Dr. Cherri Trusheim of Urban Animal joined KING 5 Morning News to answer viewers' pet questions.
Audrey Hoover: We have a 2-year-old American Eskimo who constantly chews on her back end. She was diagnosed as being highly allergic to fleas but of course we can't keep them all away. She is on allergy shots and apoquel to help with the itching. Any ideas on what else we can do to help her eliminate some of the medicines?
Dr. Trusheim: Unfortunately, severe allergic dermatitis can be very challenging to manage. Most dogs do need lots of medications and perhaps allergy injections. I assume you are working with a dermatologist. If not, might be your best bet. Good luck!
Doreen Marino: My soft coated Wheaten Terrier Thor is an older guy 8 years old- sometimes when he is laying down I see his hind legs area shake, is it old age or a more serious issue?
Dr. Trusheim: We always say "age is not a disease" We do see degenerative joint disease/arthritis frequently in aging dogs. A good exam by your veterinarian will help determine if this is the case. Joint supplementation with glucosamine and MSM can be helpful. There comes a time when routing anti-inflammatory therapy can be beneficial.
Niki Olivier: I recently took my tabby cat to the vet for her shots and also to discuss her allergies... Turns out the vet diagnosed her with herpes... ( awkward) lol anyway I understand that herpes is a virus and there is no medication or vaccine to help/ cure it. My question is what can we do to make her more comfortable? She can hardly breathe and sneezes so hard it wipes her out I will add she is only 4 years old.
Dr. Trusheim: Well, herpes is a common cause of upper respiratory symptoms in cats. They can have flares of conjunctivitis, sneezing and congestion. The flare ups tend to wax and wane just like herpes in people. The virus will be latent (quiet with out symptoms) and then cause symptoms in times of stress. Lysine is an amino acid supplement that can help decrease the frequency of flares. Also, if symptoms last more that 7-10 there could be secondary bacterial infection or something else going on. I'd recommend a recheck at that point. Good luck.
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