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Ask the Vet
Dr. Jon Geller, DVM |
Ask the Groomer
Diana Mohler |
Ask the Trainer
September Morn |
| QUESTIONS FOR THE VET |
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Question: This is Donna from Sonoma and I want to know how I find out what allergy is making my dog gnaw at her paws and why the skin on feet and between her toes is so pink and irritated?
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Answer: This answer is for Donna in Sonoma. Donna, thank you for your question about your dog that has been chewing between her paws and her toes. This often is due to allergies, although sometimes it can be caused by a yeast infection between the toes. I would have that checked out first. Your veterinarian would take a cotton swab, rub it between your dog's toes and look at a slide under the microscope and may be able to see some yeast on that slide. The treatment for that is a medication that may be taken by mouth or put right in between the toes. One problem with medication on any kind of sore like that is your dog will tend to lick the medication off. Or, if your dog has allergies, something in the air, they can definitely show up as skin problems, ear infections, loss of hair, itchy skin, itchy between the toes, and the only way to determine that is to do some allergy testing, just like they do with people. A good place to start, however, would be to perhaps give your dog some Benedryl and I would ask your veterinarian how much Benedryl you can give; that is an over-the-counter product, of course, and depends on how much your dog weighs. If the Benedryl seems to be effective, there is a good chance that it is allergic and you may be able to control it with Benedryl alone or possibly other products such as fatty acid caps. Thank you very much for your question and good luck.
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Question: I'm Dallas from Gold's Beach, OR. My dog eats poop. How can I make him stop? Thanks.
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Answer: This answer is for Dallas in Gold Beach. I'm sorry to hear about your dog's problems. Dogs eat feces of other dogs or their own. That is known as coprophasia and is a fairly common problem in young dogs and fortunately, most dogs outgrow it. It doesn't usually cause any medical problems. However, I would recommend that you get your dog de-wormed regularly with some oral de-wormer that you can get from your veterinarian. To discourage it, it's usually a behavioral problem, which means cleaning up any dog feces as soon as possible so that your dog doesn't have access and then trying to deny your dog access to any other dog's droppings as well. Fortunately, your dog will outgrow this habit; they almost all do. In the meantime, good luck and thank you for your question.
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Question: This is Pat from Pensacola , FL. I have a young, 3 year old Doberman and an old, 14 year old Sheltie Mix. Unfortunately, the Sheltie Mix is not in great health. She has a little arthritis and is blind a little bit. Is it true that the younger dog will realize the older dog is weaker and will try to eliminate or take out the older, weaker dog? Is there anything you can do to alleviate the problem if you have it in the home, where the younger dog is a little more aggressive towards the older dog? Thank you. I appreciate your help.
Answer: This message is for Pat. Pat, you have a two-year-old Doberman and an older, 14-year-old Sheltie and it sounds like your Doberman is picking on your Sheltie somewhat. It would be perfectly normal for one of your dogs to want to be the alpha dog so it is not unexpected. However, I would definitely be careful about leaving them alone, especially if there is any food involved. Supervising them together would be a good idea to avoid any unplanned aggression. Also, I would consider starting your older dog on some arthritis medication if you haven't done that yet because that can definitely make older dogs crouch if they're painful all the time and that can definitely spark or cue a fight. Finally, I would try to give your younger dog plenty of exercise to work off some energy so that there's not an issue later as far as wanting to play perhaps that can then turn into a fighting issue that occasionally happens. So, thank you very much for your question and I look forward to more in the future.
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Question: Hi, my name is Dina from Pennsylvania and this question is either for the Vet or the Trainer. I recently, within the past two months, have had to put 2 of my dogs to sleep. I have a remaining dog and want to know, now that her pack is gone what she's feeling and how I can make this transition with being the only dog in the house easier for her. Thank you very much.
Answer: This answer is for Dina in Pennsylvania . I understand that you have had to put two of your dogs to sleep. I'm sorry to hear about that. You have one dog left. Dogs make pretty good adjustments from being in a pack or a group to being a sole dog. A way you can make that work better is by giving your dog extra attention. I definitely would not go out and get another dog. I'd just keep your first dog company. However, again, increase attention and lots of exercise. And, potentially, doggy daycare if that's something that's available to you, can help make that transition go smoother. Thank you very much for your question.
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Question: Hi, I'm Barbara from Charlotte , NC . I would like to know what fruits and vegetables could be toxic to my dogs? I know that grapes and raisins are not good but are there any other fruits and vegetables they should not eat?
Answer: This answer is for Barbara in Charlotte , North Carolina . Thank you for your question Barbara about what foods or vegetables might be toxic for your dog. You already know about grapes and raisins. Some dogs are very sensitive to those while others can eat them without a problem. It's not knowing what content is in the grapes and raisins that makes the dog sick. Another vegetable you have to be careful with is rhubarb, especially the rhubarb that has the reddish color to it. That red color is oxalate and that can definitely be toxic to dogs and cause all kinds of gastro-intestinal problems. Other than that, most garden vegetables and fruits are not a problem for dogs. I do want to mention that macadamia nuts also have toxic ingredients that are a problem for some dogs. Thank you very much for your question.
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Question: I want to know when your dog is spitting out stuff and is coughing, is that a cold or is it something else?
Answer: This message is for Chris in Littleton , Colorado . Chris, it sounds like from your question that your dog has some sort of gagging cough and is possibly coughing up some phlegm or mucus. Sometimes it's hard to sort out the difference between vomiting and coughing and if your dog is actually vomiting, it could be an upset stomach or something your dog ate but more likely with a gagging cough, it could be related to some sort of upper-respiratory infection. Kennel cough typically sounds like a gagging cough and kennel cough is caused by bacteria that can be spread through the air by dogs that are held together. If your dog is acting sick otherwise, such as not eating or acting lethargic, I would definitely go to your veterinarian and have him or her checked out because another cause of gagging cough can be canine influenza, which is more prevalent in certain parts of the country. That is a virus that causes an upper-respiratory infection which more severe signs. If your dog has canine influenza, it is important to have veterinary attention; possibly hospitalization could be involved. If your dog just has kennel cough, there are some effective antibiotics that can be prescribed and also cough suppressants. However, I want to warn you not to give your dog over-the-counter cough suppressants which you can find at the drugstore because they have a lot of ingredients that can definitely cause more harm than good. Good luck and thank you for your question.
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| QUESTIONS FOR THE GROOMER |
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Question: This is Terri in La Habra. I have a long-haired Shepherd with very sensitive skin. I want to know if it's okay for me to ask the groomer to use scissors to cut him and never the shaver, and if that's going to cost me a fortune to have a scissor cut for him.
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Answer: For Terri in La Habra
You indicated that you have a pet with extremely sensitive skin. By all means ask your groomer if she would be willing to do hand-scissoring for any hair that needs to be clipped off. Even for a sanitary cut she could use a longer clipper blade or she could hand scissor it. Really, it is in her best interest to be willing to do that because if she sends home your pet and he starts scratching and digging and biting at any area that she's clipped, what kind of phone call is she going to expect the next day? It's not going to be a happy one. So of course I would ask her to do that. If it's a small area I wouldn't expect an extra charge. If she has to hand scissor an entire dog, that's a different issue. You can expect her to charge for the amount of time that it took her more than if she would have used clippers. The other thing that she can do is when she bathes him she could use a shampoo such as an oatmeal shampoo which is very soothing to the dog's skin, and she could make sure that she rinses the dog extremely well -- kind of rinse, rinse, and rinse some more, so that all the soap residue is removed because soap that is left behind will also cause the dog's skin to become irritated. So those are just a couple of suggestions you can use to keep your dog happy.
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Question: This question is from Melanie. How often do you have to groom your dog?
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Answer: This is for Melanie
You were wondering how often to groom your pet. There's not really any general rule about the frequency of grooming. It's pretty individualized depending on the breed of dog, however, I will say that nothing indicates the quality of the dog,s life as much as they're on a regular grooming schedule. The reason for that is that nice clean dogs get to stay inside with the family and socialize, and dirty dogs get to go outside and look in the patio window. I would encourage that you should put your dog on a regular grooming schedule. If he needs hair cutting, most groomers suggest a six week schedule, less than six week there's not really all that much to cut off, and more that six weeks they tend to tangle, especially dogs such as cocker spaniels, poodles, dogs that keep growing hair. Bathing really is a more personal preference. I have had clients that bathe their dogs once a week. They use a very mild shampoo and make sure that they rinsed them very well. I've had people who were willing to come in once a month and bring they're pet in for grooming and a bath. It pretty much depends on your lifestyle, schedule, what your breed is. Groomers that see terriers don't probably bathe them as frequently as some one who see poodles, as a terrier has a rough coat and you want to preserve that texture and shampooing tends to soften the coat, so really it is your preference but I would think that you would want to bathe your dog no less than once a month and give him a big treat when you're done.
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Question: This is Debbie from SanDiego. I have a Welsh Corgie. She's 3 years old and she sheds a lot. I was wondering in the summer heat if it would be appropriate to have her shaved or if that would make her coat grow back odd in the winter months.
Answer: Hi. This is an answer for Debbie in San Diego and Debbie, you were wondering if you should have your shedding Corgi shaved. A couple things regarding this: In Southern California and some of the other Western, Southern states, your dog is going to be exposed to a lot of sunlight and if they are shaved too low, they can actually sunburn. So, another factor is that if you brush your dog regularly and go back through and remove all that shedding coat, keep him bathed and that coat fluffed, that hair that's been brushed as a protection traps the air so that there's air pockets that are locked in the coat and that actually works as a natural insulation from the heat for your pet. Sometimes, when you shave a dog, their hair actually grows in a different texture, remarkably different on dogs like Golden Retrievers, Corgis, some dogs that generally aren't shaved naturally. So, I think the best course of action for you is to use a brush or there's a new tool on the market called the "furminator" which actually removes that dead, shedding undercoat and if you get rid of that, you're going to cool your dog off without having to give him the old sleek look. If he's a Corgi, he's going to feel a little funny if he's shaved down so I hope that answered your question. Thanks a lot!
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Question: This is Valerie in Huntington Beach . What causes the tear stains in my white dog's eyes?
Answer: Hi. This answer is for Valerie from Huntington Beach and you were wondering about the causes of tear staining. Well, there's a lot of causes for tear staining. Some bacteria in the tear ducts can cause it. Some of the breeds have a natural propensity towards the staining: Bichon, Maltese, Poodles, usually light-coated dogs. You're wondering how you can cure it, get rid of it, or make it less of a problem. Well, there are a lot of products on the market. I'm not really sure how well they work. A lot of the breeders seem to think that the tear staining is a result of minerals in the water such as excess calcium and they use either bottled water for their dog or distilled water. You basically want to keep the area dry and clean so get a little washcloth, wash it and dry it, and if the dog has a really big problem, I'd go ahead and ask the vet to do a culture for bacteria because if there is some kind of an infection or bacterial growth in the tear duct, he can be given an antibiotic that will help. One last thing you might try doing is making sure that the food that you feed your pet is a high-quality, premium food and that you're not using something that has a lot of dyes in it because that can also result in staining. I hope that helps you. Thanks a lot for your call.
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Question: Hi I'm Marni from Delaware . I was wondering why I need to put cotton in my dog's ears when he has a bath. My groomer tells me I need to do this. Thank you.
Answer: Hi. This message is for Marni in Delaware and Marni, I understand that your groomer has suggested that you tuck cotton balls into your dog's ears before you bathe your pet. Well, there's a really good reason for this because bacteria seems to thrive best in dark, warm, humid places and if you have a drop-eared dog like a Beagle or a Basset, or a Cocker Spaniel, you can only imagine how dark and warm and humid that carrier is. So, trying to keep the moisture content out of the ear will help keep bacteria growing in your dog's ears, causing ear infections. It takes a minute to tuck the cotton ball in. Don't push it way back into the ear canal; that's a big "no-no." Just put it snugly into the ear and don't forget to remove it after the bath because it does get damp and that can cause a problem. So, make sure you take the cotton balls out. Another thing that you can do is, after the bath, dry the ear out with a towel really well and then add an ear powder that is sold at most pet stores or a cream that dries into a powder. That also helps to keep the moisture from building up in the ear. However, if your dog has any kind of a bad odor emitting from the ear, you want to take him right to the vet. Hope this helps. Happy grooming!
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| QUESTIONS FOR THE TRAINER |
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Question: My name is Hartencia and I live in Virginia Beach. My question is about our 10½ month old Golden Retriever. He attacks our feet and the feet of visitors when we have visitors to come. He's been to obedience training but he still has this annoying behavior. Is this because he's still a puppy? Will he outgrow this biting behavior? Should we be concerned or will he eventually outgrow it? Well that's my question. Thank you.
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Answer: For Hartencia in Virginia Beach. Your golden retriever is past puppy-hood now He's on into adolescence and if he still has a habit that he developed when he was a little puppy, then you need to do something about it. It's just not going to be outgrown. I'm guessing that from what you said it sounds like a game to him to attack your feet and grab feet when you walk around. If he's been to obedience training he probably has a few word queues that you could use for him to help him stop so I would suggest that when he starts to go after your feet to use STOP. Ask him to sit. Tell him good. Sit. Then walk on. Also, that will get him focused off biting your feet and get him focused onto something that he can get praise for and you can also give him treats for that. Also teach him to grab and bite a toy. He's a golden retriever so he probably already likes to retrieve things, so use that behavior that is born into him to help him form a new behavior, instead of going after feet. Teach him to go after his toy and he can bring the toy to you and you can play a gentile game of tug. You can play fetch, and that will focus him off of the feet too and also give him something to do with his mouth. Basically he's not going to outgrow it, you can change it by training it into a behavior that you like a whole lot better than biting your feet. Teach him to bite a toy, teach him to sit, teach him that he can get rewards for doing that and that's how he can get his attention from you and your visitors instead of being annoying.
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Question: My name is Laura and I'm calling from Chicago. I wanted to know how to get my puppy over the fear of fireworks and loud noises outside. She is 1 year and 3 months and she's afraid to go out on the 4 th of July.
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Answer: For Laura in Chicago. You're not the only one whose puppy is upset by the fire works, and the loud noises during the 4 th of July it's very common for dogs to take off or run away and hide under buildings or just start running and keep running until they find a place that's quiet. So this is the time of year that a lot of dogs are upset by those sounds now since that's just passed we have a year to get the dogs used to those sounds before the 4 th of July comes again. So here is what you need to do, you need to gradually desensitize your puppy to the sounds of the 4 th of July, you could get a recording of fireworks, even a video of fire works that you could show on your TV, at first have the sound very low, then gradually turn it up and I mean gradually over a period of days or even weeks before you get it up to the full sound and you might in the background play some music off the radio or a CD, some kind of calming music in the background while you're playing the audio or video tape of the fire works. This will help your dog get used to the sound of the fire works and also the calming sound of the music being played over the fireworks. Next 4 th of July while the fireworks are going on you will be able to put on recorded music, and your dog will be reminded of being calm. There is also some other ways that you can help, and you should probably talk to your veterinarian if your dog is very upset because your vet may prescribe some calming medication for the week around the 4 th of July, just to take the edge off so the noises aren't so upsetting. Some people find that it helps if you have an underground basement that it's quieter down there during the fireworks and some dogs are calmer when they're down in the basement. It's important that your dog be used to the basement and you just don't throw them down in the basement all night because that's not going to help at all. That's just going to be more upsetting, so if your dog can get used to some quieter place in the house were there is less sound from outside and be gradually desensitized to the sound of fireworks, and get used to the sound of music playing over it, and be calm during that kind of noise. And do talk to your vet because there are some medications that can help.
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Question: My name is Claire from Florida. I have a Maltese- Bichon, 6 years old and every time we give him any type cookie or food, he just inhales it. He doesn't even chew it and he's choked several times. My vet suggested that I break it up and that sort of works, but he still eats it within a fraction of a second. What do you suggest I do to slow him down?
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Answer: Your dog is like most dogs. He doesn't bother chewing his food and savoring it like we people do. He just chews it, maybe crunches it once and swallows it. A lot of dogs don't even crunch things once, especially the small breeds. Sometimes what we give them is too hard for them to crunch a lot of the kibbles are very round and a lot of the dog treats are very hard and crunchy, so they can't really crunch those with their jaws. They're not strong enough, or if it's a softer treat they don't really need to crunch it. They can just swallow it and they digest it once it's down. Your vet's idea about breaking up the treats is a very good idea. In fact the smaller you make the treats, the more treats that one treat turns into and your dog would like it better. Don't worry about him swallowing it in a fraction of a second. The part about choking though, that's important so feed soft treats or finely broken up treats so he doesn't get anything big enough in his throat that he can really choke on, and have a problem with his airway. And to slow him down eating his food, rather than putting it in his bowl try putting it on a tray like a cookie sheet or a baking pan so that he needs to chase the food around the pan a little bit instead of having it centered in one spot were he can swallow it really fast. Other than that do what your vet says and break the treats up small.
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