1. My dog drags his bum on the ground from time to time and I think that he has worms,
are there any good natural treatments for this? He also chews at the side of his hind end as well is this related?
Carrie, Michigan
Thanks for the question Carrie, the behaviour you are describing is commonly know as “scooting”. In the vast majority of cases “scooting” is caused by an irritation in a dog’s anal glands rather than by intestinal parasites. The anal glands are two glandular sacs located beside the opening of the anus. They normally secrete fluid and pheromones and are expressed with bowel movements. In some pets the exit duct of the gland can become fully or partially blocked leading to a build up of fluid and debris within the gland which is quite uncomfortable.
This problem results in “scooting”, chewing at the hind end and in severe cases, a complete rupture of the gland. If you see you dog “scooting” it’s a good idea to take him to your vet to have his glands expressed manually, some groomers are also comfortable with this procedure as well.
2. I have a 4 month old yellow Labrador retriever named Casey and he’s healthy in ever way. I’ve heard that you shouldn’t feed them chocolate or grapes from some of my friends. I’ve given him grapes once in a while as a treat since he was a puppy and haven’t noticed any problems. Should I be worried?
Melissa, Fargo ND
Good question Melissa, your friends are right, both grapes and chocolate can be poisonous to dogs especially in large quantities. I would certainly stop feeding grapes to Casey as they have been known to cause kidney failure in dogs. However, some dogs are more sensitive to grapes than others and certainly there have been dogs that have eaten grapes regularly their entire lives without a problem. If you are concerned, contact your veterinarian and they can perform some test to make sure Casey’s kidneys aren’t damaged. As a rule grapes, raisins, dates, prunes and chocolate shouldn’t be feed to pets.
3.I live in southern Florida and have 4 dogs (Two beagles, a pointer and a daschund). We have a large mosquito population down here and also have serious problems with heartworm disease. My vet says my dogs have to be on Heartworm medication year round and tested every year. Is this necessary? Are there any good natural alternatives that I can use that are cheaper and that don’t have the chemicals?
Rick, Florida
Heartworm is a very serious problem in your area Rick, in fact it is a significant health risk for pets throughout most of the United States and parts of Canada.
In your neck of the woods year round heartworm protection is needed and yearly heartworm testing is fairly standard. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone not use the medications that are prescribed by your vet (e.g. Revolution, Heartguard, Interceptor, Sentinel, Advantage Multi etc.). These medications are proven to work and using anything less could be a fatal mistake for your pet. I do recommend that you also use a natural insect repellant in addition to the commercial heartworm medication as this can help keep away many of the irritating mosquitoes that swarm your pet and cause irritating bug bites. Natural products that contain the essential oils of basil, cedar, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary works best as topical deterrents or area sprays. Adding small amounts of garlic to a dogs diet has also shown some promise in deterring these pests. You need watch giving garlic to dogs as too much can cause serious damage to the blood cells (It should never be used in cats). A good guideline is about 1 clove per 25 lbs of body weight in dogs.
4.My cats get along well most of the time but occasionally my younger male Tiger hides and ambushes the older guy. My older cat doesn’t appreciate this very much and it leads to a big fight. Any suggestions?
Mary, Buffalo NY
Why don’t you try putting a bell collar on the younger cat. These collars were designed to alert birds and squirrels of a cat’s presence so they couldn’t ambush them easily. It can work the same way with your older cat.
5.I’m not sure if you deal much with rabbits… I got 3 rabbits that recently started passing a cloudy, almost milky type of urine. It don’t seem to bother them much, they still eat and move around well, any ideas what it is and what to do?
Carol, St. Paul, MN
Well Carol it’s difficult to say, but I wonder if you’ve changed their diets recently?
It sounds like your rabbits are getting too much Calcium in their diet.
Rabbits have a unique Calcium metabolism that’s different from most other species.
The more calcium there is in a rabbits diet, the more calcium they absorb through their intestines. If blood calcium levels rise too high because of excessive dietary intake then the rabbit’s kidneys get rid of the extra calcium in the urine. Initially this is harmless but in a very short time rabbits that have this problem develop kidney and bladder stones that can have fatal consequences. Talk to your vet about this and have them run a urine sample to confirm this is the problem. Talk to your feed salesman about diet’s that are lower in calcium, products from the Oxbow company are tops in my book. Avoid feeding Alfalfa hay as it has tons of calcium, Timothy hay is better.
Finally you can flush the rabbits bladder of existing calcium sediment by promoting more urination. Two ways to do this naturally are
a)Try adding some fruit juice (apple, grape) or sugar to the water to promote more drinking (and hence more urination)
b)Try adding some fresh dandelion leaves to the diet as they have diuretic properties that will promote urination.
Sorry for the long winded answer, hope it helps.
6. My male dog is 6 months old now and he still squats to pee, is that normal?
Someone on the internet told me that they need to see how to do it before they start as well. Should I take him around other male dogs? Would he be able to learn from me if I did it?
Todd, Seattle WA
Well Todd, I’d be afraid that you’d fall over if you tried to teach him and the neighbors might not be so impressed. In all seriousness though, there is nothing wrong with your dog. Male dogs have a natural tendency to lift their leg when they urinate and it can take up to a year or more to develop this tendency. There are some neutered male dogs that never will !!! It makes no difference; they are still happy and healthy.
7.I have a pack of hunting hounds that I run in the thick stuff here in Alabama and at least a half dozen times they run into a skunk. Got any good ways to get the smell out without chemicals? I tried tomato juice but it don’t work.
Loyd, Mobile
The best shampoo I can recommend that’s chemical free is Natural Vet Blends: All Natural Odor Eliminating Shampoo. It gets rid of the scent in 1 or 2 washes, smells good, and best of all doesn’t have the harsh chemicals that can dry the coat and irritate the skin. We sell it in our online store, or check it out at www.naturalvetblends.com .
8.My cat Kallie has had diarrhea for the past 3 weeks and I’ve tried all the home remedies I could find but nothing seems to work, any suggestions?
Kim, Ottawa ON
This sounds pretty serious Kim, I would definitely take your cat in for a check up with your veterinarian. Be sure to bring a fecal sample in with you as they’ll want to check for parasites. There can be many causes of diarrhea including food allergies, parasites, intestinal malabsorbtion, colitis to name only a few. Be sure to check in with your vet before trying any more home remedies.
9.Any tips on how to cut my dogs nails?
Shaun, Albany NY
There are some great resources on the web Shaun:
Links: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_nails.aspx
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-To-Cut-Your-Pets-Nails-19141066
10. Hi Dr. Natural Vet !!! I’m currently using a cranberry supplement for my older dog because she’s gotten a few urine infections in the past year. I put her on it because they recommend it in people, does it work for dogs the same?
Hillary, Green Bay , Wisconsin
In both people and in animals cranberry has been shown to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections in patients that have chronic problems with infection.
Cranberries work by decreasing the ability of bacteria like E. coli to adhere to the wall of the bladder. E. coli just happens to be the most common bacterial pathogen associated with urinary infections in pets. If the bacteria can’t become attached to the bladder wall there is a greater chance they will be removed with the next urination. Cranberries are also a great source of antioxidants!!! Also consider adding some Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Uva Ursi to your supplement regime as they are also potent urinary infection fighters.
These ingredients are readily available in naturopathic veterinary urinary supplements.
Just be sure to check a urine sample with your vet to make sure there aren’t other abnormalities in the urine like crystals, sugar, and other things that can be picked up with a urine test.
11. I have been treating myself with natural a homeopathic medicines for years and have found that they work far better than anything my doctor gives me. I recently visited my homeopathic healer with arthritis trouble, among other things she recommend that I rub my joints (esp. knees) a tea tree oil solution. I was wondering if I can do the same for my older dog and cat as it seemed to help me and it smells wonderful.
Nancy, Austin TX
Thanks Nancy, tea tree oil has many uses in human medicine as it possess numerous anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. I would advise you not to use it as a rub on your pets, especially not on your cat. Although effective there have been credible reports of tea tree oil toxicity in cats that have resulted in death. As cats and dogs tend to lick and groom themselves ingestion is a real possibility. It can certainly cause an upset stomach and in a worst case scenario it can be fatal.
12. Can I feed my cats milk? They seem to like it and I’ve never had a problem before but I was recently at my vet’s and the receptionist yelled at me like I’d worst owner in the world for doing it. Obviously wasn’t impressed. Is raw milk better?
Grace, Kamloops, Canada
It’s no secret that cats do love milk as a treat!!! In most cases a smaller saucer of milk now and then will do no harm to your cat. The reason for concern is that cats lose the intestinal enzyme need to digest milk (lactase) as the grow older. In fact this is the case in most mammals (including humans- Lactose intolerance). As cats grow and are weaned from their mother’s milk to a meat diet there becomes little need for this enzyme.
Giving too much milk will certainly cause indigestion and can result in diarrhea.
There are some cats that have problems with developing bladder stones especially
Calcium Oxalate stones. These stones can be caused by many factors including ingesting too much calcium. If your cat has a problem with stones I would avoid milk, otherwise a small taste of milk as a treat once a week won’t hurt at all. I would avoid raw milk as it can contain harmful bacteria and has no added benefit over regular milk.
13. We often use a comfrey based poultice on various skin lesions and cuts on ourselves and our pets. They work very well to help heal wounds faster and remove infection.
We wanted to share this information with other natural minded pet owners out there.
Here’s a link to show how to make it: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygaKy61ElNk)
I’ve heard that it’s not safe to use internally, is this fact or myth?
Sue and Rob, Charlotte
Comfrey is one of those special herbs that have many uses externally as a potent wound healer, especially if the leaves are used. Others have used comfrey wraps to help speed the healing of broken bones and as a poultice to reduce skin swelling and inflammation. Comfrey contains the substance allantoin which is the product in many skin creams that heal, moisturize and remove dead skin cells. As an externally applied herb it is hard to beat. Taking comfrey internally as a tea, pill etc. is not a good idea (I’m sure there are many out there that will argue this). Comfrey contains liver damaging pyrrolizidine alkaloids in high enough quantities that the FDA has banned the usage of any comfrey products labeled for internal use. Thanks for sharing the link.
14. Are yearly vaccines absolutely necessary for pets? My dog hardly ever goes outside the yard and isn’t really in contact with other dogs? The vet office is always sending me reminders for the rabies shot.
Tim, Phoenix AZ
Well Tim, to fully answer your question about the need for vaccines and the frequency that they need to be given I would have to write a book. In short, I recommend that all dogs get their full set of puppy shots (typically 8, 12, 16 wks) and booster them in a years time. An up to date rabies vaccine is required by law just about everywhere in North America. You’ll have to check your local laws to see how often the rabies vaccine needs to be given. There are rabies vaccines that are now listed as effective for up to 3 years available from your vet. As far as the other vaccines go : currently they are recommend every year… but in the future as more studies are performed on their long term effectiveness this may change. If you don’t want to give core vaccines every year you can have your vet check your pet’s vaccine titer to ensure that they have protective levels of antibody in their blood.
15. We just recently put down our Doberman and are thinking of getting another one as we miss our Cayla too much. When we got Cayla from the breeder her ears were already cropped (14 years ago) the breeder we are thinking of getting our new pup from is going to have their ears cropped soon but would give us our pup with floppy ears if we wanted her that way. I like the look of them when their ears stand up tall but there’s been a lot of negative things written about it recently. What’s your opinion?
Deb, Ohio
So sorry to hear of your loss Deb, it’s not easy losing such a dear part of the family.
Ear cropping: Plain and simple, don’t do it. People can choose to have cosmetic surgery, nose jobs, breast augmentation and face lifts. Dogs don’t have the choice, and if they did you can bet they wouldn’t choose to do it. A dog doesn’t care if her ears stand tall, all they want to do is chase a ball and get a good belly scratch. Ear cropping, tail docking and other purely cosmetic procedures have no place in this day and age. It’s painful, and can potentially cause serious medical complications for the animal.
Breed Associations need to change their breed standards to reflect what a dog is naturally born to look like.
16. My young cat has a cold, I got him 3 weeks ago and now he’s sneezing from time to time and he’s got some discharge from his eyes. Any good tips on treating him naturally?
Bruce, Toronto, Canada
Sounds like your kitten has an upper respiratory infection Bruce. Upper Resp. infections are fairly common in kittens that have were stray or obtained from a shelter.
There are a number of viruses and bacteria that can be responsible for this infection.
These infections can become quite severe and potentially life threatening, but in most cases the cat will fight them off with their own immune system. If your cat continues to worsen I’d take him to the vet but it he’s just showing signs of sneezing and is acting otherwise normally there are a few things you can try. In the case of a virus we are trying to boost the immune system and decrease the viruses ability to reproduce. Try using a week long course of Echinacea in the food ( 200mg twice a day per 10lbs body weight) to boost the immune system. Also consider using a Lysine supplement available through your veterinarian.
Lysine is not a drug, it’s an amino acid that has shown promise in decreasing viral growth in the viruses typically associated with upper respiratory disease in cats. For an average 10lb cat the dosage is 500mg daily for 2-4 weeks, depending on how long symptoms last.
17. How often should I get my pets dewormed ?
Eric Kant, Utah
Giving your pet chemical worm medication is never a good idea without first establishing that the animal has a parasite. Instead of using medications all the time, submit a fecal sample from your cat or dog to your veterinarian to discover what parasites, if any are present. For most pets doing this twice a year (Early Spring and Late Fall) is appropriate.
For pets that are outdoors more often you may want to consider more frequent testing.
All parasites are not treated with the same medications, and different protocols are used depending on which one(s) are present. Talk with your vet further about this.
There are some alternative natural intestinal parasite therapies available that I will be discussing in an upcoming forum. Stay tuned!!!
18. In the spring time my dog eats grass like a cow!!! He’s a Dalmation too, maybe I should call him Holstein (sorry, bad joke)!!! I been reading up on it but still don’t understand why he does it. Can you help?
Pam, Cleveland
Unfortunately I don’t think I’m going to be able to help as much as you’d like Pam.
The question “Why do dogs eat grass?” is as old as the hills and we still don’t have a good answer. There are theories that they eat grass to make themselves vomit, to aid with constipation, or because they have some mineral deficiency. Others would suggest that a dog that eats grass has intestinal worms or some other internal disease.
The truth of the matter is that there isn’t any solid scientific support any of these speculations. Eating small amounts of grass likely won’t hurt your dog. Grass is fairly indigestible and coarse so eating it may cause the occasional vomiting or gagging episode. Eating a lot of grass should be discouraged as it can cause gastrointestinal problems. If your dog has always eaten grass and hasn’t had a problem yet I wouldn’t worry too much. If this behaviour is new and out of character I’d collect a fecal and urine sample and bring your dog in to see the vet for a yearly check-up.
19. I have a four and a half month old lab that I got from a breeder, I was looking at his parts the other day a realized that he only has one testicle. I called the breeder about it and she said it can take some time for the other one to come down. Is there anything I can do to help it ? How long should I wait before I take him to the vets?
Mike, Anchorage
From your description it sounds like your dog suffers from cryptorchidism.
Cryptorchidism occurs when one or more of the testicles fail to descend into the scrotum.
Unfortunately there isn’t much hope for them to descend naturally beyond 10-12 weeks of age. Complete castration is the recommended treatment for pets with this condition as the undescended testicle can form tumors if not removed. Depending on where the undescended testicle is located, the incision may be in the groin or into the abdomen. Cryptorchidism is an inherited disease and its occurrence cannot be prevented in the individual animal. Castrating animals with this condition can help reduce its future occurrence in the dog population as a whole. I’d recommend a visit to your vet to further diagnose and discuss his condition.
20. I’ve got a 8 week old Jack Russell Terrier, name Max who loves to chew everything!
The other day my husband gave him a carrot and it kept him busy for hours. Is this ok for him to eat? I couldn’t find much information on the subject.
Sunita, California
It sounds like you’ve found a great treat for Max, but I bet he’ll get through that carrot a lot faster in two weeks. Carrots are a great alternative to conventional chew bones for young puppies. They have good nutrition and help to massage the gums when they are chewed. I usually use the large whole carrots as they last a lot longer, but some dogs will still devour them in minutes. As with all things, moderation is the key. Too many carrots can cause vomiting, indigestion and diarrhea in dogs. One or two carrots a week as a treat works well and provides a healthy change for your dog.
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