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Pawbly | 7 years ago
Hi Looking For Some Advice. I Have Contacted Almost Every Source Of Google…

Hi looking for some advice. I have contacted almost every source of Google and rescues possible. I am a single mom with an 8 year old son. Recently we had to put our cat down. He was older than my son. On top of that, my son has not heard from his father in 2 years. He is having a hard time and really wants a kitten. I don’t know if they have any programs to help with long term care for people with disabilities. . therapy animals maybe? I have also spoken to some shelters offering to volunteer in turn for help with the new kitten. So we are both helping each other. It seems that the shelters are over crowded with animals looking for loving homes and I can definitely give that!! I am not sure about my financial future as a new single mom and want to be safe.. not making mistakes in the long run. Can anyone point me in the right direction?? Thanks!!

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  1. Sarah

    Hi!
    As you’ve already had experience with a cat and know the cost and care that ar associated with it, perhaps adopting an adult cat instead of a kitten would be better? At local shelters you can usually see the cats and play/interact with them. That way you can also get a sense of the personality… plus it’s already litter trained, had its shots and is probably spayed/neutered too.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I agree with Sarah!! The cost of adopting an adult is a fraction of a kitten. And if you adopt from a rescue they have usually provided all the medical care needed for a while (about a year, because all cats should receive yearly examinations). But please ask about the appropriate diet and exercise plan to save on emergencies like urinary tract infections and urinary blockages.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
I Have A Very Heavy Heart Right Now, BlackJack Is Acting Up Again, Well I…

I have a very heavy heart right now, BlackJack is acting up again, well I don’t think he ever stopped, he has been growling and snapping at my husband and he did it to my daughter as she walked by him one night in was in our bedroom on the floor sleeping, he is no longer allowed to sleep in the bedroom, last night he snapped at my husband Jack was downstairs my husband went to the kitchen jack got on the steps and wouldn’t move for my husband to come back up stairs when he grabs his collar he snapped at him. I called the gentlemen you guys told me about back in May, but his cost is 2,300.00 to try and fix him I just don’t have that kinda of money. Is there any type of medications I can give him? I really don’t want to put him down it is killing me to think about it but him growling at my daughter was a little to much. I keep him away from guest when them come become I never know how he will react. Please if there is anything I can give him I will try.

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  1. Anonymous

    Did you get him checked with your vet to make sure this isn’t a medical issue?

    Medications may or may not “work” to calm your dog, and they should not be used as a replacement for training. You NEED a behaviorist to work with you and your dog. If this isn’t feasible, please consider finding him a new home. He hasn’t yet bitten anyone, correct? If this is true, then he may very well be trained away from this behavior, but it needs to be in a home truly invested in his training and overall well-being.

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Vivienne Barnes | 7 years ago
We Are Moving House And I Am Concerned For My Little Cocker Spaniel, 8yrs Old…

We are moving house and I am concerned for my little Cocker Spaniel, 8yrs old. How can I best settle her?

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  1. Sarah

    In my experience, keeping as close to your normal routine as best possible is huge. Also, if your dog has a blanket or toy/pillow that they love it is good to keep that around. Make sure she has her own space with her own things, but also that she knows she has you. It will take time but she will learn that this is your new home. Best of luck!

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
I Am A University Student That Lives With Family. I Do Live In A Flat…

I am a university student that lives with family. I do live in a flat in their yard, but they have a fairly big yard so size isn’t a problem. I am however away from the house from 06:15 the morning till sometimes past 18:00. I am an animal lover and been very lonely since leaving my house to study, because I grew up with a lot of dogs. Is there any pet, preferably dog big or small, that can adapt to these conditions and that does not mind a good amount of loving as I am very attached to my pets.

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  1. Sarah

    I think that any dog that is with a loving human will adapt to its living situation. The only thing is that it seems like it will be alone for long periods of the day., and it isn’t your house. Have you spoken to the family that you are living with about this and gotten their approval? Perhaps you can find a way to spend more time with it, or bring it with you or maybe the family that you are with can provide companionship when you are not around? Another nice option if you don’t currently have the means or enough time to devote to a pet full time, would be to volunteer at a local shelter. My friends an I did this in college aswe were not allowed to have pets, and I have to say it was quite fulfilling and we helped an awful lot of animals.

  2. Anonymous

    I would not keep a dog in that particular situation unless your family agrees to take care of him when you aren’t there. Maybe a cat is a better option? Or simply waiting until you aren’t in school with a crazy schedule, instead. Think of the animal’s needs, not your desires.

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MaryPat Feiss | 7 years ago
My Shepherd 3 Yr Old Shepherd Tends To Get A Little Anxious. When We Used…

My Shepherd 3 yr old Shepherd tends to get a little anxious. When we used a professional trainer, he explained we should keep a bone or something for her to latch onto. She has latched onto a couple of the plastic Nylabones and chomps down pretty hard. I have noticed the plastic now has some sharp pieces and is cutting the side of her mouth. I am looking for a bone that she can use as her “go to” when she feels she needs to. We also have a 12 wk old Husky, who I would like for her to have one to chew also but want something that won’t hurt them. Any suggestions???

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  1. Laura

    So, I’m reading this as she’s biting down once and causing serious damage to the bone. To be quite honest, if she’s causing that kind of damage with just one chomp, I don’t know that there’s anything truly safe to give her. If she’s gnawing on it and causing this sort of damage over time, there are MUCH better options to give her.

    I would not buy Nylabones, as they are not edible and the plastic should not be ingested. I would, instead, look for more natural options. Antlers, marrow bones are both decent options, just be vigilant in checking teeth for cracks or splinters. I would also look into softer (but hard to break) options, like West Paw Zogoflex toys.

    Have you talked with the trainer about things you can do to curb the anxiety? Because you have a herding breed, your dog needs daily mental work…this means more than just basic obedience. I would seriously consider looking into a sport of some sort. Sports and higher level obedience will actually calm your dog and help build confidence.

    Editing to add…I’m told Goughnuts are a good option for power chewers. http://shop.goughnuts.com/product.sc;jsessionid=F9EC4BDBFB4633B0976DB7A914B6E1C6.m1plqscsfapp04?productId=10&categoryId=1

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
My 4 Month Old Puppy Got A Little Skin When Taking A Treat Out Of…

My 4 month old puppy got a little skin when taking a treat out of a vet tech’s hand and she is now reporting him to the health department. Is this normal?

4 Responses

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  1. Sarah

    I think I would need to know a few more details before I could give a good answer to your question. For instance, how much is a little? Did you ask your vet this question and did they have an answer that you felt one way or another about? I’m guessing that given the circumstances perhaps they are just doing it because it is protocol? 4 months is young and considering that a treat was involved…. I’m not sure I personally would call the health department, but that is me…. again, I think I would need more info before I could truly give a definite answer.

  2. Anonymous

    That’s VERY strange. What did the owner of the practice say when you asked them about it?

  3. Zach Jamison

    We did talk to the owner and there is apparently a law in the county where we live that they have to report any incident. I find it quite ridiculous that they would have to report a puppy that bit someone’s finger while getting a treat to the department of health, but what do I know. We will not be going back there though, that’s for sure. What really got under my skin was the fact that after he “bit” the lady, we sat in the waiting room for several minutes waiting for medication, and the lady said nothing about reporting it. So when I got a call from the department of health the next day I was pretty furious.

  4. Anonymous

    Time to work heavily on bite inhibition at home, if even oops tags from puppies must be reported.

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Sarah | 7 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends… It Was A Snowy, No School Day Here. Try As I Might, I…

Hi pawbly friends…
It was a snowy, no school day here. Try as I might, I could not get the dogs to stay in while the kids were out playing in the snow, and all that running and horse play took a toll on our 12 year old GSD Butch. He just fell going down the stairs…. not the whole stair case, the stepto get onto the landing. My husband picked him up and rather than having him try to use the stairs tonight, we brought him round the outside way to use the hill instead. He seems fine on his walk just now, but slow going. My question is this: he’s got rimadyl that we give him sparingly for pain from his arthritis. Should I give him some tonight, or wait til morning when he will probably be really stiff, or give tonight and tomorrow? Thanks for anyand all advice!

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  1. Sarah Post author

    Just to update:
    Butch is stiff this morning, so I did give him his pill. I did not give it to him last night because when I went fir the dogs last tuck in, he was already comfortable. He had a tough time getting up the stairs this morning, and we had to help him… he needs a little help most mornings, but again after all his playing and running yesterday its no surprise he needed more help than usual this morning. If any of you have any other advice on how to help him recover from thinking he was 10 years younger yesterday, please share.

  2. Anonymous

    I didn’t see this last night but I wouldn’t give NSAIDs preemptively.

    I think I would try to work on leashing him if he’s going to go a little off his rocker on snow days. 😉 That or work on the kids not letting him out.

  3. Anonymous

    Oh, and for recovery, crate rest for the day.

  4. Julie Brader

    Hi Sarah, just wondered if you had considered Acupuncture for Butch? I know it helps a lot of dogs.
    You could also ask your Vet about Gabapentin as an alternative to Rimadyl. It gives good pain relief and has no side effects in canines.
    Do hope Butch is feeling better soon ?

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
I Have A Question,is There Any Way That A Cat Who Has Received Her Rabies…

I have a question,is there any way that a cat who has received her rabies shots,and is an indoor cat with hardly any contact ever with the outside world(at least no contact in the last month,other times was you know,just to the vet and all) Can have rabies?i’m a hypochondriac and my cat just bit me and I wanna make sure I’m Ok.
Thank you for taking the time.

4 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    I’m sorry. But your question is beyond the scope to which we can answer. If you are worried about your health you should ask your doctor. If you are worried about your cat and their possible exposure to rabies please contact your vet.

  2. Daniel aria

    I will ask my vet but she is not available for a few days,what is your personal opinion though?

  3. Sarah

    If you feel that your cats vaccination is not up to date, then I would contact my primary care physician.

  4. Krista Magnifico

    I don’t know enough about you, your cat, when the vaccine was done, what kind of vaccine was given, how prevalent it is there, or anything else to offer an opinion.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
My 6 Year Old Shar Pei/golden Retriever Mix Has A Mysterious Bump On Her Lower…

My 6 year old shar pei/golden retriever mix has a mysterious bump on her lower leg. It appeared out of nowhere on Jan 1. She doesn’t seem bothered by it, it just looks like a pink bump really. I took her to the vet who took one look (barely a look at all because it had all of the fur covering it) and said it was either a cyst that maybe was a little infected or a pappilloma. She said to put neosporin and aloe vera on and cover with a sock daily. I have done that for more then a week and the bump looks the same (I trimmed the hair to get a better look). Do you think I should be concerned or push for a further look or is something like this just that easy to diagnose as she seemed to think?

4 Responses

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  1. Julie Brader

    Hi Amy, If you are concerned then go back to your Vet…or see another one if you were not happy with the initial examination. I enlarged the photo and there seems to be a mark in the middle of the lump. I wonder if it could be a bite of some kind? If so she would probably need antibiotics. If she were my dog I would definately take her back to the Vet for a more in depth examination.

  2. Sarah

    I agree. I would call my vet and explain that there has been no improvement and you are concerned. Have them take a closer look.

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I agree with Julie and Sarah. If you are worried about it and it isn’t resolving express your concerns to your vet. It does look like a mass, per se, it looks more like an injury, but I would have expected it to be better by now if it was. It is so hard to diagnose via a photo. You are better off with your vet looking at it in person. Please let us know what happens.

  4. Amy Martin-Madeley

    Finally after I stopped put on the neosporin and the aloe vera and just let it alone for a few days it seemed to start getting smaller and smaller. Now it is just a tiny scab! Thanks everyone for your advice.

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Michele Bandy | 7 years ago
Our 8-9 Month Old Cat Is A Stray Adoption From The Humane Society, But He…

Our 8-9 month old cat is a stray adoption from the humane society, but he is a total pig! You would think he is starving all the time. We have another cat in the house, but if he’s not at his dish during feeding time Jimmy will eat his own food and the other cat’s food. I have tried feeding him several smaller meals throughout the day or a large one in the morning, but nothing seems to satisfy him. He is on his way to being too fat. Any suggestions for satisfying his appetite or giving me some peace with his constant begging?

4 Responses

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  1. Sarah

    We feed twice a day- that’s it. Dogs and cats in our house get their food at 4/4:30 am and then the cat gets a 2:30/3 pm meal and the dogs get a 7 pm meal. We train with treats -dogs and the cat-throughout the day as well. It took everyone about a week, maybe a little less to get in tune with the schedule, but now it’s very routine and works for our household. My point is, perhaps setting up a feeding schedule of some sort will be helpful. This way there isn’t food out unless it is time to eat. (Ignoring the cries for food for a few days can be challenging, so toys help redirect here.) Best of luck?

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    The vet inside of me always has to recommend that you do a full work up to make sure there is not an underlying medical reason for the polyphagia (excessive hunger). Also make sure there is no access to any medications or plants or toxins that might influence this (people in the house using steroid creams or plants). Then addres the diet choices you are offering him. Try switching to a high quality wet food and add water. Offer organic cat grass. Or catnip. Or toys. Or even start taking him for walks in a harness on a leash. My point is to offer lots of options to food. See if this helps. If not ask your vet for advice or visit a cat specialist for more tips and tricks.

  3. Starr Henry

    I often rescue strays and it seems the longer they’ve been on the street the more likely it is they do this. Most likely because they are used to not knowing when the next meal is coming from and when it’s coming. I have one cat that will beg for anything with pasta sauce on it. You just have to try to show them they will have food all the time it might be easier because he’s young but there’s really no telling how a cat will delve lip with time.

  4. Shiria

    I agree with Starr – if he was a stray for some time, he may has learned to eat as much and as fast as he can, as he never knows when or how much food comes again. We experience this sometimes with cats we take in in our shelter.
    It may take him a while to realise that from now on he doesn’t have to worry anymore. I would still have him checked, to make sure he’s healthy.
    For everything else I agree with what Krista said.