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MaryPat Feiss | 7 years ago
My Shepherd 3 Yr Old Shepherd Tends To Get A Little Anxious. When We Used…

My Shepherd 3 yr old Shepherd tends to get a little anxious. When we used a professional trainer, he explained we should keep a bone or something for her to latch onto. She has latched onto a couple of the plastic Nylabones and chomps down pretty hard. I have noticed the plastic now has some sharp pieces and is cutting the side of her mouth. I am looking for a bone that she can use as her “go to” when she feels she needs to. We also have a 12 wk old Husky, who I would like for her to have one to chew also but want something that won’t hurt them. Any suggestions???

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  1. Laura

    So, I’m reading this as she’s biting down once and causing serious damage to the bone. To be quite honest, if she’s causing that kind of damage with just one chomp, I don’t know that there’s anything truly safe to give her. If she’s gnawing on it and causing this sort of damage over time, there are MUCH better options to give her.

    I would not buy Nylabones, as they are not edible and the plastic should not be ingested. I would, instead, look for more natural options. Antlers, marrow bones are both decent options, just be vigilant in checking teeth for cracks or splinters. I would also look into softer (but hard to break) options, like West Paw Zogoflex toys.

    Have you talked with the trainer about things you can do to curb the anxiety? Because you have a herding breed, your dog needs daily mental work…this means more than just basic obedience. I would seriously consider looking into a sport of some sort. Sports and higher level obedience will actually calm your dog and help build confidence.

    Editing to add…I’m told Goughnuts are a good option for power chewers. http://shop.goughnuts.com/product.sc;jsessionid=F9EC4BDBFB4633B0976DB7A914B6E1C6.m1plqscsfapp04?productId=10&categoryId=1

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
My 4 Month Old Puppy Got A Little Skin When Taking A Treat Out Of…

My 4 month old puppy got a little skin when taking a treat out of a vet tech’s hand and she is now reporting him to the health department. Is this normal?

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  1. Sarah

    I think I would need to know a few more details before I could give a good answer to your question. For instance, how much is a little? Did you ask your vet this question and did they have an answer that you felt one way or another about? I’m guessing that given the circumstances perhaps they are just doing it because it is protocol? 4 months is young and considering that a treat was involved…. I’m not sure I personally would call the health department, but that is me…. again, I think I would need more info before I could truly give a definite answer.

  2. Anonymous

    That’s VERY strange. What did the owner of the practice say when you asked them about it?

  3. Zach Jamison

    We did talk to the owner and there is apparently a law in the county where we live that they have to report any incident. I find it quite ridiculous that they would have to report a puppy that bit someone’s finger while getting a treat to the department of health, but what do I know. We will not be going back there though, that’s for sure. What really got under my skin was the fact that after he “bit” the lady, we sat in the waiting room for several minutes waiting for medication, and the lady said nothing about reporting it. So when I got a call from the department of health the next day I was pretty furious.

  4. Anonymous

    Time to work heavily on bite inhibition at home, if even oops tags from puppies must be reported.

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Sarah | 7 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends… It Was A Snowy, No School Day Here. Try As I Might, I…

Hi pawbly friends…
It was a snowy, no school day here. Try as I might, I could not get the dogs to stay in while the kids were out playing in the snow, and all that running and horse play took a toll on our 12 year old GSD Butch. He just fell going down the stairs…. not the whole stair case, the stepto get onto the landing. My husband picked him up and rather than having him try to use the stairs tonight, we brought him round the outside way to use the hill instead. He seems fine on his walk just now, but slow going. My question is this: he’s got rimadyl that we give him sparingly for pain from his arthritis. Should I give him some tonight, or wait til morning when he will probably be really stiff, or give tonight and tomorrow? Thanks for anyand all advice!

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  1. Sarah Post author

    Just to update:
    Butch is stiff this morning, so I did give him his pill. I did not give it to him last night because when I went fir the dogs last tuck in, he was already comfortable. He had a tough time getting up the stairs this morning, and we had to help him… he needs a little help most mornings, but again after all his playing and running yesterday its no surprise he needed more help than usual this morning. If any of you have any other advice on how to help him recover from thinking he was 10 years younger yesterday, please share.

  2. Anonymous

    I didn’t see this last night but I wouldn’t give NSAIDs preemptively.

    I think I would try to work on leashing him if he’s going to go a little off his rocker on snow days. 😉 That or work on the kids not letting him out.

  3. Anonymous

    Oh, and for recovery, crate rest for the day.

  4. Julie Brader

    Hi Sarah, just wondered if you had considered Acupuncture for Butch? I know it helps a lot of dogs.
    You could also ask your Vet about Gabapentin as an alternative to Rimadyl. It gives good pain relief and has no side effects in canines.
    Do hope Butch is feeling better soon ?

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
I Have A Question,is There Any Way That A Cat Who Has Received Her Rabies…

I have a question,is there any way that a cat who has received her rabies shots,and is an indoor cat with hardly any contact ever with the outside world(at least no contact in the last month,other times was you know,just to the vet and all) Can have rabies?i’m a hypochondriac and my cat just bit me and I wanna make sure I’m Ok.
Thank you for taking the time.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    I’m sorry. But your question is beyond the scope to which we can answer. If you are worried about your health you should ask your doctor. If you are worried about your cat and their possible exposure to rabies please contact your vet.

  2. Daniel aria

    I will ask my vet but she is not available for a few days,what is your personal opinion though?

  3. Sarah

    If you feel that your cats vaccination is not up to date, then I would contact my primary care physician.

  4. Krista Magnifico

    I don’t know enough about you, your cat, when the vaccine was done, what kind of vaccine was given, how prevalent it is there, or anything else to offer an opinion.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
My 6 Year Old Shar Pei/golden Retriever Mix Has A Mysterious Bump On Her Lower…

My 6 year old shar pei/golden retriever mix has a mysterious bump on her lower leg. It appeared out of nowhere on Jan 1. She doesn’t seem bothered by it, it just looks like a pink bump really. I took her to the vet who took one look (barely a look at all because it had all of the fur covering it) and said it was either a cyst that maybe was a little infected or a pappilloma. She said to put neosporin and aloe vera on and cover with a sock daily. I have done that for more then a week and the bump looks the same (I trimmed the hair to get a better look). Do you think I should be concerned or push for a further look or is something like this just that easy to diagnose as she seemed to think?

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  1. Julie Brader

    Hi Amy, If you are concerned then go back to your Vet…or see another one if you were not happy with the initial examination. I enlarged the photo and there seems to be a mark in the middle of the lump. I wonder if it could be a bite of some kind? If so she would probably need antibiotics. If she were my dog I would definately take her back to the Vet for a more in depth examination.

  2. Sarah

    I agree. I would call my vet and explain that there has been no improvement and you are concerned. Have them take a closer look.

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I agree with Julie and Sarah. If you are worried about it and it isn’t resolving express your concerns to your vet. It does look like a mass, per se, it looks more like an injury, but I would have expected it to be better by now if it was. It is so hard to diagnose via a photo. You are better off with your vet looking at it in person. Please let us know what happens.

  4. Amy Martin-Madeley

    Finally after I stopped put on the neosporin and the aloe vera and just let it alone for a few days it seemed to start getting smaller and smaller. Now it is just a tiny scab! Thanks everyone for your advice.

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Michele Bandy | 7 years ago
Our 8-9 Month Old Cat Is A Stray Adoption From The Humane Society, But He…

Our 8-9 month old cat is a stray adoption from the humane society, but he is a total pig! You would think he is starving all the time. We have another cat in the house, but if he’s not at his dish during feeding time Jimmy will eat his own food and the other cat’s food. I have tried feeding him several smaller meals throughout the day or a large one in the morning, but nothing seems to satisfy him. He is on his way to being too fat. Any suggestions for satisfying his appetite or giving me some peace with his constant begging?

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  1. Sarah

    We feed twice a day- that’s it. Dogs and cats in our house get their food at 4/4:30 am and then the cat gets a 2:30/3 pm meal and the dogs get a 7 pm meal. We train with treats -dogs and the cat-throughout the day as well. It took everyone about a week, maybe a little less to get in tune with the schedule, but now it’s very routine and works for our household. My point is, perhaps setting up a feeding schedule of some sort will be helpful. This way there isn’t food out unless it is time to eat. (Ignoring the cries for food for a few days can be challenging, so toys help redirect here.) Best of luck?

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    The vet inside of me always has to recommend that you do a full work up to make sure there is not an underlying medical reason for the polyphagia (excessive hunger). Also make sure there is no access to any medications or plants or toxins that might influence this (people in the house using steroid creams or plants). Then addres the diet choices you are offering him. Try switching to a high quality wet food and add water. Offer organic cat grass. Or catnip. Or toys. Or even start taking him for walks in a harness on a leash. My point is to offer lots of options to food. See if this helps. If not ask your vet for advice or visit a cat specialist for more tips and tricks.

  3. Starr Henry

    I often rescue strays and it seems the longer they’ve been on the street the more likely it is they do this. Most likely because they are used to not knowing when the next meal is coming from and when it’s coming. I have one cat that will beg for anything with pasta sauce on it. You just have to try to show them they will have food all the time it might be easier because he’s young but there’s really no telling how a cat will delve lip with time.

  4. Shiria

    I agree with Starr – if he was a stray for some time, he may has learned to eat as much and as fast as he can, as he never knows when or how much food comes again. We experience this sometimes with cats we take in in our shelter.
    It may take him a while to realise that from now on he doesn’t have to worry anymore. I would still have him checked, to make sure he’s healthy.
    For everything else I agree with what Krista said.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
I Have A Male German Shepherd Dog( 3 Years Old). He Has Recently Developed A…

I have a male German Shepherd Dog( 3 years old). He has recently developed a few red bump(with dark pigmentation on the top) around the center of his belly. They cause him no discomfort or anything. They are about 5mm wide and 3-4mm high in size . I am wondering if that is something I should worry about.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
Hi, I Brought My Cat To The Vet On Thursday. She Has Been Straining To…

Hi, I brought my cat to the vet on Thursday. She has been straining to urinate since Wednesday night. She had also been throwing up her food and had had diarrhoea on the Thursday morning. The vet prescribed antibiotics for cystitis and I am brining her back after a week for a recheck. She had quite a lot of blood in her urine before she started the antibiotics but this has stopped since. She is still frequently going to the litter tray and is still straining and doesn’t seem to be able to get much out. She has stopped getting sick and is eating and drinking as normal. Apart from a little bit of diarrhoea on the Thursday morning she has not defecated at all and prior to that it had been at least 4 days. Could you give me some advice on when I should begin to see improvements?

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  1. E

    Thank you for your responses. I rang the emergency vet today and she told me that it would take a few days until she is urinating normal again and as long as she is eating and drinking she should be ok. She no longer has blood in her urine, however I am still quite worried as there doesn’t seem to be much improvement in the volume of her urine output and she seems to be straining a lot with only a a little dribble of urine each time. She is also licking the area after every time she tries to urinate. Other than this her temperment seems normal and she is lively.

  2. Julie Brader

    Hi …if you are in any way concerned please take your cat back to the Vet before her check up is due. If she is still straining to urinate and has not defacated for 4 days it could be something other than cystitis.
    Take a urine sample to the Vet with you and perhaps ask for blood tests to check kidney function etc. I hope she recovers soon.

  3. Shiria

    If she still has blood in her urine and is straining to get somethign out I would visit the vet again. Maybe she has bladderstones or something else partly blocks the way.
    Same if she can’t defecate. Sometimes it takes a while after diarrhoea until the colon starts working again normally, but if shes eating normal since 4 days and wasn’t able to use the toilet since then I would get that checked, too.

  4. Krista Magnifico

    I am very very worried that the cat is unable to urinate which is an emergency. Please go immediately to the vet now!

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
We Just Adopted A Rescue Cat And He Is Very Timid. Hides Under Furniture…

We just adopted a rescue cat and he is very timid. Hides under furniture, won’t come out. Is this normal? He has barely eaten and has not urinated or had a bowel movement. It’s been about 24 hrs since we got him.

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  1. Anonymous

    Yes, this is normal. The rescue didn’t explain a proper introduction to your home? I would keep him in one room, with the door shut, for at least a week, but ideally longer, especially if you have any other pets in the house. Keep a litterbox, his food, and his water in there. Go in for chunks of time each day, and totally ignore him – take a book and read, or do some other quiet activity. This gives him a little time to acclimate to the new home and new people in his life. Rehomed animals, particularly adults, NEED a significant period of time to adjust.

  2. Sarah

    It’s all an adjustment for the cat. And just like people, different pets have different personalities. Some adjust more quickly than others. You’ll have to take cues from them about certain things. For instance, when we brought our most recent cat home, she preferred to remain in our finished basement for about three days. It seemed odd to us since the dogs were usually down there with her and not upstairs with us. So I would go and sit on the sofa, watch the news, have my tea etc. then, on that last morning, she decided that yes, this house was hers and that was that. So it just has to go it’s own course. Be patient. If he gets hungry enough, he will eat. But if you are still concerned, I would call my vet. Congratulations on your new furry family member!!

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
My 2 Months Old Puppy Ate A Chicken Bone. What Should I Do?

My 2 months old puppy ate a chicken bone. What should I do?

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  1. Anonymous

    If this is a RAW bone, and puppy chewed it, I would just monitor your puppy. If this is a COOKED bone, CALL YOUR VET. NOW.