Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
Good morning pawbly-
Writing because I know that stainless steel is the best option for food dishes. The issue is, both of my boys have stopped eating out of their stainless bowls. Not at the same time…first Butch wouldn’t eat out of it. That started about a year ago. He would go to eat and then stop and look at me. I would take the bowl out of his feeder (we built raised ones) and then he would eat. Then he refused that way after awhile. The steel bowl would scrape along the floor, so I bought a rubber bottomed plastic one as I did not find a stainless one with a rubber bottom. Then he got finicky about that one too! My husband would dump the dish on the floor and then he would eat it. I wouldn’t dump it, and eventually Butch would eat. Then recently Dierks decided he wasn’t going to eat out of his bowl. Same deal-same bowl switch- same situation- dump the bowl, then he would eat it. I’m not having them eat off of the floor. Dish soap has not changed. I’ve been leaving treats in the stainless bowls, and of course, they eat those.
Our dog has been having seizure episodes, is there anything we can do to help her?
She is a two year old border collie mix. They have been recurring late at night since mid October about every other month. When they happen she loses her balance and can’t walk, she has heavy drool, and she vomits and loses control of her bowels.
These symptoms last around twenty minutes. She has the shakes for about an hour after she regains her balance and the other symptoms pass. After about two hours she is back to acting like herself.
She’s very scared while these are happening, we’ve been comforting her until they pass. Is there anything we can do? What could be causing these?
Hello,
Please (please) see your veterinarian about these. There is much to discuss and perhaps some options to help treat them. Here is some information. I have a few blogs on seizures. Find them all here. http://kmdvm.blogspot.com/2013/05/seizures-what-i-tell-parents.html?m=1
This is something that your veterinarian needs to deal with. I would urge you to get your dog to your vet right away and explain, in detail, everything that has been happening and how long this has been going on. Good luck.
My dog has a raised bump next to his penis and it’s sunken in in the middle with a black center. His penis is also swollen and he bites at it a few times a day like he’s gonna rip it off. What could it be?
Hello,
I’m sorry but there isn’t enough information to offer any help other than to see your vet and ask them to help you understand what it might be. Im concerned that if you dog is chewing at it that I think might be bothering him. It may be a mass that needs to be removed.
Thank you I’m gonna take him tomorrow here is a pic if it helps any?
Here is more information to help guide you. http://kmdvm.blogspot.com/2015/01/when-bump-causes-you-concern-you-slay.html?m=1
Thank you
Hello,
Thanks for adding the photos. I think it might be a pigmented nipple? BUT, it is very hard to guess via a photo AND nipples shouldn’t bother him,,, so seeing the vet is probably the best bet..
So I took him to the vet this morning and it’s a inverted nipple it just looks strange and he irritates it himself when he chews on it but no harm. And as for the irritation it’s just from him pretty much playing with himself as he grows threw puberty he’s just very aggressive with himself and irritates his skin. They said he should grow out of it and everything else is fine.t thank you again for your advice..
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?
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
Thank you. I will schedule an appointment for him.
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.
If you pet a newborn kitty will the mom eat it?
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).
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
Your puppy needs a vet. There is no way around it. Please go as quickly as possible and please have your dog spayed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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!
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.
Are the bowls cleaned after every meal?
Not every meal. We clean them each night after they eat dinner, so they’re clean for the next day. Dogs eat breakfast and dinner. And the dish soap is the same as it has always been… no change there. They will eat treats out of the steel bowls when I leave them in there.
Hello!
Seems the pups have gotten afraid of their own belongings. You can change to ceramic. But I would try very hard to also get them comfortable around the old bowls by feeding next to them, using a feeding mat, or using the bowls in a different area of the home (like outiside with treats or toys or water). I just don’t like to get fearful pets as they often evolve into other fears. Very best of luck. Let us know what happens.
Love you Sarah!!
Maybe they don’t like the noise or the feel of the steel?