Monday December 16, 2024 – Dogster

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we deliver professional recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.

Whether or not you’re a brand new pet father or mother or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that may hold your furry buddy comfortable and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a variety of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you can also make knowledgeable selections and supply the very best care in your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! I Wish to Begin Making My Personal Canine Meals!

“ Hey Dr. Paola, I’m questioning what’s the easiest way to go about making home made pet food for my canine Bowdoin. The place do I start? ” – Drew

Hey Drew!

Making homemade dog food for Bowdoin is a satisfying option to handle his food regimen and guarantee high-quality substances, however it’s vital to supply full and balanced diet. Canines have particular dietary wants that embody essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals like calcium, iron, vitamin E, and vitamin B12. Crucial level to grasp right here is that assembly these necessities might be difficult with out cautious planning {and professional} steerage so nice efforts can have unlucky outcomes if not nicely executed.

To make sure Bowdoin receives a secure and balanced food regimen, begin with recipes approved by a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist. Knowledgeable can assess his dietary wants primarily based on his breed, age, weight, exercise degree, and any well being considerations. In lots of instances, dietary supplements particularly designed for pets—corresponding to these from BalanceIT or The Farmer’s Dog—might be essential to satisfy dietary requirements.

Cooking at residence additionally requires attention to ingredient quality and kitchen security. Correct hygiene and dealing with practices are key to minimizing the chance of contamination whereas making ready, storing, and serving Bowdoin’s meals.

Whereas it takes extra effort to cook dinner home made pet food, it may be a really lovely factor for each you and your canine. Greatest needs in your pet food culinary journey!

Dr. Paola

Assist! I Wish to Preserve My Canine Heat in Winter!

“My giant black lab has horrible arthritis in his hips and legs. He’s solely 7 years outdated and has had it since he was a pet when he began rising quick and enormous. We reside within the foothills of central California the place the temperature has been dropping to freezing. Can we please get somewhat recommendation on learn how to hold heat and comfy through the winter months? He received’t put on his jacket or the rest received’t are available if he sees us attempting to place him in a single?” – Mo

Hello Mo,

Sorry to listen to about your lab having developmental joint points since puppyhood. The ache and discomfort of arthritis are exacerbated by the chilly temperatures. A few of the options you may discover are offering him with a heated bed, or a heated dog house. Most canines will naturally gravitate towards them when it will get chilly.

You also needs to remember that labs have a thick double-coat and had been developed within the chilly province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Their natural winter coat does fairly an excellent job of defending them towards chilly temperatures. It doesn’t come naturally for a lot of canines to simply accept sporting a jacket however it may be achieved if, as an alternative of forcing them, you steadily desensitize and prepare them to put on it. You have to to do that by utilizing positive reinforcement methods.

We want you the most effective with this and hope for a straightforward winter in your canine.

Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Has Excessive ALK Phosphatase Ranges!

“Good day, my canine Izzy has excellent blood work besides her ALK Phosphatase is 421. She is an 11-year-old mini schnauzer weighing 16 lbs. She is wholesome and pleased with no issues with arthritis right now. Is it true {that a} mini schnauzer can have a better ALK Phosphatase than different canines?? please assist with this query.” – Sandy

Sandi, it’s true that Miniature Schnauzers can have elevated ALKP. It is usually true that this marker has low specificity, which suggests this enzyme is produced by many cell varieties and might be discovered within the liver, bone, kidney, and gut. Due to this fact, different biochemical checks are wanted to interpret its significance.

ALKP is often included within the liver panels as a result of it’s present in liver cell membranes and within the hepatic cells surrounding the small channels by way of which bile is launched. One probably state of affairs is that ALKP is launched into the blood when the biliary move is slowed (the medical time period for that is cholestasis). Fatty infiltrations of the liver can doubtlessly result in cholestasis. Due to this fact it is very important think about the outcomes of different checks together with TSBA, GGT, ALT, and AST, and really importantly to watch serum triglyceride concentrations.

In accordance with a study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, anecdotal observations recommend that some Miniature Schnauzers with hypertriglyceridemia may develop hepatic insufficiency secondary to the pathogenic distension of the hepatic cells. Veterinarians work with completely different scrum chemistry panels after they make blood checks, so whenever you say all her blood work was excellent, I’ve no means of understanding what was examined. Have a chat along with your vet to search out out if extra diagnostic testing would appear applicable, or if you need some extra detailed assist, we advocate reserving an internet session with one among our skilled veterinarians at PangoVet. They are going to ask you some extra questions, assist present data, and provide help to craft an motion plan.

Greatest needs!
Dr. Paola