Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey professional 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 supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can hold your furry pal pleased and wholesome. Stay tuned for professional steerage on a variety of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the absolute best care in your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Help! My Dog Has Terrible Gas!
“ Hello, my canine was passing actually stinking gasoline after Thanksgiving dinner. I had given her some turkey broth along with her pet food and likewise gave her the ham bone. I’m afraid it made her sick. When does the gasoline grow to be a difficulty? ” – Mercy (Mom to Lady Bella)
Hi Mercy. I’m sorry to listen to that Lady Bella isn’t feeling her greatest. Dietary indiscretions are a typical perpetrator for stinky gas and different gastrointestinal indicators. Turkey broth, whether it is plain and freed from seasonings like onions or garlic, is usually protected. However, it’s not recommended to share cooked ham bones with your dog. They may cause issues as a result of they’re excessive in fats, which is difficult for canines to digest, and so they can splinter, inflicting accidents and even perforations on the fragile mouth and digestive organs. While gnawing on protected uncooked bones can have some advantages for a canine’s tooth, most vets advocate avoiding them because of the threat of ingestion. Dogs aren’t meant to eat bones, as a result of bones are indigestible. Once inside your canine’s physique, they’re considered foreign bodies and will trigger infections and even end in emergency procedures because of digestive blockages.
So on condition that you understand that she consumed the ham bone, in her case, the smelly gasoline might be an indication of a severe problem. When one thing partially obstructs the digestive tract—comparable to a bone, toy, or different international object—it disrupts the conventional passage of meals and gasoline, which may result in fermentation and the buildup of foul-smelling gasoline. There are completely different varieties and grades of obstructions, and so they normally current different important indicators, together with vomiting, lethargy, belly ache, lack of urge for food, and a swollen or tense stomach. If Lady Bella consumed the ham bone and is experiencing smelly gasoline, you shouldn’t hesitate to hunt veterinary consideration promptly. Obstructions can grow to be life-threatening if not handled in time. A veterinarian can assess her situation by taking some abdominal X-rays to guage the scenario and give you the very best method. In most circumstances, decision requires surgical procedure.
Best of luck,
Dr. Paola
Help! What Is the Best Flea Protection for My Pug!
“Wondering what you advocate for flea/tick and heartworm month-to-month med for pugs. Best safety and SAFE. Thanks a lot.” – Joan (Mom to Levi)
Hi Joan, thanks for reaching out to us! In this house, we don’t present particular product suggestions or prescriptions as a result of we’re not in a position to set up a doctor-patient relationship with a specific canine. However, because you’re on the lookout for the very best and safest protection for your pug, my suggestion is to go to your veterinarian. They can consider your canine’s particular wants and advocate probably the most acceptable product for his or her scenario.
While there are a lot of merchandise accessible on the market, your veterinarian’s enter is crucial to make sure your canine’s security. For instance, testing is required earlier than beginning heartworm preventive remedy to rule out the presence of adult worms, which may complicate remedy. Similarly, tick prevention is more and more advanced because of different species of ticks in various regions and rising resistance to sure drugs. Your veterinarian will know which merchandise are handiest for the ticks in your space and may even advocate rotating merchandise to make sure continued effectiveness. Their steerage is one of the simplest ways to protect your pug’s health.
Dr. Paola
Help! My Dog Yawns So much!
“My canine Milo yawns so much—like, so much—even when he’s not drained and in the midst of taking part in. Is this simply a kind of cute canine quirks, or may it imply one thing about his temper or well being? Thanks! – Fernanda
Hi Fernanda,
Milo’s frequent yawning may certainly be an cute quirk, however it will possibly even have deeper meanings associated to his temper or well being. Dogs often yawn for different reasons that transcend fatigue. In playful or energetic moments, yawning could be a calming sign—a manner for Milo to control pleasure or diffuse any rigidity throughout play. It’s a part of how canines talk and handle their feelings.
However, if Milo’s yawning appears extreme, it could be a sign of stress, anxiety, and even nerves. Pay consideration to the conditions the place he yawns probably the most. If it occurs throughout particular actions or encounters, it may point out he’s feeling overwhelmed or making an attempt to self-soothe. Additionally, some medical points, like delicate nausea, discomfort or ache within the mouth comparable to that attributable to international objects or dental issues, and even respiratory issues, might be inflicting frequent yawning. This is why it is very important be aware of the situations, triggers, and every other further uncommon indicators as all this info is efficacious.
Since canines can’t converse, we depend on behavioral modifications, indicators, and the context of environmental situations to know what’s happening with them. Your cautious commentary of Milo’s yawning is a mirrored image of how attentive and considerate you might be as his mother—he’s fortunate to have somebody who pays such shut consideration to his well-being. Congratulations! By the best way, enjoyable reality: have you ever observed that yawning is contagious between people and canines? If you yawn and Milo watches, he’s more likely to yawn, too.
Good luck!
Dr. Paola
