Separation anxietyQ: The vet has started our 15 yr old dog on clomipramine 5 mg bid x 2 weeks then 10 mg bid for a total of 20 mg qd. the dog is 12 1/2 #. since the 5 mg capsules are so expensive, when we get to the increased dosage can he have it all at once, is it timed release or would 25 mg not work for his size. 5 mg is 3 times the amount and pet meds does not even carry 5 mg or any tablets only capsules. thanks A: There is only a small difference between the 20 mg tablet and the 25 mg capsule but the vet would have to authorize it. it is not a time release product and depending on the effect desired whether or not you can use a once a day dosing. we do have people giving 1/2 capsule dosing.
Extremly itchy skin on my dogQ: My shepard is very full of energy and life, but there are times she has to stop and scratch, she has scratced so bad she has made her teets bleed, is she not getting enough oil in her dry food or is it an allergy, because my vet told me to give her 2 benadryl daily because she is prone to ear infections. she is almost 3 years old and weighs 80 lbs. A: It could be an allergy and adding an oil like flax seed oil at 1 tea per 20 pounds of body weight daily to her food could help but long term. you could try other antihistamines, which may or may not help. you may ultimately need low doses of cortisone for acute relief of the itching or consider allergy testing for what she is allergic to for best long term relief.
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DemodexQ: I started treatment that the vet suggested and my dog got worse. i discontined his treatment and the dog got better. how do i treat demodex? A: You might have seen an inflamatory reaction as the mites were dying. sometimes they look worse for a while, then look better. i suggest you stick with the treatment your veterinarian recommended. i use a dip containing amitraz. ivermectin can also be used.
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Poodle developed cough october 2003Q: My poodle that is 12 years old developed a chronic cough this past october, it has become almost non-stop. the vet prescribe lasix for the rest of his life. he says he has congestive heart failure. my dog appears to have something stuck in his throat that he is trying dislodge. the vet he had in the past found nothing wrong with his heart, no murmur or anything. could he have developed congestive heart failure so soon? i want to know if there are other medicines to give him, or is there such a thing as a hair ball that could be lodged in his throat. i love this little fellow and he is such a good friend. the lasix is not helping the cough. please advise. thank you so much. whenever he is picked up and his chest is compressed even a small amount he starts coughing and gagging. he eats well, runs and plays around our yard that is quite steep and he does not seem to cough from exersion. he coughs at night and whenever he enters the house. coughs when he gets excited over something. he has a rattle in his chest or wheezing all the time and ever so often he coughs up white mucous. please advise. i am so worried about him. A: I would make sure vet has right diagnosis of congestive heart failure by getting another opinion. some poodles have chronic lung disease as well which they can have with or by itself. this is medicated with totally different medications like drugs to dilate airways as well as anti-inflammatories. lasix will not help these chronic lung diseases
ScratchingQ: My dog is constantly scratching. i have try flea spray, the hartz flea and tick medicine that you put down his back and he is still doing it. i have also treated the carpets and his room. A: You can treat the allergy symptoms with diphenhydramine (benadryl). give 1mg per lb every 8 to 12 hours.
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AbcessQ: My dog has an abcess on back, the size of a baseball. it is filled with fliud. i was advised to keep it drained, wound scabs to quickly from the inside, any suggestions on how to continue care please advise, dog is on amoxcillan 500mg 2xs a day. A: Use warm compresses for 10 minutes at a time several times daily to try and keep it open and draining. if fills back up take back to vet to have lanced and possible drain put into wound
TicksQ: We live in the northeast (lyme disease) and we will be applying frontline plus next week. but our lab/boxer mix dog already had 2 ticks (white) on him. it took us two days of trying to pull it off with tweezors and my husband's arm muscle and we finally were successful. others have said they should come off with one pull of the tweezor. this took two days of pulling (poor alvin). any advice of an easier way to get them off. it is still snowing here so our vet thinks it is too soon for the frontline. A: One quick pull with tweezers is usually suffice. if leave head in , it will eventually fall out
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