Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we deliver skilled recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.
Whether or not you’re a brand new pet father or mother or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply 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 can hold your furry good friend pleased and wholesome. Keep tuned for skilled steerage on a spread of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you can also make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care in your canine companion. Have a query? Ship it in right here!
Assist! My Canine Eats Grass Day by day!
“Hello Dr. Paola,
Rex eats grass day by day. Each time he goes exterior, he eats grass. I’ve been advised that canine solely do that when they’re feeling sick, however he has zero different signs. He’s a 4-year-old Lab combine and has been doing this since he was a pet. Ought to I fear? ”
– Gayle
Hello Gayle,
Grass-eating pups typically concern pet dad and mom, and I’m glad you’re paying shut consideration to Rex’s conduct. The concept that canine solely eat grass after they’re feeling unwell is a widespread fable, nevertheless it’s not fully correct. Whereas some canine could often eat grass after which vomit, most canine that graze don’t present every other indicators of sickness, and it doesn’t essentially point out that one thing is incorrect.
In Rex’s case, since he has been persistently consuming grass since puppyhood, exhibits no indicators of sickness, and seems in any other case wholesome and energetic, this conduct is probably going a traditional a part of his routine. Canine could eat grass for numerous causes, corresponding to boredom, curiosity, or just because they benefit from the texture or style. Some behaviorists additionally imagine it could be an instinctive conduct inherited from wild ancestors who consumed plant matter discovered of their prey’s digestive tracts. It’s also potential they need to add some fiber to their diets. Some vets counsel they might be in search of particular enzymes, though there aren’t any research about this. So long as Rex is on an entire, balanced weight-reduction plan, has common veterinary check-ups, and isn’t ingesting chemically handled grass or poisonous vegetation, this behavior is normally innocent. Consider it a bit like a human nibbling on parsley or chewing gum out of behavior.
In the event you ever discover a sudden improve within the depth or frequency of the conduct, or if it’s accompanied by different regarding indicators like decreased urge for food, modifications in stool, or lethargy, it will be sensible to seek the advice of together with your veterinarian. However primarily based on what you’ve shared, there is no such thing as a motive to fret presently. Simply be proactive and permit him to chew on chemical-free grass. I hope this provides you some peace of thoughts!
– Dr. Paola
If you’d like actual time solutions to your questions, you may speak to considered one of our veterinarians on-line. Click on on the picture or button under:
Ideas on Anti-Growing old Drugs for Canine?
“Hey Dr. Paola,
What do you consider the brand new anti-aging tablet for canine?“ – Su
Hey Su!
I discover it tremendous attention-grabbing and thrilling! The concept that we could quickly have protected, efficient instruments to increase our canine’ well being and lifespan is actually groundbreaking. Advances like LOY-002 and LOY-003, each beneath improvement by Loyal, replicate how far veterinary science has are available understanding and addressing the ageing course of. LOY-002 is a day by day, beef-flavored tablet designed for senior canine over ten years of age and at the very least 14 kilos. It acts as a caloric restriction mimetic, which suggests it goals to ship the advantages of a reduced-calorie weight-reduction plan, corresponding to improved metabolic well being and delayed onset of age-related illnesses, with out really lowering the canine’s meals consumption or inflicting undesirable weight reduction. LOY-003, in the meantime, targets large-breed canine earlier in life, aiming to decelerate the extra speedy ageing these breeds sometimes face. Each drugs are nonetheless present process scientific trials, however LOY-002 has already earned a “cheap expectation of effectiveness” designation from the FDA, signaling progress towards conditional approval.
Equally compelling is the analysis being performed by the Canine Growing old Project on the usage of rapamycin, a drug initially used as an immunosuppressant. Rapamycin is being studied for its potential to enhance cardiac and cognitive operate, with the hope that it could prolong the canine lifespan by 15%. This strategy builds on findings from different species the place the drug has proven potential to boost longevity. Whereas rapamycin will not be at the moment accepted for anti-aging use in canine exterior of managed research, its exploration marks a major second in our understanding of the biology of ageing.
Whereas these improvements are extremely promising, they need to complement, not change, the necessities of lifelong well being. A whole and balanced weight-reduction plan that’s contemporary, nutrient-dense, and minimally processed, with naturally occurring antioxidants, performs an important position in supporting your canine’s immune operate and mobile well being. When mixed with common veterinary care, psychological enrichment, bodily exercise, and plenty of love, these foundational practices stay essentially the most highly effective instruments we now have to assist our canine age with power, dignity, and pleasure. Thanks for bringing this up in our weekly area, Su. I’m assured many pet dad and mom shall be excited to study these promising advances in veterinary science!
– Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Has Heartworm!
“Pricey Dr. Paola,
I rescued Benji one month in the past from the Humane Society in Palm Metropolis, and he was a stray canine. I’m very involved as a result of he has heartworm and so they gave us an antibiotic that we must always give him for a month and so they advised us that after that we now have to go away Benji there for two days, as a result of they’ve to provide him 2 painful injections of arsenic and that i can’t see him for two days as a result of will probably be powerful on Benji. We analysis and discover out that the protocol is completely different.
We took Benji to the Vet, and she or he advised us that after the antibiotics we now have to provide him one tablet of NexGard and wait one month and after that we take him there for the injection and the identical day we will choose him up and in case he doesn’t reply properly we now have to discover a clinic and go away him there. This needs to be repeated 2 extra instances as a result of the injections are 3 and never 2 on the identical time, just like the Humane Society advised us.
My coronary heart is sinking as a result of I don’t need him to have ache, nervousness, and really feel that we abandon him within the second that he wants essentially the most. I’d admire it when you may information me on this tough state of affairs, as a result of I don’t know a lot about it and I don’t wish to lose Benji.He has some good days, however he additionally has dangerous days when he doesn’t wish to eat something or drink water, and he’s torpid, which makes me actually frightened.
Benji is a combination of Maltese, Westie, and Terrier, and since he was a stray canine, they assume that he’s 5 or six years previous in keeping with his enamel. I admire your assist.
Sincerely,” – Ines
Pricey Ines,
Thanks for rescuing Benji and for giving him a second likelihood at a protected, loving life. What you’re going via is extremely laborious, and your concern for his consolation and emotional well-being exhibits simply how deeply you care. Heartworm remedy is usually a sophisticated and emotionally draining course of, however you’re completely doing the suitable factor by staying knowledgeable and searching for readability.
Heartworm illness is critical, and remedy should be fastidiously timed and structured to cut back the chance of issues, particularly from the dying of grownup worms, which may trigger harmful irritation and blockages within the lungs. The usual protocol really useful by the American Heartworm Society entails a multi-step course of: first, a 30-day course of doxycycline, an antibiotic used to focus on a bacterium that lives inside the heartworms known as Wolbachia. This preliminary antibiotic remedy weakens the heartworms and reduces the chance of a extreme inflammatory response. Then, after about 30 days, a heartworm preventive like NexGard or a macrocyclic lactone is given to kill immature larvae. One month later, the adulticide remedy begins with a deep intramuscular injection of melarsomine (an arsenic-based drug), adopted by two extra injections 24 hours aside, a couple of month later. This multi-step strategy is designed to kill the worms regularly, decreasing the chance of life-threatening clots and reactions.
It’s true that the injections might be painful, and Benji might want to keep calm and rested. Exercise restriction through the therapies is crucial to keep away from stressing his coronary heart and lungs. Particularly after the injections, as a result of because the worms die, they’ll break up and trigger blockages within the lungs if the canine exerts himself an excessive amount of. The choice to hospitalize a canine or not throughout these injections is determined by their general well being and the way they deal with the remedy. Some clinics desire to maintain canine in a single day for remark, particularly after the ultimate two injections. Others could enable discharge on the identical day with strict residence care directions. Each approaches might be legitimate when they’re tailor-made to the canine’s particular situation. Since Benji has already proven indicators of lethargy and lack of urge for food, it’s crucial to report these to your veterinarian. These could or is probably not associated to the heartworm an infection, however they do advantage consideration earlier than transferring ahead.
Benji is fortunate to have you ever as his guardian. With endurance, shut monitoring, and a considerate remedy plan, many canine get better absolutely and go on to stay lengthy, pleased lives. Please keep in mind, you’re not alone on this. You’re navigating one thing difficult, however there are protocols and coverings out there, and your love and care are essentially the most highly effective instruments in serving to Benji heal. Thanks once more in your kindness in adopting Benji. I like you.
Sincerely,
– Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence
