Q
My dog, Jasper, who is 15, has hip dysplasia; otherwise she is quite healthy, eats well, and likes to go for “ambles”. Her main problem is that, when she stands up or walks more than ten yards, she gently collapses on her right side. Her right leg has become weaker and her musculature, especially around the knee, is not what it was. Her vets say she is too old to withstand a hip operation, hence I am seeking some viable alternative. Is there a device, like a knee or leg brace, that could be fitted on her to help give her leg, as an underpinning to her hip, some extra support?

A
I feel that answering the last part of your question should be done by a hands-on veterinarian, preferably one with some orthopedic experience, who can examine Jasper and observe the way she walks. I have seen and used slings with handles for the rear quarters with a lot of success. My major recommendation would be more one of internal support as this is what I have seen work in tens of thousands of cases over the last three decades. Recommendations include: homeopathic treatment for arthritis such as Muscle Joint Drops by Professional Health Products, an herbal formulation contain ingredients like yucca, alfalfa and devil’s claw, a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement and/or Glycoflex III by Vetri Science Labs. Additionally, you could consider acupuncture and possibly chiropractic.

Editor’s note: For a variety of products for older dogs, including slings with handles, check out handicappedpets.com

Q
I have a cat named Pumpkinator whom we rescued. We have a colony of ferals that we tend to and she has always been the sickest of the bunch. I am in need of advice as to what herbs we can use to help her have normal stools (they are so loose and smell so bad). She is about five pounds and will not groom herself.

A
It sounds like she has inflammatory bowel disease, a condition we see all too often. Fortunately, we have been very successful with alternative treatment and getting cats off all conventional medications and back to normal. Here’s a list of several of the many things we would use: Acetylator by Vetri Science Labs, the herb slippery elm (either by itself at 1/5 the human dose or in pre-formulated combinations for intestinal function), the potato diet I wrote about in my book The Nature of Animal Healing (you can omit the slice of leek as it is in the onion family which is supposedly toxic to cats), and a homeopathic combination remedy such as BHI Diarrhea mixed with BHI Intestine, Diarrhea Aid by Professional Health Products or Diar-Relief by Dr Goodpet. Always, the switch to a very high quality diet of whole foods can, in general, do wonders with conditions like this. Two other commercially available products that could help include a hydrolyzed fish product called Seacure and Primal Defense by Garden of Life.

Q
My seven-year-old female golden mix, Morgan, has sebaceous cysts on various areas of her body. Some have burst, the others are not bothering or hurting her. Is there a supplement (or treatment) I could give her to clear up the cysts? I have been told the cysts are basically zits. Is that true?

A
Yes, this is basically true. Remember, the skin is a powerful eliminative organ. “What goes in must come out.” Sometimes, just improving a dog’s diet to high quality, whole foods with an emphasis towards raw alone can remedy the situation. The addition of broad spectrum digestive enzymes and antioxidant enzymes can also have a good effect. And lastly, the homeopathic combination mercurius heel (which contains hepar sulf) from Heel can aid in improvement.

Q
I have an almost 13-year-old male Shih Tzu. In July of 2003 he had emergency bladder surgery for struvite stones, after which I took him off all commercial dry dog food. We decided I would make home-cooked meals of brown rice or oats, organic chicken or turkey and

Q
My parents have a nine-year-old Pekingnese who has just been diagnosed with autoimmune deficiency. He started acting strange about four days ago and then his symptoms started to include loss of energy, cough with blood at times, temperature drop to 97°, and an inability to catch his breath due to coughing when he gets excited. After keeping him in the hospital for three days, the clinic released him to my parents and said they were unfamiliar with this disease and were still learning how to treat it. The only treatment as of now is Prednisone. Have you heard of this disease and of possible treatments as well as side effects from both the meds and illness? (Another serious problem he had was severe anemia, but my parents got him to the vet in time to avoid having to have a blood transfusion.)

Q
Our 12-year-old Chow Chow sneezes and has blood mixed with mucus coming out of her nose. Is this something to be concerned about? We live five hours by car away from a vet.