Category: ask the vet

After a Home Fire, Bathe Pet and Visit Veterinarian

Q: When our house caught fire, the firefighters rescued our cat, Jinx, so all of us were safe. They gave her oxygen using a child’s face mask and she recovered. They recommended we bathe her and take her to her veterinarian. She seems fine now, and the fire has given us a lot to do,…


Ask the Vet: What to Know Before Buying From an Online Pharmacy

Q: Our six dogs and cats are on preventives throughout the year to protect them from heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas, and ticks. We want to continue buying them from our veterinarian, but he can’t match the prices we found online. A friend learned the hard way, though, that some online pharmacies sell counterfeit medications. How…


Wobbly Kitten With CH Can Have Good Quality of Life

Q: My friend adopted a kitten she named Clown because she’s so funny to watch. Clown has a condition called CH, which makes her wobble like a drunk and sometimes fall over. What exactly is CH? A: CH is cerebellar hypoplasia, a condition caused by incomplete (hypo-) development (-plasia) of the cerebellum, the part of…


Keep Garlic and Onions Away From Dogs

Q: Whenever my partner and I treat ourselves to roasted garlic on warm French bread, our dog begs for some. Is garlic safe for dogs? A: No, so please don’t let him snack on it. Garlic, onions, and related vegetables are members of the genus Allium, and all are toxic to dogs. Garlic is more…


Treating Arthritis in a Senior Dog

Q: Grayson is my first dog now that I’m an adult living on my own, though I did grow up with dogs. When I was a kid and our dogs got old and arthritic, they were euthanized. Gray is aging and, I think, developing arthritis, but I am reluctant to take him to his veterinarian…


Parasites Commonly Infect Indoor Cats

Q: Can cats that stay indoors get parasites? My veterinarian recommends that I apply a parasite preventive to my cat Seymour’s skin every month, but I don’t understand why it’s necessary. A: While cats that spend time outside are more likely to encounter parasites, even indoor-only cats can become infected. Three types are common. The…


Canine Carsickness Is Common but Treatable

Q: We recently adopted Rufus, a young adult dog who becomes anxious every time he’s in the car. He pants, whines, drools, licks his lips, and sometimes even throws up. What can we do about this? A: The most effective way to help Rufus feel calm in the car is behavior modification. Through a series…


Living With Pets Protects Children From Allergies

Q: We have several cats, and we provide foster care for kittens from a rescue organization. I am pregnant with my first child, and we don’t want our child to grow up allergic to cats. While our child is young, should we stop fostering and limit access to our family cats? A: Quite the opposite….


Collapsing Trachea Causes Dry, Honking Cough in Small Dogs

Q: Our Yorkshire terrier Bentley has a dry, honking cough. His veterinarian said he has a collapsing trachea and recommended we walk him on a harness rather than a neck collar to take the pressure off his throat. Is there anything else we can do to minimize his coughing and help him catch his breath?…


The Best Way to Save Money on Pet Care

Q: My income is limited, but I wouldn’t part with my dog, Max, or cat, Mimi, for anything. How should I spend what I’ve budgeted for pet health care? A: The best way to save money on pet care is to prevent disease rather than treat it. Let’s start with some free ways to do…