Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we deliver professional 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 vitamin suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can hold your furry pal glad and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steering on a variety of subjects that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable selections and supply the absolute best care in your canine companion. Have a question? Send it in here! 
Assist! My Pet Doesn’t Like Pet Meals!
“ My tiny Maltese pet Mindy has determined she now not enjoys the Royal Canin moist pet meals we had been feeding her. She’s solely 4 months previous and a couple of.7 lbs, I’m questioning if it’s OK for us to strive the Hill’s Science small breed pet food, or which different meals we must always strive? ” – Elaine
Hello Elaine,
Because you point out Mindy is a pet, you shouldn’t swap her meals for grownup meals simply but. Puppies require a “growth and development” formulation AKA “puppy food” to assist their ever-changing anatomy throughout this significant a part of their lives. The Hill’s Science small breed pet food is for adults. Since most canine meals comply with the AAFCO necessities for this life stage, that are based mostly on the minimal vital vitamins (comparable to protein, fat, calcium, and so forth) {that a} meals can comprise, if you feed adult food to your puppy they are going to be poor in vitamins and ultimately turn into unwell. If you’re on the lookout for some nice meals to feed her, I’d extremely suggest much less processed fresh, and natural ingredient diets. Most of those are formulated to cowl the dietary wants of all life phases as a result of they’ve sufficient vitamins for all. Puppies and grownup canine love them and might reside a wholesome and glad life acquiring the very best vitamin.
Finest needs!
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Hates Strolling within the Snow!
“Hello Dr. Paola! My canine Ginger, a Golden Retriever, completely refuses to stroll within the snow. The second she sees it, she freezes and offers me this seem like, ‘You may’t be severe.’ I’ve tried booties and treats, however nothing works. She’ll exit on a shovelled path to do her enterprise however we will’t get a lot else out of her. She’s grown up understanding snow and by no means cherished it however has solely gotten extra cussed with time (she’s
5). Is there a solution to persuade her that slightly snow received’t freeze her, or do I must spend money on an indoor treadmill for winter?
” – Leslie
Hey Leslie—it appears like Ginger was meant to be a Florida canine as a substitute! Jokes apart, I’d have her checked by the vet to make sure she shouldn’t be affected by hypothyroidism, an endocrine situation that slows down a canine’s metabolism and causes them to be illiberal to the chilly (amongst different indicators). Joint issues like inflammatory arthritis or early arthritis-related ache additionally will get exacerbated with the chilly, so I’d counsel you rule these potentialities first as a result of most Golden Retrievers love the snow. Additionally, have you ever tried multiple form of booty? There are different types available and a few are extra snug and most popular by every canine’s requirements over others. The booties must also be gradually introduced to make sure Ginger associates carrying them with constructive outcomes. If the snow is taken into account aversive to Ginger, the booties can rapidly turn into a sign that anticipates one thing undesired is about to occur after which turn into a detrimental stimuli for her. So, you’ll have to have her put on the botties at random instances not simply when going out to the snow… for instance earlier than dinner. Anyway, I believe the indoor treadmill is a superb concept to have a chance of getting bodily exercise when you dig deeper into this and work on the booties constructive affiliation.
Finest luck, and if doable, hold us up to date!
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Canine Received’t Depart My Socks Alone!
“Why do canine like to eat socks? My canine actively seeks them out from the each the clear and soiled laundry hampers—nothing is sacred! He doesn’t wish to ingest it, simply chew and suck on it till it turns into one thing I’ve to throw away. Assist!” – Steven, dad to Dolly
It’s a canine factor! There are several possible reasons, almost certainly as a result of Dolly loves your scent, and the soiled socks scent such as you, so the sensation of the sock in Dolly’s mouth then turns into one thing very gratifying. By affiliation, the sensation of the sock itself turns into one thing fascinating, and constructive to Dolly. Now she doesn’t care if soiled or freshly washed—a sock is a sock!
You’re very fortunate that she is not ingesting them, although, as that will be an actual downside. Moreover placing her life in danger it might require an endoscopy or surgical procedure. If you’re not 100% positive she has by no means ingested one, I’d counsel to get her checked. As for changing your socks, probably the most simple answer to this downside is to make it bodily not possible for her to achieve them. A dog-proof laundry hamper, a closed door, or something that blocks Dolly’s entry to the socks. Additionally please ensure you redirect her chewing needs to an acceptable chew toy. Simply keep in mind to maintain a detailed eye on her. I hope this helps!
Finest needs!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
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