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Q: Where can I ask a question?
Q: Where can I find additional information?
Q: Do you answer all questions?

Q: What exactly are "hot spots" and what is the treatment/prevention?
A: A hot spot is the nickname given to a condition called pyotraumatic dermatitis. A hot spot consists of a bacterial infection (usually staphylococcus intermedius) that develops and rapidly spreads, emits pus and smells badly. Hair will usually fall out from the infected area skin. A hot spot will be warm to the touch, and painful to your dog. Because this condition is so painful and irritating the dog will usually bite and scratch the area further spreading the infection. I recommend using our Dr. Dog Skin Care treatment. We guarantee that it will clear up hot spots, and relieve the itching.

Q: My cat's/dog's ear is emitting a foul smell and discharge, and often paws at it. What is this and how can it be treated?
A: These are all signs of an ear infection. There are several Ear Care Products that help treat and prevent ear infection. Serious cases need a vet's attention.

Q: What is the difference between hot spots and mange?
A: Hot spots are localized bacterial infections warm to the touch that cause the fur to fall out and the dog to bite and scratch the area. Skin Care for Dogs will eliminate the hot spot and relieve the itching. Mange is cause by microscopic mites. A dog will experience intense itching. Outbreaks often occur around the ears, elbows and face. The skin starts out crusty and scab-like and becomes thick and dark. A skin scraping is needed by your vet to confirm diagnosis. Proper medication and treatment should also be prescribed by your vet. Mange is contagious, and can spread easily to other dogs.

Q: My dog has a chronic skin condition characterized by flaky skin. How do I treat it?
A: Your dog likely lacks Omega 3 fatty acids in his diet. A vitamin supplement with fatty acids and antioxidants will help your dog fight the condition. Also feeding your dog a premium dog food typically helps too.

Q: My dog/cat itches all over all the time to the point where he is rubbing his fur off. What is this and how do I treat it?
A: This could be allergies. Use EucaLoba hypoallergenic medicated shampoo to soothe your pet. Try to find out what he is allergic to. Consult your vet to determine what the cause is, often times it is their shampoo, or their food. Check out our Allergy Care information pages.

Q: My pet has blood in his stool/urine what should I do?
A: Take your pet to a vet. This is a symptom of a variety of problems some not serious, some very serious. Your pet needs a proper diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Q: My dog has a cracked pad on his paw. How should I treat it?
A: Wrap your dog's paw, and old sock can somethime help keep a dog from taking the bandage off. If the paw appears to need additional protection consider buying dog booties, particularly if the wound is being reopened when your dog is walking.

Consider using Paw Wax, Protecta Paw and Elbow Cream, or Cut Heal Pad Heal to protect and condition the dog's paws. These products particularly helpful for chronic dry paws, dogs with sensitive feet, and dogs who are frequently on rough terrain. Use Skin Care for Dogs or another antibiotic to prevent an infection. Contact your vet if the wound is not healing.

Q: My dog has very bad breath. What can I do about it?
A: Brushing your dog's teeth often helps. Good dental care is an important part of of good pet care, and bad breath is the first sign of a possible dental problem. Learn more about pet dental care.

Q: Is there a natural eye drop that I can use for my dog's dry irritated eyes?
A: You can make your own natural eye drops by boiling 1 teaspoon of herbal eyebright (euphrasia) in 1 cup of distilled water for five minutes. When it cools use a cotton ball to squeeze a couple drops into the eye. Over the counter pet eye drops are also available.

Q: What do I do for my dog that eats his feces?
A: Deter Coprophagia Treatment is a product that you feed to your dog to make his feces undesirable to eat. Some dogs can be trained to leave its waste alone, and quick clean up often helps. This is a common problem especially with puppies. Often puppies outgrow this problem. Read more about coprophagia.

Q: What do you do if your dog eats clothing or fabric?
A: Monitor your dog and make sure he passes the clothing. If he doesn't then get him to a vet immediately because there could be an obstruction, which is very serious.

Q: What should I give my dog who has diarrhea? What should I avoid giving him?
A: First, determine what is causing the diarrea. If he has a parasitic infection, he needs to see the vet. If it's simply due to a diet change, or is clearly not serious then your main concern is to make sure your dog stays well hydrated by giving him plenty of water. Also, cutting back on his food and providing a digestive remedy may help. Any doubts about the severity of the diarrhea warrants a call to the vet.

Q: My vet has been unable to diagnose my pet's problem. What can I do?
A: Seeking a second opinion is a good first step. In some cases finding a specialist can help. A vet school can also be a good resource for finding information on hard to diagnose problems. For additional tips check out our Rare & Severe Vet Care newsletter article.

Q: Who do I contact about my order?
A: You can contact our Order Department by either emailing orders@doctordog.com, calling 1-800-PETS-NOW or 1-978-750-0090, or filling out our contact form.

Q: Who or what is Dr. Dog?
A: Dr. Dog is the brand name for the pet health care line of products for BioChemics, Inc. DoctorDog.com is it's commercial pet care site. Dr. Dog is not a person or a veterinarian. Read more about Dr. Dog.

Q: What are your hours of operation?
A: We are in the office 9-5 EST M-F. Holiday hours may vary.

Q: Where are you located?
A: Danvers, Massachusetts

Q: Where can I ask a question?
A: Inquiries can be emailed to info@doctordog.com or via our contact form.

Q: Where can I find additional information?
A: Our resource section, our newsletter articles, are great sources for general pet care information. Our home page highlights some of our reader's favorite articles and products. Please contact your vet if your pet is experiencing health problems.

Q: Do you answer all questions?
A: We do our best to respond to your questions. Questions about your order, or pet products, will be addressed promptly. Web site issues and basic care questions also receive our full attention. Inquiries requesting a veterinary diagnosis or information about internal medicine or medications, if given a response, will simply state that one should seek out a veterinarian. Due to the large number emails we receive, donation requests, business proposals, and sales calls, and other commercial requests, may or may may not be answered. We will not reply to spam.