This holiday season, the Humane Society of the United States would like to share its 7 steps to a happier pet:
- Make sure your pet wears an identification tag
- Make sure you enroll your new puppy in behavioural training classes to prevent problems
- Animal behavioural problems can be health-related. Make sure your pet has a complete medical exam by a veterinarian at least once a year
- Prepare for disasters and make sure you have a plan for your pet in the event of a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood or earthquake
- Plan for your pet’s future in case something happens to you
- Learn how to prevent dog bites and how to prevent your dog from biting; visit the Humane Society’s website.
- Have a heart, be smart, and make sure your pet is spayed or neutered.
DoggyMom.com 
Hi and Happy December to you!
I’m wondering if you know about hypoallergenic dog food or home made recipes. My dog is allergic to something, but I don’t know what yet. We thought she had HGE, but now we think instead she is either allergic to her food or something in our environment. She’s had lots of lab work done and a recent ultra sound on her belly, after intermittent bouts of bloody diarrhea. No diarrhea now, but she still smacks her lips and licks her rectal area. The only test that wasn’t normal, which I can’t remember the name of, and was slightly elevated, indicates either some type of allergy or parasites.
I gave my girl, who is eight and named Ruthie Mae, one dose of Panacur C, night before last, and a few minutes later, she had an upper respiratory and itching reaction. She settled down but I didn’t give her the second dose due at 1am this morning. I’m calling the Vet about this, and I think they will say to give it, as I bought some Benadryl if she reacts, but I was scared to do it at 1am b/c I might have to drive to hospital 45 minutes away.
We don’t know if she has worms. The fecal float was normal, but of course, some worms are hard to detect. She has been in leaves and areas where there very well could have been worms, which she will not be going back to, but it’s a place where dogs have pooped a lot over the years and she trampled through the area several times.
The vets suggested Purina HP, but is expensive. She’s on canned Hill’s ID, but doesn’t get satisfied and I think she needs to chew food.
I have a good vet, but I thought I’d write you anyway, just to see if you had ever seen an allergic reaction to Panacur C and also to ask about “hydrolyzed” protein, which the HP food is.
Thanks, and if you have any ideas, I’m all ears. I love your blog too 🙂
Michelle and Ruthie Mae.
Hi Michelle
I can tell you are frustrated and concerned…Dogs can react to a range of medications and if their immune system is already overwhelmed, then they can be hypersensitive. I’m not a vet, but that has been my experience working with vulnerable dogs.
In my nutrition practice, I do help owners manage special diets. The solutions, which I reach based on Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment principles combined with a review of veterinary records, are usually a combination of commercial foods, homemade/raw, and supplementation. Ruthie Mae has a somewhat complicated case and there are lots of details about what you’ve written that I would need to clarify with you in terms of health history. I would need to do a full consultation with you in order to give you suggestions that were soundly based. The cost for this, using email and Skype for communication, is NZ$85. This includes you sending me her veterinary records, an interview via Skype of approximately 30-45 minutes, and my suggestions via return email. You can pay using Paypal (Visa or Mastercard). Please let me know if you’d like to go down this track. My email is info@caninecatering.co.nz