I use cotton swabs to clean my cats ear – only around the outside, never the inside. Is this ok?
Long before I learned all this stuff about food, I learned crazy things about ears. The first thing that was world changing for me was the idea that I can use a cotton swab on my ear all day every day. But, for cats and dogs, cotton is abrasive. Second thing – how to...
My 3.4# Chihuahua fell off the couch and now he’s limping on his back leg. Help!
Poor little one!! Here are the first things I check: can I touch and move every bone – checking for a fracture. How much rotation to the inside is there of the lower leg on the upper leg – quick test for torn cruciate ligaments (ACL – football player injury). Are all...
My dog just spent a week at the kennel, now he’s sick. What’s up with that? What could it be?
A week away from home can be quite stressful. Then, more stress on you when you pick up your loved one, who was reportedly fine at the kennel, and your baby is now sick. How many times have we been too busy to get sick, but when it’s time to relax – wham!! – come down...
My dog eats raw food, why does he still shed?
Great food treats 80% of the body’s inflammation, but shedding means there is still something more. Could be he still has some “leaky gut” issues. 60-70% of the body’s immune system is in the intestines – it’s called the GALT – gut-associated lymphoid tissue. If the...
Can you please give me your opinion and what to look for in a veterinarian that can help?
I have a 13 y/o American Eskimo, last year I had taken him to whom I trusted, she did complete blood work on my dog and we talked about removing his carnassial tooth. She also advised that additional teeth may need to be extracted but wouldn’t know until he was...
Is dry food good for my cat?
Dry food is, obviously, dry. Over 90% of the moisture has been removed from the food to get it to make a cute, dry kibble that will survive long-term in a bag on the shelf at the grocery store. In order to digest dry food, cats have to add moisture back in to the...
Why is my dog scratching so much – it drives us all crazy?!?
Sounds like someone has allergies. Typically, allergies are of three types – food, fleas and hay fever. If we prevent fleas, take care of the food allergies, then the hay fever allergies can be lessened. The most common food things that dogs are allergic to are the...
Why won’t my dog lose weight? He’s on low-calorie dry dog food.
Crazy thing about pet food – in order to make kibble, it has to be 30% carbohydrate to make it into a kibble. I don’t know about you, but every meal made of carbs (pasta) does not help me lose weight – tends to make me bigger around the middle. Same thing happens to...
Spring may have actually sprung as I have more weeds in my backyard than grass which brings up a question; with all the “weed and feed” fertilizers out there, shouldn’t we be cautious in using them with our pets around? Do you have some basic info to share?
There are many facets to answering this question. First, read the bag – read the itty bitty print way on the bottom – often, these products recommend waiting several hours or until the next rain before allowing pets on treated areas. The chemicals can burn foot pads,...
My 17yr old Persian cat is having some difficulties as he is getting older and I am hoping you can recommend a diet to help him. I have attached his most recent lab results (4/17/2013). He is currently on a prescription kidney diet, and am hoping to provide him food which will help his stay as healthy as possible.
17 is a grand age!! Good for you for getting your baby to this great time in his life. Kidney disease is very common in older cats. If he will only eat dry food, then the prescription food maybe your best choice only because the last thing we want is for him to stop...