Albon (sulfadimethoxine) is a sulfa drug – a type of antibiotic that has been around for a very long time.  But, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still an incredibly powerful and useful tool in veterinary medicine.  Albon can be used to treat infections throughout the body caused by a wide variety of susceptible microorganisms.

When you hear the term “antibiotic,” you probably think of medications that treat bacterial infections.  While Albon and its relatives can certainly do this, they are also effective against a particular type of parasite called Coccidia.  Coccidia infect the gastrointestinal tract, usually causing diarrhea in puppies, kittens, and other young animals.

When using Albon, veterinarians typically prescribe an initial “loading dose” that is twice that of subsequent doses.  This allows the drug to quickly reach therapeutic levels in the body.  A pet’s condition should noticeably improve within 48-72 hours of beginning treatment.  If this does not occur, contact your veterinarian.  Make sure to give your pet all of the doses of Albon that were prescribed, even if he or she seems completely back to normal.  Treatment should continue for at least 48 hours after all symptoms have resolved.

Albon comes in both pill and liquid form, which makes accurately dosing animals of all sizes easy.

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Are you looking for inspiration to name a dog, cat, or other new pet?  Check out VPI’s top 10 lists for the most popular pet names based on their records.

Want something a little more unusual?  VPI also puts together lists of the wackiest pet names, including notables such as Stinkie Mcstinkerson, Beagle Lugosi, Beanfart, Oxxy Pawsbourne, Mittens Ninja, and Bobblehead.

The hard work of pet ownership doesn’t stop once you have a name picked out.  You also have to make sure you have all the pet supplies and resources on hand that you will need to keep your pet happy and healthy in its new home.

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Pets can get into a variety of dangers lurking around your home. Everyday items like gum, medications or flea control could potentially be fatal if ingested by your pet. The Pet Poison Hotline has put together lists of the Top 10 pet toxins for both dogs and cats.  If you think that your pet has gotten into one of these potential poisons or any toxic substance, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Hotline at 1-800-213-6680.

Top 10 Dog Poisons

1. Chocolate
2. Insect      bait stations
3. Rodenticides      (i.e. mouse and rat poison)
4. Fertilizers
5. Xylitol-containing      products (i.e. sugar-free gums and candies)
6. Ibuprofen      (Advil® or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)
7. Acetaminophen      (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
8. Silica      gel packs
9. Amphetamines,      such as ADD/ADHD drugs
10. Household      cleaners

Top 10 Cat Poisons

1. Lilies
2. Canine      pyrethroid insecticides (topical flea and tick medicine designed for dogs      but erroneously placed on cats)
3. Household      cleaners
4. Rodenticides
5. Paints      and varnishes
6. Veterinary      non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Rimadyl®, Deramaxx®)
7. Glow      sticks/glow jewelry
8. Amphetamines      (such as ADD/ADHD drugs)
9. Acetaminophen      (Tylenol® in brand name or generic form)
10. Ibuprofen      (Advil or Motrin® in brand name or generic form)

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Diabetes mellitus is a relatively common disease in dogs.  Determining the correct dose of insulin, monitoring a dog’s response to therapy, and adjusting that dose accordingly can be a difficult and time-consuming endeavor.  Recently, a team of researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, showed that a commercially available glucose monitoring system that is used in human diabetic patients can also be used in dogs. 

The biggest benefit of this system is that a dog can undergo monitoring in their home environment where its appetite, stress levels, and exercise routines can remain unchanged.  All three of these factors can influence diabetic regulation.  The study, which was published in Veterinary Record, showed that even dogs that were believed to be well-regulated were not being treated optimally.

Using the GlucoDay continuous glucose level monitoring system may eventually prove to be a big step forward in the treatment of diabetic dogs. In the meantime, using a hand held glucose monitor for dogs and cats is still the best way to check a diabetic pet’s blood sugar levels at home.

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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are a cornerstone in the treatment of canine pain. They can be used in cases of acute injury (i.e. trauma or post-operatively) and also for chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.  Many different prescription NSAIDs have been developed specifically for dogs.  These pet medications are much more effective and safer for canine use than are over-the-counter human medications like aspirin. 

With so many choices, owners often wonder which NSAID is best for their dog. There is no one right answer to this question.  Some dogs respond better to one product versus another, but there is no way to determine which is best without trying several.  If your veterinarian prescribes a particular type of NSAID and your dog does well on it, there is no reason to make a change.  However, if you are not pleased with your dog’s response to one brand, you should try one or two more before coming to the conclusion that NSAIDs won’t work for your dog.

However, switching between types of canine NSAIDs can be dangerous when done incorrectly. To lower the risk of unwanted side-effects like gastrointestinal ulcers, the first drug needs to be eliminated from the body before the second drug is introduced.  This process can take around five days to be complete, so you should wait at least this long after stopping one type of NSAID before starting another and watch your dog closely for signs of gastrointestinal distress like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite when starting the new drug.

If your dog requires pain-relief during the five day wash-out period, your veterinarian can prescribe an analgesic that is not an NSAID, like Tramadol.

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