Monday December 16, 2024 – Dogster

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we carry 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 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 widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that may hold your furry pal blissful and wholesome. Keep tuned for skilled steerage 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 in your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! I Need to Begin Making My Personal Canine Meals!

“ Hey Dr. Paola, I’m questioning what’s the easiest way to go about making do-it-yourself pet food for my canine Bowdoin. The place do I start? ” – Drew

Hey Drew!

Making homemade dog food for Bowdoin is a satisfying solution to handle his eating regimen and guarantee high-quality substances, but it surely’s vital to offer full and balanced diet. Canines have particular dietary wants that embody essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals like calcium, iron, vitamin E, and vitamin B12. A very powerful level to know right here is that assembly these necessities might be difficult with out cautious planning {and professional} steerage so nice efforts can have unlucky outcomes if not effectively executed.

To make sure Bowdoin receives a protected and balanced eating regimen, begin with recipes approved by a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist. An expert can assess his dietary wants primarily based on his breed, age, weight, exercise degree, and any well being considerations. In lots of instances, dietary supplements particularly designed for pets—resembling these from BalanceIT or The Farmer’s Dog—will probably be vital to satisfy dietary requirements.

Cooking at residence additionally requires attention to ingredient quality and kitchen security. Correct hygiene and dealing with practices are key to minimizing the danger of contamination whereas getting ready, storing, and serving Bowdoin’s meals.

Whereas it takes extra effort to prepare dinner do-it-yourself pet food, it may be a really stunning factor for each you and your canine. Finest needs in your pet food culinary journey!

Dr. Paola

Assist! I Need to Maintain My Canine Heat in Winter!

“My giant black lab has horrible arthritis in his hips and legs. He’s solely 7 years previous and has had it since he was a pet when he began rising quick and huge. We stay within the foothills of central California the place the temperature has been dropping to freezing. Can we please get slightly recommendation on the best way to hold heat and cozy throughout the winter months? He received’t put on his jacket or the rest received’t are available if he sees us making an attempt to place him in a single?” – Mo

Hello Mo,

Sorry to listen to about your lab having developmental joint points since puppyhood. The ache and discomfort of arthritis are exacerbated by the chilly temperatures. A number of the options you possibly can discover are offering him with a heated bed, or a heated dog house. Most canines will naturally gravitate towards them when it will get chilly.

You also needs to take into account that labs have a thick double-coat and have been developed within the chilly province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Their natural winter coat does fairly job of defending them towards chilly temperatures. It doesn’t come naturally for a lot of canines to simply accept carrying a jacket however it may be achieved if, as an alternative of forcing them, you progressively desensitize and prepare them to put on it. You will want to do that through the use of positive reinforcement methods.

We want you the perfect with this and hope for a simple winter in your canine.

Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Has Excessive ALK Phosphatase Ranges!

“Hiya, my canine Izzy has good blood work besides her ALK Phosphatase is 421. She is an 11-year-old mini schnauzer weighing 16 lbs. She is wholesome and proud of no issues with arthritis presently. Is it true {that a} mini schnauzer can have the next ALK Phosphatase than different canines?? please assist with this query.” – Sandy

Sandi, it’s true that Miniature Schnauzers can have elevated ALKP. Additionally it is true that this marker has low specificity, which suggests this enzyme is produced by many cell varieties and might be discovered within the liver, bone, kidney, and gut. Due to this fact, different biochemical checks are wanted to interpret its significance.

ALKP is often included within the liver panels as a result of it’s present in liver cell membranes and within the hepatic cells surrounding the small channels by way of which bile is launched. One seemingly situation is that ALKP is launched into the blood when the biliary move is slowed (the medical time period for that is cholestasis). Fatty infiltrations of the liver can probably result in cholestasis. Due to this fact you will need to think about the outcomes of different checks together with TSBA, GGT, ALT, and AST, and really importantly to watch serum triglyceride concentrations.

In line with a study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, anecdotal observations counsel that some Miniature Schnauzers with hypertriglyceridemia may develop hepatic insufficiency secondary to the pathogenic distension of the hepatic cells. Veterinarians work with totally different scrum chemistry panels once they make blood checks, so while you say all her blood work was good, I’ve no means of understanding what was examined. Have a chat together with your vet to search out out if extra diagnostic testing would appear applicable, or if you want some extra detailed help, we suggest reserving an internet session with one in all our skilled veterinarians at PangoVet. They are going to ask you some extra questions, assist present info, and show you how to craft an motion plan.

Finest needs!
Dr. Paola