--- In purelypets@yahoogroups.com, Sandy Somebody <lemayite@y...>
wrote:
> My first issue is with my dog, Laddie. He's been having problems
with his back, legs, and hips. The vet put him on Prednisolone <

I so agree with Cat about the Pred! I have seen dogs on Pred pant
and be restless, drink tons of water, pee tons, and in my experience
many vets are awfully free with the steroids. Granted, it does help
pain from inflammation and supresses allergy symptoms, but the
physical cost is high: immune suppression, masking of possibly
serious health conditions, bone thinning, and on and on. It
shouldn't be a long-term solution, and as Cat pointed out, it isn't
really curing joint or allergy problems. I would use it in short
term crisis, or to give comfort to a terminally ill animal. MSM can
help with the joints, as well as some homeopathic remedies (I take
rhus tox for mine, with great success usually) Also, the stuff Cat
mentioned. Lots of good brands available online.

> Secondly, I have my cat, Felix. Felix has been shedding something
terrible since about January. I understand the regular shedding
cycle, but this is insane. He has just turned 5 years old<

This does sound like it could be serious - can you get him checked
for thyroid problems, diabetes, liver function? A complete blood
test would be a good idea, and not horribly expensive. 5 years old
for a cat is still pretty much a youngster! Do you have any idea
what his ancestry/parentage is? Is he a black kitty? (I ask that
because I have seen Bombays lick almost all their fur off, don't
know why though......) Could he be really stressing about something?
Like have you just moved, added a new animal, something like that?

Sorry to sound so negative about vets - I think mostly they want to
give you instant results so you will a)come back, and b)think they
are gods. I've worked for several, and they were not monsters, but
had VERY large egos and in a couple of cases, bad burnout syndrome.
You wouldn't believe some of the crap they hear - you'd burn out
too, believe me!

Good luck with both of your kids! Let us know how it is going. I
know I will be pulling for them.

melanie