Flea bits causing iching and bitingQ: I have two dogs; one is a 95 lb. irish wolfhound mix, the other being a 55 lb. sharpai mix. i used frontline for their fleas but since the only way the fleas will die according to you people is that the flea has to bite the dog then the dog is left to suffer. i have cleaned my rug, vacumed my furniture and change their bedding often. my problem is the dogs are going crazy with the flea bites. they are licking, scratching, and biting themselves really bad. i read where benedryl will help and if so how much should i give the dogs? also is there any itch reliever that is used by humans that the dogs can also use? A: You can use benadryl(generic-diphenhydramine) 1mg per pound of body weight two to three times daily.
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Frontline plus allergy - dogQ: I have a 1 year old white german shepherd dog. i have been applying frontline plus since she was old enough to use it. in the last 3 months, every time i apply it, she paces and acts crazy for almost 2 days. she moves from room to room as if something is chasing her, tries to hide under our legs for protection, and when she lies down she can't stay still for more than 30 seconds. i'm worried that she's senstive to the frontline plus - especially the neurotoxicity. she loves the water and i want to know if i should be worried. are other waterproof options? thank you, ~becky A: Some pets can indeed develop hypersenstiivities to any of the topical flea/tick products with continual use over time even though nothing seen originally. i would try other alternative such as oral program if fleas an issue and natural tick prevention such as cloud 9 by company called halo.
Shop for: tick, frontline plus, frontline
Tear stainQ: I have a english bulldog and i have tried numerous products to alleviate the tear stains. he has had the surgery for his eyelids, but, his tears still run into his wrinkles. every am i use baby wipes and a special anibiotic shampoo, but , it doesn't get rid of the tear stains very well. just a little. please advise of a product that is effective. A: You should try tear clear (sku 1022).
DoxycyclineQ: My do has been tested positive for lyme. our vet has told us the dosage he needs. we have extra doxycycline for humans at home. are we able to give it to our dog/is it the same kind of doxycycline? A: While the medication is the same, i cannot tell you from the information you're giving me whether the strength is correct or not.
My dog bites of hairQ: I have a 5year old pitbull and he bites at his side,rear and tail and he loses hair at all the sites listed. A: More than likely allergy based. check for fleas or flea dirt with flea comb as well as possiblity inhalent seasonal allergies or food allergies. can try oral benadry at dose of 1/2 to 1 mg per pound orally twice daily. if no change see your vet for stronger meds
Dog not eating or drinking waterQ: I have a 6 yrs old pynreness who in the last few weeks has been losing weight and then 2 days ago she became very lathagic and has not eaten or drank anything to speak of she seems very weak also can hardly walk when she stands up. yesterday she did seem to feel very warm i know we will probably take her to the vet tomorrow but do you have any ideas. she never has been a big eater. she also seems to have a lot of skin allgeries she shratches a lot and gets hot spots during the summer. thank you A: Too many possiblities here. need vet visit and workup asap
Permethrin/mosquito protectionQ: Is the product safe to use as is for my dogs. i see that there are shampoos out in the market that contain permethrin. what would be any possible side effects and does it really protect the animals from outdoor insects? A: Permethrins are generally safe in most pets but like any insecticides there can be occasional allergic or hypersensitivity reactions that could range from digestive upset to neurological signs but these are not that common does work nicely against outdoor insects like mosquitoes such as advantix product contains
Shop for: advantix
Changing foodQ: I have been feeding my cats ur formula cat food for many years. now that i have relocated, i am unable to find the food i used and vets charge so much for the food. i recently purchased purina's indoor food (they are strictly indoor cats )and gradually am adding to current ur food. is this going to create problems for them. only the one cat had crystals, no stones in the past and has been on the ur formulas ever since. thank you in advance for your attention on this matter and is greatly appreciated. these are my babies. A: I dont worry too much about issues you ask about as i am not big proponent of these types of diets as i dont feel they are proven and work in many cases. i prefer natural diets like pet guard as well as innova brands, and for cats with history of urinary issues i try to eliminate dry food from them and even have owners consider natural home made diets as described in dr. pitcairns guide to natural health for dogs and cats by richard pitcairn
Treatment for mesquitosQ: I am currently using frontline for my blue heeler and miniature dachshund puppy. they are outside during the day and some in the evening. is there a spray which can repel mesquitos? the k-9 advantix kills & repels mesquitos, but doesn't seem to be as good in the different flea categories. my puppy is scratching his ears and the vet says they are fine. i think it may be mesquito bites. A: I think advantix works just as well for flea prevention as front line and if your concern is mosquitoes then switch to it. keep in mind that scratching ears, etc can be due to other allergies like inhalent allergies or food allergies in dogs
Shop for: advantix, frontline
Riding in carQ: Lola is an adopted dog from animal rescue. she is about 5 years old and a mixed terrier. she is absolutely wonderful except for one problem. when you tell her she's going "bye bye" in the car, she gets so excited. yet, before we get out of the parking lot, she is crying and carrying on terribly. we have tried putting her in a crate and feeding her treats until we get to our destination (which is never more than 20 minutes away, usually to visit her grandfather). we have tried to hold her up front but she scratches us and cries and jumps all over the place. i see other dogs with their heads out the window loving riding in a car but she is horrible. the only part that is strange is that on the ride home, she is like a little angel, sitting in my arms in the passenger seat wrapped in a blanket like a baby. she only starts to act up when we get to the intersection near our home. can you offer some suggestions for lola as we would love to take her with us but it's a terrible experience for all of us. thank you very much. A: There is a product called vita treat pet calm tablets that can be used in situations such as this.
