Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
My dog had surgery 3 days ago to remove an abscess. Then he was sent home with a drain. Today he had the drain removed; 3 hours ago. Where the stitches are above the drain hole has become swollen; a ping pong ball sized ball right where the stitches are. It was not this way before the drain was removed! Do I need to be concerned. My vet isn’t open until Monday and today is Saturday night
I’m seeing articles popping up online stating that plastic storage containers for dog food are bad because of air getting to the food and causing bacteria. Is this true?
Hello,
I’ve seen the same in human health too. I’ve heard (and I’m not an expert on this) that it’s especially concerning if left in sunlight, high temps or in the container for extended periods of time. In general I will say that I try to avoid plastic. I prefer ceramic or stainless steel. I keep my pets food in the bag in a wooden feed bin with a lid. I clean it out every few weeks to keep the spilled food from attracting bugs.
Xox to Axle and the family. (I think that’s you. Hope so).
Thanks! Very helpful 🙂
And yes that’s us 🙂
I keep all dog food in my house inside cat litter bins in their original bags, if possible. I’ve also been known to transfer to smaller bags (since we get the BIG bags). In the latter situation, said bags always have zip seals and are thrown away once empty. We keep the bins out of the sunlight and clean THEM regularly, too, to ensure no old food remains.
Hello, I am very interested in getting a dog, however where I live I might have an issue with our neighbours. They have two dogs, both primarily live in their back garden, they have had them for about several years and have never taken either of them for a walk. Whenever I go into my back garden they start barking incessantly, they are often left alone for hours despite one of the couple who live there not working. Would still be possible for me to get a dog, take it into the garden for toilet-training and to play under these circumstances?
You COULD, but it would take work. I ‘d also look into reinforcing your fencing, and making it impossible to see through. I’m sorry your neighbors are terrible dog owners. 🙁
They already can’t see through I have high fences and there’s no way they can possibly get into my garden but it’s the noise of us opening our door or walking that sets them off. I know it’s not their fault they must be bored out of their minds. I worry any dog I got would be scared or distracted too much by them
Well, if you keep a pup engaged with YOU when outside, they’re less likely to be distracted by the other dogs.
I wouldn’t leave a dog out in the garden unsupervised – I don’t with my 6 year old, and I certainly wouldn’t with a puppy. If pup starts barking like a fool, the fun ends and everyone goes inside.
I’ve read not to ever let a dog unsupervised and was planing on having it on a lead when in the garden until properly trained. Thanks for your reply, I was more concerned someone would have experienced something like this before and had negative outcome. I’m more than happy to spend extra on training the puppy as well
Hi there???? I’m in agreement with a Laura- it will take work on your part. But it’s possible. You will just have to work a lot on proper training to get your dog in the mindset he or she needs to be in. You’ll almost ha e to somewhat desensitize them to your neighbors dog(s). That will be hard work, but again- with time, patience and training, anything is possible. And also- I would test the fence and make sure there is no way dogs can get in or through it… just to be safe. Best of luck!
Thanks for the replies its very helpful. I know 100% their dogs can’t get through the fence. They mostly stay in a patio area in their garden and our fence is high, no holes and cement slabs at the bottom.
I am prepared to spend a lot of money on training so that I can do this right, the type of dog I’d like is a Golden Labrador
Please help!
My soon to be 11 year old shnoodle (6 pounds) has to follow me around everywhere. We moved to a new house about two months ago and she has went pee on the stairs, bedroom and hallway at the new house. I finally had to gate the stairway and confine her to first floor only. Which has hardwood floors. She crys the whole time I’m upstairs getting ready for work or folding laundry. I’ve been crating her with my other dog at night and all she does is whine cry and scratch at blankets, the bed and metal bars on crate. Yesterday I went and bought her a crate of her own because I thought maybe she just didn’t have enough room to lay down with being in the same crate as my other dog. Well it was the same old thing last night plus she pooped in her pin and this afternoon pooped right by the pin after she had just been outside. I’m afraid she’s going to her herself too by scratching those metal bars. I tried a mesh crate and she got her toenail stuck in the mesh material and I had to cut the material to get her lose. Any thoughts on what I should do? I’ve tried crating her in my room but she doesn’t sleep she just whines, crys and scratches… PLEASE HELP!!!
Thank you
DeAnna
Hello,
I’m not sure what your question is? Can you please explain what you are concerned about and why?
I think maybe it’s the flooring you around part? But I don’t know if this is a new behavior or not? And I don’t know why it concerns you exactly? And was your dog housebroken before?
Any idea what changed and why?
I will say that I emphatically believe that pets do things for a very specific reason. The key is to figure out what they are telling you they need or want and then help them resolve it. It sounds like your dog is desperate for help. Have you seen a vet to discuss any of your concerns? That’s always the best place to start.
I assume this is a dog? Retrain – new places often mean new rules, and sometimes our dogs need to be reminded of the rules. I’d also get her to the vet for a checkup with urinalysis, just to be safe.
Good morning! Even though this dog may have already been trained, this is an entirely new situation to them. THey may be regressing. With the new change comes a new challenge. Start with the basics- positive reinforcement for good behaviors. Check with your vet to make sure there isn’t an unseen medical issue going on. My guess is that because of all the change in lifestyle (sudden crating, new smells, new house) and routine that your dog is having a hard time adjusting. Hope this helps.
My cocker spaniel is 18 months old. Only one of his testicles dropped and he had what we thought was a retained one. He went in to be neutered today and after two hours under the vet couldn’t find the other ball!
He will do a blood test in a few months to check for testosterone. If there’s none then it looks like he only ever had one but if there is hormone then it’s in there somewhere.
I’m worried sick as the reason we got this done was retained testicles are at a higher risk for cancer. Has anyone experienced this with their dog? Did the dog go on to be okay?
I have had a few cases like this. It sounds like your vet is doing everything I would. If you are really having a tough time waiting and worrying ask for a referral to an internal medicine specialist or ask a boarded surgeon to go in and take a look for it. In my opinion these are your next best options.
Let me know what happens. Please!
Good luck
Thank you for such a quick response. There is another issue in that my dog has a cleft palate and I’m unsure about another major surgery. The vet suggested ultrasounding his tummy every year (or 6 months if I was really anxious) to catch anything that might start to grow. Nothing showed on an ultrasound today.
Prior to the neutering the vet was very much “this missing testicle needs to come out as the risks for cancer are very high” ….now it cant be found it’s “well we can ultrasound him regularly and catch things in it’s tracks, I’m not too concerned”. so I’m a bit confused.
Do you know how risky the retained testicle is for disease? I have my fingers crossed for a negative blood test.
The dog groomer suggests our Norwich Terrier takes medicine prior to grooming appointment. She bites the groomer. She originally went to this groomer and they only had problems cutting her nails. We went elsewhere and our dog bit at the groomer and they called me to come pick her up mid grooming and they couldn’t finish her. We went back to the present one who completed that cut. She went back today and got groomed but they said she needs meds next time. She is 7 yrs old and a rescue. We have had her almost 2 yrs. She sometimes nips at us too. Suggestions about meds please. Thanks.
Hi there-
Before you talk to your vet about meds, I would get the name of a good behaviorist. This has the potential to really escalate into a bigger problem, and no one wants that I’m sure. Perhaps the rescue you got her from can suggest a good behaviorist? I know a lot of humane societies/SPCA’s have people that they can point you towards as well. Also- perhaps a more strict routine and boundaries will help you all. I know you said that she nips at you sometimes too. That means that she does not look at you as highest in the order. Creating a routine that puts you there and keeps you there is important and training and walks can really help. Routine is dependable and when she realizes that the rules stay the same no matter what and the walks are quality time spent together, she will have a better sense of order and that might help out. But I would start with a behaviorist that can see your dog in action and show you tools and tips that you can utilize to get things more under control. Best of luck to you!!! Thank you for rescuing!!
Hello!
I think this needs to be a discussion between you and your vet first. Then talk to your groomer about how you can start helping it be an easier process for everyone. This should not be just about getting a drug to fix him. It is a long slow positive reinforcement process. I hope this helps.
I would look into alternatives for nails, at the very least. There’s a group on Facebook called Nail Maintenance for Dogs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nail.maintenance.for.dogs/learning_content/
They have a LOT of great info, including proper desensitization and things like scratch boards for nails. I’d look into it…especially when the concepts behind proper desensitization can be applied elsewhere in your training with your dog.
Hello,
I can’t tell you whether or not this is an emergency. I don’t know if this is a return or the abscess or something else like a seroma. The best advice I can give is to monitor your dog very closely. Any sign of lethargy, inappetance or indication of infection at the site like pain, swelling, redness or discharge and you should see a bet immediately. Also it is always better of to be safe than sorry and see a vet as soon as anything abnormal occurs. Whether it’s an emergency is hard to tell and impossible to diagnose online. I hope this helps. Good luck. Let us know what happens.
Thank for your opinion & advice. The swelling hasn’t gotten bigger overnight but is still there. Our vet opens tomorrow & I’ll definitely take him in first thing in the morning.