Protect Your Pets: Viewer questions

Oreo Thuggalette Meister: "My cat Kiwi is constantly climbing up my [curtains] [I have] laying in the window. I give her time to be in the sun on the patio everyday. What do I do to get her to stop? Thanks."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Cats need to be entertained otherwise they tend to entertain themselves. Consider getting scratching posts and toys. You can even make your own scratching posts with leftover carpet. Try some catnip. Good luck!"

Jessica Donelan: "My dog broke his nail on the top part of the inside of his foot. Is there anything I can put over it so the quick isn't [wounded] while it heals?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "You can try booties that you can buy at a Pet supply store or an old sock. This tends to be fairly painful and can even get infected. He may need some type of medical intervention if there is no improvement. If you notice any signs that concern you, especially limping or swelling, I would call your family veterinarian for an exam."

Lisa Burnham: "I own a 14 month old victorian bulldog and we have [worked] hard and long with her but she's still very aggressive toward other dogs who bark at her??? Any suggestions?? Please."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Aggression is a very difficult "behavior" to overcome on your own. I would consider contacting a trainer that will come to your home rather than a group training session. I do not have any personal experience with one trainer, but I have had clients have good results with Dog Busters. You can get more information at: http://www.barkbusters.com."

Aaron Grant: "My German Sheppard keeps scratching himself against our [gate] and he has some scratches and hair loss in that spot. He is about 10 years old and stubborn at times.."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Skin disease is a very complex issue, especially in older pets. I would call your family veterinarian and schedule an exam. A complete examination gives us so much information and can sometimes lead us in one direction or another. A few common reasons that pets can itch include, but are not limited to: Fleas, Allergies, Anxiety, External Parasites, Ringworm....
The list is endless. I would again, strongly recommend scheduling an exam with your family veterinarian."

Angel Mecillas: "Best cure for fleas?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "The key to getting rid of fleas is prevention. You need to be sure that you treat:
1) ALL pets in the household; this includes the cats that come in and out as they please bringing fleas in your house
2) The house. I always recommend doing the same thing at least every 2 weeks for 3 months. For example: vacuum and empty the bag or canister and be sure to double bag the contents and get it out of your house ASAP, wash any and all fabric that you can that the pet comes in contact with. Whatever method you use for your home to try to rid the fleas, this needs to be repeated several times as mentioned above
3) The yard. Either have a pest control company come out regularly or do it yourself.
Moral of the story: You cannot just treat the pet for a few months with a flea preventative without addressing the other aspects and expect good results. There are a good number of good flea preventatives on the market, so the decision should be based on your life style and the product your family veterinarian recommends. Always be sure to purchase these products from your trusted veterinarian rather than online to ensure authenticity of the product."

Lori Williamson Alger: "I have a Yorkie and he has 2 sets of K-9 teeth...what is up with that?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "This can happen when the deciduous teeth (baby teeth) do not fall out as expected. This can be very common in smaller breeds. We recommend extraction of the baby teeth at the time of neutering."

Abby Lynn Corley: "My lab has a bacterial ear infection caused by an allergy. Is there a common allergy for labs? I am [trying] to avoid having to single out one thing at a time."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Allergies can be very frustrating. I myself, have a dog with a food allergy, so I understand your concern. The 3 most common allergies in dogs are Flea allergy, Food allergy, and/or an Environmental allergy (weed, pollen, etc). Your family veterinarian can go over with you the most appropriate steps in which to start ruling these out based on the clinical signs and responsiveness to different therapies. You may want to consider allergy testing. There will never be a "cure" for your dog's allergies unfortunately, but you can keep his symptoms at bay by following the recommendations of your family veterinarian. It will be a life long commitment, but most dogs live perfectly normal lives with a few adjustments (new diet, anti-histamines, allergy injections, etc)."

Amanda Alig Carlin: "I have an older Chihuahua and he still barks at the door and anyone who comes through it. How do we stop him from doing that. His name is Taco."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "I would consider a trainer. I do not have any personal experience with one trainer, but I have had clients have good results with Dog Busters. You can get more information at: http://www.barkbusters.com."

Andrew McDonald: "What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow carrying a coconut?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Good question! Get back to me with the answer and I'll be sure to share."

Kelly Robinson-Edenfield: "I have a rottweiler that has a foot [fetish]. He constantly licks and cleans his feet. He also chews his toenails, so we don't have to worry about clipping them. There are no apparent rashes or other skin conditions. He does not have fleas either. Does my dog just have OCD?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Dogs that chew at their feet typically do it for 1 of 2 reasons: Allergies or Anxiety. Not to say that it couldn't be something else. If he tends to do it after he comes in from being outside, he may have an allergy to something in your yard (grass, weed). If there is no obvious abnormalities on examination that your family veterinarian has noticed, you should consider a behavior consult. It may genuinely be anxiety. Contact your family veterinarian to see if they offer behavior consults and if not, do they recommend a Veterinary Behaviorist. Check this out: http://smallanimal.vethospital.ufl.edu/clinical-services/behavior."

Janet Rice: "What Can You Do For Treating Hot Spots? I Have A Golden Retriever And She Is Constantly Chewing On Them. Thanks."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Hot spots are very difficult to treat at home without some medical intervention from your family veterinarian. They are typically secondary to some other issue so you need to get down to the root of the problem. Fleas and allergies are common culprits."

Martha Resto Perez: "Hi, I have a 2 year old toy poodle... she scratches [a lot] and I noticed fleas. I gave her few baths in oatmeal and flea shampoo and don't see any, but she continues to scratch? Please help me :)"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "The key to getting rid of fleas is prevention. Flea shampoos will kill the fleas on the pet, but do not have any residual activity. So in other words, the fleas will just jump right back on your pet once they dry. You need to be sure that you treat:
1) ALL pets in the household; this includes the cats that come in and out as they please bringing fleas in your house
2) The house. I always recommend doing the same thing at least every 2 weeks for 3 months. For example: vacuum and empty the bag or canister and be sure to double bag the contents and get it out of your house ASAP, wash any and all fabric that you can that the pet comes in contact with. Whatever method you use for your home to try to rid the fleas, this needs to be repeated several times as mentioned above
3) The yard. Either have a pest control company come out regularly or do it yourself.
Moral of the story: You cannot just treat the pet for a few months with a flea preventative without addressing the other aspects and expect good results. There are a good number of good flea preventatives on the market, so the decision should be based on your life style and the product your family veterinarian recommends. Always be sure to purchase these products from your trusted veterinarian rather than online to ensure authenticity of the product."

Dracie Wilson-Shute: "We have a 21 week old Doberman puppy with a nipping problem..what techniques can we use that would be affective to help break him of this problem?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "For puppies, the best advice I can give is BE CONSISTENT! Never let them chew or nip at you, despite how cute it may be. These cute puppies will eventually turn into big dogs with bad habits. Try substituting for something that is acceptable for the puppy to chew on. I love Kongs personally, but there are a ton of options when it comes to toys for puppies. If you cannot get a handle on the situation by yourself, I would consider a trainer. I do not have any personal experience with one trainer, but I have had clients have good results with Dog Busters. You can get more information at: http://www.barkbusters.com."

Evelyn Grace: "Where is the best vet facility to take our 3 dogs that is inexpensive, but gives great care of animals? My dog has [heart worms] and he has to go through a rough process to get rid of them, but the estimate we got was almost $2,000. Please help! Thank you!"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "It depends on your location, but there are so many fantastic hospitals in the greater Jacksonville area. If you are happy with the relationship you have built with your family veterinarian, I wouldn't switch for cost alone. It is our goal to carry you through the health care of the pet from infant to senior, so that relationship we build with you is huge. I would consider discussing it with your family veterinarian to see if they would consider some type of payment option. Another consideration is Care Credit. You can get more information at http://www.carecredit.com."

Wanda Rhoden: "I have a 10yr old chihuahua & her nails grow so fast. When I take her to the vet she starts shaking real bad & breaths real hard. She [tries] to bite [whoever] comes get her to clip her nails. They gotta get her from behind & hold her neck. At her age will she go into shock or have a heart attack?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "It is always a concern of ours with senior pets to try not to stress them out. A heart attack really depends on the health of her heart. Has she been previously diagnosed with heart disease? If so, you should discuss your concerns with your family veterinarian and other options."

Diane Willhite: "Why does my little dog smell so bad? I can't stand to hold her. She is old and I take her to doctor and he never says anything is wrong she just has a bad doggie smell."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Usually a "bad doggy smell" is due to something rather than just old age. Examples include, bad dental health, skin infections, etc. If you're not happy with the answer you're getting, get a second opinion."

Evelyn Grace: "We use Dawn dish detergent to bath and kill fleas. What is the best thing to use to get rid of the fleas in your yard that is safe for pets?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "I like 2 products for the yard: Bayer Advanced or Yard Spray made by Virbac. The key to getting rid of fleas is prevention. You need to be sure that you treat:
1) ALL pets in the household; this includes the cats that come in and out as they please bringing fleas in your house
2) The house. I always recommend doing the same thing at least every 2 weeks for 3 months. For example: vacuum and empty the bag or canister and be sure to double bag the contents and get it out of your house ASAP, wash any and all fabric that you can that the pet comes in contact with. Whatever method you use for your home to try to rid the fleas, this needs to be repeated several times as mentioned above
3) The yard. Either have a pest control company come out regularly or do it yourself.
Moral of the story: You cannot just treat the pet for a few months with a flea preventative without addressing the other aspects and expect good results. There are a good number of good flea preventatives on the market, so the decision should be based on your life style and the product your family veterinarian recommends. Always be sure to purchase these products from your trusted veterinarian rather than online to ensure authenticity of the product."

Heather Brown-Jarrett: "Dog keeps licking paws, yorkie poo dog. Is this allergies or how can you tell if this is a yeast infection?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Your family veterinarian can differentiate between the two with some diagnostics. Sometimes certain breeds may be allergic to yeast, which can make the whole scenario very confusing. Your family veterinarian may need to prescribe an anti-fungal if he/she deems appropriate."

Dee Rowell: "Is it possible for one very negative experience in a dog's life to turn him into a distrusting paranoid dog, such as being boarded for a week? Can bad things happen by those taking care of them there that can do that? One of ours was totally changed when we boarded one of ours for a week and he has been a paranoid distrusting snapping little dog ever since. That was over 7 years ago."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Possibly. You may be a good candidate for a behavior consult. Check this out: http://smallanimal.vethospital.ufl.edu/clinical-services/behavior."

Krista Burke Wallace: "How do you help a dog with separation anxiety? We have a 1 yr old rescue & he hates to be left alone. He starts to shake when he knows we're about to leave for work."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "There are so many options for separation anxiety: Thunder Shirt, Drugs, Pheromones, Behavior Modifications, Herbs, etc. I would speak with your family veterinarian to see which of the following, or maybe even a combination they may recommend. Separation Anxiety is a common reason people schedule behavior consults. Check this out:  http://smallanimal.vethospital.ufl.edu/clinical-services/behavior."

Tiffany Swanson: "We are introducing a female pekingese into our group of boys (1 pekingese 13 weeks, and two boy shih tzus about 20 weeks). What is the safest way to do that? Should we keep her separated for a while. She will be coming home in about 6 weeks."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "I always recommend keeping new pets separate for about 1 week. This is a good idea for puppies since they may not be fully vaccinated or may have internal parasites. As far as introducing them, I would give them short bursts of introduction when they can be supervised. Usually puppies are very laid back and get along well with other dogs pretty quickly. During the week that the dogs are kept separate, you can let them smell items that the other dog(s) have been using (blankets, cloth toys, etc)."

Krissy Ann Rebish: "How old is too old for a dog to be vaccinated? Our dog has never had his shots. We were told when we got him that he would die if we got him his shots now. He is 4ish."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "The only reason I recommend NOT vaccinating a dog is for the following reasons:
1) Previously diagnosed with vaccine reaction
2) Previously diagnosed with a disease that would cause harm if we vaccinate (some immune mediated diseases)
3) Senior pets that are well vaccinated and may not be at risk for certain diseases (Corona)
Whoever told you that your pet would die if they received the first set of vaccines at the age of 4, is unfortunately incorrect and uneducated. I recommend finding a veterinarian for your family pets, if you do not already have one, and establish that relationship."

Heather Steele Hernandez: "What's a good way to keep them from jumping the fence!"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "For those dogs that continually jump the fence I recommend a few things:
1) Invisible Fence
2) Tallest Fence available
3) Leave the pet inside or in a run built outside
4) Spay or Neuter your pet to prevent over population
5) Microchip your pet in the instance he/she is lost
6) If you have an isolated area of the yard where you think your pet is getting out, set up a video so you can catch them in the act. You might see something you're missing that might help you prevent this."

Crystal Pagni: "Why do my dogs eat dirt? They have regular vet visits and are wormed on a regular basis. They are healthy and get good check ups. I feed them beniful healthy weight and mix fresh cooked chicken thighs twice a day. Are they missing minerals? Should I try wet dog food instead of chicken?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "Sometimes dogs just eat dirt, just like sometimes dogs just eat poop. Unfortunately, there is no research based answer to tell you why dogs are weird and eat these things."

Uma Kayla G: "After medicated bath, prednisone, antibiotics and allergy medicine, my dog is still itching, chewing and losing fur in places. She has been tested for mange and it was negative. Any idea what it could be?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "The most common causes for itchy skin are: Skin infections, external parasites, allergies, and/or fleas. The list is endless, but the key is compliance and length of treatment. It sounds like you've tried a good amount of treatment options with your family veterinarian, so maybe you should consider a referral to a Veterinary Dermatologist."

Heather White: "My 15 week old puppy gets the [hiccups] all the time. Is this harmful, will they go away and should I do anything? And any suggestions for chewing...."

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "They are not harmful and he/she will grow out of them. For puppies, the best advice I can give is BE CONSISTENT! Never let them chew or nip at you, despite how cute it may be. These cute puppies will eventually turn into big dogs with bad habits. Try substituting for something that is acceptable for the puppy to chew on. I love Kongs personally, but there are a ton of options when it comes to toys for puppies. If you cannot seem to get a handle on the situation by yourself, I would consider a trainer. I do not have any personal experience with one trainer, but I have had clients have good results with Dog Busters. You can get more information at: http://www.barkbusters.com. Good luck!"

Christy Hilton-Hall: "We have a yellow lab he is about 3 years old, every time it rains or he gets his feet wet he is constantly licking and chewing on them even when we dry his feet after being wet. We have taken him to the vet numerous times and they keep saying it's a food allergy, we've changed his food to their recommended foods and it still hasn't helped, what else could it be? After trying the very expensive brands of dog food (giving them time to work of course) now he is back on the Purina ONE that he has always been on. Any help would be greatly appreciated!"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "If you have tried a true food trial for 8-12 weeks with no response then I would consider allergy testing. You can do this at your family veterinarian or at a veterinary dermatologist. Keep in mind that a true food trial needs to be either a hydrolyzed protein diet or a novel protein diet. The pet shouldn't get anything by mouth except this diet, that includes treats, flavored medications, flavored [heart worm] or flea prevention, or flavored toys."

Lisa Holland: "I have a one year old Doberman that jumps on guest when they come in, she loves people, but I have not been able to break her of the jumping. We have ignored her and crossed our arms but that doesn't work either! Any advice?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "I would consider a trainer to come to your home. I do not have any personal experience with one trainer, but I have had clients have good results with Dog Busters. You can get more information at: http://www.barkbusters.com. Good luck!"

Kathi King: "I have a 10 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix - 65 lbs. Would love to take her to a dog park for socializing but there is one major problem: she HATES female dogs! She will attack a dog once she learns it is female. Can anything be done besides muzzling?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "If your dog is not spayed, that may help. I would consider a trainer to come to your home and possibly go with you to the dog park. I do not have any personal experience with one trainer, but I have had clients have good results with Dog Busters. You can get more information at: http://www.barkbusters.com. If a trainer is unable to help you, I would just stop going to the dog park. Good luck!"

Cheryl Benyacko Thibodeau: "What are the benefits [of] giving Mila to your pets?"

Dr. Tiffany Mosley: "I have never heard of this product. I would imagine all the benefits of giving a veterinary approved fatty acid supplement would be the benefits."