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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:
Thank you so much for your advice!?
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A: You're very welcome. Let me know how he does. |
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| More Questions |
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A: I would definitely take her to the vet as soon as possible - especially
if you think that she may have ingested onions. Onions are toxic to
dogs and can cause a type of hemolytic anemia. Regardless, something is
upsetting her intestinal system to cause the bilious vomiting. A
veterinarian will be best able to determine the cause and begin the
necessary treatment.
Brent Hinton
CEO PetFirst Healthcare
www.petfirst.com
Date: Nov 11 2008
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A: Hi,
First, you don't need to know what is wrong with your dog before you take her to the vet. That's why the vet is there, to help find the cause of behavioral and physical changes.
Onions, consumed in large quantities can be poisonous to dogs causing something called Hemolytic Anemia.
There is debate about what is considered large quantities: 1 cup and a quarter of an onion have been noted in some articles. That being said, size of the dog is also relevant and since your dog is small what is considered a large amount is not clear.
I would suggest calling or taking her to the vet. Be sure to tell the vet that she ate some onion. If you have an idea of how much be sure to let your vet know.
You can also call the ASPCA's poison control line at (888) 426-4435 to see what they advise. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card. Have age, size, weight, breed and what you think your dog got into at hand for the call.
But if she is lethargic, has labored breathing, or fast breathing, pale gums, is weak or collapses you should take her to emergency ASAP.
In general, when dogs get an upset stomach they will often vomit. The yellow fluid is bile. If your dog is alert and active, vomits and goes back to normal behavior, this can usually be managed at home. But if your dog is displaying signs noted above, fever or other unusual behavior, you should consult your vet.
I hope this helps.
Christine Agro
Date: Nov 09 2008
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A: Hi,
I am sorry to hear of Dixie's passing. Death can be looked at in two ways - as a contraction, focusing only on the loss and as an expantion focusing on the love and friendship we have experienced and also the fact that when Spirit leaves a body it expands to its fullest ablitiy.
Dixie doesn't want you to feel badly about remembering her. She loves/loved you deeply and was so happy to be in your life. It is understandable that you are sad, but you do have a choice of how you view Dixie's passing.
After someone we love dies we go through a grieving process which includes a number of stages. You will go through these, but know that at the end of it you will find a place to remember Dixie with love and joy and your room where she spent so much time will be a place where you can connect with her and remember her in your life.
Again I am sorry to hear of Dixie's passing.
Blessings,
Christine Agro
Date: Nov 04 2008
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A: It can be scary to find a lump on your dog or cat. However, one of the many reasons for daily grooming sessions (even if very brief) are that you can get a good idea of what is normal for your pet and find this sort of thing asap. Many little lumps are llipomas or fat deposits under the skin. They generally are of small concern. However, a needle biopsy is often recommended to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
If a lipoma, it may not need to be fully removed unless the doctor feels it is in a spot that may be uncomfortable for your pet.
lt could also be a sebaceous cyst (or plugged oil gland). And of course, it could be something more serious. So, yes, I would suggest a visit to the vet asap to get it checked out.
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Nov 03 2008
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A: Caprophagy is actually much more common than pet owners care to admit!
There are a few theories as to why dogs ingest feces. They range from
poor diet to boredom to "it just plain tastes good". Regardless of the
reason, there are a few ways to combat this issue.
1) Your veterinarian can prescribe an additive for your dog's food.
This may also be found in pet stores.
2) Change your pet's diet if it is not a high quality food.
3) Remove the stool from the yard immediately.
4) Sprinkle a very undesireable substance onto the stool, such as
Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper.
Unfortunately, this may be a difficult habit to break, but persistence
can pay off. If all else fails, this is typically a puppy behavior
which they should grow out of eventually.
Brent Hinton
CEO PetFirst Healthcare
www.petfirst.com
Date: Oct 30 2008
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A: When a small dog swallows a penny you need to be sure that it comes out because if it doesn't it can release zinc into the body which can be toxic. Generally if it isn't out within 2 days the dog should go to the vet.
If you are certain about the penny and don't know if it came out, this would be an emergency visit to the vet. Constipation/loss of appetitie are generally signs that there is a problem.
I know you care about Dixie, you need to have a place where you can take her if you are truly concerned about her well being.
I hope this helps.
Christine Agro
ps...do you know how many times you've said in your questions "I think she is dying"? It's a heavy energy to place on her and in this space. Please consider how you direct your energy.
Date: Oct 29 2008
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A: Hi,
You can try Hylands Homeopathic Teething Gel. Homeopathy works on a like-cures-like principle. This formula includes remedies to releive pain as well as address sleeplessness that ocurrs with teething. The formula is for children, but works well on puppies. Homeopathy has no side effects, if your system doesn't need it or can't use it, it has no effect.
I hope this helps.
Christine Agro
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Coprophagia or feces eating may be caused by a medical condition such as one that causes a decrease in the absorption of nutrients or a dramatic increase in appetite, such as diabetes.
If this is a habit, your vet might want to check for this and/or parasites. Sometimes this issue can be helped by feeding a more digestible diet.
In most cases it is simply a behavior issue. Many pups eat feces and 'grow out of it' as they mature. Pups may do this out of boredom or hunger, and some as a guarding behavior.
Intervention is key. That is, do your best to clean up feces immediately (that means supervised walks). If you let your dog run off leash in a safely enclosed yard, again, supervise potty breaks and call your dog to you after he eliminates for a special food treat.
There are some additives which claim to help, but I haven't heard of many who have had success with these.
Hope this helps!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Hi there-
Excessive head shaking and ear flapping could be asign of an ear infection in which case, yes, a trip to the vet asap is advisable!
Woofs,
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Hi there-
Dogs seem to enjoy rubbing themselves in spot where there is a scent of another animal (or sometimes some pungent garbage remains!). It could be that this harks back to when dogs hunted in the while and this was a way to mask their scent. But, it also seems to be just plain old fun for most dogs!
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Hi there-
Some dogs do have a negative reaction to vaccines. It might be that your dog didn't feel well and as a result lost a bit of bladder control. When mistakes like this happen, it is best to call the vet for a heads up and to confine your dog for a little bit (either in another 'safer' room, in a crate, or tetehred on leash while supervised) so that this behavior isn't allowed to be practiced and potentially become a habit.
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Hi there-
Any sort of pungent smell from the ear should indicate a need for a visit to the vet. While the medication previously prescribed might work, it may be a different type of infection better treated by something else. Since ear infections are so potentially painful best to err on the side of caution.
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Hi there-
For a dog the equivalent of the flu is basically kennel cough. There is a vaccine for it (although getting the vaccine does not guarantee your dog won't get a cold) called Bordatella.
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: I normally suggest two meals. However, in some cases a veterinarian may suggest three. In regards to how much food, it really depends on the type of food since ingredients vary so greatly.
Pedia Lite is fine if you suspect your pup is mildly dehyrdated (which may be the case after vomiting). However, if this continues more than just the one time you should make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Woofs,
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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A: Hi there-
Providing plenty of safe chew toys should help relieve the pain of your puppy teething. Some of the best are those which are hollow in the middle so you can stuff your dog's food int here and he/she can 'hunt' to get the food out! :)
Also, you can put toys in the freezer so they are nice and cold which will help.
Some good toys are the Dogzilla Fill n' Freeze, Busy Buddy Twist n' Treat, Gimborn White Sterlized bones, Tricky Treat Balls, Molecuballs & Flossies.
Woofs!
Andrea Arden, CPDT
www.AndreaArden.com
Date: Oct 28 2008
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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 ...
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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 ...
read more ››
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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 ...
read more ››
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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 ...
read more ››
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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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