Ask Dr. Paola – Licking, Nail Clippers & Feeding Puppies (November 24, 2025)

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we carry skilled 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 dad or mum or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that may hold your furry good friend completely satisfied and wholesome. Keep tuned for skilled steerage on a variety of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable selections and supply the very best care in your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Licks Different Canines Pee!

“Hello Dr. Paola!

I’ve a 2-year-old Chawinnee known as Little Boy. Not too long ago, he began licking different canine’ pee, after which he pees on the spots himself and licks that up too. What may very well be the trigger? “– Crystal

Hello Crystal,

This conduct, though disagreeable to witness, is definitely fairly widespread amongst canine. When your two-year-old Chawinnee licks different canine’ urine, or his personal after marking, he’s utilizing his vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ, a particular sensory construction positioned on the roof of his mouth. This organ permits canine to detect pheromones and chemical alerts that convey details about one other canine’s intercourse, hormonal standing, and even emotional state. In easy phrases, he’s “studying messages” left by different canine, very similar to scrolling via social media updates.

In a younger, in any other case wholesome canine, this conduct is often regular and associated to curiosity, social communication, and even mating instincts if he’s intact. Often, canine could develop an increased interest in urine if they’re experiencing higher thirst or modifications in urination patterns, which might be related to metabolic illnesses similar to diabetes mellitus or early kidney points. These situations are unusual at his age however not inconceivable, as congenital or genetic elements can sometimes trigger early onset.

If Little Boy appears nicely in any other case, with regular power, urge for food, and ingesting habits, the conduct is probably going innocent. Nonetheless, if you happen to ever discover that he drinks or urinates greater than ordinary, or if his normal demeanor modifications, it could be smart to schedule a veterinary checkup with a urinalysis and fundamental bloodwork. Offering him with extra enrichment and psychological stimulation may also assist redirect his curiosity towards extra acceptable actions.
Greatest,

– Dr. Paola

Assist! I Don’t Know What Nail Clippers to Use!

“What would you recommend is an efficient pair of nail clippers to make use of?“ – Donna

Donna, one of the best nail trimmer actually is determined by each your dog’s size and your consolation stage utilizing the instrument. For small breeds or canine with delicate nails, guillotine-style trimmers usually work greatest as a result of they supply exact, mild cuts with minimal stress. Bigger canine with thicker nails often want a plier-style trimmer, which provides extra power and management, much like utilizing backyard shears for thicker stems reasonably than delicate scissors for flowers. Pet mother and father who really feel uneasy about chopping may also take into account a rotary grinder, which regularly sands the nail as an alternative of slicing it, making it a safer selection for canine with darkish nails the place the short is tough to see.

Some trimmers now embody options that make the method simpler and safer. Constructed-in LED lights can illuminate the nail that will help you see the short extra clearly, whereas stoppers or fast guards act as a information to forestall chopping too quick, although they need to not exchange cautious visible checks. Just a few superior fashions even embody fast detectors that use small sensors to warn you earlier than reaching the delicate space of the nail. The best selection is one which feels comfy in your hand, stays sharp, and makes the experience as calm and constructive as doable in your canine.

Good luck!

– Dr. Paola

Assist! What’s the Greatest Meals for a German Shepherd?

“I get a German Shepherd pup in 8 weeks, and I need to give him one of the best meals. I’m Sunday’s air-dried meals, which has human-grade meat vs the dry kibble model Royal Canin. Your recommendation is appreciated. Thanks,”  – Peter

Hello Peter,

It’s fantastic that you simply’re getting ready so thoughtfully in your German Shepherd pet. Vitamin performs an important position in serving to large-breed puppies develop sturdy, balanced, and wholesome. Whereas I can not endorse a particular model, I do are inclined to favor recent, minimally processed meals at any time when doable, so that you may need to take into account exploring these sorts of choices as a part of your analysis.

Massive-breed puppies, sometimes these anticipated to weigh greater than 23 kilograms as adults, want a food regimen that promotes regular development reasonably than speedy weight achieve. This implies cautious management of energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus to help bone growth and defend the joints from early stress. Search for diets labeled particularly for “large-breed puppies” or “development of large-size canine,” and all the time guarantee they meet full and balanced requirements similar to AAFCO or FEDIAF.

A really perfect large-breed puppy formula can have a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio between about 1.1:1 and 1.4:1, reasonable fats and power ranges to forestall overgrowth, and high-quality protein to construct lean muscle. These formulation are designed to offer all important vitamins, so there’s no want so as to add dietary supplements, which may simply disrupt the fragile nutrient stability if used incorrectly. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals, three to 4 instances each day at first, then regularly transferring to 2, helps keep constant power ranges and helps wholesome digestion. At all times use your pet’s physique situation as your information; you need to really feel his ribs simply with out them being seen.

The model itself is much less vital than the formulation’s dietary stability. Diets labeled for “all life levels” usually exceed the mineral and calorie ranges wanted for managed large-breed development, which analysis has linked to orthopedic issues later in life. By selecting a well-balanced, large-breed pet method and sustaining a lean, regular development price, you’ll be giving your German Shepherd the very best begin for sturdy bones, resilient joints, and a wholesome, energetic life. I hope this helps!

– Dr. Paola

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