| answered a question | I recently rescued a miniature Labre doodle that is two years old and he has just had a seizure looking for some info Hi Leah, Seizures are fairly commen in dogs, at my clinic we have quite a few dogs that are on medications. Was this your dogs first seizure? How long did it last? How long was the postictal stage (time after seizure where they will seem confused, dizzy, wobbly, etc)? Did your dog loose bladder control? Usually medications are not started after just one seizure. Usually they are started when it becomes repetitive or when they experience sudden cluster seizures. The main go to medications for seizures are phenobarbital and zonisamide. Both of these are the top choices by the AVMA. As with any medication it is recommended to do bloodwork prior to starting - to get a baseline. Then re checking the bloodwork 2-4 weeks after starting to make sure that organ function is good and that your dog is tolorating the medications. This will also decide if your dogs dosage needs to be changed. While on these medications the bloodwork should be done every 6 months. Seizures can happen for a number of reasons, epilepsy, toxin ingestion, tumors, etc. Epilepsy is diagnosed by ruleing out the other options- this can be done with bloodwork, X-rays or even a CT Scan. Keep in mind your dog will still most likely have seizures, this will not "cure" but will help suppress them. |
| answered a question | Does anyone have experience with 'doggy prozac'? Like in people, anxiety medications are commonly used in dogs. Personally, one of my dogs is on fluoxetine (aka doggy Prozac). She is fearful of almost everything, has separation anxiety -> which causes her to ingest things when alone, and she obsessively licks the air. It usually takes 4-6 weeks after starting the medication to take full effect. And it did WONDERS for my dog. If your vet doesn't suggest blood work (which they should!!), please inquire!! Ideally a bloodwork panel should be run prior to starting the medication - to get a baseline. Then 2-4 weeks after starting the meds you should do another panel to ensure that your dog is handleing the medication alright (organs function is good). After this long term medication monitoring bloodwork should be run every 6 months. |
| answered a question | How often should I brush my dog's teeth? Plaque is made up of bacteria, food particles and salvia. This builds up on the teeth throughout the day. Ideally you should brush your dogs teeth after every meal. At the very least you should brush your dogs teeth every other day- in this time the plaque that was building up on your dogs teeth, starts to harden and then turns into tartar. Once the plaque hardens it can not simply be brushed away- tartar can only be removed with a professional dental cleaning. If you are having trouble brushing your dogs teeth: 1) get pet friendly tooth paste -poultry or beef flavor 2) use a finger tooth brush 3) wrap a piece of gauze around your finger instead of using a tooth brush. |
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| answered a question | How did you get your dog to switch from pee pads to going outdoors? Pee pads (or any other station that you set up in the home) is a big no no. It is very hard to break the habit of using pee pads, and rightfully so, you have been enforcing that it is ok for your dog to eliminate in the home. Start over. Get rid of the pee pads in the home. You will also need to pick up anything that looks like a pee pad (I.e. Bathroom mat, rugs,etc.) You can still put one outside, since your dog now thinks that is where he/she must go. Do frequent potty breaks at first, and gradually build up. Reward your dog and make a big deal when they go potty outside. BUT, do not react when they have an accident inside, and Yes, it will happen... multiple times. It can take months to break "pee pad training" Keep up with it!! It is recommended to use a crate when potty training as well. |
| answered a question | What's the best dog shampoo for dry itchy skin? What breed of dog do you have? Do they have confirmed allergys? Or just dry skin? You can get great skin friendly shampoos at your vet. Malaseb is a favorite for itchy dogs!!! |
| answered a question | Why does my dog chew everything? Chewing is a necessity to every dog, however know the difference between good chewing and destructive chewing. Good chewing not only helps with boredom, but it contributes to their overall oral health. Their are many appropriate chew toys available to help alleviate this need |
| answered a question | Why did my dog pee on me? When does your dog exhibit this behavior? Are their usually other animals around, or other people? As stated above, yes, territory can come in to play, however a few other things can contribute. 1) is your dog submissive? Sometimes with submissive dogs a look or quick movement can cause them to urinate- where ever they are. 2) has your dog been exhibiting an increase in thirst, or an increase in frequency to go outside? If so, a Urinary tract infection could be in play. |
| answered a question | How should you take care of a Yorkie? What specifics were you looking for? Yorkies are usually on the tiny side (less than 10lbs). They have "hair-like" fur and require frequent grooming. |
| answered a question | Why does my dog have the hiccups? Hiccups are seen in dogs just as we experience them as people. They are caused my spasms of the diaphragm. The is caused from the intake of too air. In dogs this is most commonly seen when they eat or drink too quickly. Hiccups usually resolve fairly quickly on their own. |
| answered a question | How often do dogs need baths? It's recommended that dog should be bathed at least once every 3 months, however it may be necessary to bathe some more often than others, if: 1) they have skin issues or allergies 2) they spend a lot of time outdoors 3) they require bathing after coming into contact with something undersirable- skunk, mud, trash, etc. Aditionally, most dogs with "hair" for fur, usually need to be bathed every few weeks. |