environmental ...
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| Demodex on dog | 1/23/2006 |
Q: I have an Australian Shepherd, 1yr & 2mo. old. At 8 mo. he was diagnosed with demodectic mange. He ...
A: The Goodwinol is good for spot treatment of demodex. The problem with demodex is that it is all ...
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| EYE | 1/22/2006 |
Q: i know u anwser ear and dermatolgy only but my cat has had its eye,well it seems to be scratched ...
A: If the cornea is scratched, that is really painful and it can cause deeper infection. That may be ...
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| dog with severe allergies | 1/21/2006 |
Q: I have a 10 yr Lab/husky/Shep mix. He lived in wash. state until moving to SW Florida 1 1/2 yrs. ...
A: I practiced in South Florida for a while and I agree that the skin allergies are terrible there all ...
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| seizures in old dogs | 1/20/2006 |
Q: My dog is 10 years old and he started having seizures, he had 2 last night. What causes these to ...
A: That is a very hard question to answer specifically. There are many things that can cause seizures ...
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| DOGS EAR MITES | 1/20/2006 |
Q: WHAT DOES THE EAR LOOK LIKE INSIDE WHEN YOUR DOG HAS EAR MITES
A: Dogs with ear mites can present in different ways. If there are only a few mites, the dog's ears ...
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| dogs and chocalete | 1/20/2006 |
Q: can dogs it chocalete or is it bad for them
A: It is bad for them. There is a dose dependent effect of theobromine in different kinds of ...
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| my cats are sick | 1/18/2006 |
Q: my 4 yr old cat (grace) and her 2 yr old kitten(vo-ho) have scabs all over from scratching and are ...
A: This is how cats show allergies. It is called Miliary Dermatitis. Ask your vet to first check the ...
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| Schnauzer skin | 1/18/2006 |
Q: Gotthelf, This is kind of a follow up question to one I asked several weeks ago. I have a mini ...
A: This very well could be a bacterial pyoderma. Ask the vet for a 3 week course of an antibiotic like ...
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| Cyproheptadine & Cats | 1/18/2006 |
Q: I see you specialize in dermatology & ear diseases, but do you know about using cyproheptadine as an ...
A: Cyproheptadine does seem to stimulate appetite in some cats. In a cat with CRF, they get stomach ...
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| sprained tail | 1/15/2006 |
Q: what are the signs of a sprained tail & what do I do about it? It is also a possibility that it was ...
A: Tail injuries are painful. If it was just a bruise, she will get over it. If she can raise her tail ...
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| dog tumor around anus | 1/14/2006 |
Q: My dog was diagnosed yest with a tumor around his anus. I do not know the exact medical term for ...
A: This is probably a perianal adenoma. They are very vascular and can bleed, but not enough to bleed ...
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| Itching, Allergies, and Vaccinations | 1/11/2006 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I adopted my dog about a year and a half ago when he was 9 months old. Tanner is a ...
A: Vaccinations do sttimulate the immune system, so giving him vaccinations on a staggered schedule is ...
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| Eating Habits | 1/10/2006 |
Q: We have a 11 month old brussels griffon puppy and a few months ago we switcher her slowly from ...
A: Puppies have reflexes that will cause a bowel movement shortly after they eat. I would suggest ...
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| black dotted rash | 1/9/2006 |
Q: I have a dog that is 1/2 Chinese Crested- Powderpuff and 1/2 Cocker Spaniel. She was scratching and ...
A: Omege 3 fatty acids take 30-60 days to work to stop itching and scratching. They do not have any ...
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| lump on German Shepherd's ear | 1/8/2006 |
Q: My 9-year-old German Shepherd suddenly developed a large lump (approximately 2 inches in diameter ...
A: This sounds like an aural hematoma. It is an accumulation of blood under the skin of the ear flap. ...
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| rare hairless dog has skin allergies | 1/7/2006 |
Q: I have a 5 year old american hairless terrier. He wears clothing year round because otherwise he ...
A: In addition to the steroid therapy, bathe him twice a week. Add Omega3 fatty acids to his diet each ...
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| Whelping | 1/7/2006 |
Q: I have a Pug and she had her first litter of pups and she just does not want them to touch her. We ...
A: It is difficult to make a dog accept her pups. That should be instinctive. Continue the milk ...
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| gray spots on coat | 1/6/2006 |
Q: i have a 51/2 yr old male boston terrier, and in the last month or so he's been getting gray spots ...
A: When the black hair turns gray, there is a problem within the hair follicle. If the dog is not ...
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| Lhasa Apso allergies | 1/6/2006 |
Q: I have a two year old Lhasa Apso who suffers from allergies which causes dry skin, scratching, hair ...
A: There are many alternatives. First off, the monthly shot can be replaced with daily or every other ...
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| My manx's hair loss | 1/6/2006 |
Q: Hes 5 yrs old and we have always fed him wet and dry friskies cat food canned at night and a little ...
A: THe hair loss in these areas is most likely the cat licking and chewing at his itchy skin. Check ...
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| chronic ear infection and thyroid | 1/3/2006 |
Q: My labrador is a 15 year old female who has always had a chronic ear infection mostly consisting of ...
A: Some dogs with seizure activity have low thyroid hormone levels and supplementation can prevent ...
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| Feline Dermatitis | 1/1/2006 |
Q: My 6 year old male cat has had a skin condition for about 8 months now. It is mostly on his lower ...
A: This is probably an allergy and if the cortisone shots help, then the vet can "tweak" the treatment. ...
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| Boxer mix skin condition | 1/1/2006 |
Q: We rescued a boxer mix about 3-4 months ago, he had been hit by a car with severe damage to his hind ...
A: Any time a dog is injured and there is tissue repair, they will lose hair and their skin condition ...
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| cat problem | 12/31/2005 |
Q: I am looking after my Son's cat and I notice she smells at times. She is spayed. It is like the odor ...
A: There are many reasons for odors in cats. Rarely does their skin or coat smell unless she is ...
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| year old with food allergies | 12/31/2005 |
Q: We have a 7 year old aussie shep mixed with a Britt spaniel. The poor thing has awful food allergies ...
A: It sounds like you have his food allergies under control. I would remind you that dogs can have 4 ...
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| Hot spot on dog | 12/30/2005 |
Q: I just found a hot spot on my 8 yr old Jack Russell Terrier. She's never had them before. I did ...
A: Hot spots are best treated by rtemoving the hair from over it and washing the skin to remoove the ...
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| Dog's ears | 12/27/2005 |
Q: My dog has small sores inside her ears that appear like they possibly might be bug bites. Sophie ...
A: At this time of year, bug bites would be unusual. If she is scratching at her ear, she can make ...
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| 6 yr old male cat losing hair on legs | 12/26/2005 |
Q: I have a 6 year old, long haired male cat, Hades. He has been losing the hair on the inside of his ...
A: If you look carefully at the bald spots, you will probably see some hair stubble. This is very ...
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| Sick Puppy Shedding | 12/26/2005 |
Q: I am a first time dog owner. I just bought little shakespeare two weeks ago. He became lethargic and ...
A: A Lhasa pupp can shed some of its puppy hair, but in general they don't shed. Anytime a dog gets ...
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| Excessive and persistent scratching | 12/25/2005 |
Q: We have a Shih Tzu/Poodle mix. He is a 1 1/2 yr old. He is an indoor dog. About 2 months ago he ...
A: I would recommend that you have the dog treated for sarcoptic mange even though the vet cannot ...
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| ear hematoma | 12/24/2005 |
Q: My 11 and a half year old Golden Retriever has an ear hematoma that is alsmost half of her ear. She ...
A: Aural hematomas never rupture. They organize into blood clots and then scar tissue which deforms ...
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| balding red sores | 12/24/2005 |
Q: Please help, my 8 yr old Min Pin has developed a nickle size chalky patch that just rubbed off with ...
A: It is very difficult for me to diagnose on the internet without actually seeing the lesion. It ...
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| skin problems | 12/20/2005 |
Q: My 4 year old shih tzu has had skin problems ever since she was little. She stinks! She has break ...
A: If she stinks, she probably has seborrhea and if she has been on antibiotics a long time, she may ...
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| fat cat | 12/19/2005 |
Q: I have a fat cat.she got fat after being spayed. I've tried diet food (Iams) and exercise, but the ...
A: There are not many commercial foods for weight loss in cats. Most of them are weight maintenance. ...
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| kittens | 12/19/2005 |
Q: We have three barn kittens approximately ten weeks old. They have matted eyes, green runny noses, ...
A: If they are eating, you may just need to give them an antibiotic until the virus runs its course. ...
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| Chin Buggers | 12/19/2005 |
Q: My two cats recently began getting bumps on their chins that kind of dry out, turn to scabs and ...
A: THIS IS CALLED CHIN ACNE. THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR IT INCLUDING MANGE MITES, BACTERIAL INFECTION, ...
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| Cat's skin | 12/18/2005 |
Q: I have adopted a stray cat, and I have noticed that she's pulled all the hair out of her inner leg. ...
A: Any time a cat is losing hair or pulling it out, it is a problem. It could be something that itches ...
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| Use of Hydroxyzine for itch relief | 12/17/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, We have two dogs: a Chow/Lab mix (58 lbs) and an Aus. Cattledog/Border Collie mix (41 ...
A: I think your vet is living in the past. We no longer use coal tar shampoos or hydroxyzine (Atarax). ...
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| 10 month old Lab | 12/16/2005 |
Q: Her skin and anal area have just started to stink. Like this awful smell, I gave her a bath ...
A: She may have released her anal glands or she may have rolled in something. You can get special ...
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| Dog Dandruff | 12/14/2005 |
Q: My 2.5yr old Chocolate Lab has developed flaky skin. It doesn't seem to itch him but I want to ...
A: I would definitely use a better quality dog food. Even though it is more expensive, it is also more ...
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| Multiple Welts/Bumps on Back | 12/13/2005 |
Q: We have Shar Pei that is about 5 years old. She doesn't have many wrinkles. About three weeks ago ...
A: A biopsy will give you information on the type of problem that is in the skin. Needle aspirates are ...
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| Mycodex Pearlescent Shampoo | 12/13/2005 |
Q: Is this a good product for 5# poodles who bite a lot - I'm presuming because of sensitive skin since ...
A: The shampoo is fine and it will only remove the Frontline on the surface oils. Frontline actually ...
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| Bacterial skin disease? | 12/13/2005 |
Q: 2.5 yr old yellow lab (Yukon), constant bacterial skin infection, 1.5 yrs., a shot and 10 days of ...
A: If there is an infection, then it is secondary to some other type of skin disease. Some dogs have ...
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| Springer Spaniel's ear infection | 12/12/2005 |
Q: My 9 year old Springer Spaniel has had an ear infection for several months. I've seen two ...
A: Most dogs get ear infections because of an underlying skin problem like allergies to foods or ...
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| skin scratching | 12/10/2005 |
Q: I have a 10 year old golden retriever who recently started scratching the underside of her neck till ...
A: There are so many reasons for itching. In Goldens, many are allergic. SO the best thing is to keep ...
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| Urinating Lab | 12/10/2005 |
Q: We have a 7 mo. old Lab mix. She urinates constently. She went to day care yesterday and they said ...
A: You need to have her urine checked to make sure that she doesn't have a urinary tract infection or ...
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| Cat Shots | 12/9/2005 |
Q: I have a kitten that is about 6 months. She was maybe about 2-3 months when my boyfriend found her ...
A: Cats need distemper shots and the shots for upper respiratory diseases. They also need a Rabies ...
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| scabby skin on calico's back near her tail | 12/7/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf -- my calico has developed a scabby-feeling, crusty, dry, area on her back. I have not been ...
A: This is a condition called "miliary dermatitis." It is how cats show skin allergies. Very often it ...
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| My dog won't stop itching! | 12/6/2005 |
Q: I have an 8 year old 30 pound mixed breed (terrier type) female dog. She has a severe ...
A: Your dog does have allergies. The only way to know just what she is allergic to is to have her ...
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| Skin condition | 12/6/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a 10+ year old Lab(mix)that has a dry skin problem. She almost lose all her body ...
A: Yes, labs do have skin problems related to their diet. The odor comes from skin irritation from ...
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| could my 5 yr old beagle have a brain disease from chronic and poorly treated otitis media infections | 12/5/2005 |
Q: my beagle has in the past two weeks developed a tremor when awake, muscle weakness (his legs splay ...
A: It is very rare for an ear disease to spread to the brain, but it is not out of the realm of ...
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| poodle-ear problems | 12/5/2005 |
Q: Dr. Lewis- Thanks for your time! we have a 6 year old poodle who has ear problems-that cause him to ...
A: Most older dogs with ear problems do NOT have ear mites. Most of them have allergies that affect ...
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| MULTIPLE BUMPS ON DOG'S SKIN | 12/5/2005 |
Q: We have an Australian Shepherd that is almost 2 1/2 years old. He over the past 2 weeks has ...
A: Without doing an examination asnd some tests, I could not diagnose the problem. It could be an ...
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| Hair Loss | 12/4/2005 |
Q: I have a 10 yr old very active Aussie. He seems to be loosing his coat on his back haunches. Could ...
A: Yes, this could be a skin problem. You should have your vet check the dog to see if there is a skin ...
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| Ear infections / Ear mites | 12/1/2005 |
Q: I have a labrador retriever and need to know the best method to control ear yeast growth, ear mites ...
A: Yeast infections are usually the result of allergies. Ina lab it could be a food a lergy or a ...
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| ear troubles | 11/30/2005 |
Q: I have two goat guard dogs that are very shy of people. I live pretty far out in the country, and ...
A: I really cannot tell you what to use in the ear without knowing what is in the ear. I would ...
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| Skin lesions on my cat | 11/27/2005 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf. We have a spayed female cat, about 9-10 years old. About a year and a half ago she ...
A: Unfortunately, the only way to know what this is is to have a biopsy or a culture done of these ...
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| Fat Cats | 11/27/2005 |
Q: We have 2 one year-old cats who we took in after their mother was killed. We have had them since ...
A: If you are feding dry food, then it should be about 1/3 cup per day for the average cat. There are ...
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| Smelly Hear | 11/25/2005 |
Q: My dog has a terrible smell coming from his ears and he shakes them all the time. He was on an ...
A: When there is liquid in the ear canal, it is trouble. Either there is a severe ear infection with ...
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| unexplained hair loss on cat ... | 11/24/2005 |
Q: my cat has lost a circle of hair on her belly...now she has lost a small patch next to her ...
A: This hair loss pattern is typical of itchy skin disease in cats. This is called "barbering." If ...
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| Yeast infection in ears | 11/21/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a 9 year old pug in good health who has had off and on problems with a yeast ...
A: Dogs can have food allergies to a number of proteins including milk, eggs, wheat, chicken, beef, ...
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| Dry flakey itchy skin | 11/21/2005 |
Q: My dog Laddie will periodically violently bite and chew on his haunches and extremities he ...
A: Laddie probably has some type of allergic skin disease. If the skin is also dry, then it would not ...
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| Ticks on my dogs | 11/21/2005 |
Q: I found a couple of lumps on my dogs the last couple days some looked like dry spots some looked ...
A: If you did not get the heads out, there may be a lump there for a while until the body can either ...
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| black crusty rash on french bulldog | 11/20/2005 |
Q: My four year old frenchie (neutered male) has been battling a rash for over 6 months now. My vet is ...
A: I think that what you are describing is a pyoderma. That means that the skin is infected with ...
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| SIBERUAN HUSKY HAS WHITE WORMS IN STOOL | 11/19/2005 |
Q: WORMS 20-30 FOUND IN HIS STOOL, HE ALSO VOMITED A WHITE WORM. HOW DID HE GET WORMS! HE GOT LOOSE ...
A: Small white worms are usually tapeworms and dogs get them from eating fleas. Panacur is not ...
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| bite? | 11/19/2005 |
Q: I have a dachshund and a Pomerainian (sp) the dachshund had a red swollen bump between his toes,it ...
A: It is hard to tell what type of insect or foreign material like plant awns, etc. may have caused the ...
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| Dog Smell | 11/18/2005 |
Q: We have a 9 year old pitbull/american staffordshire cross (don't really know what she is - she's 70 ...
A: Without an exam, I cannot be very specific with you. But it sounds like a condition called ...
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| Dog Ear infections | 11/17/2005 |
Q: I have a dog, part pit and lab, who continually has ear infections and will scratch her ears until ...
A: Almost 90% of ear infections result from skin allergies. Labs are very prone to allergies including ...
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| PITBULL KEEPS VOMITTING | 11/17/2005 |
Q: I have a 4 month pitbull and for 3 days he's been vomitting and he doesn't eat at all. he drinks ...
A: It costs money for vets to treat pets. Often we do not know what is wrong without tests and ...
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| allergies | 11/16/2005 |
Q: are yorkshire terriers known to be non- allergic to humans? my daughter has been having all sorts of ...
A: Certainly dogs with hair rather than fur that sheds tend to be less allergenic. But many people are ...
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| Hot Spots | 11/15/2005 |
Q: I have a 3 yr old rottweiler that is prone to "hot spots." Can you tell me what causes hot spots, ...
A: "Hot Spots" are known as acute moist dermatitis. It usually results from bacterial infection in a ...
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| ear mites | 11/13/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, Buster, a blind Beagle-Hound mix has ear mites. I clean his ears once a week, at the end ...
A: If a vet has not examined the ears to be sure that it is ear mites, then have that done. Mites are ...
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| Cats - urine, spraying and I'm pregnant | 11/12/2005 |
Q: I have two cats w/ two different problems. One sprays; he's male and has been neutered, I just ...
A: There are certain foods,like the urinary tract health foods, that reduce the odor of cat urine. If ...
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| Worms | 11/12/2005 |
Q: I noticed my 6 yr old lab has been dragging his bottom on the grass the past couple weeks. Could ...
A: If he is rubbing his bottom, it could be an allergic dermatitis or it could be his anal glands ...
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| Hair in ears | 11/11/2005 |
Q: We have a young malti-poo, and two different people have told us that we need to pluck out the hair ...
A: Plucking hairs in dogs with normal ears is not necessary. If there is an infection or a clump of ...
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| No hair | 11/9/2005 |
Q: I recently got a one year old yorkie from a friend who has hair loss/no hair on his spine back to ...
A: IF the hair is gone then there are two possibilities. He could have been born with a defect in the ...
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| scratching | 11/8/2005 |
Q: Good morning Doctor, I have a question about my dogs scratching. I realize nutrition has a lot to ...
A: If a dog is sensitive to a component of the diet, then they can itch. Have you recently changd ...
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| Schnauzer back or flea dirt? | 11/7/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a 7 year old Schnauzer. About 3 days ago, I noticed on his back, above the tail, ...
A: If the "flea dirt" did not turn red, then it is probably oily secretions from the skin glands common ...
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| Black Lab puppy has severe itching. | 11/7/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a two 5 month old lab puppies, one chocolate and one black. The black puppy has ...
A: Well it sounds like most of the common diseases have been treated and you should have seen a ...
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| Dog food | 11/6/2005 |
Q: My dog always swallows her food whole and then chokes. She will also eat until she pukes, she just ...
A: Actually, I would recommend pre-soaking the food so it swells before she eats it. That way it moves ...
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| fleas | 11/5/2005 |
Q: Our small dog has lots of fleas. We have been using a shampoo that we bought at a pet store. We ...
A: You can spray the house and yard with an insecticide, but that is not going to kill all of the life ...
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| tick or cyst? | 11/2/2005 |
Q: my cat has either a tick or a cyst on his neck. it looks like a small, black popcorn kernel, and ...
A: With a magnifying glass you should be able to tell if it is a bug or a small tumor or cyst. If you ...
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| dog chewing on paws & itching constantly | 11/1/2005 |
Q: Our dog has been treated with Resicort lotion, a medicated shampoo, Baytril & several other ...
A: Westies are very prone to allergic skin disease. They are also very prone to secondary bacterial ...
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| ears & skin | 11/1/2005 |
Q: I was recently given a 2yr, female Yorksire dog, her ears are not erect. I am told that the hair on ...
A: Yorkies should have 1/3 of the hair on their ears cut at grooming time. If they don't stand at 2 ...
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| 6 yr old Yellow Lab skin problem | 10/31/2005 |
Q: Every summer (only) six year old lab gets extremely irritated skin on entire underbody. Hair comes ...
A: Labs are very prone to seasonal allergies as well as food allergies. Some antibiotics can cause ...
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| ears | 10/30/2005 |
Q: I have taken my 3 month old shih-tzu to the vet because she scratches her ears alot and there is ...
A: In a pup this young, I would think of ear mites or a food allergy causing some other type of ...
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| Pulling fur out | 10/28/2005 |
Q: I have a male Jack Russell Terrier (2 1/2 years). Just the other day he started pulling at his fur ...
A: When dogs itch their legs it is often an allergy. Ask your vet to see if allergic dermatitis is ...
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| Standard poodle with sensitive skin | 10/28/2005 |
Q: I have two white Standard Poodles, brother and sister. The bitch has no problems at all and her ...
A: I believe you are describing atopic dermatitis or contact allergies. If the dog reacts in the ...
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| dermatology | 10/25/2005 |
Q: I have two older american cocker spaniels. They are both constantly chewing at their skin this time ...
A: Benadryl is almost useless in dog skin allergies. You need to get the dogs on a short course of ...
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| Cat | 10/22/2005 |
Q: Our cat has recently started to urinate in my laundry basket (clean clothes) We never had any ...
A: This is not a question about skin or ears, but the cat is marking territory. It is a very common ...
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| intense itching | 10/21/2005 |
Q: i have three large mixed breed dogs. recently, all three have started scratching, with two of them ...
A: There may be something common to their problem like sarcoptic mange. There may be a fungus in the ...
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| Dermatitis in my Labrador Retreiver | 10/21/2005 |
Q: I have a 4 1/2 year old female chocolate lab. At least my husband or I are always home with her, ...
A: If the dog is allergic, then she would need to be on some type of low doses steroid therapy during ...
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| nasty ear | 10/18/2005 |
Q: I have a shepard hound mix, his one ear is lopped, but has the shepard hair inside. I try to keep ...
A: Ask the vet for some tranquilizers to give him before the visit. The ear needs to be scoped and ...
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| Ivermectin | 10/18/2005 |
Q: I am a foster for a cat rescue. I just picked up two persian cats from a high-kill shelter. My ...
A: I do not use Ivermectin in the ears. I use it as an injection because the mites live all ver the ...
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| infected hotspots | 10/17/2005 |
Q: My dog has had a really bad time with hotspots. They started last winter when we got a different ...
A: "Hotspots" are actually acute, moist dermatitis. We never put anythnig occlusive on a weepy skin ...
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| MANGE | 10/16/2005 |
Q: What are symptons of Puppy mange? I have a Boxer-5 1/2 month old. She has been itching a bit in ...
A: There are 2 types of mange. One is called demodex and causes hair loss without itching. It starts ...
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| He used to like to be petted... | 10/16/2005 |
Q: I live on an island in the Caribbean and the veterinarian only comes once a month. My cat "Monkey" ...
A: Ear mites do not cause lymphadenopathy. They can cause a ruptured eardrum, though. There are many ...
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| crusty lesions | 10/15/2005 |
Q: I was wondering if you could help me. I have a 2 year old rotti/pit and she tends to suffer from ...
A: This may be a bacterial pyoderma. That is usually secondary to a skin allergy, either a food ...
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| dog acne | 10/11/2005 |
Q: my male nutered scottie is 19 months old and is suffering from a form of acne predominatly along the ...
A: That is an unusual place for acne. Did the vet actually examine the dog and say that? You might ask ...
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| water in ears | 10/10/2005 |
Q: I bathed my puppy this weekend and must have got water in her ears. They are swollen and hard and ...
A: Water in the ears should not cause all of the symptoms that you are describing. If there is an ...
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| Poisoning of cat? | 10/9/2005 |
Q: My cat is making really different noises before throwing up a clear yet foamy looking substance. He ...
A: Cats can voluntarily vomit. They do make quite a bit of noise when they vomit, so that would be ...
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| Bubba, My Lab mix | 10/9/2005 |
Q: My Lab is not eating his food, I have tried several different kinds but he eats them for a short ...
A: Sorry that I didn't answer the neutering question. Yes neutering will calm him down. Obviously it ...
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| New Dog House | 10/8/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, We have a 5 month old puppy and we have had him for about 31/2 months. He sleeps outside ...
A: Dogs like getting in places like a dog house. Try putting his water bowl or food in the dog house. ...
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| Tip of tail problem | 10/8/2005 |
Q: I have a Belgian Melonois mix. Just recently I have started noticing that at the tip of her tail the ...
A: If she is licking her paws, that is typical of allergic dermatitis in dogs. Often when the tail ...
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| Cat skin irritation | 10/7/2005 |
Q: Ever since I moved into my new place last october my cat has been suffering from skin irritations on ...
A: You are describing one way that cats show skin allergies. If the cortisone shot helps, it may last ...
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| help | 10/7/2005 |
Q: my name is Rebecca and am a owner of a silky terrier, a shih tzu and a english cocker spaniel. My ...
A: Without a proper examination, I cannot tell you what to do over the internet. You need to take the ...
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| Bubba, My Lab mix | 10/7/2005 |
Q: My Lab is not eating his food, I have tried several different kinds but he eats them for a short ...
A: If the dog is losing weight or not thriving, then his diet may be an issue. Some dogs just need to ...
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| how do you become a vet? | 10/6/2005 |
Q: I was wondering how you become a vet. What if you can not get into a veterinay college and you have ...
A: Becoming a vet requires several things. 1. Get experience with animals of all types. Working in a ...
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| Hot Spots | 10/4/2005 |
Q: We have two chow chows - both adopted from rescue groups. My female, in particular, develops hot ...
A: Hot spots often result from allergic skin disease. So have the dogs tested and hyposensitized to ...
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| skin and ear | 10/4/2005 |
Q: My 4&3/4 yr old black lab has chronic ear problems, itchy, rashy, dandruffy skin. He chews his ...
A: IF he is chewing his paws and having ear problems, this may not be a food allergy entirely. This ...
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| skin irritation and fur loss | 10/4/2005 |
Q: Our white German Shepherd has always had skin problems. Her belly is usually red and irritated ...
A: It could very well be an allergy. It may be a contact allergy if it is limited to the belly or it ...
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| cat | 9/30/2005 |
Q: I have noticed that my cat has scabs around his neck and ears, I first noticed one about 1 week and ...
A: This is called miliary dermatitis and it is the result of skin allergies, most commonbly to fleas or ...
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| Excessive shedding | 9/28/2005 |
Q: My 12 year old lab has begun shedding more than she ever has before in the last couple of days. ...
A: Excessive shedding is not normal. Some older dogs shed in response to diseases resulting in poor ...
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| dermatology | 9/27/2005 |
Q: I have two weimaraners, one a 6 year old silver gray and the other is 9.5 month old blue (both ...
A: It is hard for me to diagnose your dogs' problems on the internet. Your vet will be in a better ...
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| Dog | 9/26/2005 |
Q: On the 21st of this month I adopted an abandoned female dog that was living in the streets. ...
A: As far as the exercise, if she is willing to go on long walks without your coaxing, then she is OK. ...
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| Hematoma in flap of ear and skin problems in the autumn | 9/26/2005 |
Q: My 6 year old golden retriever underwent an operation 3 weeks ago for a hematoma in the flap of her ...
A: The vet may need to resuture the ear up and leave the stitches in for 3 weeks. In addition, there ...
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| Warts/Cysts on Yorkies | 9/24/2005 |
Q: I have a 16 year old Yorkie who is not "old" she is still spunky and active. However within the ...
A: Older dogs get small skin tumors on their skin. Fortumately most of them are benign. You are ...
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| Basal cell skin cancer | 9/23/2005 |
Q: I had a cyst removed from my 5yr. old Labradors shoulder area and the biopsy came back maglignant ...
A: Most basal cell tumpor are benign, but occasionally there will be a carcinoma. These can extend ...
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| ears | 9/22/2005 |
Q: i have adopted a golden who had chronic ear infection. i have had them cleaned and have been ...
A: Chronic ear infection in Golden retrievers is usually the result of allergic skin disease. Your ...
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| deaf dog | 9/22/2005 |
Q: I have a Cocker Spaniel named Toby who is almost 10 years old. He's been bothered off and on with ...
A: Deafness in dogs is difficult to deal with. Dogs can get nerve deafness, which is almost impossible ...
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| Skin disease on dog | 9/22/2005 |
Q: I have an 11 year old Corgi-mix that has had an ongoing skin problem for a couple of years, one vet ...
A: If it is a yeast/fungus infection, then antibiotics will not help. What I do for these dogs is to ...
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| allergys? | 9/20/2005 |
Q: I have a 1year old cat that started scratching constantly after he was about 6 months old. My vet ...
A: There are many foods that treat food allergies in cats, but z/d is really the best.....as long as ...
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| Dog Behavior | 9/20/2005 |
Q: This question isnt about any disease. I hope that it is a just a general question that you can ...
A: I would suggest to pick up their water about 7PM and take them out to pee several times before you ...
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| cat neutering | 9/19/2005 |
Q: I know your expertise is not in this subject but maybe you can help me out. I just got my 3 male ...
A: Recovery from anesthesia depends on what drugs were used and the body temperature. I am surprised ...
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| Ears | 9/18/2005 |
Q: In the last week or so my 4 yr. old lab has been shaking his head so hard which makes his ears flap. ...
A: The first place to start is at the vet's office. There could be an allergy to food, pollens, molds, ...
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| Dog - Scratching | 9/18/2005 |
Q: I have a year old border collie/springer spaniel mix named Buster. When I adopted him as a puppy ...
A: If it is a food allergy, you need to leave him on one food for a minimum of 3 months with no other ...
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| skin disease | 9/17/2005 |
Q: My pug/beagle mix has been itching a lot lately. She does not have fleas. I have tried bathing her ...
A: Without an examination, I cannot tell you why the dog is itchy. It could be an allergy to something ...
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| Front leg hotspots | 9/16/2005 |
Q: Can you give dogs a childs dose of benadryl? My Golden Retreiver has recurring sores/hotspots on ...
A: In dogs, benadryl has very limited use. We use it for bee stings, fire ants, and acute allergic ...
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| Cat strawberry?? | 9/15/2005 |
Q: Recently, I found my cat with a sore on its skin that looks like a scurb. I didnt look bloody but ...
A: Without an examination it is hard to tell what this is. if the cat got injured, then it may be an ...
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| Boxer allergies | 9/15/2005 |
Q: I have a 3 year old female Boxer. We had her tested for allergies because she was scratching her ...
A: You can try different protein source foods like deer meat, salmon, duck, or even kangaroo. There is ...
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| scratching and odor | 9/14/2005 |
Q: I have a 9yr old yellow lab (male), he constantly scratches behind his front shoulders, the areas do ...
A: If this happenned after a diet change, then I would suggest going back to the previous food. If it ...
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| Severe diffuse pyogranulomatous panniculitis | 9/13/2005 |
Q: My cat has been diagnosed with the above condition and my vet is thinking of referring me to a vet ...
A: It is difficult to know how to specifically treat these without the culture results. Some recommend ...
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| Cat Paw Problem | 9/13/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, We have a 1 year old cat who developed a 1cm linear area on the skin between the pads of ...
A: This sounds either like an abscess that closed up before it drained out all the way or a foreign ...
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| Weimaraner Skin problem - bumps/pimples | 9/12/2005 |
Q: I have a one year old weimaraner that developed what looks to be a skin allergy over the past two ...
A: This is most likely a bacterial infection on the skin. Ask your vet for a 2 week supply of an ...
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| Frontline/Advantage not working on my cat | 9/11/2005 |
Q: Yes, please--I assume this is a dermatology question--that my cat's problem isn't systematic. I ...
A: Neither Frontline or Advantage are flea repellants. What you are probably seeing are the fleas on ...
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| dogs for children with asthma | 9/10/2005 |
Q: This question is indirectly related to dogs and skin, but I thought you may be the perfect one to ...
A: I get asked that all the time and there is no right breed for a child with a dog dander allergy ...
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| Dog Odor | 9/8/2005 |
Q: In the last few days we have noticed our dog has an odor that smells like bad canned tuna. What is ...
A: If she is not getting in to something rotten eiher outside or inside, then she probably has a ...
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| allergies | 9/8/2005 |
Q: I am so glad I found this site - I have so many questions for you... My husband and I recently ...
A: Some dogs do have reactions to proteins in foods.Some other dogs have allergiesto things inthe ...
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| English bulldog Eyes | 9/8/2005 |
Q: I just recently got a 3 yr old english bulldog, She is a little over weight but healthy other than ...
A: Bulldogs can get something called entropion, which is a rolling in of the eyelid. The lashes or the ...
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| Why might I be pushing my mother's dog away? | 9/7/2005 |
Q: I am not sure that this question is for a veterinarian to answer, but here goes: This past Sunday, ...
A: Laura; I am sorry to learn of your dog's passing. Dogs are a part of our lives and we love them as ...
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| Mac the Million Dollar Westie. | 9/7/2005 |
Q: went to Abilene. Had tumor removed from Mac's left ear again. think surgery was botched this time. ...
A: Without really getting in and seeing what is actually going on, it would be hard for me to be very ...
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| dog housebreaking | 9/6/2005 |
Q: My chihuahua is 7 months old and everytime we come home after being gone for even a short while she ...
A: This is called "submissive urination" and it is common in puppies. When you get home,the first ...
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| Derm | 9/5/2005 |
Q: I live in southern CA and I walked her earlier today so I don't know if dogs can get heat rash or if ...
A: This is most likely a bacterial infection. If it is really itchy, it could also be something like ...
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| Ear and noes reaction | 9/1/2005 |
Q: My two year old German Sheppherd is having some sort of allergic reaction, or atleast this seems to ...
A: Whenever a black nose turns pink, I tend to thoink of an autoimmune disease. Ask your vet if that's ...
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| Bichon derm problem | 8/30/2005 |
Q: My bichon has bumps-our vet says it is a virus under the skin but they itch and my dog bites at ...
A: Skin viruses are very unusual. Are you sure he didn't indicate that there was a bacterial infection ...
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| bleeding elbow callouses | 8/29/2005 |
Q: My 11 year old chocolate lab has had callouses on his elbows for years now. Recently, both elbows ...
A: These lesions are as the result of pressure on the elbows. Soft padding or bedding will help. ...
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| So I want to be a veterinarian... I think | 8/28/2005 |
Q: I am a freshman at the University of Florida right now and am currently planning on becoming a vet. ...
A: Katy; Believe it or not, I graduated from the University of Florida (1972) before I got in to vet ...
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| Cat Ear Scratching Issue | 8/26/2005 |
Q: My female indoor domestic shorthair cat who is about 2 years old, seems preoccupied with itching her ...
A: If the cat does not have ear mites (which a vet can tell you) it may be that she has facial itching ...
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| recurrent ear infections | 8/26/2005 |
Q: My golden retriever keeps having ear problems, and was recently operated on for a hematoma. A ...
A: Golden retrievers are so prone to allergies, that it is almost a given that when they have ear ...
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| abyssinian cat - eosinophilic granuloma | 8/25/2005 |
Q: Anything new to treat Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex? Our 18 mo old Abyssinian kitty has lost fur ...
A: There is a new drug called ATOPICA that is cyclosporine. It is a substitute for depo medrol and may ...
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| Cat skin problem | 8/24/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, I would be delighted if you could advise me. My cat, Mabel has something going on with her ...
A: Rachel; You are describing a condition called "miliary dermatitis." This is usually associated ...
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| ears | 8/24/2005 |
Q: my dog has been to the vet and has been seen by three different ones and none of them can agree on ...
A: If this has been going on for 5 years, there is not a normal ear canal anymore. Sometimes, food ...
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| skin disorder | 8/22/2005 |
Q: I have an 11month mix. golden retriever, yellow lab. Fantastic dog. Cream coat lays flat, not real ...
A: Your Golden/Lab may have some type of allegic skin disease. These lesions are most likely a ...
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| German Shepherd's ears | 8/22/2005 |
Q: I have a German Shepherd around 7 years old. Lately her ears seem to be itching her and they smell ...
A: In the summer months, when dogs smell it is usually because their skin is reacting to some type of ...
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| feline acne | 8/22/2005 |
Q: My 9 year old cat has developed feline acne on his chin and around his nose. We have removed house ...
A: I would advise shaving the cat's chin and affected facial areas so you can wash these areas with ...
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| patches of skin on cat | 8/21/2005 |
Q: My cat, (who is over 5 years old and has no known health problems), will occassionally, usually ...
A: Sctratching the neck and getting little bumps in that area is typical of allergic skin disease in ...
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| allergies | 8/20/2005 |
Q: I own a 5 yr old mixed breed female. She is about 40# and we think german shepherd/ husky. As she ...
A: Usually a steroid shot relieves pain and itching and the dogs are nicer. In people there are ...
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| Itching and Licking | 8/20/2005 |
Q: Louis N. Gotthelf, I have a 10 month old Border Collie and all she does lately is stratch and ...
A: The oil is an Omega3 fatty acid supplement. The one that I use is called Eicosaderm ...
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| Cat Laryngitis | 8/19/2005 |
Q: A week ago, my cat's meow started to get hoarse, and within 2 days, it was completely gone. He gags ...
A: Anytime a cat loses its voice there is something wrong in the throat. You should have your vet ...
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| cat hairloss below ear | 8/17/2005 |
Q: I'm not at home to attach the picture..I will do that later if you think you can help me. I have an ...
A: This could be the result of him scratching at his ears from ear mites. Ask your vet to check this ...
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| Bichon Frise skin care | 8/16/2005 |
Q: Our 4 year old Bichon practically chews his hind quarters off every time he gets groomed or bathed. ...
A: He may be having an allergic reaction to something. If it occurs after a shampoo, it could be the ...
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| about cats | 8/15/2005 |
Q: i have some questions about cats.. hope u can help me finding an answer for them.. (1) A month ago, ...
A: Sars; Younbg kittens are prone to respiratory diseaqses. If the Persian kitty is making breathing ...
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| Dandruff and excessive cerumen | 8/15/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf I have a two year old female black longhaired chihuahua. She has had problems with ...
A: Karen; If it is flaky and does not itch, this could be a problem with fatty acid metabolism. See if ...
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| cat with lumps, hair loss, red spots | 8/15/2005 |
Q: My cat is 1 year old. He recently developed several symptoms. I've taken him to 3 vets and they ...
A: Without examining your cat, I can't be very specific. But you can ask the vet to take a skin biopsy ...
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| ear wax/yeast infections of the ears | 8/14/2005 |
Q: Dr.Gotthelf, my siberian husky has problems with her ears. She constantly has large amounts of ...
A: Yeast infections in dogs' ears are almost always related to a skin allergy. You might want to let ...
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| post FLEA treatment | 8/14/2005 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf: Our 2 scotties, 1, 4 months and 1, 22 mos have been treated for fleas, (the puppy ...
A: Flea bites are like mosquito bites on you. You can kill the mosquito, but the bump that itches ...
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| bumps on pug's legs and belly.... | 8/14/2005 |
Q: This evening I noticed my pugs hair by his legs looked lifted- as I got closer I noticed there were ...
A: If these bumps just started, it could be an allergic reaction on the skin causing hives. Usually ...
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| Am I wrong? | 8/13/2005 |
Q: I asked you a question several days ago about possibly having mange (I am seeing a dermatologist ...
A: The first thing I would do is to call Pfizer and report that the kitten died after a treatment with ...
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| skin condition | 8/12/2005 |
Q: My 10 year old lab mix has had a skin condition for many months that is only getting worse. She has ...
A: If your vet thinks that this is a fungal infection, then systemic drugs like ketoconazole or ...
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| My Dogs Skin and Ears | 8/12/2005 |
Q: My dog Katie is a seven-year-old German Shepard/Husky mix and she frequently scratches especially ...
A: You should take the dog to the vet for skin treatment for flea allergies. You should also get her ...
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| redness in pads | 8/10/2005 |
Q: My dog has redness in his pads of his paws and to make matters worse he constantly bites and chews ...
A: Dogs that lick and chew at their pads often have allergic dermatitis. Sometimes this is complicated ...
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| skin irritation and loss | 8/10/2005 |
Q: I was wondering what mange looks like. My dog has been itching and pulling his hair out. He is on ...
A: There are 2 types of mange, which are caused by small insects called mnites. One is sarcoptic mange ...
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| Mini Pin | 8/9/2005 |
Q: I have a friend who has a mini-pin and the dog is addicted to water. He will drink water till he ...
A: This sounds like a condition called "Psychogenic Water Ingestation." The dog just likes to drink. ...
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| My dog 's ear rash | 8/9/2005 |
Q: My dog is a miniature pintcher (5y/o) (f) our dog has been excessively scratching her ears to the ...
A: NEVER use chlorhexidine in the ears! It is extremely toxic. If there is an itchy ear, it is most ...
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| hair loss | 8/8/2005 |
Q: why would a puppy start losing hair, she is itching a lot. It started after a trip to the groomers.
A: Puppies lose hair for a variety of reasons including mange, allergies, bacteria infection or ...
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| Can humans get mange from animals | 8/7/2005 |
Q: I have this horrible itching and red splotches all over my body (and the worst are where my bra ...
A: Demodex mange is not contagious to people, but sarcoptic mange (also called Scabies or the Mad Itch) ...
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| Boxer puppy ear problem | 8/5/2005 |
Q: My boxer had puppies on July 4 2005. When they were 4 weeks old I put the puppies into a larger box ...
A: The fall could have caued this if she damaged her eardrum or her vestibular apparatus in her ear was ...
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| Hot Spots | 8/5/2005 |
Q: What exactly are "hot spots" on dogs' skin? What causes this problem and how does one avoid it?
A: "Hot Spots" are acute moist dermatitis. These weepy lesions are often associated with allergies. ...
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| Skin Irritation from Flea Collars | 8/3/2005 |
Q: My cat has fleas so we washed her and put a flea collar on her, but now I noticed that an sore which ...
A: The cat probably scratched at the collar and made the neck bleed. Removing the collar is the right ...
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| Bald Patches on Lab Dog | 8/2/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, my Labrador Retriever Female (pure bred, as far as i know) is exactly 1 year old now. ...
A: It takes a month or two for the Derm Caps to work. If it is really itchy, then it could be one of a ...
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| Bug bites? | 8/2/2005 |
Q: My black cat is an indoor/outdoor cat. Lately I have noticed 'spots' on her nose. They are not ...
A: For some reason cats seem to get insect bites on the nose. There is a mosquito bite ...
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| frontline tick spray | 8/1/2005 |
Q: I am 12 weeks pregnant. my dog was found to have 2 ticks while he was being groomed. groomer sprayed ...
A: The insecticide in Frontline (fipronil) is very specific to a receptor in the insect's nervous ...
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| Bump on ear | 8/1/2005 |
Q: We have a new puppy, 9 weeks old. 2 days ago 2 bumps appeared on the end (outside) of her ear flap. ...
A: Young pups are very prone to Staph infections on their skin because they have little natural ...
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| Beagle Yeast Infection in Ears | 7/28/2005 |
Q: My poor beagle has recurring yeast infection in his ears. Because he is an extremely difficult dog ...
A: Yeast infections are caused by allergies. So you need to have those treated somehow. If you can't ...
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| Melatonin | 7/28/2005 |
Q: My Golden is on Melatonin for Seasonal Flank Alopecia. He started taking 6 mg twice a day starting ...
A: Seasonal flank alopecia is just that.....seasonal. During certain times of the year, usually spring ...
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| Dog's fur isn't growing back | 7/27/2005 |
Q: My dog got a summer cut in early June as he does every year. His fur has not grown back as it ...
A: This is called post clipping alopecia and is not uncommon in certain breeds like Chows and Huskies. ...
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| Dogs ear yeast infections | 7/27/2005 |
Q: I have a 6 yr old american pit bull terrier (Diamond),who has horrible skin ailments. She has ...
A: My first advice to you is to find a vet that know how to treat skin allergies properly. I find that ...
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| poison | 7/24/2005 |
Q: I own a precious 11 month old Golden Retriever, I usually have him tied up and take him for swimm ...
A: Whatever it was, it was toxic enough to cause the skin to die off. If it was something like a ...
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| removal of parasites | 7/22/2005 |
Q: How do I remove ticks from my dogs muzzle and ears without risking infection?
A: I recommend that you get something called FRONTLINE SPRAY. It is available from most vets. Ticks ...
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| ear infections in chocolate lab | 7/21/2005 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf. We own 2 chocolate labs, one of which has been diagnosed with allergy-related ear ...
A: Antihistamines, like banadryl, have been proven to have no benefit in dog allergic skin disease. ...
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| Handling the stress of work | 7/21/2005 |
Q: My dream has always been to be either a vet, or a pediatrician. I have always leaned towards the vet ...
A: Sometimes ending a patient's life by relieving pain and suffering is a blessing. We never take ...
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| Swollen Ear | 7/20/2005 |
Q: When I came home from a week long vacation my cat's ears had swollen up like there was fluid between ...
A: This is an aural hematoma and requires surgery to correct it. Often there is an ear infection that ...
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| skin condition in 12 year old German Shepherd | 7/20/2005 |
Q: my 12 year old GSD has developed a skin condition recently. I have been reading up on Hot Spots and ...
A: This is most likely an allergy to something causing a severe inflammatory reaction. The skin that ...
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| ?Atopy | 7/17/2005 |
Q: I have a 5 yr old labrador retriever who has an scratching problem. For a while he occationally ...
A: If he tolerates the pred, then you can maintain him on it until the fall. I wouldn't want to see ...
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| ringworm | 7/15/2005 |
Q: my kitten, an orphan we adopted about a month ago, was just diagnosed with ringworm. The vet gave us ...
A: Ringworm is contagious to people and the way we get it is from the spores (seeds) that are on the ...
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| Springer problem | 7/15/2005 |
Q: My Springer Spaniel has a bad allergy problem. We have been feeding him non-alergen food to no ...
A: Sometimes dogs with itchy skin are miserable and do not have good temperments. Some Springers ...
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| pregnancy | 7/13/2005 |
Q: What are some signs that my dog may be pregnant?
A: Obviously, weight gain and large belly would be the best indicator. Other signs are mammary ...
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| yellow lab puppy | 7/12/2005 |
Q: Good morning Dr. Gotthelf, My girlfriend an I are picking up a Yellow Labrador puppy this week. ...
A: I would be concerned about mange, bacterial infection, or ringworm. You should take the puppy to the ...
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| ear tumor | 7/11/2005 |
Q: My 21 year old cat was given an ultrasound today on a large growth behind her ear. The Vet suspects ...
A: This could be a tumor or it could be a polyp, which looks like a tumor. The only way to know is to ...
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| My 9-year-old Chihuahua was... | 7/11/2005 |
Q: My 9-year-old Chihuahua was just diagnosed with pancreatitis, and I'd like to make some food she can ...
A: With pancreatitis, we try and NOT feed the dog for a few days to let the pancreas rest. Food ...
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| A kidney question, begging your pardon | 7/11/2005 |
Q: The other two cat veterinarians are maxed out, so I'll give you a try. I'll understand if you don't ...
A: There is an old addage in medicine "Never make a diagnosis from one test." This applies here. ...
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| Young puppy | 7/10/2005 |
Q: I've been given a young puppy. I have been told that the dog is around 3 to 4 weeks old. I was ...
A: Get a milk replacer for puppies from a vet or a pet store. Cow's milk will give the puppy diarrhea. ...
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| Cleaning a wound | 7/9/2005 |
Q: I hope this falls under the "skin" category. My German Shorthair has a very deep wound on her back ...
A: Don't use Hydrogen peroxide for this type of deep wound. It will heat up and further damage the ...
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| loss of hair | 7/8/2005 |
Q: We have a 9 year old cocker spaniel the is losing his hair in spots all over his body. Some places ...
A: If the therapy does not seem to help, ask your vet to do a skin biopsy to see just what the skin ...
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| Why use Fluvicin? | 7/8/2005 |
Q: I have two kittens (approx 12 weeks) with ringworm; one has chronic URI, but both have tested ...
A: The problem is that if you don't kill the spores, then every hair that falls out of the kittens will ...
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| skin condition? | 7/7/2005 |
Q: I have a 9 mo old min pin whose skin on her belly and under her front arm is starting to develope a ...
A: In young animals, this is usually a Staph. bacterial infection. I would recommend having it treated ...
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| old age, itching | 7/7/2005 |
Q: We have a 14 year old neutered male Yorkie who has itching problems. I have tried different ...
A: Ask your vet if he is using ATOPICA, a new non-steroidal allergy drug for dogs. It has the same ...
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| Dog hemorrhoid | 7/6/2005 |
Q: For a few months I've noticed that my dog (a large mixed-breed stray we adopted years ago) sometimes ...
A: Dogs rarely, if ever, get hemmorhoids. They do get tumors on their rectums and the one that you may ...
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| American bulldog itchy skin and musty smell | 7/5/2005 |
Q: I have an 8 month old female American bulldog with itchy bumps that appear under the skin on inside ...
A: At 8 months, I would have to think about mange and secondary yeast infection. That may be why the ...
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| Tumor in left ear Westie. | 7/5/2005 |
Q: You have helped so much with Mac so here I am again.Mac is now about 9/10 yrs. He has little tumors ...
A: Sometimes, we do not get all of the tumor out with the laser and it can come back. I often re-laser ...
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| Golden Retriever hair loss | 7/4/2005 |
Q: I have a two-year-old Golden who slowly,but steadily, appears to be losing his coat. He has two ...
A: The dog is most likely itchy. Goldens are known for their severe skin allergies. If the vet ...
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| Ear Wax | 7/3/2005 |
Q: ..I have a 4 month chihuahua that has quite a bit of brown wax deep in his ears, otherwise they ...
A: This is definitely not normal in a young puppy. There may be ear mites even though the vet didn't ...
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| ear cropping | 7/2/2005 |
Q: what is the best way to keep a great danes ears errect after they have been cropped?
A: There are many types of props that are used after the ear crop has healed. I prefer to wrap a piece ...
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| condiction of coat | 7/1/2005 |
Q: My freind has a very sweet older cat. She is about 14. I baby sit their little boy so I have been ...
A: The matts of hair are there because the cat is scratching the skin. So it could be an itchy ...
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| dog sheds to much | 6/26/2005 |
Q: I have an 8 year old female yellow lab. She sheds all the time. Winter, spring, summer, fall. I ...
A: Excessive shedding can be a sign of hypothyroid disease. Ask your vet if they can test for low ...
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| Ear Infections | 6/24/2005 |
Q: We have an English Mastiff, who is now 4 years old. Within the last year he has been having back to ...
A: Yeast infections are almost always associated with allergies. If the steroids had no effect, then ...
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| Soloxine | 6/24/2005 |
Q: Do you know of any side effects with dogs taking Soloxine? My dog tested positive for Hyperthyroid ...
A: First, your dog is HYPOthyroid. That means that the thyroid hormone level is low. In that case, ...
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| The manges? | 6/23/2005 |
Q: we have a beloved golden retriever and he has this sore on his face Im not sure how it got there. It ...
A: To see if your dog has mange, ask your vet to do a skin scraping and look for the insects that cause ...
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| Dog yearly shots | 6/23/2005 |
Q: The last 2 years when our dog recieves her yearly booster shots the skin dies and hair come out and ...
A: That is an extremely rare reaction to a vaccination! In 27 years of practice, I have never seen ...
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| My cat is biting the fur off her belly and constanty licking the area. | 6/23/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf Last summer, my cat began biting the fur off her belly and constanty licking the area to ...
A: This is most likely an allergic reaction to something. When cats get allergies, they "barber" the ...
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| hot spots | 6/22/2005 |
Q: My dog (silky terrier) is biting at her hind leg and has made it red and raw and sore looking. I ...
A: She will probably lick any ointment that you put on her leg. Most hot spots are caused by ...
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| dermatology-allergy | 6/22/2005 |
Q: My dog, Teddy is a 70 lb. chow/german shepherd mix. He is 8 years old. He has a severe problem ...
A: Benadryl is not good to stop itching in an allergic dog. If you are using Prednisone, you can use it ...
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| brittle nails | 6/14/2005 |
Q: I have a two year old female Min Pinscher. About 6 to 8 months ago we noticed that her nails were ...
A: There are several things that can be done to diagnose the problem. The first is to have your vet do ...
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| Cat Dandruff | 6/13/2005 |
Q: We have a two short-haired black cats, both neutered males, five years old (they're brothers). One ...
A: If it is true dandruff, then supplementing the diet with Omega3 fatty acids may help (Eicosaderm, ...
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| chronic ear condition | 6/13/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, Kitty Carlisle is my 21 year old indoor cat. She has had a chronic ear condition on and ...
A: At this age, I would have to think of something going on in her middle ear. Many of the nerves that ...
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| yeast? | 6/12/2005 |
Q: I have a going on two year old bitch that has had cronic yeast ear infections. She gets them so bad ...
A: She most likely has allergies that are not being treated. If the vet is using an ear mite medicine, ...
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| skin Promblems | 6/11/2005 |
Q: My dog keeps getting a disease called "Licking ?" can't remember the name. The vet explained it as ...
A: This is called a lick granuloma. I remove these with my laser and they heal up nicely. The problem ...
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| cats hair | 6/9/2005 |
Q: my cat is licking herself bald, or her hair is falling out what should i do? it is mostly on her ...
A: When cats do this, they are most likely itchy. They actually cut the hairs with their teeth. You ...
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| cut to paw pad | 6/6/2005 |
Q: What do we put on (medication) for a cut to the pad on a dogs paw?
A: You can put on any type of antibacterial creme. You should rinse the foot out with lots of water to ...
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| hard of hearing dog, possibly deaf. | 6/2/2005 |
Q: Have you found Cockapoos to have trouble hearing? I rescued one last year that had been left out in ...
A: Deafness is very rare in dogs. I seriously doubt that a thunderstorm would cause hearing loss, ...
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| Dry Flaky spot on my dog's nose | 6/2/2005 |
Q: My 7 yr. old English springer spaniel is being treated for allergies. I noticed a spot on his nose ...
A: It depends on where it is on the nose. If it is on the area that is black near his nostrils and is ...
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| my cats eyes | 6/1/2005 |
Q: Louis n. Gotthelf, We just brang two kittens into our home .They have an eye infection like ...
A: Just because you got an antibiotic does not mean that the bacteria in the eyes will be killed by ...
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| ear infection | 5/29/2005 |
Q: can you use human kind of ear drops from a doctor on a dog with ear infection?
A: Depending on the type of infection in the ear, sometimes we use human drugs. However, many dogs ...
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| Poop | 5/29/2005 |
Q: How can I stop my dog from eating her own poop?
A: Decreasing the amount of food you are feeding and increasing digestibility by buying high quality ...
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| Flea infestation | 5/25/2005 |
Q: What is the best and safest way to de-flea my cats? Are there any OTC medications which last longer ...
A: The BEST thing is Advantage Flea Drops. Be careful about over the counter flea medicines. Read the ...
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| Pyr enees hair loss | 5/25/2005 |
Q: A Pyr rescued from puppy mill has experienced loss of hair and bald sports only on rear half of ...
A: Check and treat for parasites, both intestinal parasites and skin parasites. Get him on a good ...
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| REtraining my cat to use his liter box | 5/24/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, My three year old spayed cat has stopped using his liter box and I was told to retrain ...
A: Sometimes it is the litter itself that is the problem. Sometimes it is too dusty or has an ...
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| Red Spots on the stomach | 5/24/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf, We have a black and white 5 yo greyhound. She has been getting dark red spots (blood red ...
A: It is hard to diagnose on the internet. If these are large red spots, they can be from irritation, ...
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| skin allergy | 5/24/2005 |
Q: Gotthelf ~ What makes one puppy develop allergies over another? Is there a predisposition or a ...
A: Atopic dermatitis is mostly heredity. Many breeds are prone to atopy. We think that there is a ...
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| 8 month old Dalmation w/ ear problem | 5/23/2005 |
Q: Our dalmation's ears itch a lot and hurt. He won't let us touch them. They also stink terribly. ...
A: You need to have this looked at by your vet. It could be an ear infection, but it could also be ...
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| Hot Spots on Bichon Frise | 5/22/2005 |
Q: My three year old Bichon Frise gets hot spots throughout the year. Switched to Science Diet ...
A: If the dog has been on Z/D for 3 months or more, then it is not a food allergy. If the steroid ...
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| bacterial infection in 10 year old Beagle | 5/21/2005 |
Q: Bobbin is the Beagle. She suffers from a skin allergy since 2001, although it might have been ...
A: Bacterial infection is a common result of allergies. Ina 10 year old Beagle, the allergies should ...
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| skin allergy in golden | 5/21/2005 |
Q: I have a female golden retriever age 10. We live in the same area since we've had her. Overnight she ...
A: If there has been no effect to the steroids, then I would have to think first of sarcoptic mange. ...
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| 6 mo. old lick granuloma | 5/20/2005 |
Q: My dog has been licking at what was diagnosed as a lick granuloma for over 6 mos. now. This is not ...
A: MAny of these lick granulomas are actually allergic in nature, so some allergy treatment may be ...
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| Ear Hematoma | 5/20/2005 |
Q: We are going out of town for a week and our dog has his 3rd Hematoma in a year. I am trying to find ...
A: Draining hematomas is not a good idea. They will only refill unless the blood inside clots. If it ...
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| Side effects of cortizone | 5/19/2005 |
Q: (1) What are the side effects of long-term cortizone use for canine allergies? (2) Can anything ...
A: The side effects of LOW dose cortisone for things like allergies is minimal. Some dogs drink ...
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| I would like to know the dosage (cc's) of Kenolog that is given for relieve of chewing and itching for a 25 lbs. Boston Terrier. | 5/18/2005 |
Q: My boston terrier (age unknown but about 10 yrs) has consistently had red rashes on her belly, chews ...
A: I cannot tell you how much to give because steroids have to be given to effect. The dose in one dog ...
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| Watery Eyes | 5/17/2005 |
Q: I have a 6 month poodle and her eyes water most of the time and they have an odor. Is this normal?
A: It is not normal, but it is not unusual in a Poodle. Many Poodles have not developed tear ducts ...
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| growth on dog's eyelid that rubs on eye | 5/17/2005 |
Q: My golden retriever [almost 9 yrs old] has a skin growth on her upper left eyelid. During the last ...
A: Would you want something rubbing your eye? That will eventually cause a thickening of the cornea. ...
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| Golden with allergies | 5/17/2005 |
Q: A little background with a question at the end... I have a 2 and 1/2 yr old golden retriever who ...
A: Golden Retrievers are very prone to allergies. It is a genetic thing! There are many ways of ...
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| Dr.Gotthelf,
... | 5/16/2005 |
Q: Dr.Gotthelf, My cat has suffered on and off for 2 years with a skin rash,itchiness and ...
A: This skin rash around the neck indicatees an allergy, but probably not a food allergy. This is ...
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| Healthy but itchy | 5/16/2005 |
Q: My dog has dandruff. We feed him Iams Lamb and rice formula and bath him only when he is stinky, ...
A: It is possible that this could be a nutritional problem. A hypoallegenic diet from the vet with only ...
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| Golden Ret. Skin | 5/10/2005 |
Q: I have a 1 1/2 year old golden. I just noticed that he has two spots on each side of him where he ...
A: As long as the skin is not itchy or reddened you can wait. Many of these skin diseases have to do ...
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| coughing and choking | 5/9/2005 |
Q: My 11-yr. old yorkie/peek-a-poo male is very healthy and up to date on all of his shots and exams. ...
A: If this is like a snort, he may be having a reverse sneeze. There may be a bad tooth leaking pus or ...
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| Golden Ret. Skin | 5/9/2005 |
Q: I have a 1 1/2 year old golden. I just noticed that he has two spots on each side of him where he ...
A: If your vet prescribed Melatonin, then it may be a seasonal flank alopecia, sometimes called ...
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| Cheyletiella | 5/8/2005 |
Q: We need your advice desperately! We have a 2 year old female boxer named Boots who was recently ...
A: Cheyletiella is not really common in dogs unless they are around cats that carry it. Revolution is ...
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| Lab's Ears | 5/8/2005 |
Q: Everytime I take my lab to the vet he has an ear infection and I end up spending a lot of money on ...
A: Most labs have allergic ears. Some have allergies to a particular protein in the food, while others ...
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| excessive licking | 5/7/2005 |
Q: About a month ago my wife and I were given a 3 - 5 yr old male Shitzu, "Pudge". He was abandoned at ...
A: Dogs often have food allergies AND pollen, mold, mite allergies as well. Usually when dogs are ...
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| Hairball treatment and prevention, best grooming brushes | 5/5/2005 |
Q: What is the best treatment and prevention for long haired persian cats? What is the best grooming ...
A: The treatment is usually oral petroleum jelly. It is disguised in many hairball remedies but if you ...
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| Cat dermatitis: Is DepoMedrol the only answer? | 5/5/2005 |
Q: .. My 5 yr. old shorthaired 'tuxedo' cat was diagnosed about 6 mos. ago by our vet as having ...
A: There are many causes of itching in the cat. Allergies to environmental allergens occur commonly. ...
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| Feline ear infections | 5/4/2005 |
Q: I'm sure you get this question all the time. I have a female diabetic cat that has developed an ...
A: How do you know that the ear is infected if it hasn't been checked by the vet? Many cats will get ...
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| Long-Haired Cat Losing Hair | 5/3/2005 |
Q: My 8 yr old long hair is losing her winter coat clumps in large patches that leave bald spots. Her ...
A: With bald spots, this would not be a normal winter shedding process. Look carefully at these bald ...
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| dog bothered by her ear | 4/23/2005 |
Q: My friend Linda has an indoor, friendly, affectionate bulldog, who is bathed about once/month. This ...
A: Black stuff in the ears can indicate many different things. Ear mites, bacterial infection, yeast ...
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| skin problem | 4/20/2005 |
Q: I have a 10yr old mini longhair doxie, on her underbelly she looks like she has dirt allover her, ...
A: I doubt that this would be contagious. Older doxies with darkening skin may be low in their level ...
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| ears | 4/19/2005 |
Q: my cat has itching ears and I have spent $235.00 the vet has cleaned them and he has no ear mites ...
A: Without examining him, it would be very difficult to tell you what is wrong. The cat needs to be ...
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| pregnant cat with fleas | 4/14/2005 |
Q: Can I use Advantage on a pregnant cat? If not, what can I do for fleas. After having the kittens, ...
A: It is OK on a pregnant cat and on kittens. They have not submitted data to the FDA and that's why ...
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| DESPERATE - seizures/dog | 4/13/2005 |
Q: I am desperate to help my dog. Two nights ago my 2 year old weimereiner was not walking straight, ...
A: I understand your concern, but on the internet it is impossible for me to give you any type of ...
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| Dog Rash | 4/13/2005 |
Q: Cheemo is a very large 8 yr old white sheppard. He's been licking the top of one of his hind paws ...
A: This sounds like a lick granuloma. It is an area that gets scarred up due to the constant trauma. ...
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| sort of general question... | 4/12/2005 |
Q: Hey! I'm really hoping to work with animals one day, and I really want to get some experience in a ...
A: You can call around to different vets in your area and ask them if you can volunteer one day in ...
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| flaky skin on cats | 4/12/2005 |
Q: I have a 1 year old black cat. He almost always has white flakes on his back. Obviously they are ...
A: I would suggest using a food supplement with Omega3 fatty acids to help the skin and coat. YOur vet ...
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| Ear infection | 4/11/2005 |
Q: I have a 13 yr old black lab who is having trouble with one ear. When I rub it she leans right ...
A: If there is liquid in the ear canal, that is not good. Treating her at home is difficult in dogs ...
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| Declawing | 4/11/2005 |
Q: My cat is around three years old and has been tested positive for feline leukemia. While my vet ...
A: Declawing a cat is painful for a few days after the surgery. If it is done with the laser, then it ...
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| ear mites | 4/9/2005 |
Q: i was wondering what the symptoms of ear mites are. i think my cat my have them. can they be treated ...
A: Older, isolated cats rarely get ear mites. The cats that do get them are around other cats and the ...
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| dandruff in cat | 4/8/2005 |
Q: I have two cats - brother and sister - 8/9 yrs old. The boy has no dandruff and is quite lean, his ...
A: Dandruff in cats can be several things. It can be parasites like mites on the skin, it can be a ...
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| psudomonis | 4/8/2005 |
Q: My dog has had a skin problem for 6 months which was at first thought to be caused by rubbing under ...
A: Pseudomonas is an opportunistic bacteria. In other words, there is damage to the skin from ...
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| Cat skin problem | 4/8/2005 |
Q: My 10 year old American short hair female cat (indoor only) has recently been losing her hair on her ...
A: Cats that lose hair in the rear end area are often chewing it out. That indicates that something is ...
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| Shar-Pei | 4/7/2005 |
Q: I have a one year old shar-pei whos name is Fetch. When we got him he developed a skin condition ...
A: Chewing on the feet is a sign of allergic dermatitis. Some of these paw lickers also have secondary ...
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| dog chews paws | 4/7/2005 |
Q: Dr Gotthelf, first of all thank you for the last problem you solved for me....the little Scottie who ...
A: Chewing on the feet is a sign of allergic dermatitis. Some of these paw lickers also have secondary ...
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| cat food allergies | 4/7/2005 |
Q: I have a 2 year old domestic short hair cat. By process of elimination (vet visits) we have come to ...
A: Venison and pea is Ok for a diet if your cat will eat it. I would wait for a minimum of 2 months on ...
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| loss of hair | 4/5/2005 |
Q: we have 2 cats. i was wondering.... one of our cats seems to be loosing hair by his eyelids, i know ...
A: Loss of fur on the head indicates that the cat is rubbing the head. This is also true for matting; ...
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| Cat injured tail | 4/5/2005 |
Q: My cat got his tail stuck in the doorway and his tail was injured with some of his skin off and some ...
A: You should keep it clean and if it is a superficial wound, it will heal. The tail may not have ...
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| Dog shaking his head constantly and crying | 4/5/2005 |
Q: Since 2:00 hrs. my dog (3 months old afghan puppy) awoke me being very inquiet, sometimes crying ...
A: Sometimes ear pain may not be from the ears at all but from something like the teeth. In a young ...
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| golden retriever | 4/4/2005 |
Q: I have a 8yr old female golden retriever. She recently had a lump develop over her left front ...
A: This is a hard one. If the vet removed it, then how did it come back? There is a tumor called a ...
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| Dog's ear | 4/4/2005 |
Q: MY DOGS EAR IS SWOLLEN. IT SEEMS TO BE FILLED WITH FLUID, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HER. IT ...
A: This is an aural hematoma and it requires surgery to fix. There is something in the ear that is ...
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| Cats and clawing | 4/3/2005 |
Q: I have three cats - one girl who is an absolute angeL and two boys who are DEMONS! One of the boy ...
A: If there is a positive feline leukemia test, that does not mean that the cat is sick. Has the vet ...
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| Cat's skin | 4/3/2005 |
Q: My 2 cats have been scratching themselves, and have both developed raised scabs on their skin - some ...
A: There definitely could be a parasitic infection if you too are itching. A treatment with ivermectin ...
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| my cat's dandrift | 4/3/2005 |
Q: my cat seems to have dandriff. (not sure how to spell it). he itches really bad around the neck and ...
A: When cats are rubbing, especially around the neck, they have allergies. Often this is due to fleas, ...
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| min-pin dermatology problem | 3/30/2005 |
Q: I am adopting a Mini-Pincher and it has skin spots where the dog is loosing hair. 1 larger area and ...
A: I would definitely advise taking this dog to a vet before you adopt it. If it is something like ...
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| ears | 3/29/2005 |
Q: what can i readily clean my dogs ears with? he's a lovely 1 year multi breed pound puppy who we've ...
A: Do not use Q-tips as they push wax deep into the ear canal. You can mix vinegar and water 50:50 and ...
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| feet problems | 3/29/2005 |
Q: My dog always sems to have a skin condition flair up in the summer months. Ive had her to the vets ...
A: This is most likely a seasonal allergy called atopic dermatitis. Often a short course of cortisone ...
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| dogs eating their own feces | 3/28/2005 |
Q: I have 3 dogs and two of them are eating their own feces. Why do they do this and can it be ...
A: When dogs do this they are usually not properly digesting their food. That leaves the feces with ...
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| 1 1/2 yr. old large dog | 3/28/2005 |
Q: My dog "Bark" was a stray dog so I am not really sure what breed he is, but he is a large dog.He ...
A: You did not give me much informsation as to the location of these lesions. Whenever I get an itchy ...
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| Dry and cracking pads on a cat's paws | 3/27/2005 |
Q: My indoor Himalayan cat, Blue, who is 9 years old and healthy in every other aspect has severely dry ...
A: Dry cracked pads may be a sign of an oil deficiency in the diet. Try some dietary Omega 3 fatty ...
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| hair pulling | 3/27/2005 |
Q: I have a 9 year old neutered male cat who has recently developed a disturbing habit of pulling all ...
A: Hair pulling, especially on the belly is an indication of itching. There are many things other than ...
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| hemorrhoid/cyst???? | 3/26/2005 |
Q: and thank you for your time. I hope that this question falls under the skin category. My dog is ...
A: Without examining it I cannot be very specific. You will need to have your vet look at this. It ...
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| Ear problems | 3/25/2005 |
Q: I have a 7 year old Bichon Frise with a constant build up of wax that smells real bad. I have tried ...
A: Smelly ears are usually infected. Dogs get these waxy ears because of allergies mostly. The ear ...
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| Hi. I've been breeding dogs... | 3/24/2005 |
Q: I've been breeding dogs for a while now and have noticed the red tear stains under the eyes, more ...
A: There is a pigment in tears and saliva that causes the white hair to get stained. There is an oral ...
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| Bumps under the skin and pimple-like growths | 3/23/2005 |
Q: I have a very old golden retrever/mutt, @ 13 years old (When I adopted him from the pound, they ...
A: At his age, it would not surprise me if he had some benign tumors on his skin. You are describing a ...
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| Skin allergies | 3/23/2005 |
Q: I have a 3 year old Shih Tzu which I acquired from a family that did not have time for her about 8 ...
A: If the dog truly has a grass allergy then doing what you are doing will help some, but the fire has ...
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| Hello; I have a situation... | 3/21/2005 |
Q: I have a situation with my cat that is somewhat complicated, so I will start at the beginning. ...
A: I agree that the MRI may be overdoing it a bit. Many cats get middle ear infection from their ...
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| English Bulldog - Pudgy | 3/20/2005 |
Q: I have a healthy bulldog, but he has an itch problem on his back and around his tail. Sometimes at ...
A: Many Bulldogs get a tail fold pyoderma (an infection where the tail skin folds)and that makes them ...
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| coughing. | 3/18/2005 |
Q: I have a ten year old bassethound and a few days ago he was shaking like he was cold. I haven't ...
A: You are describing bronchitis. Often they will swallow mucus and that is what they regurgitate. Even ...
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| dandruff and bad coat | 3/18/2005 |
Q: I have a 14 yr old male cat who has had diabetes for almost 10 years. He isnt a very clean cat and I ...
A: Yes you can shave down a long haired cat. Many cats that are matted require a sedative so it may be ...
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| cleaning solution | 3/18/2005 |
Q: During the summer my lab is in the water every day. His ears then get prone to infection and odor. ...
A: What you put in the ears depends alot on what kind of infection (bacterial or yeast) and if the dog ...
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| doxie hair loss | 3/17/2005 |
Q: I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME OR SEND ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I HAVE A 31/2 YEAR OLD FEMALE MINI DOXIE. ...
A: Some of these are true seasonal alopecias and melatonin works well to fool the pineal gland in the ...
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| Lump's under skin under last set of teats | 3/16/2005 |
Q: my 1 year 3 month old female black lab has developed a lump under her last set of teats, it is about ...
A: It is always hard for me to say specifically what these lumps might be, but in a young dog, it could ...
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| Sore by dog's nail | 3/15/2005 |
Q: I took my dog (a 4 year old lab/mastiff mix) to the vet for a small growth next to his toe nail ...
A: You have asked alot of questions that unfortunately can only be answered on the basis of a biopsy. ...
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| german sheperd puppies | 3/15/2005 |
Q: We have two german sheperd puppies whom are brothers and are four months old. one of the puppies ...
A: Some puppies' ears stand easily and some do not. You might need to tape the ears (your veterinarian ...
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| Cat skin lesions | 3/14/2005 |
Q: I just took my persian cat to the vet because I thought she might have ringworm because of hair loss ...
A: Ringworm can be contagious, but if you start topical treatment, it should not be contagious after ...
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| ear clippings | 3/11/2005 |
Q: I'm interested in getting my 5 month old puppy's ears clipped, he is a pitbull, and I wanted to know ...
A: It is rare for puppies to get infections after ear trimming. Many vets do not do ear cropping ...
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| My cat's got fleas! | 3/11/2005 |
Q: My cat is primarily an indoor cat, but ocassionally we let it out to romp around. My problem is, ...
A: I recommend Advantage for fleas on cats. It forms a very thin layer of insecticide all over the ...
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| West highland terrier skin growths | 3/10/2005 |
Q: Louis, I have a westie for about 1.5 years. In the last 6 to 8 months, first he had a growth on his ...
A: In order to tell you the answer, I would first have to know what type of growths these things are. ...
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| English Spaniel - scooting! | 3/10/2005 |
Q: Please may I trouble you to help regarding our dog, [female] seems to scoot quite a bit. Is there ...
A: Scooting is a sign of itching. The anal glands sometimes are inflammed or even infected. But ...
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| I think my dog has poison oak | 3/10/2005 |
Q: .. I think my dog has poison oak on his head. I walk him in a hilly field that has some poison oak. ...
A: From your description, it does not sound like poison oak. Since it is limited to one area on the ...
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| Hair Loss in Cats | 3/9/2005 |
Q: I have a female cat who is a little over a year old. She has had all of her vaccinations and ...
A: Some cats that do not eat regularly and lose weight get a thin haircoat. You should take the cat to ...
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| Ears | 3/9/2005 |
Q: My 8 year old mixed breed dog has started constantly shaking her head and scratching at one ear. I ...
A: Without a diagnosis as to what the ear problem is, it is hard for me to tell you just what to do at ...
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| vet | 3/9/2005 |
Q: when you become a veterinarian what or are there any special physical demands?
A: Obviously, a large animal vet needs to be able to handle these very large, strong animals. Small ...
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| Smelly ears | 3/8/2005 |
Q: I have a 5 years old lab mix that co exists, to my ctas dismay, with 3 other cats. Well, Nitro seems ...
A: It is very common for Labs to get ear diseases because they are so prone to allergies. Some are ...
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| Skin condition... | 3/7/2005 |
Q: My seven year-old maltese has begun to develop an unusual skin condition. She appears to have dark ...
A: Often as a white dog ages, there will be dark spots of pigmentation of the normally pink skin. If ...
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| "Schnauzer Bumps" | 3/7/2005 |
Q: Scottie has been diagnosed with schnauzer bumps. Wondering what they are!? She was given ...
A: If these are the typical dark bumps over the top of her body, these are actually comedones, or ...
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| cushings and papillomas | 3/7/2005 |
Q: My 13 year bichon, Pokey, has developed cushing's disease. After a lot of testing, I have decided ...
A: As far as the Cushing's, I have had very good success in these small breeds with a drug called ...
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| Bacterial Otitis Externa | 3/6/2005 |
Q: Please help me! My 9-year old Cocker Spanial has been diagnosed with Bacterial Otitis Externa in ...
A: The doctors at OSU are excellent and if they recommend surgery, then it is probably needed. I know ...
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| Dog with allergies | 3/3/2005 |
Q: I have a 2 year old golden retriever who was diagnosed with severe allergies at 5 mos. We've ...
A: Your dog needs steroids to treat the itching from allergies. If she has side effects to the steroids ...
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| cocker spaniel smelly ears | 3/1/2005 |
Q: My son just got a new cocker spaniel puppy last week. We took her to our local vet Saturday for her ...
A: At 6 weeks of age, I would be concerned about ear mites and/or food allergies. Did the vet tell you ...
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| ear infection | 3/1/2005 |
Q: I have a part Lhasa Apso & poodle dog. I have had problems with her ears ever since she was a pup. ...
A: Food allergies do cause ear problems and if you cannot feed only the special food, you will never ...
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| Skin care for English Spaniels | 2/28/2005 |
Q: Our 7 year old English Spaniel seems to have very sensitive skin. She scratches almost non stop ...
A: This is most likely an allergic dog that gets worse during periods of high antigen load, like the ...
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| Siberian cat | 2/13/2005 |
Q: I have a friend that has a male Siberian cat that has knots in his fur/coat. What causes the ...
A: Usually matting is caused from itching, so that needs to be treated also. The cat rubs the hair and ...
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| Constant scratching | 2/8/2005 |
Q: My dog is a 4 1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrier. Within the last year she has started to scratch ...
A: If the steroids help, then it is probably allergies. The trick is to use as little steroid as ...
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| red mange on my boxer | 2/7/2005 |
Q: I HAVE A 5 MONTH MALE BOXER WITH RED MANGE. I AM TOLD IT CAN ONLY BE PASSED ON BY BREEDING AND NOT ...
A: It is not true that it comes from breeding. Certain breeds are more susceptible because their ...
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| Concept of disease-oops | 2/6/2005 |
Q: I'm a first year university student and I'm doing a paper that deals with the concept of disease. ...
A: When I make a tentative diagnosis, it is based on the patient's history and physical signs. The ...
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| hot spots, i think it is? | 2/5/2005 |
Q: dr., my chihuahua has been itching his whole body extremely. It is to the point where now he has ...
A: Even though there are no fleas or mites seen, often times that is the problem. Almost 50% of ...
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| SKIN/EAR PROBLEMS - LABRADOR | 2/3/2005 |
Q: Our 10 month old labrador scratches a lot - chews his bottom, ears, rump, neck, around mouth and ...
A: I would definitely have him sedated so the vet can get a look and a sample of the goo in the ear for ...
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| education | 2/2/2005 |
Q: What is the difference between a vet. assistant and a vet technician? What education is required ...
A: Veterinary assistants are trained on the job. They can make $9.00 to $12.00 per hour to start. ...
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| Spot on nose | 2/1/2005 |
Q: My 9 month old dachsund puppy suddenly has a pink spot on her nose- where the black part of her nose ...
A: She may be "rooting" with her nose, trying to go under something, like a bedroom door. She may also ...
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| Allergic reaction to my boyfriend's cat | 1/31/2005 |
Q: and thank you for taking the time to read my question. I have lived with cats my whole life and have ...
A: There may be a parasite on the cat that is getting on you. Have the cat treated for skin parasites ...
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| If this question is out of... | 1/31/2005 |
Q: If this question is out of line, I apologize and if you don't answer, I will understand. I have ...
A: Certain virus vaccines do confer good long term immunity, like distemper and hepatitis vaccine, but ...
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| I am looking towards a career in Veterinarian Medicines | 1/26/2005 |
Q: I have been interested in this career since I was about 7. I was wondering about the average salary ...
A: Vets can earn from $50,000 to $100,000 per year depending on their expertise and where they live and ...
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| Nose | 1/26/2005 |
Q: My dog who is 13 years old has a problem with the surface of his nose. One half is dry and cracked ...
A: Ceratin viral diseases like distemper can cause that. Pemphigus or discoid lupus can cause that. ...
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| excessive grooming | 1/26/2005 |
Q: I own a bengal that grooms excessively. We are currently getting him a depomedro shot about every ...
A: Excessive grooming is usually due to itching. If the depomedrol helps, that may help to confirm ...
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| my cat's hair loss. | 1/25/2005 |
Q: I have a male cat, Joey, who is about 5 yrs old. He is spayed and is kept indoors except for the ...
A: You have described in textbook terms what happens to a cat that is allergic. They "barber" off the ...
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| 7 month old german shepard mix | 1/25/2005 |
Q: I have recently adopted a german shepard mix. He has very short hair, so I was hoping that grooming ...
A: Often the strong odor is caused from oversecretion of the sebaceous glands on the skin. This is ...
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| Ear infection | 1/22/2005 |
Q: Our dog Smokey has had many ear "infections" over the years. He is 4 years old and was a stray for ...
A: Your vet is correct about the allergies. If they have not tested for allergies, done a 6-8 week food ...
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| dog smelling bad | 1/21/2005 |
Q: i have a terrier that puts out a smell even after being bath with shampoo for that problem. is there ...
A: This is called seborrhea and there are a couple of things I recommend. First, keep shampooing, as ...
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| My Miniture Schnauzers Skin | 1/20/2005 |
Q: I currently have a salt and pepper miniature schnauzer that is 3 years old. She is constantly lick, ...
A: She has an allergy to something. Take her to the vet and tell them what you wrote me. You have ...
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| Bald Spot in Fur and Brown gunk in Ear | 1/20/2005 |
Q: 1. I have a 12 month old female Newfie who all of the sudden without any changes to her diet or ...
A: For the Newfie pup, I would ask your vet to check for ringworm and mange. It could also be a ...
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| Dog Losing Fur | 1/19/2005 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I have a 6 year old dog that is a Lab/Chow mix and usually once a year he needs ...
A: If the steroid shot helped, then it is probably an allergy. The shots do not last very long so ask ...
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| Itchy Schnauzer | 1/18/2005 |
Q: I have a seven year old standard schnauzer who has developed chronically itchy skin. I don't see any ...
A: If the keflex helped, then there is an overlying bacterial infection on the primary skin disease. If ...
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| dogs ears | 1/18/2005 |
Q: My dog is 2 yrs old- hound, lately has not had much energy, been gaining weight, recently treated ...
A: You need to have the vet look into the ears to see if there is an infection, ear mites, or a ...
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| Ear question | 1/17/2005 |
Q: I have a 1 and a half yr old female Golden Retriever. Lately her ear ear wax is really runny and ...
A: When you hear liquid in the ear it is usually one of two things. It could be a ruptured ...
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| skin | 1/17/2005 |
Q: My Puppy Gus has black scabs over 60 percent of his body ... he is constantly scratching and chewing ...
A: That needs attention from a different vet, it seems to me. Without seeing the dog, I cannot tell ...
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| Basset ear cleaning | 1/16/2005 |
Q: What is the best way to clean my new bassets ears? I have heard from others that they tend to get ...
A: If your Basset has normal ears, then all I would recommend is to take a cotton ball with rubbing ...
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| Momma cat | 1/16/2005 |
Q: Tooter my one year old cat has two five week old kittens. I took her to the vet today because she's ...
A: Vaseline will prevent new liquid from touching the rectal area, but it will not help the current ...
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| Irritated ear in dog | 1/14/2005 |
Q: My golden lab has been shaking his head a lot. We thought he had dirty or itchy ears. We used a ...
A: Most goldens and labs have allergic skin disease that causes their ears to get red. Have your vet ...
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| ear hematomas | 1/13/2005 |
Q: our golden retriever is constantly shaking his head from what we think are ear related problems. he ...
A: Goldens are very prone to allergic skin disease and that is usually the cause of the ear infection. ...
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| Frontline Plus and ticks | 1/12/2005 |
Q: I have kept my dogs on Frontline Plus since with got them. I recently found a tick on my dog, it was ...
A: Frontline is not a repellent! You can see fleas and ticks on the hair coat, and often the ticks ...
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| MANGE | 1/8/2005 |
Q: WHAT IS MANGE AND IS IT CONTAGIOUS
A: Mange refers to skin infection with one of two mites, which are little bugs. One is called Demodex ...
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| about German Shepard K9 Police Dog skin problems | 1/7/2005 |
Q: He has dry flaky skin on his lower back. Only around the hip area. The vet thought it was an allergy ...
A: Yopu did not mention any itchiness that goes along with this flakiness. Sometimes bacterial ...
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| cleaning tear stains | 1/6/2005 |
Q: We recently got a white boston/french mix. He was 1 1/2 years when he came to us. He has terrible ...
A: Ask your vet for Malacetic Wipes and clean the bridge of the nose where the tears have stained. ...
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| hair loss problem | 1/5/2005 |
Q: I have a 9 year old Husky who has recently begun to loose his fur. First it was on his belly now a ...
A: If the steroid shot helps for a few days or a week and then the itching comes back, it is probably ...
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| Derm/feline | 1/5/2005 |
Q: I have a large(16lb) cream colored, 9 year old taby cat. Over the last few years (5)he has had areas ...
A: If it is an allergy, the best ttreatment is frequent baths, which most cats will not allow. ...
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| demodectic mange | 1/4/2005 |
Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old Siberian Husky. She was diagnosed with demodectic mange at a little under a ...
A: Giving cortisone to a dog with mange is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. If the dog ...
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| dog allergies??? | 1/1/2005 |
Q: Our new 3 month old puppy appears to have a skin allergy. He has been with us 1 1/2 weeks. We are ...
A: It is extremely rare for puppies to have environmental allergies. Usually, if they do have ...
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| Canine Acne | 12/31/2004 |
Q: My dog was diagnosed with canine acne today. She was given 20mg Prednisone and Cephalexin 500mg to ...
A: That could be the effect of the steroid. Acne can be treated with a topical medication like ...
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| canine skin ulcer | 12/31/2004 |
Q: My 14-year old smooth dachshund has a patch of skin and fur the size of a quarter that "came off" ...
A: That area of skin obviously lost its blood supply and died. It could be from a crushing type or ...
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| dog smell | 12/29/2004 |
Q: my dog smells of fish, he's a 7 month brearded collie and when excited/scared he begins to smell ...
A: Body odor is from bacterial or yeast degradation of skin oils. So bathing the dog with a good ...
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| dog pads | 12/29/2004 |
Q: she would lick all the time and they would get swollen BUT NOW she was going lame cause her peds get ...
A: If that many vets have looked at the feet and do not have an answer for you, it is time to have a ...
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| wrong address | 12/28/2004 |
Q: When I sent this questions yesterday I left one letter out of the e mail address so I didn't get ...
A: Body odor is from bacterial or yeast degradation of skin oils. So bathing the dog with a good ...
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| odor on pug | 12/27/2004 |
Q: I have a male pug who is approximately 4 years old and he has a constant odor. The best way I could ...
A: Body odor is from bacterial or yeast degradation of skin oils. So bathing the dog with a good ...
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| Skin and odor problem | 12/22/2004 |
Q: I have a 7 yr old male pom. He has a bad case of dry skin and he has a terrible odor. I had to clip ...
A: He is probably allergic to something and that causes the glands in his skin to produce more oil. ...
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| Ear Infections in Shih Tzus | 12/22/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, I am writing you today about my dog, Maxwell. He is a 4.5 year old Shih Tzu. On and off ...
A: Melissa; You have finally found a smart vet. The dog's ear canal is like a boot with the eardrum ...
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| itching ears | 12/20/2004 |
Q: Our 35 lb. mixed terrier/sharpei dog scratches her ears and was licking her front legs. Vet said ...
A: Allergic dogs that are bathed more frequently often have less skin problems that those that are not. ...
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| rash around eyes | 12/19/2004 |
Q: I have taken my dog to the vet several times. He's an 11 month old German Shepherd. He has a rash ...
A: In young puppies, I always think of mites. Even if the vet got a negative scraping, I always treat ...
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| Skin rash and scratching | 12/19/2004 |
Q: I have a 2 year old Pomeranian/Yorkie that the vet now says is allergic to fleas. I have bathed her ...
A: Yes cortisone shots followed by tablets will help relieve the itching. I always recommend using a ...
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| puncture in dog's chest | 12/18/2004 |
Q: our dog got out last night and came back with a large puncture wound in his chest. we live in a ...
A: If there is damage, it will only get worse without treatment. Keeping it clean and resting the dog ...
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| itching ears | 12/17/2004 |
Q: Our 35 lb. mixed terrier/sharpei dog scratches her ears and was licking her front legs. Vet said ...
A: Benadryl will not help a dog that has allergies. Ask your vet to put the dog on cortisone tablets ...
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| hearing diminished | 12/17/2004 |
Q: 15 yr. old All American neutered male About 6 mos. hearing greatly diminished. Has had quite a few ...
A: In order to know if it is wax, tumor, middle ear infections, or polyps, you need to have the cat ...
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| Min Pin neurologic paralysis | 12/14/2004 |
Q: My min pin (9 years old) has developed what my vet says is a neurologic condition which will ...
A: Neurological conditions are often hard to diagnose. I think that what you want is to know ...
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| dog skin rash | 12/14/2004 |
Q: i live in the caribbean and have an adult dog with demadectic mange. i give a treatment of ...
A: Revolution will not do anything for demodex mange. The bumps are from a skin infection and the dog ...
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| dog licking leg | 12/13/2004 |
Q: I have a 9yr old Lab, he has been licking his rear left leg at the bottom by his paw for a few years ...
A: This is most likely a lick granuloma. Synotic helps when the skin is very thin, but when it is ...
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| White boxer allergies | 12/13/2004 |
Q: I have a white boxer who is 8 years old and in the past 3 years his skin allergies are getting ...
A: Many dogs that can't take steroids get ulcers along their intestinal tract that makes them sick. ...
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| Sudden Deafness in 13 Year Old Chesapeake X | 12/12/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, What would cause sudden deafness in a 13 year old dog? Lucy is a female Chesapeake X in ...
A: Acute deafness may be associated with ear infections, but in order for a dog to be deaf, it would ...
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| Dermatology | 12/12/2004 |
Q: Our domestic shorthair cat is 6 1/2 yrs old and has always been very healthy. About a month ago we ...
A: Antibiotics rarely help cat skin problems. If the cat is licking or chewing on a particular area, ...
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| Chlamydea in cats? | 12/11/2004 |
Q: I called a vet to see about shots for my kitten. The woman who answered the phone (not the vet) told ...
A: Chlamydia is NOT feline leukemia. There are many types of chlamydia organisms, one of which causes ...
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| I have a female chiquaqua.... | 12/11/2004 |
Q: I have a female chiquaqua. she weighs about 3 pounds. For the past week she has had what appears ...
A: This could be an abscessed anal gland. These glands live on the side of the rectum and they add ...
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| Cat Dermatology/Dog ear problem | 12/11/2004 |
Q: My cat has dandruff and bumps that are hard to see but easily felt and painfull. This occured after ...
A: Dandruff and bumps are typical of allergies in cats. It is called miliary dermatitis. ask your vet ...
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| Cat has Staph Dermitis | 12/9/2004 |
Q: My cat is 12,2 years ago she was diagnosed with a hyper thyroid disorder she is on Tapozole and ...
A: In addition to hyperthyroidism, she may have a skin allergy that causes the itching and scabs. She ...
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| pyoderma | 12/9/2004 |
Q: Is there a holistic way to treat this skin condition. My dog received medication (Cephalexin 500mg) ...
A: When I see recurrent pyoderma in older dogs, I usually think of either a food allergy or ...
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| Cat cyst | 12/6/2004 |
Q: My Siamese cat has a dermal cyst. When I took him to the vet for his shots, I was told that the ...
A: Without a pathologists report identifying the tumor, I cannot tell you anything. Many skin tumors ...
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| I don't know if this is related... | 12/5/2004 |
Q: I don't know if this is related to skin or not, but here is my question. We shaved our dog for the ...
A: Hypothyroidism can definitely affect hair regrowth after clipping. Ask your vet about increasing the ...
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| Cat scratching a particular place persistently | 12/1/2004 |
Q: One of my cats is 3 years old. Approximately 1 year ago she got a scratch on her cheek from her ...
A: If it is itchy, then she should do well on either cortisone or antihistamines when the cone is off. ...
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| Blood in Stool | 11/29/2004 |
Q: I noticed yesterday that my dog had blood in her stool. She is almost 2 years old. What is this a ...
A: If the stool is dark and tarry, then it is bleeding along the intestinal tract. If it is red and ...
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| puppy that eats to fast | 11/28/2004 |
Q: My puppy that I've had since 3 mo old. has always eaten fast, He is now 7 mos and eats like a ...
A: If you will wet the food and wait an hour to feed him, he will actually eat less food as it swells ...
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| bumps under labs jaws | 11/22/2004 |
Q: i have a black lab 1yr old. the end of his bottom jaw(by mouth) seems infected. the bumps resemble ...
A: This may be chin acne. Sometimes puppies will get this from plastic bowls. Some of them are ...
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| Dog - Skin and Ear problems | 11/16/2004 |
Q: Our 1 1/2 year old lab, whom we have just adopted from another family has ear and skin problems. ...
A: As far as giving medicine, antihistamines won't work for dog skin allergies. That requires ...
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| Grisioflavin prescription for ringworm | 11/15/2004 |
Q: but when I go to my vet for refill of his prescription - the first time they said to give him half a ...
A: There are different strengths of the Griseofulvin microsize tablets, so they may have given you two ...
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| Chocolate Lab Dermatology | 11/15/2004 |
Q: We have a 2 year old female lab. She is outside in our 1 acre yard when we are not home, but spends ...
A: In the area where she is scratching, it would likely be a flea allergy even though you are not ...
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| dermatology | 11/14/2004 |
Q: i have an all- white male cat about 10-15 yrs old.when he grooms himself he sometimes pulls out ...
A: This is typical of something called miliary dermatitis, which is most often associated with a flea ...
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| Back to ears | 11/13/2004 |
Q: I wrote you recently, but did not have much info to provide. Now I do. My Lab mix has arthritis in ...
A: There is a disease called vestibular disease of old dogs that will go away on its own. However, if ...
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| tick bites | 11/12/2004 |
Q: my dog recently has came home with tons of ticks. can they make him sick? I treated him by washing ...
A: Yes, ticks can make a dog sick. THere are many tick borne bacterial diseases that have been ...
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| "Older dog middle ear syndrome" | 11/11/2004 |
Q: Thinking my dog had a stroke yesterday since he couldn't stand or do much of anything, he went to ...
A: You have given me very scant information, but middle ear disease is treated by opening the eardrum ...
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| dog scratching ear | 11/11/2004 |
Q: My adorable sweet golden retreiver/ chow mix had recently been scratching her one ear quite a bit. ...
A: IF there is an infection, alcohol will not help much. It will help if there is water in the ears. ...
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| Itchy Doberman /Dry nails | 11/9/2004 |
Q: I moved from semi-arid Colorado to the humid Memphis, TN area in July. Everyone told me my ...
A: In warm himid climates, there are many things that grow, like molds that a dog may be allergic to. ...
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| Hematoma on the ear of my Weimaraner | 11/8/2004 |
Q: My dog has a hematoma on his ear and it is getting larger each day. Will this go away on it's own ...
A: Left untreated, aural hemoatomas often cause crinkling of the ear and deformity of the pinna. In ...
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| Ear problem | 11/8/2004 |
Q: I have 2 beagles, both have ear problems with itching, scratching and digging in their ears. I use ...
A: Benadryl is not really helpful for dog allergies. The dogs should be on some steroids for a short ...
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| dirty smelly ears | 11/7/2004 |
Q: I have a 1 1/2 year old large yorkie (I think he is a mix) who has had diry smelly ears since I ...
A: Often these discharges are the result of a yeast infection secondary to an allergy of some sort. ...
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| Skin Rash | 11/6/2004 |
Q: My dog, an 11 month old mongrel whose mother is 100% dalmation (father unknown), has some sort of ...
A: At his age, I would consider demodectic mange as the cause. You will need to have a veterinarian ...
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| my dogs life is on the line | 11/5/2004 |
Q: I am a 33 year old male. I love my dog, a golden retriever of 7 years. My dog Chelsea has been down ...
A: Liver disease is a very complicated diagnosis because there are so many things that affect the ...
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| Dog odor | 11/5/2004 |
Q: My 4 yr old labrador has been licking/biting herself for the past month and now has what look like ...
A: Take her to the vet and have the dog treated for allergic skin disease. The odor you are smelling ...
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| Cushings | 11/5/2004 |
Q: Our dog has been breaking out in sores on his whole under side. The first Vet said it was Ringworm, ...
A: Cushing's disease is actually an oversecretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland. It can result ...
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| Ear odor | 11/4/2004 |
Q: My Lhasa Apso has stinky ears. I keep them clean, free from hair and have used Zymox several times ...
A: Zymox is good for SOME ears, but I would not use that as a maintenance solution. Instead, I would ...
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| 4 year old-lab and mix breed | 11/4/2004 |
Q: She has a large area on her back that keeps getting sores and lose of hair. I have had her to two ...
A: If the cortisone helped, then it is probably an allergic reaction to something. I doubt that the ...
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| cocker foot chewing question | 11/3/2004 |
Q: Hope you can help. Our 13 year old Cocker Spaniel has a bad habit of chewing on her feet. She does ...
A: Foot chewing and licking is a consistent feature of allergies in the dog. Their feet are constantly ...
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| chewing growths | 11/1/2004 |
Q: I have a old, blind, Bichon Frise. I don't know quite how old he is because we picked him up as a ...
A: I don't know what kind of pet dentist would be at a pet store. Baytril is not usually used for the ...
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| Dandruff | 10/31/2004 |
Q: I have a 12 year old exotic shorthair. Within the last couple years her coat has become thin and ...
A: If she will let you bathe her that would be great. Many cats with skin and coat problems have a ...
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| wiemaraner ear discomfort | 10/31/2004 |
Q: we just moved to tennessee from southern california, 25 years there for me, and madisons entire ...
A: Ear disease often results from allergic skin disease. If you just moved in to an area where there ...
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| dry skin | 10/31/2004 |
Q: How do I help get rid of my dog's dry skin? He is constantly scratching himself. Thank You
A: Dry skin is usually a result of a lack of dietary fatty acids getting to the skin. It could be from ...
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| ear irritation | 10/29/2004 |
Q: I have a mixed breed dog part Dachshund and part Chihuahua. He has the Dachshund's long floppy ears, ...
A: When dogs have irritation in the ears it is usually from allergic skin disease. If the dog's ear is ...
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| Ear hematoma | 10/29/2004 |
Q: My dog was diagnosed with a hematoma on his ear. It is all swollen and puffy. I thought the vet ...
A: Aural hematomas require surgical correction. In a hematoma, the skin separates from the underlying ...
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| severe dry skin/allergies | 10/28/2004 |
Q: I have brought my 5 year old black lab mix to the Vet numerous times for allergy/dry skin issues, ...
A: The oils that show the best response to itching are the Omega3 fatty acids, which are also called ...
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| My Dog | 10/27/2004 |
Q: I have a cocker spaniel and about 3 months ago he developed a skin problem. He got severl bumps all ...
A: This sounds like a disease called idiopathic seborrhea. Shampoos help, and the yeast infection that ...
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| Re: Demodex in adult dog. | 10/23/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, I am a vet tech at an animal shelter in NY and we have a dog that was confirmed by ...
A: You can give ivermectin orally at 600 micrograms per pound of body weight every day. You can also ...
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| tick | 10/21/2004 |
Q: I found a tick on my dog yesterday. It must have been there for at least 8 days. She didn't act ...
A: If the head was left in when you pulled out the tick, there is not much to do about it now. The ...
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| Anxiety? | 10/20/2004 |
Q: I recently split with my live in girlfriend. She had a 11 year old daughter and a 11 month old ...
A: He may have something called separation anxiety. There is amedication called Clomicalm that may ...
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| My dog's bad breathe! | 10/19/2004 |
Q: Mr. Gotthelf, Our 7 year-old Golden Retriever has the worst breathe of any dog I have ever owned. ...
A: The first thing to do is to have the teeth cleaned and the mouth examined. There may be a rotten ...
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| Hair Loss in Keshound | 10/19/2004 |
Q: At first we thought it was because the weather was chaning but now she has a bald patch of hair loss ...
A: Without having a diagnosis about why the hair is falling out, Icannot recommend anything specific. ...
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| introducing a new adult dog to a home with a cat | 10/19/2004 |
Q: i have an 8-year old Yorkie, and a year and a half ago, we got a kitten, so the dog adjusted to ...
A: It is always a good idea to take introductions slowly. Once the Lab is comfortable in the hoouse ...
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| obsessive iching | 10/19/2004 |
Q: i have a 1 1/2 year old westie, this is my second westie. she is now getting very ichy, with ...
A: Westies have an inherited condition that makes their skin very susceptible to allergies and ...
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| Dog | 10/15/2004 |
Q: Our 7 year old beagle just started licking her paws constantly in the past couple days. She was ...
A: The dog may have gotten some type of chemical on the paws and on the nose. I Would wash the areas ...
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| ears | 10/15/2004 |
Q: I have a year old dog that I have done all I know to clean out her ears, gave an antibiotic I had ...
A: In long standing ear problems, there is usually a proliferation of the wax glands. There may also ...
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| Two ear situations at my house | 10/12/2004 |
Q: Doctor! I originally had come here to ask someone a question about one of my other cats' conditions ...
A: In the first cat, once an aural hematoma heals is is unusual for another one to form becasue there ...
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| dog rash | 10/11/2004 |
Q: My pug is just more than a year old now. He had a rash under one armpit when we brought him home ...
A: Sometimes in this breed, they get chafed from rubbing skin on skin. If you can use something like ...
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| skin problem | 10/11/2004 |
Q: Have a lab mix who has been treated for skin problems for years without positive result. He has had ...
A: If the cortisone shot helps for a while and then the skin starts back up, then it is a ...
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| probable sebaceous gland hyperplasia | 10/7/2004 |
Q: My cock-a-poo is ten years old and has had surgery twice for removal of the above. We had seen a ...
A: Sebaceousadenomas are very common in older dogs.THey are benign and if you do nothing, they will get ...
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| Cat's Ear problem | 10/6/2004 |
Q: My cat has had a problem with her ear for quite a few months. She isn't ill and is eating well, and ...
A: I would have the vet check the back of the throat to see if there is a nasopharyngeal polyp or ...
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| Bone cancer | 10/4/2004 |
Q: I have a four year old rottie with bone cancer. She was diagnosed in March and given two months. ...
A: You will know when it is time. Bone cancers spread rapidly to the lungs and liver. In addition ...
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| Ear Infection and Black Spot on Tongue | 10/3/2004 |
Q: My 3.5 yr old female Golden Retriever has a black spot on her tongue, approximately the size of a ...
A: Without seeing the lesion on the tongue, I cannot diagnose on the internet. You should have this ...
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| Yorkie skin problems | 10/3/2004 |
Q: My 11 yr old yorkie just started in the last 2 wks biting her leg and chewing her paws. I had just ...
A: Biting and chewing the paws is typical of allergies. In an older dog this may be a food allergy. ...
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| Yeast in ears | 10/2/2004 |
Q: My two year old poodle has a problem with yeast in his ears it makes his ears smell really bad and ...
A: Yeast in the ears is usually associated with allergies. This can be pollen and mold allergies or it ...
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| My pugs' ear problems | 9/29/2004 |
Q: I am the owner of two pugs who have a constant "yeast infection" in their ears. They scratch at ...
A: Yeasts almost always mean an allergy on the skin. I would recommend asking your vet to treat for ...
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| Dalmatian with skin problem | 9/29/2004 |
Q: I have a 11 year old dalmatian and about 16 months ago he has a lesion on his back right leg between ...
A: When there is bacteria and yeast on the skin, that is very suggestive of allergic skin disease. If ...
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| Hypothyroidism or Allergies?? | 9/29/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, One year ago, I rescued a 2 year old cocker with hypermature cataracts, luxating patellas, ...
A: Endocrine diseases are not usually itchy unless they are secondarily infected. If the bacteria are ...
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| Mouth sores on my dog | 9/27/2004 |
Q: I took my dog to my regular vet because he had sores on his mouth (lips) and has been itching ...
A: Antibiotics do not treat allergies. Often dogs with allergies will have mouth and lip lesions. Foot ...
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| dry skin | 9/26/2004 |
Q: I have a male black lab, approximately 15 month old. For the past month he has been very itchy. At ...
A: Labs are very prone to allergies from pollens/molds/ and insects. At a young age you should also ...
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| Pinched Nerve | 9/25/2004 |
Q: My 12 year old Silky Terrier woke up last Saturday with a very stiff neck and was resisting using ...
A: The prednisone helps relieve the inflammation around the nerve. I think that the dose you stated is ...
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| ear infections | 9/23/2004 |
Q: I have 3 labs, 2 yellow and one black. My one yellow lab keeps getting ear infections and im not ...
A: Ear infections are not contagious unless they are caused by ear mites. Most labs are allergic and ...
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| Frontline Plus | 9/22/2004 |
Q: I have a one year old half poodle/half pomeranian that I adopted at 8 months old. I use Frontline ...
A: Frontline requires oils on the skin in order for it to be absorbed. If your dog has dry skin, then ...
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| Skin sores | 9/20/2004 |
Q: Our dog is almost 15 years old and has had chronic skin allegeries for at least half of his life. ...
A: These skin gfrowths are very common in older dogs. Any of them weep because they are called ...
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| swollen paws | 9/20/2004 |
Q: I have a male westie 12 months old. over the last few weeks he has started to chew at his paws, ...
A: Westies are one of the most susceptible breeds for allergic skin diseases. Foot licking is typical ...
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| dog allergies | 9/19/2004 |
Q: My pitbull turned up with alot of bumps on his skin and in his coat. I started using this shampoo ...
A: Oatmeal has some anti-itching properties. If you suspect that your dogs may be allergic, take them ...
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| dermatolgical hair loss? | 9/19/2004 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, I have a 6 month old black lab/ chow / unknown mix, her name is Haley. Recently I ...
A: In a 6 month old puppy with hair loss, especially on the facial area, I would think of demodex mange ...
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| Hives | 9/18/2004 |
Q: My long haired dachshund appears to be broken out in hives and is going crazy scratching...it's a ...
A: Is there an emergency vet hospital in your area? A shot of steroids will take this away rapidly. ...
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| Golden smells - can't find source... but whoa it's there! | 9/16/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, We have a 2 yr old golden that is a very active boy. He is a swimmer, and therefore gets ...
A: Sometimes a dry coat will not smell nearly as bad as a wet or moist coat. So make sure he stays ...
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| red rash and hair loss | 9/15/2004 |
Q: As of the last week our chocolate lab has broken out in a rash under his legs (arm pit) and some on ...
A: Labs are very prone to allergic skin diseases. They also get the rashes, which are actually ...
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| Otisitis in cats | 9/13/2004 |
Q: My cats were 3, now they are 2, as about 3 years ago the oldest one died of heart disease. All of ...
A: Waxy ears in cats can be from allergies. If there is no infection and the eardrums are normal, ...
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| itching and smell | 9/12/2004 |
Q: My cockapoo is having a terrible time with itching and the smell is almost unbearable. Our vet has ...
A: The medication she is getting is probably cortisone. That is for allergic skin disease. She may ...
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| Cat's bottom | 9/11/2004 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf: my husband and i have noticed my cat rubbing his bottom on the ground as he walks and ...
A: Obviously I cannot be very specific without examining your cat. Tapeworms crawl around the anal ...
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| Canine skin disorder | 9/11/2004 |
Q: HELP! I have two mixed breed older labs. They are both suffering from patches of skin where the ...
A: If they are both very itchy, they may have contracted something like sarcoptic mange mites. There ...
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| ear | 9/10/2004 |
Q: My dog's left ear is bugging her she is twitching her head. The eye on the same side, the conjuctiva ...
A: There can be a relationship between the ear and the redness in the eye. First, the dog can scratch ...
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| Temperature restrictions for dogs after laryngeal surgery | 9/10/2004 |
Q: Last year they removed my Cockers Spaniel's larinx. After the surgery the surgeon told me she could ...
A: I went to the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) to check and see if there is a valid report of ...
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| yeast in ear | 9/9/2004 |
Q: my teacup poodle has very frequent ear infections. My vet said it was yeast. We keep treating it ...
A: I don't think you would hurt the ear with that formula unless the ear canal is irritated or if the ...
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| Doggie Hygenie | 9/9/2004 |
Q: I am the proud mother of a 5 month old little Lhasa-Poo. His name is Gus...I am still learning a ...
A: In a puppy with no skin problems, bathing once every 4-6 weeks is adequate. Dogs need oils on their ...
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| Hair Loss in standard poodle | 9/7/2004 |
Q: My ten year old poodle has had a bald spot measuring 2 inches by 1/2 inch on the middle of his tail ...
A: Often dogs with hypothyroidism lose their hair on the tail. Your vet can test for this disease. If ...
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| Hot Spots | 9/7/2004 |
Q: My Berner has a hot spot on her neck just under her right ear. She had an antibiotic for a week,it ...
A: Hot spots occur because of allergies usually. Benadryl won't help anything. You should ask your ...
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| cut on dogs leg | 9/6/2004 |
Q: My dog was out hunting today and got into a fence. He has some minor cuts on his leg and belly ...
A: Before usung an occlusive dressing like antibiotic ointments, you should irrigate the wounds with ...
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| albino cat | 9/6/2004 |
Q: ------------------------- Followup To Is there anything special that I should put on the cloth? I ...
A: Just water is fine. You are trying to remove surface antigens like pollens and molds from the skin. ...
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| Rat Terrier itching!!! | 9/5/2004 |
Q: I have a 3 yr old rat terrier. She has been itching like crazy lately! She seems to turn all pink ...
A: When steroids do not help itching, I always think of food allergies or sarcoptic mange. I would ask ...
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| Golden Retriever Skin Sore/Shedding | 9/5/2004 |
Q: I have a Golden that has just turned 7 years old. Over the past year or so, she has shown what I ...
A: Goldens are very susceptible to pollen/mold allergies. This is a condition called atopy. The spot ...
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| My dog's ears | 9/5/2004 |
Q: My 1 yr old min pin is constantly shaking his head and scratching his ears. We recently moved to ...
A: Often, the first sign of an allergy is a warm itching ear. It may ust be inflammed from something ...
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| itching | 9/3/2004 |
Q: My cocker spaniel is itching like crazy this summer! Of course, being a cocker, the ears are usually ...
A: Benadryl has been proven to be of no value in canine itching. The best treatment for itchy dogs is ...
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| Cocker spaniel - skin warts | 9/3/2004 |
Q: I have a 5yrs old female cocker spaniel who has developed a couple of skin warts - the vet tells me ...
A: I do not like cryosurgery because there is too much damage done to the surrounding tissue. Instead, ...
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| yeast infections | 9/3/2004 |
Q: I have 2 dogs, an 8 yr old scotty and a 9 yr old lassa mix. The small mix is often getting yeast ...
A: Yeast infections are not contagious, but they are as a result of damage to the skin, most often from ...
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| Dog feels very itchy | 8/31/2004 |
Q: My dog was left with our friends for 5 days, in their mountain home, a couple of weeks ago, when we ...
A: 2000 mg per day is OK if it is divided into 2 doses. That is not causing the itching, though. It ...
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| Dry Skin and itching | 8/30/2004 |
Q: My dog is about 3 yrs old and is a Beagle mix. She seems to have very dry skin and scratches a lot. ...
A: If she has dry skin, it might be the result of a dietary deficiency of fatty acids. There are many ...
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| Significant Change - Dog's Coat | 8/28/2004 |
Q: Our dog, Maisy, will be (3) years old in October. She has recently shed "massive" amounts of fur. ...
A: While some shedding is normal, excessive amounts can indicate problems in the skin. There are some ...
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| Shih Tzu | 8/28/2004 |
Q: I have a seven year old Shih Tzu that has developed a one inch growth on her belly, it extends her ...
A: Certain malignant tumors can spread when operated on, so ask your vet to biopsy the lesion first to ...
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| Dog Body Odor | 8/27/2004 |
Q: My 8 month old Sheltie has persistent body odor. I have changed dog food brands 3 times, keeping ...
A: I doubt that it is the food. Many times there is a bacterial or yeast overgrowth on the skin that ...
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| skin | 8/27/2004 |
Q: i have the plesure of looking after to pitbulls for a friend whom is away for a while. The 7yr old ...
A: I cannot diagnose on the internet. You should take the dog to a vet for a proper diagnosis and then ...
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| Regarding my German Sheperds Skin Infection | 8/27/2004 |
Q: Let me at the onset congratulate you for doing such a wonderful honourable job of providing ur ...
A: This does not sound typical of mange. Mange is actually little bugs called demodex mites that get ...
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| My dog | 8/26/2004 |
Q: my question to you is, my dog Star had gotten a tick in her ear. We removed the tick by using ...
A: So often tick removal is incomplete. In the ear, the head of the tick that is left in the skin may ...
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| dog itching | 8/26/2004 |
Q: My small mixed breed terrier type 6 year old dog seems to have an itch on her back near the base of ...
A: The area that itches (over the rump and base of tail) is commonly associated with flea allergy. ...
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| scabies | 8/26/2004 |
Q: Recently my sister was diagnosed with scabies. I do not live with her but we were away together ...
A: I believe that it is the same mite on dogs and people. Scabies is highly contagious, so your dogs ...
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| Cat with vertigo | 8/25/2004 |
Q: I have a cat who seems to be experiencing vertigo. (I had a cat before who had this from an ...
A: When cats have vertigo it is almost always a middle ear and/or inner ear problem. The only way to ...
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| Fluid filled ear flap in a dog | 8/25/2004 |
Q: Earlier this year our 8.5 year old mixed breed (coon hound/rotweiler)developed a fluid filled sac ...
A: This is called an aural hamatoma. As you described, it is a blood filled sac between the cartilage ...
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| Ringworm Going on Four Months | 8/24/2004 |
Q: We took our dog, Po, to see a vet about four months ago when she developed a pink patch about the ...
A: Ringworm is contagious, so you should keep the dog away from other dogs until the lesion starts to ...
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| skin problem | 8/23/2004 |
Q: My border collie has been itching constantly but doesnt have fleas! (I gave her a bath with baby ...
A: This could very well be an allergy to pollens/molds, etc. or even an allergy to her food. She might ...
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| Ear mites in large dog | 8/23/2004 |
Q: My 107 lb. neutered male shepard/collie cross keeps getting ear mites in one of his ears. I had his ...
A: It is very unusual for older dogs to have ear mites. Otomax does not kill ear mites. If your dog ...
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| Skin problem?? or...??? | 8/22/2004 |
Q: Skin problem?? or...??? Dog started licking at her 'wrist' a couple months ago...she licked at it ...
A: This may be a "lick granuloma" which is actually a behavioral problem. It is called an ...
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| Sores on feet | 8/22/2004 |
Q: I have a 6lbs daschund who has dry skin and it flakes off a lot. My vet said she had a allergy and ...
A: Benadryl has been proven to be of NO USE in dogs with allergies. The treatment recommended is a low ...
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| Allergies | 8/20/2004 |
Q: My dog scratches constantly but does not have fleas. She has had allergies in the past. One vet ...
A: Benadryl has been proven to be of NO USE in dog allergies. The best recommendation is to use ...
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| Hair loss on min pin ears and head | 8/20/2004 |
Q: We have a 8 yrar old min pin that has started to lose its hair on its ear and is losing it on the ...
A: There are several reasons for hair loss and without a skin biopsy to actually see why the hair is ...
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| Skin | 8/19/2004 |
Q: My mixed Rottwieler has a very nasty skin ailment every summer (she's only 3). I'm not sure if it is ...
A: This is probably a flea allergy and the only thing that takes away the itching consistently is ...
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| Allergies vs Anal glands?? | 8/19/2004 |
Q: My 8 yr old mix-(Pug/Scottish Terrier), had terrible skin allergies in 2000 thru 2002 treated with ...
A: It is much easier with less side effects to use cortisone tablets to regulate the dog's response to ...
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| Allergies | 8/18/2004 |
Q: I have a Westie, he is 8 years old. He has always been healthy. In the past year he has developed ...
A: Bacterial infections on the skin are always secondary to some type of skin disease. In Westies, it ...
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| Paws | 8/18/2004 |
Q: I have a four year old rott-lab mix. Recently he started licking his paws excessively and they are ...
A: Paw licking is a sure sign of allergies to things like grasses and molds. Sometimes the feet get ...
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| my dog has tumor and a hematoma??? | 8/17/2004 |
Q: i recently took my chow chow to the vet because we discovered a big "bubble" on her right ear. it ...
A: Any type of injury contracts as it heals. In the ear flap, if this happens, the ear cartilage and ...
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| Swollen ear | 8/17/2004 |
Q: I have a chow/shepard mix, he has an absess on his ear. It feels as though it is filled with water, ...
A: This could be an aural hematoma and requires surgical correction. You should let your vet look at ...
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| Flea bite allergy/pink eruptions | 8/17/2004 |
Q: My nearly 14 year old dog has two skin problems. She appears to have an allergic reaction to flea ...
A: If she is biting from a reaction to fleas, she needs treatment with something to soothe her skin. ...
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| My puppies teeth | 8/16/2004 |
Q: My puppy is going to become 5 months old on Aug. 18th. I was walking my puppy around the block ...
A: Like children, puppies lose their baby teeth as the adult teeth come in. The teeth often come out ...
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| Skin disorders | 8/16/2004 |
Q: My dog an english setter has environmental sickness her mother mysteriously got the disease about 2 ...
A: It sounds like your dog has allergies. If the Tavist (clemastine) helped, they were probably minor. ...
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| Immune mediated dermatitis | 8/15/2004 |
Q: I was hoping you might offer some insight into a recent experience. I lost an Australian Shepherd to ...
A: I know of the group you refer to in Houston and they do an excellent job. Dr. Beale, the ...
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| Mixed Ger. Wirehair Pointer+English setter ear infection | 8/11/2004 |
Q: Since Hawkeye(dog above)has been about 2yrs.he has had this ear thing going on. The vet. said about ...
A: There is no realtionship between an ear infection and a cataract. As far as his ear infections, I ...
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| Smelly ear | 8/10/2004 |
Q: I have a 4 month old pittbull and he got an ear infection for about 3 days and i cleaned it and it ...
A: In a young dog like yours, if the infection and smell persist, there is a good chance that the pup ...
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| excessive itching | 8/9/2004 |
Q: My dog is a healthy, well groomed,"A" personality, German Shepherd male, two years old. Recently his ...
A: The first thing I would have done to this dog is to have him dipped in an insecticide that will kill ...
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| Allergies--Drug-free long-term care | 8/8/2004 |
Q: I have a black lab mix, around 55 lbs with seasonal allergies. I say seasonal allergies because ...
A: Without a veterinarian supervising the treatment, do not give your prednisone. Often there are ...
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| Itching Dog | 8/7/2004 |
Q: I am considering putting small amounts of flax seed oil in my dogs food daily in hopes that it helps ...
A: Flax seed oil is a source of Omega-6 fatty acids which do benefit the skin. Cold marine fish oil ...
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| Could it be something other than ringworm? | 8/6/2004 |
Q: Dr. Gotthelf, Thank you so much for your time! I came down with a pretty severe case of ringworm ...
A: It is hard to say where it came from, but ringowrm spores live on hairs, so anywhere an infected ...
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| belly rash | 8/5/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, I have a 4 yr. old female lab/shep mix that has recurring belly rash for a few years. She ...
A: In Florida, where there is a year round allergy problem, allergy testing and hyposensitization may ...
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| dog sores | 8/4/2004 |
Q: My american staffordshire terrier had flea's, we took care of the flea problem but now she is ...
A: Flea bites can last up to a month or so. Dogs scratch at them to relieve the itching. If the ...
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| SKIN | 8/4/2004 |
Q: MY GERMAN SHEPARD IS PULLING HER HAIR OUT. ACTUALLY OVERNIGHT SHE HAS VERY LARGE BALD SPOTS ALL THE ...
A: It is likely an allergic reaction to something. Dogs will tear their skin off trying to get to an ...
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| Chronic Ear Infections | 8/4/2004 |
Q: Currently, we have 3 dogs. We had 4 but lost our oldest last summer. He was 14 and an English ...
A: Cockers are very prone to ear diseases as they age, so that is not totally unexpected. Treatment ...
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| hair loss excessive shedding | 8/1/2004 |
Q: our 10 year old neutered labrador retriever is losing hair by the handfull on both sides where his ...
A: There are many reasons for hair loss, but if it is coming out on both sides and the dog is not ...
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| Phenobarbital & the Liver | 7/30/2004 |
Q: I know you've listed your expertise as dermatology and ear diseases of dogs and cats, but I'm hoping ...
A: I have taken dogs off of phenobarbital abruptly when switching to potassium bromide and there has ...
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| Constant itching/scratching | 7/30/2004 |
Q: Good morning Dr. Gotthelf, I have an Akita mix female about 2 yrs. old who at this time of year ...
A: Antihistamines in the dog rarely do anything to stop itching. They make the dog sleepy. Rather ...
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| Dog Seizures | 7/30/2004 |
Q: My dog (a pekinese mix) has been having what I call "episodes" where she starts to stiffen up her ...
A: She may be experiencing a bout of very slow heart rate. It is called syncope when she passes out ...
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| My Cat's Dandruff | 7/27/2004 |
Q: My name is Rahul, and I have a Maine coon for a cat. He has a very serious dandruff problem. ...
A: There are many reasons for dandruff in the cat. If he is itchy, it could be an allergy. If he is ...
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| Cat infection | 7/26/2004 |
Q: My cat has had an ear infection (or something like that, the vet doesn't really know) for about 6 ...
A: This description is very similar to cats we see with food allergies. The infection and ear disease ...
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| Westy Annual Foot Allergy | 7/26/2004 |
Q: Each year at about this time my Westy develops an allergy on all of her feet. This lasts up to two ...
A: Almost all Westies have allergies, which shows up on the feet. Ask your vet for a short course of ...
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| dog's pads | 7/26/2004 |
Q: i have a catahula that loves to run. i take her to places that have grass, water, very little ...
A: Thge footpad is actually a huge, thick callus. IF she is wearing off her foot pads, she may have a ...
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| fleas and ticks | 7/25/2004 |
Q: I have just taken my new puppy to the vet 6 days ago for her first vac. she is 10 weeks old. She was ...
A: When you don't see any fleas, there could still be flea bites, which can last for weeks. Also, many ...
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| Ringworm: And it's treatment | 7/24/2004 |
Q: Ringworm: Had the scraping waiting for results. After the bath decided it most likely is. If no ...
A: Anibiotics don't make ringworm worse. Ringworm comes from other animals or from the soil. You can ...
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| Dog in pain | 7/22/2004 |
Q: My dog has been to the vet twice in two months because he yelps in pain sometimes when I pat his ...
A: There are so many things that can cause pain around the head. A few things include a bad tooth, ...
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| Skin Pigmentation | 7/22/2004 |
Q: I am an American leaving in a farm in Brazil, my dog, a mixed breed is 1 year old and have no ...
A: If it is a sunburn, then tattoo is appropriate. Many dogs with depigmentation and crusts have ...
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| flees | 7/22/2004 |
Q: I have two large dogs and two cats.... all indoor pets. Unfourtunately they all have flees! We ...
A: If your dogs are strictly indoors, then a good carpet and furniture cleaning is needed. You can ...
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| Ears | 7/21/2004 |
Q: Dr Gotthelf, Unsure if this question will fall in your area of expertise but I have a 3 year old ...
A: There is a product called VIP Fly Ointment available from most vet clinics. It is an insecticide ...
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| Ringworm | 7/20/2004 |
Q: How can I treat my cat so that he doesn't keep spreading ringworm to me?
A: Treating the cat with a topical antifungal drug will help, but most of the re-infection comes from ...
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| ear concerns | 7/20/2004 |
Q: i am a groomer/breeder of standard poodles. spent alot of years working in vet clinics and been ...
A: Normal ears should not have the hair plucked. It creates inflammation and actually increases the ...
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| mange and me(us) | 7/20/2004 |
Q: i have a question about my 10 wk.old puppy. he was an abandoned stray that we have had for about 2-3 ...
A: There is a type of mange called sarcoptic that affects people and other animals. If you are using ...
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| Golden Retriever "hot spot" | 7/19/2004 |
Q: I am presently dog sitting for a 7 year old golden retriever. He appears to have an open wound on ...
A: Hot spots are caused by allergic skin disease. The best thing to do for it is to shave the area, ...
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| Dermatology Dogs | 7/18/2004 |
Q: We recently rescued a Black Lab (Buddy) from the Humane Society. We have noticed buddy has what ...
A: It is hard for me to tell you exactly what these lumps are. Your vet will need to look at them to ...
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| hairloss | 7/18/2004 |
Q: i have a heeler akita who is 5 yrs old. i have taken her to the vet so many times. the dr. has ...
A: In Akitas and other "NordicBreeds" they often get something called Alopecia X. It is actually a ...
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| My yellow lab isn't feeling well. | 7/17/2004 |
Q: I know this isn't your area of expertise, but I thought I'd ask any in hopes of hittng an area where ...
A: Vomiting can be a sign of so many diseases. Weakness can be from a number of causes, too. I would ...
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| shedding | 7/16/2004 |
Q: I have a 15.5 year old chihuahua who sheds when he gets nervous, which is most of the time. My vet ...
A: Shedding in normal in this breed. If it is excessive, where there are bald spots, then that may be ...
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| Ear filled with fluid? | 7/14/2004 |
Q: I am very worried about my dog. She is approximately 11 years old and I just returned home from a 5 ...
A: This is an aural hematoma and requires surgical drainage to correct. Sometimes dogs get such itchy ...
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| Dog Dermatology | 7/12/2004 |
Q: My 2 year old, female Shih Tzu scratches a lot. Not to the point of hot spots, but scratching more ...
A: Cold marine fish oils are very beneficial - especially the Omega 3 fatty acids. You should make ...
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| 5 Month old Kitten | 7/12/2004 |
Q: ok i am not sure if this is an ear disease i am wondering if it could also be worms. i have a five ...
A: If he is painful around the head, he will not want to move about very much because it hurts. Pain ...
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| shedding | 7/12/2004 |
Q: My dogs..I have 5..2 labs...2 dals..1 doxie...They shed so much..I don't exessively bath them..they ...
A: You need to bathe them. All 5 dogs have fur that sheds with warmer, longer days. They will not ...
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| Sudden Weight loss in Cat. | 7/11/2004 |
Q: I have a Male cat who is 15 years old, very healthy and active, eats well. All of a sudden he is ...
A: I would recommend a check up at the vet. Older cats can get thyroid tumors that cause excessive ...
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| rashes on puppies | 7/11/2004 |
Q: she also has little bumps on her head that she got about 3months ago when she had a reaction to ...
A: BEnadryl does not have much effect in dogs because most of their skin problems are NOT related to ...
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| definition of a "senior" dog | 7/9/2004 |
Q: At what age is a dog considered a "senior" dog and ready for "senior" dog food? I have a Boston ...
A: Senior food is good for any dog except pupppies. It is more digestible and is fortified with more ...
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| Dry skin/itching in 2 year old shih tzu | 7/8/2004 |
Q: Our 2 year old shih tzu scratches herself constantly. Fleas have not been a problem or apparent. ...
A: For the dry, flaky skin and itching you can use something called Omega 3 fatty acids added to the ...
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| Dog Ear Infection | 7/8/2004 |
Q: Can you please tell me if it is appropriate to sedate a dof to clean her ears? I just visited a new ...
A: If there is a lot of debris in the ears, I usually ANESTHETIZE the dogs rather than just sedate ...
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| ear mites | 7/8/2004 |
Q: If treated unsuccessfully, can ear mites cause hearing loss or deafness in dogs? How?
A: Absolutely. Ear mites have chewing mouthparts, so they can chew their way through the eardrum and ...
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| feline urinary tract infection | 7/7/2004 |
Q: My cat has a urinary tract infecion and I took him to the vet. His bladder was empty but he was not ...
A: Unless your cat has a severe kidney problem or has bladder stones, urinary tract infections are ...
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| Yeast infection in Black Lab ear | 7/6/2004 |
Q: Our 8 year old black lab has suffered from yeast infections on and off since we got her as a puppy. ...
A: Labs are very commonly affected by allergies. If it started when the dog was a young puppy, it makes ...
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| mange and ivermec | 7/6/2004 |
Q: I have been trying to rescue a stray dog for some time.She has mange, lost all of her hair, is ...
A: Depending on the breed, Ivermectin can be dangerous. Oral absorption is good (it is the major ...
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| hot spots | 7/6/2004 |
Q: My cat developes "hot spots" on his neck and/or shoulders now and then. These are small scab like ...
A: This is most likely from allergies. It is called miliary dermatitis. There are many treatments, ...
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| Dog Dry Skin | 7/5/2004 |
Q: I have a one year old male german shepherd mix. He is not altered yet, and he has extremely dry ...
A: I would first look for a good fatty acid supplement. I recommend Omega 3 fatty acids. Most vets ...
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| Itch | 7/4/2004 |
Q: I have two pugs that are the light of my life. The poor little things suffer from seasonal itch ...
A: Cortisone helps relieve the itching, so I doubt if you can completely get away from using it. ...
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| Flacky skin | 7/1/2004 |
Q: My dog has very flacky skin. He is constantly itching himself and has scratched all the hair off his ...
A: This is most likely an allergic dermatitis and it is complicated with a secondary bacterial ...
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| raw irritated skin | 7/1/2004 |
Q: My wife and I have a Himalayan that has developed a raw irritated area (lost hair)under the left eye ...
A: Unfortunately, this type of facial lesion requires veterinarey help. Some cats with ear mites can ...
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| paw licking | 7/1/2004 |
Q: My choc. lab age 6, licks the top of his paw while we are gone. It is raw and raised and is ozing, I ...
A: Lick granuloma ia called an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and it is best treated with a drug ...
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| irritated mole on dog's foot | 6/28/2004 |
Q: Our vet told us about 1 year ago that the mole on our dog's foot could be left alone. But, in the ...
A: Any tumor that ulcerates should be rremoved. Between the toes is a difficult place to try and ...
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| cause of fungus | 6/26/2004 |
Q: Gotthelf, I noticed a cat in my neighborhood that barely had any hair. I discovered it was tame, so ...
A: Skin fungi (dermatophytes) in cats can come from one of 2 sources. MAny of these pathogenic fungi ...
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| Pests in dog food | 6/26/2004 |
Q: I have been feeding my 5-year-old Cocker Spaniel Purina One Healthy Weight Management for over a ...
A: Although these bugs are unsightly, they are probably harmless. What you can do is to empty the food ...
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| Basset Hound | 6/25/2004 |
Q: My Basset hound, Dugan has been itching quite a bit lately. My local vet asked us to give him a ...
A: Bassetts are notorious for having yeast infections on their skin. That will cause itching. Ask your ...
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| care of cats - scratching/biting own skin | 6/24/2004 |
Q: My youngest cat Missy (almost two years old) has started spending a lot of time biting and ...
A: Sometimes these cats that pull their hair out are stressed out from something. It could be one of ...
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| cat hair loss | 6/22/2004 |
Q: My outdoor cat loses his hair in the summer. (stomach and back legs) The vet thought it could be ...
A: Try using Advantage of Frontline for flea control. If it is a flea allergy, these medications will ...
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| Scabs on my cat | 6/17/2004 |
Q: For about the past six months my cat has had scabs on his skin. I want to know what could be ...
A: I cannot diagnose on the internet. I may be that your cat has an allergy to something. That may be ...
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| Dog fur | 6/16/2004 |
Q: My 6 month old puppy is developing bald spots. The woman who gave me the puppy said the dad had ...
A: If the puppy has mange, you need to let your vet treat it. Mange is actually little insects that ...
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| bumpy skin followed by baldness-cat | 6/16/2004 |
Q: My 8 year old spayed indoor female has bumpy patches under her neck, which eventually result in ...
A: is is most often a flea allergy. The skin disease you are describing is called miliary dermatitis. ...
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| Panting Dog | 6/15/2004 |
Q: For a while now, my 11 yr old G.S. mix "Luke", has been breathing hard, panting a lot, scooting his ...
A: Panting can result from excessive temperature (we sweat...dogs pant)to blow off steam to lower body ...
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| My dogs symptoms | 6/15/2004 |
Q: My 8 year old golden retriever is scratching extensively - under her chin and her elbows. She ...
A: Your Golden is experiencing allergy symptoms. As you already have found out, antihistamines don't ...
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| Dog Ears | 6/13/2004 |
Q: my dog is having very sensitive ears. She whines everytime you touch them. Her ears have lots of ...
A: This is otitis externa. There are many causes for this, but most of the time it is from allergic ...
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| chronic ear infection in golden retriever/st bernard mix | 6/11/2004 |
Q: I have a 2 1/2 year old golden retriever/st. bernard mix. He looks and acts more golden. He has ...
A: Your dog obviously has allergies. It could be a food allergy or a pollen/mold/insect allergy. ...
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| Ear Discomfort | 6/9/2004 |
Q: My dog's ears are the "flop-over" kind. the inner flaps are red and warm (like a fever). They are ...
A: This is an allergic reaction to something causing this inflammation. Let your vet look on the ears ...
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| scratching | 6/7/2004 |
Q: we have a bichon frise who scratches to the point of causing huge excoriations the size of a quarter ...
A: This dog probably has allergies that the poodle does not have. He may not only be allergic to fleas ...
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| Standing ears | 6/4/2004 |
Q: I have a 2.5 yr old female german shepherd that I paid a lot of money for and her ears dont stand as ...
A: There are silicone implants that are available. There is also a procedure where strong ...
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