Ear problems/droolingQ: My 1yr. 8 mo. old yorkie has been scratching her ears and shaking her head for the past few weeks. it happens mostly at night and it doesn't happen at all when we're outside. these past couple of nights i've been playing with her until she falls asleep so that she doesn't scratch ( i don't want her to pop any blood vessels) i tried changing her dog food and i tried the hartz ear mite treatment. neither seems to work. last night i noticed that she's drooling a lot. the vet. can be very expensive, they even charge when they cannot find a problem. do you have any home remedy solutions that i can try before i go to the vet. i will definitely go to the vet. but only as a last alternative. thanks A: She likely has underling allergies. you can try oral benadryl at dose of 1/2 mg per pound orally twice daily. likely needing to split a childrens dose depending upon weight. also might want to try 1800petmedsear cleaning solution. also excellent home remedy you can make from ingredients at store called blue ear ointment www.itsfortheanimals.com will give you more info. if persists, see vet for allergy workup
Shop for: 1800petmeds, ear clean
Seizure?Q: My year old bichon frise will run around like crazy for no appraent reason. she'll run in a circle then bounce on me, sometimes nipping me. it appears she is playing but, at the same time, she doesn't seem to see me or know where she is. i have only had her 2.5 months and this has happened probably 3 or 4 times. is she having a seizure. or is she just letting off energy? i haven't pin-pointed anything that could cause this behavior. what should i do? thank you for your time. A: Could be some sort of seizure or possibly just severe behavioral issue, hyperactivity, etc. take to vet for exam and evaluation to sort out
Do puppies naturally develop wormsQ: Our dog gave birth to 9 puppies 5 weeks ago. all all very healthy and we will begin their vaccinations this weekend. i was told that all puppies develop worms. is this true? if so, is there a wormer that i should administer to them now to prevent infestation? A: I would use wormer known as nemex from 1800petmeds and give two doses 3 weeks apart. then start on monthly heartworm interceptor to prevent future infestations. i would wait on vaccines until 8 weeks old. then get one further booster at 12 weeks of age, before getting rabies which should be separated from others to lessen short and long term side effects.
Shop for: nemex, 1800petmeds, interceptor
Yellow bileQ: I have 2 miniture bull dogs. once or twice a week they will vomit yellow bile first thing in the morning before they eat. you can hear a rumbling sound from their stomachs. i have changed to nutro lite formula because it is lower in fat. i was also told to give them tagmet in the evening. is there anything else i should be doing? how safe is that medication long term? A: I prefer a drug like pepcid which does not have an effect on liver like tagamet does. dose of pepcid is 1/2 mg per pound once daily and is safe. also try adding digestive enzymes like prozyme to diet as well as low dose healthy fatty acids in form of flax seed oil at 1 tea per 20 pounds of body weight daily
Shop for: prozyme
Teeth/won't eatQ: I got a 6yr old huskey that is afraid of everything & won't eat most days. she is a retired sled dog that was an outside dog all her life. she was fed dog food, raw turkey & water one a day every day. i don't know if she has ever had a dental so i don't know what her teeth are like( i can't afford to take her to the vet right now). i started off by feeding her dry dog food. she didn't like it. i switch brands then she started eating it. that was ok for a while then she wouldn't eat again. i started mixing it with wet dog food. again she took it for awhile & stoped again. i was told by a dog trainer that dogs will not starve themselves, do not spoil her. & after taking her to the vet i was told that she has a chipped k-9 & mix with wet dog food again. after talking to a differant vet they said dry dog food, wet dog food & chicken broth. there again she ate it for a while & is not eating again. the second vet said that the worst thing i ever did was take her off the dog food, raw turkey & water. this is getting to be an expencive diet. what do i do? i am so confused. she won't eat hard dog food but she will eat hard dog biskits. what should i do? & she loves you i follows you one day & is scard of you one day. how do i get her out of her shell? A: Sled dogs do best on raw meat diets in my opinion. check out book dr. pitcairn's guide to natural health for dogs and cats by richard pitcairn as well as do barf search on internet. also try flower essences for fear like rescue remedy and aspen from health food store which can be used daily and is safe.
Mom ate babyQ: My little pomerian had 10 puppies, 3 days later she killed one and ate him...why is that??? all dogs do that?? i am very sad with her...whats the reason behind that...why didnt she eat the rest...shall i seperate them?? thx A: Perhaps the one was a sickly one or not going to survive. occasionally this occurs and as long as she is taking good care of others and they are nursing, etc i would not worry
Vaginal yeast infectionQ: My dog has an odor which i believe is a vaginal yeast infection. in humans, there is normally a suppository that has to be inserted in the vaginal area to get rid of the infection. what course of action is taken in dogs? A: You should have the pet examined by your veterinarian. if there is a vaginal yeast infection he can prescribe an oral antifuungal medication.
