Question:

I read that garlic is toxic to dogs and cats. I have been giving my cat one brewer's yeast with garlic tablet daily as a treat. I am now concerned about the garlic in this tablet, but my cat does not like the plain brewer's yeast. Is the amount of garlic in such a supplement also toxic? If it is, I wonder why a company such as "veterinarian approved" Four Paws would expose itself to possible litigation by including garlic in this product. The bottle pictures both a cat and a dog. Thank you for your advice.

A-M.M., Clemmons, NC Jun 15, 2008

Answer:

A good question: How toxic is garlic to cats and dogs? Garlic and onions belong to the lily family. The lily is the cat's "death flower" -- cats chewing on decorative flower arrangements that include any type of lily flower are at risk. An alkaloid in lilies, garlic and onions affect an enzyme in red blood cells that makes hemoglobin oxidize. This can mean -- depending on how much is eaten -- acute anemia or chronic anemia with regular, low quantity consumption. So, no garlic or onions for cats! Dogs may be less susceptible, but err on the side of safety. I no longer recommend feeding garlic or onions, cooked or raw. Japanese breeds like the Akita may be more susceptible to onion poisoning than other breeds.

Question:

I have an 11-year-old, female Japanese Chin. In November, she had her teeth cleaned, and some were extracted. That night, we had a flood in our bathroom from a leaking pipe that overflowed into the master and guest bedrooms. The disaster-recovery people came and cleaned up the water and shampooed the carpet the next day. Two days later, my dog developed a bad, hacking cough. She has been coughing ever since. I took her to the vet, and he examined her and took an X-ray. He said she had pneumonia and put her on antibiotics and a cough suppressant. He also gave her a shot to stop the coughing. She was on the medication for two weeks, and the coughing stopped until the cough suppressants and antibiotics were finished. The vet keeps telling me she's congested, but from what? He keeps giving me a prescription for the cough suppressants and the antibiotics. It has now been three months, and my dog is still coughing. I feel that the vet is treating the symptoms and not the source of the problem.

G.S., Lewisville, NC Jun 15, 2008

Answer:

Your poor dog is like the proverbial canary in a coal mine. New carpets give off toxic fumes, from formaldehyde to thyroid-damaging, fire-retardant bromide compounds. Carpet cleaners that are not "green" can leave residues of potentially toxic, allergy-triggering chemicals. Find out what the carpet cleaners used and let me know. Have the carpeting shampooed again, but apply a thorough sprinkling of baking soda two to three hours before cleaning with hot water only. Ventilate the rooms well as the carpets dry. Cover them with cotton sheets for a few days. This may help your dog recover from what seems like an allergic bronchitis. It could also have a psychogenic component associated with the emotional stress of the invading carpet cleaners, compounded by the trauma of major dental surgery.

Question:

I purchased a female beagle eight years ago, and I have been fighting allergies or something related since shortly after the purchase.Since she was a young puppy, she has looked like an old dog. Her eyes stay swollen, and her hair periodically falls out. I have spent thousands of dollars on medications, allergy tests, etc., and she still looks and feels the same. She scratches at her skin so much that she causes it to bleed.I feel so bad for her and what she has to go through, but I feel hopeless in getting her help. I have tried switching vets, and nothing seems to work. One vet said my dog is one of the worst cases he's ever seen. He told me she was allergic to dust mites, and there was nothing they could give her to help. They put her on a medication called Utopica, but there were too many side effects.If there is anything you could recommend, I would greatly appreciate it. At this point, I'm willing to try anything so she can get some relief. Thank you.

J.S., Leonardtown, Md Jun 15, 2008

Answer:

I receive many letters from people with dogs that are suffering like yours. I term this difficult-to-treat malady the Endocrine-Immune System Disruption Syndrome."There can be multiple causes, and the best treatments need to be evaluated on an individual basis. My book "Dog Body, Dog Mind" (The Lyons Press, 2007) discusses this syndrome in detail and offers various remedies from a holistic perspective."You can make a start by putting your dog on a whole-food diet of three parts ground, lightly cooked lamb to one part whole-grain rice, amaranth, quinoa or salba and one part mixed veggies (sweet potato, green beans, peas and carrots). As an alternative to lamb, try cottage cheese, lentils or eggs (some dogs are allergic to eggs, however).Give three to four small (half cup) servings daily with 1/2 teaspoon of flaxseed or cod-liver oil (500 milligrams), calcium, Vitamin C and one pediatric multivitamin or Pfizer's Pet Tab with every meal.Let me know the outcome six to eight weeks after you begin.