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| Stay PetPop Healthy with our Pet Experts. |
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| They are here to help you with any health related questions you have for your pet, and will gladly answer them in a timely manner. |
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| Their answers will be featured here in PetPop Healthy section every week, so check in to read what they have to say. |
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| Questions & Answers |
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Q:
My 20 week old French Bulldog was recently boarded while I was out of the country. He picked up a cold while there - he is not coughing but is very congested?
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A: Hi there-
This may be kennel cough (a doggie cold) or another contagious disease so it is important to go to the vet asap to make sure it doesn't develop into something more serious. They may prescribe an antibiotic.
I would also suggest you contact the boarding facility to see if they have had any reports from other owners of similar issues. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for boarding/daycare facilities to have outbreaks of kennel cough and other diseases.
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com |
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| More Questions |
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A: Your pet could be seriously ill due to a multitude of ailments. It would be impossible to diagnosis your pet’s particular illness without a visit to a veterinarian. I would suggest you seek immediate medical attention for your cat.
Date: Dec 15 2009
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A: Hi there-
Hmmm...this is a tough question because there are so many amazing types of dogs both purebred and mixes. Of course, it is most important to focus on the temperament of the dog. That is, a dog who would have the character or personality best suited to living with other dogs and all the other animals you mentioned. While a herding type dog (like a German Shepherd Dog) could do very well in this environment (for which they were bred), some herding dogs need extra help to control their herding instincts. If I were in your situation (by the way, it sounds amazing, so I am a bit jealous!) I would probably head to the local shelter and start checking out dogs. Spending some time with the dogs you are drawn to over the course of a week or so is a good way to better predict if it is a good match. Also, petfinder.com is an amazing site (I am addicted). If you are interested in a specific purebred you can also find rescue groups for those dogs. Maybe look into an Australian Shepherd or Aussie mix?
Woofs!
Andrea
Date: Oct 30 2009
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A: Hi there-
When a kitten as young as 4 weeks old has diarrhea it is vital to get to the veterinarian asap. At such a young age and body weight diarrhea can cause severe dehydration. Plus, of course, you want to find out the cause. Let us know how she is doing after you go to see your vet.
Best,
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 27 2009
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A: Hi,
Your kitten's diarrhea may be because of diet or worms, and/or many other causes. You would do best to have your kitten checked out by the vet. Good luck!
Date: Oct 26 2009
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A: I would definitely recommend continued treatment with a veterinarian. If your current vet is unable to determine a cause, perhaps he/she could recommend a specialist in gastrointestinal or allergy related issues. They would be able to pursue further causes for your puppy’s intestinal issue.
Date: Oct 08 2009
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A: Your cat is experiencing estrus when she comes into “heat”. If she is exposed to a male cat, you may find yourself with kittens in a few months. If you do not plan on breeding your pet, it is highly recommended to have her spayed, prior to experiencing heat. This will prevent pet overpopulation and also decrease her risk for certain types of cancer.
Date: Jul 27 2009
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A: This means your cat is in oestrus and is ready to breed.
The signs are very obvious and include becoming exceptionally affectionate, rubbing against you, the furniture and basically everything with her hind quarters, consistent vocalization (a way of essentially calling out to males), spending a good bit of time with her head down and hind quarters in the air, and in most cases spraying their scent all over your home.
Unspayed cats may go into oestrus every 3-4 weeks!
For this fact, and considering the severe pet overpopulation problem we have, and since spaying will help your cat live a longer, healthier life, I would suggest contacting your veterinarian asap to find out when is the soonest she can be spayed. They will probably suggest waiting until this cycle is over, but get it done as soon after as they recommend.
Best!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Jul 24 2009
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A: It sounds like your cat is trying to tell you that she wants you to feed her again. The biting would be her indicator for attention, especially if you have hand fed her treats in the past. She may remember food rewards given from your hands. If you only feed canned food, perhaps you could also try leaving out a bowl of dried food. If weight is an issue, perhaps consider a lower calorie diet for her to compensate for the additional food.
Date: Jul 08 2009
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A: Dogs are such social creatures...it is part of why they make such wonderful companions for us. However, some dogs may become overly clingy (we sometimes call this a velcro dog!) due to not being taught how to cope with time alone. Help her learn this skill by feeding her exclusively from food stuffable toys like the Twist n' Treat toy, molecuball or tricky treat ball so she can focus on this sort of 'hunting for her food' when you have her resting for short periods in her crate and not shadowing you! :)
Woofs,
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Jun 30 2009
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A: Hi there-
Abbie may be running to hide because she has learned that she may be punished for going potty in the house. This is not necessarily the same as her knowingly making a mistake. It sounds like you simply need to be a better doggie time manager so you set her up for success rather than letting her have too much freedom too soon (i.e. before she is housetrained) and make predictable mistakes. The more times she goes potty in the wrong spot the more likely that is to become a strong habit. So, for the next couple of months, keep her on leash and either hold it, tie it to a stable object right near you or step on it and give her some healthy chew toys. This way she is not able to run about and make mistakes and you can more accurately predict when to take her out to go in the right spot and be rewarded for it.
When you can't watch her, let her rest for short periods in her crate (again with chew toys to keep her busy).
Woofs,
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Jun 30 2009
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A: Gastric issues can be caused by a multitude of issues. A thorough consult and examination by your veterinarian can help to diagnose any medical ailments.
Date: Jun 29 2009
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A: It sounds like you are doing a good job on reinforcing Abbie’s good behavior outside. Her behavior will improve the more you are able to reinforce the good behavior and eliminate the bad behavior. One of the best approaches is to never allow her to be unattended in the house. If you are unable to physically see her, she should ideally be put in a crate until you can watch her again. At the first sign of her need to relieve herself (usually sniffing or looking around), take her outside. You did not mention her age, but puppies should be kept inside no more than one hour longer than the age they are in months. For example, if she is 3 months old, she should be let out at least once every four hours, around the clock. This involves a trip outside during sleeping hours. Following this routine should help encourage good behavior and a more rapid training. Best of luck!
Date: Jun 29 2009
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A: Like people, as your pet ages, they can sometimes become forgetful. This is not a breed specific issue, but can vary from pet to pet. However, it is also possible that your pet’s hearing or eyesight is failing. A general check up with your veterinarian ought to be able to rule out or confirm these issues as your pet ages.
Date: Jun 29 2009
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A: Hi there-
This could be a sign of kennel cough and you should contact your vet asap for an appointment.
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Jun 23 2009
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A: Hi there-
Firstly, there is nothing to be embarrassed about...stinkies happen! :)
Some dogs are more gassy than others...just like people! :)
However, diet can certainly play a part. I would suggest making some adjustments to the diet to see if it helps. Maybe switch out the carrots and peas for something else. You might also consult with your vet and see if yogurt (with acidophilus) might help with digestion.
Woofs,
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Jun 23 2009
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 Questions & Answers |
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| Meet the experts: |
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Christie Shaver, is a licensed pet nutrition expert and is the founder of The Healthy Pet Gourmet visit her at www.thpg.com
Below is the story of Christie’s journey in becoming a successful pet healer:
When my dog, Goldie, became ill at 11, I knew that if I didn’t act quickly, my vet planned to euthanize him. He was very sick, but I couldn’t let him go. I knew it wasn’t his time. For the next 4 days I wouldn’t leave his side – I massaged and hugged him, kissed ...
read more ››
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Andrea Arden has written five books including Dog Friendly Dog Training (IDG, 2000), Train Your Dog the Lazy Way (Macmillan, 1999), and The Little Book of Dog Tricks (IDG, 2002).
She has also been the behavior columnist for Dog Fancy and The New York Dog magazines as well as a contributing writer for the AKC Gazette, and numerous other publications.
Andrea was the on air trainer for The Pet Department, FX’s Emmy award winning daily show and has appeared ...
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Christine works with all animals. Her role is to act as a voice and advocate for your animal and provide support and guidance for you. Christine combines her clairvoyance and her natural healing background to address all aspects of your animal’s health, wellness and Spiritual needs. She offers insight into diet/nutrition, health, wellness, emotional support, behavioral needs and Spiritual growth.
Christine is the pioneer of the Conscious Animal Connection and during readings, she ...
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Brent Hinton
PetFirst Healthcare
Co-Founder and CEO
Brent Hinton's mission as co-founder and chief executive officer of
PetFirst Healthcare is to help pet owners have access to the healthcare
their pets need by simplifying the pet insurance process.
For 17 years, Hinton served as an executive for various non-profit
organizations. He also is an expert in animal adoption and welfare,
having served as director of the Kentucky Humane Society for eight
years.
Hinton's ...
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A cat therapist forever, Carole Wilbourn is The Cat Therapist. She’s published 6 books on cat psychotherapy and logged more than 100,000 miles making house calls to patients throughout the world. She’s been hailed as “the founding mother of cat psychology”, she co-founded The Cat Practice, the first veterinary hospital in New York City exclusively devoted to cat care in 1973.
Over the years, Carole has consulted with veterinarians to devise treatment programs for cats with psychological ...
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Born in Buenos Aires, Jorge Bendersky became interested in the sport of dog breeding and showing at a very early age. Growing up on his family's hacienda in Argentina, he inherited the tradition of caring for the animals on the ranch. Jorge also learned to manage all the myriad aspects of ranch life including its facilities and employees. Later in life, he took on the duty of managing his family's boutique hotels across Argentina. His experience with the family business gives Jorge the ability ...
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After a successful career as a Speech and Language Pathologist, Marcello Forte followed his dream to help New York City's homeless animals. For the past seven years as Executive Director of Animal Haven, Marcello has played a significant part in helping solve the city's pet overpopulation problem.
Marcello's vision has taken Animal Haven from a small Queens-based shelter to an organization that includes a upstate sanctuary, mobile adoption program and innovative adoption center ...
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After pursuing a career in the equine industry, Rachel Farris joined the PetRelocation.com team in early 2006. PetRelocation.com is one of the most experienced, respected & technologically-advanced pet relocation companies in the world, specializing in door-to-door domestic and international pet relocations worldwide. Farris has coordinated hundreds of relocations for pets big and small – gerbils from Zurich to New York, fourteen horses from California to Honduras, and one very large collection ...
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