PetMeds^® Blog

One of the most common vitamin supplements I recommend to many of my feline and canine guardians is vitamin C added to meals. Unlike humans, guinea pigs, and certain primates who don’t make their own vitamin C and need it supplemented to their diets, dogs and cats do manufacture their own vitamin C. However, because of immune stress and in many diseases, many canine and feline patients can benefit from some of the effects of supplemental vitamin C.

Several decades ago, a veterinary colleague named Wendell Belfield, DVM, studied and used vitamin C in quite high doses in treating many pets with chronic infections, as well as various inflammatory and joint disorders. He found that by first using high dose IV vitamin C therapy and then oral therapy, that he was able to treat many difficult cases. Most people are also aware of Nobel Peace Prize-winning scientist named Linus Pauling, who also recommended high doses of vitamin C for people. And while I don’t personally recommend doses that high for dogs or cats, I do find that supplemental vitamin C in form of sodium or calcium ascorbate powder added to meals or dissolved in water, can boost the immune system of pets, as well as act as a mild natural antihistamine.

Vitamin C is also beneficial in helping strengthen collagen synthesis in pets, which is the glue that makes up the connective tissue of the joints and ligaments of the body. In pets suffering from urinary tract infections or certain types of urinary tract crystals or stones, vitamin C can help acidify the urine and has a mild antibacterial property. It is important for animal guardians to check with their veterinarian on a proper dose for their pet, as well as to make sure their pet does not have a pre-existing condition such as calcium oxalate urinary crystals or stones, in which case one would not want to add supplemental vitamin C to the diet. However, in the majority of cases, pets can indeed benefit from the addition of this antioxidant nutrient in my opinion and experience.

Topical Revolution is a simple monthly topical parasiticide for many external and internal parasites (fleas and heartworms), and has been increasing in use in recent years because of its many possible potential applications. Unlike many of its competitors like Frontline or Advantage, topical Revolution does require a written prescription from a veterinarian. I have found it most useful in controlling fleas, ticks and ear mites in dogs and cats.

Veterinary dermatologists often are now frequently using it off label every 2 weeks for a total of 3 treatments in many itchy dogs to treat any possible hidden scabies mange mites, which are often difficult to find on even multiple skin scrapings at the vet office. Topical use in cats has also helped in protecting cats from the intestinal parasites roundworms and hookworms. While it’s labeled for efficacy against heartworms, in my opinion I still stick with the tried and tested prescription monthly heartworm preventative medications such as Interceptor and Heartgard. This is because in my experience over the years I have seen a few rare pets test positive for heartworms when relying exclusively on Revolution for heartworm prevention. I often get questions about safety issues around people, but as long as you allow the product to completely dry, which occurs up to 2 hours after applying, there seems to be no risk to humans. Also, animal guardians can be free to bathe their pets anytime after this two hour mark, as this product is labeled as water proof. While supposedly being safe to use in pregnant animals, I personally never like or recommend applying topical pesticides to pregnant animals.

Super Joint Enhancer is one of the more versatile and economic nonprescription joint supplements on the market. I have found it to be often as effective as some of the more expensive supplements often prescribed by veterinarians such as Cosequin. With its combination of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, this wonderful synergistic combination of nutrients is often quite helpful in managing inflamed and diseased joints.

Most pets will take this tasty beef and pork chewable tablet. And for those finicky pets and even cats, this product also comes in a soft chew.  It is safe to use in any aged pet, and while there is no data on using glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplements in a preventative fashion, there are rarely any side effects to using this product as part of a good nutritional program.  Being a nutritional supplement, it is not regulated by the FDA, however, it is safe to use with many prescription drugs given by veterinarians such as Metacam, Rimadyl, Deramaxx and Tramadol. I find the use of nutritional supplements like Super Joint Enhancer most effective when combined with other supplements such as the antioxidant Proanthozone, and essential fatty acids such as Nordic Natural Omega 3 fatty acids.

I have only seen rare digestive side effects such as excessive gas or diarrhea, but most pets tolerate this product just fine.  If you are considering using it in a diabetic on insulin, first check with your veterinarian, as in occasional situations, using glucosamine products can sometimes make sugar regulation more difficult.

K9 Advantix is one of the most common used once monthly topical pesticides used for external skin parasite control, covering fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. One of the nicer benefits is that it will still be effective even after washing and bathing (wait 24 hours after applying), and has additional benefits of not only quickly killing mature and immature fleas and ticks, but in also repelling these parasites from biting as well. It comes in very convenient dosing packaging for dogs up to 10 pounds, dogs from 11-20 pounds, dogs from 21-55 pounds, and dogs over 55 pounds.

If your pet is on the border of these dosage cut offs, you can always start with the lower dose of K9 Advantix, however, if effective pest control is not seen, than giving the higher dose is certainly safe in most pets. It is not necessary to separate dogs after dosing them topically with this product, however, if dogs are actively playful and/or licking one another, it may be best to have them apart for a few hours, until the product has had a chance to dry.

A few years ago, it was recommended not to purchase this product if an animal guardian also had cats due to their sensitivity to the permethrin insecticide in this product. However, that labeling has now changed and it is ok to use in households with cats, as long as animal guardians wait until the product is completely dry on the dog before exposing them to household cats.

I have not heard of its use in other species, although an animal guardian of exotic pets can certainly contact Bayer to find out if this is possible. Side effects are rare, but may include (in sensitive pets):

-          Contact irritation/allergy causing hair loss at site of application

-          Digestive upset

-          Neurological reactions such as seizures (rarer cases)

If this should occur, changing to a different topical pesticide like Frontline Plus or trying a natural alternative may be helpful. I never recommend using two topical pesticides at the same time such as Frontline Plus or K9 Advantix. However, if one is not working for an animal guardian, make sure one is treating the home adequately for fleas, as well as one could change from one product to another. It is typically not harmful to humans unless the product is swallowed or gets in one’s eyes. But I have heard of isolated reports of skin numbness following contact with the product, thus animal guardians should always wear gloves when applying this or any topical pesticide in my opinion.

In this post I will address some of the common questions asked about using the commonly prescribed topical ear antibiotic and antifungal product Mometamax.  Given that most dogs with ear infections often have a combination of bacteria and/or yeast, this product is one of the most versatile products available in the veterinary pharmacy and available by prescription from 1800PetMeds. The combination of ingredients not only decreases the underlying allergic reaction, but the overgrowth of various bacteria and yeast involved in the majority of canine or feline ear infections.

Although it is not labeled for use in cats, (as with many drugs used off label in our pets), many veterinarians have prescribed this product widely to cats without any ill side effects. While it won’t kill ear mites, this product can also be used topically for yeast, local ringworm or bacterial infections. One of the biggest advantages over its nearly identical sister product Otomax, is that Mometamax can be used only once daily, thus increasing client compliance.  My two favorite topical ear medicines in our pets include Mometamax and Zymox.

While Mometamax is a prescription topical antifungal and antibacterial, Zymox is a nonprescription topical which in my experience and opinion is as equally effective through a different mechanism in killing yeast and bacteria in the canine or feline ear canal. Side effects of Mometamax are rare, with the most serious being rare deafness in pets whose ear drum is not intact (this is best determined by veterinary exam of the ear canal before starting this medication), allergic reaction consisting of increased redness, discomfort and ear itching, and even more rare facial swelling.

When used appropriately this product can be used for most common ear infections in our pets, and its long shelf life of at least a year in most cases, makes it a valuable part of the medicine cabinet in those pets with recurrent ear inflammations or infections.