Ask questions and share about your pet's health to help others.
I have a diabetic cat who I give insulin every 12 hours. I can’t be home for his next dose.
Is it better to give it to him early 4 hours, or late 4 hours
5 yr old basset just went in heat. Would like to breed her, she is in very good health but has never had a litter. What is best timing for that, how long is gestation, is there special care for when pregnant and what size litter to expect?
do not give human medication without direction from your dog’s veterinarian.
for how long has she been limping? have you tried crate rest to see if this is something that will heal itself? in your shoes, i’d put her on crate rest (no running around the house, no jumping on and off beds – in the crate, out to toilet in the yard ON LEASH, then back in the crate with toys/chews to keep her busy) for at least a day or two, minimum.
Hello Bob.
Though not an emergency, all patients demonstrating lameness should be evaluated by a veterinarian experienced in orthopedic examinations and lameness evaluation. Causes can be wide ranging; from a foot pad injury to spinal issues and treatment will always depend on the results of a confident diagnosis.
And Laura is absolutely correct! Never give a human medication to your pet unless under the expressed medical advice of your veterinarian… Dr. Google may seem like an easy path to take, but that road can lead to a plethora of problems.
Cheers,
Dr K
My cat’s left side of her left pupil is slightly dilated. I am a peace corps volunteer in morocco where I don’t have easy access to a vet. She’s been this way for about a month and a half now but there have been no behavioral or diet changes. Any advice on what I should do?
Should I worry of water intoxication? Lately he has not been active for obvious reasons. 16ounces=1waterbottle
No that is no too much water if anything it’s not enough. It sounds like he needs to go to the vet for treatment.
This would be 16 ounces in one sitting that he drank all at once. I just want to make sure I didn’t give him too much at one time.
No, if he had drank too much he would have vomited
This last time he was making sounds like he wanted to but he didn’t. I will be going to a vet in the morning. I just worry about my little guy.
My dog has been breathing hard and her whole body is hot what’s wrong with her
Hi, we cannot diagnose what is wrong with your dog….but we can tell you she is showing symptoms of pain and distress.
Please take her to a Vet, she needs medical attention quickly. I hope shes ok.
My puppy has one red dry ear what should I do
Where is the callus located? If on the feet, I’d make sure it isn’t a corn (I don’t know if Rotties get corns), and I would invest in Musher’s Secret or bag balm.
If anywhere else, consult a vet first.
Thank you so much. Will surely try to find one.
He has it on his elbow and near his rectum. Thank you 🙂
near his rectum? that’s…strange. that would warrant a vet visit in my house.
if it’s on his elbow, does he have soft things for a bed? when i see elbow callus, it tells me the dog is lying on hard surfaces like dirt, concrete, and tile.
Since he is a guard dog, he stays out on his cage reason how he got those calluses i guess.
that’s…not a good life for a dog.
How awful for the dog. What kind of life is that? There is a huge difference between dogs that have been trained to guard and dogs that are being abused by people that say, “this dog is here because it is guarding my home”. If a dog has not been trained to guard then being kept outside on surfaces that cause sores and calluses that is just abuse. Plain and simple. You need to either start respecting this dog’s needs, or you need to give him up to an organization or person that can give him the life he deserves – in a loving home with interaction, training and surfaces appropriate to his comfort.
I urge you to do the right thing and correct this situation. This dog is not a guard dog if he hasn’t been trained to do this job, cause if the time, energy and money was spent to train him, he wouldn’t be “out on his cage”. A barking dog is NOT a guard dog. Get a lock and an automatic light and you will be just as safe and a lot more humane.
Hello, my name is Zachary and I am looking for help on an adult cat rectal prolase, anything you can help me with would be greatly appreciated.A few months ago my cat got very sick. He couldn’t drink water or eat. He urinated on himself where he laid. I believe he had perhaps got into a neighbor houses rat poison or maybe antifreeze. After a few days of him being near death, it seemed as though he had came back to himself. He still wouldn’t eat hard food but he drank liquids so I gave him kitten formula because that’s what was available at my local stores. He gained his weight back but there was one persistent problem. He used the litter box constantly. Mostly urinating and he would go back to back several times. And now the rectal prolapse. I understand the treatment for the prolapse but how do I solve the cause of the problem? Is there a certain price the treatment will cost that I should expect? And is there any financial assistance that I can look in to? I know you are in a different state “Im in KY” but maybe something national? Thank you for reading all of this, I really need to know what to expect before I move forward with the issue. Also I found out about you through your youtube channel, keep up the excellent work, Krista.
Hi Eric, you should have made sure your Basset was up to date with innoculations; wormed and flea treated before she came in heat. Hopefully she is ok with all those. May I just add she is getting on a bit for a 1st litter so if you are going to mate her don’t leave it any longer.
Find a stud dog who has had all the relevant health checks for the breed. Bassets are prone to IVDD so bare that in mind too (research it ok). Be prepared to pay a hefty sum for the stud dog fee. Your bitch should have had these health tests too.
Bitches are usually receptive to a male between the 11th and 14th day of her heat. Its always best to mate twice, say 11th and again on the 14th day. She will carry the pups for 9 weeks. Its the luck of the draw as to how many puppies she will have.
However, to care for the bitch and a litter is hard work and expensive. The puppies will need worming from 2 weeks old, and every 2 weeks after that….wormer from Vet not pet shop. Worms lay dormant in the bitch and pregnancy hormones kick them into life, passing through both the placentas and the bitches milk. Your bitch will also need worming from being mated right through…Vet can tell you which wormer is safe.
The puppies need clean bedding several times a day; they need to be kept at an even temperature of 24 degs C. Be prepared for Vet bills along the way….the bitch delivering the pups; a sick puppy or two ect.
The puppies will need to be registered with the relevant Kennel Club and Pedigrees written. They should all be microchipped, up to date on wormer; puppy packs ect. You will also have the job of finding them the correct homes….Contracts should be prepared to say that you will have the dog back at anytime during its life should there be any problems.
At the end of all this you will probably be out of pocket….and owing Vet bills. You may also be left with a puppy or 2 you can’t find homes for. Be prepared for all these things.
Having said all that….your bitch may sail through the whole thing and you have wonderful life long owners waiting for the puppies!
Good luck….and please do think very carefully before you go ahead with the mating. Have extra money to spare for Vet bills and be prepared for any scenario.
Great thanks, our girl is caught up on shots, etc., and due for a regular visit this week. She is shy of 5 years, has always had very good check ups, etc. Will speak with our vet as well, and wouldn’t be considering this without several good potential puppy lovers lined up and getting the best advice we can. Much appreciated…
Totally agree Krista….so many things can go wrong….you need to know exactly what you are doing and be ready for anything. X
my opinion: with such an unhealthy breed, unless you have a specific goal in mind, best to avoid breeding her.
also, read through this: http://www.basset-bhca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104&Itemid=183
if you are unwilling to test for these things and submit those results to OFA, don’t breed. if you aren’t willing to do a LOT of pedigree research, don’t breed. if your bitch isn’t registered, don’t breed. if your bitch isn’t titled in at least something, don’t breed. if you’re breeding to make money, don’t breed.
find a breed mentor to help you do this the right way or don’t do it.
This dog is too old! It is a basset! Large heads, long spines to get stuck in the birth canal. SOOOO many things can go wrong! You have no idea how expensive this could get so quickly! You could kill your dog! At the very least you would be looking at a stud fee, sonograms before the puppies are born so you know how many to watch for – and to rush her to emergency for a Cesarean if the puppies don’t deliver normally. Then you have a series of well puppy/mom visits to the vet running up bills for that.
Then there are expensive vitamins to keep the puppies from going blind if there are too many for the mom, round the clock feedings to keep the puppies alive if the mother refuses them or dies when they are born.
You need a heated whelping box, need to know how to spot an emergency, how to provide CPR to any puppy that isn’t breathing when delivered.
We can tell by the questions you have asked that you are not prepared to do something like this. Just STOP. And get this dog spayed so she has a longer, healthier life.