I am so sorry to hear about your cat. Stomatitis is an extremely painful and debilitating disease in some cats and is frustrating for both owners and veterinarians. It sounds as though you have tried just about everything for this little kitty. The cause of the inflammation is thought to be a severe allergic reaction to the plaque and bacteria on the teeth. Some cats who do not respond to extraction of the back teeth alone will respond to full mouth extractions of all the teeth. Other thoughts as to the cause of the stomatitis is an allergy to something in the diet and some cats have responded to changing to a hypoallergenic diet. There are also other medications which can be tried to help manage the inflammation aside from steroids (such as cyclosporine). Brushing the teeth and rinsing the mouth with oral hygiene rises can sometimes help keep the inflammation subdued. Unfortunately, there are some cats who do not respond despite the most aggressive treatments. I hope that your kitty is not one of these few.  [less]

There are a couple of reasons why your cat may be doing this. It could be a medical issue, for instance, it could be a variant of pica (a desire to consume abnormal things). Pica can be a result of many things such as anemia (low blood count), gastrointestinal disease and hyperthyroidism to name a few. It could be a nutritional issue, for instance, he may be craving the salt on your skin because of a deficiency in his diet. Or it may be behavioral, a form of obsessive compulsive disorder. It would be a good idea to have him examined by a veterinarian first to rule out the medical causes. But if you want to try to get the behavior to stop, first start by ignoring him. YOU should always be the one to initiate interactions and never the cat. You determine when the interaction begins and when it ends. If he starts licking, stand up and walk away. Return a while later when he is relaxed to initiate interaction again.  [less]

I am sorry to hear about your cat. Euthanasia (putting your pet to sleep) is a difficult decision for every pet owner. However, it is also a very humane thing that you can do to provide your beloved pet with a painless, quick passing. Euthanasia is offered at all veterinary hospitals as well as most animal shelters. In addition, there are some mobile veterinarians who can perform the service in your home. The medications used to euthanize pets are drugs that used to be used for anesthesia in people many years ago, so we know there is no pain or discomfort associated with the injection. Most veterinarians will offer the option to have your pet euthanized while you are present so they can have your comforting presence there when they pass. There are also many options for care of their remains. You can have them cremated at a group crematorium (most common), you can have them cremated and have their ashes returned to you in an urn, you can purchase burial plots and headstones at local pet cemetaries, or you can take your pet home with you to bury (although you need special permission from the city to bury animals in your yard).  [less]

Yes, it is OK to give to her as long as it is not in excess because it can add fat and calories to the diet. However, if you are giving it in order to improve the hair coat, there are much better options out there. Some people add oils to their pet’s diet in order to improve a dry coat or to help with allergic skin diseases. The oils which are better suited for this are fish oils which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Most high quality commercial diets should have adequate amounts of these fatty acids in the diet, however some dogs with skin problems can benefit from the added supplementation.  [less]

Most kittens are adopted out at 6 to 8 weeks of age. You can do some things to assess their personality, however they are still young and may change as they continue to grow and have experiences which shape their personalities, just like young people. In general, you want to look for a healthy kitten which is one that is bright and playful. A lazy kitten may just have a mellow personality or may be ill. You also do not want to choose one that is overly dominant or aggressive. The kitten should be comfortable with petting and handling. He should not growl and hiss when you pick him up.  [less]

Some intestinal parasites can be transmitted from pet to person. We recommend having a stool sample checked by your veterinarian to see if your pet has any, and if so what kind.  [less]

Dogs lose their "baby" teeth between 4 to 6 months of age, and get in an adult set of teeth. If the deciduous teeth remain in the mouth, and the dog has "double" teeth they should be examined. Double teeth can cause dental problems and should be removed before this happens.  [less]

Some intestinal parasites can be transmitted from pet to person. We recommend having a stool sample checked by your veterinarian to see if your pet has any, and if so what kind.  [less]

There are many different causes for bad breath in dogs. Some are more simple (such as plaque accumulation, infected teeth, something foreign stuck in the mouth or between teeth or eating something with a foul odor) and some are very serious (such as oral cancer and renal failure).  [less]

If your dog is still intact, you may want to consider having him neutered. If he is already neutered or you wish to keep him intact, you can try to give him a substitute for your leg that is more appropriate. Some dogs will take a blanket or stuffed toy as a substitute. Most of the time, neutering will cause the activity to stop. However, dogs that are neutered later (i.e. after 1 year old), may continue to do this because it is a learned behavior.  [less]