[Anonymous]

Great news!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 6 months ago by Anonymous.

[Anonymous]

LOL! I am a licensed healthcare professional (not animals, humans) so, yes I am familiar with various medications and such.
Why are you folks so angry? If you don’t agree with anything you see posted, just say so and post your opinion and rationale why. No need to make it personal. Easy-peasy 🙂

PS: A doctor I worked with once told me that many of the homeopathic supplements are in fact effective, however it is impossible to get the dosage correct, therefore making them unreliable. I have admitted people to the hospital from an ER setting carrying paper bags full of supplements that had to be discarded. So, I have formed my own opinion.

[Anonymous]

“Sucralfate is an antiulcer medication. It coats ulcers in the digestive system and protects them from further damage from stomach acid. It is used in the treatment of ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine of dogs, cats, and other pets. It may prevent ulcers in animals taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Sucralfate can affect the absorption of many other medications. Do not give any medications within 2 hours of giving sucralfate. Side effects are rare. Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences constipation while being treated with sucralfate. With long-term use, the aluminum in sucralfate may accumulate in the brain, or in the bones, causing the bones to weaken”.
Excerpt from article at Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education . com

[Anonymous]

Found some information on Milk Thistle here, if anyone is interested. You may find the comments to the article helpful as well. Excerpt from article below http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/04/milk-thistle-in-dogs-and-cats/

As far as risks, there appear to be few. Nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal effects are sometimes seen, and allergic reactions have been reported in humans.

So overall, the in vitro and laboratory animal evidence indicates it is plausible that milk thistle extract might have beneficial effects, though harmful effects in some situations could be expected as well. In humans, the clinical trials show weak evidence for benefit in diabetics and inconsistent but generally negative evidence for benefit in alcoholic or hepatitis-associated liver disease. Very little experimental, and apparently no high quality or controlled clinical research exists in dogs and cats. What there is suggests a benefit is possible. But we must bear in mind that preliminary, low-quality trials of milk thistle in humans looked promising but were not supported by subsequent better quality trials.

[Anonymous]

“His vet has sucraflate for me to pick up but I am unsure if he needs more chemicals in his little body”.

Sucraflate is an anti ulcer med, therefore, it would be soothing to a irritated stomach.

Milk thistle is a food supplement…..

Ps: There is no reason to suspect liver damage/ irritation unless your vet suggests differently, after examination and testing..

[Anonymous]

Less is better, make sure he is getting adequate fluids and bland meals. If I were you, I would go pick up the sucraflate and start right away as prescribed. Don’t be afraid to ask for more information about this medication from your veterinarian.

PS: The peroxide can burn the stomach, sucraflate can coat the stomach and is soothing….if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

Has the dog been examined by the vet? He may need an x-ray to rule out a blockage.
Especially if symptoms of distress have continued beyond 72 hours.
The sucraflate might be a good idea, discuss with your vet.

[Anonymous]

Please communicate with your vet as to how to proceed with the treatment of your pet.
Prescribed medications are often an important part of treatment, some supplements can cause even more damage. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/10/unregulated-herbal-products-and-supplements-send-23000-people-to-the-emergency-room-annually-in-the-u-s/
PS: Call the vet’s office and leave a message for him to call you back when he has a minute. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

What Should I Do If I Think My Cat Has Worms?

It’s important to bring your cat to a veterinarian, who can confirm the presence of worms. Avoid self-diagnosis, since worms are not always visible or identifiable.

How Are Worms Treated?

Please don’t attempt to treat your pet yourself—your cat should be treated for the specific type of worms he has. A dewormer that eradicates tapeworms, for example, will not kill roundworms. And some over-the-counter deworming medications can be harmful. After your vet has accurately diagnosed the type of parasite your pet has, he or she will then prescribe the best course of treatment, which may include an oral deworming agent.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/worms the above paragraphs are excerpts, click on link for full article

[Anonymous]

I can’t help but get the impression that many of the regulars at this site dislike veterinarians. I base this on all the negative remarks observed, plus blanket statements. Except of course, for the “homeopathic” vets that support their opinions.

Ingredients are not accurate (imo), companies lie, they use different names for the same ingredients, even a chemist would not be able to figure it out! Therefore I trust my vet to guide me with dog food decisions, along with a little common sense 🙂

After the second or third time I had to have a dog’s anal glands lanced (painful and expensive) I learned how to express them myself (supported by my vet), over 20 years ago. I never had an issue with any of them in that department again. Whatever works.

PS: There is nothing wrong with having differing opinions….

[Anonymous]

I would suggest you take the kitten to a veterinarian to be examined and treated, bring a stool sample. asap

[Anonymous]

The foods your vet recommended are all good, I might try the Royal Canin first, I have heard good things about it.

I don’t read the ingredients too closely anymore…..you can get a headache that way.

[Anonymous]

Come to think of it, my senior dog that has occasional anal gland issues does well on Wysong senior dry food, soaked in water overnight in the fridg. I have had him on canned, but a combo works best.

Another small breed of mine who has allergies and has had a positive response to immunotherapy, does well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea dry as a base. Prior to her allergies being treated by a dermatologist, she had occasional anal gland issues. Issues appear to be resolved at present.

So, when the dust settles, ask your vet if he thinks these foods might be worth trying 🙂

PS: check Chewy .com for price comparison

[Anonymous]

I know this doesn’t answer your question, however, I thought it might help, as coconut oil is expensive. And you did mention you are on a budget. I have been using less and less supplements for my pets and myself, however I still use fish oil, and put a capsule in my dogs meals once per day.

Coconut Oil for Pets?

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=fish+oil
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

I made the suggestions I did, because I found out based on my experience of taking care of dogs that had anal gland issues, that the food wasn’t always the problem. Just a small piece of it.
I am hoping your veterinarian has the time to explain it in detail.
I have also learned from experience, it is best to go along with the vet’s treatment and dietary recommendations, at least until the dog is stable. Then discuss changes you would like to make (if any) with him. In other words I would be inclined to trust a vet that has examined my dog, first.
Most vets advise pet owners not to look up things on the internet, for obvious reasons.
Best of luck

[Anonymous]

Oops! I think a posted a wrong link, regarding using the search engine at this site: /forums/search/anal+glands/

This is the one where I meant to say I didn’t agree with all of the opinions expressed, not the youtube one.

[Anonymous]

Excerpts (out of context) from article below: http://www.vetmedclinic.com/?p=290
click on link for full article.

Overview:
Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dog’s anus, at approximately four and eight o’clock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease.
Transmission or Cause:
The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures.
Prevention:
Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese.

PS: Hope this helps, I don’t want to play “Dr Google”, obviously anyone can look up stuff and find articles that support their opinions, however, some articles are better than others, imo 🙂 See what your vet recommends.

[Anonymous]

The best thing that you can do for a dog that has a tendency to have impacted anal glands is to learn how to express them yourself. example http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+express+canine+anal+glands&FORM=VIRE7#view=detail&mid=76593F745A542FBF1DE476593F745A542FBF1DE4
Have your vet tech/vet go over how often this needs to be done for your dog (once a week?)
With the right diet, exercise and routine care, you may find the condition will clear up quite a bit and you may not have to express the anal glands as often…if at all after a while.
Make sure she is drinking adequate water, maybe add a splash to her meals.

Find a food that will give her firm stools, rather than mushy (less likely to get clogged in the anal glands) I would cooperate with your vet’s recommendation for food, but ask him if you can add something tasty 🙂 Also. some dogs have better stools on canned food, others do better on kibble. Buy small amounts of the recommended foods and see what works, sometimes it takes a week or two to see a difference.

Did you try the search engine here? http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+express+canine+anal+glands&FORM=VIRE7#view=detail&mid=76593F745A542FBF1DE476593F745A542FBF1DE4

I don’t necessarily agree with all the opinions posted.

PS: I almost forgot, some good info here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/ and here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=prescription+foods
Plus, feed only once or twice a day, don’t leave food down.

[Anonymous]

Kibble, no matter how high quality, or how much it costs, is like cereal. So, it makes sense to add real food to it that is not processed. Use the kibble as a base.
Would you like to eat nothing but Cheerios every day, for the rest of your life? It is nutritionally balanced, after all, so you might be okay doing so.

Just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Good info here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/
and here: http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Food-Logic-Decisions-Choices/dp/1617811386/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392962076&sr=1-1&keywords=dog+food+logic

[Anonymous]

Another thought, is she drinking enough water? Add a splash to her meals. You can soak her kibble in water in the fridg overnight, might make it easier for her to digest.

[Anonymous]

You may even want to consider 3 or 4 small meals per day, instead of one or two average sized meals.

[Anonymous]

PS: I might try less kibble (2 cups instead of 3) if you are adding the meat. Maybe divided, 2 meals per day instead of one.

[Anonymous]

She is a senior, some dogs and people get skinny as they grow old, just look around.

Anyway, I would broil up a little chicken liver, chop it up and mix a spoonful of it with her kibble. For a couple of bucks, it should last 4-5 days (cooked) in the fridge.
Consider adding other cooked chopped up lean meats to her kibble, chicken breast, steak…no bones.

[Anonymous]

Dishwashing liquid kills fleas? What do you think? I don’t think so.
Bathing may reduce the numbers of fleas temporarily, but it provides no lasting protection, and dogs with flea allergies will continue to suffer if they are not protected from flea exposure.
If you have carpeting in your home, you may have to get it professionally treated (fumigation), fleas love carpeting. Hope this helps.

Also, have you tried the search engine here, for example /forums/topic/hartz-flea-shampoo-advice/

[Anonymous]

@ Mike
Thanks for your response. I will continue to participate, but will be a little more cautious with my responses. The regulars jump all over me when I recommend The SkeptVet as a source of information, and yet, they tend to post links to certain homeopathic vets over and over again! I have to ignore the medical advice that is given a lot of the time, scary stuff (imo). I just try not to read it, I know that most people have the good sense to consult a veterinarian for anything serious 🙂

[Anonymous]

Is there a moderator? Why are the regulars allowed to pick fights with anyone that doesn’t agree with them?
Nothing new, I guess. All kinds of false information on the internet….but if one can’t offer their opinion without being attacked, what’s the point?
I see all kinds of nonsense posted, I never say a word.

[Anonymous]

“I’m simply responding to Red’s Skeptvet quoted material”.

“I do like much of the information you gave the OP but your persistent backlash towards alternative approaches DESPITE being provided with science and sources showing results etc is nothing less than propaganda for everything allopathic. Which is also evident in the fact that you have no other sources than Skeptvet — one man’s opinions”.

I have no idea what you are talking about. Have a nice day.

PS: I don’t have an agenda, I am just sharing my opinion based on my experience and knowledge.
Opinions are like noses, everyone has one 🙂 They are not right or wrong.
Anyone can use DR Google for research, if they choose to. I like to think I know the difference between a junk article and something useful, unfortunately, not everyone does..

[Anonymous]

It can get very confusing, labels, ingredients. For example, I have a sensitivity to MSG and have come to find out that MSG is in just about all processed foods, under a variety of different names……..
Even when a product says NO MSG, I have to avoid it, same thing with Chinese restaurants, they use another ingredient that is very similar to MSG.

Marketing people are very sneaky, that’s why sometimes you have to rely on the professionals to guide you.

[Anonymous]

To make a long story short, (IMO) I think it is best, to just find a vet that you trust and go by his recommendations. Of course, you should be cautious, ask for explanations.
Use the least amount of poisons/pesticides and vaccinations to keep your pet safe and comply with the law.
I have used prescription diet foods for my pets in the past and noted no adverse effects. Those foods, however, tend to be bland and boring, so you could ask your vet if it would be okay to add a bit of something to make it more tasty, even a spoonful of plain homemade chicken broth can make a big difference 🙂

[Anonymous]

What do Veterinarians Know About Nutrition?

“It is not unusual for people promoting unconventional, approaches to pet nutrition, such as raw diets, grain free foods, homemade diets, a preference for organic ingredients, and so on, to dismiss objections to these approaches made by veterinarians. These people will often claim that veterinarians know little about nutrition and that what they do know is mostly propaganda fed to them by commercial pet food manufacturers. Like most bad arguments, this one contains a few bits of truth mixed in with lots of unproven assumptions and fallacies”.

Click on link for full article, also, I find the comments for these articles informative too.

[Anonymous]

Consult a veterinarian, there are medications prescribed for canine anxiety disorders that have proven to be quite effective. I had a dog that did well on a low dose of clomipramine, she was able to be tapered off of it in after few months, it was prescribed for separation anxiety/thunderstorm/fireworks phobia.
Why mess with food supplements?

[Anonymous]

You may find some helpful information at this site http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=colitis
and http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Evidence Update- Evidence-based Canine Allergy Treatment

Evidence Update- Evidence-based Canine Allergy Treatment

I hope someone finds this article helpful 🙂

• This reply was modified 8 years, 6 months ago by Anonymous.

[Anonymous]

I hope the folks here don’t get annoyed with me….but, I have found some helpful information at this site: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

And here: http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Good luck with whatever diet you decide upon.

[Anonymous]

I understand (about getting a puppy). I just don’t think I’d be up for it, but, you never know 🙂

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! What made you choose that breed? Have you had one before?
If I am ever able to offer another dog a home, it would be a corgi, a mature one.
I will always miss the one I had.

[Anonymous]

@Nicole B
“I took him to a dermatologist ($600 for the visit and tests) and he’s now on allergy shots and apoquel. Apoquel has stopped his itching completely and his hives/sores and hair loss”.
Glad to hear you are having positive results. As your dog responds to the Allergen Specific Immunotherapy, you may find he needs the apoquel less and less. I saw the best results at about 1.5 years in. Of course, they still can have flare-ups occasionally, but nothing like before (in my experience). Best of luck.

PS: You said he is on shots, so I assumed you meant Allergen Specific Immunotherapy.

[Anonymous]

Bathing may reduce the numbers of fleas temporarily, but it provides no lasting protection, and dogs with flea allergies will continue to suffer if they are not protected from flea exposure.
If you have carpeting in your home, you may have to get it professionally treated (fumigation), fleas love carpeting. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

Evidence-Based Canine Allergy Treatment

I have found helpful information at the above links. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the water content, just soak the dry food in water in the fridg overnight, maybe add something to it as a topper when served. Canned food or a bit of cooked chopped chicken or lean meat.
If you are concerned about dental, brush the teeth once a day (see youtube for how to videos).

You might find some helpful information here too http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/
I did 🙂

[Anonymous]

BTW: Many of you regulars post links to the same old sites (that support your opinions) over and over again, too.
Just an observation. In case you weren’t aware.

[Anonymous]

Well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree 🙂

If I have helped 1 person make a decision, I am happy.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 6 months ago by Anonymous.

[Anonymous]

“Maybe, or maybe you have been unlucky. Point being that your blanket statements about “natural” remedies are inaccurate”.

Maybe your opinion is inaccurate? After all, I am just sharing my experience, I don’t claim to know everything.

[Anonymous]

“Lyme is transmitted by ticks, not fleas”.

I believe the product in question claims to kill fleas and ticks. Fleas can be just as troublesome, if not more so.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you have been lucky. I would not be comfortable taking that chance. As I said, I have been through the ugly, don’t want to see it again, if I can avoid it.

PS: Lyme can be caused by 1 tick bite and can sometimes lie dormant for years before it shows symptoms.

[Anonymous]

I am just going by what veterinarians(the ones that were helpful) including specialists have told me. Also, I am including my own experience with trying various methods of flea/tick control for many years. I have had 3 dogs test positive for Lyme. One suffered a great deal before she succumbed to complications of the disease. It is a nasty disease when it takes hold.
It is my opinion that the “natural stuff” is not strong enough to be effective.

[Anonymous]

Bid the vet do an x-ray to rule out a blockage? It sounds like she is experiencing pain.
Meanwhile, I might soak the kibble in water overnight, maybe mix it with a little wet food or cooked chopped up chicken or lean meat. Maybe add a splash of water to her meals (many dogs do not consume enough water), only feed twice a day.

My dog that has a sensitive stomach does well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea as a base.
Check Chewy.com for prices.
PS: Brush the teeth every evening, check youtube for how to videos, small breeds have lousy teeth.

[Anonymous]

They are all pesticides, if you read and compare the ingredients with similar products, you won’t see much difference.
Unfortunately, we need these products to combat Lyme and fleas….diseases they carry.
Some products may agree with an individual dog better than another.
See what your vet recommends. It depends on how bad the ticks/fleas are in your area.
I find avoidance (tall grass, woods) goes a long way to help, too.
I am leery of the new oral agents, however, I just don’t trust them.

PS: The “natural” stuff doesn’t work.
I use a flea/tick shampoo on my senior dog, about every week or two in the summer, I figure it’s milder than the topicals….plus he got a rash from a amitraz collar, although my other dogs tolerate the collars fine.

[Anonymous]

“Dietary supplements account for nearly 20 percent of drug-related liver injuries that turn up in hospitals, up from 7 percent a decade ago, according to an analysis by a national network of liver specialists. The research included only the most severe cases of liver damage referred to a representative group of hospitals around the country, and the investigators said they were undercounting the actual number of cases”.

“Americans spend an estimated $32 billion on dietary supplements every year, attracted by unproven claims that various pills and powders will help them lose weight, build muscle and fight off everything from colds to chronic illnesses. About half of Americans use dietary supplements, and most of them take more than one product at a time”.
Excerpts from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/us/spike-in-harm-to-liver-is-tied-to-dietary-aids.html?_r=2&
Just one example, in response to: “so if Shirley wants to go a holistic route there really isnt any harm”.

[Author]

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