Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we deliver knowledgeable recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.
Whether you’re a brand new pet dad or mum or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that may preserve your furry good friend glad and wholesome. Stay tuned for knowledgeable steering on a variety of subjects 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! 
Help! My Dog is a Drama King!
“Every time I depart the home, my canine Frankie provides me essentially the most dramatic ‘I’m going to die with out you’ look. How can I assist him be much less of a drama king after I depart?” – Sam from Wisconsin
Hi Sam! First, know that you’re not alone. This is a widespread drawback with canine and pet house owners and it’s often a sign of your canine struggling separation anxiousness. Addressing the problem is essential in any other case you might quickly begin seeing a few of your property misplaced as a result of Frankie’s misery. You may also hear some complaints out of your neighbors because of the noise.
It is essential to start out engaged on altering the state of affairs to successfully change Frankie’s mindset. Start with your self—study to be relaxed and to not make an enormous fuss about leaving or returning residence. You should analyze your conduct to seek out what physique language and cues set off Frankie’s responses. For some folks is once they seize the keys from the keyholder or once they placed on their coats, and so on. Identify that second as a result of that’s what you need to begin working with. A easy answer is to seek out one thing that grabs Frankie’s consideration and is incompatible with making a drama. Puzzle feeders work nice, however don’t fall into the error of utilizing the identical method each single time you permit as Frankie will quickly lose curiosity, so I like to recommend that you simply discover at the very least three totally different gadgets to make use of on rotation. I really like deal with allotting cameras, as they permit a distance interplay along with your pup. Just be very conscious to make sure Frankie solely will get a deal with when he’s calm. The basic thought is to supply Frankie one thing else to deal with whilst you calmly and quietly depart. Avoid huge dramatic goodbyes, work on brief returns, and keep away from long-lasting leaving routines.
You can study extra about separation anxiousness by studying these posts:
Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Vet-Approved Guide
How to Help a Dog With Separation Anxiety: Vet-Reviewed Tips & Tricks
Best needs!
Dr. Paola
Help! My Dog Won’t Stop Sleeping Under the Covers!
“My canine insists on sleeping underneath the covers like a human. Is this a bizarre quirk, or does he suppose he’s a part of the household now?” – Geoff from California, dad or mum of Snickers
Hi Geoff! Dogs additionally like consolation and coziness, and should you reside in a colder space, Snickers is simply enhancing his slumber. Remember that their ancestors rested in darkish and guarded dens so it’s solely pure. Once canine study that one thing is feasible and allowed, particularly if it brings them further consolation or some type of gratification, it’s completely pure for them to repeat. But simply so that you can know, it occurs even in specialists’ properties: check out our very own Dr. Karyn’s struggles with Poppy!
You may also discover the next recommendations on How to Get Your Dog to Use Their New Dog Bed useful and may even need to contemplate getting Snickers a heated mattress should you suppose he’s after the hotter temperature or getting him his personal blankets, too. One extra tip, you might need to make it bodily unattainable for Snickers to get to your mattress whereas he warms as much as the thought of getting his personal.
Kind regards,
Dr. Paola
Help! My Dog Won’t Let Me Eat in Peace!
“So, I’ve observed that each time I attempt to eat something, my canine is correct there beside me, looking at me with these huge pet eyes as if she hasn’t eaten in days. I attempt to ignore it, however then she begins pawing at my leg, and earlier than I do know it, I’ve dropped half my lunch. I do know it’s not good to offer her folks meals, however how do I cease her from appearing like I’m withholding her life’s best pleasure (and me from feeling prefer it, too) after I’m simply attempting to have a peaceable meal?” – Laura from Ontario, Canada, dad or mum of Ella
Yes, they at all times attempt to discover the best way. In your case, Laura it is extremely necessary that at this level, you keep in mind that you’ve got the suitable to eat your meal in peace. You are the one who made the hypothetic hunt, so in concept, you eat first after which share with Ella.
A canine will preserve attempting and attempting—it looks as if begging for meals is a unending sport, particularly should you already dropped some meals and Ella obtained rewarded for doing it then she is going to preserve attempting the identical system. Ignore the puppy eyes, and don’t enable her to paw you, the second she does that she must get out of the kitchen. Otherwise, the pawing will quickly flip into leaping to your palms for lunch, and relying on her dimension, this could even be harmful. For the sake of each your well being and your relationship, you have to cease it.
Something that works nice is establishing a “station” within the kitchen. Mark this space by putting a floormat at a distance and feeding her solely when she has bodily contact with it. You might want to begin with small meals however the basic thought is you eat your lunch, Ella should stay both mendacity or sitting within the designated space. Once you end your lunch, you feed Ella her meals, a deal with, and a few cuddles, however solely after you end your plate.
Prepare your self: it gained’t be simple. But, Ella must study the foundations of the sport. Don’t let her get you and in addition make a aware effort to not confuse her. You should be constant each time in any other case Ella is not going to perceive what she is allowed to do or not.
Best of luck and be assured, you bought this!
Dr. Paola
