Question:
I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback that had a litter of puppies that are 5 weeks old. Is it possible for her to already be coming in heat again, as she just started having a small bloody discharge?
Answer:
First, your dog had her pups 5 weeks ago, which means that she is still "cleaning out" from having those babies. I would, from all experience, say that she was not back into season already. I bred for over 20 years and some of my females would still have discharge up to the time the puppies were weaned and leaving for new homes at around 8-9 weeks of age. It's not unusual at all. She may be clean for a few days then suddenly, more discharge can appear, which may be more noticeable right after she has urinated. Some dogs are very clean with minimal discharge over a short period of time, others can be very messy and have a discharge for weeks - it sounds like she is one of the latter. Don't worry, things sound normal to me, given the age of the puppies. Thanks for writing.
Question:
Can you tell me what could be causing my 11 year old dog's front and sometimes back, legs to shake? It isn't just an "old age" thing as it's been going on for a few years on and off. When he's sitting up he can't put pressure on the one leg that shakes. He also can't put them straight together anymore.
Answer:
You say that your dog has been shaking for a few years. Many dogs do this, especially the smaller ones. Toy breeds and some terriers have a tendency to shake at times, without being cold or scared. My old Jack Russell used to shake if she thought I was leaving the house without her or if I tried to make her do something that she didn't want to do.
If it's a behavioural thing, you have no real cause for concern. However, you also mention that he won't put weight on the leg when sitting and he can't seem to straighten them out properly, which causes me to wonder if he doesn't have some pain involved. He could be getting arthritic at 11 years old or there could be other underlying problems. If you don't feel it's a behavioural thing and there seems to be pain involved or the shaking is becoming more frequent, a visit to your veterinarian isn't out of order. Good luck with this and thanks for writing.
Question:
I have a two year old female mastiff mix. She is panting a lot and gathering small objects and placing them in the kennel with her. She is also being very protective of these objects. What could be happening?
Answer:
First, you don't say if your girl is spayed or not. She is acting like she may have been in her season about 8 weeks ago and is having hormone issues like a false pregnancy. A new mother will keep her babies in the den or bed and will be protective. She may even be expressing some milk if she is indeed suffering from a false pregnancy.
If she is spayed, then her behaviour is baffling. If she is not spayed, was she in season about two months ago? Please write again if she is spayed and describe her behaviour or possible triggers for it and I will look up more on this type of behaviour. Thanks.
Question:
I have a 5 year old female Silky Terrier / Chihuahua mix. Once in a while she has these spells where it sounds like she is having an asthma attack and she wheezes really badly. I cuddle and comfort her until it passes and she is fine after that. In the last 2 weeks she has been having them a few times a day, every day. I noticed that the pollen count in our area has been very high. Could she be having an asthma attack? If so, is there anything I can give her for it, over the counter?
Answer:
I once had a Jack Russell who did exactly what you are talking about. All her life she had these sudden wheezing attacks and yet, she had no signs of allergies or asthma. It never caused any serious health issues, and she lived to a ripe old age of 17.5 years. But, not every dog is alike and one should never treat symptoms as if it were the same problem another dog had.
You should have your dog checked by the veterinarian, especially if it's occurring more frequently. She may have allergies with the seasons, but some dogs wheeze and cough from heart ailments. She also may simply have a bit of a loose trachea, and the soft tissue part of the tube will flap about. Good luck with her and please remember any health issues can be really concerning and one should always check with their veterinarian, who can determine better what may be ailing your dog. They can inspect the animal with "hands on" and prescribe any treatments.
Question:
My dog has been having an unusual amount of eye boogers lately. They will show up about every hour even when she’s not sleeping. Is this was normal or something that I need to get checked out?
Answer:
I wonder if perhaps your dog has been sleeping near a draft from under a door or window? Sometimes it can cause a bit more debris to collect in your dog's eyes. However, usually this would also involve some mucous or redness in the eye as well. You don't say what breed your dog is, but if it's one with soft hair around the eyes, like a Schnauzer or Poodle, they quickly do gather some gunk in the eyes and there is not much you can do, but wipe it away when you notice the build up. Also, as your dog ages the amount of “eye boogers”, as you call them, can increase.
If you do see yellow pus or cloudy discharge, redness and or irritation, of course, your dog will need to see the vet. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to pay a visit to the vet. Thanks for writing.
Question:
I am desperate. I love my 12 year old Dalmatians with all of my heart. About 6 months ago, one of them started to urinate in the house at night. Sometimes she wakes me up to let her out and other times she pees anyway. She knows it is wrong and lowers her head and squints. It's like she can't help herself. I have no idea why she is doing this. My husband feels she just needs a good spankin'. I don't know what to do. I try to cover it up so he won't see but it is really smelly.
Answer:
Dalmatians are rather large dogs and as such, many live an average life of 10 plus years. If your dogs are already 12 years old, I would expect them to act as many seniors would. Sometimes, wetting in the house is a sign of age, especially when they have been good for most of their lives. The accidents may get more frequent as your dog ages and poor kidney functions are usually to blame. At her age, I don't believe your dog is trying to be "dirty" or purposely give you grief. Any dog over the age of about 8 years old is susceptible to having kidney problems. It's usually one of the first signs that age has caught up with your girl and she simply cannot hold it any longer. I suggest you have her veterinarian take a blood and or urine sample, to rule out any kidney failure. If the test proves her kidneys are not functioning properly, then you will have your answer to her night time piddling. Good luck.
Question:
Can we moisturize our Collie's pads to help stop slippage on wood floors?
Answer:
If you find that it helps, go ahead and moisturize once or twice a day. I wouldn't put too much cream on at any given time though. You don't, however, want your Collie to lick at his/her feet when they are still moist, as I'm not sure ingesting that much moisturizer would be good for him/her.
Question:
I have a one-year-old female Yorkshire Terrier. She constantly runs in circles and resists being cuddled — she reminds me of an autistic child. The vet has checked her a number of times and she is physically in great shape, however, I am aftraid she is not in good shape mentally.
She does not interact with the other male Yorkie that I have and she is manic all the time, even though she gets plenty of exercise. All she she does when she goes outside is run in circles. She only stops to drink, eat and relieve herself. I want to hold her and love her, but she doesn't really respond well. Please help and thank you for any advice you can give me.
Answer:
It certainly sounds like your Yorkie is dealing with some serious issues here. I don't know how old she was when you got her, or what type of situation she may have come from, but sometimes the early months of a dog's life can influence how well they socialize with people and other pets later on. Was she very young when you got her, or was she a few months old already?
Was she from a kennel type situation, or raised in a house with a family and close contact with humans and pets? Until I know more about her early life, it's difficult to even guess at what issues she is fighting with here.
It sounds like she may have been a few months old and was in a kennel, without a lot of outside stimulation. Dogs will thrive after leaving such an environment, but many times the situation you described is the price paid for a puppy not socialized early. If her early life was good, then she definitely may have a chemical imbalance causing such behaviour, yet physically, she will look good to the vet. I can't really say more unless I know a bit more about her background. Sorry that I can't be of more help right away, but please write again if you feel I should know more details.
Question:
My Pomeranian is nearly 14 years old and she has very bad arthritis in her back bone and legs. She can hardly walk at times and yelps if you touch her in the wrong places. It is very upsetting to see her this way. What can I do to make her comfortable and ease her pain?
Answer:
It will always be best to talk to your veterinarian about a medical condition, and your little Pomeranian sounds like she is really having a bad time with her arthritis. There are things you can do to ease her pain, but you must also remember that she IS 14 years old and she won't be able to get "better". There are arthritis medications that you can have your vet administer to help her get through the rough days. I know that many of these medications can affect the stomach, but when she is already 14 years old, it still may be better for her comfort to have her vet prescribe a daily dosage that will help to ease the worst of her pain.
I just had to put down my 17 year old Jack Russell Terrier and I know how hard it is when your dog gets elderly. I hope you will still be able to enjoy her company for a while longer and that something will work for her.
Question:
Is it okay for my dog to chew sticks and branches? When we go on a walk or play on the lawn, my dog finds stick to chew on and just loves running around in circles with them in her mouth. I admit I do encourage this by playing toss when she finds one, but is this OK or an unhealthy habit I should break?
Answer:
Sticks and branches have been favourites as doggy "toys" for as long as there have been people around to toss them and dogs to chase them. It really won't harm your dog to fetch sticks, or carry them about in their mouths; however, it's up to us owners to be careful when we choose one to toss for our pets. You won't want a lot of prickly little barbs on them, or rotten wood, or even sticks that are very brittle and easy to break into sharp bits and pieces. The dog can fetch and play as long as you can throw, but make sure the dog doesn't stop and actually chew chunks off the stick, as they can swallow them. That can start a whole new set of issues, which may find you both at the veterinarians.
Question:
Should I stop my dog from eating grass?
Answer:
Eating grass is something that dogs and even cats will do occasionally, as it seems to ease up feelings of "gas" or indigestion. However, be prepared, as often times, when a dog eats grass, they will later vomit a bit back up. Usually it's not true vomit, just a frothy bit of liquid, with grassy bits in it. But, overall, it isn't harmful for the dog and may relieve that "bloaty" feeling they are experiencing. Just don't let your pet go crazy on the amount they chew, or you will have a lot of froth to clean up.
Question:
My Chihuahua shakes constantly. Does this mean he is cold?
Answer:
Not usually. Often, and more noticeably in small breeds, a dog will shiver and shake, their back legs simply vibrating. Many times the dog is worrying that you are going somewhere, or believes that he is in trouble for something. The dogs also shake like this when they are being very attentive to something. You have a treat in your hand and he wants it, or another pet is in the area and he's watching it very closely. They will even shake from mere excitement. Getting out the walking leash, or a toy, will often cause the dog to stand still, watching you and sure enough, they begin to vibrate on the spot. True, a dog will shiver when cold, but many times they are simply acting upon an emotion and not really cold at all. It is nothing to worry about.
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