ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

I have a 10-year-old German shepherd. She has been fighting a staph infection for the past three years. She is currently being treated by a dermatologist and has been through every medication available, but is no longer healing or getting any relief. I would say approximately 75 percent of her body is covered in sores. I shower her weekly and we now have a cone on her so that she will stop biting at herself. The veterinarian says that as a last resort she can give her an intravenous medication that we cannot afford. This medication may or may not work. I'm at my wits end. Have you heard of this before and do you have any suggestions? -- Erina Muraca, Merrick, N.Y.

Dear Erina,

It sounds like you both have been through a lot these past few years. Three years is a long time to have a health issue. I am not a veterinarian, but I do know that staph infections are very tough to treat.

If you find it possible, I recommend trying the intravenous medication. Your dog clearly is uncomfortable and has a systemic disease in which this type of medication could help.

Other options include taking her to another veterinarian for a second opinion or to a holistic veterinarian to see if he or she can offer a different set of solutions. I have visited holistic vets before for various health issues with my dogs. They have been reasonably priced and combined traditional and alternative approaches toward my dogs' health issue. You can find a holistic veterinarian at ww.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/.

Keep me posted on how she is doing.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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