Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we carry skilled 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 mum or dad or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that can preserve your furry buddy blissful and wholesome. Keep tuned for skilled 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 to your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Assist! How Do You Know When “It’s Time”?
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
How have you learnt when it’s time to place your pet down? Boots is a Bischon and 16. He has arthritis in his again legs on gabapentin day by day. He can’t maintain his poop and pee and can simply go in the home. He whines loads, however I’m undecided if he feels ache or simply desires me by him. He doesn’t soar up or down from the furnishings anymore. I don’t wish to be the dangerous individual that simply places him down.” – Pam
Hello Pam, I can really feel how a lot you like Boots simply by studying your query and I perceive how tough this resolution is for you. Deciding when it’s time to say goodbye to a beloved pet is among the hardest selections we face as pet mother and father, and it’s clear you wish to take advantage of compassionate resolution for him.
I counsel you start by assessing Boots’ high quality of life. Veterinarians typically use frameworks just like the “High quality of Life Scale,” which evaluates components like mobility, urge for food, hydration, ache management, hygiene, and total happiness. From what you describe (whining, incontinence, and lack of mobility), these might point out he’s struggling. Whining generally is a signal of ache, discomfort, or confusion, particularly in older canine growing senile dementia. Whereas gabapentin will help with arthritis ache, it might not totally handle his discomfort if different circumstances, akin to cognitive dysfunction or organ decline, are additionally affecting him.
A great start line can be to ask your self:
- Does he nonetheless benefit from the issues that after made him blissful?
- Are his good days outnumbered by dangerous ones?
- Does he appear to be struggling greater than thriving?
And please bear in mind it’s not about being a “dangerous particular person;” choosing euthanasia is an act of affection and compassion when it prevents extended struggling. A dialog together with your veterinarian can present readability. They will assess Boots’ bodily and emotional state and assist you to weigh whether or not his ache and decline outweigh his moments of pleasure. You might also discover it useful to schedule an online call with one of our veterinarians at PangoVet that can assist you navigate your emotions, perceive the choices and penalties, and higher perceive Boots’ wants.
In the end, Boots trusts you to behave in his greatest curiosity, and no matter you determine, it can come from a place of love and care. I’ve a sense that you simply’ve given him a beautiful life, and your thoughtfulness now displays the depth of your bond. Do not forget that love and attachments are totally different, real love prioritizes the opposite one’s well-being whereas attachment focuses on our personal emotions.
Greatest needs,
Dr. Paola
To speak to a vet on-line now, click on on the picture or button under:
Assist! My Canine Retains Licking Her Lips!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
My canine Pip is licking her lips for a number of minutes at a time. It even wakes her up. She does it if we’re out strolling, she’s mendacity in her mattress, and many others. It occurs roughly each hour. Has she received one thing incorrect along with her? What ought to I do?” – Shelley
Hello Shelley, thanks for reaching out about Pip. Lip licking in dogs, particularly when it occurs often and disrupts her sleep, can point out that one thing is bothering her. This conduct is usually an indication of nausea, discomfort, and even nervousness. In some circumstances, it may well additionally level to dental points, oral irritation, or an underlying gastrointestinal drawback, akin to acid reflux disorder.
For the reason that conduct happens each throughout relaxation and when you’re out strolling, it’s much less more likely to be situational (like stress or concern) and extra probably one thing bodily or medical. Nausea, for example, may cause canine to lick their lips repeatedly as a approach to manage excess saliva or an unsettled abdomen. Equally, oral ache, like a sore tooth, gum irritation, and even one thing caught in her mouth, may result in this conduct.
To assist Pip, it will be greatest to have her examined by a veterinarian as quickly as attainable. The vet can carry out a radical oral examination, verify for indicators of discomfort, and probably run checks to rule out gastrointestinal points. For those who can, attempt to file a brief video of her lip licking to point out the vet; this may be very useful in diagnosing the trigger.
Within the meantime, regulate every other indicators, akin to adjustments in her urge for food, vomiting, or extreme drooling, and attempt to preserve her comfy. For those who’re not sure whether or not to attend or act urgently, consulting with our veterinarians at PangoVet, our tele-triage online veterinary service can information one of the best subsequent steps. I’m assured that with the proper care, Pip will really feel higher quickly!
Assist! My Canine Retains Burping!
“Hiya Dr. Paola!
My canine Lucy has change into extraordinarily burpy within the final yr. She by no means actually burped after which it looks like recently she is consistently burping all through the day however actually solely when different persons are round (Lucy does love consideration lol). She’s on medicine for epilepsy which is the one factor that’s modified for her. Is that this regular?” – Kacey
Hello Kacey, thanks to your query about Lucy. Her increase in burping, notably along with her epilepsy medication within the combine, is price exploring. Whereas some burping in canine could be regular—similar to us, they generally swallow air whereas consuming, ingesting, or throughout pleasure, a noticeable enhance in frequency or depth might sign one thing else.
Epilepsy medicines can typically impression the gastrointestinal system. Sure medicines may trigger gentle acid reflux disorder or alter the way in which meals strikes by means of the abdomen, resulting in burping. Lucy’s conduct of burping primarily round individuals may additionally point out she’s realized the best way to get consideration—it’s not unusual for canine to repeat behaviors that elicit a enjoyable response from their people!
Nonetheless, it’s vital to start out by ruling out medical causes. Extreme burping can point out points like gentle acid reflux disorder, gastritis, and even swallowing additional air when excited (aerophagia). Since her medicine is the one current change, it will be a good suggestion to seek the advice of her vet to see if her medicine might be affecting her digestion or if one other underlying challenge may be at play. Your vet might advocate changes to her medicine, her weight-reduction plan, or may add one thing to assist soothe her abdomen.
Within the meantime, attempt feeding her smaller, extra frequent meals and guaranteeing she eats calmly to reduce air swallowing. You may wish to try a slow feeder bowl for Lucy.
Greatest Needs,
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence
Trending Merchandise
