MilliesMom

We're faced with the decision of whether to give our newly-diabetic dog his rabies shot, which will expire within 3 weeks. He's not a grey, but I'd like to hear your experiences if you decided to give or withhold shots to your diabetic pooches. I know that some states allow vets to sign waivers from shots if the animal is sick, but my state isn't one of them. Our grandpuppy is working with two specialists. One says no inoculations; the other says it'll be OK as long as he's regulated...and we're still working on that. Thanks.

Max, our Maltipoo, developed babesia last year. It took quite awhile to figure out what was going on and was terrible. We're grateful he was able to pull out. Can't say what's going on with your dog, but I can give you the name of a vet who might have some idea. We use him as a specialist to consult with Max (who's now developed diabetes) and our FIV+ cat, Oscar. He works online and by phone with you and your local vet: Dr. Bob Goldstein, The Healing Center for Animals, 914-533-5162. Good luck.

I was taking out the garbage, tonight, and found a single feather in the carport. The only feathers I used to see where in bunches. His sister was crying last night and then at 3 this morning. We are so fortunate to love and be loved by them. I so appreciate all of your kind words at this time. May you, too, be comforted by fond memories of the pets you have lost.

Thank you, everyone. I have had many dogs and cats (Millie died right before she turned 15), but this is the youngest pet I've ever lost. He was only 4. I realize that's about 32 in cat years, but still...way too young to die.

God took my little Cosmo to where there is no pain, and at last, his suffering is at an end. He and his littermates, sister Tiger Lily among them, were dumped at 6 weeks old on our street. Despite suffering from an autoimmune disease that included stomatitis (extreme pain in his mouth and throat), he was full of life. He'd fought back once before when he nearly died a few months ago, but finally, his little body gave out. He loved rubbing against a metal ladder that was perched between the ground and the roof so he could climb and sun himself or watch or chase the birds. A few months ago when there was a thunderstorm, he literally pushed his sister with his paw under a car in the carport to protect her. The next to the last time I saw him, he had a feather on his chin. Yesterday I took a nap, and I dreamed he was running with his tail fluffed up, as if he were protecting the house against dog intruders. Then today, I started finding feathers where there weren't any yesterday. I knew it was a sign that he had passed. My hubbby found his lifeless body tonight in the shed. He had come home to die. We tried everything to save him, but it was not to be. I am grateful he feels no pain, and I hope someday we're together, again. Rest in peace, my furry friend.

No, that's Martin Goldstein, not Robert. However, I can look into him, too. Thanks.

Dear Merlins Mum: You're entitled to your own opinion, of course, and I'm not going to get into an argument here about the voracity of their methods. All I will say is that I, too, have been a very complex medical case for many years even before I nearly died because of a spill of an organophosphate tick dip (eventually taken off the market by the EPA) in '84. Totally screwed up my immune and neurological systems and impacted the development of the unborn child I was carrying. What you've referred to as "quackery" detox and homeopathy (in AZ, homeopaths have to be licensed) saved my life. It's not uncommon for specialist vets to treat patients that are out-of-town. Typically, they work with local vets as the ones to do "hands-on" work. The specialists also depend on blood tests and owners' observations, as well as medical records and tests from the local vets, to treat their canine and feline patients. I nearly died 3 times. Had I not been detoxed, treated homeopathically (now a patient of my former cardiologist MD who went on-staff at the American Medical College of Homeopathy), and supplemented with proper organic food and vitamin therapy, I wouldn't be here to even post this inquiry.

Has anybody had their pet (dog or cat) as a long-distance patient of Dr. Robert Goldstein at the Healing Center for Animals in Westport, CT? My cat (age 11), not my dog, has asthma on top of his FIV+ status (aka kitty HIV), and the Goldsteins were recommended to me by our integrative vet. If so, what were your experiences? How much are the tests and meds? I found a seemingly wonderful certified homeopathic vet, Jeff Feinman, but he wants to take Oscar off all his supplements, and my gut tells me my companion would do best with a more integrative approach, as he's done for the past few years. Thanks.

In loving memory of Tuxie, my cat, who was mauled by roaming dogs a year ago today. Whenever I sit on my swing in the backyard, it's like you're still there, lying on my lap. When I swing and eat vanilla ice cream, it's like you're still lapping at the chilly treat in your own bowl. Death never will separate us, my special little friend, but not a day goes by that I don't miss gazing into your big knowing eyes.

Hubby just called very upset. One of the beloved dogs at the office, Lonesome (not a grey), got out of the huge fenced area at work (which, except for the highway, is in the middle of nowhere) and was hit and killed on a busy nearby highway. He'd been missing for a day or so, and DH couldn't find him. When he looked this morning, he found his body in a ditch. He came to them as a stray, and he made this facility his home for some 7 years. They also have another stray at work, and I know that just having dogs there made the workday easier.

Those are the only details I have. Obviously it doesn't kill every dog or cat being administered it, but it is exceedingly rare for somebody to know of several animals who've died of a medicine. Pet owners should be aware there have been problems and decide accordingly. (And this came from a cat owner, so I'm sure she's had to administer meds.) Yes, injectable meds have been around for a long time, but this is the first time I've heard of an antibiotic shot that lasts days. On occasion, the vet has used one that lasts 12-24 hours, but that's it. Of course all drugs can pose a risk, but again, the question is whether the person is aware of them. Personally, I would not use this for my pets.

Got this warning passed onto me by a member of a group. It's about Convenia, an antibiotic shot by Pfizer that's supposed to work for 10-14 days: Please, heads up about this new drug. I've now spoken to 4 people who have had this injection given to their cat/dog only to have their pets die within hours to a week afterward. It hasn't been out very long but I would refrain from using this if at all possible. I wasn't happy about Baytril and now this. It seems to me to be a lazy drug. Works for a two week period?

So very sorry.

It was the spill of a dog tick dip in my house 1984 that severely damaged my immune and neurological systems. I would never use anything on or in my pets that was a poison. Greyhounds are much more sensitive, anyway, as we know from the situation with sedatives used during operations.

Somebody commented about Frontline's spot-on product, too: Frontline almost killed my pet. I am a pet owner whose pet was adversely effected by the spot on product Frontline Plus. I am fortunate he is still alive after three years of continuous medical treatment, four blood transfusions and $10,000 in veterinary fees. I have been in contact via letter(s) with Merial Pharmaceuticals requesting provision of more substantial information regarding their clinical study testing protocols of the chemical pesticide fipronil, to no avail. I am concerned that this chemical is very dangerous and not properly regulated and that Merial is deceptively advertising it as "safe/gentle" They claim the pesticide fipronil used as the primary ingredient in the spot-on application does not penetrate the outer skin (sebaceous) glands. The "fact" is untrue in the case of many pets. The EPA needs to step up their plan to hold product manufacturers accountable. We are awaiting some substantial sanctions, however to date the false advertising continues in meida ads about safety factions. Please continue an investigative story about spot-on products. The public is being kept behind a wall.

From ABC15 in Phoenix: PHOENIX - Some popular pet medication may be causing side effects like seizures, tremors and even death. The medication is meant to protect, but the ABC15 Investigators have found many pet owners complaining about dangerous reactions they say were caused by some flea and tick products. Amy Vasquez of Chandler said her dog, Mack, had a bad reaction to a medication that is supposed to protect pets from fleas and ticks. Amy bought a spot-on flea and tick product made by the company, Sergeant's. She said she used the medication exactly as the packaging instructed. Then, she said she looked at the spot where she’d applied the medication. “It looked like the worst sun burn you’d ever seen...and, it was obvious it was exactly where I’d applied [the medication],” said Amy. She said she’s found hundreds of other people complaining online about the same problems. “And, the other dogs had it worse,” she said. Among the online posts were complaints of vomiting, seizures, burning and open wounds. Those are just some of the side effects dog owners said some spot-on flea and tick medication has caused. The ABC15 Investigators received videos and emails from dog owners across the country describing the “horror of watching our loved one suffer.” One email described the pet’s reaction as like “watching them die.” Many spot-on products use pesticides as the main active ingredient, because it kills pests like fleas and ticks. The products that contain pesticides are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Now, the EPA is taking a close look at what it calls a large and growing number of cases involving spot-on products and reports of serious side effects. According to the EPA's records, Sergeant’s has received the most complaints about its products. In a statement to the ABC15 Investigators, Sergeant’s said, "All of Sergeant’s flea and tick products are safe and effective when used properly. All meet government safety standards and have been approved by the EPA. Sergeant’s is not taking the products off store shelves because more than 99% of the millions of doses sold have provided pets and their owners with extremely effective protection from fleas and ticks and with no adverse reactions." Dr. Diane Paster is the Associate Director for Emergency Animal Clinics of Arizona. She said the real problem may be the kind of pesticides being used in spot-on flea and tick products. “I would really like to see the [products] with the most side effects pulled,” Dr. Paster said. Do you use any spot-on flea and tick pet medications? If so, have you seen problems?

Thank God!

This is a semi-feral who would never allow me to pick him up or touch his face. By the time I resorted to Clavamox (again, after trying some remedies that usually work), he had copious amounts of discharge streaming down his face, and I caught it (and passed it on) just by touching his bowl without gloves. He's all black, so I couldn't see if it were colored, but it didn't seem so. One thing I do with my FIV+ (and myself) if there's an eye problem is to wipe the eye area with a cotton ball soaked in chamomille tea as per my the vet specialist of my FIV+. My doctor put me on a homeopathic remedy, and if it happens again with Bucky, it'll be the first thing I give him. I'm surprised he's lasted this long. He's got some underlying virus and gets URIs very easily, particularly when the weather changes. I wish he'd be more friendly, but after 4 or 5 years, just now he's letting me gently pet his back a couple of times. That's it. I tried to find an inside home for him because I know he'd do better there, but it's hard enough just rehoming normal cats these days. That's why so many have been dumped. I have another feral in trouble now. Lived here since he was a kitten (but only let me touch him a couple of times.) Went away for a couple of days. Came back with a tail injury. Blood a couple of inches from his butt and dragging. Tried treating him homeopathically, and he did look less sick, but then went away again. He's come back only late at night the past couple of nights. Won't let me near him at all, and it's getting worse. With other ferals/semi-ferals, I've thrown some diluted hydrogen peroxide on the affected areas, but I can't even get close enough to do it. If I do, I may never see him again he's so scared. The whole thing's very upsetting. Tried negotiating with vets, and they either wouldn't give me a break or it was so little that it was laughable, even after I said I cared for a number of strays. I'd use some of the antibiotic I've got (only 2 boxes left), but it's not going to do him much good if he's not here twice a day, and I don't want it to go bad and waste it. (And of course, the medicine/remedy should target the organism.)

I rarely use antibiotics. By rare I mean I've had it twice since '91. It's a last-ditch effort. One of my semi-ferals who's never in good health, had a terrible eye infection. I tried treating it homeopathically, but it didn't work. Then I caught it just by touching his bowls. Then I passed it onto my husband. It required an antibiotic. I've got a couple of boxes in the fridge, but I'd rather have more in case of emergency.

We take care of a number of cats (some feral) and on occasion require Clavamox. Do you know of anyplace online that I can get it without a prescription? We did have a source, but they no longer carry it. We want to make sure it's the real thing, not some knock-off we can't trust. Please...only provide sources you trust. No comments about the vet, please.

Welcome! Wish I could give you some solid advice on this, but the only vet I know who does it is here in the Phoenix area. I've never had any kinds of hands-on therapy with an animal, but I have an FIV+ cat and he's got an specialist who's both allopathic and holistic. In fact, I treat my cats' problems holistically and only rarely treat them with an antibiotic. Does the dog have neck spasms? The go-to homeopathic remedy for spasms/swelling is arnica. You can get it in health stores and groceries such as Whole Foods. Good luck with this.

Bring out the Kleenex: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/22/b...t_n_330249.html

From Delaware Online: WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug made specifically to treat cancer in dogs. Until now, all cancer drugs used in veterinary medicine were developed for use in humans and weren't specifically approved for animals. Federal law allows vets to administer cancer medicines and other human treatments under controlled circumstances. The new drug, Palladia, manufactured by Pfizer Animal Health Inc., has been approved to treat a type of cancer that accounts for about one in five cases of canine skin tumors. Canine cutaneous mast cell tumors - the cancer in question - can appear small and insignificant when dogs have them, but while some are easily removed, others can lead to life-threatening disease, according to the FDA. "This cancer drug approval for dogs is an important step forward for veterinary medicine," Bernadette Dunham, director of FDA's center for veterinary medicine, said in a statement Wednesday. "Prior to this approval, veterinarians had to rely on human oncology drugs, without knowledge of how safe or effective they would be for dogs," Dunham said. "Today's approval offers dog owners, in consultation with their veterinarian, an option for treatment of their dog's cancer." Palladia is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that works by killing tumor cells and cutting off blood supply to the tumor. Common side effects include diarrhea, decrease or loss of appetite, lameness, weight loss and blood in the stool.

Thank you for all your warm wishes. Indeed, they are comforting me. May you be comforted, too, by the memories of your furry friends whom you've lost. Silverfish's story reminds me of a tale that a friend of my related to me yesterday. Her friend had 2 dogs, one of whom loved collecting tennis balls from around the house. One night, when his owners returned, he was nowhere to be found. Finally, they discovered that he had passed away in the backyard...with all of his tennis balls around him.

My sweet little Cindy, a freckle-nosed black and grey tabby who was nearly 17 or 18, passed away peacefully this morning in her beloved grass. Her mother, Sabu, was a stray who had adopted us many years ago when our now grown-up son was a little boy. We had neighbors feed her when we went on vacation, and when we returned, we discovered she'd given birth to 2 tabby girls and a blue boy. (We had no idea she was even that old!) We eventually gave away Blue Boy and kept Sabu and her daughters, Emmy and Cinderella (all named by our son.) In February four years ago, we found Sabu had died of a heart attack after being mauled. Then the next day of the following year or two, Emmy was attacked in the middle of the night and died in my arms. Cindy didn't skip a beat and adopted the younger cats. I am very grateful that she died naturally. She's been such an earth mother, although she never had children of our own. Sometimes I'd hear crying a few hours after she ate, but it wasn't her who was hungry. I'd look outside and see her little adopted stray kitten mewing or another one of the cats who had skipped his meal, and she just was trying to tell me to feed them. Often in her later years I'd awaken to her crying in the middle of the night for more attention or food. Annoying, but endearing. Now I look at the window sill, and unless the kitten is rubbing himself on there like Cindy taught him how to do, it's empty. No more purring that sounded more like an engine running. It's the end of an era. All our pets we had when our child was growing up are gone. That, in itself, gives me pause.