Q. Is it OK for Diego to drink from the fish tank?
A. It’s a mystery as to whether Diego is a dog or cat, but emergency veterinarian Dr. Heather Loenser of Lebanon, N.J., can offer advice because, for the most part, it doesn’t matter.
“A saltwater tank might be more of an issue, depending on how much water Diego is drinking,” she says. “There’s no nice way to say this, but there’s fish poop in there, and even filtered tanks will have some bacteria. Again, it depends on how much Diego drinks, but it’s certainly not like drinking bottled water.”
Loenser, a board member of the American Animal Hospital Association, also wonders about the welfare of the fish.
“While there’s likely nothing in the mouth of Diego that will cause harm to the fish, it’s got to be terrifying to watch a predator sink his mouth into the tank,” she says.
There’s also a chance that Diego could swallow a fish or knock over the fish tank.
If Diego is attracted to the moving water, it would be far safer for all involved to buy him a drinking fountain for pets, which are available wherever pet products are sold.
Q. The spot-on I’ve been using for years on my dogs to stop fleas and ticks has failed. My veterinarian is suggesting I’ve somehow failed, but I’m not sure how this is my fault. What should I use on my dogs?
A. Veterinary parasitologist Dr. Michael Dryden, distinguished professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, says that statistically, veterinary product failures are often human failures — either people forget to use the product or don’t use it as directed. In some cases, owners believe their dog swallowed a chewable when the pet actually spit it out or threw it up.
“Comfortis and Nexgard are monthly chewables, with excellent residual speed of kill, which is how rapid the kill rate is even after the product was given some time ago. The same is true for Bravecto, also a chewable, which has the added bonus of giving the pet 12 weeks of protection.”
Dryden also likes Vectra 3D, a monthly spot on, which can potentially deter fleas and ticks from getting onto your pet in the first place, but kills them quickly if they do attach.
Write to Steve Dale at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send email to petworld@stevedale.tv. Include your name, city and state.
