Q: I have a spayed mixed breed dog that I believe has some type of vaginal infection.  She is licking and there is an odor for about a week.  The area seems to be swollen and a bit red.  Is there something I can do short of getting her antibiotics?  I make all her meals (Dr. Fox recipe) and I do feed her plain yogurt a few times a week.  She is in very good health otherwise. 

Q: I have a cat that has diarrhea every time he uses his litter box.  This has gone on for some time.  He eats dry kibble and Friskies canned wet food. I have bought very expensive canned food for him and he refuses it.  Can you give me any possible causes or a solution? 

Q: Are blueberries OK for dogs to eat? I know grapes are bad what other fruits are bad?

Q: My boys have two pet rats; one is doing fine but the other got a big cyst on his side that burst. We put ointment on it and it looks much better but now his other side feels squishy and swollen; I think he is about to get another cyst. 

Q: I'm in northern Florida and we are having a horrible heat wave and my parrot is acting strange.  She isn't making any noise and has been standing in one place for hours; this is not like her. 

Q: I have a 16-year-old, indoor, female spayed cat who has stopped using her litter box, and is using the wall to wall carpeting. I have not changed the brand of litter or anything else for years and her litter box has always been kept immaculate.

Q: I have a ten year old male neutered cat that was a rescue kitty. He is a great cat but in the last couple of weeks he has stopped using his litter box consistently and is defecating and urinating in strange places.

Q: I have a beagle who I put Hartz Flea and Tick medication on. She had a severe reaction and we went to the vet. He did x-rays and said the medicine had caused her to jerk so that her back and disc became inflamed.

He gave her four kinds of meds, but after three weeks she can hardly walk and is great pain. What should I do? Take her back? Get more medication? She is really suffering, except when she has a muscle relaxant.

Q: My Minpin has a pulled ligament in his left hind leg and he tries not to use this leg at all. The vet said for him to keep off of it, but he is high strung and has a listening disorder. He is eight years old and still not fixed, but that is another issue. 

Q: My vet’s office has a sign that says dogs need dental care just like humans.  However, a dental checkup/cleaning costs around $700, due to the anesthesia, the antibiotics and pain medicine following the procedure.