Ask Dr. Paola- Couches, Hair Loss & Water Intake (July 28, 2025)

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we deliver professional 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 father or mother or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that may maintain your furry pal joyful and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a spread of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the absolute best care to your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Jumps on the Sofa Every time She’s Dwelling Alone!

“Expensive Dr. Paola,

How do I maintain my canine Kiki off the sofa after we’re out? I’ve tried placing a pillow tower up; I’ve tried aluminium foil. She by no means will get invited up and is at all times instructed off if we see her up on the sofa, however as quickly as we go away the home, she invitations herself up each time.”  – Hollie

Hello Hollie,

It feels like your canine has discovered a intelligent little routine, and that is really a quite common state of affairs. Canines are opportunistic learners, and once they uncover {that a} conduct feels good and solely has penalties once you’re round, they have a tendency to repeat it when the coast is obvious. The sofa is probably going providing her heat, consolation, and your scent, all of that are extremely reinforcing, particularly in your absence.

To stop this behavior, the best methods both handle entry or make the sofa genuinely unappealing in your absence, all whereas providing a extra enticing different. Since she’s already outsmarted foil and pillow boundaries, think about using pet-safe deterrents that don’t contain punishment however assist information her selections. You possibly can attempt:

• Crate training or utilizing a delegated dog-safe room once you’re not dwelling, which removes entry totally in a humane and structured approach.
• Pet-safe scat mats or upside-down plastic carpet runners with the nubby aspect up will be extra bodily uncomfortable, making the floor much less interesting with out inflicting hurt.
• Offering a comfy, elevated dog bed in a most popular location. Some canines are drawn to being up excessive, so giving her a spot that mimics the sofa’s peak and texture might redirect her conduct.
• Scented deterrent sprays formulated particularly for canines can typically scale back curiosity, although not all canines reply to those.

If you happen to’d like assist fine-tuning a plan that matches your setup and your canine’s temperament, be happy to ebook a session with us at PangoVet. Consistency and environmental administration are your strongest allies right here, and over time, she’ll study that staying off the sofa is not only a brief rule however a standing one.

I hope this helps!

Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine is Dropping Her Hair!

“My canine Susie is shedding her hair. I had her thyroid checked, and together with her remedy, it’s working usually. What can I do about her hair loss? “ – Carol

Hello Carol,

Thanks for being proactive about Maggie’s well being. Hair loss in canines, even when thyroid ranges are well-managed with remedy, can have a number of causes. Hypothyroidism is a typical wrongdoer, but when her ranges are secure, we have to look additional. Continual pores and skin irritation, allergies (both environmental or food-related), parasites like mites, and even hormonal imbalances past thyroid operate may very well be contributing components. In some instances, extended hypothyroidism earlier than therapy also can result in persistent pores and skin and coat adjustments that take time to enhance.

If Maggie’s pores and skin seems dry, flaky, or irritated, or if she’s licking, chewing, or scratching greater than ordinary, it’s essential to think about dermatologic causes similar to atopic dermatitis or seborrhea. Dietary deficiencies, particularly in important fatty acids, also can have an effect on coat high quality. Making certain that her weight loss plan is full and balanced, ideally with veterinary steerage, can help pores and skin well being. Omega-3 dietary supplements, for instance, have evidence-based advantages for pores and skin barrier help and irritation management. If her coat isn’t bettering or the hair loss is worsening, an intensive dermatologic workup by your veterinarian could also be obligatory, together with pores and skin scrapings, allergy testing, or biopsy, relying on the case.

Good luck!

– Dr. Paola

Assist! My Canine Doesn’t Drink A lot Water!

“Expensive Dr. Paola,

Billy doesn’t drink a lot water in any respect in the course of the day after which guzzles at evening. He’s a Labrador. Is there one thing to fret about right here?”– Sara

Hello Sara,

It’s nice to see you might be observing Billy’s habits so attentively. A wholesome canine usually drinks about 50 to 60 milliliters of water per kilogram of physique weight per day. For the common Labrador, that’s roughly 1.5 to 2 liters in 24 hours, which interprets to about 0.75 to 1 ounce of water per pound of physique weight in 24 hours, relying on dimension, exercise, and weight loss plan. Measuring Billy’s whole daily intake over a number of days can present invaluable perception. If he’s consuming moisture-rich fresh or moist meals, getting moisture-rich treats, or exercising much less in the course of the day, these components may scale back his daytime thirst and shift his consuming to the night.

It’s additionally price contemplating environmental influences. Canines might drink much less in the course of the day in the event that they’re resting in a cool, quiet space or if their entry to water is proscribed by routine or location. Elevated motion, heat, or exercise within the night may then set off a pure spike in thirst. Delicate adjustments like utilizing air con in the course of the day and having hotter indoor temperatures at evening also can shift hydration patterns. It’s additionally attainable that the water in his bowl turns into heat or stale in the course of the day, main him to attend till it cools down within the night, when it’s extra interesting to drink. Observing Billy’s routine and ensuring recent, clear water is at all times accessible and simply accessible all through the day is a useful first step.

Whereas medical situations similar to power kidney illness, diabetes mellitus, or Cushing’s disease are related to elevated water consumption, these usually trigger a extra persistent, round the clock enhance in thirst relatively than a sample confined to nighttime. Since Billy’s thirst is just not fixed, behavioral or environmental causes could also be extra seemingly. Nonetheless, if his whole consumption is above regular or if another indicators seem, a routine test along with your veterinarian, supported by bloodwork and urinalysis, is probably the most dependable technique to rule out early underlying illness. By maintaining observe of Billy’s whole consumption and observing his day by day routine, you’ll be well-equipped to find out whether or not that is merely an environmental or behavioral sample or one thing that deserves a more in-depth veterinary look.

Greatest!

Dr.Paola

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