Question
Profile Image
Maham | 4 years ago
Hi, My Cat Is 4 Years Old And She’s Approximately 17 Pounds. I Want To Bring Her …

Hi,

My cat is 4 years old and she’s approximately 17 pounds. i want to bring her to around 10 pounds so she can live a healthy life. I want to change her diet from Dry food, what do you suggest? currently she eats Friskies 3 times a day (a hand full each time).

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    I like science diet, royal canin and wellness. As a general rule. I also think that based on age a visit to the vet and some blood work to check thyroid and kidney function.

    1. Maham Post author

      Hi i’ve checked out these brands and they’re on the pricier side. Do you recommend boiled chicken instead of their store bought food?

      1. Laura

        Maham, plain boiled chicken isn’t nutritionally complete. Cats have more strict requirements than other carnivores.

Question
Profile Image
Mike | 5 years ago
My Son’s Cat Tom, Is A Rescue We Have Had Approximately 12 Years, Putting His Age …

My Son’s cat Tom, is a rescue we have had approximately 12 years, putting his age about 13 to 13 1/2. Best cat I have ever had in my house! He thinks he is a member of the pack of 3 Jack Russells that run around here, and will not hesitate to stop one in it’s tracks to bathe them! For approximately the last 6 months he has developed a snoring noise, even when he is wide awake, and his local Vet says he has naso-pharyngeal polyps. Over the last month or so, he has had increasing difficulty swallowing his food. He has been on an Iams dry food for years and never had issues until no. We have switched to pulverizing the dry in a food processor and mixing it into some can foods he likes but he still eats very little at a time and always acts like he is starving. Having seen your videos of removing polyps from a cats throat area has led me to reaching out to you for help/advice. I certainly don’t want this cat to starve to death, and his discomfort is clear. Every local Vet I have contacted here in the Norfolk,Va. area has come back with estimates over $2000.00!!! I love this cat, but at 13 years old, I can’t do that and send my son to is first year of college. I am completely open to suggestions, and if need be, open to a 5 hour ride to see you.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    hello,
    I have to say that polyps (in my opinion) are less likely as cats age.
    Next, I do believe there are still vets out there willing and able to sedate/anesthetize a cat and look for a polyp. Please call all the vets you can and reach out to every shelter and rescue for advice on who they use. If, and when you find someone please (please!!!) add their names via the storylines section above so it can help someone down the road. If we dont start sharing info we will continue to lose options and affordable care.
    If all else fails I am happy to see your cat. call the clinic at 410-692-6171 and ask the receptionists to take your name and number. I cannot give advice over the phone, but I can arrange an appointment time for your cat to be seen so we can look for a polyp.
    There is someone closer to you, I am sure, its just finding them. I am appalled at how ridiculous vet med has become. No one will even look for these anymore? Why? Honestly I dont know?
    Please keep me posted and best of luck.
    krista

    1. Mike Post author

      After literally contacting over 40 Veterinary hospitals in our area, and in Northeast North Carolina and into central Virginia, still the lowest estimate is $2110.00 I have gone so far as contacting Virginia Tech School of Veterinary Medicine and N.C. State, and both require us to live within 35 miles of the school. I guess they are overwhelmed with people seeking help.

      His snorting, snoring, sounds are so bad he has cut back eating to maybe a bite or so per day. If I can make an appointment at your clinic, what type of bloodwork tests would I ask my local veterinarian to do and send the results to you ahead of time?

      He is a wonderful cat with a great personality and sadly to treat him here will end up being a death sentence, which is clearly not a treatment.

Question
Profile Image
Nicole | 5 years ago
I Have A 12 Year Old Female Cat. She Was Obese For Several Years. I Managed To …

I have a 12 year old female cat. She was obese for several years. I managed to get weight off of her a few months before these issues. There has been a lot of urination outside of the box. The urination has been going on a long time and initially I thought it was behavior because I adopted a rescue dog in October 2018 she hasn’t been thrilled about the dog. Right around the time my cat turned 12 she started with the urination… February or March.

In the last couple of weeks her thirst increased significantly. Also just laying on her side on the floor, not wanting to be in her bed or on the furniture. She’s losing weight /muscle mass and she is hoarse. She is still eating, I had to coax her a bit one day so I made chicken broth from drumsticks she’s been drinking a good amount of the broth and ate chicken and her canned food. She’s actually been gulping the food down.

I can’t tell if this is kidney related or diabetes. I have not noticed bad breath. I am in a real bind and need to figure out what else to do for her till I can get money for a vet.

1 Response

Comments

  1. Laura

    Inappropriate urination is often the first noticeable sign something is wrong. Increased thirst means this has been going on long enough to be a total body problem. I would put a lot of effort into getting her seen sooner than later…going too long can and will cause further damage to her already very sick body.

    (Dr. M told me bad breath is kidneys. Expect a full urinalysis and bloodwork, plus the possibility of subcutaneous fluids and prescription diet.)

Question
Profile Image
Pawbly | 8 years ago
I Have Sent A Deposit For A Akc Reg. Boxer Pup, Its 4 Weeks…

I have sent a deposit for a akc reg. boxer pup, its 4 weeks old.
the lady sent a pic of it and its underweight only 5 lbs and loss of hair.
Will my puppy be normal weight at adult age ? Will the hair come back?

19 Responses

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Braise, please read the responses in your first post. Duplicates are not necessary.

  2. Braise Patterson

    Laura , I deleted my first post it made no sense so I deleted it then wrote another one. I don’t see any responses just yours . q

  3. Anonymous

    https://www.pawbly.com/question/deposit-akc-boxer-pup-thats-4-weeks-mother-quit-nursing-puppies-weigh-5-lbs-hair-loss-it-will-puppies-hair-grow-normal-adult-box-weight-grown

    Still visible. The answers provided follow:
    Laura M., dog and cat owner, former reptile rescue owner answered …
    I would contact your local chapter of the Boxer Club of America and ask them about this breeder. Here is the link to the chapter clubs: http://www.americanboxerclub.org/us-boxer-clubs.html

    Krista Magnifico, DVM, Founder of Pawbly answered …
    I don’t know enough about the breeder or the parents to tell you what they are worth. Do you have references on this breeder? Do you know anything about them?

  4. Braise Patterson

    No I don’t a Vet office told me to go to Breeders.net and there should be a Boxer breeder there . The puppies are AKC . What happen the boxer mom all of a sudden stop letting the puppies nurse so the lady has been trying to fed them. She said the momma is starting to let them nurse now . She said the weight loss and hair loss was due to the mom not letting them nurse that the puppies are gaining weight. I know lots of breeders ask for more but paying $ 500.00 I should be getting a healthy pup. I’m wondering if this may effect his growth , all other breeders pups are around 9 lbs, mine is 5 lbs. and will the hair grown back like normal. Thank you for the replies , I will contact local chapter.

  5. Anonymous

    At $500, you’ve not gone to a breeder I’d recommend. Consider this a lesson – avoid crappy breeders. If you only want to spend $500, go through a rescue. The risk of supporting a breeder who will sell you a sickly puppy is too great right now…and when that puppy ends up very ill, that breeder will be nowhere to be found.

    As someone who lost a puppy early, trust me when I say this…you WANT that breeder support if you’re going to go through a breeder.

    Ask for your deposit back. Ask the nearest chapter about reputable rescues that might have puppies, and get on their waiting list(s).

  6. Braise Patterson

    Thank you , Then they should not have a Breeders.net page ,. My parents used to breed full blood collies from champion bloodlines when they first married . Just because they didn’t attach a $ 2500.00 price tag didn’t make the Purebred Collie puppies worthless . Today it’s all about money . I also have been told NOT to go to a high priced breeder because it is all about the money and they will breed the same female as many times in the year to get more puppies on the market . Its like youre saying go to the ghetto’s and get puppies no one wanted ,I’m sure some puppies taken to rescue were puppies from these so called great breeders that thought the puppies didnt meet the breeder’s standards or their purebred female got knocked up by a mutt ( Most likely when this happens they put the female down or in rescue . I have seen Breeders that sold puppies for $ 400.00 or $ 500.00 that came from Champion bloodlines. I myself have seen top notch Dalmatian breeder put the puppies down because one ear was black the other puppies had pink noses some had part black nose part pink, Thanks so much for supporting these over priced breeders that some over breed their dogs. ( notice I said some ) I guess thats why you are labeled ” Dog and cat owner, former rescue owner ” . not a licensed vet or professional . I came here mostly concerned about the puppies health and growth process and thought the vet could answer my concerns. I love what you said ” At $500, you’ve not gone to a breeder I’d recommend ” . and ” As someone who lost a puppy early, trust me when I say this…you WANT that breeder support if you’re going to go through a breeder.” . because for a fact the non refundable $ 300.00 to $ 600.00 deposit WILL not be returned if the puppies were sickly . I will not be coming back to this site and will be sure to tell others not to try get a question answered here. merely a poorly ran blog .

  7. Anonymous

    Braise, I work closely with breeders who health test and title their dogs. They don’t overbreed, they don’t breed sickly dogs (like it sounds like you’ve found). They work heavily in rescue. They produce *maybe* one litter every other year, don’t breed any bitch more than three times, and place puppies very carefully. They stand behind their puppies for the life of those dogs, and will take them back at any point if the owners cannot keep them for any reason.

    The sort of breeder you’ve found is what we’d call a “greeder” or a “backyard breeder” – they breed for easy money and neglect genetic health testing. You’re walking into a ticking time bomb of health and temperament.

    I’m done here. If you want vet advice, call YOUR vet. We are a community-driven website giving out free advice…and few of us are vets.

  8. Braise Patterson

    Sure they all came from God go ahead and support only over priced breeders . good bye thanks just because you couldnt answer the question doesnt mean I went to a bad breeder . good luck giving advice

  9. Anonymous

    God has nothing to do with breeders.

    I support breeders whose puppies don’t end up in rescue. I would never in good conscience encourage anyone else to do so. Insulting me for refusing to bend on that does not reflect highly on you, sir.

  10. Braise Patterson

    backyard greeder thanks my parents raised purebreds they didnt even want to change for the puppies but ask very little for the vet bill etc: $ 1200.00 to $ 2300.00 doesnt make the puppies any better . no matter how many ways you want to say it the price tag doesnt make the puppies any better than another purebred puppy.

  11. Braise Patterson

    but youre not a vet and the vet couldnt answer so thanks for showing your support for over changing for puppies.

  12. Anonymous

    It tells me quite a bit about how much they invested in the litter.

    Boxer genetic health testing is expensive…and is a very basic part of the prebreeding process. http://americanboxerclub.org/health-screening.html

    This is completely ignoring the conformational mess most subpar breeders tend to produce. This is JUST health. What of those tests have your breeder done on their dogs? They should be able to produce documentation.

    I have never – NEVER – met a breeder charging such a small amount for puppies that actually did the required health testing on breeding animals. Have you considered why this might be?

  13. PK Dennis

    Any person in the world can buy a domain address and put up a website. NO ONE you find online selling puppies is a place to spend your money!!! Good breeders have WAITING LISTS for their puppies from folks being referred to them by word-of-mouth from dog clubs, dog shows, people that already own their puppies, friends, neighbors, etc. Don’t expect to get a healthy, well bred puppy from someone advertising on line. And a good, well bred, puppy in this day and age is going to cost well over $1000.00! i say – try and get your money back and then work with rescue to get a healthy puppy of the breed you desire. It may take you up to 6 months, but you will have a puppy that has been health checked and you will know that you saved its life by giving it a home. Don’t encourage this person that is not taking care of the health of their dog and puppies by spending your money there (but it is probably too late to get your money back – anyone so greedy as to take your money sight-unseen is too greedy to give you your money back).

  14. Braise Patterson

    Not always , there are tons of people who breed purebred puppies that have the puppies vet checked the entire time plus gives the buyer the puppies records since birth , some will give a heath guarantee , and people are on waiting list as well . Sure there are bad breeder’s everywhere . Some people do not believe in over changing some care about animals and making things a little easier for people who can’t afford 1200.00 for a pet . Seriously what will you feel like if you pay $ 1200.00 to $ 2300.00 two months down the road it just dies . Even high priced breeders don’t know if a puppy will drop dead . Just like Izzy that came from a high priced breeder was walking around the pond she walked around everyday dropped dead instantly from Cardiomyopathy. She had a clean bill of health every time she went to the vet. You are taking a chance when you buy a animal

  15. Anonymous

    PK, you’re wasting your time.

  16. Braise Patterson

    I still did not get my question answered all you people want to do is yak about breeders , Yes she and you and anyone else can’t make me believe a breeder doesnt have to charge what they do lets say for a boxer , Ive seen price tags for over $ 2000.00 per pup wow that mean out of one litter a breeder will make close to $ 10,000.00 . wow really just under $ 10,000.00 per litter . I told you her puppies were checked out wit clean bill of health from birth until its sold the the new owners responsibility there after. High priced puppies has ended up in rescue as well . You cannot say puppies end up in rescue because of the breeder . I have tried adopting from a rescue , where are any purebred puppies ? some come from puppy mills . I went through ever rescue from Georgia , Alabama , Tennessee , Florida , I did not find a purebred puppy most were aging unwanted boxers and mixed . I tried two times adopting even a 5 year old boxer guess what I was turned down because I did not have a fenced in back yard . We live on 3 acre’s of land no where close to a highway , my boxers are never left alone they do not live and sleep outside . These aging 5 year old and the other two older boxers had plenty of land when I took it out to run and exercise . Let me repeat myself and I am not fibbing they told me because I did not have a fenced in backyard I cannot adopt . I posted on face book Atlanta Boxer rescue after seeing one of the dogs name Jayda photo I posted under her photo. It makes no sense you still have Jayda asking someone to come forward and give Jayda a good home . Why do you ask for people to complete the application , and someone will come out to visit and a person gets turned down due to no fenced in yard then come on face book adverting Boxer needs a home when you do not let people adopt because of no fenced in yard. I am telling you this because Rescue keeps coming up . STOP ! I will say it again why was my questions not answered ?

  17. Anonymous

    Dr. Magnifico answered your question in your other post. The problem is you’re walking into such an unknown situation with these puppies that NO ONE CAN TELL YOU if this puppy will be healthy. If you’d gone to a breeder who did all the health screening I listed in that link, you’d have a better idea of that puppy’s future.

    So yes, you DID get an answer. The answer is a lack of one. Biology is funny like that. If you were willing to listen to what you were told, you’d run away from this person and go elsewhere, but you’re stuck on the price tag.

  18. Braise Patterson

    You people are brainwashed , I am leaving this website and I would have by now but this b.s keeps popping up in my e mail . I will leave here leaving all of you a legitimate website called Consumer Affairs and there are hgh priced breeders that has quite the reputation with the Better Business Bureau . Before I leave you the link I would like to say if I had said I paid $ 1800.00 for a Boxer puppy you people would have been singing a different tune . It also makes me wonder the ones here that are breeders that charges lets say $ 1500.00 for a boxer puppy must be something wrong with your puppies next to the breeder that charges 2800.00 for the same breed of Boxer . Obviously the breeder charging $ 2800.00 for the very same breed of boxer took way much more care and had the puppies texted by a much better vet . too funny ! This consumer report is complaints about breeders association of america inc — heres the link read the complaints —https://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/breeders-association-of-america-inc.html

    This is just a couple of links where breeders have been turned in to the Better Business Bureau . Do your homework people . BBB LINK —-http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/pet-services/purebred-breeders-in-cooper-city-fl-22003405/complaints.

    Heres one that you wont know what to say about your amazing such caring breeders—-

    http://www.complaintsboard.com/bysubcategory/dog-breeders.html

Question
Profile Image
Pawbly | 8 years ago
Puppy Weight Loss And Hair Loss

Are These Puppies Worth $500.00 , Will My Puppy Die…

puppy weight loss and hair loss

Are these puppies worth $500.00 , will my puppy die later ?

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Braise Patterson

    I dont know her a vet let me know she had puppies . She’s always had a good reputation , she only breeds her female 2 times a year , I have not said she was bad , you know how stubborn boxers can be specially being hormonal from having a litter . The mom just walked away and would no nurse , the breeder bottle fed until the female decided to go back nursing. I still havent gotten a answer , If the puppy I am buying lost weight from not being nursed will my puppy have any growth issues or will he keep gaining weight and be at the weight he suppose to be when he reaches adult age? the hair loss due from not being properly nursed will his hair grow back? Funny no one can answer , they are too busy taking up for over pricing animals . I am native american my grandfather said once there is much shame in people selling animals . I know he is old school Sioux , but why can’t people who wants a purebred animal have one even if he can’t hand out 1200.00 for a pet , some people have families to support, Just because he has to support his family doesnt mean he will love his pet any less than someone who paid a high price. My parents was not back yard breeders , they took care of the Dam and the Sire as well as the pregnancy, delivery taking care of the puppies until they were picked up. and a money back guarantee up to I think it was 2 months if no negligence brought on by the buyer. Good night I really wish the blog admin. would delete my profile seems my questions can’t be answered

Question
Profile Image
Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Have An 8 Year Old GSD. Long Story Short: An Animal Dermatologist Is Pretty…

I have an 8 year old GSD. Long story short: an animal dermatologist is pretty sure he has allergic vasculitis.

Symptoms:
-Yeast/bacterial issues with skin (lots of licking, odor, grossness)
-Swelling in legs (possibly elsewhere but always noticeable in legs)
-Spikes fevers

More recent symptoms
-Eating dirt, big time. Not sure if it’s related to condition or what.
– Noticeable weight loss while we were away for ~2 weeks. Thought other dog stole his food when caregivers weren’t watching. Now thinking its from eating dirt. ?

We have ruled out food as the source of allergy problems. The vet seemed certain that it’s a local/environmental allergy as we lived in the area almost 3 years before this started. Also, he’s always seemed to have dry, itchy skin.

He gets relief for 2-3 weeks depending on meds. Hes been put on antibiotics, anti fungal, and a steroid. Two weeks on meds brings 2-3 weeks relief. Then we are back to itching, licking, odor, swelling, etc.

We did not take him back for allergy testing after the vasculitis diagnosis. It was just too costly at that time. I am hoping to get him into his usual vet very soon for his regular checkup but I really want him out back on medication.

Please tell me someone else had experience with this issue or something similar with their pup!

1 Response

Comments

  1. Amy L

    Thank you! I’m actually relieved that you’ve seen cases like this.

    We will be getting him to the vet soon. I will try to remember to update when we do.

Question
Profile Image
Pawbly | 9 years ago
He’s Chubby And I Don’t Notice Any Weight Loss. He Still Eats As Usual. He…

He’s chubby and I don’t notice any weight loss. He still eats as usual. He does drink a lot of water. They said to listen to his heart to see if it sounds “like a washing machine”. I have no idea! Sometimes it does but sometimes it doesn’t. I can’t see the vet until monday. Am I freaking out over nothing? I need to know how serious this is.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    There really is no point in worrying yourself to death until Monday!  I mean remember the Internet can be wrong too!!

  2. Zainab Imbabi

    I just can’t even sleep. I’ve had him since he was 8 weeks old. He’s still just a baby. I’d do anything to make sure he was ok.

Question
Profile Image
Pawbly | 9 years ago
Species: Dog

Age: 4

Sex/Neuter Status: Not Neutered

Breed: Weimaraner

Body Weight: 66lbs

History: He Started Showing Sings Of…

Species: Dog

Age: 4

Sex/Neuter status: Not neutered

Breed: Weimaraner

Body weight: 66lbs

History: He started showing sings of what appeared to be the mange at 3 y-o. Before this he was completely healthy and hadn’t had any sorts of trouble or illnesses. He was taken to 4-5 different vets and he had some studies done where they determined he had staphylococcus aureus on his skin. Most of them agreed that it was mange and suggested the following treatments (at different times, to no avail):

* Inyected clindamycin
* Ciprofloxacin tablets
* Cephalosporin (don’t know if tablets or capsules)
* Omega 3 and 6
* B complex and casein shots
* Shampoo with amitraz
* Florfenicol .6% spray
* Aluspray
* Antisebhorreic shampoo

And he is currently on an hypoallergenic salmon diet with special food.

Clinical signs:

* Weight loss
* Very swollen paws and skin in general
* Hair loss
* Loss of appetite
* Ulcers
* Lethargic
* Some fever here and there
* Redness in his eyes

Here are some pictures of him http://imgur.com/a/FgYiT

This is him a couple of months after it started a year ago http://i.imgur.com/whXOmQs.jpg

Duration: 1 year

Your general location: Mexico city

What could this be? What can we do for him? We’ve tried everything and it seems like nothing works and we’re scared to death. We want him to get better.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Alejandra Torres

    He already had bloodwork and nothing showed up, in the skin scrape they just detected bacteria and in the skin biopsy they caught the staphyloccocus aureus. No fungi in any of those.

    He was also seen at a vet teaching hospital by both students and doctors and most of them agreed on mange and one has been studying his case closely to no avail.

  2. Alejandra Torres

    They are not in the US and not anywhere close to a border city at all. We are desperate which is why I’ve come here to ask online since we’ve taken it to plenty different vets on the city and outside the city and spent amounts on the thousands to get him better, which is not a problem because we love him but we are truly worried and aside from the staphyloccocus aureus on his studies, nothing else has shown.

    They’ve urged their vet and themselves which is why they’ve gone to so many different providers and have tried all the treatments as prescribed to no avail.

Question
Profile Image
Pawbly | 9 years ago
My 7 Year Old Cat Has The Following Symptoms: Weight Loss, Brown Eye Discharge, And…

My 7 year old cat has the following symptoms: weight loss, brown eye discharge, and is lethargic. He still has a good appetite and can be coaxed to play.

0 Responses