Over the past few days, I’ve received many questions relating to pet health and wellness. It’s great to see so many dog and cat parents seeking out information to ensure their furbabies are safe, comfortable, and healthy.

For this week’s edition of “Ask the Vet,” I’m going to be answering a handful of pet health questions.

There’s no need to worry if your question doesn’t get answered on this specific blog. I will be continuing to answer your questions via blog post and Facebook video, so just hang tight.

That’s being said, if you do have a pet health question that’s time sensitive or an emergency, please consult your regular vet so you can get your question answered immediately.

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s move on and answer your pet health and wellness questions!

Question: Why are so many cats dying from failing kidneys?? I have always fed my cats grain-free holistic food.

This question has been plaguing me for many years, so you’re not alone in wondering why. Here is what I know…

Most people feed their cats dry food. And despite feeding a high-quality food, dry cat food actually increases your cat’s risk of developing kidney disease.

The reason: cats don’t get enough moisture to keep hydrated. And when a cat is dehydrated, it causes kidney problems, which often cause kidney disease.

The other issue is that dry foods are high in carbohydrates. Foods with high carbohydrates create more inflammation and obesity that cause kidney disease.

Lastly, there is a link between vaccinations and kidney disease.

Unfortunately, most vaccines are grown in cat kidney cells. And while vaccines are important to help prevent disease, we typically give too many of them.

It is important to follow a minimal core vaccine series as a kitten, booster the vaccines at roughly 16-18 months of age, and then from there, do a blood test or titer to show that the cat is still protected.

If your cat already has kidney disease, I have written a Kidney Health Program to help you understand both the conventional and alternative treatment of this serious disease. This program can be used for both cats AND dogs who have kidney problems.

Check out my Kidney Health Program here.

Question: My little elderly mixed breed dog often has excess odiferous exudate in his ears. Is there a natural product that can be used to circumvent this? I prefer not to use mass marketed prescription drugs concocted out of chemicals.

Chronic ear issues often are associated with food sensitivities,or other allergens.
To help control symptoms, you can use commercial ear washes to help remove the wax, and refresh the ear canal. I’m a big fan of K9 Ear Solution. Their formula includes gentian violet, which helps to control yeast and bacteria.
You can find this product online here.

You also might want to consider switching to a home-cooked pet food diet, such as The Original CrockPET Diet®, to help improve your pet’s overall health and reduce the potential for food sensitivities.

The Original CrockPET Diet® uses all-natural pet food meal plans to ensure your cat or dog gets proper nutrition while allowing you to weed out ingredients that are causing your pet’s sensitivities.

Check out The Original CrockPET Diet®.

Question: What cream can I use on my pet’s feet after they have walked in the snow and I have cleaned the salt off their paws?

That’s a great question…especially as we are heading into the winter season!
I personally recommend using Musher’s Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax. You can order this product on Amazon.
Click this link to purchase.

This paw wax is filled with vitamin E that helps moisturize and nourish your pet’s paw pads.

In addition to the wax, I recommend adding a fish oil supplement into your pet’s diet to help with dry, cracking, and flakey skin and paw pads.

Used daily, this oil will help your pet maintain healthy moisturized skin and paw pads.
Check out the fish oil supplement I recommend for both cats and dogs.

Question: My dog is 15 years old and after he eats or drinks he coughs and gags several times. Nothing comes up but I wonder if anything can be done for him?

My advice is to take your dog to your vet for chest x-rays. Heart disease becomes more common as pets age, and delaying treatment can be disastrous.

In the short-term, I suggest you elevate your dog’s food bowl and water bowl so that your dog does not have to lean over to eat or drink.

Best wishes to your pup!

If you found these answers to be helpful, I am so glad. I hope you’ll continue to submit questions so I can provide you with the information you need to ensure your furbaby is safe, healthy, and happy.