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Week 1 - Sept 08, Weekly Ask a Vet Q&A

 

  • Question : I've got a cat that has battle diarrhea since he was found abandoned at my husband's job site. After much trial and error, and many different tests, the vet said to try Science Diet WD high fiber food. It seemed to help and then he became ill and was hospitalized with jaundice and nearly died. We have nursed him back from the brink of death, but he is still having diarrhea and is terribly thin. Do you have any suggestions?
    Barbara, CA (Question of the Week)
  • Answer: Unfortunately there are many causes of chronic diarrhea in cats and getting to the actual cause of these cases can be very challenging. Common reasons are inflammatory bowel disease, infectious agents, other systemic diseases, diseases causing maldigestion, and diseases causing malabsorption.  A few things that you may like to try – worming with an effective wormer such as Drontal or Popantel, increasing fiber in the diet, feeding a low allergenic diet. Apart from these things you would treat any specific cause that has been diagnosed.
     
  • Question: We have a cat that is loosing hair and we dont know why she is on meow mix and for fleas sergeants she has been on the food for a long time but for the fleas it was only a one time use so we arent sure what is going on please help us thanks anne?
    Anne, Port Orchasrd, WA
  • Answer: Some cats will shed more hair at times. If there are no bald patches I would not be too concerned. If you are finding that hair is missing in places make sure that fleas are not the problem. Consider using one of the more effective once a month treatments such as Advantage, Revolution or Frontline Plus. If fleas are not the problem, there are numerous other causes of hair loss, ranging from fungal infections such as ringworm, bacterial infections, hormonal diseases, allergic diseases, other parasites such as mites etc. If it is not settling down you should have her checked by your local vet to determine the exact cause.
     
  • Question:I have several problems with both fleas and the "OTC" medication I used to rid of them. One, I saved three young kittens, now over 12 weeks old. I treated them with a solution, applied behind the neck, and it does NOT seem to work as the fleas are still there. Worst, I bought a solution for small dogs for the three adult cats, and they are showing signs of different degrees of a "nervous 'tick'," where they shake their head; ears and are very, very nervous. I washed the chemicals off them using liquid hand soap. Two seem OK, or with lessened symptoms. One of the adults is better, but still very much affected by the chemicals. The question is can I do anything more to help them, and two, will they recover on their own, in time. Thanks?
    Gary, Springfield, MA
  • Answer:You should always ensure that you only use flea treatments that are registered for use on cats, as some treatments made for dogs can be very toxic to cats. I’d suggest washing them again, to remove any more residual chemical that may be in the oil glands of the coats. Then watch them closely and if they are not improving you may need to take them to your vet for a check up. For cats I tend to recommend one of the better once a month treatments such as Advantage, Revolution or Frontline Plus flea control.
    • Hello, and thank you for the response.  All three adult cats have recovered soon after I washed the neck area with mild soap and water, soaking that area very well.  One cat that had the immediate and worst reaction is the one that I washed immediately. She was fine in a few hours.  The other two males were washed the next morning and they too recovered. One in one day, and the second two days later.  I since have purchased treatments of "Revolution."  The application of that product had no negative reactions.  Again, thanks for your time.

      Gary and SEVEN happy cats.
       
  • Question: We watch the animal shows on tv and the rescued a dog and cats that were infested with flees they gave them a pill and the flees literally fell off . can you help me find it it started with a C i believe and the harts collors are not working.
    Kathy B, IL
  • Answer: The product is Capstar. It is a tablet given orally for flea control. It works very quickly however it only kills the fleas for 24 hours. It has no long term residual effect. I tend to recommend one of the better once a month treatments such as Advantage, k9 Advantix, Revolution or Frontline Plus. With these products you apply the treatment to the skin at the back of the neck. They are very effective and continue to control the fleas for a month. You should find that they work a lot better for you than the Hartz collars.
     
  • Question: My Vet prescribed Vetmedin 5.0mg (1 in the am and 1/2 in pm. What are the side effects? How effective is the medicine? My cocker is 12 years old with a heart murmur from birth. Thanks
    Dave J, Antioch, IL
  • Answer: Vetmedin (pimobendan) is a drug used to treat congestive heart failure in dogs and is indicated for use with other medications such as furosemide. Trials have shown the product to alleviate the clinical signs in 80.7% of cases. The manufacturer states that side effects of Vetmedin are rare but that some dogs may experience vomiting.
     
  • Question: Hi....My dog is a 29 pound Black & Tan Shiba Inu, who is 22 months old. I saw him biting and licking all of his feet this past week, and I immediately asked the Landscape company that takes care of the lawn here at the apartment complex, if they have been using any chemicals that hurt my dog's feet. They say that they spray fertilizer and weed prevention chemicals all over the grass. My dog's 4 feet look like they are burned, and he licks them a lot. What can I get to relieve him? Maybe Aloe? Thanks for your time and attention to this problem.
    Jeanne R, Fort Wayne, IN
  • Answer: It does sound like he has had a reaction to something on the lawn. You may like to try the Wound-Gard spray which is an antiseptic and bitterant spray which aids in the treatment of wounds of dogs, prevents infection and stops self-mutilation from licking and chewing. If it does get worse it is best to have him checked by your vet as something a bit stronger may be necessary..
     
  • Question:This morning my kitten got a fish hook stuck in his mouth (cheek), and we clipped off as much of the fish hook as we could, leaving the end of the hook ( with the barb) still lauged in his jaw (cheek). He seems to be eating, drinking, and even playing just fine. However his cheek ( where the hook is still lauged) is swollen. I have little funds. What can I do, without a vet's assistance to to fix my 4 month old kitty? We've also noticed a slight change in behavior. He seems to act more mellow. My cats a pharrel so he's real wild most of the time. He's my everything and it frustrates and makes me very sad to know that i can't do anything about it. :'-(
    Mariah G, Williamsburg, VA
  • Answer: It would be best to take your kitten to the vet. The hook cannot stay there as an infection will most likely develop. Usually the best way to remove a fish hook is to push the hook all the way through the skin and then clip off the barb so that the remainder of the hook can be pulled back out. If your kitten is a bit wild you may not be able to do that without some sort of sedation.
     
  • Question:Medically, what is the difference between Sentinal and Hearguard Plus aside from the price?
    Alice, Nth Dakota
  • Answer: Sentinel is a once a month tablet for the prevention of heartworm disease and control of roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm in dogs. It also has an ingredient that stops flea eggs from hatching. It has no effect against adult fleas or ticks.

    Heartgard Plus do not control these external parasites. Sentinel works best when there are very few fleas around. heargard Plus controls heartworm, roundworm & hookworm.

    Here is a quick chart for you to refer.
     
  • Question: My kitty is over 18 years old. I almost killed him with cheap "brand X " flea control (Back of neck, supposed to last a month, etc) Will Frontline be safe for him.
    Barbara H, Estacada, OR
  • Answer: Frontline Plus is very safe for cats. Many millions of doses have been used on cats and there are no contra-indications for using the product on older animals. Unfortunately there are cheaper products available that are not as safe as they are made out to be. While they may be ok for use on dogs, they have the potential to cause serious problems in cats.
     
  • Question:My dog has a bad flea problem and we have been doing everything possible to get rid of them but they just seem to come back. what else can i do.
    Wendy H, Chicago, IL
  • Answer: I usually recommend one of the better once a month treatments such as Advantage, k9 Advantix, Revolution or Frontline Plus for most cases. With these products you apply the treatment to the skin at the back of the neck. They are usually very effective and continue to control the fleas for a month.  However in very bad flea infestations I recommend Permoxin spray (note: it is not for use on cats). With this spray you mix it with water and place in a spray bottle. Spray your dog daily for 14 days. Usually you will see a significant reduction in fleas in that time. You should also treat the fleas in the environment. You can do this by setting off flea foggers in the house and using an external yard spray. Also consider having a professional pest exterminator treat the yard outside
     
  • Question:I work for a cable contractor and I was in a home today where the dog has parvo. I'm not sure how clean the home was and I don't want to carry this home to my dog. Can my dog catch it from my clothes or shoes
    Jackie, OH
  • Answer: Yes it is very possible to transmit parvovirus on your shoes and clothing. You should make sure that your shoes and clothing are all washed and disinfected, and you have a shower, preferably using an antiseptic wash, before going near your pet. The virus survives in moist areas and dies very quickly when dried out. If your dog is vaccinated against parvo he should be protected against this disease.