Q
My 8-month-old mixed breed puppy has recently become ill. She spent all day at the vet’s office while they did blood work, but they were unable to find anything that would tell them what’s wrong. She is drooling excessively and has a high temperature. She is also bleeding at the gums, but is not Sensitive anywhere else. She is normally a very happy, healthy dog. This came on very suddenly but the vet has ruled out poison. He recommends a specialist for vascular or auto-immune disease. What could this be and what else can be done?

A
This, in my experience, is a very common effect of vaccinations, and the period in which these conditions have been documented to occur is 10 to 45 days post-vaccine. Many of these kinds of individuals, if the condition becomes life threatening, must first be stabilized medically. Although I don’t
like to prescribe therapy for cases of this potential severity without direct veterinary involvement, a few of my favorites to use are Betathyme or Moducare, BHI’s Inflammation, Seven Forest’s Reconciling Tablets and, if needed and prescribed through a veterinarian, natural hydrocortisone.

Q
I would like to see if you have any information on deaf animals. I have a 6-month-old chihuahua that is deaf – she was given to us when she was 3 month old. I’m not sure if she was born deaf or if her deafness is treatable. Sometimes it seems she might be able to hear very low rumbling noises but she cannot hear you even if you are standing behind her and scream at her. The vet said everything looked normal in her ears but I would like to see if there might be a treatment for her other than surgery to possibly correct this handicap.

A
The only thing I have seen work with this is acupuncture/aquapuncture. I do remember a study in a textbook I had when I was initially trained and certified in acupuncture back in the 1970s, in which Chinese masters went into a school of almost 300 congenitally deaf children and got more than 90% of them hearing to some degree.

Q
I have been importing propolis tinctures and lately lots of customers have been using the propolis for pets, for wounds, healing, cuts, scrapes and as an antibiotic. Please advise if this will work.

Q
I’m writing about a formerly stray cat with a chronic nasal infection. He’s been on many different antibiotics, most recently Baytril, for staph bacteria found in his nose. I tried a holistic pet solution but it did not help. He is currently on Ester C and olive leaf extract daily. His congestion smells very similar to urine. He sleeps more than average and has a bad habit of licking plastic (related?). What else can I do for him?

Q
I am thinking of adopting a 21/2-year-old mini dashie named Buffy. She is the breeder’s dog, who cannot keep her because she has had a seizure. Buffy’s brother has also had seizure problems. I have a dog from her that is 5 years old and has only had one seizure. I really want this dog so do you have any advice on what to do for the dog to prevent future seizures?