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Sharing practical information with dog owners is our number one priority. Here's a valuable tip someone shared with us: Put your mobile phone number on your dog's collar. Unlike tags which can be lost, your information stays intact. It saved our two dogs when they went missing. We had them back within the hour. Don't let your dog become another "lost" statistic! See more tips on our  "Ask the Dog" page.

Are you concerned about using prescription drugs for your dog? While using natural options may be your first choice, there are times when prescription drugs are needed. Knowing all you can about your pet's prescribed drug before use may alleviate many worries.  

For example, the drug Previcox (firocoxib), prescribed  for arthritis and distributed worldwide, has had both favourable and negative outcomes. Merial, the makers of Previcox, recommend the prescribed dosage @ 2.27mg/lb (5.0 mg/kg) body weight once daily. It is not recommended for dogs weighing less than 12.5 lbs (5.67kg) as they cannot be accurately dosed. Unfortunately, many dogs have been overdosed with devastating consequences as the attending vet was unaware of the actual suggested dosage by the manufacturer. 

Today, new drugs for animals are being tested and aggressively marketed by drug manufacturers. The animal care industry has become a multi-billion dollar industry (that's right, billion) and vets are urged to administer the latest drugs to their clients, often without knowing all the risks themselves.

Pet owners are being bombarded with more drugs than ever before. Brilliant advertising campaigns, scare tactics and sadly, even pressure from respected professionals make it seem as if prescription drugs are our only choice. Can too many drugs actually be harming our beloved pets?

Ask your vet to help you weigh the risks and benefits of any suggested medication prior to accepting it. A competent veterinarian will have no problem explaining to you what symptoms to watch for and what steps to take should your dog suffer a negative reaction to a prescribed medication.

Ask the Dog Thirty plus years of owning and caring for dogs has given us much practical experience to share with others, whether it be behavioral, medical or general in nature. "Ask the Dog" covers a wide variety of issues common to many dog owners. Here you'll find suggestions and solutions not only from us but also from veterinarians, groomers and pet sitters.

If you cannot find an answer to your dog’s problem from the topics listed, submit your own question, we'll be happy to answer. This service is provided free of charge. Fees and/or membership are neither expressed nor implied. If you find our site helpful, please share it with others. Thanks for stopping by! ~Mel

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Updated January 1, 2012