Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
Hi. My Cocker Spaniel sleeps with us and has done since she was 6 months old, she is now nine. Lately if my hubby gets up to use the bathroom she begins to growl at him. She loves him to bits, why is this?
I have a senior cat who was receiving insulin but is now off of it per the Doctor’s orders. His glucose level has returned to normal, at least for now, by way of the DM cat food only.
The cat has become very playful, like a kitten, during the last week or so. Should I be concerned about the change in behavior?
Hi there? If your cat s feeling well enough to be playful and happy, I would take that as a gift. We have a senior dog who has given us the same thing and we are just making sure to enjoy as much time with him as we can, while we can. You could always mention the behavior change at your next vet visit if it is a concern…. however, my thinking is that since he’s feeling good that he is just letting you know. ??
Hello,
I agree with Sarah! This all sounds like excellent news.. but ANY change in behavior should be discussed with your vet, and frequent recheck of blood glucose are the best way to monitor for the progression and state of this disease process. Also, if you see a change in water intake, or the size of the urine clumps (if clumping litter) in the box are also,
let us know how things go,,
xoxo
krista
So, we just adopted a 3 year old Morkie, and were warned that sometimes she’ll steal an article of clothing, hide under a table with it, and possibly bite if you try to get it back from her. Well, I just doctored my girlfriend’s fingers after a little fight they had over a sock. Other than yelling at her (the dog) and saying “no” we’re now ignoring her. What’s the best way to handle this and train her to behave better?
Hello!
The fact that you just adopted her and don’t know much about her previous training, behavior and attitude makes advice for this a little difficult. In general I start with a very minimal access approach. She has to earn everything and you aren’t setting her up to be “bad or disappointing”. You are going to have a very difficult time teaching her much other than to be afraid/untrusting of you when you get in between her “stuff” or try to reprimand. In my opinion anything this early that is negative, I know even when you are being beaten, (sorry) teaches her to be untrusting and afraid of you. Too often people want to start at “well trained” when they really have a new pet who doesn’t know you, your expectations, or their new world. I suggest crate training all the time. She is kept there, where she can slowly acclimate to you and her new home, and she earns toys after some basic training is implemented. I strongly suggest a puppy class to start. Take her for lots of walks. Spend time together doing stuff together on neutral territory, like outside. As she starts to understand you you can start progressing toward other activities.
I will add that she needs to feel safe and loved. So always put her in her crate with an affectionate word and give her a toy to keep her company (if she doesn’t guard that).
Overall she has a lot of adjusting to do and you need to be patient and understanding that this is a process. A process dependent on patience, love and dedication. Never get angry. Never yell. You both need to adjust to each other.
No toys, no decisions, no options except love and start really slow. Letting her have a safe space that is her own and building on this is where I would start.
Let me know how things go. Sending ♥️ And best wishes.
Krista.
Thank you for the sound advice! We appreciate the sentiments on positive reinforcement and building trust. She spent the next hour following my girlfriend around and apologizing trying to lick her wounds away.
?❤️⛄️?
Congrats on your new dog? I’m just adding to the good advice you’ve already gotten. I am a firm believer in walks… no matter what size of dog. It’s a fantastic way to share quality time and bond, while getting the exercise needed. A tired dog is usually a better behaved dog. Even a ten minute walk has the potential to change behavior for the rest of the day, for the better. And I agree strongly with everything shared above, especially getting involved in a basic obedience class. Even if your new girl already has basic obedience, she needs to learn you and what you expect. It is another great way to bond and earn trust. Another plus to the walks is practicing your homework from obedience class? best of luck and again, Congrats!!??
Thank you, Sarah! I do see that she has a LOT of energy to play. The more we do that and walk her it seems the better she is for sure.
My guinea pig probably has something stuck in her throat like a leaf or something. She tries to get it out by rubbing her face or making weird faces. What should I do? She seems calm after an hour but isn’t eating since it got stuck. Will she be able to get rid of it herself!?I tried to look but couldn’t see anything. It straight after she ate a waxy leaf I think. I’m extremely worried. No vet available at the moment
Hello,
I don’t typically see a foreign body stuck here, although it is possible. I worry more about infection and neoplasia. It is imperative to try to look inside her mouth very gently or find her a vet ASAP. Also try to rub her neck and throat to see if that resolves some of her discomfort. I hope she is feeling better soon
Hello,
I have a 12 week old kitten who was spayed 11 days ago. I noticed after the 4th day that she had some swelling under her incision. I took her to the ER vet who did an US and said the internal stitches were still intact and there was no hernia. She aspirated some sanguious fluild and looked at it under the microscope and said she was infection free. The kitten had been confined to the bathroom since the spaying but I found out on the third day she was jumping in and out of the bathtub. Hard to keep a 12 week old kitten still and quiet! So after the vet visit we confined even more so- in a free standing shower for 5 days. I then noticed it was firmer- maybe 10% smaller- but definitely firmer looking- more defined. So back to the Er vet who did a second US and said all looked good- no hernia. She then said to let her out of the shower and resume normal activity- the serima should resolve. I was like what! That’s the opposite of what the other vet said. The kitten has been eating and acting normal all through this recovery period. I check the serima daily and it’s the same size. Do I let her tossel with her sibling? How long will it take for the body to reabsorb it? And why did it get firmer after she drained it? I’m so conflicted what to do. Some sites says it takes weeks- I might be impatient. The incision has almost completely healed and looks good. I’m so confused as to how I should be treating this!
Thanks so much!!
Hello,
These are all questions for the vet who did the surgery. In general kittens heal very very fast. I would guess she is fine at this point but you should ask your vet for their opinion. I hope you have a regular vet. The ER is for emergencies. Your vet is for the day to Day questions.
Good morning.? I would start to make regular appointments at the vet you will be using… fo check ups, inoculations, etc. that way you will be able to establish a good relationship and they will get to know your kitten well making future visits easier and more relaxed. As far as your kitten’s spay- I agree, the vet that did the surgery is the best person to speak with. Best of luck and congrats on your kitten!
Hi,
My 8mo old long haired German Shepherd was spayed 5d ago and developed what her regular Vets tell me is a seroma. Nobody has examined her post op, all phone consults.
I am an Rn. They knew she was hyper & I requested postop sedation- they opted for Trazodone 100mg 2x/day & Rimadyl for pain. This did nothing, she continued to jump up/romp a bit inside as she did when i picked her up. So they doubled the dose to 200mg bid, 3rd day adding Benadryl 50mg 2x/day which helps a little. Said short walks ok Saturday (3d post op)
I kept her as confined as possible in crate or pen. It’s about the size of a plum? I hope it’s not intestinal bleeding. She had laser surgery with internal sutures & skin glue closure. They advised heat. Today she started to have serosanguanous leaking from the incision so now it’s riskier for infection. She’s not had great appetite but otherwise acting normally- pooping less also. Should I insist on an exam or just keep monitoring for signs infection, etc?
She’s not licking area as wearing cone/collar. Is this common post spay? Vet is very experienced IF she’s the one who actually performed it…i presume she did. It’s not a teaching hospital. Very $$ 800!!
Thanks! Deb
Hello,
I am sorry to hear about your pup. YES! you should insist upon an exam. I consider it unethical that you have to ask, they should have offered on the first call of your concern. Ask as many questions as you feel necessary. Ask for your bill, the doctor who performed the surgery should be listed on that. You can even request her medical records. It is our practice to not charge for exams post op follow ups. It conveys an air of confidence on both sides and helps reassure everyone that we have our pets care at the forefront and hope to be building and maintaining long standing relationships built around confidence. Be the advocate your dog needs you to be, You are their only voice. Let us know what happens. Good luck!
Hello Dr Magnifico
I think I will book an exam as suggested since it’s more firm than what I’ve read it should be this early on-
folks say should feel more like a water balloon & hers doesn’t. I don’t understand why it’s so hard to get a strong sedative when you know you have an enthusiastic puppy…i emphasized si didn’t want her like a zombie- but one can’t anticipate her initial “inside jumps”…
Thanks!
I’ve looked online and seen contradictory information – is it safe to diffuse essential oils around pets (cats and dogs)? Which ones would be best to use, and which should I avoid?
Honestly, I would consider them all unsafe. Cats have delicate respiratory systems. That said, things like tea tree and eucalyptus WILL cause your cats very significant health problems.
But seriously. Toss the EOs.
Good morning pawbly friends. Our newest addition to our family, Rontu, has started “clicking” in his hips. He’s another GSD, almost a year old. All of our other GSDs have always been older rescues- so I’m wondering if this is something he could possibly outgrow? He just recently started this. It usually, but not always, occurs when he goes to a sitting position. It’s irregular- as in it doesn’t happen every time. It sometimes happens when he is walking but again, sporadically. Any advice or thoughts would be helpful. Thank you!! Happy Thanksgiving?
I’d get rads done of the hips to see what’s going on, to be quite honest. He’s a rescue, so you don’t know his history, but you do know the breed’s very prone to hip dysplasia.
Hello,
I agree that an exam and probably radiographs are a good idea. With a click we worry about the joint. Xox
I rescued a young Golden Retriever in May. She had spent the start of her life abandoned in a small cage, she was emaciated, covered in fleas and ticks and of course living in her own waste. She is a wonderful dog, everything is new and she has very much been a blank slate. She is well exercised, is very social with our other dogs and has successfully completed a basic obedience class and will be moving on to 2nd level training and beyond. Thankfully she does not hold her rough start in life against humans in the least. Her only downfall is that she eats stool from our other dogs in the yard. We keep the yard clean, however we have 5 dogs. Even cleaning the yard daily is likely to leave a pile. She will even wait for our smaller dog to go to eliminate so she can eat it as fresh as possible. I imagine that she probably ate her own feces when she was starving, I am quite sure that this is a learned behavior. Over the course of 5 years my family has fostered 80+ dogs. I know that this is a very hard habit to break, however “poop kisses” are rather disgusting so I would love some input on what has worked for others! Thank you in advance.
Hello My Dear Friend,
My rescued beaglette does the same. She also has the same back story and yucky penchant for poop. Here’s what I do.. clean up waste asap (yes, honestly I am not the best at this as I recommend others to be). I also use a clicker or beeper to break her of it while she is doing it. Some non-vocal (she doesnt really want to listen to me anyway in the fever of the fervor to eat anything) cue to say “HEY! YES! I mean you need to stop that!” It takes a while but all of my other dogs have grown out of it.. It takes time and patience like everything else in life. Be with her at all times outside. Use a leash if you can to correct her at exactly the moment she goes for it, or use a whistle to get her attention,,, try to only use it for the absolute dire corrections so it doesnt get as monotonous as our voices have.
Let me know what works for you guys.
I need help finding a surgeon for luxation of both scapula in a cat. I’ve been to two vets, called countless surgeons in multiple states, and even emailed a professor who wrote one of the articles I have found on the issue. All of them say something different (with the exception of the email that has yet to be returned). My vet said they couldn’t do anything but take x-rays, a second opinion (regular vet practice) offered injections of Adequan (which won’t fix the problem). When I asked my vet about the effectiveness of injections they turned around and said they’d sell me Ichon injections (which seem even more questionable) which is interesting they didn’t suggest it sooner if they could.
Of the surgeons I’ve called, I’ve asked all of them if they have experience in this rare condition. Surgery isn’t the only option; I’ve done my research. Surgery isn’t always the best treatment depending on severity and individual factors of the cat. But all of them seem to be selling the surgery. They won’t consider anything else.
Everyone wants me to bring him in so they can take their own x-rays and do their own exam, which I understand to a point but I’m a student with only so much money. While I’m willing to put what it takes if my cat needs surgery, I don’t want to spend thousands just on consults before we even do a potential surgery. And what am I supposed to do but get another opinion when everyone gives me a different diagnosis that fits their practice? One hospital even said bring the cat to their ER now which I know is wrong because I know while he may be uncomfortable, he is not in pain. I would not let him be in severe pain. I don’t want him uncomfortable either, but I need to know that I’m making the best decision not just being sold a service *especially* if it’s one he doesn’t need.
Please, please, please let me know if you know of anyone with experience in this area. Private practice to university professor wanting to use it as educational- I just need someone with experience beyond “knowing how to do it in theory.” Any help is beyond appreciated!!
Where are you?
I’m currently finishing up my BA in GA and my cat is in TN (Nashville area) with my parents till then. Once I graduate in Dec. I plan to go to TN for a spell before moving to VA for a year to save up for grad school. I may wait to move to VA depending on my cat’s treatment. I’d like to limit stress on him so would like to avoid coupling moving and potential surgery if possible, but will move first if there is a better specialist closer to where I might move to in central VA or, if his condition is deemed stable, then perhaps there could be a specialist worth waiting for closer to where I end up for grad school, but that’s probably a year out. I know that’s not a super helpful answer, sorry.
Hello,
There are a lot of studies and articles on this. In general it is important to understand what the growling is. In some cases it can be annoyance about being awoken. In others it can be assertive dominance and this is very worrisome asbitbcan esclate. The best advice I can give is to talk to your vet and ask for a referral to a behaviorist who can help diagnose and assist in managing it so it doesn’t escalate. Also. Your dog belongs in a crate at night. It will stop the growling and remind them that they aren’t in charge of the bed, or your husband and thwart the problem immediately. This is not meant to be unkind it is meant to be an assertive protective measure. What’s the worst that can happen? Well. If it is a dominance issue your dog is staking claim to the bed. At some point he may get more assertive. What if he bites next time? Dogs are euthanized for biting and aggression so please assess this immediately. Some Dogs just don’t belong in a bed
Good morning. I just wanted to add a bit of advice. As a dog owner and lover, I feel it is very important to have rules in place for the health and well being of everyone. Some rules seem silly to have, but any rules help keep the pack order where you, the human, remain the leader. Bedrooms are at the top of my list for rules. No dogs are allowed in our bedrooms. This is an easy rule to keep since there are doors to help. It also helps keep the pack in order. Co-sleeping gives them the idea that they are on an even level with the leader. It might be a hard habit to break, but my advice would be to start changing things now. You would hate for the growling to go further and create a bad situation. If you still want your dog in your room, maybe a separate doggie bed in there? Dogs are smart. Your dog will get the new rules in no time.