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Dogs can have hearing loss due to increasing age or chronic ear infections, or they may be born with a defect. Deafness in dogs can present some challenges, but overall they can have healthy, normal lives. Training is still possible by making some modifications and incorporating hand signals. It is important to take their deafness into account when considering their safety and ensure that they are never off leash on or near a street.
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Lokivetmab is given by injection and is used on and off label to treat itchiness in dogs. Give as directed. Side effects are uncommon but may include vomiting, diarrhea, sleepiness, lack of appetite, or pain at the injection site. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it. If a negative reaction occurs, please call the veterinary office.
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Lomustine is given by mouth and is used off label to treat certain cancers such as mast cell tumors and brain tumors. Give this medication as directed by your veterinarian. Common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and hair loss. Do not use in pets that are severely allergic to it. If a negative reaction occurs, please call your veterinary office.
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Dogs pull ahead and lunge forward on leash for several reasons. Loose leash walking is a complex skill that requires patience, planning, and persistence. Positive reinforcement training is effective for teaching dogs how to walk nicely on a leash once their welfare needs have been met.
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Loperamide is given by mouth and is used off label to treat signs of diarrhea. Give as directed by your veterinarian. Common side effects include constipation, bloat, and sleepiness. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it, that have diarrhea due to an infection or a toxin, or that are positive for the MDR1 gene. If a negative reaction occurs, please call your veterinary office.
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Lorazepam is given by mouth or injection and is used off label to treat behavioral disorders such as fears, phobias, and anxiety, as well as to treat seizures and to stimulate appetite in cats. Common side effects include sleepiness, muscle weakness, incoordination, increased appetite (cats), drooling, aggressive or unusual behavior, increased activity or anxiety, and vocalization. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it or other benzodiazepines, or that have severe breathing problems or liver disease. If a negative reaction occurs, please call your veterinary office.
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Grief is the normal and natural response to the loss of someone or something. It is a full body experience that includes physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual responses. The best way to manage your grief is to be reassured that these reactions are normal and to let them run their natural course. Grieving takes time. Usually it gradually lessens in intensity over time, but if it doesn’t, then professional counseling may help.
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Lotilaner is used to treat and prevent flea infestations and treat and control tick infestations in dogs and cats. After being administered to a pet, lotilaner is distributed throughout the body. When fleas or ticks bite the dog or cat, they are exposed to the drug and killed during their blood meal.
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Lufenuron is an FDA-approved medication given by mouth in the form of a tablet, liquid, or injection (cats only) to treat flea infestations. Side effects are uncommon but may include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, tiredness, reddening of the skin, or itchiness. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it. If a negative reaction occurs, please call your veterinary office.
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Lumbosacral disease, or cauda equina syndrome, is caused by the narrowing of the spinal canal and results in compression of the spinal nerve roots; pressure on the nerves that exit the spine cause the clinical signs. This pressure may be due to a narrowed spinal canal caused by arthritis, intervertebral disc herniation, an infection in the disc, trauma, congenital malformation, or a spinal tumor. Dogs with lumbosacral disease are in pain. If the clinical signs and radiographs suggest lumbosacral disease, advanced imaging such as MRI or CT is recommended to make a diagnosis. Treatment involves either conservative medical treatment or surgical intervention.
