You are sitting in the warm sun or walking down a path, enjoying a few moments of relaxation when your dog comes in from the yard, field, or from a romp with fellow dogs dripping blood.

The first thing to notice is the attitude. Is he or she wagging their tail and looking around like nothing happened? Breathing hard and staggering? Is there lots of blood?  Screaming in pain? Holding a wobbly leg up that appears broken. Has a wound that looks very deep and ragged or a big skin flap that is easily moved and loose, Has a deep wound that the muscle, tendons, or something very indescribable can be seen. All those signs should  signal a trip to the veterinary ER. Dogs lash out when they are painful, so be real careful when you touch a wound or swollen area. In fact, it may be a good idea to use a gauze muzzle to avoid getting bit.

If the wound doesn’t look too bad and your dog seems OK, then you can take a closer look at it. A little warm water with baby shampoo or dawn detergent will really help you get a good look at the wound so you can figure out the next move. If the wound is small and you are not going to rush to the vet, you can trim the hair a bit. Then you can wash it a bit more. If it looks bad…away you go to the vet.

If it doesn’t look terrible You may decide to give your dog an aspirin(One adult 325 mg per 30 pounds twice daily) and put some antibiotics(neosporin) on it and wait till your vet opens up in the morning. You can try a bandage but most bandages come off or are eaten. Then you have a vomiting and bloody dog. If the wound is open a bit, but you can pinch the skin together easily, you can apply crazy glue on the edges. Don’t put the glue into  the wound, under the skin it can make things worse!

If your dog becomes obsessed with licking the wound, you may need a bandage or a collar to keep them away.Occasional licking helps clean it up and heal, but too much licking may irritate the wound.

Wiping the wound daily with warm soapy water or hydrogen peroxide, and then applying antibiotic ointment will keep the wound clean.

Check out my video. A Cut on a Dog

We eat a variety of foods to stay healthy, but for some reason, most vets and commercial dog companies warn against feeding healthy “human food”. The healthful ingredients in a variety of foods actually ensures that your pet is getting all the antioxidants, omega 3′s, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals it needs to stay healthy. In the Dog Dish Diet, I explain why some dogs need to eat differently to treat or avoid chronic skin, ear, or bowel issues. The book comes with a short download to help you start “canine crocking” . I’ve advised thousands of owners to feed better commercial food, raw food, canned food, or homemade food, and it really makes a big difference!

Make a New Years Resolution to

“Occupy Your Dog’s Bowl With a Better Diet”

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This past few years has been much more rewarding in my practice. Teaching dog owners how to feed their dogs differently to treat common medical conditions like itchy skin and constantly inflamed ears has really made my life easier. Before I used nutrition, I was stuck in the cycle of using pills, injections, ointments, sprays, and shampoos. I knew that none of these worked really well for the long term, but didn’t really have any other cure to offer. Once I made sure that the itchy one was adequately protected against fleas, I had to resort to the shelves of medication I kept on hand for the seemingly endless cycles of treatment for chronic skin issues. There are medications like antihistamines, prednisone, and Atopica or cyclosporine, but I really try hard to avoid daily medications.

Most human nutritionists agree that we should eat a variety of healthful whole foods. It is common knowledge that our over consumption of carbohydrates and processed foods is unhealthy for us. Once I started a healthier diet I lost weight and felt much better. This made me think about what we feed our animals. Most are sentenced to a dry, high carbohydrate, processed diet. Most never get to eat real food. Most vets and commercial pet food companies warn against “human food” because feeding it may upset the delicate balance of vitamins and minerals. The truth is that feeding a variety of healthful ingredients can only help an animal receive the nutrition that is needs. The last ten years of practice have convinced me that individual dogs have medical problems because most  “complete and balanced” dog foods are too dry, lack enough healthy oils, contain harmful allergens , and are chock full of obesity causing carbohydrates.

Just last week several clients told me how the advice that I gave them helped their dog look and feel better, lose weight,  recover from constant itching, get relief from painful joints, or helped with other health issues. When I started re-educating myself and then pet owners. I had no idea that nutrition would completely change the way I practice veterinary medicine. Traditional medicine focuses on treatment and not prevention.  I rely on traditional drugs too, but I am really thankful that I have more to offer. Feeding your dog a better diet may help them live a healthier, happier, life.

Teaching dog owners better nutritional choices and hearing or seeing all the positive results makes my job the most rewarding one I could ever hope to have. Inform yourself about dog food and make informed choices. Your dog may really thrive on a better dry food, raw food, canned food, more human food, or home cooked food. Different foods may lead to a better life. Give your dog that chance.

This review is from: Dr. Greg’s Dog Dish Diet (Paperback)

My food doesn’t come in pellet form in a bag, so why should my best friend’s? After reading an article in the NY Times about feeding fresh food to your dog, I decided to do some research. I did not do this for health issues or anything like that. My dog, Murphy simply did not like to eat. I know that sounds crazy, a dog not eating! Every dog I know has devoured whatever they can find, food or not. I was baffled. What could I do to get this dog to eat? I tried changing foods, dish soap; I fed him on the carpet and I raised the bowl off the ground so he wouldn’t have to lean down. Nothing worked; some days he ate, some he didn’t. Murphy is a pretty awesome dog, so finding a solution to this problem became my number one goal.

I searched high and low on the internet for dog food recipes. The recipes were out there, but I had no clue who designed the recipes or if they were good for my dog. It took me a little while to find ‘Dog Dish Diet’ but once I did I was intrigued. The book is written by a vet and gets good reviews. As a lawyer, I know that a degree does not make you smart. In fact, I have met some really stupid lawyers along the road, so how could I know that Dr. Greg was not a quack? Well, I went to his website and read what he had to say. Most importantly (to my uneducated mind), house dogs evolved from the wolf. Of course we all know this is true…there can be no other explanation of where dogs came from. After all, a wolf is really just a wild dog. What do wolves eat? Whatever they can find or kill, I guess. Dr. Greg also explained the domestication of wolves. Apparently when people lived in camps, wolves would hang around and eat their garbage/leftovers. Wolves have been around for thousands of years in the wild. If eating human leftovers was good enough for them, it was fine for Murphy. Dr. Greg knows what he is talking about and his advice is sound.

Now, on to the results!
#1 Murphy goes nuts whenever its time to eat. He jumps all over the place as he waits for the bowl to be placed on the ground. My dog is happier and that makes me happier.
#2 Murphy used to itch a lot. He barely scratches anymore.
#3 His coat is so much softer and shinier now.
#4 The food is easy to prepare as long as you have a crock-pot and a blender.
#5 Do you have any questions? Dr. Greg will actually respond to you on Facebook! I have asked him many questions and he always responds. He is a great person who just wants to help dogs.

If you made it through this entire review, you obviously care about your dog. Buy the book and your dog will love you even more! It is an easy read, cover to cover. I promise, you will read it more than once.

Happy New Year!

Dr Greg, Lonna  and their  Furry Family

Check out the new:

Dog Dish Diet Videos tab.

There you can purchase and instantly get information on a better diet for your dog!

I really want people to learn how to feed their dog a better diet so have made a series of video for those people that would rather watch than read. Enjoy some of the info in Dog Dish Diet for only 2.99. I wanted to offer them for a price that everyone can afford!

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12 dogs of Christmas graphic produced by Pet365 – a UK stockist of brands like Dublin Dog and Hamish McBeth.

Merry Christmas from my furry family to yours

Help them stay healthy and happy with Love, Exercise, and REAL FOOD in their diet

Dr Greg, Lonna, Maisy, Tucker, Reggie, Norman, Emma, Mokie

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Tapeworms in cats are pretty common. Some cats and households seem to get these visitors more often than others. The adult tapeworms hang out in the intestine and release segments of their bodies that exit the animal and “crawl” away from the anus. You may see them as a fleshy, white, wiggling particle the size of a rice grain moving around the rear end of your cat. I once saw a tapeworm segment “crawling” on the arm of my couch. Those packets release eggs that baby fleas feast on, and then grow the baby tapeworm in their bodies. If the flea is munched and crunched by a cat or dog, then the baby tapeworm will grow into an adult in our pet’s intestine. There is another tapeworm present in rodents that once eaten will infect the eater and the cycle will be complete.

Once the tapeworm packet releases its eggs, the sack will dry up and look just like a rice grain or sesame seed. You may see one or a sprinkling of these segments in a cat bed or on your cat’s butt.

Getting rid of tapeworms involves killing the adult with a wormer specifically for tapeworms. Most wormers you can buy from pet supply stores are for roundworms and won’t affect or kill tapeworms. Tapeworm medications are available at veterinary hospitals or on-line pharmacies.

Since fleas carry the tapeworm “nursery”, it is a good idea to treat your cats and dogs for fleas also. If feral cats or neighborhood cats frequent your area, it may be necessary to use flea treatment year-round and worm more than once. The most popular flea treatments for cats are Revolution and Advantage. (Remember to never use dog flea and tick treatments on cats!).

In summary:  If there are lots of cats in your area or lots of fleas, or if your cat is a hunter then your pets  may become infected with tapeworms. A tape wormer and flea control will kill both adult tapeworms and fleas to stop the infection and spread.

Check out my you tube video to see the live, crawly, egg packets, dried segments, and adult tapeworms!

Remember to feed your dog and cat a healthier diet! Our pets are sentenced to processed food, unless we help them enjoy a variety of healthier choices. If your cat is obese, it should eat canned instead of dry food! I always supplement my cats with pieces of real meat(chicken, beef, fish, turkey) 2-3 times per week.
I have started to slow cook my cats food along with my dogs food and will have an updated eBook available in a month or two! “Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet: Introduction to Slow Cooking”.

Only you can give your dog and cat the gift of health with better nutrition!Learn more about better nutrition by ordering Dog Dish Diet, Dog Dish Diet (second edition kindle), or Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet(Dog Dish Diet Videos available at http://mindbites.com (See the box on the right!) Only 2.99 for the series!

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MORGAN HILL, CA, December 09, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ — A majority of the population gains a significant amount of weight during the holiday season. This is due to holiday parties and office treats. Thanksgiving dinner alone is on average 1200 calories! “There are easy steps you can take to stay healthy during the holidays.” says Robin Nielsen, Certified Nutritionist, the Growing Younger expert and Co-Creator of Fabulous in a Box. “There are also weight loss and health tips for your pet also,” says Greg Martinez DVM.

- Dine while you wine: if you must drink, drink with food and avoid sugary drinks, then have a glass of water in between drinks

- Schedule strategically: eat at parties around meal time, don’t eat extra. Start your meal with a soup and salad and have small portions of the rest

- Visit with people, not the food: take in the entire event: the people, music, decorations while you hang out with the talkers, not the eaters!

- Feed your dog half the kibble it usually gets and mix in canned green beans for a nutritious meal with fewer calories.

- Add pieces of turkey meat, yams, or green beans to your dog’s regular food. Whole healthy food is really good for our pets.

- Offer your cat a piece of chicken, turkey, shrimp or fish. They are carnivores and meat is good for them!

What is it that both people and their pets are eating that is causing so many similar chronic ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, skin irritations and obesity? The processed food your family and pets eat may be at the root of the problem. Most people would be amazed to know how much better they would feel including their pet when you both eat a healthier diet!

Greg Martinez, DVM and author of the book The Dog Dish Diet, has figured out that diet plays a huge role in the health of a dog. “Take care of your pet to avoid the vet,” says Dr. Greg. “Most dogs seem to thrive on commercial food, however many dogs with moderate to severe itchy skin, chronic ear infections, hotspots, bowel problems, seizures, kidney and bladder problems, and other chronic medical problems may need different and healthier ingredients or a home-cooked diet for their medical condition to improve.”

This is exactly what Growing Younger expert, Robin Nielsen, found with her people clients. They lost weight, gained energy, decreased pain and felt younger just by changing their diet. That’s when Dr. Greg and Robin decided to join forces – they were teaching the same thing! “What if we taught people how to feed themselves and their dogs so everyone could feel fantastic?”

Local experts Dr. Greg Martinez and the Growing Younger expert, Robin Nielsen have taken their community talks one step further by creating a new video. It shows people how to feed themselves and their dogs simple, whole, real food to feel fabulous. The short video, combined with a little humor, is guaranteed to get people thinking about what they are eating. Time and time again we have heard that dogs cannot eat chocolate for example … but what about a crock pot chicken? More importantly, did you know that buy purchasing a high end brand pet food you might as well as be purchasing a double whopper from Burger King?

“Eating a whole, real food diet is key to growing younger and staying healthy and fabulous.” explains Growing Younger expert Robin Nielsen. “Food is information. It tells our bodies how to function or not.”

Both experts have a similar philosophy when it comes to caring for people and animals. Viewers can watch their humorous and educational video at: http://tinyurl.com/3m33fru and can grasp the concept of what a healthy meal looks like and how it can impact the lives of pets and their owners. In fact it’s essential to live a disease-free life!

About Greg Martinez, DVM
For more information, please visit: http://www.dogdishdiet.com.
Dr Martinez graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. He is a partner in a thriving small animal practice in Gilroy, California. Since he has found that changes in the diet help many dogs with chronic medical problems, he always advises people to feed their pet a better diet. The need, duration, or number of treatments for medical problems may decrease if nutrition is addressed when treating skin, bowel and ear problems. He was so impressed with the power of healthful eating that he wrote Dog Dish Diet, available on amazon.com and at http://dogdishdiet.com

About Nutrition Expert Robin Nielsen
Robin Nielsen Robin Nielsen is the Founder of Juvenescence, LLC, helping her clients to “grow younger.” She is a successful entrepreneur, a Certified Nutrition Consultant and an in-demand speaker and educator. She’s motivated thousands to improve their health with the right mental and physical fuel for optimum performance in all areas of life. She offers a FUN, holistic approach to achieving optimal performance with a take control of your life perspective and a call to action to live a luscious life. More importantly, her topics bring results and increase personal and professional productivity. http://www.togrowyoung.com.

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“Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet”

Introduction to Home-Crocked Dog Food

Once they tried the slow-cooking recipe in Dog Dish Diet, many of my clients and readers fell in love with the idea and practice of home cooking for their dogs. I have to admit that I am now cooking for my dogs 95% of the time.

Why would dog owners want to cook for their dogs?

1. 1. Some people need to know exactly what is in their dog’s food to help with medical conditions. If you add an ingredient or two at a time, then you may be able to determine what ingredients cause ear, bowel, or skin problems in your dog.

1. 2. Home-crocked dog food contains less preservatives and processing chemicals. Recalls and troublesome chemicals are often in the news. Once you are comfortable with the process of home crocking, you won’t have to worry about these alarming reports.

1. 3. Home-crocking dog food allows you to control the ingredients with the ease and economics of slow cooking. Home crocking dog food can be less expensive and more healthful than most commercial dog foods. Slow-cooking for your dog may both save you money and make you part of the “pet health care team”

Most dogs seem to thrive on commercial food, however many dogs with moderate to severe itchy skin, chronic ear infections, hotspots, soft stool or diarrhea, seizures, kidney and bladder problems, pancreatitis, diabetes  and other chronic medical problems may need different and healthier ingredients or a home-cooked diet for their medical condition to improve.

For those dogs that suffer from moderate to severe chronic skin and ear allergies or bowel problems, home cooking may be the best way to avoid endless cycles of costly veterinary tests and treatments. Home- crocking dog food may help you decide what ingredients work best for your dog instead of buying expensive prescription diets. I have watched many clients buy an expensive hypoallergenic or prescription food only to throw it away after their dog refused to eat it. Home crocking dog food allows you to try different ingredients out on your dog and use that information to buy different a commercial dog food with different ingredients or to try different slow cooking recipes!

I’m a Vet, not a Certified Canine Nutritionist

Before we jump in, let me explain my credentials and how I got started cooking for my pets. While I am not a certified canine nutritionist, I have been practicing veterinary medicine for over 30 years. I’ve been using nutrition along with traditional medicine in my practice for more than 10 years now with excellent results. Thousands of clients have followed my simple nutritional advice offered in Dog Dish Diet, and many others have decided to cook for their dogs, using a slow-cooking recipe in the book.  Many of those dogs have shown improvement with chronic medical problems that had plagued them for anywhere from a few weeks to years. In my experience, not all dogs will recover or show improvement on a homemade diet, but it is very easy and cost-effective to try. It is certainly cheaper than the cycles of endless tests and medications that some very allergic dogs have to endure. Even if the medical problems do not completely disappear, your dog will be healthier and happier with your home-crocked dog food!

The nutritional successes of the past 10 years have convinced me how important the diet can be in treating many chronic medical problems. I now make nutrition an integral component of treatment for many medical problems.  Combining nutrition counseling and medication is often much more successful than using medication alone. In fact, the truth is, most of the time I can’t cure chronic skin, ear, bowel, and bladder problems with medication alone. Some dogs will continually itch; have constant ear or bladder infections; or seizures even with constant medication. Even a small percentage of seizuring dogs improve with a better diet. I have found that these problems can be dealt with far easier using a combination of nutrition and medication.  The amount and frequency of medications for skin, ear, urinary, bowel, or seizure problems may be needed far less, or not at all. For example, if the offending ingredients in the diet are removed, and healthy ones are introduced, the skin may get healthier, the ears and bladder infection may clear up, and the amount of seizuring or level of medication needed may decrease in some dogs. Doesn’t that make it worth trying?

If you buy my book for the Holiday Special Price of 14.95

I will send you the download

“Introduction to Slow Cooking for Your Dog”

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Dogs and cats are individuals with different tolerances to ingredients in commercial food. We are literally shortening the lives of some pets because dry food is easier to use. If your dog or cat is overweight, has dry skin or itchy skin, or chronic ear problems…consider changing them to a lower calorie food, limit their food, feed canned food(less calories per ounce), home cook them lower calorie food, or dilute the dry food calories with water or green beans. I have found that feeding or adding raw or home cooked food to any dog or cats diet makes them look and feel healthier!

Pet obesity graphic produced by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK stockist of dog jackets, collars and accessories. Click here to view the full post.

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A few weekends ago, I gave a nutrition talk at the Dorrington Inn near Angels Camp in California. The Dorrington Inn in beautiful Murphys is a great dog-friendly hotel co-owned by a friend of mine. He thought it would be fun to have an annual “dog event” there. So we decided to have a dog walk and talk!

We started the event with a dog walk to the largest Sugar Pine tree in the world. For many dogs it was their first romp in the snow. Biting the snow and rolling in it seemed to be the most popular activities. However after an hour of walking through the snow, dogs that are used to the low lands and comforts of houses like my little dog Maisy, wanted to be carried!

After the walk, Deleta Jones had a question and answer period on dog behavior. She reminded us that dogs operate under the rules of pack order and a dominant leader. That is the structure some dogs require to behave. Not all dogs require such an order. Remember dogs just like people have very different personalities and needs. One dog may always “go with the flow” where another may need a constant reminder as to who is the boss. She advised several owners to make sure their dogs were not “the boss” on the leash. That is one small way to exert dominance by making them heal by the owners foot, instead of pulling on the lead ahead of the owner.

Then I gave a talk about feeding differently if your dog has allergy symptoms like bad skin or ear infections, is overweight, or has nausea and/or diarrhea that you just can’t control. A better diet also helps keep the body healthier and younger. Human nutritionists advise people to eat more whole food and less processed food. Feeding only commercial food sentences our pets to a processed diet! I talked about adding healthy “human food” ingredients to the diet to ensure that your dog receives more of the healthy oils and essential phytochemicals present in meat and veggies. It is amazing how many people are afraid to feed “human food “to their pets.  Most are afraid of imbalances and poisonous ingredients. There are only a few foods to avoid, and a variety of healthful foods will never cause toxicities or an imbalance of nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are necessary additions to those foods lacking it to start with. Commercial dog foods require the addition of vitamins and minerals because they start with grains and meat by products. If commercial dog food started with the muscles, organs, and bones of the animal, they wouldn’t need to be as “fortified”.

Dog Dish Diet is now available as a kindle eBook! I updated the crock pot recipe and several sections of the book.

I also have several videos for sale at mindbites.com that talk about “feeding your pet to avoid the vet”. These videos contain good information about feeding your dog a healthier diet at very reasonable prices!

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I went to a talk last night given by a Dermatologist, a specialist in treating skin and ear issues in dogs and cats.  I was happy to hear the new information about Atopica, a drug used to control signs of allergies, itching and inflamed ears.

Since I have been also using nutrition to treat many cases, I was hoping to hear about elimination diets and other ways to treat our itchy friends. Turns out the vet giving the talk had been hired by the company making the drug we talked about most of the night. This is really common in veterinary education. The emphasis may be dictated by the sponsor.

However, the specialist gave a good talk with good info. His perspective was that steroids commonly used for itchy dogs and cats will ultimately shorten their life. He lectured that we should use Atopica and other “less harmful” drugs to control the itch and fight infections .

In my practice, I use prednisone, cortisone spray, or cortisone injections on a temporary “as needed” basis for really itchy times.Nothing relieves really itchy dogs like cortisone. However in the last ten years I first  try to use healthy oils, whole healthy human food, hypoallergenic commercial food, or even home cooked dog food combined with medication to relieve those dogs with bad skin or ear problems. When I make sure dogs are fed the right kinds of things, they often need less medication or none at all!.

If a dog does need medication,  I often combine cortisone with antibiotics or other medications to control itch and infection. If a dog does not get better with a 2-4 weeks of cortisone, antibiotics, and a better diet, I consider allergy testing for pollens and molds. At that time, I also consider using Atopica. However, after adding oils and feeding a better diet, not too many dogs need constant medication or Atopica. But if a dog needs it, it’s good to have on the shelf.

How do you know what your dog is allergic too? If a dog chews its butt or anal area, then the problem is usually fleas or food allergy. If they constantly chew or lick on their feet, then hay fever is suspected.Ear problems can be a sign of food allergies or hay fever. So if you treat an itchy butt dog with flea control and the itching subsides, then food allergy might be the cause. An elimination diet testing for food allergy may relieve itching for both the ears and butt. That may mean food allergy is the cause.

Dog Dish Diet on this website comes with a how-to elimination diet download. You can crock pot ingredients easily and economically to find out which ones relieve symptoms and are healthiest for your dog

To rule out flea allergy and control fleas, he recommended using Capstar every other day for a month. It is a short lived medication that is good at immediately killing adult biting fleas that cause the itch. ( Most people can’t really afford to use Capstar in this way because it costs 80.00 per month, but it really kills the fleas) Most people choose topical or oral monthly flea control.He also mentioned that he liked Comfortis, Trifexis, and Advantage monthly flea treatments, but that the kill is slower and allows more bites before the fleas die.He mentioned that Frontline was having a lot of problems controlling fleas. That just goes to show you that natural selection is working. (Over time fleas resistant to Frontline are taking over and Frontline will become less and less effective)

Once flea allergy is ruled out, then food allergy,hay fever (atopic skin disease), or other parasites or infections are  suspected to  be causing the problem.

Mange, yeast infection, mange, or staph infections can also lead to itching and misery. These infections follow flea, food, and atopy or hay fever allergies. That’s the reason we try to find out what is causing the allergies. If the cause of the itching is stopped, then these infections can’t happen. We can do that with flea treatments, avoiding food allergens, or helping treat atopic skin problems or hay fever.For example, allergies to food may inflame the skin and yeast infections will set in. Those that have had it know how itchy a yeast infection can be. It can itch just like athlete’s foot and are commonly located in the neck and foot area. Staph infections can lead to red, bloody, moist, painful hotspots almost anywhere.

After years of talking to clients and treating these problems, I suspect that most vets aren’t always treating the root of the problem. If  the itchy dog eats better less medication is needed. Affected animals often respond to healthy fats and oils, antioxidants, and less chemicals in the food.  I spend a bit more time with my clients exploring nutritional solutions before I start the clients on the medication merry go round. Nutritional changes will not help every pet, but the money and misery saved make it worth trying.

Check out my book, Dog Dish Diet. The second edition just came out this week as a Kindle Ebook. I hope to get the paper edition updated  soon. However if you order the book from this website, I will send you a word doc or pdf download that covers the new material. If you try my suggestions in the book, your dog may be able to get off the medication merry-go-round. Just like with us, the better you eat, the better your health will be.

The new info on Atopica is that it has just been approved for use on cats.  Atopica may be helpful in treating many skin issues that cats routinely are given injections of long-acting steroids for. If your cat has real itchy skin, ulcers on the lips, crusty skin, or red areas on the skin, then Atopica may really make a big difference and help your cat feel a lot better.

Flea allergies, hay fever or atopic skin disease, or food allergy can make cats miserable.Flea allergies cause an itchy body near the tail, belly, or crusts all over the cat. Food allergy is not as common, but  causes a red itchy face or ears. Hay fever and food allergies can cause itchy ears and can be mistaken for a chronic ear mite infection.

First rule out flea problems by using Revolution or Advantage to treat the fleas and you can try to feed a canned cat food with no grains. However, most cats are so finicky that changing the food is almost impossible.  At any rate, if flea control and a different diet don’t help, then consider Atopica. It is a better choice than repeated injections of long acting cortisone for really itchy crusty skin issues.

By the way, Atopica is also a good choice for dogs that don’t improve after flea control and a better diet. Atopica has less side effects than daily prednisone  or repeated cortisone injections. It can be more expensive, but for some suffering dogs it’s worth it. The dermatologist mentioned that he uses half the amount of Atopica mixed with ketoconazole for those dogs that need relief. That is a new dose and type of combined use for Atopica in dogs

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