i'm looking at 'adopting & taking a stray cat thats adopted us -- I have a dog - what should i gt check out on the cat -- & should i get it fully check b4 allowing it to possibly interact with my dog ?? (other than rabies ? )

Rabies, and such Zoonotic diseases, can be spread, but your dog should be vaccinated anyway. Parvo and Distemper *can* be transmitted, but it's rare, and it different/less severe forms (note: feline distemper is a parvo virus, canine distemper is a paramyxo virus... and dog Parvo and feline distemper are different strains of the virus and thus don't attack the host in the same way). Your dog should be vaccinated against those too, anyway... so it's pretty much impossible that he'd catch anything (it's rarely transmitted even if the dog ISN'T vaccinated... and impossible if the dog is). Most parasites can be, though... so don't let your dog come in contact with the cat's poop... But even so, most parasites are easily treated.

Other than that... fine. I wouldn't worry about them interacting... your dog has no more chance of getting something from the cat in your house than he does walking down a dirty street. Just keep him away from the cat's poop... that's the only thing that may likely cause a problem.

Help!!! my dog might have lyme disease. She wont eat out of her dog bowl, her nose is very dry, she wont move out of her dog bed, she wont go outside or come when u call her. We love her very much and anybody please help by telling me if or if she doesn't have lyme disease. If she does please tell me the a way to get rid of it please help my dog

I'm not sure why you would single out lyme disease... there are any number of ailments that might give her those symptoms. The only way you will know, or get proper treatment, is by taking your dog to a Veterinarian.

Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, usually transmitted by the Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus). The big problem is that most mammals who can contract this disease have insufficient natural defense against it. In other words, if your dog has Lyme disease, it's probably not going away by itself. The only way to tell, either specifically about Lyme disease, or in general what's wrong with your dog, is a proper Veterinary examination. A blood test (specifically, C6 ELISA, which is part of the SNAP3Dx kit) is necessary to determine if it is, in fact, Lyme disease. If so, the doctor would prescribe a strong course of antibiotics... you can't buy these over the counter, you have to see the doctor.

Lyme disease symptoms vary quite a bit, that's one of the reasons it's considered dangerous. From what I've read, about 90% of the dogs diagnosed with it have swelling in the lymph nodes, leading to limping and eventually little or no movement. It's usually accompanied by a fever, too. But you're not a trained diagnostician, you need to go to the doctor with that dog.

As well, even after treatment, a portion of dogs struck with Lyme arthritis develop a chronic condition.. they never recover, even after treatment. Lyme disease can also affect the heart, kidneys, and central nervous system. If you suspect Lyme disease, or ANY time your dog is that viably sick, take her to the Vet. TODAY. Please.

Her Addison's had messed with her kidney's during her first crisis so I was a little nervous about changing the PH in her urine for the grass. My vet is on vacation & I have a message in to her but I was curious if anyone knew already? Thanks!

no do not. saving your grass is not of any importance when it comes to the health of your dog. your dog already has health issues, and her medicines could interact badly with the tablets. if she's doing well, don't use anything new.

I think I might have contracted the parva virus by collecting the tails for the shooting contest in Saskathewan.

Yes, you can contract diseases from handling dead prairie dogs, but not parvo. Parvo cannot infect humans. You may have picked something up but it's not parvo.

can any one tell me anything about it?? She was just taken to the vet and diagnosed today... she will be 14 in May..

Sometimes this clears up on it's own in 3-4 weeks, but returns at times. In older dogs, it is more likely to be permanent than in younger dogs. I have seen some walk in circles, shake their head repeatedly, hold their heads at strange angles, be unable to walk effectively, etc. You just have to decide if your dog is suffering or if this is just an inconvenience to him at this point. And you may give it a few weeks to see if it will pass on it's own.
I would also watch his ears if he is a head shaker from the dizziness. Shaking the head repeatedly can lead to aural hematomas. Not all dogs shake their heads, but many do. And watch to see if he can still eat and drink without too much of a distraction from the dizziness. Some have problems with this.
Good luck. I hope it passes on it's own for your dog. If he is 14 you have obviously taken good care of him, and love him very much.