Antifreeze & Allergies

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There are special preparations, usually with a mineral oil or petroleum base, that may simply allow passage of the hair down the GI tract. Vaseline may also be helpful in very small amounts but rarely does the trick on its own. You may also try fresh pineapple juice or papain tablets (from the local health food store), both of which will digest the hairs instead of promoting their passage. The best treatment of hairballs is once again, prevention. I would suggest frequent brushing of the animal, possibly once or twice a day to remove those broken and shed hairs before they are groomed and swallowed.

Also, try switching the diet to a bland cat food (which doesn't necessarily mean a poorer quality food!). For instance, the semimoist foods or simple boiled chicken and cooked white rice for a few days may help calm the gastrointestinal system. Feed s mall amounts 4-5 times per day instead of one lump sum. Make any dietary changes gradual, or over a few meals. See your veterinarian if things continue because there are many other more serious problems (infections, thyroid disease, liver, or kidney disease) that can also cause vomiting.

Dear Andrea:

Our 12-year-old Gordon setter was recently dialed with renal failure. How long will he five and what does this mean?

—Carol NewellHelena, Montana

Dear Carol:

Kidneys filter and remove from the blood- stream waste materials acquired from the body's metabolism. Kidney disease refers to any destructive process within the kidney. Kidney failure is the end result of kidney disease. Failure may have many different causes, including inherited defects, infections, ingestion of toxic substances, and nutritional factors. It is one of the most common medical problems in geriatric dogs and cats and often occurs secondary to heart failure and hypertension. In kidney (renal) failure, the kidney fails to filter blood adequately, so some of the waste materials remain in the blood and become toxic to cells.

If it is detected early on, a change in diet may be all that is required to treat kidney disease. Kidney failure, however, may make it necessary for an ill pet to be hospitalized for proper fluid therapy and medications. Dietary management is an important part of therapy. By feeding your pet a well-balanced diet with reduced amounts of phosphorus and sodium and including high- quality protein, the quantity of waste materials filtered by the diseased kidneys is also reduced. Frequently, supplementing with a multiple vitamin (one a day) may be beneficial. You may slow the progression of chronic renal failure by providing such sound nutrition and free access to plenty of clean, fresh water and protecting your pet from stress, such as excitement, extreme exertion, or hot and cold temperature extremes.

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