Recent content by Dr. Sara

ThrivingPets.com carries both niacinamide (niacin is not effective) and Epakitin (calcium carbonate, chitosan, and lactose) Epakitin is currently out of stock; you can ask to be notified when it is available. Thriving Pets carries 500 mg niacinamide tablets; the kitty dose is 250 mg twice...

According to VIN (the veterinary subscription service Veterinary Information Network) the Leptospira organism is either damaged or killed by freezing in the environment. Several studies showed survival of some organisms within kidneys, which is why I stated 'damaged' rather than killed. The...

Dear Myokyo, Dr. Christian is spot-on about canine preference and aversions. Some clients have commented that it is not uncommon for dogs to not like the unwashed kidneys as well as the washed; some dogs refuse kidneys completely. (One of my dogs refused to have anything to do with kidneys...

Dear Christine, I just saw your post about trimming the nails of your older dog with long quicks. Generally I have been able to trim my Berners' nails by myself. However, as Maerzen has gotten older, she has become sensitive to the noise of the Dremel or the clipper. The solution for her was...

Dear Natalie, I will try to answer your questions in the order in which you raised them - as much as sensible! If the urine was a free catch sample, there may have been trace protein present from the vagina. Any female dog may have trace protein from the vagina, as it is not a sterile area-...

Bill Gray has his proponents and his detractors. This might be a useful service; I don't know, and I personally wouldn't use it. I prefer to use actual homeopathic medicines. There is a significant body of research using actual homeopathic medicines. Research is lacking for any other mode of...

Dear Jackie, Do you have any other varieties of the OC Raw? In my experience, some animals go off the lamb; I'm not sure why. I would try turkey or chicken, as those have been the best received by my patients. If that doesn't make a difference, I would lightly cook the food. Perhaps the raw...

Obese dogs are stressing their joints, so I recommend joint supplements, as I do for senior dogs. Obesity also results in increased free radicals, so I recommend antioxidants; again, I suggest these for senior dogs as well. Personally I use Super Snouts Joint Power and VetriScience Immune Plus...

Dear Judy, Labs are certainly prone to obesity, even with careful weight control. I second Dr. Jeff's congratulations, and I am including a link to a paper discussing the genetic link to excessive appetite in Labs which contributes to this problem...

Dear Angele, The Veterinary Partner site has information regarding animal infection. Horses are far more susceptible to tetanus than dogs; cats are extremely resistant to tetanus. I have seen tetanus in a horse and a dog, and it is quite a frightening situation...

Dear Lil, Pyometra is possible at any time, though it makes dogs feel bad, so it is unlikely that is Blossom's problem. Pyometra is MOST COMMON about 2 months after the onset of heat signs. Many female dogs lick and clean their vulva. It is possible that Blossom could have a somewhat inverted...

Cabergoline has been shown to affect coat colour. (Abstract below.) I read two case studies where it affected coat quality. Because of this, it is not used in females intended to be shown. As cabergoline is an ergot alkaloid, it will affect to some extent circulation to the skin, so such...

Dear Katja, Excellent! I'm glad you found an IAVH vet near you. Evey may just need a little more time to mature. If the next cycle is overly close, or if you have any further concerns about false whelping or estrus, I would contact the vet to investigate the situation. Reproductive...

Dear Katja, Do see if any of the practitioners in the IAVH (International Ass'n for Veterinary Homeopathy) are near you. I know there is an active Baltic group, as well as several Slovenian members. We also have members in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, and...

Hyperthyroidism signs can be worsened by feeding foods high in iodine. Kelp and some fish can be high in iodine, which is why intake should be restricted. Many kelp supplements warn against the use of kelp in hyperthyroid cats. A healthy cat should be able to eat these things; a hyperthyroid...