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Matt | 1 year ago
We Just Added Another Dog To Our Household (we Previously Had One Dog Who Is Now …

We just added another dog to our household (we previously had one dog who is now three and is well adjusted and behaved). The new dog is a rescue who is 2 years old and was neutered a few weeks ago. On the whole, he is a very sweet dog, but there is some resource aggression and some damage being done to her house in terms of chewing that we want to nip in the bud.
We also realized that, as much as we love our first dog the way he is, he could probably use a bit of training and structure now that there are two dogs in the house. Is there a trainer or training approach you would recommend?

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Thanks for reaching out.

    I think a few things might help and they include lots of exercise for both dogs. A tired dog has less energy to put into the household stressors and it can help avoid possession issues as outside is neutral territory. It also might help them realize they can play together and develop a stronger relationship.

    Next feed separated. And monitored. Food is always a resource that dogs worry about so try to minimize this.

    If they are resource guarding toys then I would say to relive them until the dogs are more relaxed and comfortable around each other.

    Trainers are available through places like the shelter and humane society and polite pooches. I would avoid any and all trainers who use any kind of negative reinforcement training. No shock collars or drop off care. I always feel the most important part of a pet parent’s responsibility is to hike trust. Having someone else do it or using painful punishment isn’t the way to build trust.

    Lastly don’t hesitate to ask about anxiety meds as you embark on all of this. It is a tool that can help the transition and crate adjustment.

    I am off this week but I am happy to help anytime.

    Also if you wouldn’t mind would you please go to pawbly.Com and register as a user and post this there as a question. It’s a great one that I know many others have.

    Take care.

  2. Laura

    Crate the newcomer when you cannot 100% supervise. When you can supervise his behavior, treat the dog like a puppy and tether train for a while – this means leashing him to an adult. Additionally, as Dr. M said, feed separately – I would STRONGLY suggest feeding dogs in crates. I would also meal feed, if you aren’t already doing this.

    Look into the 2 week shutdown. This was beneficial in our situation, and something shelters recommend to help the new dog adjust. This means not letting the dogs interact much, at least until those 2 weeks are up, then all interactions should be fully supervised.

    My Doberman was a bit resource guardy around my MIL’s senior mutt, so they were only allowed toys when fully supervised, and my dog was NOT permitted to go anywhere near hers when there were toys about. No high value treats/chews should be available freely, either. Those should only be given in their crates.

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Deborah | 1 year ago
Hello, Our Cat Bruce Is Over Grooming His Leg Until It Bleeds. I’ve Tried Cortisone …

Hello,
Our cat Bruce is over grooming his leg until it bleeds. I’ve tried cortisone shot, Valium, (both which I didn’t want to do but was desperate)
I have tried no chicken in his diet, and various hotspot sprays. He is extremely active and healthy in every other way. Loves to go outside and play with all the neighborhood cats. He showed up as a stray on our doorstep. His skin was fine. He got his tests and shots and was neutered in November. Skin issues started in January. He is little over a year old. I have him on a homeopathic drop for skin allergies and itching. Hopefully it will help. Any ideas??

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello my friend!
    As with all skin cases the following is super important.
    1. Get a good history of the patient and their clinical signs.
    2. Do a thorough examination
    3. Treat for parasites.
    4. Start your diagnostics based on most likely rule outs.
    5. Offer treatment plans that work for the patient the pet parent and your list of most likely diagnosis.

    Here’s where I think your cat needs more help; it doesn’t sound like a list of most “likely conditions” work up and diagnose has been formulated to start a treatment plan that is best directed at the source of the itching.

    For your cat I would ask your vet (or come see me and I am happy to help). I would use revolution monthly and place an ecollar while starting gabapentin. I might also suggest a shampoo if you think he will let you bathe him.
    After that I would talk about the next tests that might need to be done to start to treat and rule out possible causes to the itch.

    The most common thing that causes itching in pets is fleas. In some cases one flea with one bite can cause a pet to become extremely itchy . And the more they scratch the more it itches until the skin is so inflamed secondary infections happen. Which just perpetuates more itching.

    So for me I start with a plan. And go through the list of control. And treatment until we get it figured out.

    The old days of “give a steroid and hope it works” are over. We can do better.

    Keep me posted.

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abdullah | 1 year ago
Hello Help Needed! My Cat Disappeared For 4 Days, And When He Came Back, He Was Limping …

Hello
Help needed!

My cat disappeared for 4 days, and when he came back, he was limping
I took him to nearby pet clinic, they gave him some pain killer and told me to get his X-rays done since they didn’t have that facility
After getting his X-rays done, the doctor determined that he had broken his leg into 3 pieces and says there’s not much he can do about my cat
Gave me medicine and some spray to apply on his leg, and that’s about it
Also says, he doesn’t see surgery giving any results

The services here are not that great, what should I do?
I have seen some videos where cats heal after giving them 5-6 weeks of cage rest
He’s basically the same as he was before, plays, eats food, sleeps, but with a broken leg of-course
will giving him cage rest work out for him as well? I have attacehed the x-rays photo below

Please help me out, I don’t know what to do…

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    If you cannot afford to see a surgeon for assistance on how to fix the fracture then I believe that the next best option is to try cage rest for 8 weeks (and yes it is a long 8 weeks) is the best way to helm them.
    They must stay in the cage and rest. I know it can be hard to do but it has worked miracles in many of my patients.

    Good luck.

    Keep us posted.

    1. abdullah Post author

      Thanks alot for your reply!

      one more question

      is it fine if he’s confined in 1 room? instead of a cage
      my room is not that big, just a normal sized room
      he basically sleeps on my bed, jumps down to eat food, walks a bit, shouts at me to open door so he can go outside, which I have not done yet, and then goes back to sleep

      will 1 room work or is cage absoulute necessary?

      1. Laura

        The idea is to stop them from jumping.

        On/off your bed is not going to help healing. Cage is best, here.

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Mandy | 1 year ago
I Have A 7 Yr Old (8 In October )unneutred Belgian Malinois Who Is Showing Signs Of Stiffness …

I have a 7 yr old (8 in October )unneutred Belgian Malinois who is showing signs of stiffness in his hips. Can you give me some ideas of joint supplements that I can get with out a prescription? Thanks!

1 Response

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  1. Laura

    Glucosamine.

    Though I’d get him in for xrays of his hips, just in case something else is going on.

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Nora | 2 years ago
My 3 Day Old Kitten’s Hind Paws Are All Black, And The Part Above It Looks …

My 3 day old kitten’s hind paws are all black, and the part above it looks red with small bleeding wounds. To me it looks like gangrene. I have no idea how it happened, the kitten was with me since birth. I will take him to the vet as soon as possible, but in the meantime…
What can I expect? Does gangrene mean euthanasia for this poor baby? I’m not sure they can operate on kittens this small…
He has this on both hind legs, sadly.

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your kitten.
    There isn’t enough information here for me to offer much advice. But if you think something this severe is going on you absolutely need a vets help.
    If this was truly gangrene your kitten would not be able to walk and I suspect they would be liking the legs like crazy.
    Your vet needs to examine this kitten to see if this is a skin infection, skin discoloration or deeper problem. Kittens are also incredibly resilient but there is a much better prognosis for your kitten if it is treated as quickly as possible. Too often people wait until a small problem becomes a huge problem. So please go see the vet as soon as possible.
    Very best of luck.
    Dr magnifico

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Brennan | 2 years ago
Help! We Rescued A 4 Week Old Kitten And Immediately Noticed His Butt Area Was Different Than …

Help!
We rescued a 4 week old kitten and immediately noticed his butt area was different than we’ve ever seen but it did not seem to cause him any pain. Initially he was doing well until he began having diarrhea and mucus/blood in his stool. We brought him to the vet and turns out he had a parasite called Coccidia. It was treated with a 10 day oral medication and we believed everything would be fine afterwards.
After the diarrhea subsided he began to be constipated to the point we had to bring him back to vet twice within a week for him to be sedated and his bowels to be manually released. They have no idea what would cause this.
We went to a specialized vet clinic and they said they could dilate the anus/rectum to help him pass his stool (may not help or may have to constantly have redone) or do a exploratory surgery to see if any tissue or something is in the intestines and such that stops him from passing by himself.
Our personal vet clinic says his anus is abnormal which may mean that he lacks the muscles to be able to push out his own stool.

We have researched online and found a couple pictures of kittens after they have had a prolapsed rectum and they look similar and symptoms seem about the same. He just does not have anything coming out of him.

Does anyone have any advice or personal experience that can help us? The specialized vet says if we can’t figure out what is causing this it would be best to euthanize him so he does not suffer. We do not want to do that. He is the sweetest and most playful kitten.

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think that this requires a vet who can do a very thorough exam and maybe even try different diets to see if you can manage the colon to a point where this kitten can survive. I have seen a case like this in the past where a kitten had bilateral rectal hernias. This is essentially the colon or intestines slipping between the muscles of the anus. It was one of many issues this kitten had and ultimately we had to euthanize.

    I appreciate and applaud your trying to help. Please keep us posted.

    Very best of luck.

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Kirby | 2 years ago
My Brother-in-Law’s Cat, Bandit, Was Missing For 8 Weeks. When He Was Returned, He Was Walking …

My Brother-in-Law’s cat, Bandit, was missing for 8 weeks. When he was returned, he was walking with a periodic stumble. Our Vet took X-rays and determined he had a broken hip, which would cost $3k to $7k to have a surgeon evaluate and repair. Bandit does not seem to be in pain, and is able to walk, run, and jump without much difficulty. Once in awhile he stumbles. Would cage rest be enough for it to heal. We do not want to put him through the pain and risks of an operation if he doesn’t need it. Cost is also a factor, but we want to do what’s best for Bandit. X-rays are attached.
.

1 Response

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  1. Laura

    Badly healed breaks can cause lifelong mobility issues. He might be fine now, but what about in a year? 5 years?

    Cats are pretty stoic. I’ll bet he’s in pain and just not showing you.

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Alison | 2 years ago
I Just Learned From Dr Magnifico That Little White Dogs Love Their Bladder Stones. I Have …

I just learned from Dr Magnifico that little white dogs love their bladder stones.

I have a little white dog. She does not have bladder stones as far as I can tell and I’d like to keep it that way. She’s a maltese, about five or six years old, a puppy mill rescue I adopted about seven months ago. I also have a 13-year-old dorkie and a vet I’ve been seeing for almost 25 years.

I’m lazy and don’t count on myself to brush my dogs’ teeth so I’ve always fed my dogs Hills Science Diet t/d (large size kibble). They also get rawhide chews sold by my vet. The maltese’s stool is very dry compared to the dorkie’s.

Is there anything I should be doing to reduce the risk of bladder stones? Half wet food half kibble, maybe? Flavour their water?

Thank you!
Alison

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!
    The best ways that I know to avoid bladder stones is a good diet. Leaving fresh clean water available at all times and checking a urine every 6-12 months. Also on some little dogs I can palpitate rhe bladder for clues about its contents. If you want to be super pro active an X-ray or ultrasound is the best diagnostic tool for looking inside the bladder.

    Good luck! Thanks for the question

    1. Alison Post author

      Thank you! I will follow up with regular palpation and urine testing.

      Could my dogs’ diet be better in the context of bladder stones?

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Jam | 2 years ago
Hello! I Would Like To Ask If Home Made Wet Food Is Good For Cats Who …

hello! i would like to ask if home made wet food is good for cats who had FLUTD? skinless chicken breast, chicken liver, carrots, and pumpkin mixed and blended all together. the vet suggested urinary s/o but i cannot afford it for now

also, is it normal for him to drool after him co-amoxiclav antibiotics?

my cat Gabe just got out of vet today, the vet just removed his catheter and IV fluids even though his vet suggested for him to stay for another day or two but i cannot afford it anymore so i took him home and bought some oral medicine. he can pee on his own now

1 Response

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  1. Laura

    Look into raw feeding. Ask your vet about it.

    I assume the abx are administered orally? My one cat would drool if a tablet tasted awful. Are you giving it in a pill pocket or some other delivery device?

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Jam | 2 years ago
I’m From The Philippines, My Cat Named Gabe Wasn’t Eating And Drinking Water For 1 …

I’m from the Philippines, My cat named Gabe wasn’t eating and drinking water for 1 day already and i saw him struggling to pee or poop, but a day before that he was fine and pee and poop so much.
So I took him to the vet and said he needs to have catheter because his bladder was full and blocked, so they did insert a catheter and IV fluid on him and saw some blood coming out too. They said he’s a bit dehydrated as well since he didn’t eat and drink for a day. Unfortunately I can’t afford to admit him to the vet for another day because the admission per day is way too expensive, I only admitted him just for today and I will take him home tomorrow because i have no other choice.

is it okay for me to take him home after cathetherized for 1 day? his vet suggested at least 3 days for him to stay but i cannot afford it, only 1 day but they removed the blockage already.. what can i do after taking him home after catheter? can i take him home with iv fluids just in case he wont eat?

3 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your cat. I don’t know what to say about this as I don’t know the full extent of his issue. If the vet thinks he needs the urinary catheter in place for multiple days is it possible for him to go home with it in? Or be transferred somewhere that is more affordable? I would ask these questions. Also can he be given medication to help with anything? Perhaps a steroid or anti inflammatory?
    See if there are any options for you?

    Best of luck

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Also ask about long term diet options. I recommend a high quality canned food with water added. And stop or reduce feeding dry food.

    1. Jam Post author

      thank you so much! ???????? another question, is boiled chicken breast, liver, squash and carrots be alternative? its blended as wet food. is it safe for him to eat it every day?