Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we carry 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 mother or father or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can preserve your furry buddy pleased and wholesome. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steerage on a spread of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you can also make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care to your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Assist! My Canine Has Horrible Gasoline!
“ Whats up, my canine was passing actually stinking fuel after Thanksgiving dinner. I had given her some turkey broth along with her pet food and in addition gave her the ham bone. I’m afraid it made her sick. When does the fuel grow to be a problem? ” – Mercy (Mother to Girl Bella)
Hello Mercy. I’m sorry to listen to that Girl Bella isn’t feeling her finest. Dietary indiscretions are a standard perpetrator for stinky gas and different gastrointestinal indicators. Turkey broth, whether it is plain and freed from seasonings like onions or garlic, is usually protected. Nonetheless, it’s not recommended to share cooked ham bones with your dog. They’ll trigger issues as a result of they’re excessive in fats, which is difficult for canine to digest, and so they can splinter, inflicting accidents and even perforations on the fragile mouth and digestive organs. Whereas gnawing on protected uncooked bones can have some advantages for a canine’s enamel, most vets advocate avoiding them because of the threat of ingestion. Canine will not be meant to devour bones, as a result of bones are indigestible. As soon as inside your canine’s physique, they’re considered foreign bodies and will trigger infections and even end in emergency procedures on account of digestive blockages.
So on condition that you realize that she consumed the ham bone, in her case, the pungent fuel may very well be an indication of a critical situation. When one thing partially obstructs the digestive tract—equivalent to a bone, toy, or different overseas object—it disrupts the traditional passage of meals and fuel, which may result in fermentation and the buildup of foul-smelling fuel. There are completely different varieties and grades of obstructions, and so they often current different vital indicators, together with vomiting, lethargy, belly ache, lack of urge for food, and a swollen or tense stomach. If Girl Bella consumed the ham bone and is experiencing pungent fuel, you shouldn’t hesitate to hunt veterinary consideration promptly. Obstructions can grow to be life-threatening if not handled in time. A veterinarian can assess her situation by taking some abdominal X-rays to guage the state of affairs and provide you with the perfect method. Most often, decision requires surgical procedure.
Better of luck,
Dr. Paola
Assist! What Is the Finest Flea Safety for My Pug!
“Questioning what you advocate for flea/tick and heartworm month-to-month med for pugs. Finest safety and SAFE. Thanks a lot.” – Joan (Mother to Levi)
Hello Joan, thanks for reaching out to us! On this area, we don’t present particular product suggestions or prescriptions as a result of we’re not in a position to set up a doctor-patient relationship with a selected canine. Nonetheless, because you’re in search of the perfect and safest protection for your pug, my advice is to go to your veterinarian. They’ll consider your canine’s particular wants and advocate probably the most acceptable product for his or her state of affairs.
Whereas there are various merchandise obtainable on the market, your veterinarian’s enter is important to make sure your canine’s security. For instance, testing is required earlier than beginning heartworm preventive medicine to rule out the presence of adult worms, which may complicate remedy. Equally, tick prevention is more and more advanced on account of different species of ticks in various regions and rising resistance to sure medicines. Your veterinarian will know which merchandise are best for the ticks in your space and may even advocate rotating merchandise to make sure continued effectiveness. Their steerage is one of the simplest ways to protect your pug’s health.
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Yawns Quite a bit!
“My canine Milo yawns rather a lot—like, rather a lot—even when he’s not drained and in the midst of taking part in. Is that this simply a type of lovable canine quirks, or may it imply one thing about his temper or well being? Thanks! – Fernanda
Hello Fernanda,
Milo’s frequent yawning may certainly be an lovable quirk, however it could actually even have deeper meanings associated to his temper or well being. Dogs often yawn for different reasons that transcend fatigue. In playful or energetic moments, yawning could be a calming sign—a means for Milo to control pleasure or diffuse any pressure throughout play. It’s a part of how canine talk and handle their feelings.
Nonetheless, if Milo’s yawning appears extreme, it may be a sign of stress, anxiety, and even nerves. Take note of the conditions the place he yawns probably the most. If it occurs throughout particular actions or encounters, it may point out he’s feeling overwhelmed or attempting to self-soothe. Moreover, some medical points, like delicate nausea, discomfort or ache within the mouth equivalent to that attributable to overseas objects or dental issues, and even respiratory considerations, may very well be inflicting frequent yawning. That is why it is very important pay attention to the situations, triggers, and some other extra uncommon indicators as all this data is effective.
Since canine can’t converse, we depend on behavioral modifications, indicators, and the context of environmental situations to grasp what’s happening with them. Your cautious commentary of Milo’s yawning is a mirrored image of how attentive and considerate you might be as his mother—he’s fortunate to have somebody who pays such shut consideration to his well-being. Congratulations! By the best way, enjoyable truth: have you ever observed that yawning is contagious between people and canine? Should you yawn and Milo watches, he’s prone to yawn, too.
Good luck!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
