How much is that pet drug in the window?

Pet owners grousing that their vets are ripping them off with high prescription drugs prices, and veterinarians worrying that the shift to Internet and chain pharmacy use by their clients is threatening their ability both to survive economically and to protect their patients' health. What is the truth?

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eFluxMedia

Pets at High Risk Due to Exposure to Chemicals

It seems like everything around has become an enemy for our health lately with reports indicating high levels of toxins in baby bottles and prescription drugs in the water supply. Now, even our pets appear to carry toxic chemicals such as mercury stain-proof coatings and others.

The analysis made by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, collected blood and urine samples from 35 dogs and 37 cats at Hanover Animal Hospital in Mechanicsville, Va. and found 48 industrial chemicals were present.

Click here to read the story

Internet

Like the economy, pet adoptions are down

Every year thousands of pets suffer accidental poisionings because of ignorance on the part of their owners or through access to poisionous substances that the owner was not able to control. Veterinary Pet Insurance recently analyzed claims for pet poisionings in 2007 and came up with some shocking statistics.

Click here to read the story

Ananova

Woman Bites Dog

A Minnesota woman was desperate save her dog from a vicious dog attack, so she bit a pit bull on the nose to get it to let go of her pet.

Click here to read the story.

PET PROS HELP OUR PET OWNERS

This week's answers from our Pros

We have requests from all over the US. If you can help, please let us know:

• 9yo lab with bloody stool: We have a sweet male labrador, approximately 9 years old. A few months ago he started excreting loose bloody stool. It wasn't consistent but became more frequent over time and in addition to blood, mucus was present in the loose stool. We noticed his anal glands terribly swollen.

  The vet checked and stated he had developed an infection most likely from the blood and irritation. The blood and mucus was excessive at this point. He was put on antibiotics and they also performed a biopsy which came back inconclusive- blood counts were fine. The swelling eventually went down.

  The vet was unsure what to make of the situation. Would an x-ray be able to help shed light on what might be ailing him?

  He exhibits no discomfort and his appetite and demeanor are normal. He continues to squat frequently with visible strain but little comes out, just drops of loose stool with blood.

  Our vet urges us to go to a specialist for further testing but our plan does not cover these costs. We are struggling to figure out what our next step should be.

  HELP!!!!!!

  Thank You

  4 Pet Pros responded to this pet owner's question

• Puppy with strangles. Along with traditional, is there some holistic treatments available?: I am the director of a small non profit animal shelter. Today I had a 7# , 7 week old puppy looks like, a lab x turned into me with a severe case of strangles.. Her lymph nodes are enlarged and her glands are swollen The puppy is going on her sixth day of prednisone. My vet added an antibiotic also. The thing is I would also like to add some sort of holistic treatment to help her along but I am looking for guidance as to what would be best for her. This is our first case of strangles and from what I have read so far I believe I should give her a supplement of Glucosamine chondroitin and apply aloe vera or chlorhexadine. Any advice that you can give me to help this poor little girl would be greatly appreciated.

  Thank You

  3 Pet Pros responded to this pet owner's question

• Chihuahua with tumor removed. What can I do to prevent its recurrence?: My 2 year old chihuahua had a mammary tumor removed the pathologist report said it was low grade and completely removed but I would like to find a holistic vet to get help to make sure it doesn't come back

  Thank You

  3 Pet Pros responded to this pet owner's question

• Heartworm Recommendation for older dogs?: What is your recommendation re heart worm? Our dogs are about 6 and 7 yrs old, one has chronic allergy related health problems which have improved w/a sarf diet and minimal vaccs...we haven't gotten them vaccinated for about 5 yrs now. We live in an area which has lots of mosquitoes. What do you recommend re heart worm?

  Thank You

  4 Pet Pros responded to this pet owner's question

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Here are just a few of the many responses we receive each week from pet owners across the US:

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"I want to thank you for your help. Please pass this on. I commend all who work to help sick animals."

LVV, Philadelphia, PA"

Ask A Pet Pro Blog has some new posts. Check it out

More and more sites are linking to us. Here is a link from
Yahoo Answers

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If there are any other suggestions or features you would like to see added or changed about VetLocator.com, please let us know by emailing me at abferguson@vetlocator.com.

Thanks,
Adam