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Bryan | 6 years ago
I Have A 17 Year Old Female Cat Recently Diagnosed With Kidney Disease, Treatment Is With A …

I have a 17 year old female cat recently diagnosed with kidney disease, treatment is with a prescription low-phosphorous diet.

She is suffering with stiff joints, I am considering supplements such as glucosamine to help. But are such supplements suitable for her diet? I believe glucosamine itself is kidney-safe, but wonder about other additives such as salt or potassium which she needs to avoid.

Any advice on safe glucosamine supplements for a cat with kidney problems?

Many thanks

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Sarah

    Good morning,
    I would just make a quick phone call to your vet to get their take on it. They will know best for the patient since they are familiar with the situation. Best of luck!

    1. Bryan Post author

      Thanks, I tried that first, but got short shrift from the receptionist who would not give any advice unless I booked an appointment (and paid for it)!

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m so sorry that you couldn’t get more help without an exam charge. It is really one of the reasons I created this site. I hope that your vet was able to help. I always try to provide lots of help and guidance and a way to be accessible. For most of these cats there is concurrent disease and aging processes. Joint pain and difficulty are one of them. I talk about providing an environment to help these elderly patients and make it easier for them to live in their world. Think about making her world small and easy to access. Try a low shallow bed a food bowl, water and a low sided litter box. Make it like the handicapped room that makes every part of her day easier. Keep her in a warm place. Encourage water intake and make it easy for her to get to all the things she needs. I also think it is helpful to ask your vet about what might be lying ahead. Like at home fluid therapy or phosphate binders. There is lots we can do to help our aging pets. Please keep in touch and let me know what tips and tricks you learn that help your kitty.
    I hope this helps.

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Gevin | 6 years ago
7 Month Old Puppy Has Raw Skin Possible On Upper Lip. Does Anyone Know If I Should …

7 month old puppy has raw skin possible on upper lip.

Does anyone know if I should be concerned or if this will take care of its self. I just noticed it today.( It was not there before)

4 Responses

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  1. Gevin Post author

    Also he does not seem bothered by it at all he’s walking around normally, still very playful, and not lethargic at all.

  2. Sarah

    Good morning- it’s always hard to tell from a picture. To me, it looks a little bit like a small injury/scrape… like from a a stick or a toy possibly? If he is acting normally and eating, playing, drinking, bathrooming, etc. as usual, I would watch him and check on it periodically. If it changes or gets worse at all, I would call the vet to have it checked. Cute pup!!

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Kelly | 6 years ago
My 4 Month Old Border Collie Mix Was Spay 9 Days Ago. On Day 7 She Had A Swollen …

My 4 month old border collie mix was spay 9 days ago. On day 7 she had a swollen lump under her incision site. I took her to her vet yesterday and it was determined to be a seroma and they said to continue her on crate rest for several more days. I have read that it can take a month or more for a seroma to go down and the fluid reabsorb. She is by nature an extremely active puppy. We play outside for with her for a couple of hours most days, where she fetches balls, frisbees, etc and runs like crazy. We were hoping that after 10 days we could get back to playing. How long do you recommended we wait. The fluid filled lump is about the size of a lemon.

5 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think that it’s best to listen to your vet. Every dog and every case is unique. I know it’s hard with an active puppy but do the best you can call your vet and talk to them about your concerns. Ask if walking or puzzle games in the house are ok? And then try to be patient. I also think it is a great opportunity to start learning her obedience and even tricks. Like sit, stay, lay down, give paw, etc. these allow her to be with you and using her intelligence but not over active or running/fetching. Get a bunch of puppy training books and refocus her from play to mental stimulation. Good luck.

    1. Kelly Post author

      Thanks so much for the advice. This is our first puppy. I have been using puzzle games with her and even devising my own…she is very smart. We have been working with a trainer, so also practice some of the commands she knows and trying to teach some new one!! We are just so ready for active play. She has become a little feisty, nipping at us like she did as a younger puppy and I think she is just so frustrated with alot of pent up energy. I will try to be patient but it is really difficult!!

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Sukhpreet | 6 years ago
Hello, I Am Very Interested In Getting A Dog, However Where I Live I Might Have …

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?

8 Responses

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  1. Laura

    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. 🙁

    1. Sukhpreet Post author

      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

      1. Laura

        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.

        1. Sukhpreet Post author

          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

  2. Sarah

    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!

    1. Sukhpreet Post author

      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

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Deanna | 6 years ago
Please Help! My Soon To Be 11 Year Old Shnoodle (6 Pounds) Has To Follow Me Around Everywhere. …

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

3 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    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.

  2. Laura

    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.

  3. Sarah

    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.

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Dee | 6 years ago
My Cocker Spaniel Is 18 Months Old. Only One Of His Testicles Dropped And He Had What …

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?

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    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

    1. Dee Post author

      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.

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Sarah | 6 years ago
Eww Gross! This Morning, I Saw One Of The Dogs Nosing In The Dirt And Figured …

Eww gross! This morning, I saw one of the dogs nosing in the dirt and figured that he smelled cat poop- I said “no” and he left it but ran straight back when I turned to continue walking everyone. So I ran back to make sure he didn’t eat it (why is cat poop a delicacy to dogs?????) and I saw him with a leopard slug in his mouth. Ugh! I don’t know what is worse? He did not eat it- he dropped it. I’m guessing that he probably has eaten them before. Are they dangerous or just protein?

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!
    All of the items you mention are the highlight of your dogs walk. Gross as it might be. They are at their best, living their best life, with the wind in their faces the dirt on their feet and a delectable tidbit just at the tip of their tongue. If you didn’t see drooling right after then it’s probably very safe.
    My dogs new favorites are the mostly dried out dead worms on the driveway. Yummy!

    Xox

    Lucky happy dogs. Be well all

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Patrice Heisse | 6 years ago
Good Morning, I Want To Say That I Had Written Back In April About My Dog …

Good morning,
I want to say that I had written back in April about my dog who I suspect has IVDD. I took Dr. Magnifico’s advice and went to another veterinarian other than the one who told me my only option was surgery. This new veterinarian said she suspects my fur baby has IVDD but instead of saying his only option was surgery, she continued to give me the RX for steroids. She said she became a vet because her own dog had IVDD and had surgery and it did not rectify the situation. She said no dog should be made to suffer and if he improves on the steroids she would not withhold care. What a breath of fresh air!!! My dog has been on the steroids for a little bit now and is doing so much better. He is able to walk around without much of a limp, sit in his window, and play with us. He is so much better. I’m not sure how long it will help but we are grateful and I appreciate your advice to get a second opinion and do not give up. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!
    Thank you so much for the follow up! I’m so happy to hear about your dog and your experience! These stories are exactly why we are here.
    Could you please (please!) enter this to our storylines page? So others can benefit and we can promote your new vet!
    Thank you. And very best of luck!
    ????❤️
    Krista

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Sandra Sellers | 6 years ago
I Could Use Some Advice To Keep My Dog From Eating Cat Poop. We Have 1 Dog …

I could use some advice to keep my dog from eating cat poop. We have 1 dog and 2 cats. On our first floor there is a mudroom with a pet gate with a cat door. The cats have their litter boxes on one side of the mudroom and food on the other side. This arrangement has worked for 8 years. My daughter’s young cat has had digestive issues for her entire life and would poop on the floor outside the box once a week. We tried all different kinds of boxes and litter and probiotics and food but no changes. She also hates the feel of litter. We tried all kinds and newspaper and towels and pee pads…you name it.
For a month she decided to poop on my daughter’s bed twice a week…which of course was a cleaning nightmare. Sometimes she pooped on the bed while my daughter was sleeping in it.
Finally we found a limited ingredient food that worked along side of a probiotic and her poops are now more manageable for her, less painful I’m guessing and pretty regular. We added a litterbox upstairs to my daughter’s bedroom but she would never use it. We moved it to the large hallway outside my daughter’s room where it was darker and more private and she still didn’t use it. Purchased cat attraction litter and after 1 week she finally used the upstairs box to poop. I held my excitement but it’s been 3 weeks now and no more pooping on the bed. Her poops are also a lot less messy and stinky. Now my problem is if she goes at night the dog jumps right up and eats it. I caught her doing this twice but she was too fast to stop. Other times you can smell that she must have pooped but it’s gone. She’s only going upstairs so I don’t want to take the box away. She’s so picky with boxes and how she sits in the box and how it smells a covered litter box won’t work. There isn’t way to put a gate up in that hallway as it’s a super old house and shaped weird. I’m afraid any change to the box will stop all the good progress. My dog probably gets to the litter box before us about half the time–so it’s not every time. My dog is healthy, eats well, is up to date on everything and is well taken care of. Thanks for your patience with the long explanation.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Laura

    Clevercat litterboxes are a LIFESAVER. Not even my long-nosed Doberman can get into them. That said, now that the cat’s using the box reliably, can you move it to a room with a gate? You can also get free-standing gates for oddly shaped entries…we use one in our puppy pre-K class to block an egress point, and it works very well.

  2. Laura

    OH and as far as your dog’s nutrition is concerned…for some reason, most dogs REALLY LIKE cat poop. I’m not sure why, Dr. Magnifico might have an idea, but this seems to be a thing even with dogs which wouldn’t normally do this. I agree it’s gross, and I hope you can find a solution which works for your situation.

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Charlotte | 6 years ago
My One Year Old Lab Mix Has Worms. She Did Not Even Poop And Their Was …

My one year old lab mix has worms. She did not even poop and their was two worms stuck to her but and I don’t have money for a vet please help

2 Responses

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning-
    There may be OTC options of dewormer, but I can not make a recommendation on those. I would be extremely careful in going that route. Dosage will probably vary greatly. If I were you, I would call my vet and find out how much an office visit and a shot of dewormer would cost upfront. The longer you wait, the worse (and subsequently the more expensive) things will get. Your dog is 1, so probably due for an annual exam anyway. I’m sure your vet will be able to do the yearly exam and deworming altogether. They may be willing to let you pay in multiple installments.

    1. Charlotte Post author

      Yes thank you I ended up just taking her yesterday to the vet and she got her shots and stuff and I’m working with them on paying thank you