Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey knowledgeable recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.
Whether or not you’re a brand new pet mum or dad or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that can maintain your furry good friend joyful and wholesome. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steerage on a variety of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you can also make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care in your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Assist! I Wish to Begin Making My Personal Canine Meals!
“ Hey Dr. Paola, I’m questioning what’s one of the best ways to go about making do-it-yourself pet food for my canine Bowdoin. The place do I start? ” – Drew
Hey Drew!
Making homemade dog food for Bowdoin is a satisfying solution to handle his eating regimen and guarantee high-quality elements, however it’s important to supply full and balanced vitamin. Canine have particular dietary wants that embody essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals like calcium, iron, vitamin E, and vitamin B12. An important level to know right here is that assembly these necessities may be difficult with out cautious planning {and professional} steerage so nice efforts can have unlucky outcomes if not nicely executed.
To make sure Bowdoin receives a protected and balanced eating regimen, begin with recipes approved by a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist. An expert can assess his dietary wants primarily based on his breed, age, weight, exercise stage, and any well being issues. In lots of instances, dietary supplements particularly designed for pets—akin to these from BalanceIT or The Farmer’s Dog—will probably be crucial to satisfy dietary requirements.
Cooking at house additionally requires attention to ingredient quality and kitchen security. Correct hygiene and dealing with practices are key to minimizing the danger of contamination whereas getting ready, storing, and serving Bowdoin’s meals.
Whereas it takes extra effort to cook dinner do-it-yourself pet food, it may be a really stunning factor for each you and your canine. Greatest needs in your pet food culinary journey!
Dr. Paola
Assist! I Wish to Preserve My Canine Heat in Winter!
“My massive black lab has horrible arthritis in his hips and legs. He’s solely 7 years previous and has had it since he was a pet when he began rising quick and enormous. We stay within the foothills of central California the place the temperature has been dropping to freezing. Can we please get a bit of recommendation on how you can maintain heat and comfy throughout the winter months? He received’t put on his jacket or the rest received’t are available in if he sees us attempting to place him in a single?” – Mo
Hello Mo,
Sorry to listen to about your lab having developmental joint points since puppyhood. The ache and discomfort of arthritis are exacerbated by the chilly temperatures. A number of the options you might discover are offering him with a heated bed, or a heated dog house. Most canine will naturally gravitate towards them when it will get chilly.
You also needs to needless to say labs have a thick double-coat and had been developed within the chilly province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Their natural winter coat does fairly a very good job of defending them in opposition to chilly temperatures. It doesn’t come naturally for a lot of canine to simply accept sporting a jacket however it may be achieved if, as a substitute of forcing them, you steadily desensitize and prepare them to put on it. You will want to do that through the use of positive reinforcement methods.
We want you one of the best with this and hope for a simple winter in your canine.
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Has Excessive ALK Phosphatase Ranges!
“Hi there, my canine Izzy has good blood work besides her ALK Phosphatase is 421. She is an 11-year-old mini schnauzer weighing 16 lbs. She is wholesome and proud of no issues with arthritis right now. Is it true {that a} mini schnauzer can have a better ALK Phosphatase than different canine?? please assist with this query.” – Sandy
Sandi, it’s true that Miniature Schnauzers can have elevated ALKP. It is usually true that this marker has low specificity, which suggests this enzyme is produced by many cell sorts and may be discovered within the liver, bone, kidney, and gut. Subsequently, different biochemical checks are wanted to interpret its significance.
ALKP is normally included within the liver panels as a result of it’s present in liver cell membranes and within the hepatic cells surrounding the small channels via which bile is launched. One doubtless state of affairs is that ALKP is launched into the blood when the biliary circulate is slowed (the medical time period for that is cholestasis). Fatty infiltrations of the liver can probably result in cholestasis. Subsequently you will need to contemplate the outcomes of different checks together with TSBA, GGT, ALT, and AST, and really importantly to observe serum triglyceride concentrations.
In line with a study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, anecdotal observations recommend that some Miniature Schnauzers with hypertriglyceridemia would possibly develop hepatic insufficiency secondary to the pathogenic distension of the hepatic cells. Veterinarians work with totally different scrum chemistry panels once they make blood checks, so while you say all her blood work was good, I’ve no manner of understanding what was examined. Have a chat along with your vet to search out out if further diagnostic testing would appear applicable, or if you want some extra detailed help, we suggest reserving a web-based session with one in all our skilled veterinarians at PangoVet. They are going to ask you some extra questions, assist present info, and make it easier to craft an motion plan.
Greatest needs!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
