Q: When should I start to brush my dogs teeth? His teeth seem to be healthy but he is almost one year old. Thanks you?

A: I would recommending starting as young as possible. There may not be any evidence of tartar at that time, but you are getting your dog accustomed to the brush and doggie toothpaste. If you start early, your dog is more likely to enjoy and accept the process as he or she grows older.
Date: Jan 31 2013

Q: My dog got desex will it clam him down?

A: Yes, neutering your dog will certainly help to calm him down. The earlier in his life, the better!
Date: Oct 13 2011

Q: My Chihuahua is breathing very loud , and every other time she breathes she will make a sound, like a back wards sneeze. It kinda sounds like she conjested, but im not sure. im really worried about her, she is overwieght, could that be one of the reasons she is breathing like this?Ive been giving her a 1/2 q cc of childrens binidril, and i also rubbed a little vix on her chest to help clear her up.?

A: I would definitely recommend a trip to the veterinarian. The Benadryl may alleviate allergy related symptoms, but if you have not noticed a lessening in the respiratory condition, it may not be allergy related. Several different conditions can show respiratory signs, including an infection, tracheal or heart issues. A thorough exam by your veterinarian will help to properly diagnose your dog’s ailment and put her back on the road to recovery.
Date: Apr 28 2011

Q: Hello, When do kitten's usually start losing their baby teeth? Thanks.?

A: Kittens typically will start losing their deciduous teeth between 3-6 months of age, and should have their adult teeth by one year of age.
Date: Dec 14 2010

Q: I have a Mimi Doxie, he's 9 months old and Ive noticed lately that he's starting to thin out. He use to be a plump little thing. Now I can feel his back bone, its not unhealthy looking but Im concerned that it may not be normal for Doxies. He eats ALL the time and has meaty treats 2 or sometimes 3 times a day. He has been wormed and up to date on all his shots. I care for my dog better than myself sometimes especially when it comes to health. They cannot help themselves like we can for ourselves.?

A: As our pets age, there are multiple ailments that can affect their weight. I would recommend a visit to your veterinarian to consult on your pet’s most recent chang. Often, weight loss can also be accompanied by a recent illness, hair coat changes, or changes to medications. A complete consult and possible blood, fecal, and/or x-ray screening with your vet can help to eliminate certain conditions and assist in finding a reason for your dog’s change in appearance.
Date: Nov 18 2010

Q: Hello, I have two kittens, they are 3 months old now. They are brothers. One of them has just started peeing on the couch. He will use the kitty litter most of the time. I always make sure that the litter is fresh. Why is he doing this? Thanks.?

A: There are multiple reasons as to why your kitten may be urinating on the couch. It is possible at this age that he is not completely litter box trained, or he may be attempting to mark his territory. However, this could also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection. A trip to your veterinarian can help to confirm or rule out a medical reason for this issue.
Date: Oct 23 2010

Q: My jack russell terrier has been lying around whining and whimpering. He acts as if he's in a bit of pain, but i can't exactly pinpoint where as to the pain is. He hasn't eaten much or drank today and I am beginning to worry. He has arthritis and has been like this before with it , but this time seems a little different and I am not to sure it's the arthritis . Do you have any suggestions?

A: I would definitely recommend a trip to your veterinarian for a thorough check up. Unfortunately, unlike humans, our pets cannot tell us when they feel ill or the location of their pains. However, you veterinarian should be able to determine if this is perhaps a musculoskeletal, gastric, or another type of ailment. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Date: Aug 16 2010

Q: My French Bulldog has a hacking, gagging cough that started 3 weeks ago. At first he was bringing up a white frothy foam and then started to throw up his food and water. I brought him the the vet and they are treating him for kennel cough. He is on antibiotics and a cough suppressant. He stopped vomitting the white frothy stuff and only threw up his food once in the past 2 weeks but he is still hacking and gagging. I am wondering if it was the wrong diagnosis or if it is just taking him some time to get better. He only has one day left for his antibiotics and cough suppressants, which are very expensive. Do you have any suggestions? He also has chronic middle/internal ear infections that I have been to several vets to treat and no one seems to give me a great answer in treating him. All 3 vets did 3 different procedures on him and none of them really resolved anything. He was on antibiotics and anti-fungal medicine, oral and topical for 2 months. One vet said it might be allergies. I am wondering if his hacking and gagging has anything to do with his ear infections or allergies. Thank you!?

A: I would definitely recommend follow up with your veterinarian. There is no way to determine what may be wrong with your pet without a complete physical evaluation. If your pet is still seriously ill, a change of antibiotics may be in order, additional diagnostic testing or even a referral to a specialist. Best of luck with your little one!
Date: Jun 15 2010

Q: My Maltese puppy is 11 months old and he suddenly got an inflmmation in one of his eyes. He also has lot of discharge from the eye. His vet told that he has tonsils and it got spread from someone. He prescribed Simplicef tablets and Dexasporin Oph solution for the eyes. It's been two weeks now and there's no improvement in his eyes. Is it really tonsils or what other could've caused it? What should I do to treat him? Pleae help! Thank u!?

A: It is very possible that your pet is suffering from a systemic upper respiratory infection. This could affect your puppies eyes and nose, throat and even lungs. However, there are other conditions that could be irritating your pets eyes, such as allergies or even an injury. A recheck visit with your veterinarian would be recommended.
Date: Apr 20 2010

Q: Hi, I was wondering about the complications with a Chihuahua and a Mini-Pincher breeding. Problem is that my 5 month old minipin puppy somehow managed to mount my tiny chihuahua female who is now a year and half years of age but also really small for her kind, only about 1.8KG in weight and really small. Well to get back to the point, they got stuck together in their "accidental sex" which tells me that she's gonna be pregnant almost for sure and that is what pretty much scares me. Where Im from (Iceland) there is no real experience for this kind of breeding so I ask for your expert, professional advice and your opinion regarding weather we should let this pregnancy go all the way or should we abort this right away? I ask you cause I really dont trust the advice we get from local veterinarians here not only because of the lack of experience of this kind of breeding but also due to some hard prejudice against non professional breeders like our selfs. Thank you in advanceKristrun J. Alfonsd.?

A: I would definitely recommend following your veterinarian’s recommendations in this situation. Due to the very small size of your Chihuahua, I would be very concerned about her ability to safely deliver puppies. Her health and well-being should be your primary concern. I would also highly recommend setting up appointments to spay and neuter these two, so that you will not have to worry about such a situation occurring again in the future.
Date: Mar 29 2010

Q: i have two cats. sisters, same litter. they both eat the same food. roxy, my black cat is fine. stripie, my tabby is not. stripie has for as long as i can remeber, has terribly stinky loose stoole. stipie aslo on occasion has blood in it. i asked the vet about this. they seemed clueless and offered to do $550 on various tests to see whats wrong. i cannot afford this. i am also scared that they will find something terrible like cancer. i have tried various foods out on my cats, like always roxy is fine, but stripie continues with the stinky, occasionally bloody, loose stoole. is there anything that you could suggest to help relive my kitty of this problem that wont cost me an arm and a leg? (they both have had shots, and have been dewormed before winter.) thank you.?

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

Q: what does it mean when your female cat goes into heat?

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

Q: my cat tina, has this biting habit when she doesn't get fed when she wants to be fed. She only gets fed twice a day. Why is she doing this?

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

Q: This topic is a little embarrassing but what can be done to control major gas in an 11 year old Yorkie? I only get dry dog food twice a week and the rest of the time I have home cooked food like chicken, carrots, and english peas. I also get those Hollywood Stars Liver Treats every day. Oh the dry food I eat on the weekends is made with chicken cause any beef product makes me more gassy. My vet told mommy NO BEEF or high fat foods. Just use the leaner meets like fish and chicken.I was getting an herbal suppliment for this called stomach comfort which has licorice root in it but this past year they started putting xylitol in it and mommy stopped giving it to me since it can drop a dogs blood sugar level dangerously low. Would licorice root by itself help as long as it does not have xylitol in it? Sometimes I make a sound when I do the stinkies other time they are the SBD type but when I make a sound it scares me and I jump and try to run away from it.?

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

Q: someone plz help my with house trannin abbie, i take her out side const. she uses it out side every time. but she still uses it in the house and i kn wo she knows shes doing wrong b/c when she sees that i see her she looks at me like uhh ohh and runs i praises her when she does it out side! and tell her shes bad when she does it in side tell her bad abbie ur bad dont potty in the house i duno what to do?

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

Q: My question is about doggy dementia. This is something new that mommy has never heard of till now. How common is it and is there anything that can be done to slow the process? Mommy says I get confused a lot more now like going into another room instead of my room that I share with mommy. I have also started going to the front door when mommy and granny say outside and sometimes the kitchen door that goes to the garage. The only times I go out these doors is with a leash on the rest of the time I go out the back door. I have started growling and barking at granny now when she comes to the gate at the door to my room. It gets really bad if I have been asleep or if she makes a noise and I can not see it was her. I even forget how to get off the bed sometimes and mommy has to help me to find my steps so I do not get hurt. I do need to mention that I have had cateracts for a little over two years now but they have not progressed a lot yet. If mommy turns on a lamp on the side of the bed where my steps are I do fine or if it is dark in the room. The time I have trouble is when ther is a shadow then I can ot tell hot to go up the steps without help. How much is due to the cateracts and how much is due to doggy dementia? How common is doggy dementia in other breeds?

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

Q: my cocker spaniel follows me all over if i get up and go to the bath room she is at my feet, if i got to the kitchen shes at my feet what could be her problem why is she always at my feet as if she's my shadow?

A: Some dogs are more responsive to the ways of their humans than others. It sounds like your dog considers you a member of her pack and is following her “leader”. Enjoy her company; she sounds like a real sweetie!
Date: Jun 12 2009

Q: Hi My dog Rufus has bin acting weird! I brought home another puppy and ever since he has bin acting like I don't love him and more but I tell him how much I do How to I fix it!?

A: It sounds like Rufus is still learning to adjust to having to share your attention. I would recommend continuing to find some one-on-one time with him, but then also include time with both pets. It may take a while, but soon Rufus will begin to love his brother just as much as you do.
Date: May 15 2009

Q: My cat Rupert woke up this morning and he didn't seem to be feeling very good. He kinda gagged when he ate and he seems nauseated. Could it be a hairball?

A: This could possibly be a hairball. However, I would continue to monitor his behavior. If he does not want to eat or drink or his behavior changes (such as hiding, meowing more frequently), he could be ill. I would recommend a trip to the veterinarian if he does not return to normal activity soon.
Date: Apr 19 2009

Q: Recently my cat seems to be cleaning her face but instead she is gagging. I checked in her mouth to see if there in anything in the but I couldn't find anything. This has been taking place for approx. 1 month. Do you think maybe something is in her throat?

A: I would definitely recommend a trip to the vet, especially since this condition has been going on for some time now. It is possible that she is trying to expel a hairball or could have developed some type of allergy to an inhalant or even her food. There is also the chance that she may have a foreign body lodged in her throat or nasal passages. Hopefully, a thorough examination from your veterinarian can quickly determine the cause.
Date: Apr 19 2009