Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
Hello,
My cat loves to walk along the edges of our swimming pool and drink the water puddles ( even when we provide fresh water for her). Today she fell in the pool. Fortunately I was standing nearby and heard her trying to get out. We dried her with two warm towels and placed her inside. She is still shaken up but she is eating and drinking normally. Is there anything else that I should do?
1 year old cat left home alone for one day (not unusual for her). When owners camehome she was very clingy and needed to sleep in primary owners lap. As she would sleep her head would suddenly drop down and she seemed to have slower heavier breathing. After sleeping off and on for a few hours she began to get very aggressive especially towards male owner. Has also been moving head erratically and seems to shake head when moving it. Will only eat if food is on the floor and out of the bowl and has shown irregular signs of back pain sometimes being sensitive and sometimes not at all.
A veterinarian should really check out the cat’s unusual behavior. The doctor would need to determine if there is an injury which would determine the course of care. I wouldn’t delay seeing a vet as the cat may in pain. Best of luck, I hope the kitty is acting better soon!
I would worry about trauma to the spine or head. Please encourage them to get her in ASAP.
My 3 year old dog was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure after about a week of vomiting, lethargy, and not eating. After less than a day in the hospital her BUN came down from a 227 to a 200 and when I visited her in the hosptial I could tell her mood was night and day from when she was admitted to the hospital, much more energetic and happy, which I took as a very good sign of her health. So I guess my question is what can I expect? What are her realistic chances of recovering from this?
I would chat with your regular veterinarian. If it was an ER where your dog was treated their primary goal is to get your pet stable and back home. Your regular veterinarian can help establish a treatment plan and go over prognosis. My dog was 11 when diagnosed with kidney failure, initially she was given just days to live as she did not respond to fluid therapy. We had her for 10 months that I will be forever grateful for. She did need to stay on a food recommended by our vet and we also did go in for regular bloodwork to monitor her. Best wished to you and your pup!
Can my dog get sick from eating a small/tiny piece of an eyeliner pencil?
I would phone your Vet and ask for advice…and tell them how big the eyeliner pencil was. It may pass through your dog, it may get stuck. Better to check with your Vet.
I believe my 4 month old kitten has acid reflux. She was born from my sisters cats first litter so she has a lot of birth defects already. For the past month every time she eats a bowl of Meow-Mix cat food she throws up stringy saliva. She also seems to be chocking while doing it. Her other birth defects are twisted in legs, broken tail, and she has a little lazy eye. Please comment if you need any further information.
Hello,
Can you try feeding her wet food? Even in small amounts with water added and see how she does? Perhaps she cannot eat dry food? Or she eats too much too fast? Also meow mix is not suitable for a kitten. Please try a better quality food that is age appropriate (kitten food).
Hey there, I am 17 years old and I adore animals. I live with just myself and my mother and I currently have 4 cats (soon to be more probably) 2 gerbils, and 2 goldfish. I look after my pets very well and make sure they are happy and healthy.
I have always loved birds and have always pictured myself having a parrot (such as a macaw) I have owned finches, budgies, and other small pasts in the distant past, but I haven’t had any for a while thus I will not get a large bird like a macaw. One that has really caught my eye is a Sun Conure. I think they are beautiful birds and would love to have one as a pet to commit my time to.
I will mention in a list-styled fashion what my concerns are:
-I am 17, very young and my life is just beginning. I don’t travel much but will likely travel every so often. Not to mention I may be starting university soon.
-I have 4 cats, obviously cats and birds don’t mix. My plan would mainly be to just make sure they are seperated at all times in the house but I am still concerned, should I be?
-Gerbils natural predators are birds, as far as I know, Sun Conures do not eat rodents, however they would still terrify my gerbils. Gerbils only live until around 4 years old so maybe once they are gone I will get my bird.
Besides what I listed, I cannot think of any reasons as to why I would not be ready. I will always commit my free time to looking after it and spending time with it, I will be sure it’s healthy, regular check ups, and so forth. Would like to hear some feed back. Am I ready?
Hello,
It sounds like you have a very full and busy life with your pets already and that you are about to embark on a new adventure at school. birds need a great deal of time and attention and can be very fragile in stressful environments. I think it would be best to focus on your current pets and starting another chapter of your life and leave the bird quest for a time when you are settled and comfortable with a home and can devote the hours and space needed to care for them adequately.
How long should you wait to play with a boxer puppy (almost 8mos old) after they eat? I’ve read about bloat and am trying to nail down our morning routine.
When our Dobe was a pup, we kept her quiet for an hour before and an hour after all meals. I would stick to that…and maybe, instead of playing, use puppy’s meal as a training opportunity, since mental work trumps physical work for wearing out a dog of any age. Use the meal as training treats instead of actual treats. 🙂
Thanks!
My cat just recently lost her kittens when they ran away on the Fourth of July. Now she’s hardly eating and she’s shedding massive amounts of fur. She’s not taking good care of herself and seems lost all the time. Is there anything I can do?
I would get her to the vet, to be quite honest.
I agree with laura. Also please try to provide her a quiet, warm, stress free place to rest and lots of food options. Please also have her spayed.
I am getting an 8mo old boxer. Currently, she is eating from an elevated food bowl. I’m planning to have her eat from a bowl on the ground when I get her as I’ve heard elevated food bowls can increase the risk of bloat. I’ve seen conflicting opinions and research…which is better?
I have never heard of an elevated bowl causing bloat. I have however recommended lots of dogs use an elevated bowl if I am concerned about megaesophogus.
Hello, I am writing because I’m really desperate at this point. My dog hasn’t been feeling good for a few days now (nearing a week now) she had been steadily losing her appetite and vomiting/trying to vomit. I was really concerned and took her to the vet 3 days ago. He told me that physically she looked fine and asked me if I’d be ok with a full blood work (because it would cost) I told him that that was the least of my concerns and that he was free to take blood and check her for everything he was afraid she might suffer from. After the vet drew blood I noticed my dog started limping so I called him.again and he came straight back to check on her again he checked her leg and it was completely fine her nerves were responding, he muscles were also ok and when he checked the movements of her leg everything was fine too but she was still limping so he started checking her spinal cord and when he reached a certain point my dog jumped and turned around to try and bite him that was how intense her pain was.
Her blood work came back completely fine and he told me that her organs seemed to be in perfect condition too. So he started administering 2 injections one antibiotic and one for pain relief. My dog was back to normal again and the limping has gone away completely but she steadily goes back to feeling weak and depressed until she takes the shots again. She stopped vomiting but today she started again. My vet instructed me to withhold food and just offer a small amount of water and I should check if she still vomits today. Unfortunately, where I live I don’t have the option of taking her to second vet for a second opinion on the matter so I decided to post here for help or at the very least ask someone here if these symptoms remind them.of something specific. The vomit was phlegm like white sometimes she throws up the water she just had after that she started vomiting anything I tried feeding her followed by a yellow substance today I found a dried brown like substance that scared me because I thought she might have thrown up blood?! But after I found that she vomited again and it was mostly water again so I figured if it was blood she would have thrown up blood again? She hasn’t gone to the bathroom for a few days (which is ok I guess since she hasn’t been eating much) but when she did go two days ago her feces we’re very soft and a few days before all these I noticed there was also mucus in some of her feces. She’s a pitbull mix and she is family to me I love her so much and I hated seeing her suffer and me being unable to do anything about it… The vet has recommended some pills as well because he suspects an intestinal or stomach parasite but my dog is way too clever as I’ve tried everything hiding in into food which she refused to take, tried putting it into sausages which she found again and proceeded to take the sausage out on the floor and eating it from the floor little by little around the pill, I’ve tried peanut butter which she outright refused and I even tried opening her mouth and putting the pills inside which she coughed out again and now when I try to open her mouth she keeps it tightly shut. Please help me if you can does anything ring a bell? Do these symptoms remind you of a case you might have encountered? Will my dog be ok?
I’m so sorry about your dog. I would call the vet again- first thing this morning. I would go through every single detail with him/her. Get another appointment- for today if possible. Try to brainstorm together in case you may have missed anything along the way. Is there a chance your dog got out and may have sustained an injury that you are unaware of? When exactly did the symptoms start? What was happening up to the point the symptoms started as best you can remember? Everything you can think of. If there is more than one vet at your office, see if they can brainstorm together about possible ideas. I hope everything works out ok.
That’s what my vet has suggested but everything seemed ok and normal the first day she refused to eat I thought it was due to the heat wave that we experienced here a few days ago she was drinking lots of water which I also attributed to the heat. The next day I tried feeding her later at night when the temperature was much lower she still refused to eat but she still drank water perfectly fine. So I figured if she continues with not eating the next day I’d take her to the vet which she did and I also found white dried throw up resembling dried foam and noticed she would try to vomit to no avail I was immediately scared it might be bloating and rushed her to the vet.
He gave her a physical there and found everything to be normal and asked me about the blood work and whether I’d be ok if he checked everything from a general blood work to see how her liver works even her brain as I said before I urged him to look for and check anything he was suspecting just make sure. After the blood drawn she started limping which buffled me and asked him to come see her he rushed back checked her leg her nerves were responding, her muscles were fine and all the movements of the leg were ok she only jumped when he check a certain place of her spinal cord. He left again and then my dog went from limping to a complete and utter disinterest about her surroundings and even when we tried getting her excited she would not stand she’d just lay there wagging her tail and not being able to put weight on her hind legs to stand up. I called the vet immediately and he came back again and saw the state she was in and immediately administered an antibiotic and a pain relief shot almost instantly she stood up (the limping is completely gone now too) and my vet told me to check on her regularly through the night and provide her with plenty of water and try feeding her 100 grams every 3-4 hours. She started eating and ate almost 300 grams and stopped throwing up. Then the blood work results came back everything was clear and her organs seems fine too. My vet also suspected pyometra but ruled it out because there was no increase in white blood cells present also no vaginal discharge and my dog is peeing fine and the color is normal meaning yellow. So he continued with the two shots the next day as well and then she threw up again! So yesterday in addition to those two injections he gave her a shot filled with vitamins to boost her immune system and also help her get those vitamins since she’s not eating right now. He instructed me to withhold food and just offer 250ml of water every 3-4 hours and monitor her to see if she throws up again. Which she hasn’t so far.
Because he also suspects an intestinal or stomach parasite he gave me a strong dewormer to give her but as mentioned before I’ve tried everything! But she’s just too clever and always finds the pill and knows when we’re trying to give her the pills. So the vet told me she HAS to take them so he’ll be giving her the dewormer via an injection as well. He is the only vet in town (I don’t live in a big city) and what’s worse he told me he HAS to attend a seminar and won’t be back in town till Monday but an assistant will be giving Zira (my dog) her shots.
As far as injuries are concerned I only found a splinter at the back of her leg like a week ago I think when I saw her limping I removed the splinter washed the little wound there then put betadine ( disinfectant) on it and then Fucicort Lipid (antibacterial cream). I did that for three days and she was fine and the wound is completely gone now too.
Now it’s become even worse she threw up blood and blood clots my vet suspects an ulcer due to the injections she’s been getting and has immediately stopped both the pain reliever and the antibiotic. He’ll only administer the vitamins today and an IV to keep her hydrated. I’m feeling lost and helpless because I can’t do anything for my dog and the vet hasn’t even given me anything definite yet… As I said before I don’t have the option of a second opinion as he’s the only vet in town but I feel really bad for her I wish the vet would find out already what it is even if it’s extremely bad I just want to know… so that I can prepare her and me as well I don’t know what I’ll do without her and I will miss her so bad if something happens to her but I also hate seeing her suffer. As a pet parent you always know there’ll come a time when you’ll have to say goodbye but I think we all imagine that time will come when our baby is old and she/he will go peacefully in their sleep or their bodies will naturally shut down because of old age but not like this… This is what’s killing me the most knowing this could be it for her and I spend her last few moments scrabbling around trying to cure maybe something incurable instead of being by her side…
Just an update because I know how worrying it can be when someone post something worrisome about their dog and never give an update on what happened. Also this might also be used for someone one day to understand the symptoms quick and help their dog. I haven’t replied as I’ve been really busy trying to take care of my dog. We ended up redoing her blood work and taking an X-ray fearing a foreign body that might have obstructed her stomach or intestines and found out she had pyometra she was immediately admitted for surgery and was essentially sprayed, the vet informed us that there was another option if we wanted her to have puppies but I didn’t wanna risk anything and just agreed to her being operated on. She’s now home with us and recovering. Thank you for your reply though!
Our cat loves to walk on the side of the tub while I give my daughter a bath. She has fallen in several times yet continues to enjoy her time hanging out on the side of the tub! If she didn’t seem to take on any water and is acting normal; meaning normal breathing, normal behavior, etc. I wouldn’t worry too much. If she isn’t acting normal then perhaps have your vet check her out to be on the safe side Best of luck!
The truth is this happens a lot and could just be anxiety acting up. The cat could have been so used to not falling in that when she did she got in she was startled. The best way to determine this is if the type of cat is known to have anxiety issues. If she still shakes after a few days then maybe you would want to go to the vet. Hope it’s better soon!