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 mother or father or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that can maintain your furry good friend completely satisfied 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 choices and supply the very best care in your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here!
Assist! My Canine Hasn’t Eaten for a Week!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
My canine Missy hasn’t eaten in every week! I’ve tried every part, together with canned meals and milk. Sadly, she appears very weak. What ought to I do? Do you make home calls? ” – Cynthia
Expensive Cynthia,
I’m actually sorry to listen to that Missy is feeling so unwell. If she hasn’t eaten for every week and is now very weak, this can be a serious medical emergency. Canine can develop life-threatening issues, reminiscent of hypoglycemia or liver points, once they go without food for a number of days, particularly in the event that they’re already small, senior, or have underlying well being circumstances. Her refusal to eat and rising weak spot counsel that her physique is struggling to maintain up, and he or she urgently wants hands-on veterinary care.
Whereas I don’t make home calls, I strongly suggest that you just contact a neighborhood veterinary clinic or emergency vet hospital instantly. If transportation is a problem, many areas have cell veterinarians or pet transport companies that may assist. Missy wants an examination, bloodwork, and certain supportive remedies reminiscent of fluids and even assisted feeding. Time is of the essence on this state of affairs, and the earlier she receives care, the higher her likelihood of restoration.
Sincerely,
– Dr. Paola
If you’d like actual time solutions to your questions, you’ll be able to speak to one among our veterinarians on-line. Click on on the picture or button under:
Assist! My Canine Spleen Has Not too long ago Been Eliminated!
“Is Astragalus a great complement for my canine with a lately eliminated spleen? I’m in search of holistic choices to spice up the immune system that don’t impression blood clotting like black currant seed oil does. “ – Sadie
Expensive Sadie,
Thanks in your considerate query. It’s clear that you just’re being very aware in supporting your canine’s restoration and long-term well being, particularly after one thing as vital as a splenectomy. When the spleen is eliminated, the physique loses a part of its immune surveillance system, so bolstering immune perform gently and safely turns into an inexpensive aim.
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is an herb historically utilized in Chinese language medication to assist immune perform. In holistic veterinary circles, it’s typically used to advertise vitality and enhance the immune response, particularly in power or immune-compromised states. Nevertheless, its use in canines is still considered complementary and never totally backed by large-scale medical trials. That mentioned, anecdotal studies and smaller studies do counsel potential advantages, and it’s usually effectively tolerated in wholesome canines when used appropriately. Importantly, astragalus is just not recognized to intrude with blood clotting, making it a safer choice in comparison with dietary supplements like black currant seed oil or fish oil in pets with clotting issues.
Nonetheless, as a result of your canine’s situation is complicated and post-surgical, I’d suggest a seek the advice of with a holistic or integrative veterinarian who can tailor a plan based mostly on their full well being image.
Wishing your pup good well being, Dr. Paola
– Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Died After Vet Care!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
My canine Archie died after I took him to the vet. He was coughing up phlegm from his lungs for 3 nights. The vet disagreed with me, mentioned he was vomiting, and handled him for that. My canine died every week later, after receiving many exams, remedies, CT scans, X-rays, and even a digital camera into his lungs and hospitalization. After taking him to a different vet, I discovered that he had atypical pneumonia. I can’t assist however imagine that had he been handled for the criticism I initially introduced him in for, he could be right here now. He was solely six years previous and in good well being. Might you give me your opinion on this, please? I’ve movies displaying Archie coughing, definitely not vomiting.” – Annette
Expensive Annette,
I’m actually sorry in your loss. Dropping Archie in such a distressing and seemingly preventable approach is heartbreaking, and I can really feel the depth of your love and the load of your ache by means of your phrases. Your grief is valid, and your questions deserve cautious, compassionate consideration.
From what you’ve shared, it sounds such as you have been very observant and proactive in taking Archie to the vet. Coughing, notably with the manufacturing of phlegm from the lungs, factors towards a respiratory subject fairly than a gastrointestinal one. Whereas coughing can typically be mistaken for retching or vomiting, movies are sometimes very helpful in clarifying these distinctions, particularly in brachycephalic breeds or when indicators are delicate. A misinterpretation at that early stage may, sadly, delay correct prognosis and therapy. Atypical pneumonia, which may progress shortly and be troublesome to detect in its early phases, requires well timed, focused remedy. If preliminary therapy was directed on the fallacious physique system, it’s doable that the window for profitable intervention was narrowed.
You probably did every part a loyal pet mother or father may. You trusted your instincts, sought a second opinion, and pursued superior diagnostics. That speaks volumes about your love and dedication to Archie. Whereas we can’t rewrite the previous, in search of solutions, even now, might be an necessary a part of the therapeutic course of. That is troublesome throughout intense emotional moments, however it might assist to replicate on the truth that even essentially the most skilled and compassionate veterinarians can typically misread what they see, particularly if the indicators are introduced in a approach that mimics gastrointestinal distress. Veterinary medication, like human medication, isn’t all the time clear-cut, and whereas that doesn’t ease your loss, it’s necessary to know that errors in judgment are hardly ever attributable to a scarcity of care, however fairly to the complexity of instances and the constraints of the data accessible on the time. In any case, we vets are additionally simply people, making an attempt to do our greatest for the animals in our care.
When you really feel that your issues have been dismissed or not totally explored when they need to have been, you could wish to seek the advice of with one other veterinary skilled. They will assessment the total information and supply perception particular to Archie’s timeline. You may also take into account submitting the case for assessment to a veterinary medical board, not out of blame, however in pursuit of transparency and studying. Archie mattered deeply, and your voice issues, too. I sincerely want you power all through your grief and therapeutic. In case you haven’t learn it, my expensive colleague Dr. Karyn has written about her experience losing her elderly dog. It’s possible you’ll discover her insights on the way to acknowledge lacking Archie, reside the method, and eventually handle to open your coronary heart once more useful.
Condolences, Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
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