Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Biography

Los Angeles native where I obtained my BS in Animal Science from Cal Poly Pomona. I attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine for my didactic studies and UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for my clinical training to earn my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. I joined a general practice in North Hollywood, CA post veterinary school where I had the privilege to work with many pets and their owners. I have also completed an academic internship at Tufts University and private surgical internship in Austin. Currently, I hold a position as a Surgery Resident at Oklahoma State University.

Questions Answered by Rodrigo Roca, DVM

My cat has been sneezing a lot, like multiple times everyday. Her appetite and behavior have not changed but it just seems like a lot. Is this allergies or could it be something more?

Hello, thank you for your question about Nxly. Sneezing can have various underlying causes in cats. Allergies are a possibility and can be caused by pollens/particles in the environment or possibly perfumes, etc. Other common causes of sneezing include upper respiratory infections, tooth problems (the roots of their teeth are located near the nasal cavity), etc. Since Nxly is otherwise acting ok I would recommend continuing to monitor her. If the sneezing gets worse or you notice colored nasal discharge, lethargy, or decreased appetite I would recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps!

Hello! My Romeo was only given a few days of Prednisone and a prescription of DermaVet . Half of 5 mg Prednisone once a day for couple days from his vet due to razor burn. Does he need to tamper off slowly if it was only few days of it? Can DermaVet be used at same time ? I was just concerned about tampering off.? Thanks! His razor burn looks better.

Hello, thank you for your question about Romeo. Since the course of the prednisone was very short it is often not necessary to taper the medication. Based on the information that I have found about DermaVet I believe it is safe to use both at the same time. Of course if you notice Romeo develops any symptoms such as decreased appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea I would recommend having him rechecked by your veterinarian. Hope this helps, glad to hear he is feeling better!

My dog hurt his paw while playing a few days ago. It was bleeding so I wiped the blood and put some microcyn on it. He seemed to be fine but now we noticed that he is licking at it, and wheb we looked at it we noticed this growth on his paw. I am very concerned about it as it looks bad. Pretty sure it is an infection. My question is can this wait till Monday to go to the vet or should I go to the emergency vet? Is there anything I can do for him in the meantime? Thank you

Hello, thank you for your question about Baxter. Based on your description and the photo provided I believe that Baxter can wait until Monday to be seen by a veterinarian. In the meantime I would try to prevent him from licking at the area and try to keep it as clean as possible. If you have one you can use an e-collar to prevent him from getting at the area. Alternatively you could cover his foot with a sock (if you use this method try to keep the sock clean and dry, it may need to be changed). Additionally when Baxter goes outside I would recommend covering his foot (especially if the ground is wet) to prevent dirt and debris from getting to the area. You can use a plastic shopping bag or a bootie for this purpose. I would recommend scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian on Monday so that they can examine the area and determine if it is infected/irritated and prescribe Baxter any medications that they feel are warranted. Hope this helps, good luck!

Is it safe to give my 11 pound chihuahua Temaril - P for 15 days? I read online that the manufacturer recommends 3-4 days, so I am a bit worried. She got an rx of 1 pill twice a day for 5 days, then half a pill twice a day for 5 days, then half a pill once a day until gone.

Hello, thank you for your question about Sophie. Yes Temaril-P can be used for longer than 3-4 days if the veterinarian feels it is warranted. The tapering dose that was prescribed to you is important to prevent any side effects of the medication. Some side effects that can occur include GI upset (decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea) and increased drinking and urinating. If you begin to notice any of these side effects I would recommend reaching out to your veterinarian to see if a change in the medication schedule might be warranted. Hope this helps!

Chispas was diagnosed with luxating patella and was given Meloxicam and Gabapentin. She has been doing well we have her in a smaller place making sure she is not jumping on to anything she seems to be fine and isn’t limping she does stretch out her leg out at times which the vet told me it will be normal. What exercises are good for me to practice with her to strengthen her leg muscles. Is it ok for her to run or jog? So far i take her out only on leash. Is it safe for her to run?

Hello, thank you for your question about Chispas. Some good exercises to help her recovery include physical therapy exercises such as moving her leg in a cycling motion for 5-10 minutes once a day. Additionally low impact exercises such as swimming will be helpful in keeping her muscles strong. I also recommend starting a joint supplement (one that has glucosamine and chondroitin) to help keep her joints healthy and prevent development of arthritis as she ages. In these cases I usually recommend 10-14 days of exercise restriction and then a slow return to exercise. I would start with a gradual return short walks around the neighborhood on the leash and work your way up to playing/running. With more activity it is possible that Chispas could have another case of limping. Hope this helps!