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Karen Katzenberger | 8 years ago
I Walk My 4year Old Lab Nightly For About 45 Mins. About Once Or…

I walk my 4year old Lab nightly for about 45 mins. About once or twice a month, our walks are interrupted by him becoming very uncomfortable to the point where he is rapidly panting, stops walking, sits, lays down, cannot get comfortable, constantly changing positions. On these occasions, we stop, I calmly try to talk to him, gently pet him, until he is okay to walk again. The whole episode lasts no more than 5 minutes. Then we walk home like nothing happened. I have racked my brain trying to find the common thread leading to these episodes. The only thing I can come up with is that he ate within a relatively short time before walking. Maybe 30 mins or less before walking. Usually he eats at least 2 to 3 hours before walking. Is the problem most likely related to his eating, then walking shortly after? Do you think it could be something else?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I would wonder if there is any underlying issues like heart condition, blood pressure, hypoglycemia, thyroid issues, etc. I recommend a trip to the vet to discuss your concerns and I also recommend a blood work. I hope this helps. Let me know. Good luck

  2. Sarah

    Once the vet has hopefully ruled out any medical issues, you might want to take a close look around where this episode usually happened. There might be something going on environmentally? I know it might sound hokey, but that might trigger some odd behavior. For example, we absolutely can not walk our dogs south down our road when the farmer that way has his bull out in the fields with the cows. Even if that bull is acres away… the dogs go crazy. I don’t know if they smell something, or sense something or what the deal is, but this is what we have determined. If that bull is out, anywhere, my two lovely dogs become insane. I know that this is different from your situation. I just wanted to share that changes in environment can effect them too.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
If You Pet A Newborn Kitty Will The Mom Eat It?

If you pet a newborn kitty will the mom eat it?

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
I’M DESPERATE! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!! I Have A 3 1/2 Year Old Purebred Coonhound…

I’M DESPERATE! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!! I have a 3 1/2 year old purebred Coonhound who we adopted from our local shelter. He is an awesome dog, however, he won’t stop using the bathroom in my house! Since day 1 he has done this. At first we thought maybe not housebroken, then we realized he only does it when we leave. We’ve tried everything- a trainer, working on the anxiety, crate training (that’s a no go), I’ve read so much stuff, watched so many videos, gave him treats, kept him busy when we leave, asked the vet (who is very old school mind you so not really helpful), benadryl, calming aides, asked for suggestions on here, different washes on the floor, punishing whe caught in the act, blocking off the area he goes too, EVERYTHING. Nothing is working. We’re at our witz end with him and it breaks my heart. However, now he has my other little dog doing it and she has never done it- she even knows she did something bad when we get home. I would hate to see him go back to the shelter where he probably will end up staying because of this but I don’t know what else to do. I NEED A MIRACLE. ANYBODY. PLEASE HELP!!! (Tyia).

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  1. Nora Greenia

    Dogs will soil where the eat, sleep etc if they have been kept in areas where they had no choice from a young age. A dog that is a soiler takes months of work. This is not a problem that is solved in just a few weeks. there are no quick fixes for this. First, you have a coon hound. this is a high energy, hard headed dog, that likes to have a job. A really tired coon hound is usually a good coon hound. Hounds are very hard headed and can be very difficult to train, especially once they develop habits that they see as no problem for them. Keeping your dog in a crate may never be the answer, but keeping him in an outdoor run only when you are gone may be something that works for the dog. They have really nice runs now days that are very comfortable for the dog ie shade etc. also continue to keep him in the house with you whenever you can, and work him. Get him started in something like agility even if he is not good at it. Keep him busy, tired and with a job to do. Keep an eagle eye on him when he is in the house with you and make sure he has regular bathroom breaks. He may never be able to be left in the house alone, but if he is a great dog and you make the changes that you can, he will still be a good companion and pet.

  2. Jana

    I’m so sorry you’re having a hard time. It is impossible to help you over the Internet. You say you had a trainer – what kind of a trainer and what did they do exactly or what they had you do? You tried working on anxiety – again, what did you do and for how long? You tried crate training – what size/type of crate and how did you introduce it, how did you crate-train and why exactly it was a no go? Punishing, of course, never works. You say it’s one particular spot only? Is it when you leave for any period of time? Did you try a nanny cam to learn what goes on exactly when you’re not home? I would recommend finding a better trainer (not all trainers have been created equal). On the very off chance, there is one thing Dr. Stanley Coren was recommending some time back for a dog who soils on particular spot in the house = redefining the area. What he was recommending was to put the food bowl in that spot, or play in that spot … redefining the area to dining or play area. The reasoning being that a dog won’t soil where they eat, play or sleep. Migh as well try that. But likely need a good, reputable, positive trainer.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
I Have A Young Oscar About 4 Inches Long. This Morning She Attempted To Eat…

I have a young Oscar about 4 inches long. This morning she attempted to eat a cory but has been unable to swallow it. She has been holding it in her mouth for 8+ hours with the tail sticking out. Should I do anything?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    If she is calm and comfortable and able to function swim, breathe and doesn’t appear in distress I would leave her. You may cause more harm than good.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My Dog Recently Had Puppies, They Were All Okay But I Checked Them Yesterday And…

My dog recently had puppies, they were all okay but I checked them yesterday and one of them has it’s neck tilted looking to left stuck in place, I believe it was the mother that hurt it because it got mad at it. The puppy with the hurt neck is still alive, I believe it’s eating, and it can walk (has some trouble though because of its head) I just I don’t know what to do, I want to take it to a veterinarian but it’s going to come out pricey for it to be checked out and I don’t have much money. The puppy is three weeks and was hurt 1-3 days ago

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Your puppy needs a vet. There is no way around it. Please go as quickly as possible and please have your dog spayed.

  2. Anonymous

    Serious question, Elizabeth…why did you let the bitch carry to full term if you can’t afford vet care for the puppies?

    What would you have done if she needed a cesarean? SO MANY emergencies come up with breeding…this is why it’s best left to those with experience and those with mentors.

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Vivienne Barnes | 8 years ago
My 7 Yr Old #@!#er Spaniel Is A Pet UNTIL Visitors Call Or Leave. …

My 7 yr old #@!#er spaniel is a pet UNTIL visitors call or leave. Then she gets so hyper, Barks its impossible to calm her. Then I get agitated also. I was thinking of buying a whistle, might this help to ground her. I tried a Kong filled with treats which worked initially but no.

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  1. Jana

    These things don’t have a quick solution and need to be worked on gradually. Find out about clicker training. And then you need to work on changing the way she feels about things step by step. Probably starting from the knock on the door/doorbell ring … get your friends work with you on these sessions. Only when you change she feels about things you’ll change the behavior successfully to everybody’s happiness. Look up Donna Hill’s YouTube channel, she has some very good instructional videos. Other things to do is to give her a safe place she can retrieve to as well as curb the amount of visitors in the meantime.

  2. Vivienne Barnes Post author

    Thank you Jana. I would say she has become worse since my last little grandchild was born come to think of it. She was always uses to the others coming in and out but not as young babies. She is very gentle with the children and when she has had enough retreats to her own corner. Do you think the little stranger who made strange noises may have something to do with this.

  3. Jana

    Something like that certainly can be playing a role. Kids are quite stressful for most dogs unless they get used to them. I know Jasmine, who loved kids, would get upset if a kid started screaming or shrieking, for example. It’s easy to get stressed over things one doesn’t understand.

    There could be other things at play, such as more attention taken away from her etc. I always wondered what I’d do to get my dog be okay with baby crying and screaming if I had to. I always wondered whether a recording of such could be used in the same manner as desensitization soundtracks to deal with noise phobias. I never had to test it but logically it would make sense to me. Having a recording of all the noises little kids make, and expose the dog to them gradually (first low volume and short duration) and using a similar game as the Look at That (Donna has videos on that), where the sound would become a predictor of something great such as a treat or play or whatever the dog really loves. And gradually increase the volume and duration etc. I’m sure somebody more focused on training (my focus is health advocacy) might have some proven technique which you might be able to find.

    The bottom line with these things, though, always is this formula: “Change the feeling, change the behavior.”

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My 10-yr Old Tonkinese Cat Has A Seroma On His Throat From Fighting With His…

My 10-yr old Tonkinese cat has a seroma on his throat from fighting with his brother (littermate), who bit him in the neck. This happened over a year ago. The vet did full test panel (no cancer), etc and drained it. It refilled within a week. I took him back to drain again, it refilled again. I did NOT want to repeat this cycle for fear of infection (not to mention cost). The seroma is still on his throat and I know bothers him, but does not affect his appetite. All the vet suggests is draining it again. He does eat more slowly than he used to, and doesn’t purr quite as much as he used to. I was hoping it would have shrunk by now, but it hasn’t. Any advice? I am extremely interested in holistic, alternative ideas, if possible. Thank you!

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I am not a holistic vet but if you were my client I would inquire about doing a culture and sensitivity of the fluid or cytology making sure it isn’t infection or a mucocele or salivary gland abnormality. I would be curious to see if there is more to this than a seroma. I hope this helps.

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Sarah | 8 years ago
Hello All, My German Shepherd Is Getting Older And Has A Lot Of Trouble Jumping Into…

Hello all,
My German shepherd is getting older and has a lot of trouble jumping into the back of the car now. Friends of ours have been lovely enough to loan us a ramp for him. While I have been able to train this dog to do tons of things, I am having a hard time teaching him to use the ramp, and I can’t figure a way to make this work. So far I have used treat rewards for each time he puts his front paws onto the ramp, I have had our other dog Dierks go up and down it to show him, I myself have also gone up and down the ramp to show Butch. I have also tried lining the treats up the ramp in an effort to get him to follow his nose. Lastly, I have laid thenramp flat on the ground and tried to get him to walk on it… all of this to no avail. We have been working at it for about a week now. I never go more than 10 minutes at a time and I always end our little ramp session with something I know he can already do so that it ends on a happy note. Any and all suggestions on how to help him understand the concept of the ramp would be greatly appreciated!!?

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello my dear Pawbly friend.
    Ok. Here’s my advice from my experience. Start with just the ramp. Put it on the floor in a high traffic area. The goal is to see if he will use it on a flat surface. If he uses it on the floor it isn’t the ramp that’s the issue it’s the incline, or the flexibility (some are flimsy and cause anxiety), or it’s the transition from floor/ground to floorbed. my experience is that most dogs hate the surface feel. So then try to add a carpet strip to add better traction. If he will walk on it after carpeting you need to try to decrease the angle (by lengthening or starting higher off the ground or add sides to it to spare them the fear of falling.
    That’s my tips. Let me know what you think. Xoxo
    Krista

  2. Anonymous

    Dr. M said everything I would have said. The combination of a strange surface AND a weird way to get into the car can be very confusing. Introducing it as a flat surface first, then working up to an incline is the best way to help your dog gain confidence with the new device.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
Yorker Poo, 2.5lbs. She Is Whining/crying As Tho She’s In Pain When She Gets Up…

Yorker poo, 2.5lbs. She is whining/crying as tho she’s in pain when she gets up to adjust herself as she sleeps, she spent most of the day outside with the family, laying out by the pool. She had plenty of shade, water and food. She is eating drinking and going to the bathroom normally, the whining did not occur until later in the night after dinner. No one has any idea what could be causing her pain. Any ideas?

2 Responses

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  1. Jana

    Of course, it’s impossible to estimate what might be wrong over the internet. Dogs generally don’t advertise pain so if she vocalizing there would be a lot of it. The only way to find out what’s happening and fix it is a hands-on veterinary examination.

  2. Anonymous

    I sure hope you’re getting her to the vet first thing this morning.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
I Have A 3 1/2 Year Old Coonhound That I Just Can’t Seem To Completely…

I have a 3 1/2 year old Coonhound that I just can’t seem to completely housebreak. He knows that if he goes outside he gets praised and a treat. As long as we are home, as a general rule (he has a few times), he won’t go in the house. However, if we leave, he always craps and pees in our basement. We had him go stay with a trainer and he was really good there. He was great the first week we had him home, now he’s back at it. I’ve cleaned the area he goes in with an enzyme cleaner, ammonia, vinegar, and even put cayenne pepper down as I read it was supposed to keep him from going there. I’m not sure if it’s just really bad separation anxiety or what the deal is. I try keeping him distracted with something when I leave but that doesn’t seem to be working any more. Now, he even has my other dog, a 3 1/2 year old Chorkie, reverting and she’s been going in the house even though she has been housebroke for years. I really hate to have to take him back to the shelter because of this, but it has been 3 months and I can’t seem to break him. ANY SUGGESTIONS OR HELP AT ALL?!? (We have to be able to leave him alone for 8 hours because sometimes our work schedules over lap) Also kenneling is not an option with him as he severely hurts himself and even the vet and trainer said he will never be able to be kenneled.

5 Responses

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  1. Jana

    How long are they left alone without the opportunity to eliminate? that is one important criteria to consider. Nanny cam to determine whether separation anxiety is involved. Veterinary checkup to make sure nothing medical is going on.

  2. Anonymous

    I would find another trainer and block access to the basement.

  3. Melissa Rumph

    I have been through 3 trainers already. He does really well for them, is good for the 1st week, then back to the same issue. I have no way of blocking the basement off as the last time I tried that, he tore down the door which led to him tearing down half the wall so we had to tear it out. Right now he is only left by himself for maybe 1 hour, however, I would like to be able to leave him for 8 and have no problems, which should be doable. The vet said everything was fine with him and he’s healthy. I just don’t know why he always does this. It’s within the first 10 minutes of him noticing no one is around.

  4. Jana

    Nanny cam would tell you how much anxiety there is. And if that’s the case, you’d need to work on that.

  5. Melissa Rumph

    Okay. Do you have any tips or suggestions on how yo work on the anxiety?