Note: This issue’ I will be answering questions pet owners have written to me.

Q: What type of food is best for my pet? – Margie in Linwood

A: While that’s a long and complicated answer, let’s assume Margie’s pet is one with no health issues. First and foremost is the requirement for meat in the food. As carnivores, dogs and cats need meat in the diet and this should be listed as the number one ingredient in the food. 2nd. no “by-products”. This is a catchall phrase for, well, you name it. Could be anything. Be careful of the phrase “no preservatives added.” This does NOT mean NO preservatives, just none.... added.... at the time of manufacturer! Good choices are Innova, California Natural, Wysong, Life’s Abundance and Pet Gard to name a few.

Q: Can I give aspirin or tylenol to my dog for pain? – Tony in Mays Landing

A:  Assuming the dog has no history of bleeding disorders or ulcers, the short answer for aspirin is yes. Preferably the buffered brands. Enteric-coated pills will not digest in the dog so do not use those. Tylenol (acetaminophen) has a different mechanism of action and is useful in combination pain therapy. However, long term use of these drugs (as well as any other pain drug), is not advised without the supervision of a veterinarian. For long-term use the veterinary brands have been tested and approved by the FDA for use in pets. Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Zubrin and Previcox are a few of the ones available. Blood tests to check for liver problems are necessary for long-term use, just as liver tests are indicated for many drugs, including human ones. One other caution. Cats are NOT small dogs! Cats cannot take the many of the medicines that dogs can. In fact tylenol is fatal to cats! And the dose for aspirin is one baby aspirin every 3 days! Again, please consult your veterinarian, especially with cats.

Q: What is all the controversy about vaccinating pets about? –Steve in Vineland

A: Good question and again long and involved. But basically the concern now is are we over vaccinating pets and is that causing health issues. Each pet owner and their veterinarian should discuss the need for vaccine and which ones are appropriate for each pet. For example, if I have a Poodle who lives in a Ventnor high rise, I’m not going to suggest that we vaccinate for Lyme disease. If however, I have a Labrador in Egg Harbor Twp who runs in the woods, then yes, I will suggest we vaccinate for Lyme disease. Cats who live indoors do not need all the “required” vaccines. Dogs who are kenneled or who go to dog shows need some vaccines that those who don’t do those things don’t need.

Something to ask your veterinarian about is vaccine titer testing. This is a blood test that measures the immune status of your pet to the viral diseases. If the titer is high (i.e. protective), then the pet is immune and does not need the vaccine! If the titer goes low after a few years, then the pet is not immune and the vaccine is given. These are only available for the viral diseases, such as distemper and parvo in the dog and distemper and leukemia in the cat. Vaccines for spirochetes, such as Lyme and Leptospirosis, do not create protective long lasting titers and thus should be repeated yearly, IF YOUR DOG is at risk.
There is a titer test available for Rabies, but the result for pets is not considered “legal” in New Jersey. (even though for humans, such as ....veterinarians..... who get rabies vaccine to protect themselves, it is considered the “gold standard” of protection measurement!)

Q: Dr Newkirk, I understand you do alternative medicine. My dog has bad arthritis in his hips. What could you do for him?  – Alisa in Oceanview

A: First Alisa, read the other 3 answers! Diet, proper pain meds and not over vaccinating are all keys to improving health. In addition, here we would add nutritional supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, which protect the cartilage and repair damage. Adding omega 3 fatty acids such as fish or flax oil will help decrease inflammation. Chiropractic works wonders! And the addition of acupuncture and prolotherapy is often helpful. Controlled exercise in an Under Water Treadmill rehabilitates weak muscles and helps range of motion of joints. Class IV laser therapy has made the jump from human to veterinary medicine. Unlike “cold laser”, this therapy penetrates deeper into the tissues, stimulating healing and decreasing pain and swelling. Homeopathic remedies for pain and spasm are also available. These can be taken orally and/or injected into acupuncture points or around the joints themselves. Only a trained veterinarian should do these therapies.

Q:   My older cat has likes to be brushed everywhere except his lower back. If I touch him there, he growls. What could this be? – From Bob in Egg Harbor Twp.

A: This is a common problem especially in older cats that is often mistaken for allergic dermatitis. These cats can lick enough to cause sores, and the sores can fool you into thinking allergy. These cats do improve with an “allergy shot” as that shot is a steroid, which of course, relieves pain. The tip off is that many of these cats do not have multiple sores, yet are very sensitive to this area. V.O.M., a type of chiropractic therapy, will actually diagnose the problem, and then can treat it! VOM is a gentle, effective form of chiropractic and is done right at the office visit. For more information on this technique, and any of the above topics, please go to www.alternativevet.com

Thanks to all who have written.
Yours in Pet Health,
Dr Mark Newkirk.

Serving South Jersey Pets for over a quarter century!


Dr. Mark Newkirk is the owner of NEWKIRK FAMILY VETERINARIANS, with offices in Egg Harbor Twp, Mays Landing, and Margate, and has been taking care of pets in South Jersey since 1981. The Newkirk family has lived in South Jersey all their lives, and Dr. Mark has wanted to be a veterinarian since age 14, when he went to work in Margate as a kennel boy!

Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Mark treats dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and exotic pets, and has special interest in alternative medicine. We are proud to announce the fulfillment of that dream with the opening at the EHT location of ...The Animal Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Center! The center features the areas only veterinary supervised under-water treadmill plus ultrasound and other therapies to deal with chronic injury or spinal problems. For animals that need special care or have severe arthritis or for whom the adage “old age is not a disease” applies, these special pets can now get special care at this Center!