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Jen Behler | 5 years ago
Dog Won’t Open Eye, Red, Watery

My dog, Max, was recently diagnosed with diabetes. We are still trying to find the right dose of insulin and were making progress until yesterday. His sugar was back up to 471 yesterday when 2 weeks ago it was 275. We know cataracts are already forming but this morning before 4am he woke me up. I thought he had to go outside but when I got him, realized he wasn’t opening his left eye. When he does open it, it seems rolled back and is red. His third eyelid is also visible. The right one is better but also seems like it might be bothering him. I contacted the vet for walk in hours today but wanted to see if anyone else has had this issue and what it might be.
Thanks!

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Me again. I think that as long as he is acting completely normal otherwise AND not rubbing his face or eye (which can cause trauma or damage to the cornea (think about all the doctors advice to not run your eyes)), then you are probably fine to wait until we open at 1. If he is rubbing his face please place an ecollar on him. You can always make a quick make shift one with either a large price of plastic or thick poster board or even a bucket (do a google search for homemade ecolllars people get creative. And you just need one for a few hours we have them at the clinic), and then come in. For dogs with a history of allergies I would recommend a saline flood (like the kind you do if you get a toxin in your eye). Nose to the sky and flood the eye with strike saline or clean two water (cool). To wash out any irritants. Or give diphenhydramine orally. I want to hold off on your pup due to the diabetes. I also am a little concerned about Horners. You can look that up online too. Dr Ahrens has been notified that she will see you at 1230. You can email me anytime if you need anything. Stay safe! Hugs to you all.

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Terri S | 5 years ago
Hi Dr. Magnifico. Our Cat Boogie Was Recently Seen By Dr. Ahrens For His Constipation Issues, …

Hi Dr. Magnifico. Our cat Boogie was recently seen by Dr. Ahrens for his constipation issues, and also to have blood drawn to check his hyperthyroidism. I have a couple questions for Dr Ahrens.
I prefer not calling the office, as I do not want to pull her away from whatever she is doing at that time, and it is really hard to reach me by phone.
Can you please ask her to email me at ——— or if you could give me her JVC email address so I can email her, I would greatly appreciate it!
Thank you!
Terri

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,

    i notified Dr Ahrens. please reach out to me anytime if you need anything,, be well,, stay safe and hugs to Boogie!
    xoxo
    krista

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Karen Hesch | 5 years ago
So I Have A 2 Y/o Female Cat Who Isnt Fixed Yet But Soon Will Be. …

So i have a 2 y/o female cat who isnt fixed yet but soon will be. I also have a 2 y/o ferret. They have always gotten along as they both have free range (no one yell about thre ferret having free range please, that isnt the issue and he’s very safe) i found a 4 week old ish kitten about a month ago and decided to keep him. My fear was my cat… but to my surprise she fell head over heels in love with the kitten and now seems to think she’s his mom… that’s being said she cleans him, watches over him, sleeps with him, disciplines him and PROTECTS him… with that being said everytime my kitten and the ferret play she goes aggressively at the ferret and he runs n hides… i feel terrible and have tried to encourage them to play and distract her while they play but she’s relentless. Help!!! All my life ive had different combos of animals and have always found ways to make them get along but im at a loss here… getting her fixed should help this???

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Spaying might help. Big emphasis on might. I would say this is going to take time and boundaries. There is no other way around it. It is very common for the family dynamics to change with the addition of a new pet. You can try to isolate and spend time independently with everyone. Or try caging the aggressor intermittently to see if that helps de intensify the situation (but better wanted it might make the stress worse). Or find a separate place for your ferret and get him his own friend. Really my biggest concern is the ferrets safety. It will take time to see if they can work it out. But I don’t want to risk him in the process. Whatever the resolution might be I encourage you to stay optimistic. Try not to make matters worse with stress or reprimand (Never ever works on animals!) and just trying lots of options. Like adjusting feeding placement and attention rewards for the food behavior.
    Ask your vet for help from a behaviorist. And get the cat spayed. If needed ask the vet about behavior modification assistance. There are lots of options there. Very best of luck!

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michelle | 5 years ago
Hi, I’m Taking Care Of A Sweet Kitty BW, Whom Just Had A Blocked Urethra. …

Hi, I’m taking care of a sweet kitty BW, whom just had a blocked urethra. He’s able to pee on his own yet I still need to syringe feed him & I have not seen him poop in a few days. In case he is constipated I need to know if slippery elm works for constipation also. I buy it from only natural pet so its alcohol free & in syrup form. I also give him proviable, D-mannose, fluids, & pinch of nutritional yeast. If anyone knows i would really appreciate your help. Thankyou.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your pet. I don’t think we can help here on the advise of slippery elm but I will say very very strongly that the worst thing you can do is assume constipation in this case. If your cat isn’t eating, or hasn’t been eating on their own I will almost guarantee that the problem is lack of fever and not backed up feces. please see your vet for a confirmation if consruoation before assuming and treating. I will testify that in almost all cases people guess wrong and make their sick pets, or recovering and delicate pets much much worse.

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Morgan Duff | 5 years ago
I Have A Chocolate Lab Chewing Her Fur Raw All Over Her Body

I have a chocolate lab chewing her fur raw all over her body

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It is time to call your vet and ask for help. Itching can have a huge multitude of causes and there is not one answer to every cause. I would start at the vets office and look for the easy things like fleas. But it could be allergies, infections, disease, mange, etc etc. it is a long list. The sooner you get to the vet the cheaper, quicker and easier your dog will be feeling better. I would strongly recommend you start at the vets. It’s much cheaper in the long run

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Sarah | 5 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends- With This Shelter In Place Issued By The Governor- I’m Concerned About …

Hi Pawbly friends-
With this shelter in place issued by the Governor- I’m concerned about one of our dogs who is due Thursday for his 3 year rabies vaccination. Do I still take him in, or will it be breaking the law? And will his license be void and we get in trouble for breaking g the rules?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    If your dog has had the vaccine at least twice before (I.e this isn’t a one year old pet or younger) AND if you think that your pet is considered “low risk” (ie not a field dog, nor likely to get into fights with wildlife), then you are probably safe to wait until this blows over. We take rabies very seriously so it is always a case by case basis. Young dogs need the vaccine at 12-16 weeks and then a year later. Then the duration of immunity lasts at least 3 years.

    Call me or text if you have specific questions. I am here for you. Be safe!

  2. Laura

    Hi Sarah, have you seen the order from the Governor’s office? I threw it on my Dropbox for you…can you shoot a note to the Pawbly Facebook page? I’ll send you the link privately.

    1. Sarah Post author

      Hi Laura-
      I am not on the Facebook. I did talk to the vet office though, and we are squared away for the time being. Thanks!!! Stay safe

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Lacy | 5 years ago
My Puppy Is Almost 9 Weeks Old. He Was Seen At The Vet, On Tuesday (initial Puppy …

My puppy is almost 9 weeks old. He was seen at the vet, on Tuesday (initial puppy checkup). They called on Weds. to tell us that he had a parasite in his stool. We picked up treatment and gave his 1st dose Wednesday afternoon. He has been acting totally fine. Except, tonight. He has been crying to go out, often. He has had diarrhea and blood in his stool (just started, tonight). I am so worried!

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Please call your vet ASAP and ask to be seen. This is a very young puppy and diarrhea can cause dehydration faster in young pups then adults. If your vet is not available go to the ER. Good luck. I hope he’s ok

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Sophia | 5 years ago
Hi Dr. Mag, I Came Across Some Of Your Videos On YouTube And That Brought Me …

Hi Dr. Mag, Gatsby and I need your help.
I came across some of your videos on YouTube and that brought me to your blogs and finally here to Pawbly.com I feel so fortunate to have found your videos you seem so knowledgeable and more importantly empathetic. The care you have for animals truly shines through. I feel so helpless When it comes to my little guy Gatsby. He is 8 years old and has been very healthy all his life, But within the last six weeks we have been experiencing some urinary issues. I did think he had a blockage because he was unable to urinate for close to 24 hours, he seemed lethargic and did not want to eat. I took him to the vet first thing in the morning and he was given an x-ray which did not show any signs of kidney stones. He was given fluids under the skin, an antibiotic shot and sent home with 5 days dosage of Prozasin. The vet diagnosed him with feline lower urinary tract disease, yet he did not take any urine samples because he said that Gatsby’s bladder was very small and he was unable to collect a sample. He did not take any blood either. Within a couple days Gatsby was again exhibiting the same symptoms so I asked around for personal referrals and took him to a different vet. This vet said the same thing, Gatsby’s bladder was very small, but he kept him for a few hours to collect urine and did perform blood analysis and lab work. This was a Saturday and the vet suggested I switched him to a prescription urinary diet and informed me I would receive lab results that Monday. When the vet called all of his lab work came back clear, no infection, no signs of crystals, no signs of cystitis, kidneys functioning properly and he does not have diabetes. The vet suggested I keep him on a prescription diet and suggested that he lose weight because he is a big boy at 15 pounds. This was about a month ago and Gatsby has had two more episodes since. He is licking himself a lot. He travels to his box many times and is only producing small dots of urine, he has on a handful of occasions exhibited inappropriate urination, but only during these flareups which tend to last 2 to 3 days. I’ve called the vet to discuss Gatsby’s condition and his solution is to have the surgery performed. I have read a lot of literature, watched a lot of videos and have taken him to two different vets to try and find answers and help for him. It hurts me to see him struggling. He is on a wet food only diet, I do not feed him any dry food or dry treats. I have tried a urinary health chew which he receives once a day. I have noticed that he has not been drinking water as he used to prior to these episodes. I have a water fountain for him I’ve tried fresh water in different types of bowls, I’ve tried water with ice, he’s just very resistant to drinking water now. Any advice or guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think part of the problem is that no one is really sure of his diagnosis. Straining can look like a lot of other things too. I always check the gi system and the urinary system for a cat displaying litter box issues. What that means is that I do a rectal exam. I check the colon the feces (send to the lab) and anal sacs. I also check a urine sample. I even do a urine culture and sensitivity of I can’t find the source of the problem. I think your diet plan is good but I would also encourage play and exercise. It helps the gi system and the weight loss which always helps the urinary system. Think of it like a “whole cat” approach to finding out what is wrong. The other piece of advice I have is to find a feline only practice. I just think they do a better job with cat issues when people feel they haven’t gotten the answers they need at a general vets office. Don’t give up! Your cat is trying to tell you there is a problem. Keep digging! Good luck. Let me know what happens.

    1. Sophia Post author

      Thank you Dr. Mag for your response! I forgot to mention that the first vet did do a rectal exam and he said that he cleaned out the buildup from his anal sac. I know there is a better term for it but I don’t have his paperwork in front of me. But he did show me What was cleaned out and he said the color and look of it was fine. I really like that suggestion of an all feline facility. Yes you’re right I have to do better with play and exercise he does have a harness and leash but will just plop on the floor lol, We did live in a different home and for the six years of his life he was able to go outside and play. He is now strictly an indoor cat. I am always so fearful of a blockage because I know how fatal it can be. Can you give me some peace of mind and let me know what signs I should look for to signal that it is a true emergency because like you said the symptoms tend to overlap and I don’t want to overexaggerate yet miss critical signs because there is a thin line.

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Myiesha | 5 years ago
Hi Dr Mag I Noticed Alittle Over A Month Ago My Cat (Zedicus Aka Boo Boo) …

Hi Dr Mag

I noticed alittle over a month ago my cat (Zedicus aka Boo Boo) was sneezing alot and sound like he was snoring when he was up. I took him to his VET where he was diagnosed with polyps. My vet referred me to a specialist for a rhinoscopy. In the process of searching for a reasonable priced specialist. I discovered your youtube page while doing research so I could be better prepared and I had to rush Zed to the ER b/c one night he woke up vomiting up foam. Once we got to the ER he was fine. I had the ER vet take xrays and told them what my Vet said. The Dr vet didnt think it was polyps but perhaps allergies or asthma. She prescribe Clavamox for 2 wks and to revisit the Vet and take another x-ray. The medicine helped the runny nose but nothing else. I’m getting frustrated because I don’t want my cat to suffocate and seems no one really knows what’s wrong with him.

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m so sorry that this has been so frustrating. I think the best advice I can give is to call all of your local rescues and shelters and ask them who they use for cases like this. They know the local affordable and reputable places where you might get better direction. Also ask about a feline specialist. They too are more direct and often helpful. You need a vet willing to work within your budget and concerns who is able to give you meaningful assistance. It is the best place to start I think. Best of luck. Let us know what happens.

    1. Myiesha Post author

      Thank you so much for your quick response. I will followup with an update. Stay safe, healthy, and blessed.

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Jason | 5 years ago
Good Day- We Are The Proud Owners Of A One-year-old English Pointer Named Bruno And A …

Good day- We are the proud owners of a one-year-old English Pointer named Bruno and a proud patient of Dr. Magnifico’s. Recently, Bruno has been shaking his head more often and scratching his ears. He has also been sleeping much more the past few days. When not sleeping, he is still pretty playful and eating/drinking. How do you know if he has an ear infection or not? His ears have been professional cleaned, but same actions with his head. Also, no smells coming from his ears. Any suggestions? Thank you.

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Ear infections are best diagnosed with an otoscope visualization and a swab and microscopic slide evaluation of the ears. In some cases there is simply dirt and debris and only an ear cleaning is needed. In others it is infection and therefore an otic antibiotic or antifungal is needed and in some cases it is just a red itchy ear due to an allergy. In any and all cases of head shaking it is imperative to identify what is going on and alleviate it ASAP or you can get an aural hematoma. Which adds two things to treat for and a painful pup too. Please call me and we can take a peek to see what’s up. As you are my client I will add the following at home tips.
    1. Look at the ear flap. Is it red? If so this indicated inflammation and discomfort. Try diphenhydramine mg size equals weight of dog. Ie 50# dog = 50 mg diphenhydramine orally every 8 hours. If two doses don’t knock it out see me!
    2. Is there any dirt or debris that looks like dark chunky wax inside the ear canal? If so you need to clean the ears. I have a video on this on my YouTube channel?
    3. Do you see any yellow liquid in the ear? Does it smell terrible? If so you need a vet ASAP!
    4. If it hurts to touch the ear see me ASAP.

    Whatever the cause is once you have one ear issue you should expect more. So ask your vet about at home care and ear cleaners to help avoid this from happening again. Also lots of red rated head shaking dogs have allergies. Ask about this before you get an aural hematoma. (YouTube on that too!)