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Sarah | 5 years ago
Our 80 Pound Dog Rontu Just Ate A Raisin He Found On The Ground. What Should We Watch …

Our 80 pound dog Rontu just ate a raisin he found on the ground. What should we watch for?

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Shelby | 5 years ago
Hi , I Have A Cat Which Is 5 Years Old He Has Been Going To Vets On …

Hi , I have a cat which is 5 years old he has been going to vets on and off for about 2 years now with urinary tract infections I have got him on a special diet which is royal canin dried food and wet food specifically for cats with urinary problems I have a water fountain and leave my tap on all the time, fresh bowl of water daily, noticed he has been going in and out of the cat litter tray this morning and doing anything , I am tired of this keep happening and Bet he is too. What advice could you give me ? Much appreciated

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    The best way to get the best help both long and short term is to have a clear precise diagnosis. This means it is important to know if we are dealing with calculi, inflammation, stress. Etc. Often there are multiple things that cause the issue so identifying which and how they contribute is very helpful on finding the treatment or cure. In some cases what you are already doing and diet exercise, supplements and mental stimulation are all that are needed. In others surgery like a PU can solve the issue. Please ask your vet about all of these or seek a feline specialist or internal medicine specialist. I hope this helps. Good luck.

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Lorna | 5 years ago
I Have A 3 Year Old Rottweiler With An Ear Infection (it Is A Reoccurring Problem). He …

I have a 3 year old rottweiler with an ear infection (it is a reoccurring problem). He has a vet appt Monday. The ear is oozing and he is in pain.

He is very aggressive when I take him in with ear issues so I have to give him Gabapentin and Trazadone to calm him down.

Can I give him either of those for pain now? He weighs 110 lbs.
I have 3 100 mg gabapentin pills which is his normal does
I have 2 trazadone (he normally takes 1 1/2)
but he’s only taken them before appts.

Thank you for any guidance.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Iā€™m sorry to hear about your pup. Iā€™m also sorry but we cannot prescribe or comment on prescriptions as we do not know your dog. If your vet prescribed then they are the people to ask. I can tell you that trazadone is usually used for fear anxiety and sedation. It is not for pain. Gabapentin is used as an analgesic and sedation. I hope this helps. Please also ask your vet about medication for long term help with the ears. I usually try an anti allergy medication and some of the se are very effective for long term management. It has helped many of my patients.

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Sharon Gainer | 5 years ago
My Sons Dog Broke A Tooth, Must It Be Pulled?

My sons dog broke a tooth, must it be pulled?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Please see your vet and let them examine the tooth more closely. I expect they will recommend it be removed. A broken tooth can have pulp exposure which allows an open conduit between the mouth and the sinus cavity. This permits and promulgates infection and pain. I hope this helps.

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Jim | 5 years ago
My Ex-feral Cat Has Been Diagnosed With A Tape Worm That The Vet Had Us Treat …

My ex-feral cat has been diagnosed with a tape worm that the vet had us treat with a round of Cestex (25mg – 1 1/2x’s day for 2 days) this knocked the fecal test from a 4+ to a 2+ and they recommended the same meds again, knocked it from a 2+ to a 1+. Now they say do it again or come in and the cat can get a shot. The cat has had check up’s every year since coming inside, and tape worm was noted once before and meds given at the vet. Now they think she has had it for as long as she has been inside. Told it is a type of worm not normally seen in SE USA, more Pacific NW and could be caught from eating dead fish in a pond or frogs. When she was feral and coming to the door at night she would bring us frogs so this makes sense. Question is, is this type of worm bad for the cat long term? And does it pose any health risks for us? She really gets upset when being given the pills and does not travel well to the vet for shots. Any thoughts are appreciated, wish I could remember the name of the worm the tech told us on the phone.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    First if this is a tapeworm I consider them more gross than dangerous. So thereā€™s that. Second they are caused by ingesting a flea so we start with treating fleas and tapes. And third (and best of all) all of this can be treated in one easy monthly application of revolution plus monthly. Easy-peezy!
    Xox
    Krista.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I should add one more thing. If your fecal is being sent to a lab they can help to diagnose it, assist with treating and help with any kind of zoonotic issues. I call them for help a lot. Hope this all helps. And in general very few cat parasites are dangerous to people. But you need to get the exact name of the worm to confirm this.

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Maria Martin | 5 years ago
On Monday My Cat Slid Off Our Grill, And His Back Paw Got Caught In Between …

On Monday my cat slid off our grill, and his back paw got caught in between the handle and grill cover. He was hanging by the leg, the back paw bent over, unable to get free. (Heā€™s 15 pounds). Went to local vet. X-rays taken. Told nothing broken. I called the next day, since he wouldnā€™t walk on it. Was told they didnā€™t get good X-ray of foot, so I brought him back in. Was told 1 bone broken, no need to cast. Was sent the X-ray. Appears to have 2, maybe 3 breaks. Not sure if this can heal without casting. Donā€™t feel comfortable just giving him pain meds for 2 weeks, and then find out it didnā€™t heal correctly. Already spent $350. Does he need a second opinion, or casting?

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  2. Sarah

    Hi-
    Iā€™m sorry no one got back to you sooner! I would get a second opinion. It sounds like you are wary of what the first vet office told you…. I would bring the xrays with me, but they will probably want to take more, so be prepared for that expense. I hope everything works out!

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Amber | 5 years ago
I Am The Owner Of A 2 Year Old English Bulldog. Last Year His Urethra Prolapsed And …

I am the owner of a 2 year old English Bulldog. Last year his urethra prolapsed and he received a purse string suture and was neutered at the pet ER in Bel Air. The issue resolved itself and he had been doing well until this last week when the urethra prolapsed again. We took him through the Towson pet ER so he could see a surgical specialist. They evaluated him and suggested surgery. After surgery they sent him home to recover and stressed the importance of him staying calm. We stayed by his side, even staying home from work, to ensure that he didn’t do anything to distrupt the healing. We kept him in a play pen and carried him up and down the stairs to potty. Two days after the surgery (and lots of bloody laundry later) we noticed that he was extremely uncomfortable even while on the pain and sedative meds. We also noticed the protrusion of his urethra tissue. We took him back to the surgeon and they confirmed that the urethra has prolapsed and they have recommended that the surgery be performed for a second time (tomorrow). We have ruled out the obvious contributing factors that may cause pressure such as stones, uti, etc. Any thoughts for treatment options moving forward? Are we missing anything? I just want our little guy to start feeling well again! Thank you.

Amber

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello.

    These are really frustrating cases. Iā€™m so sorry about your experience and I empathize completely. I guess my first concern is that we donā€™t often know why this happens. My second concern is that you are going to repeat the same surgery and it should be assumed the failure has a pretty fair chance of happening again. My preference as the surgeon for cases like these (and they happen to all of us) is to both offer a redo (although I will admit I rarely charge or I charge a nominal redo fee) is to also offer a different surgeon to try over. My concern is that failing twice is an awful big expenditure and a tough explanation as to why I didnā€™t see that coming. My personal preference is to refer these difficult refractory cases to the vet teaching hospitals. They have faster easier and better access to more minds and more diverse experience. You just canā€™t get that at a private facility. I use UPenn or va tech vet schools. They are often cheaper and give a broader access to options and experience. I hope this helps. Please let me know what happens. I would love to hear a follow up and I would love to hear about your previous surgery and experience. Especially to add this to our storylines page. It is such a unique case. Very best of luck. Krista.

    1. Amber Post author

      Thank you so much for your reply and suggestions. We will move forward with the second attempt to repair the prolapse despite the low success rate and cost associated. If it is unsuccessful we will need to get another opinion. I hadn’t thought to consult with a vet school and I think that is great advice. I will certainly keep you posted along the way.

  2. Laura

    I want to second Dr. M’s recommendation of a vet school. UPenn is phenomenal – we drove up from Timonium. They couldn’t help my puppy but they literally threw everything they could at him to diagnose his issue, and it was more than the local vets could do.

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Claire | 5 years ago
Morning, I Have A Golden Retriever Called Roxy Who Developed A Abscess Following A Anti Inflammatory …

Morning, I have a golden retriever called Roxy who developed a abscess following a anti inflammatory injection (in her neck) – this was incised under GA and left a MASSIVE seroma. Many months later it eventually closed only to reform again and rupture. The vet gave a course of antibiotics when the discharge changed colour from a light pink to a dark red colour and the exudate improved to a lighter colour. It is still a very deep sinus. I have been dressing it twice a day with boiled cooled water and two drops of tea tree oil, and then packing it with a natural bee wax ointment and a Betadine solution mix. Recently I took her back for another opinion because the lump was not improving, which in all honesty was a nightmare vet trip. The vet stuck her hand into the sinus and scraped and scraped – the return was clots of blood that looked like liver and the consultation room looked like a slaughter house. They said that if it didn’t heal over the next few weeks she would need to have surgery again and they would do a ‘running stitch’ to close it from the inside. I am not going this route! I vowed that would be the last vet trip I take her too. It was so traumatic for her and for me (I am a nursing sister so I can stomach most things, but this was too brutal and too close to my heart). So the twice a day dressing continues. I have been working away at this for about 6 months now and it is a huge strain on me, washing bandages and dressing whilst working a fulltime job and caring for my child and house. I do not want to give up, but I have moments when this is what I want to do, I suppose this is normal. She is 11 years old. This morning it seems to be smelling like infection is brewing again… šŸ™ Should I do Milton solution irrigations? What can I do to aid healing? Any advice gratefully received, I am desperate. Claire Neithercut

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Iā€™m sorry to hear about your pups condition and your experience with the vets so far. I would never advise anyone to give up on their pets but I am a vet so it is also difficult for me to advise you to go this without medical assistance my first concern is that it sounds like your pup needs a better plan for treatment. If this was an abscess/ seroma or hematoma it would be nice to have had a culture to better decide the antibiotic and maybe even a drain placed do help healing. Although it might have been difficult to see exploring a wound or mass is often indicated to help rule out infection disease and even cancer. This is important so we can provide a treatment plan and prognosis. If you are seeking alternative treatment options please ask for a referral for this. Or seek a third opinion from another vet who you trust. ask your friends if there is a vet they can recommend. Iā€™m just concerned about going this alone. There are vets out there who can help. It sometimes takes a few visits before you find your preferred provider. I wish you both the best of luck.

    1. Claire Post author

      Thank you, I won’t give up, I love her dearly, just irrigated and fluid return is clear, just very deep, about 20cm, I will look for an alternative vet referral, thank you so much

      1. Claire Post author

        They did take a sample to look at but I haven’t had feedback, disappointing…

  2. Sarah

    Good morning-
    I am sorry that you are having such a time with this and worse that your experience with the vet hasnā€™t been the best. I would definitely find a vet thatbyou trust and will listen to you and help guide you through a treatment plan.

    1. Claire Post author

      Thank you, just hit a low point and here there isn’t a huge choice with vets and alternative treatments, just don’t want any aggressive treatment anymore xx

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Andrea | 5 years ago
Hi Iā€™m So Happy To Stubble Across Your YouTube Channel Iā€™m Hoping You Can …

I have a 8 week old kitten with possible spine fracture I have the x rays but my vet said theyā€couldnā€™t tellā€ they said he needs a mri and surgery but that something I just canā€™t do. He is pooping just fine but he is unable to pee itā€™s been 24 hours and he isnā€™t responding to pain in his back legs when I pinch them. He is on pain meds. Any advise will be greatly appreciated! Please help me decide what I should do!

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Kittens this age will surprise you every time. I would cage rest and keep doing physical therapy for at least 3 weeks. I would also feed watered down wet food and learn how to palpate his abdomen so you can help him urinate and defecate if needed. Kittens will surprise you. I have had so many success stories simply because I didnā€™t give up on them. Best of luck.

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Christine | 5 years ago
So I Had The Question A Few Hours Ago About Missing A Dose Of Heart Worm …

So I had the question a few hours ago about missing a dose of heart worm medicine. My pups, Penny & Sampson are your patients. Sorry for the lack of information. They are indoor dogs except for walks and potty time in the yard. Should I have them tested before giving it to them again. Thank you!

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Thanks for clarifying. I canā€™t really tell you what to do but I can explain the scenarios either way. The reason we test is to check Heartworm status of the patient. For new patients starting the medication we want to make sure they are negative before starting meds so we donā€™t miss a patient harboring adults in the heart. Over time Heartworms In The heart can be fatal. Your dogs were tested in feb (Sampson) and April (penny) and clear. We test yearly if they stay on meds year around. The advantage is that we will catch a dog in the earliest stages if we monitor yearly. This way we hopefully avoid the dangers of many adults in the heart. A missed dose is cause for retesting so we know they are always negative while always on prevention. If a pet on preventatives comes up positive AND if the test and prevention was bought at our clinic the hw rx manufacturer will pay for treatment which is about $1000. Realistically it is unlikely your dogs will test pos now as you just missed a dose. It takes 6 months for the test to show pos after exposure. I know thatā€™s a lot of info. But to boil it down. Thereā€™s a low chance of infection in our area. A low chance they will test pos now. And they need to be on hw meds year around. So if your budget is tight just keep them on it. Give a dose now. And then another on Nov 1. And each first of the month there after. Retest in feb and April and go from there. If you want 100% peace of mind bring them in ASAP and have them tested. And retest in 6 months. There is not a cut and dry answer. Sorry. .