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 guardian or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that may maintain your furry buddy joyful 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 choices and supply the very best care in your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Assist! I Want Assist with Merchandise!
“Hello Dr. Paola,
Some stickers bought on-line by Natpat declare to calm and chill out your pet. They’re known as pet zen vapor stickers and are non-mediated. The bundle claims the stickers are made with plant-based components, eco-friendly, and vet-formulated. You place the sticker in a locket and fasten it to the canine’s collar. I wish to attempt it on Murphy, my 22-pound King Charles Cavalier to calm and scale back his barking. Do you might have any data on this product? Thanks for contemplating my query ” – Jan
Hello Jan,
Thanks very a lot in your belief. Whereas I’ve no direct expertise with this product, I’ll attempt to assist reply your query as finest as I can.
One among our writers, Emily Muller, reviewed this product on our website. She examined it on her lovely canine, Micah, and reported that simply a few minutes after putting the sticker on the collar, Micah was noticeably calmer. You can read her review and revel in some wonderful images of her attractive pup.
Making certain the collar is correctly secured in order that Murphy can’t get to it is vital. Whereas the chance of hostile reactions is low, you need to monitor Murphy for any uncommon indicators when introducing the stickers, as particular person sensitivities can fluctuate. In case you discover any hostile reactions, discontinue use instantly.
Likewise, it’s important to keep in mind that barking is a pure type of communication for canine. Whereas some barking is regular, extreme barking can point out underlying causes akin to anxiousness, boredom, territorial conduct, or realized habits. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed could also be susceptible to vocalizing as a result of pleasure or separation misery relatively than aggression. Whereas the Pet Zen Vapor Stickers could assist promote rest, they gained’t straight tackle the basis reason for his barking. If Murphy barks out of behavior or in response to triggers like outdoors noises, behavioral coaching paired with calming aids may be simpler.
Constructive reinforcement training can help educate Murphy different behaviors. Rewarding quiet moments with treats, participating him in puzzle toys to maintain his thoughts stimulated, and utilizing instructions like “quiet” with constant reinforcement can regularly scale back pointless barking. If his barking stems from separation-related misery, regularly rising his consolation with alone time and offering calming background sounds may additionally assist. Combining coaching with instruments like pheromone diffusers or anxiousness wraps would possibly supply further assist. Whereas pure calming aids just like the Pet Zen stickers could contribute to an general sense of rest, their effectiveness will fluctuate between canine. If Murphy’s barking stays persistent or will increase in depth, consulting a behaviorist specialist could also be useful as they’ll create a customized dealing with and coaching plan for Murphy. I hope this helps!
Sincerely, Dr. Paola
Dr. Paola
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I Want Assist Selecting a Canine Meals!
“I hope to supply my Spunky the highest quality meals. I’m looking for out if Open Farms is healthier than Performatin Extremely Restricted. I’m having a tough time discovering comparisons.”– Lucy
Expensive Lucy,
It’s good to learn that many pet mother and father, like your self, are researching to decide on the precise vitamin for his or her pets. This means Spunky is clearly cherished and nicely cared for. The standard of what we feed our pets straight influences their well being and vitality. I don’t have private expertise with both model, however I’ve some normal data to share.
Open Farm is well known for its transparency and dedication to ethically sourced proteins and sustainable practices. Their recipes typically function quite a lot of protein sources, together with much less frequent choices like venison and fish, which could be useful for canine with particular dietary wants or sensitivities. Moreover, Open Farm gives detailed details about their ingredient sourcing, permitting pet mother and father to hint the origin of every element of their canine’s meals.
Performatrin Ultra Limited Ingredient diets deal with simplicity, providing recipes with a single protein supply mixed with restricted and simply digestible carbohydrates like candy potatoes. These sorts of diets make feeding canine with meals sensitivities or allergy symptoms simpler, as when you already know what triggers them and in addition know precisely what a meals comprises, it minimizes the possibilities for hostile reactions.
Every of those manufacturers presents a variety of various merchandise and in the end, the only option relies on Spunky’s particular well being necessities, preferences, and any recognized sensitivities. Since our aim is to be essentially the most helpful useful resource for pet mother and father, at Dogster we have now lots of of free-access educational posts within the subjects of vitamin, understanding meals labels, issues, and recollects in addition to meals opinions. Observing how Spunky responds to a selected food regimen is crucial, as particular person reactions can fluctuate. In case you discover any hostile indicators or have issues about his dietary wants, consulting with a veterinarian is really useful to make sure his food regimen is the most effective for his well being and wishes.
In case you want personalised assist navigating the labels or understanding why a canine would possibly react to a sure food regimen, a one-on-one video name with certainly one of our vets on our sister website, Pangovet, and so they may also help information you and reply any questions you might have. Once more, congratulations, choosing the proper meals in your canine is essentially the most proactive method a loving pet guardian can have.
Heat regards,
Dr. Paola
Assist! What’s the Finest Meals for Boxers?
“Hello Dr. Paola!
I’ve 2 boxers. Zeke & Tyson are 4-year-old and 2-year-old males. What pet food have you ever seen to be the most effective for this breed of canine, or what components are finest for them? Thanks“ – Troy
Hello Troy,
Boxers are such an brisk and fun-loving breed! Given their excessive exercise ranges, muscular construct, and predisposition to sure well being issues, choosing the proper food regimen is crucial to retaining Zeke and Tyson in peak situation. Boxers could be susceptible to coronary heart points, akin to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), so it’s essential to make sure their diet includes taurine-rich components like beef, rooster, turkey, and organ meats. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish can even assist coronary heart well being and scale back irritation. Since they’re additionally susceptible to meals sensitivities, a food regimen with simply digestible proteins and restricted components is finest. I favor to keep away from diets with wheat, corn, and soy.
Excessive-quality animal protein ought to at all times be the primary ingredient of their meals, supporting their lean muscle mass and excessive power wants. Boxers can even have delicate stomachs, so avoiding overly processed meals and synthetic components is smart. I favor fresh and gently cooked diets so long as they’re nutritionally balanced, fortunate for us it’s 2025 and there are many nice choices commercially accessible and a few of them even delivered to the doorstep! In case you’re choosing dry or wet foods, search for one with clearly named animal protein sources, wholesome fat, and complicated carbohydrates like candy potatoes or brown rice. If when you slender down your favourite choices, you need assistance understanding why a selected ingredient is added to a recipe, a one-on-one video name with Pangovet may also help information you and make an knowledgeable choice.
Please word that the Boxer breed is prone to bloating (gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV), feeding smaller, extra frequent meals and avoiding train instantly after consuming may also help scale back dangers. One last item, if Zeke and Tyson have been fed the identical food regimen for some time and you’re considering a diet change, please take your time to transition them slowly. Ideally do it over 7-10 days to permit their digestive system and microbiome to adapt, serving to to forestall digestive upset.
I hope this helps! Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
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