My cat has dried blood at the edges of his nose. Or what we think is dried blood. Why? He hand his sister were given to us as kittens and she does not have this. They have their first felv shot as well as one other shot, no boosters and no other shots as we became unable to afford the bills of the only vet in the area. Otherwise they are both eating and drinking well, playing and active. They are 1 and 1/2 years old. He has no other health issues we know of just this cake black stuff at the edges of his nose that looks like dried blood. They are both fixed. What should I do? And we have no money for an expensive vet bill. We have asked about a payment plan but they will not do that for us, and they are the only vet clinic around. We do not have a car.
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This is a serious question, I’m curious. I feel that pet food these days isn’t that nutritious, and dogs and cats should be hunting for their own food instead of being given this crappy foul tasting “wet food”. In the future, I wanted to buy rabbits, mice, and rats and put them in an enclosure with my dogs to teach them to hunt. Would this be legal? Because I don’t see anything wrong or inhumane about this seeing as people buy live mice for their snakes to eat. So why don’t we do this with dogs and cats? Surely wet food isn’t as good for them?
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Anonymous instead of buying them from pet stores, look into reptile supply. they will sell frozen/thawed. i also cannot say this would be a nutritionally complete diet. better to fully research raw feeding and put meals together that ARE nutritionally complete. besides, your house pet does not need to learn to hunt…and depending on the breed of your dog(s), they may fail miserably in this task. feed a high quality kibble or feed raw, do not feed live rodents.
and yes, this is considered inhumane, especially considering how it’s basically one step away from animal fighting. can’t you see how that is problematic?
it’s inhumane to feed live to reptiles, too…inhumane and irresponsible, as the rats are just as likely to do serious damage to the animals they were intended to feed.
i cannot fathom why you would only give wet food to your dog. does your dog have a lot of missing teeth? or is there a medical reason you’re feeding wet?
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Anonymous oh, and another thing: cats are an invasive species, especially in the UK. they already kill too many animals for sport. they do not need to be encouraged to kill for food.
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debra yuhasz A domestic dog is not a wolf even though they may have ancestry in common. A domestic dog does not have the digestive tract of wolves. Raw fed dogs are fed raw meat but they are not expected to kill their own. Personally my dogs eat what I eat as I feel that pet food is sadly lacking. This includes meat, fish, vegetables and a small amount of pasta and rice. I do not eat rats or mice and I wouldn’t give it to them either. Of my seven dogs only two have a small amount of prey drive. I can’t imagine any of them would know what to do with a raw kill. As for snakes….they are a wild animal. I did have snakes many years ago and they ate live rats and mice because they wouldn’t eat anything else. Dogs are not wild animals.
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ポプシクル I’m sorry, Laura, I don’t understand where you’re coming from with the whole “inhumane” thing. It wouldn’t be animal fighting purely for entertainment, no. I wanted a hound or working dog to help me to hunt rabbits. Animals are subjected to awful, cruel torture in the meat industry, so I wanted to kill the animal myself. God knows what the chickens in the supermarket experience before they end their miserable lives. Hunting isn’t “inhumane”, it’s natural and incredibly humane compared to the torture that humans put animals through. I feed my dog wet and dry food, but it just seems so nonsensical to me. Hunting would be entertaining for me and the dog.
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Anonymous It wouldn’t be for entertainment but it would be for entertainment.
Your ethics are in question. Be glad I lack ban powers. People who justify allowing their animals fight for their personal amusement disgust me.
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ポプシクル There’s nothing wrong with enjoying hunting, is there? It’s nature, we’re omnivores. So cats disgust you because they hunt birds? I’m not saying I would go out and maim an animal for no reason. That’s sick. Why would I get banned just because we have different opinions? I really don’t see what’s wrong with it, honestly.
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Anonymous cats should not be outside. they are an invasive species and have hunted many native rodent and bird species to the point where they are endangered. letting cats outside is irresponsible, plain and simple.
you said you wanted to do this for your entertainment as well as that of your dog. THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. how can you not see this?
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ポプシクル I’m sorry, I don’t understand. As a person with aspergers, I find it hard to understand other people’s points of view. Stopping a cat from acting out its natural behaviours is cruel. Hindering it from going outside would be like keeping a dog inside. It seems ludicrous to me. Whereas it’s instinct that cannot be stopped for cats, humans are more of an invasive species that hunt thousands of animals to extinction.
And I am sorry, but I still don’t see how it’s problematic at all. Being out in nature and killing and sharing a meal with my dog is better than eating processed meats is all I’m saying. Sorry if I seem blunt or rude, I’m really not good with communicating. I don’t want to offend anyone c:
he ate something off the floor and he started nearly committing like and when he breathes he shakes in scaredpls help
Hi there. I am wondering if you might be able to help me. I have a shih poo who is nearly a year old. I inherited her so know nothing about the breeder my mother bought her from. From the time she was a baby she has been eating her own poop. I understand this is common in puppies however as I mentioned she is nearly a year old and I am very confused and concerned about why she is still doing this and how to stop it. Even when she has food in her bowl she will choose to do this. When I take her out to potty I have to be ready to quickly pull her away from any poop because she will try to rush to eat it before I can stop her. Why is she still doing this??? Why is she so actively determined to do it??? What can I do to stop this behavior??? Although her check ups are always positive I am really concerned about her and her health! Please please please help me if you can! I will be forever grateful for any help at all! ?
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Anonymous some dogs will always eat poop. it’s just a thing some folks have to contend with. i think, in your case, i’d keep her on leash until she poops, clean it immediately (and with the leash, you can pull her away from it), and then let her off lead to run around and play.
i came across this article, and i think it may be of use to you as it offers a training suggestion.
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debra yuhasz There is some stuff you can sprinkle on her food that stops them from doing it. It’s available in large pet stores and feed stores. At least then she won’t eat her own. It’s a discusting habit but will not do her any harm.
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Anonymous it’s iffy on whether that works, though.
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debra yuhasz Yes, it’s iffy, but inexpensive and worth a try. BTW, that was a good article.
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Brittany Martinat HI, I stopped my dog from doing this when she was a pup, simply by training her to “go” in the same spot every time and then my grandpa took over. My dog is huge. A Great Dane who used to take my 6foot tall 225 pound uncle for a walk. Anyways my grandfather walks with a cane and taught him not to eat poop and to walk nicely on the leash at the SAME TIME by simply walking him around near the pop and away from the poop. When he walked by the poop without noticing it and walked nicely he got a pigs ear (his favourite treat) and a simple, “good boy t.j.” when he’d try to sniff at or eat the poop or when he’d pull on the leash he’d get a light rap on the bridge of the nose with my grandpas cane (not hard but enough to make him understand) and a firm, not loud or shrill but quiet and firm. “T.J. NO.” Sometimes with all this new stuff we forget that sometimes we need to change with the times (I.e. Not letting two consenting adults in a relationship share a bed in your house unless their married: Aka Disrespecting the couple and being a jerk) and sometimes we need to remember that the old ways are sometimes the most effective.
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Brittany Martinat Oh and in case I didn’t mention, two or three day of being rapped on the nose, a dogs nose is very sensitive, he quit mis behaving and never ate poop or pulled on the leash again. May sound harsh but it worked.
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Anonymous This is a quick way to causing your dog to become very reactive to hands anywhere near the dog’s face. Why advocate hitting when there is always a better option?
It’s like he is chewing the space between the pads. I’ve checked and there is no irritation or redness. I’ve had him almost 2 years and he started this a few months ago. Nothing has changed in my yard (weeds, grass, etc.).
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Dawn Ferara, DVM It sounds like an allergy. I recommend taking to the vet for evaluation and treatment.
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Amy Metrailer Thanks, I just thought it was weird that it started after living here a while. Guess I’ll get him checked out by a vet!
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Lisa Pfab things in the grass do actually change, some weeds ect are not always in bloom and will not bother them. I have something in the yard in the fall that makes one of my three’s feet itch.
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PK Dennis You can take him to the vet as recommended – however I suspect that the vet will tell you that it is most likely he has developed an allergy to something. Most likely mold spores this time of year what with the damp and cold. And most of my dogs develop their allergies at about 2 years of age – so your dog is completely normal.
I recommend that you rinse off his feet when he come in – that will keep him from tracking the allergen around the house and into his bedding, etc. I use a shallow tub that I fill with a mixture of 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water. I dump and make fresh mix every day so I am not growing things in the the tub. Some of my dogs will walk right into this pan/tub, some have to be picked up and placed in the tub. People with large dogs some times use a giant plastic mug (32 oz of soda anyone?!) and they dip each paw into the mug.
You then dry off the paws or let them make spots as they run through the house, no need to rinse out the vinegar/water mix.
You can also use the same mix to rinse off the his entire body every day or two – this removed allergens from his coat, and the vinegar helps reduce the itch.
If your vet recommend Benedryl use Zyrtec (cetirizine hydrochloride) instead – many people find it works much better for their dogs.
If you haven’t gotten your dog on a grain free diet now is the time to do so. No corn, wheat, soy, or rice! Not even in treats, and no more sharing your bread crusts, cookies or taco chips!
To find the good dog food, go to a pet store (not a grocery store or Walmart) and ask to be shown to the grain-free dog foods. Then start reading labels. You want the package to say “grain-free”, and the first 2 or 3 ingredients to be real meat. Real meat will be beef, lamb, bison, turkey, chicken (although a lot of allergic dogs are reactive to chicken), salmon meal (meal is the entire animal ground up and dried – a good thing), whitefish meal, etc.
Then read on to make sure the food contains NO BY PRODUCTS. By products can be nothing more than feathers, or what ever the manufacturer shoveled off the slaughter house floor. No one needs that.
Good luck!
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Amy Metrailer Thanks for this info!
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PK Dennis There is a new study out that indicates that for dogs with mild allergies, swimming every day does as much for relieving the symptoms as does any prescription drug. They believe it removes enough allergens from the dog’s body that the dog’s immune system can then deal with the allergy.
My indoor only, still feral male cat has not eaten or drank anything for 2 days since bringing him home having been catheterized from being close to blocked yesterday. I’ve tried chicken baby food and his treats he loves. Any suggestions.?
I recently (three days ago specifically) took in a 1 year old Pitbull puppy for a family friend who can no longer keep her. I’m starting to worry about her, because she cries a lot and I’m not sure why. I had just taken her to use the bathroom where she did both, and when we got inside she started to whine – so I know it wasn’t because she had to use it. She lives upstairs with my mother and sister because my cats (three of them) live downstairs with me, and fear her. So whenever I get the chance to I come upstairs and visit and play her with her. She seems sad. She throws herself on the floor and makes a big deep SIGH. What could I do to help?
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Dawn Ferara, DVM First I would take her to a vet for a check up to be sure it’s not medical. However, it is possible she is depressed and may take time to adjust to a new family!
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Eliss Bonilla Thanks! I hope she adjusts soon, I feel bad for her. Nothing I do seems to help – she walks around with her tail in between her legs.
I recently (three days ago specifically) took in a 1 year old Pitbull puppy for a family friend who can no longer keep her. I’m starting to worry about her, because she cries a lot and I’m not sure why. I had just taken her to use the bathroom where she did both, and when we got inside she started to whine – so I know it wasn’t because she had to use it. She lives upstairs with my mother and sister because my cats (three of them) live downstairs with me, and fear her. So whenever I get the chance to I come upstairs and visit and play her with her. She seems sad. She throws herself on the floor and makes a big deep SIGH. What could I do to help?
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Eliss Bonilla Will do, I’m taking her Saturday to the vet. I don’t understand why though, the family who used to have her kept her 5,6 hours locked up in a cage by herself. I feel like she should feel happy to be free to roam around the house at all times. 🙁 But thanks, I’ll try excersizing her more. I’m noticing her losing muscle within the short three days that I’ve had her.
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Kasey Litt Krista is right! Puppies need exercise, mental stimulation and love! Give her some puzzles that she needs to do — something as simple as a stuffed Kong or you can make homemade puzzles with treats, a muffin pan and tennis balls. Work with her on basic obedience. Chicago might be a bit harsh for outdoor activities but if she’ll fetch (or even is interested in tennis balls or other toys) throw them down a flight of stairs and call her back to you so she is running up and down the stairs. A good game of tug can get her energy going too. Also think about a flirt pole — this is sort of like a fishing pole with a toy on the end (almost like a cat toy) where you can have her chase it, stalk it, pounce on it.
Good luck!
I have a beautiful American Bull. Such an amazing, sweet character. A few days ago, I noticed this distinctive black mole on his paw. He used to give both paws when he gets treats but he only seems to give just one… the one that hasn’t got the mole. It was quite small, but now it seems to be growing. I know for humans, a mole out of nowhere is normally connected to skin cancer. But is it possible for it to be the same case in dogs? I love him to pieces so I am really worried about him.
is it possible this is just dust? my cat will end up with black gunk around his nose when we’ve kicked up dust in the house.
does he have any other symptoms that might indicate an issue?