Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
Hello! I was listening to a lecture on animal nutrition, and it brought up the topic of grain-free diets. I used to feed my dogs the blue wilderness grain free diet. But is grain free safe for my dog? Should my dogs have grain in their diet? They are currently eating team dog and that has grains in it. Thank you!
My dogs eye keeps getting gooped shut. I’ve had many dog in my life and never seen this, reminds my of pink eye in people but his eyes aren’t pink. I’m going to call the vet tomorrow I thought it was maybe allergies at first with the weather changing but now I’m thinking it’s something more…. Anybody have any ideas?
Hello,
I do think the vet visit is the best idea. Someone needs to look at the eye (get the eyelids to open just enough to allow a visualization of the cornea) to see if that is the source of the problem. You also need some pain meds and an ophthalmic antibiotic I think. Please go asap. Damage to the cornea can have serious consequences, including loss of vision, and they can get very bad very quickly.
My dachshund is having back issues and I heard about a procedure call PLDA that might help my dog’s condition. Is this procedure safe for my dog ? I’ve seen write-ups on the internet about it, but no new reports on it since the early 2010’s. Is this still a viable answer to my dog’s condition? Ay help would be greatly appreciated . Thank you.
Joseph Kuzma
Hello,
I’m sorry to hear about your dog. I don’t know any patients or veterinarians who have had this procedure. This would have to be answered by a neurologist or surgeon
Thank you for replying. I was just wondering why nothing has been written about it for 10 to 15 years. I live in Connecticut . I found a vet in Pennsylvania who performs the procedure, but I have to wait for my dog’s pain to be relieved before the procedure can be performed. I will call my vet on Monday and ask their opinion. Thank you, again for your reply.
My dog licked a small frog and was excessively drooling for about 10 seconds and pawed at his face once but was fine after that. I took a warm rag and wiped his gums and the roof of his mouth and his paws really well and he’s acting normally. Should I still be concerned?
This happened to my dog many times with the same result. They have always been fine. Of course I don’t know what kind of frog this was, or your pet’s medical history or condition, so please keep an eye on your pup and call your vet with any questions or concerns
Hi Krista
My almost 11 year old MC Potcake (who has too many beings lipomas to count) recently had his senior blood work and urinalysis – everything was normal except an elevated ALP.
The urine was a free catch sample at 4 pm and it was very dilute. This prompted me to remember that he has been drinking a little more (summer) as well as eating a lot of watermelon – and to remind me that he has also had an increased appetite over the last year. I did a specific gravity on a morning urine sample after he had no access to water overnight and he was able to concentrate his urine at 1.025
He has chronic seasonal allergies so his inner thighs have a dark pigment change – this has been present for years – there are no other derm changes and I don’t see a pot bellied appearance but the vet is considering Cushing’s. They suggested an abdominal ultrasound first followed by a low dose suppression test. I would rather do the dex test first before an ultrasound. I’m not sure that I’m convinced that Cushing’s is likely but something may be going on.
Of more concern is that this previously healthy dog coincidentally, a few days after the blood work, had an episode of vertical nystagmus and ataxia – very brief – less than 30 seconds. He’s been fine ever since but its only been a few days – I have been told that vertical nystagmus is less common with Senior Vestibular disease and possibly more likely a central lesion.
any thoughts that you have would be appreciated !
Pam
Hello,
For cases like this I usually recommend the following.
Ask about diet. See if anything could be influencing water intake. I do a very thorough exam. This includes anal glands. Then I repeat the blood work a few months later (if not drinking or peeing excessively). If the pet is believed to be drinking and urinating more then I think that X-rays, abdominal ultrasound (by a proficient vet) and LDDT are warranted. I don’t have too much preference on order because they usually all need to be done. The biggest thing to talk about before starting all of these diagnostics is that the client must be willing and able to treat for cushings before we start the expensive procedure of diagnostics.
Good luck
thank you so much
My dog had been having issues with diarrhea, regurgitation, and vomiting. I need help please.
Hello,
I would need a whole lot more information about your pet to provide any help. We would need a detailed history of your dog, your environment, diet, activity, previous health history, vet care, a thorough examination and its findings and diagnostic results. Please see a veterinarian in person for help.
I took my German Shepherd Diesel to a small airport near my house that is all desert (southern Nevada) on 8/17/2024.
He was running and chasing rabbits and was just fine. He is a very healthy dog, 8 years old, and has never had any health issues, not even hip dysplasia. He doesn’t have the common sloping back/angulation in GSDs, but a straight back, which is probably why he doesn’t have hip dysplasia. Anyway, today and yesterday, he started showing signs of limping on his rear right leg, which was much more visible today. He is hardly putting any pressure on the foot, often lifting it up. I gave him some carprofen for pain and inflammation. I trimmed his nails, because they were a little long and it looked like they were pushing up his toes and could have been the source of discomfort. It didn’t seem to help. Since we were in the desert, I checked for any injuries from the rough terrain and for cactus needles. No sign of any, but I am still very concerned. What should I do?
So I take my dog to Chadwell Vet and they are recommending a ACL surgery and my daughter-in-law recommended you all I have gone to a surgical what are you would love to stay in the county to have her if you could give me pricing for the acl surgery.
Hello,
The pre op coat is about $50 exam, $170 blood work, $200 X-rays and $125 radiology review.
The cost of the surgery is about $3500-3800 based on weight.
Post op care is $200 for X-rays.
We have a boarded surgeon who does the TPLOs.
If interested call the clinic and set up an exam with one of the doctors.
Pre op cost.
My Dog cannot walk .Her left leg has not been working properly.It’s too week.I search everywhere the symptoms I might feel like its IVDD.She was trying to wake up but she can’t.Her weight is too heavy like 35-40kg. german shepherd. please help
Hello,
This is one of those conditions that need a vet immediately. They can prescribe medications to help. I sorry. I wish I could do more. You need a vet to help identify what this is, or might be, and provide medication.
Intermitent Limp
Hello, one of my dog has a limp on her hind right leg that only occurs minutes after she gets up after lying down for a long period of time.
When she gets up her leg won’t touch the ground while standing up or walking.
In just a few minutes, she’ll touch the ground again, run, and jump with no sign of pain, but every time she gets up it’s the same thing, several times a day.
I’ve squeezed her leg all the way, and moved it around and she shows no pain or injuries,
Hello,
Any degree of limping that lasts for more than a few days should be seen by a veterinarian. The only exceptions to this is a dislocated hip which should be seen immediately to try to put it “back in the socket”. Infection is the other thing I worry about. There is usually wound and most often pets are quiet and not eating well.
The most common knee injury we see that causes limping is a cruciate rupture. You will need a vets help to diagnose this.
Hello,
I avoid grain free. I don’t think there is likely any benefit to it while there is still a risk of heart issues. So I just don’t recommend it. Why worry about something that is avoidable?
There appears to be a link between diets using legumes to boost protein and dilated cardiomyopathy. Whatever you feed, I would avoid anything with peas or other legumes high in the ingredient list.
Furthermore, if I’m feeding kibble, I have seen actual stool changes between grain free and grain inclusive. The latter seems to produce smaller, more solid stool than the former. My dogs have all done better on grain inclusive. I have found Purina’s Pro Plan to be the best for my specific dog’s gut – she has had almost no loose stool since we started her on it.