Vet Q&A-SmallAnimal

My 8 month old, all black German Shepherd, has a belly button hernia. Should I get it repaired before I breed her??

Hello, it depends if it is non reducible vs reducible. If it’s non reducible it may be an umbilical remnant and that should be fine. If it is reducible, the hernia could get bigger with breeding and she should have it repaired before breeding. Hope this helps and best of luck

Do small dog breeds really have a Napoleon complex, or is that a myth?

No, it's not a myth, small dog breeds can suffer from a Napoleon complex or small dog syndrome. But it isn't due to genetics, it's due to the way owners treat and raise these small dogs. Oftentimes, their aggressive behaviors are laughed at, ignored, or excused, and the owner thinks it's cute. The dog therefore isn't corrected for their inappropriate behavior, which reinforces the behavior. The owner will use the rational that because the dog is little, they are scared, that he thinks he a big dog, or he's all bark and no bite. This continues their pattern of inappropriate behavior, and without training, they become this yappy and ill-behaved dog. Owners of small dogs need to realize they are dogs who need training just as much as a bigger dog, and should treat them as such. If they did that, there wouldn't be a problem with a Napoleon complex.

5 months ago our 75 mix breed dog was diagnosed with anemia. She is doing great and taking Mycophenolate & Predinose. We want to take her to Mexico with us and have heard she can not be vaccinated for rabies and distemper due to her anemia. Is this true? If she can not have the vaccinations what are the risks for her in Mexico without these vaccinations?

If Marley was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia it is true that vaccines could trigger the immune system to cause a relapse of Marley's disease. The problem is that vaccines are required for an international health certificate. You could try contacting the USDA (I'm assuming you're in the United States) to see about exemptions, but it may be better to leave Marley at home with a trusted pet sitter.

I have 4 dogs 3 small poodles and one mix breed they all have dry skin that’s itchy one of the poodles has most of his hair chewed off his feet I see others chewing feet and itching I moved to country about 1 year ago and have had this problem with them ever sence what can I do to help my babys

Poor pups! They seem to be having an allergy to the area. Allergies can cause dry skin, itching, ear infection and secondary bacterial and yeast infection and more. You can try Benadryl to help control the itching (see link below), but they may need something stronger. I would also get them started on an omega 3 fatty acid to help heal their skin from the inside out. I like vetriscience - see second link below. You can also bathe them in a medicated shampoo 2-3 times per week - see third link below. Since they are starting to miss hair and have so much crust I would hav stout vet look st them. Your vet will be able to determine if they have yeast or bacterial infections and get them started on the proper meds. They will even be able to prescribe a stronger allergy medicine like a steroid or apoquel if needed. i hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-laboratories-omega-3-6-9-dog-and-cat-gel-caps http://www.dechra-us.com/products/details/miconahextriz®-shampoo

I feed my Great Dane pup focus purina pro plan adult food. When and what kind of joint supplements should I give her? Is this food okay for. 3 month old Dane pup. My vet said no large breed puppy food.

Hmm. I'm not quite sure why your vet might have recommended against feeding a large breed puppy food, as this is normally the best option for growing large or giant breed puppies. Adult food doesn't contain enough nutrients for growing pups, and it can be dangerous to add supplements because you can actually cause damage by feeding too much of certain things like calcium, etc. I always strongly recommend a good quality large-breed puppy food to all of my clients with large or giant breed puppies. If your vet doesn't agree, I would recommend talking further with him/her to clarify why they don't recommend this, and see what they would suggest instead.

I dont know if my puppy is purebred or not. How can I find out?

If your breeder didn't provide you with any paperwork documenting his parentage (such as an AKC registration certificate) then unfortunately there is no way to prove for certain whether he is purebred or not. If you want to try and find out "unofficially", you can have him DNA tested using a Wisdom Panel blood or cheek swab test. These tests aren't always completely accurate, but could give you an idea of whether Halo has any other breeds in his background :)

My dog old owners didn't feed her well till she is 6 month but now she eats well with me but her hair is verrrry short and she is a long hair breed I tried vitamins but didn't work even In long time so I need help because she always feel so cold so fast and does shaving her hair in summer help to renew it (I read that but I am not sure if it's right or wrong ) ?????

No, shaving a retriever will not help her coat development and will contribute to her problems. Underlying issues such as poor intestinal or pancreaticfunction, mites or nutritional deficiencies may still be playing a role. A skin support diet such as royal canin skin care would help as well ad a full physical exam by your vet to rule out medical causes

What is my dog breed he is three months old can you please help me?

Whatever he is, he is adorable. My best guess would be spaniel and possibly pomeranian. If you're really curious, there are DNA tests available to determine genetically what breeds your dog is, but honestly to me it wouldn't matter. He's beautiful, looks healthy and happy and that's all that really matters. I hope you and Prince have a wonderful life together.

My dog has contractions we suspect she is pregnant because we tried to breed her and now she is lactating and having contractions, i just recently discovered this yellow liquid that was leaking from her vagina what does this mean?

IF she is having contractions then she is probably coming into labor very soon, the yellow fluids from the vaginal area are not uncommon at this stage, you should probably expect puppies in the next 24 hours.