Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” assortment, the place every Monday we feature educated advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers greater understand their canine’s effectively being and well-being.
Whether or not or not you’re a model new pet mom or father or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is correct right here to produce options to your most pressing questions. From food plan concepts and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral factors, Dr. Paola is ready to present insights that may protect your furry buddy happy and healthful. Maintain tuned for educated guidance on a diffusion of issues that matter most to you and your canine, so it’s also possible to make educated selections and provide the perfect care to your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Help! My Canine Has Horrible Gasoline!
“ Whats up, my canine was passing really stinking gasoline after Thanksgiving dinner. I had given her some turkey broth alongside along with her pet meals and as well as gave her the ham bone. I’m afraid it made her sick. When does the gasoline develop to be an issue? ” – Mercy (Mom to Woman Bella)
Hiya Mercy. I’m sorry to hearken to that Woman Bella isn’t feeling her most interesting. Dietary indiscretions are a normal perpetrator for stinky gas and completely different gastrointestinal indicators. Turkey broth, whether or not it’s plain and free of seasonings like onions or garlic, is normally protected. Nonetheless, it’s not recommended to share cooked ham bones with your dog. They’ll set off points on account of they’re extreme in fat, which is troublesome for canine to digest, and to allow them to splinter, inflicting accidents and even perforations on the delicate mouth and digestive organs. Whereas gnawing on protected raw bones can have some benefits for a canine’s enamel, most vets advocate avoiding them due to the specter of ingestion. Canine won’t be meant to devour bones, on account of bones are indigestible. As quickly as inside your canine’s physique, they’re considered foreign bodies and can set off infections and even finish in emergency procedures on account of digestive blockages.
So given that you notice that she consumed the ham bone, in her case, the pungent gasoline might very effectively be a sign of a crucial state of affairs. When one factor partially obstructs the digestive tract—equal to a bone, toy, or completely different abroad object—it disrupts the standard passage of meals and gasoline, which can end in fermentation and the buildup of foul-smelling gasoline. There are fully completely different varieties and grades of obstructions, and they also usually present completely different important indicators, along with vomiting, lethargy, stomach ache, lack of urge for meals, and a swollen or tense abdomen. If Woman Bella consumed the ham bone and is experiencing pungent gasoline, you shouldn’t hesitate to hunt veterinary consideration promptly. Obstructions can develop to be life-threatening if not dealt with in time. A veterinarian can assess her state of affairs by taking some abdominal X-rays to guage the state of affairs and give you the proper technique. Most frequently, determination requires surgical process.
Higher of luck,
Dr. Paola
Help! What Is the Best Flea Security for My Pug!
“Questioning what you advocate for flea/tick and heartworm month-to-month med for pugs. Best security and SAFE. Thanks quite a bit.” – Joan (Mom to Levi)
Hiya Joan, thanks for reaching out to us! On this space, we don’t current specific product options or prescriptions on account of we’re not ready to arrange a doctor-patient relationship with a particular canine. Nonetheless, since you’re in quest of the proper and safest protection for your pug, my recommendation is to go to your veterinarian. They’ll contemplate your canine’s specific needs and advocate in all probability essentially the most acceptable product for his or her state of affairs.
Whereas there are numerous merchandise obtainable available on the market, your veterinarian’s enter is essential to ensure your canine’s safety. As an example, testing is required sooner than starting heartworm preventive drugs to rule out the presence of adult worms, which can complicate treatment. Equally, tick prevention is an increasing number of superior on account of different species of ticks in various regions and rising resistance to positive medicines. Your veterinarian will know which merchandise are finest for the ticks in your house and should even advocate rotating merchandise to ensure continued effectiveness. Their guidance is without doubt one of the easiest methods to protect your pug’s health.
Dr. Paola
Help! My Canine Yawns Fairly a bit!
“My canine Milo yawns quite quite a bit—like, quite quite a bit—even when he’s not drained and within the midst of participating in. Is that this merely a sort of lovable canine quirks, or might it suggest one factor about his mood or effectively being? Thanks! – Fernanda
Hiya Fernanda,
Milo’s frequent yawning might actually be an lovable quirk, nonetheless it might really even have deeper meanings related to his mood or effectively being. Dogs often yawn for different reasons that transcend fatigue. In playful or energetic moments, yawning could possibly be a relaxing signal—a method for Milo to regulate pleasure or diffuse any stress all through play. It’s part of how canine discuss and deal with their emotions.
Nonetheless, if Milo’s yawning seems excessive, it might be an indication of stress, anxiety, and even nerves. Pay attention to the circumstances the place he yawns in all probability essentially the most. If it happens all through specific actions or encounters, it might level out he’s feeling overwhelmed or trying to self-soothe. Furthermore, some medical factors, like delicate nausea, discomfort or ache inside the mouth equal to that attributable to abroad objects or dental issues, and even respiratory issues, might very effectively be inflicting frequent yawning. That’s the reason it is extremely essential take note of the conditions, triggers, and another additional unusual indicators as all this knowledge is efficient.
Since canine can’t converse, we rely on behavioral modifications, indicators, and the context of environmental conditions to know what’s taking place with them. Your cautious commentary of Milo’s yawning is a reflection of how attentive and thoughtful you is perhaps as his mom—he’s lucky to have someone who pays such shut consideration to his well-being. Congratulations! By the easiest way, pleasurable fact: have you ever ever noticed that yawning is contagious between folks and canine? Must you yawn and Milo watches, he’s vulnerable to yawn, too.
Good luck!
Dr. Paola
This textual content is a part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola assortment
