Q
My 11 1/2-year-old female Lab, Duchess, has bladder stones. She was put on Baytril (antibiotic) for ten days because of bacteria in her urine, but it hasn’t helped. My vet wants to continue with another type of antibiotic. She really strains to relieve herself and I know she is uncomfortable. What do you suggest?

A
Without reviewing her case directly (x-rays, sonogram, hands on examination, etc.), I don’t want to pass final judgment, but this appears to be a surgical case. I have only rarely seen bladder stones dissolve with the use of certain nutraceuticals, and this was over a period of time and in pets that were not straining and showing clinical symptoms. Once the stones are out and analyzed for type, alternative measures can be taken to prevent recurrence.

Q
I took my one-year-old cat to be spayed a few weeks ago. Now she is constantly licking the place on her leg where her fur was shaved so they could draw blood. She has developed a sore in that area. Is there any way to stop her from licking so the spot can heal?

A
A cat’s barbed tongue feels almost like sandpaper. In general, just breaking the lick cycle will lead to healing (i.e., bandaging the area). Topical ointments, such as calendula, arnica, Traumed (by Heel) and many others are available in health food stores, and can aid tremendously with inflammation and in the healing process.

Q
My collie, who had a stroke about a month ago and has hip problems, has gone down and won’t get up without help. My vet has her on Rimadyl, and once she is up, she walks well. She is also on glucosamine with MSN three times a day. The vet started her on prednisone and switched to the Rimadyl. The stroke symptoms have subsided. Do you have any suggestions?

A
Top of the list would be acupuncture, possibly combined with chiropractic, if you can find a veterinarian well versed in these practices. Because of the potential side effects, I always try to replace Rimadyl with naturally based remedies and supplements. I would get a combination homeopathic remedy indicated for arthritis (i.e. Muscle/Joint Drops by PHP or Zeel by Heel) and an herbal formula for joint problems that contains herbs such as yucca, alfalfa and devil’s claw. There are very good Chinese herbals available if you can find a veterinarian experienced with their usage. You can also go to a good health food store and research other products that address these conditions. In our facility, we place patients with conditions like this on a three to four-day course of intravenous therapy containing high levels of vitamin C, and administer injectable homeopathic remedies.

Q
My dog Annie, who is about six years old, has a weak bladder. The vet took a urine sample and found her urine to be “watered down” (urinary incontinent problem) and gave me some medicine to help her bladder. She had a normal blood panel. The vet wants me to monitor her for a couple of months then bring her back for a re-check and testing (maybe early kidney disease). Annie eats holistic food and gets plenty of exercise. Do you have any suggestions for holistic treatment?

A
Be highly aware of any temptation or force to vaccinate her. At the age of six, she is most certainly immune for life to the standard diseases. The only exception involves the legalities of rabies vaccines in your area. If she truly has a kidney problem, giving any vaccination should first be discussed thoroughly with your veterinarian, as autoimmune glomerulo-nephritis affecting the kidneys has been shown to be a reported side effect. If there really is a kidney problem, then I would recommend the following: a kidney glandular; a homeopathic remedy combination containing a kidney sarcode (i.e. Renal Drops by PHP); a vitamin A supplement (like fish oil); and an herbal formula indicated for the kidney/bladder, typically containing uva ursi and juniper berry, among others.

Q
I have an adorable 10-month-old female kitten named Scout. She has had a fungal infection around her nose since I adopted her at the age of three months. My vet gave me a medicine called Surolan to clean her nose with. Initially the infection went away but kept coming back every couple of months. She is on a homemade diet of cooked chicken, a grain (usually millet) and supplements. Apparently, vitamins A, D, C and E are required to treat fungus (or so I’ve read). What I’m asking is what dosage should she be given? Do you have any other suggestions on how to treat fungus?

Q
How does one become a holistic vet? I am interested but don’t know what route or school to look at.