Vet Q&A-SmallAnimal

So, my puppy is super skinny. we keep the dog food on the floor and always keep it filled and she goes and eats from it all the time and she still looks like this! Here’s the thing though, she won’t eat puppy food. We have other dogs in the house and she only wants the adult dog food. Is this what’s causing this? She’s not getting all the calories she needs from puppy food? Or maybe it’s just her breed??

Hello. It could actually be a combination of all those things. It would be better to feed a large breed puppy food, but on the other hand, keeping a dog like a Golden a little underweight is better for overall growth & long term health. Slim dogs live quite a bit longer than heavy or obese dogs. If Lucy has plenty of energy, normal bowel movements & is steadily gaining weight, then I would not be too concerned. She will probably fill out as she matures, so just continue to feed her what she seems to like & do not worry that it is not a puppy labeled food. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Our dog Rocky, who is a mixed breed of: Black Lab, Rottweiler & German Shepherd Mix. He has been having a hard time getting up from a laying position, he cries out. In the middle of the night last night, he really couldn't get up and gave up, so in a pinch I gave him some baby (low dose) Aspirin (3), and he was able to get up after 15 minutes to get a drink of water. My question is: Is there anything a Vet could prescribe that would ease his pain and help his mobility?

Hi there! Yes, there are a number of prescription medications that can be very helpful for dogs with arthritis issues, including NSAIDs such as Rimadyl or Metacam, tramadol, and/or gabapentin. Legally, we cannot prescribe medication for any pet without an exam, so you will need to take Rocky to a veterinarian in your area for an in-person exam and discussion of his issues. That veterinarian should be able to prescribe an appropriate medication for him to help with his pain and stiffness.

I’m getting my dog off a special bland diet slowly onto Royal Canin Giant Breed Puppy Food. Which I wanted to ask is it a good food and recommended for a Newfoundland Mix. I know he had stomach problems and stopped eating dry food no matter how many switches we did and even mixing it with wet food I’m scared when i transition he won’t eat again. What can I do to make sure during his transition that he likes the food. Also is his poop okay and normal cause I’ve been adding the food.

Hello. As veterinarians, we always love to view poop pictures, & Bear's poop looks pretty good. Just go slow with the transition. Replace only about 25% of the old food with the new taking several days at each stage. If Bear picks out the new, you can take a glass jar & mix 75% old with 25% new food, cover tightly & place in the fridge for 12-24 hours. This will allow all smells & flavors to blend. Then gradually replace more of the new food while decreasing the old. It might take a week, it may take a month, but usually you can easily transition a dog to a new food this way. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.

Hello.. When is the best time to get Mini spayed? Also from what age can I start giving Mini Adult food? Since she is a small breed, I am confused about it...

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mini. I typically recommend spaying between 4-6 months of age. My goal is to perform the surgery prior to the first heat cycle as this will decrease the dog's risk of mammary cancer in the future. She can be transitioned to adult food starting around 10 months of age. I hope this information helps!

What is the best healthy food regardless of cost for a small breed dog? And should there food be grain free

Great questions! I will answer your second question first. No, the food should not be grain free. Grain free food is a fad, and quite a dangerous one. Vets are seeing an increased in dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs fed grain free diets, and the FDA is investigating that link. There is no proof grains are bad for dogs, and a grain allergy is very rare. So to answer your first question, brands I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. I feed my own dogs Iams and they love it. I hope this helps!

Seems to be painful for my cat to swallow, and it feels like she has a small lump on the left side of throat. She also seems to have sinus issues, and occasionally sneezes out globs of brownish mucus, sometimes it comes out as a hardened glob. My vet treated for an upper respiratory infection, but problems persist. She was spayed and declawed when I got her, and I am not sure of her age, probably between 8 to 10 years old. She is a mixed breed, with Siamese prevalent.

I would recommend seeing a vet if you think it is painful for Sadie to swallow or if you think there may be something stuck in her throat. If she has had an upper respiratory infection, you may be feeling an enlarged lymph node. Many upper respiratory infections are viral and it can take quite a while for them to clear. There are some medications that can help, as well as supplementing with a product called Lysine.

My dog's stool is often very soft, sometimes to the point of diarrhea. I have tried different foods, making sure they are high in fiber, but it still is happening. He is a 10-month old Miniature Schnauzer (a breed I know to have sensitive stomachs). Do you think feeding him a mix of Purina Beneful Prepared Meals Stew Variety Pack Wet Dog Food and Midwestern Pet Foods PRO PAC Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is ok?

Hi there. In general, it's okay to mix foods like this if you want to. However, if you're looking for something specific that's likely to help Domino's recurring GI issues, I would consider a prescription GI diet such as Hills i/d or Purina EN. These diets are specially formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and often work very well for problems like this in my experience. Some over-the-counter diets may work as well, but it may take a lot of trial and error to find something that works.

My male black cat (breed specifically unknown) has things on his pads/"toes". They look like spikes coming out of them and feel hard, not like nail hard but a squishy hard. He doesn't like them being touches, almost like they hurt. What is it?

Hello, The lesions on Grim Reapers’ paw pads are most likely cutaneous horns which are typically benign but can be cancerous in some cases. They are associated with pappillma viruses and FeLV. So consider having him tested if his FeLV/FIV status is unknown. In order to make a definitive diagnosis, a biopsy would be needed. If the biopsy confirms a benign cutaneous horn, additional treatment will not be needed unless the lesions are causing discomfort or infection.

Are they purebred german shepherd puppies?

They look like German Shepard puppies. If they are purebred they should have registration papers on both the father and mother. Once they register the litter they should give you papers so you can register your puppy. If they do not have papers then there is a good chance that they are not purebred German Shepard puppies. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.