Q
I have an eight-year-old Lab/malamute cross. We just got her from a shelter, and recently found she is suffering from a food allergy. She has very sore paws; they are very inflamed and she bites them a lot relieve the itch. Also, her anal area is very swollen. We have put her on a special hypo-allergenic diet recommended by our vet. Can you offer some advice on how else we her can deal with this problem?

A
A hypo-allergenic diet is a good start, but make sure the ingredients are high quality real food. Remember that dogs are true carnivores and a lot of the processed carbohydrates put into commercial products are very congstive to the system and can serve as a basis for diseases like allergies. Home prepared foods, ideally a raw diet (if she can acclimate to it), would be best. There are also many nutraceuticals and naturally based remedies to address allergies. Some of the most common that we have used in our practice include beta-sitosterol, in the brands Betathyme by Doctors Mutual or Moduvet, herbal formulations with nettles, echinacea, calendula and licorice, and homeopathic combination formulas containing ingredients like histamine, graphites, psorinum, silicea and mercurius. The best advice would be to see veterinarian trained in alternatives and homeopathy. A natural form of cortisone is available but would have to be prescribed through a veterinarian.

Q
My dog Maggie, a Shitzu-poo, has many health problems which all seemed to start the minute she had her first shots. Her back end is missing hair and the skin is blackened from all her chewing. Her skin seems scaly and her whole body is bright pink under her fur. I haven’t taken her back to the vet as he only gave her antibiotics and they didn’t work that well. Her ears are constantly getting infected. I use ear wash and ear drops and that clears them up for a short time, but it keeps recurring. Right now, fleas are driving her crazy. I use flea shampoo, spray all her sleeping places, and put drops of flea-killing substance on the back of her neck, but nothing seems to help. I am due to take Maggie for her shots but my gut tells me they are what started all this. What can I do next? And isn’t it the law to get rabies shots?

A
I agree with your instinct on this, especially based on experiences I've had working with thousands of animals whose problems, many similar to Maggie’s, arose after vaccination. The symptoms you describe are typical of the condition known as vaccinosis. There is also something called the “allergic breakthrough phenomena” which is a worsening of a common form of allergy, called atopy, by vaccination. Although I don’t know the legalities concerning vaccines in your area, I’m sure the only enforceable one is rabies. With Maggie’s condition, I strongly advise against anything except exploring the rabies requirements. Be aware that all vaccinations come with a statement that they are intended for use in healthy animals only. In my state, we can write a letter of excusal for an animal that is ill, and having a positive titer only helps the case. As far as treatments go, there is a myriad of products that could work. I cover many in my book. My number one recommendation would be to consult a veterinarian qualified in alternative treatments, especially homeopathy.

Q
I have a ferret with a tumor on her left adrenal gland. Is there an alternative to surgery?

A
If an experienced veterinarian has a relatively good success rate with these, then surgery may be the advisable start (depending on the severity of the mass and how much it is affecting your ferret). I have had a couple of successes using nutraceuticals for the adrenal (e.g. adrenal glandulars like Doctors Mutual Adrenal Support), nutraceuticals based on blood result imbalances, and homeopathic Adrenal Drops by Professional Health Products.

Q
I am concerned about giving Heartgard/Interceptor and Frontline to my two goldens (six and nine years). What do you recommend that is safe and does the job?

Q
Our cat, Caitlin, stays indoors, but eats a raw diet and does catch the odd mouse at our cabin. Is she at risk for toxoplasmosis? From what I understand, it isn’t all that dangerous for her, but we’re planning to start a family and I don’t want to contract this disease when I’m pregnant.

Q
I have a 11/2-year-old female cat. Since she is an indoor cat who only occasionally goes out on a leash in the backyard, I have not had her vaccinated. My vet says that if she goes outside at all, she is at risk, since some diseases are airborne. Can you advise?