Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
My pitbull puppy has parvo and is being treated today when i went to the vet to visit him he pooped blood then right after he started pooping clear what does this mean??
6 wk old pup dropped by child. Slight limp. No whining while feeling from paw up leg or while trying to walk. Baby asprin?
Hi….firstly I hope you don’t mind if I say please don’t let your child pick up the puppy, children should treat dogs with care and respect….puppies are not toys.
A pup should not leave its mother until they are at least 8 weeks old, 6 weeks is very young.
A puppy’s bones are st
Sorry hit the wrong button!
A puppy’s bones are still quite soft at 6 weeks old. Perhaps you should pop him to a vet to make sure no lasting damage has been done.
My husband and I were discussing making our own dog food. Our dogs are currently eating dry Whole Earth Farms grain free kibble. Sometimes we add in whole Earth Farms grain free wet food in the evenings. We were wondering if switching to homemade food is a good idea and if so how much do we feed our dogs? Our dogs are 60-80 pounds each.
I would consider BARF diet
Hi Amanda,
that is a good question, isn’t it? And the answer depends on whom you ask. Some might tell you, yes, definitely, others will shout out, OMG please don’t do that.
Here is how it is with food, whether for ourselves of for our dogs.
The best food you can offer is
– biologically appropriate (there are arguments about what is or isn’t biologically appropriate for dogs)
– as fresh and wholesome you can offer (some argue that ingredients don’t matter only nutrients matter; well both do matter)
– as little processed as possible
– with as little stuffs that don’t belong into food as possible
– as natural and organic as possible (again, there are arguments that it doesn’t matter but it doesn’t make sense that it wouldn’t)
I think Dr. Becker summarized it fairly well in this article:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/07/21/13-pet-foods-ranked-from-great-to-disastrous.aspx
Again, there are arguments whether raw is best or cooked is best. (there are arguments about every single aspect of what to feed our dogs)
Advantages of raw: minimal loss of nutrients, high digestibility
Disadvantages of raw: possible contamination with bacteria
a) the risk seems higher to people than the actual dog(s)
b) can be controlled with exercising good food safety
Advantages of cooked: minimizing risk of bacterial contamination, good digestibility (even better with some ingredients such as veggies; whether raw or cooked protein is better digestible is also debated)
Disadvantages of cooked: loss of nutrients
Advantages of making your own food (raw or cooked): full control over ingredients
Disadvantages of making your own food: if not done properly, there is a risk of nutritional imbalances
These days you can find commercially available diets for any type of food you wish to feed, whether it’s raw or cooked. Advantage of doing that is that you can find manufacturers who have complete and balanced formulations. Disadvantage is that you don’t control the ingredients directly and have to take the manufacturer at their word on what they put in and where they sourced it. There are some reputable manufacturers out there for both raw and cooked diets.
How much you should feed your dogs depends on your dogs (not only their weight but also their age and activity level). There are calorie calculators out there.
Depending on what you have available where you live, home prepared (whether raw or cooked) can be cheaper than commercial. Or not. Depends on whether you can source from farmers, co-ops etc.
There is the work that goes into making the food.
MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT, though, is that if you are going to make your own food, whether raw or cooked, is to make sure it is COMPLETE AND BALANCED. This can be best and easiest achieved by
a) working with a nutritionist
b) working with a supplement such as BalanceIT
c) acquiring some good recipes (but whatever you’re going to make will need to be supplemented, AT LEAST with calcium source) Vitamins and minerals may or may not have to be supplemented depending on the ingredients you’d use.
As for myself, I used to home-cooked for Jasmine for a long time. It worked very well for her. I DID use a supplement designed specifically for balancing home prepared diets (in Canada we have Hilary’s Blend, which I have been using). With Cookie, she decided to “switch herself to raw” on her own (she is an avid hunter) so I figured who was I to argue and I’m now feeding her raw. For the time being I use mostly commercially prepared frozen raw with the odd fresh home prepared raw such as during hunting season. So she’d get a whole rabbit, for example.
I think reading the above article I linked to should give you a good idea how to improve your dogs’ nutrition and where to start.
Please do not forget the COMPLETE and BALANCED bit.
Here is a great recipe for home made dog food from Dr. Stanley Coren at UBC. I made it for my dogs and they loved it (until I got to be too lazy). You can look it up on this website : pets.ca/recipes /recipe3
How to prepare puppies to stay alone for a night and half of day alone?We need to fly in the evening to get our visas done and we’re gonna be home in the early afternoon.They’re gonna sleep in the spacious garden+food+separateBowls ofWater
that’s WAY too long for puppies to be by themselves. please find someone to watch them.
If I had someone who would take care of them when we’re not here, I wouldn’t ask this question. Unfortunately, we’re new in this country and the vet advised us NOT to leave them at the clinic due to distemper outburst (they’ve been vaccinated today for the 1st time).
I wouldn’t have asked* sorry!
Anna, i would look into a pet sitter in your area. seriously. PLEASE don’t leave these puppies alone for more than a few hours. please.
The only option we have is to arrange a pet check in the morning to change water. Pet sitters are not available at my region because of Ramadan (boarding centers are full) or religious issues (dogs are considered ‘haram’ ). I’ve already checked what’s available.
They will be staying in the garden where they usually stay for the whole day ( they poop there and pee). They are in the house usually for the late evening and night. Our lab will be 15/16 week and Golden 13/14. We cannot change the date, because we may not be able to legally enter the country if we stay any day longer – and this is pretty important part.
I can arrange somebody to change the water in the morning – but no touching the dogs or staying with them – religious issues for my neighbors and the person who will perform the pet check.
Have a female American Bulldogog at the end of a heat cycle. She will be spayed Very soon. However, she has started fighting with my other female, an Alapaha Bulldog. Unspayed dog new to house 4 weeks no problems until a few days ago.
This sounds like a recipe for disaster. I would spay both of your dogs ASAP. In my experience, fights between new pack members always begun 4-6 weeks after the new dog arrived. There is kind of an initial grace period where everyone is adjusting, getting comfortable, and figuring out what the rules are in the home. Having to intact dogs is only going to intensify a problem that may already be there. I truly hope that spaying you dogs will be the solution to your problem, however if it is not I would recommend an trainer how specializes in dog aggression.
We spay all,of our dogs. The only one that isn’t is the new edition. We were told that she had been already. Took her in for a check up and found out she was just beginning a heat. We are waiting for that heat cycle to end. She is a sweet dog and they have gotten along well together until two days ago. I was questioning if the heat could cause this sudden aggression?
Sorry, it sounded like you had 2 intact females in your home. Having a dog in heat can definitely cause some aggression. I hope that is all it is
Hi I have two chows mickey is 10 months old and Mia is 6 months at the moment mickey is having to wear a cone as he has developed hotspots on his legs and last Mia started chewing the inside of her leg I have both on Harringtons dry dog
My dogs name is buddy, he’s almost two and he’s a cross breed. Two days ago he escaped when he came back later my boyfriend realised he was bleeding from the tip of his penis..he still hasn’t stopped, should I be really worried?
my dog had a heat stroke. we took her to the vet but we couldn’t afford the expense for her proper care. what can we do at home for her recovery? will she survive?
thank you so much! but she isn’t really moving around. she’s just lying there. the veternarian gave her IV fluids and said it should ware off in about 8 hours. will the fluids help with her recovery?
Yes, fluids will help. Provide room temperature water, not cold. Good luck.
My dog is a American bull dog sharpei mix
She is 2 years old
She was also a rescue so she has never been in a crate before
Hi there,
The best thing is to never ‘force’ your dog into the crate.
The crate should be a safe haven for the dog, somewhere where they are never bothered and hopefully feel most comfortable to sleep in. Is it big enough or her to stand up in? If so try putting her water and food in there. Play with the ball and keep throwing it into the crate to get her used to the idea that every time she goes in it she isn’t going to be locked in and left alone. Especially with a rescue the crate should be build up slowly.
Once she starts feeling more comfortable going ion and out of the crate for meals, the ball and treats (and she clicks on that you won’t lock her in it every time she steps foot in) start putting her in, giving her a treat, closing the door and going upstairs/out of the room. Most dogs are worse when they can hear you around the house so it will take time. Try leaving her for 2 minutes, however if she is starts crying or whining do not go to her, just wait it out. Have you tried putting a blanket over it? Even my dog who has been crate trained since a puppy feels bit more uncomfortable if he doesn’t have a blanket covering 3/4 sides.
To me it sounds like this dog suffers from separation anxiety, this can be managed but you will have to remember that she may never really adjust to being left alone for long periods. A drastic measure may be to consider getting another dog if she enjoys their company? Some dogs with separation anxiety can quickly turn very destructive and this can be dangerous for them if they chew through a wire or choke on something. However it may not be this at all and she may just get over excited that she has escaped the evil crate!
What type of crate have you got? Most dogs can escape a material crate as if they paw at it long enough the zip will start to move, try investing in a sturdy metal crate with several bolds to keep it shut.
Another thing to consider is that your rescue dog may need some time to adjust to your home. I have taken on dogs that have taken 2 years and some that have taken 2 weeks.
Best of luck!
Clara
Sorry meant my reply as an answer not a comment.
Thanks a lot we have tried putting food and water in her crate and even putting her toy in there, we have a sturdy metal crate but she uses brutal force to brake it we have tried zip ties and she just brakes those too, but at night when we put her in there she is fine because she knows that we are here and that she is not alone.
My dog Sira had a cruciate ligament tear of the right knee and had ACL done with complete meniscectomy on 1/21/15. After 2 months the knee felt swollen and all of a sudden there was a blister that broke open and release a LOT of almost clear fluid and the “swelling” was gone. The little blister wound healed but after 6 weeks swelling/fluid on the outside of the knee joint and the little cap opened up and again fluid oozing out. The vet examined the fluid, even cultured it and there was some inflammation but no infection. For almost 2 weeks the knee looked better, skin color was pink but all of a sudden this changed. The skin looked darker with every hour, turning purplish and again fluid collected under the skin. Again to the vet who tried to drain the fluid out with a syringe but with not much success. The fluid had become more bloody. My dog was put on previcox and baytril. But again after it looked better for a while one morning the certain (blister) spot looked a bit different and 5 hours later it was blueish – pink marbled and 5 more hours later it broke open and again this viscous discharge. What is the cause? Could it be an allergic reaction to the nylon line or the stainless steel crimps that were used for the ACL? How likely is this? I got the recommendation from another vet whom I consulted while the surgeon was on vacation to have the nylon line and metal crimps removed and hopefully enough scar tissue has developed by now so that the knee is stabilized by it. I have spend now close to $3000 on exams, surgery and meds. To remove all that what has been put in to stabilize the knee joint seems like a waste but what good does it do if it doesn’t heal? I cannot let it go on like that and risk an infection of the knee, can I? Has someone seen such a reaction after an ACL surgery? Does this look like an allergic reaction? Is removing the lines and crimps the right next step?
It might be an allergic reaction, but I would find a better vet.
I was a clear and slimy like mucous what does it mean?
It’s normal with parvo.