Most Popular Q&As

Hi: I had sent a question asking about rabies vaccine yesterday...but we made it thru the vet visit ok...she was very adamant though that I get the Leptospirosis vaccine. She said its because we live in a remote area with a lot of wildlife and it can be transmitted to humans. The lump my dog has ended up being a sebaceous cyst. My dog is also underweight so they think it may be E.P.I but want me to up her food intake first to see if that helps her gain weight. She is fed a raw ...

I am enjoying your web site so much, and I thought I would return the favor by mentioning something that I have not seen elsewhere. I adopted a twenty pound six month old pomeranian mix from the shelter about a year ago. Great dog, no real issues. There was one issue that did bother us quite a bit. When we first got him he would throw up and have diarrhea all the time, making it very hard to house break him. We tried different dog foods and finally went with Evo, even then he still...

Hello, I have three pugs, one of which is having some problems right now. I didn't realize it until recently, but his knuckling over (pretty minor) is probably caused by too much protein. I have tried several lower protein dog foods and have not found one that has solved the problem. I had him on Eagle Pack (not the holistic) for about 3 weeks and he turned up with blood in his urine. I immediately switched him to the holistic Solid Gold food and added Apple Cider Vinegar with ...

Hi Cindy, I came across your site tonight on a Google search re above, fascinating as I have golden retrievers, you are now in 'favourites' I need time to read and absorb so much information on HD. We do not have so much in UK. My question is, & I seem to have something in the back of my mind, not to x ray nor put a bitch near her season under anesthetic but cannot totally remember the reasons why, some-one called and asked for advice, had been told by receptionist that ther...

My 8 month old GSD pup was diagnosed with giardia. He is currently on his third dose of panacur and metro. He seems to be maintaining his weight and has a healthy appetite. In doing some reading, there are cases where the dogs die from heart or kidney failure with this parasite condition if not treated. In your experience, will most dogs eventually respond to the meds or build an immunity to the giardia? I am concerned as the previous two treatments were not effective. Thanks so much for any ...

Cindy, As always, your website and numerous available resources are extremely helpful. I have a question regarding the timing of neutering a male puppy. I know the 8 weeks to 8 months DVD recommends 6 months of age, however, on my last vet visit with my 4 month old male, she recommended taking care of it at 5 months. Her rationale was that the dog was large enough for the procedure. I would estimate my male puppy's weight to be approximately 50 lbs. at 4.5 months, which could mean...

Hi Cindy, took my dog Nika to vet for skin problems. She said she has subcutaneous cyst. Her pores aren't releasing the natural oil so it is plugging leaving a lump on her bum and some are scabbing over. Is there anything different for shampooing or combing that can be done to prevent it. What do you wash your dogs with? Some people use baby shampoo and then conditioner, others use medicated, what is the best at least for you. Thanks so much Cindy. Michelle

Hi, I will be getting a eight week old GSD in a couple weeks and was hoping to get your opinion on when to spay. There is no doubt that I will spay I just seem to keep getting conflicting answers on WHEN to spay. My Vet suggests 6 months (as is standard) and my breeder suggest 18 to 24 months. I know the health benefits (and risks) of spaying at six months, but didn't get a straight answer from my breeder about why I should wait. I read somewhere that spaying a GSD before two years...

Hello Cindy! My husband and I had quite the scare this week and would like to know if you have heard of this situation before. We brought our 8 month old male GSD to get neutered - We got a call at 1pm from the vet stating they could not complete the surgery as he went into premature ventricular contractions within 5 minutes of being under. They kept him on the EKG all day and he had 3 or 4 episodes of arrhythmias during this time. He is in great health and comes from a long line of...

Hi Cindy, Because of your wonderful website and your excellent advice my gsd is thriving on a raw diet, I have also added the vitamins you have suggested. The allergy vitamin is working wonders, thank you. Now for my next question. Is there anything we can give him to decrease the acidity in his urine? We have a small back yard with dead patches of grass, it looks really bad. Thanks, Patti

Hello Cindy, Do you have any good referrals for my needing to buy helps for my 12 year old dog who needs a rear harness to help her get up, and other such equipment? Also, would syn-flex or grand flex be best for her progressed hip dysplasia? Thank you so much. Dodie

I have been hearing a lot of unfounded rumor on grapes and avocado and I am wondering why not what is wrong with these? Grapes is one of the fruits that Ian Billinghurst mentions in the barf diet and I believe sold gold health makers of Hunden Flocken and Sea meal to name a few products I am using use Avocado in one of their treats. Mike

My 3 year old female papillon as been on HK for about 2-1/2 years--mostly Force but she has had other flavors too. Her supplements have included at various times vegetables, apple, banana, slightly cooked eggs (she dislikes raw), cottage cheese (stopped this a few months ago), and raw meaty rib beef bones. I've also used frozen raw in the last few months. She developed her first UTI in July 2008 and went on to get 3 more over the next 15 months. It all culminated this week with the remova...

Hello, I have a 4 year GSD. Female spayed. I feed her raw. In fact, I have fed raw for over 10 years. I have had this girl for 1 years and have not vaccinated her-I titer-in spite of my vets objections. She came to me with several issues. Most I have cleared up. One I have only partially cleared. The tips of her ears get little bump like things that can be pulled right off hair and all. Its right down to the raw flesh. So she ends up with ragged looking ears. I have tried ...

Dear Cindy/ED; I will be getting a 12 week old german shepherd puppy next month. And when I have him, he should be done with his puppy shots and his worming. I'm against vaccines, so after I get him he will not be getting any vaccines other then the rabies shot that is mandatory in NY. The reason for this email is I will be continuing him on all natural raw food die. I will be buying Alfalfa, Kelp, Vita E, Super C 2000, Salmon Oil and using that with his daily food. My concern was:...

My one year old GSD has scratched all the hair off of his nose, ears, both his sides, bites at his rear ends both sides, bites and licks at his feet. I have taken him to two different vets now and they both say it is because he is on a raw food diet. He eats chicken, hamburger, beef heart, tripe ox tail, and pork neck bones, raw eggs, yogurt, all feedings he gets salmon oil, vit.(e) super c 2000, and now I have added flax seed oil and more vit. (c) to help boost his immune system. They say I...

I know you are probably busy - so I'll make this as short as possible. I am an RN (feel like I should have known what to do...) who just lost a 3 year old AKC beautiful male shepherd to bloat (fast). Fortunately, the vet had administered pain medication. I read posts on your site from similar BROKEN HEARTED people. You mentioned - no experience of it w/ your dogs? Question #1 - I have a nephew of my dog?s ordered - but am thinking now, I don't want to go thru this again... Is it he...

Hello Cindy, I just have a question. Since reading on your website, and doing quite a bit of my own research I have switched my German Shepherd puppy to a raw diet. She is almost 10 months now, and she has been on it for about 4-5 months. I usually give her either organic beef or chicken, a raw egg yolk a day, and supplement with calcium, vitamin c, vitamin e, and the salmon oil from your website. She also off and on gets things like vegetables, pumpkin, etc... She does really well...

Cali was spayed yesterday and we picked her up today. She is already licking her stitches and the vet said she will need to wear a cone collar for 14 days. He said the bitter apple stuff doesn't usually stop dogs from licking itchy wounds. Should we go along with the collar or try something else?

How do you clean your dog's ears?