Vet Q&A-Fish

Lexi has had diarrhea for about 2 days. We're in houston area right now with the storm. What in house can I give her to help? its comes mainly during the hours of 2-9am. I had started putting salmon fish oil purchased at Walmart innber food. But I stopped when I noticed this. And it's still happening

Poor Lexi. Stress can also cause diarrhea. If possible adding a bit of canned pumpkin or Metamucil to add a bit of fiber. Also probiotics may help- if you have any for people you can open the capsules and sprinkle on her food. Or plain yogurt if you have. Just try a spoonful at a time as you adjust to effect. Try to avoid people food or treats right now while she has the diarrhea. Good Luck and stay safe!

My dog is itching like crazy!! I changed his food to Nutro lamb and rice formula, have continued with his fish oil pills in his food, and give him 2 Benadryl in the morning and 2 at night. He itches his paws and pads when he is laying down and his thighs. I have also bathed him and put new Advantix medication on his back.

That is a great start! I would consider trying a different flea medication if it doesn't clear up soon and consider treating your house with Flea Busters powder. At his age I would also consider a thyroid panel and/or prescription medications if it does not resolve with what you are currently doing. I hope this helps!

hello, i have a tropical fish and the heart didnt work for the tank how do i keep my fish warm its still in bag

You can float it in some warm tap water but it will need to come out of the bag before oxygen levels drop and waste levels rise. Hot water bottles or a light over the tank may also keep temps out of dangerous ranges until you replace the heater. Buy two and keep a spare ready just in case.

My fish has been having some floating issues lately, and I believe it's been anything from over eating to low water temperature to not enough electrolytes, but now I'm noticing that she floats after I change her water once a week. I started adding aquarium salt to her tank today, she has a heater, I feed her pellets every other day, and I add tap water "neutralizer" or whatever it's called to every partial water change. Could her swim bladder be affected by the water change in any way?

Water quality can definitely contribute to swim bladder disease. Keep the water temperature between 78 F and 80 F. Use a small filter if you can to maintain water quality. When performing water changes, use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Keep a large container of water out for 24-48 hours prior to use. This "aged" water can then be conditioned with StressCoat, NovAqua or similar conditioner prior to changes. Use no more than 1 teaspoon aquarium salt per gallon of water as a general tonic.

Hello, I was wondering how one would introduce new fish to a aquarium that already has preexisting fish. Whenever I add new koi fish to my collection, most if not all of my old koi fish die from diseases. Can you explain how this process could be done correctly? Thank you.

Ideally you would quarantine any new Fish in a separate aquarium for a few weeks to make sure they do not show any signs of diseases or infection. Once 2-3 weeks have passed without any signs of a problem then it is usually pretty safe to introduce to the common aquarium. Good luck and I hope they do well!

i brought some new betta fish this morning but a lot of fish die at noon

As long as you are properly setting up the environment for your new fish, not stressing him out too much, and making sure he is happy and healthy, he shouldn't pass away at a certain time of day. A google search can give you a myriad of information about how to care for your betta, however most do best in an actual tank with a proper filter and heater to keep things warm and fresh, a lid to keep active bettas from jumping out and becoming injured, and for males, no other bettas or aggressive fish in the tank. If you're unsure if your tank environment is safe, most pet stores will test water samples for free and point you in the direction of any changes you need to make.

Thank you for the reply Dr, Johnson. My dogs issues began at 1yr old, vomiting and blood in the stool, followed by intolerance for kibble and many other items. Tested for Addisons, clear, fecal testing, blood work, x-rays for an obstruction and finally an ultrasound by a specialist. I have tried chicken and fish as protein sources now trying turkey. Attacks are severe and my vet has given up. I am the only voice and hope for a little guy that has definitely not had his share of good times yet

Hi again! You are very welcome! I would consider seeking a specialist, specifically an internal medicine specialist. If you are unable to do that then I would try a prescription hydrolyzed food like Royal canin HP. Sadly the over the counter novel protein diets are not 100% pure and studies have shown that we can still find other proteins like chicken present in diets that are not supposed to contain chicken. He may need steroids if surgical biopsies are not something you would want to do. Also be sure he has had his B12, folate, TLI and PLI tested. I hope this helps some! Poor guy!

Hello, all my koi fish are becoming sick. They're demonstrating a behavior called flashing. No, they don't have visible parasites like anchor worm or fish lice so it had to a disease. Their fins are also getting torn up. They die from slowly becoming more and more inactive. Do you have any products that can help fight against this.

Consider a broad spectrum treatment such as General Cure by API or Parasite Clear by Jungle Labs. Follow label directions. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) can be used concurrently to aid in healing and to treat minor infection and fin rot. Dissolve up to one tablespoon per gallon of water into a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Test water chemistry using a home test kit or submitting a water sample. Most pet or fish stores will do this for free or for a nominal fee. Correct any imbalances using aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Use a conditioner such as StressCoat as well. Confirm adequate filtration to maintain water quality.

Healthy fish now ls floating or on its side has difficulty in swimming. Will eat if food is within sight this started three days ago. Please help if you can Thank you Cea197 comcast.net

It is possible that she has a swim bladder disorder. Many things can cause this, only some of them reversible. Try feeding her peas for the next few days and see if that helps. If it does, then include them in her diet several times a week.