Ask Dr. Paola – Help! My Dog Has An Oversize...

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we carry 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 offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can maintain your furry buddy completely satisfied and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steering on a variety of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable selections and supply the absolute best care on your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Doesn’t Take pleasure in Having His Tooth Brushed!

“What’s the greatest dental cleansing product for a canine if he doesn’t need his enamel brushed? Thanks on your assist.

Sort regards, ” – Bobby

Pricey Bobby,

When a canine resists tooth brushing, it’s very like attempting to maintain a kitchen counter clear with out ever wiping it. Plaque continues to build up and, over time, hardens into tartar. In these conditions, there are dental care alternate options supported by veterinary dentistry that may assist gradual this course of. Treats particularly formulated for dental well being have been proven in managed research to scale back plaque accumulation by offering a mild mechanical cleaning action throughout chewing. As well as, water additives and oral gels that include enzymatic programs similar to glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase might help restrict bacterial development within the mouth when used constantly, even when brushing isn’t tolerated.

You will need to remember that no product totally replaces common tooth brushing, which stays the gold commonplace for preventive dental care. That stated, merchandise authorized by the Veterinary Oral Well being Council have demonstrated significant reductions in plaque and tartar when used as directed. If a canine exhibits indicators similar to persistent unhealthy breath, reddened gums, or oral discomfort, a veterinary analysis is crucial, as periodontal disease is extraordinarily widespread in canines over three years of age and infrequently requires skilled dental cleansing to revive oral well being. I hope this helps!

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canines Penis is Unusually Giant!

“My canine is a 1-year-old She/Poo who I simply received at Christmas. Is it regular for a canine that isn’t neutered to have an outsized penis? I used to be shocked when Mookie was humping his canine mattress, and it got here out. It actually dragged the ground. I’ll be getting him neutered quickly, however this was surprising, and I need to ensure he’s okay. “ – Elizabeth

Hey Elizabeth,

I perceive how alarming that second will need to have been, particularly with a younger canine you might be nonetheless attending to know. In an intact male canine, what you described could be regular, significantly throughout sexual arousal or pleasure, similar to humping a mattress. What’s protruding is often the penis together with the bulbus glandis, a standard construction that swells throughout arousal and may make the penis seem a lot bigger than anticipated. The dimensions change is short-term and may look dramatic, particularly in smaller or younger canines.

At one 12 months of age, hormones are very energetic, and behaviors like humping and visual penile swelling are widespread in intact males. So long as the tissue is pink, moist, and retracts again into the prepuce inside an inexpensive period of time, that is thought-about inside regular limits. You will need to monitor for indicators similar to extended publicity that doesn’t resolve, discoloration similar to darkish crimson or purple tissue, swelling that doesn’t go down, or discomfort, as these may point out paraphimosis or irritation that will require immediate veterinary consideration.

Neutering usually reduces hormonally pushed behaviors over time, though it’s not a direct change, and a few habits might persist if they’ve turn out to be discovered behaviors. Till his neuter appointment, maintaining him calmly redirected throughout humping episodes and guaranteeing the world stays clear and moist might help forestall irritation. If something like persistent swelling or issue retracting happens, looking for veterinary care promptly is vital, and if you’re not sure whether or not what you might be seeing is pressing, our Pangovet service is only one click on away that can assist you determine the following acceptable step immediately.

Greatest,

– Dr. Paola

Assist! MI Witnessed a Canine Assault!

“I witnessed a canine assault earlier at this time between two neighbors’ canines. I didn’t see the way it began, however I noticed the proprietor of the attacking canine and the proprietor of the one being attacked working collectively to get the attacker off the opposite one. However it was fairly confronting; they had been beating it with sticks, and the canine didn’t care. He was an enormous bully breed, and the opposite was a sheepdog mix-looking factor and outdated, very harmless-looking; it was so terrible. The canine walked away trying shaken up, however no blood, so it appeared like the larger canine had latched on after which simply wasn’t letting go.

I’ve received canines myself, and I used to be horrified to see that the canine didn’t take heed to the proprietor when she stated cease, and that even two folks hitting it didn’t even part it, as each of my canines can be terrified of me if I stated STOP to something, and so they’re each huge canines. Questioning, not that I hope to ever see a scenario like this once more, but when a canine is ever in ‘assault’ mode, is there any protected and good approach for an individual to cease it, aside from coaching their canine within the first place? I’m feeling fairly offended about this complete scenario on so many ranges. It was deeply unsettling. I’m simply completely satisfied each canines received out alive and seemingly with out life-threatening accidents.”  – Mia

Hello Mia,

What you witnessed was genuinely disturbing, and your response is totally legitimate. When a canine enters a sustained assault state, the mind is not utilizing the areas accountable for listening, studying, or responding to acquainted cues. As an alternative, the nervous system is flooded with adrenaline, and habits turns into reflexive quite than considerate. I usually describe this as an accelerator being pressed to the ground with no entry to the brakes. As soon as that threshold is crossed, verbal instructions, ache, or shouting regularly haven’t any impact. This helps clarify why the canine didn’t reply to its proprietor and why bodily blows didn’t cease the habits, although many canines would usually retreat below much less intense circumstances.

From a security and animal welfare standpoint, there are very restricted choices as soon as a struggle is in progress, and plenty of well-intentioned actions can really enhance hurt. Hitting, grabbing collars, or reaching towards the pinnacle generally leads to extreme redirected bites to folks. Safer approaches give attention to distance and safety quite than power. Utilizing a bodily barrier similar to a trash can lid, chair, massive inflexible object, or thick merchandise held in entrance of the physique might help block entry, interrupt visible fixation, and create separation whereas maintaining human limbs out of the hazard zone. That is much like inserting an object between your self and a shifting machine quite than attempting to cease it together with your palms. Other interventions generally mentioned embrace strategies that interrupt stability with out inserting palms close to the mouth, similar to lifting the hind finish with a leash if somebody is educated to take action, or often utilizing water or a sudden environmental interruption, although none of those strategies are predictable or really protected.

It may be useful to consider occasions like this as extra akin to a automobile accident than an ethical failure within the second. As soon as it occurs, management is basically changed by harm limitation. The truth that each canines walked away with out apparent life-threatening injury is lucky, however veterinary analysis for the older canine would nonetheless be advisable, as crush accidents and puncture wounds could be hidden beneath intact pores and skin. Feeling shaken and offended after witnessing one thing like it is a regular response, and your concern displays considerate, accountable guardianship.

Sort regards,

– Dr. Paola