Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we carry knowledgeable 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 dad or mum 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 may hold your furry buddy glad and wholesome. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steerage on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care to your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here!
Assist! My Canine is Chubby!
“I consider Linus may be very obese. What do you advocate as an acceptable
food plan?” – James
Hello James.
Recognizing {that a} dog may be overweight is a crucial first step towards serving to him dwell an extended, extra comfy life. So, thanks! Extra physique fats in canine, very similar to in folks, places pressure on the joints, coronary heart, and different organs, and may contribute to severe well being points equivalent to diabetes, arthritis, and decreased immune perform. Earlier than adjusting Linus’ food plan, it’s important to substantiate his excellent weight vary primarily based on his breed, age, and physique situation. A hands-on analysis utilizing a physique situation rating (BCS) chart is a useful information; it’s not rocket science, however for those who’re not sure, a session with a veterinary skilled, like one of our veterinarians at PangoVet, can present an correct evaluation.
On the subject of weight reduction, a species-appropriate, portion-controlled diet is the inspiration. This usually means a food plan wealthy in high-quality animal protein, reasonable in fats, and low in carbohydrates. Some commercially obtainable weight administration diets are formulated to assist fats loss whereas preserving lean muscle. Nevertheless, the important thing lies within the portion measurement and consistency. Measure Linus’ meals with a kitchen scale slightly than counting on cups, which are usually imprecise. Incorporating mild, regular exercise tailor-made to his present health stage is equally vital. Keep away from feeding desk scraps or high-calorie treats. As an alternative, use small parts of his every day meals as coaching rewards or go for low-calorie alternatives like inexperienced beans or carrot slices. A gradual, regular weight lack of round 1 to 2 p.c of physique weight per week is taken into account secure and efficient.
I want you and Linus good luck on the burden loss mission!
Dr. Paola
If you need actual time solutions to your questions, you may discuss to one in every of our veterinarians on-line. Click on on the picture or button beneath:
Assist! I Discovered Worms in My Canines Poop!
“I just lately dewormed my Yorkshire Terrier Lucy with medicine that I obtained from my native vet. After deworming her, she began coughing and gave the impression to be nauseous. This went away after a day or two. Just a few weeks later, I attempted a pure treatment of ground-up papaya and pumpkin seeds, and I observed what gave the impression to be some sort of worm in her faeces—like lengthy grains of rice. Does deworming with Milpro or comparable merchandise kill all worms, together with the eggs, or does it solely kill the grownup worms?“ – Robert
Hello Robert,
Thanks for taking note of Lucy’s well being. It’s commonplace for canine to point out transient indicators like coughing or nausea after deworming, particularly if there’s a major parasite load. These indicators typically mirror the physique’s response to the dying parasites and often resolve rapidly, as you noticed. Pure treatments like papaya and pumpkin seeds are fashionable in holistic circles. Though there’s, to my information, solely one preliminary study that gives promising proof supporting their antiparasitic results, they haven’t been scientifically confirmed to totally eradicate intestinal parasites. What you noticed in Lucy’s stool resembling lengthy grains of rice is most likely tapeworm segments, that are shed by the parasite as a part of its life cycle. That is how they unfold their eggs into the atmosphere.
Milpro is a broad-spectrum dewormer that targets a number of grownup intestinal worms, together with roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Nevertheless, like most anthelmintic medicines, it primarily kills grownup worms in addition to immature levels, not the eggs. That’s why repeat remedies or strategic timing primarily based on the worm’s life cycle are crucial to interrupt the cycle and stop reinfestation. That is what we often confer with as a deworming schedule. Tapeworms, particularly, are carefully linked to fleas, so it’s vital to additionally guarantee constant flea prevention. For a parasite management plan to really be efficient, it’s vital to think about each the native parasite dangers and your canine’s way of life. Components like whether or not Lucy spends time outdoor, interacts with different animals, or lives in a high-risk space can all affect which strategy is finest. Because of this looking for steerage from a veterinary skilled is essential to tailoring a plan that matches Lucy’s particular wants and atmosphere.
For pet dad and mom used to giving their canine the identical deworming chew month after month, it’s price mentioning that parasites can regularly develop resistance if the identical sort of dewormer is used repeatedly over time. It is a public well being concern, however rotating or combining remedies underneath veterinary supervision may help forestall this.
One last item price mentioning is that as a result of parasites can simply unfold between pets in the identical family, it’s really helpful to deal with all animals within the residence on the identical time, even when just one is exhibiting indicators of an infestation. Contemplating all of those steps could make a giant distinction in conserving your pet wholesome and parasite-free. I hope this helps!
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Growls at Guests!
“Elsa is a delicate German Shepherd, however generally she growls at sure guests, however not others. It’s not all the time new folks both, some new folks she is okay with, however others she growls. She scares folks due to her measurement, however I do know she may be very mild. I simply marvel why she picks sure folks and never others? Is there something I can do to cease this, or is it good conduct to have as a result of she would possibly sense issues that we don’t?“ – Karol
Hello Karol,
Thanks to your considerate query. Elsa feels like a delicate and clever lady, and, understandably, her growling could be disturbing to some guests, even when her mild nature. What you’re describing is a typical conduct amongst canine, particularly breeds like German Shepherds, who’ve robust protective instincts. Canines rely closely on physique language, scent, and power, and Elsa is probably going responding to refined cues within the folks she meets. This may embrace nervousness, unfamiliar scents (like one other canine, alcohol, or sure medicines), and even posture and tone of voice. Her growling isn’t essentially an indication that somebody is “unhealthy” however slightly that she’s not sure or uncomfortable in that second.
Growling is definitely a useful type of communication. It’s Elsa’s method of claiming, “I’m not comfy,” with out escalating to more serious behavior. The purpose isn’t to suppress the growl however to know and information her by way of these moments. One useful strategy is to create a predictable, calm routine when friends arrive. You might need Elsa on a leash close by with some high-value treats and reward her for remaining calm and relaxed. If she growls, don’t punish her, as that may train her to skip the warning subsequent time. As an alternative, calmly redirect her consideration and transfer her away to provide her area. Right here, the principle problem for you is to strive to determine what it’s that triggers her; is it a hat? A fragrance? The voice tone? It’s not simple, however a little bit of detective work is all the time wanted as we try to decipher or higher perceive our furry members of the family. As soon as recognized or at the least narrowed down to some potentialities, you may work on counter-conditioning these triggers with the assistance of a positive reinforcement trainer and even a few of your triggering guests, so long as they’ll comply with directions and stay calm. The clue is all the time to bolster Elsa’s calm conduct whereas instructing her that what she perceives as a deal with is nothing to fret about.
If the conduct turns into extra intense or unpredictable, a session with a professional in person may help you assess her atmosphere and patterns in additional element. Many occasions, it’s we who want some behavioral modifications to efficiently handle our pets, and that’s completely positive; ultimately, what’s most vital is that we’re all attempting our greatest to know and defend one another’s well-being.
Good luck!
– Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
Trending Merchandise
