First, here’s a bit more about what you treated your cat for, Notoedric mange.

This information is from Dr.s Foster and Smith website:
Feline scabies is caused by a tiny mite called Notoedres cati. This mite affects cats very much like the sarcoptic mange mite affects dogs; in fact, their life cycles and treatments are very similar. While many cat owners do not realize that cats get mange, as veterinarians, we see and treat this on a regular basis. If your cat suffers from severe itching or hair loss on the head and neck, you should consider having her examined for this mange mite.

Can I get Notoedres from my cat?

As with other mites in the Sarcoptes family, Notoedres can infect humans. The disease, though, is generally self-limiting, causing only temporary itching.
—
So, if your cat left mites behind and they somehow get on you, you can wind up getting them, although they’ll eventually die because they need to live on your cat to survive.

Still, that’s not something you’ll want to take a chance on, so what you can do is wash all bedding and anything else your cat might have been in contact with in hot water, then vacuum, sweep and mop thoroughly.

Best Wishes,
Rose
Customer Care
http://www.vetlocator.com

Ouch! Ear infections are no fun – and your vet is right, Labs are prone to them because of their floppy ears and their love of water. It sounds like your daughter’s vet gave medicine and good advice for treating this cause of ear infections.

There are a few other reasons the condition may be persisting. Here are some that are listed on Dr.s Foster and Smith’s website.

Allergies such as atopy or food allergies (atopy means the allergic reaction appears in an area that was not in contact with what the dog is allergic to – like a rash that appears somewhere because of a food allergy)

Parasites – ear mites

Microorganisms – bacteria and yeast

Foreign bodies, e.g., plant awns (slender plant spikes that can get stuck in fur and work their way under a pet’s skin)

Trauma

Hormonal abnormalities, e.g., hypothyroidism

The ear environment, e.g., excess moisture and ear anatomy

Hereditary or immune conditions, and tumors

As I said, there can be many reasons. Ask your daughter to speak to her vet one more time, and if she feels that she’s not getting helpful answers, have her check with someone else. We have many pet professionals listed in our directory that can help.

Best Wishes,
Joe
Customer Care
http://www.vetlocator.com

I know how concerning this symptom can be in a close friend. It sounds like you’ve had the problem thoroughly checked out by your vet with no good answers.

I can share a couple of other instances I’ve seen dogs huffing and puffing in the past and maybe your vet has already checked on these but if not, you might have them checked next time you are in.

One was with my own older dog who had a heart problem that caused her to breath heavily from time to time after exertion.

The other instance is an older dog with joint problems that would huff and puff when his joints were bothering him.

As I said, your vet may have checked on these already, but if not, there are two other places to look.

Best wishes for your dog’s health,
Joe
Customer Care
http://www.vetlocator.com

Thank you for your request. There are many things you can do for fleas and a quick search on the internet will give you literally dozens of answers.
We are not vets and don’t give veterinary advice, so we always suggest that you work with a vet that you feel good about, and contact them when you have pet health questions.

You can treat fleas with prescription treatments such as Frontline and Advantage one-spot treatments (and some owners won’t use these products on their animals), you can use other over-the-counter products that you get at pet supply stores (some of these have been the focus of recalls in the past, so check before buying anything over the counter), you can use natural treatments from your local natural pet store and health food store and there are things you can do at home that are natural too. The home remedies may not be effective all the time, so be prepared to do constant battle if you choose this route.

As I said, there are literally dozens and dozens of answers.

They all say ONE THING – Get the fleas off your pets!!!! And that is the important thing to accomplish. That and doing it in a way that does not put your pet’s health at risk while you get rid of the fleas.

Best wishes,
Rose
Customer Care
http://www.vetlocator.com

Our recommendation is you educate yourself, then check with your vet if your pet has any health issues. A good diet can help with many pet health problems.

Best Wishes,
Linda
VetLocator.com

That’s a good question, and there is no one set answer to it.

Some people insist that a raw diet (raw meat and veges or all meat) is the best diet for a dog because, before owners began cooking food for their pets, that is what a dog would eat in the wild.

As we began caring for pets, we would share our food with them – introducing cooked food as a regular part of their diet.

Today the vast percentage of pets eat a diet of dry and canned food. Why? Because of convenience and marketing from pet food companies. Some of these diets are good and many are not good. There is so much information about this on the internet – the truth about what has gone into many of the commercially available pet foods – that it is sickening. However, there are also many pet food companies that are working hard to make sure their formulations are healthy for your pet.

If you prepare your pet’s food, you do know what he or she is being fed and that is a very good thing in light of the catastrophe of a few years back when one of the ingredients commonly added to commercial pet food turned out to be melamine – which caused many dogs and cats to die a terrible death.

However, it takes time and dedication for a pet owner to feed raw. If you can do it and feed a balanced meal, you are a pretty special pet parent. It’s always a good idea to consult your vet or a pet dietician – there are folks who specialize in this field – if you choose to go homecooked or raw for your pet.

Warm Regards,
Linda
http://www.vetlocator.com

This is something that needs to be checked out by your veterinarian immediately. Cats get urinary tract infections easily and they can prove to be fatal if not addressed in a timely fashion. I’m not saying that is what the problem is, because your cat needs to be checked out, but I am saying you need to have him checked quickly.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your cat.

Sincerely,
Taylor
Blog Administrator
http://www.vetlocator.com

I’d suggest you talk to other Pomeranian owners on what success they’ve had with their dogs. I know diet is important for dogs and some dogs can have allergies that cause the problems you describe.

Here’s a list of Pomeranian FAQ’s that might be helpful: http://www.pomerama.com/faqindex.htm

Do you have a veterinarian picked out for your dog yet? If not, you can search our directory and then call and question the vets you find to see which one makes you the happiest. It’s a process that is worth the time you invest to find a good vet fit for you and your new dog.

Sincerely,
Taylor

Thank you for writing about your cat. We are not veterinarians here and don’t answer your questions directly, but I’ll post this on the blog for our pros to respond to. I also wanted to tell you one thing I’ve learned about cats that is a golden rule:

Any time a cat has a dramatic change in temperament, such as what you are describing, you need to have her seen by a veterinarian right away. When a cat has an internal issue they can respond the way yours is and you want to get to the reason she’s acting the way she is.

So my recommendation is to call your house call vet out to do a thorough physical on her once again. There is something going on.

We will post your question as well for any other responses.

Best wishes for your cat’s return to her old self,
Taylor Blog Administrator
http://www.vetlocator.com