Cracked pads and other issues

My little girl Penny is a 5 year old Lab/Mix Rescue and is having problems with her pads cracking and other skin issues also Fleas we have her on Advantage but she still is having a problem PLEASE HELP What can I do Natrually????

Thanks
Debbie In Sarasota

[Tony Kremer, DVM]

A little known product called "kerasolve" is wonderful for cracked foot pads and cracked noses.  Your vet can order this for you if he doesn't carry it.  Kerasolve softens pads and makes them more pliable.  We use it to combat the effects of icy, salt covered roads during our Chicago Winters, but it will sure help on that hot Florida asphalt and sand.  
As far as fleas go, here are my thoughts.  One good thing about the Chicago Winter is the seasonal reduction of fleas.  But when I winter in Florida, I hear the horror stories of year round fleas.  Talk to your veterinarian about application techniques and possibly try another prescription topical product.  Many new products have come out, some combined with heartworm preventatives and some repel mosquitos as well.  These are very safe and I don't think you will find a "natural" flea killer that will work as well.

[penny0215]

kerasolve How much is this product?And you can only get this from a vet??We have always had dogs and this is the first time for a flea problem.....Im so upset about this whole thing....What do you know about the New product called Comfortis??

Thanks so much
Debbie In Sarasota

[Tony Kremer, DVM]

Kerasolv should be around $10-20.  We purchase it through a veterinary drug distributor, so I am assuming that it available to veterinarians only, but I would have a veterinarian make sure nothing else is going on before using the product.  There are some skin diseases that cause problems with foot pads and will not be helped by kerasolv.  Comfortis is a newer product and must be given orally.  It may be worth a try.

[penny0215]

What do you know about Comfortis?I have read on the Internet about side effects???Do you know of any problems???

Thanks so much
Debbie

[Jennifer Mathis, D.V.M.]

I've had excellent success with Comfortis.  It  has extreme safety margins.  I have many many dogs on it and none with any side effects.  Anything can have side effects, but I would be surprised with this product.  It's safety margin is huge - ie in studies I think they gave 10 or 20 times the dose before adverse affects were seen.  That doesn't mean you should give a double dose - it won't work better if you double the dose - it just illustrates safety should your pet eat the package.
It is a FDA approved product.  All other flea alone products like frontline/advantage are EPA approved, not FDA approved.  There is much more testing for an FDA approved product.  I still like frontline, but Comfortis or Comfortis and Frontline at the same time seem like a better choice for this situation.
Dr. Dryden is the flea guru - he studies flea products and does not endorse one particular company.  He says Comfortis has a faster kill with larger quantities of fleas in the challenge study.
ie it should work for you.

[penny0215]

Thanks so much for the info,I had her on Advantix and 10 days later she had fleas we always have owned dogs and never before had a problem till now.....We are so leary about the Comfortis......Please assure me.....

Thanks
Debbie In Sarasota

[penny0215]

Thank you so much for your time and  your information  about Comfortis. I cant tell you how much beter it makes me feel to hear what you have to say about it. With being here in Florida it seems like the dog is bait on a lesh every where we walk to these darn fleas here. Does comfortis keep them off or just kill them after they make her miserable- like this other Advantage / Advantix ?
Everyone we talk to say that this is the worst flea year yet. A bumper crop.
The poor little girl Lab has actually got parts of her bleeding and parts by her tail and on her tail where there is nothing but raw skin - very little hair. What should we do to help releive her misery with this ? I mean with the Advantix on her should we bath her or dip her in something ? The local pet store says if we do we lose the Advantix/Advantage. but the dog is being eaten up ? What choice do you think we should do, I am so worried and we cant seem to come up with a game plan to heal her and to keep them off ? Can we give the Comfortis to her with having used Advantix and Advantage in the last 6 weeks - so recently ? And are there any sprays we can use on her before we walk or let her go outside that might stop these fleas from getting all over her ? We bought some Cedar wood oil and put it in a spray bottle with about 8 times more filtered water and have been using that sporadically on her, seems to help. But is there something better and is it necessary or a good practice to spray her every time she goes out side over and over ? with something ? Or is that too much ? She sleeps in our bed most all the time, so I really hate using any strong  chemicals on her for her sake and ours.... Thanks so much again Dr Mathis.
                                   penny0215

[penny0215]

Thank you so much about the "kerasolve" information. I will get some right away and use it on her pads. We think since she is allways jumping up on and off our taller than normal bed that she is keeping them split open and not allowing them to heal. She jumps up and down a couple dozen times a day atleast. So maybe the "kerasolve" and keeping them more pliable is the perfect answer... Thank you Dr Kremer agian ---           penny0215