Posts tagged "drcooper"

A: No. I see a loss of appetite as a red flag. If your dog is a picky eater and skips one meal, I wouldn't worry about it. But if it's more than one meal, you should bring the dog to see a vet.

Many factors can cause a dog to lose its appetite: metabolic disorders; infections; viruses; stress -- it can even be a sign of cancer. Like humans, dogs need to eat food to survive and it's important that they eat every day.

I often see owners feed their pooch more food after it has finished a meal because it appears that the dog is still hungry. This is how so many dogs become overweight.

Honestly, most dogs are always hungry. My dog would eat until her stomach couldn't hold any more food if I let her. In fact, she once tested this and broke into the food bag!

I would suggest following the recommended amount for each brand listed on the bag of food or its website. Portions are based on the individual dog, but remember, there's never a time or an age when a dog should stop eating all together.

A: In a recent question to Paw Nation, a user asked me if dogs eat grass to settle their stomachs or, since her dog often throws up after eating the green stuff, if it's the grass that actually upsets their stomachs.

But first let's answer the question, why do dogs and cats eat grass?

Some dogs and cats inherited their taste for grass from their ancestors, others chomp it just to have something to do, and some do indeed munch on grass to settle an upset stomach or another gastrointestinal-related problem. Eating grass will often cause vomiting, sometimes because the grass itself upsets your dog's or cat's stomach, or simply because they ate too much.

If your dog or cat is eating grass and vomiting every morning, I would advise bringing it to a vet for an exam.

Grass has no nutritional value for dogs or cats, but it won't harm them if they like to eat it once in a while. Just be sure to watch your pet's behavior and keep your eye on the type of grass he eats. Grass that has been sprayed with pesticides could potentially be toxic. If a dog or cat consumes grass that has been treated with chemicals for a long period of time, there could easily be harmful effects.

Also keep in mind that, like humans, dogs and cats can have behavioral issues. Constant grass eating could be a sign that your pet is obsessive-compulsive.

Do you have a question for Dr. Cooper? Send it to pawnation@aol.com.

Blood in the stool does not automatically mean your dog has intestinal worms. It could actually be the result of a number of things.

In addition to worms, colitis, bacterial overgrowth, malabsorption, maldigestion, endocrine, metabolic, even neoplastic processes can all cause blood in a dog's stool.

Each case is individual. If a dog has blood continuously in his or her bowel movements I would certainly recommend having it evaluated by your veterinarian. Bring a fresh sample when you visit your vet so they can send it out for analysis if necessary.

A. That depends. What kind of breed is it?

Some dogs snore and that's just the way it is.

French Bulldogs, for example, snore a lot. That's because they have a short muzzle and a wide lower jaw. They have what's called a Brachycephalic skull. Some other breeds with this shortened skull include the: Pug, Pekinese, Shih Tzu, and Boston Terrier. These dogs tend to snore because of their facial structure and that's usually fine but sometimes a dog's snoring can be indicative of something else.

Brachycephalic Syndrome, for instance, is something you should discuss with your veterinarian if your dog is a constant snorer, regardless of breed. Your vet will need to do a physical exam on your pet, which will involve sedation. Surgical treatments are available and your vet can go over those as needed.

Click here for other reasons your dog may snore.

A: Training your dog to accept a new pet cat is not easy an easy task and must be approached slowly and carefully. It's also important to know from the start that no matter how much work you put into easing the transition, some dogs won't get along with a cat no matter what you do.

If possible, introduce your dog to clothing and toys that carry the cat's scent before bringing the cat home. For the first meeting, bring the dog and cat together in a neutral area where you can closely supervise them both. Keep the cat in a carrier or make sure there's a barrier safely separating the two.

If your dog is accepting of the situation, let the cat out of the carrier, but make sure you are closely monitoring them. Never leave these pets alone together until they have become genuine friends, which could take weeks or months. And again, keep in mind that some dogs and cats may never have a friendly relationship.

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A. Your dog possibly scoots because his anal glands are bothering him. When you see him scooting his tush on your favorite carpet, he may be looking for relief.

Both dogs and cats have two small pouches located on either side of the anus called anal glands. These glands are emptied during your pet's bowel movement, in an effort to mark territory, or as a reaction if the cat or dog is frightened suddenly.

Have you ever seen a dog scooting on the ground at the dog run? This may be the same thing -- a dog trying to "clean" himself, if you know what I mean. The situation usually resolves itself quickly. Speak with your veterinarian about a possible diet change can help this happen less often.

If your dog is scooting around more than a vacuum cleaner, take it to the vet right away for a full evaluation. The dog could have an anal sac disease -- these are more prevalent in smaller breeds. Lastly, though not as common, your dog could have a tumor known as adenocarcinoma.

Sometimes this behavior has nothing to do with health at all. Your dog may have a foreign object near its tail, like a twig, for example. If this is the case, don't try to dislodge it -- you may do more harm than good.

If you're ever unsure of what to do, call your vet. Remember, rug burn isn't pleasant either!

Do you have a question for Dr. Cooper? Email him at pawnation@aol.com.